Episode Details

In a crisis, everyone starts talking. But very few people are truly communicating. The gap between noise and clarity can cost an organization its reputation, its relationships, and the trust it spent years building. This episode of The Mindful Living explores how to communicate honestly, simply, and effectively when the stakes are highest.

Sana sits down with veteran crisis communications expert Mike Swenson, founder of Barkley Public Relations and creator of the CrisisTrak framework, to unpack the principles of message discipline, active listening, and the goodwill that organizations build long before a crisis ever arrives. Listeners will leave with a calmer, more grounded lens for communication in leadership, relationships, and everyday life.

About the Guest:

Mike Swenson spent his career at the intersection of journalism, politics, and public relations. He served as press secretary to Kansas Governor John Carlin, founded Barkley Public Relations in Kansas City, and grew it into a national leader in crisis communications and cause branding over 32 years. He has also served as global president of IPREX, a network of more than 90 independent PR firms worldwide. He now consults independently and offers the CrisisTrak crisis communication video series for organizations building their own preparedness plans.

Key Takeaways:

• In crisis communication, three questions must always be answered clearly: here is what happened, here is what we are doing about it, and here is how it affects you. Once the crisis ends, a fourth follows: here is what we are doing to prevent it from happening again.
• Disciplined messaging means choosing one to three key points and staying focused on them. Trying to communicate everything at once communicates nothing. Simplicity earns permission for deeper conversation.
• Listening is not the passive side of communication. Messages built without first listening to what audiences need are messages that miss. Research, curiosity, and genuine attention to others is where good communication begins.
• Organizations that build a savings account of goodwill through credibility, transparency, and consistent care for people have something real to draw on when a crisis arrives. Those that don't have nothing to fall back on.
• In a world of competing narratives and AI-generated content, the responsibility to verify sources and stick to verified facts is more urgent than ever, for organizations and individuals alike.
• Communication breakdowns in families, workplaces, and between nations often share the same root: too much talking, not enough listening, and an unwillingness to find even one point of shared ground.

Connect with the Guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeswenson1/

Website:https://crisistrak.com/ (CrisisTrak crisis communication video series)

Episode Chapters:

[00:00] When Crisis Hits, Everyone Talks (approx.) — Why clarity becomes the first casualty when pressure rises

[08:18] Single Voice, Simple Message (approx.) — The founding principle Mike built his PR career around

[16:50] Why Listening Comes Before Messaging (approx.) — The research that shapes what you say before you say anything

[22:40] The Corporate Jargon Problem (approx.) — Why organizations overcomplicate communication in their most critical moments

[27:00] Goodwill as a Crisis Asset (approx.) — The savings account that either protects or fails you under pressure

[31:30] Facts, Trust, and the Media Landscape (approx.) — Why credibility is both more fragile and more essential in the age of AI

[36:30] Closing Reflection (approx.) — What mindful co