When It Hits the Fan Podcast
David Yelland and Farzana Baduel take you behind the headlines and into the high-stakes world of power, influence and reputation as they unpack the PR playbook.
When It Hits The Fan takes you behind the headlines and into the high-stakes world of power, influence and reputation. Each week, it unpacks the PR playbook used by some of the world's most powerful people and asks how the hidden hand of the communications industry shapes what you see, hear and believe.
Hosts David Yelland and Farzana Baduel dive into the week's biggest media storms, scandals and corporate crises, revealing how PR disasters unfold in real time. From political controversies to celebrity missteps and brand meltdowns, they trace where the story began, how it spiralled, and who ended up in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Bringing sharp insight and insider knowledge.
David Yelland is the former editor of The Sun and Farzana Baduel is an award-winning communications strategist and crisis management specialist. Together, they draw on decades of frontline experience shaping narratives, handling reputational firestorms and understanding what really drives the news cycle.
Episodes to download
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Why the Macrons are willing to bare all
Wed 24 Sep 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis examine how to fight back against disinformation.
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Prince Harry's PR Comeback
Wed 17 Sep 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis analyse a surprisingly good week for Prince Harry.
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Alas WH Smith and Jones
Wed 10 Sep 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at the rebranding of a high street institution.
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7. Be Honest With Yourself—When it Hits The Fan: Golden Rules
Wed 3 Sep 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain the importance of self awareness in business.
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6. Never Over Promise—When it Hits The Fan: Golden Rules
Wed 27 Aug 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain why managing expectations is a vital part of PR.
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5. Know How To Go Off the Record—When it Hits The Fan: Golden Rules
Wed 20 Aug 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain how to speak to the media on and off the record.
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4. Prepare For A Crisis—When it Hits The Fan: Golden Rules
Wed 13 Aug 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain why even the best plans can go wrong in a crisis.
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3. The Media is Not Your Friend—When it Hits The Fan: Golden Rules
Wed 6 Aug 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain the need for caution when dealing with the media.
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2. Start Networking Now—When it Hits The Fan: Golden Rules
Wed 30 Jul 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain why networking is something everyone can do.
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1. Reputation is Everything—When it Hits The Fan: Golden Rules
Wed 23 Jul 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain why success is not the same as reputation.
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A Right Royal Whodunnit
Wed 16 Jul 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis examine the fallout from a very public secret royal meeting.
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The Crying Game
Wed 9 Jul 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at the risks and rewards of showing your emotions.
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Dynasty PR: Can the Trumps learn from the Royals?
Wed 2 Jul 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at how to PR family dynasty.
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Faking It To Make It
Wed 25 Jun 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain why 'being yourself' might just be a terrible idea.
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Is Bezos blind to Venetians?
Wed 18 Jun 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at how Venice is preparing to 'welcome' Jeff Bezos.
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Sirs, Dames and the PR Game
Wed 11 Jun 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis examine whether you can PR your way to an honour.
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'Humanity Deserves Better'
Wed 4 Jun 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis examine the hype around something that doesn't exist. Yet.
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You're Banned!
Wed 28 May 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis examine whether banning a journalist is ever a good idea.
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Robotaxis: Look, no hands!
Wed 21 May 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis get under the bonnet of how to PR driverless cabs.
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The Spy Who Leaked Me
Wed 14 May 2025
David and Simon explore what happens when the worlds of espionage and PR collide.
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Prince Harry's bombshell interview
Wed 7 May 2025
David and Simon examine whether Prince Harry's interview was a spectacular PR own goal.
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PR is a virus
Wed 30 Apr 2025
David Yelland is joined by PR guru Phil Elwood, who blames their industry for everything.
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China's meme warfare, rats and rockets
Wed 23 Apr 2025
David and Simon discuss if China is out-PRing the US, rats' media appeal and Jeff Bezos.
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Quick Wins: How to deal with redundancies
Tue 8 Apr 2025
David and Simon share their tips on how to manage making people redundant.
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The truth about ‘no comment,’ managing expectations and cost-effective PR
Tue 1 Apr 2025
David and Simon discuss 'no comment' and the traits that make a great PR pro.
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Heathrow special: inside the crisis
Tue 25 Mar 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss the PR optics of sleeping CEOs.
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Thames Water’s PR gamble, Tesla backlash and William’s Villa in The Sun
Tue 18 Mar 2025
David and Simon discuss the Thames Water documentary, Elon Musk and Prince William.
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Carney’s Canada v Trump, Abrdn’s U-turn and Ambassador Suzuki
Tue 11 Mar 2025
David and Simon discuss Canada’s PR fightback, a reverse ferret and Japanese diplomacy.
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Trump, Zelensky, the King and Mummy Pig
Tue 4 Mar 2025
David and Simon discuss the US and Ukraine, a wise use of royal PR and Peppa Pig's news.
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PR in the disinformation bubble, Mandelson’s doorstep and breaking cover
Tue 25 Feb 2025
David and Simon discuss lines in the sand, when to say nothing and spilling the beans.
