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
-
Matthew Freud special
Mon 22 Apr 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss PR, politics and power with Matthew Freud.
-
Dorothy Byrne special
Tue 16 Apr 2024
David and Simon discuss truth-telling with former Channel 4 News boss Dorothy Byrne.
-
Mick Lynch special
Tue 9 Apr 2024
David and Simon discuss how to get your point across with the RMT's Mick Lynch.
-
What can we learn from Kate?
Wed 27 Mar 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss privacy, social media and the royal family.
-
TikTok and China, how to make a royal story go away and cybersecurity PR
Wed 20 Mar 2024
David and Simon discuss TikTok and China PR, Kate鈥檚 return and crisis management.
-
The Palace in crisis
Tue 12 Mar 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss the Royal Family鈥檚 recent PR problems.
-
Christian Horner crisis continues, the Telegraph battle and Hancock鈥檚 Eton cockup
Wed 6 Mar 2024
David and Simon discuss Christian Horner鈥檚 texts, the Telegraph bid and knowing the room.
-
Talking crap, car crash interviews and Trident鈥檚 plop
Wed 28 Feb 2024
David and Simon discuss using the word crap, interview walkouts and Trident's failed test.
-
NatWest, the first 100 days and F1's Red Bull
Wed 21 Feb 2024
David and Simon discuss NatWest's share sale, a CEO's first 100 days and Christian Horner.
-
Quick Wins: How to deal with imposter syndrome
Fri 16 Feb 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss how to overcome imposter syndrome.
-
F1鈥檚 Christian Horner, Soho House and The National Trust
Wed 14 Feb 2024
David and Simon discuss Red Bull, short selling PR and a culture wars pushback.
-
Quick Wins: How to manage your reputation online
Fri 9 Feb 2024
David and Simon and discuss how to look after your reputation on social media.
-
The King's cancer, Facebook PR and Greta Thunberg
Wed 7 Feb 2024
David and Simon discuss the King鈥檚 cancer, Mark Zuckerberg and Greta Thunberg's PR.
-
Klopp鈥檚 reveal, vaping PR and Barbie鈥檚 disappointment
Wed 31 Jan 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss keeping secrets, vaping PR and managing bad news.
-
Quick Wins: How to deal with a difficult boss
Fri 26 Jan 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis share their advice on how to manage a tricky boss.
-
CEO salaries, Jordan Henderson and prostate PR
Wed 24 Jan 2024
David and Simon discuss executive pay, Jordan Henderson and the challenges of prostate PR.
-
Post Office PR, Boeing and the King's new biography
Wed 17 Jan 2024
David and Simon discuss toxic PR and the Post Office, Boeing and the King鈥檚 new biography.
-
Quick Wins: How to ask for a pay rise
Tue 9 Jan 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis give their tips on how to negotiate your salary.
-
Quick Wins: How to quit your job
Wed 3 Jan 2024
David and Simon share their tips on how to quit your job with style.
-
Gerald Ratner special
Wed 27 Dec 2023
In a special episode, David and Simon meet Gerald Ratner, whose joke cost him his business
-
Harry's victory, Baroness Mone Part 2 and 2023's PR lessons
Wed 20 Dec 2023
David and Simon discuss Harry鈥檚 victory, Baroness Mone Part 2 and 2023's PR lessons.
-
Baroness Mone, ITV and VIP PR
Wed 13 Dec 2023
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss Baroness Mone, ITV and VIP PR.
-
Quick Wins: Office parties
Thu 7 Dec 2023
David and Simon share their advice on how to survive the office party.
-
Omid Scobie Part 2, COP PR and Wilko
Wed 6 Dec 2023
David and Simon discuss Omid Scobie Part 2, COP PR and the Wilko select committee.
-
Omid Scobie, RIP PR and Ridley v the historians
Wed 29 Nov 2023
David and Simon discuss Omid Scobie鈥檚 Royal book Endgame, obituary PR and Ridley Scott.
-
You鈥檙e fired! Everton and political PR
Wed 22 Nov 2023
David and Simon discuss the sacking of OpenAI鈥檚 Sam Altman, Everton and political PR.
-
The King鈥檚 PR, Shell and a million-dollar handbag
Wed 15 Nov 2023
David and Simon discuss royal PR, Shell and Pharrell Williams' Millionaire Speedy.
-
Rishi and Elon, Robert de Niro and that M&S ad
Wed 8 Nov 2023
David and Simon discuss the PR take on Rishi Sunak鈥檚 fireside chat with Elon Musk.
-
NatWest鈥檚 Alison Rose, Unilever and I鈥檓 a Celebrity...
Wed 1 Nov 2023
David and Simon discuss NatWest鈥檚 Alison Rose, Unilever and I鈥檓 a Celebrity...
-
Britney鈥檚 memoir, BT's rebrand and Meryl Streep
Wed 25 Oct 2023
David and Simon discuss Britney's memoir, BT鈥檚 rebrand and Meryl Streep.
