Nicola Sturgeon

In this week's edition of the News Review on the PRmoment podcast, host Ben Smith, is joined by industry heavyweights Mark Borkowski and Angie Moxham to dissect one of the most significant political crisis management events of the year: Nicola Sturgeon’s high-stakes sit-down interview with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC. Following her estranged husband Peter Murrell’s recent guilty plea to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP, the former First Minister faced an intense 55-minute interrogation aimed at shifting the narrative from political complicity to personal betrayal. Ben kicks off the discussion by questioning whether the interview succeeded in separating Sturgeon’s personal reputation from the unfolding financial scandal of the party she led for nearly a decade. Mark Borkowski offers a sharp critique of the crisis communications strategy, noting that while Sturgeon’s performance was emotionally raw—particularly when discussing a £425 necklace bought with stolen funds—it ultimately struggled under the weight of incredulity. He argues that her core defense—claiming she had no "conscious memory" of a massive motorhome parked outside her mother-in-law's house—strained public belief, leaving the "brand" of Sturgeon severely damaged despite her formidable media skills. Angie Moxham shifts the lens toward the gender dynamics and long-term reputational impact. Moxham observes that Sturgeon deliberately weaponized a highly relatable narrative: the trope of a successful woman being unfairly blamed for the hidden, fraudulent actions of the man in her life. While Angie acknowledges that this framing could resonate strongly with a core segment of the public and female voters, she questions whether it can truly repair the massive trust deficit currently facing the SNP. Moxham analyzes how the "personal vs. political" mashup plays out for independent brand survival, noting that Sturgeon’s insistence that she is “serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit” effectively positions her as the primary victim, eclipsing the independence donors whose money was actually taken. The panel agrees that while the BBC gave Sturgeon the necessary space to outline her trauma and bewilderment, the interview highlights the near-impossible task of separating a leader's legacy from systemic organizational failure. Ultimately, the review concludes that while Sturgeon successfully reminded the public of her formidable communication prowess, the sheer volume of high-value goods involved makes an absolute reputational recovery unlikely. Finally, Ben closes the segment with an important industry notice, urging listeners to submit their entries for the upcoming Creative Moment Awards before the final entry deadline on June 19th. You can watch the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Interview to see the exact moment Nicola Sturgeon addresses the embezzlement scandal and discusses the personal toll it has taken on her life.

To mark the year anniversary of Intogreat, we turn the tables on Nicola O'Donoghue, Founder and CEO of Intogreat and host of Great Conversations, as she becomes the guest! Interviewed by Denise McGrouther, Nicola opens up about the journey that led her to Intogreat, exploring how challenges—including past abusive relationships—have shaped her perspective and commitment to personal growth. We dive into the role of self-awareness and therapy in living authentically, and Denise throws in some light-hearted questions to uncover Nicola’s guilty pleasures and what makes her smile. This quick-fire, personal episode is a chance to connect with the voice behind the podcast. For those curious to hear even more of Nicola’s story, check out two previous episodes that dive deeper into her transformative journey. Coming Home to Yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVthvyx234&t=269s Overcoming Domestic Abuse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjZjQlxpmDg&t=2881s Follow intogreat: https://www.intogreat.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ YouTube: / channelucil0hwgiyfxrzni5nyox0jq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... LinkedIn: / 89635344

Great Conversations is a podcast about the messy and beautiful parts of being human. Hosted by Nicola O'Donoghue, a globally accredited coach, entrepreneur and writer. Nicola speaks to extraordinary people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and professions about how they are navigating their way through life, relationships, parenting, work and everything in between.

Separation and divorce is a very challenging time. As an international relationship and divorce coach, one thing I see people struggle with, is “finding themselves” again. Many find after years of putting others needs before their own that they don’t know who they are anymore...In this episode you will find 7 simple steps you can take now to rediscover who you are and redesign your life. Your learn how to enjoy this time in your life and create a new beginning! Please note - all names have been changed for confidential reasons. Nicola is an International Relationship & Divorce Coach. She works with executives, professionals and expats across the globe to create change and emotionally heal after marriage breakdown and divorce. Programs Include: Marriage Support, Deciding if the Marriage is Over, Divorce Support, Creating a New Life After Divorce, Helping Children with Divorce and Co-Parenting Support For more free resources visit www.purepeacecoaching.com