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From PR War Rooms to Page-Turners: John David’s The Bystander (Ep. 291)
About this Episode
In this episode, I sit down with John David—longtime public relations and crisis communications consultant turned award‑winning novelist—to dig into how media narratives are shaped, what goes missing when a story goes viral, and the real-world pressures behind “controlling the message.”
We unpack the inspiration behind his debut thriller, The Bystander, which opens with a bystander stopping an active shooter and a TV reporter capturing the moment on video—only for the aftermath to challenge what everyone thinks they saw. We also talk gun culture, training versus capability, and why complicated issues make for the most compelling fiction.
John pulls back the curtain on crisis comms, from dealing with high-stakes incidents to online reputation fires, and then walks us through the maze of modern publishing—agents, digital-first presses, bookstore realities, and what it really takes to break through. If you’ve ever wondered who’s steering the story you’re being told—or what it takes to tell your own—this conversation delivers a candid, insider look.
Guest: John P. David
https://byjohndavid.substack.com/
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Special thanks to:
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Executive Producer Rosanna Rankin
Executive Producer Carolina Jimenez
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Executive Producer Angela Wetuski
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(00:01:44) Cold open and Monday kickoff at the Asylum
(00:03:37) Weekend recap and setting up tonight’s agenda
(00:04:47) Housekeeping, live show schedule, and how to connect
(00:06:09) Where to watch and why sharing matters
(00:08:38) Introducing guest John David and his thriller The Bystander
(00:09:19) Late start mishaps and icebreaker questions begin
(00:10:14) Trends, ties, and dress codes in a changing work culture
(00:13:12) Puzzles, persistence, and the writer’s mindset
(00:14:38) Interpersonal communication and empathy
(00:16:20) Inside PR and crisis communications: real-world cases
(00:19:26) Online crises and the speed of the Internet
(00:19:59) From PR to fiction: why write a novel now?
(00:21:00) Fiction vs. nonfiction publishing realities
(00:22:59) A real incident sparks The Bystander
(00:35:06) Opening scene breakdown: when a video goes viral
(00:36:59) Themes: viral fame, media narratives, and what’s real
(00:37:05) Guns, rights, and writing down the middle
(00:41:40) Training, preparedness, and the complexity of arming people
(00:45:01) States, culture, and where we live: New York, Texas, California
(00:47:16) Small-town life, food nostalgia, and making it yourself
(00:49:52) Wings, sauce, and culinary pride
(00:51:04) The publishing slog: agents, Big Five, and gatekeepers
(00:55:57) Finding a path through smaller presses
(00:59:58) What digital-first publishing really means
(01:02:21) Bookstores, signings, and the future of browsing
(01:05:13) Loving physical books in a digital world
(01:08:29) Wrapping with respect: who inspires John right now
(01:10:16) Where to find The Bystander and what’s next
(01:11:53) Host wrap-up and key takeaway on narratives
(01:15:06) Value-for-value shout-outs and how to support the show
(01:16:35) Final sign-off: keep talking and see you tomorrow
- Wayne Rankin
- Rosanna Rankin
- Carolina Jimenez
Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
