Episode 159: Faster. Messier. Tougher.: Bradley Akubuiro on Rewriting the Crisis Playbook

Partner at Bully Pulpit International and former Boeing chief spokesperson Bradley Akubuiro previews his forthcoming book, Faster. Messier. Tougher.: Crisis Communication Strategies in an Era of Populism, AI, and Distrust (April 7, 2026). Bradley shares new field‑tested frameworks for crisis management: how to think about stakeholders, and when authenticity beats perfection. We also dig into the new dynamics of political pressure and brand backlash; whether A.I. can improve crisis readiness; and how to design simulations that build muscle memory. You’ll learn: The first five moves to make in the first 60 minutes of a crisis, when to narrowcast (not broadcast), and what “good” crisis communications looks like in 2026.