Taking Control of the Narrative, with Maddie Alexander Grout
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome back to What is Public Relations, the podcast. I'm your host, Laura Perks. And today we're going to be having a slightly different conversation because up until this point, I've very much been talking to you about the power of visibility, the power of PR, becoming niche famous, being seen, heard, hired and paid as the authority, all the juicy stuff. But it would be very naive of me to gatekeep what can often happen on the other side of that increased visibility. So my guest today has very kindly said that she would come on and share her experiences because I know from being connected with her on socials and seeing her posts that she does often get a lot of the negative side of being in the press.
However, it doesn't stop her. So without further ado, Maddy Alexander-Graut, welcome to the podcast.
Thanks for having me, Laura. Yeah, I am. I think probably the best way to describe me is the press's favourite sick fluencer. And that comes with a great amount of responsibility, I have to say.
I'm sure.
How does Maddie define the term 'Sickfluencer'?
And correct me if I'm wrong, that sounds like a Daily Mail headline.
It is. Well, do you know what? Actually, it was a Telegraph headline to start with. No way. So it all started back in January. So just to give a little bit of context, I'm an ADHD coach. I'm a disability advocate. I'm part of the Disability Power 100. I am a multi-disabled but hidden disability queen. Like I always say that my disabilities are like as long as the Magna Carta. You just can't see any of them. So therefore, like when I talk about disabilities, people are like, well, you don't look disabled.
What challenges did Maddie face with increased visibility?
And I'm like, well... Like, I mean, you don't look like a twat, but here we go. Like, it happens. And basically, I do a lot of content on my social media around finances because I'm a money specialist. So I, although I'm an ADHD coach, I specialize in money and business. So I do a lot of like, here's how you can like apply for a grant that you're entitled to if you're disabled, which is called Access to Work. And essentially, the government don't like people signposting to things that they have to pay for. So I got... quite a few big videos like quite a few big viral videos which were like oh you scroungers you benefit frauds you thieves like all of these things and it's like well actually um people are allowed to have benefits that that help them in their workplace because it's all about helping people stay in work not it's not about like having people out of work so they claim other benefits right so
so um so i do a lot of content around that and it was early january when um one of my friends sent me a voice note and said maddie are you okay and i was like yes i mean i found a lump in my boob this week but you know apart from that i haven't told anyone about that so you know apart from that yes i'm fine what's going on she said um you're on the front page of the telegraph and i was like Sing. I am famous. This is fabulous. Why am I on the page of the Telegraph? So I went and had a look.
How can negative press be leveraged for business growth?
And I was like, oh, this is not great. Sick fluences. And it was like the rise of the sick fluencer. So essentially, the press's narrative of sick fluences are they are people who persuade people that they are sick in order to defraud the government. Which is, I mean, like, I feel like the definition is slightly flawed there. So that was the first bit. And then I had another friend phoning me. And she said, Maddy, they're talking about you on LBC. And I was like, okay. As in, like, they're talking about ADHD coaches. They're talking about. And she was like, no, no, no, they've mentioned you by name. For God's sake, what's going on? And it was Nick Ferrari. Okay.
What strategies does Maddie suggest for handling online criticism?
And I was on a bit of an adrenaline high from the fact that I was being thrown under the bus. So I thought, well, I'm not going to let them talk about me without me being able to have my say. So I phoned in. um nick ferrari was not expecting what he got from me um as an ex-radio presenter and somebody that is in the press a lot somebody who goes on the radio a lot um i think he was expecting somebody who was going to be like the sick fluencer don't be so horrible to me
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:17–1:27
2
How does Maddie define the term 'Sickfluencer'?
1:27–2:03
3
What challenges did Maddie face with increased visibility?
2:03–3:35
4
How can negative press be leveraged for business growth?
3:35–4:24
5
What strategies does Maddie suggest for handling online criticism?
4:24–5:26
6
How can entrepreneurs maintain their authenticity in the press?
5:26–6:09
7
What lessons can be learned from Maddie's experiences with the media?
6:09–6:59
8
How can one effectively manage the narrative around their personal brand?
6:59–39:39
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from What is Public Relations?
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Rethinking Success & Identity with Jodie Haywood
Evolving Your Business and Brand in the Face of Criticism, with Lisa Johnson
Day 9: Patience, Persistence, and PR Results