I do not know if this will be a script or a blog post, but I just need to write something down for a change. Shocker I know. Today as I write this, it is August 28, 2022. Three days ago before the start of events in Dallas for Podcast Movement 2022, the PR/Social Media team for Podcast Movement (PM) posted a series of tweets about Ben Shapiro (co-founder and co-owner of The Daily Wire) showing up to their event the previous day. Now for this PM event, the Daily Wire was given a booth space as the Daily Wire is at its core, a podcast network that has grown into a multimedia company.

            PM is foundationally about promoting podcast content, creators, and helping educate those that need it and for those that want to be mentors. In its own verbiage, “….PM has grown with the community’s support to become the ultimate annual destination for diverse speakers, education, networking, and groovy parties.” Note the “diverse speakers” part of that sentence, diverse is not meant as diversity of thought or opinion, but is intended as diversity in race, gender, ability, etc. of their pantheon of oppression. Yes, “Pantheon of Oppression” is how I am going to choose to describe the “progressive or woke” left and media.

            I bring this up because in the progressive side of social media the more things you are oppressed by the more your voice should be elevated. The worship of those more oppressed is a religion in and of itself that cares not about ending oppression but perpetuating it continually. It is because of this mentality that when someone like Ben Shapiro shows up at an event, people claim that they are oppressed by Ben, even if he does not interact with those people. So when the paying members complain to the event coordinating company, what is that company supposed to do?

            Well, in my opinion there are basically three methods that Podcast Movement could have used to respond to this situation. First is the option they took, second is support Ben, and third is do nothing. I will go over them in the least effective to the most effective way of dealing with this situation. Again, this is just my opinion, take it for what it is. I find that companies that kowtow to the vocal minority are too cowardly to stand up for their own values. Podcast Movement, in my opinion, kowtowed to the people that do not care about what podcasting represents.

            So the least effective method is do nothing. This will just attract the ire of both sides and basically makes the company indecisive. Doing nothing often seems like the best move, remove yourself from the equation and you are safe. Sorry for the Tron: Legacy reference. The point being by doing nothing PM would eventually be forced by someone to comment as well as doing brand harm to themselves. Actually, all three methods have some form of brand harm involved, but we will get to them.

            Along with damage to the brand, it will make sponsor companies think twice about supporting PM in the future. At least if they pick a side, it will help sponsors know if they want to support events in the future. With that said, I think that there are instances where not responding for a period of time is beneficial, but that is a case-by-case basis.

            Now the middle ground, apologizing to the mob that is creating the ruckus. The events took place on Wednesday August 24, 2022. Ben was at the booth, unbeknownst to the staff of PM22. He was talking to people and taking selfies with people. He was not a panel member, but as the co-founder and co-owner of The Daily Wire it should be expected that he and others might show up. Now to give PM the benefit of the doubt here, I have looked at the next event “Evolutions” in 2023 to have a booth that is 10ft x 10ft it is $3,500 and gives you two passes. So I would assume something similar would be in order for Podcast Movement 2022. This is where I think Ben and The Daily Wire team could have messed up by bringing him in when he did not have a pass. I do not know this to be the case but let us assume it is. If Ben got in without a pass, then people obviously have a right to get angry and complain to the event staff. Even owners of companies should have to go through the vetting process of an event.

            Though I doubt this is what happened, I can admit that this scenario is plausible, and we can agree that it is a mistake (intentional or otherwise.) that warrants action by the event staff. I have no proof at the time of writing this whether this is the actual scenario, however I do not think this is the scenario as provided by the apology tweet provided by PM.

            PM initial tweet is exactly why I think they chose the wrong course of action, and it follows: “Hi folks, we owe you an apology before sessions kick off for the day. Yesterday afternoon, Ben Shapiro briefly visited the PM22 expo area near The Daily Wire booth. Though he was not register or expected, we take full responsibility for the harm done by his presence.” If that does not scream kowtowing, I do not know what does.

            Now I know some will explain to me how evil or how manipulative Ben is. To them I ask are you to the right or left of Stalin and Mao? Ben is a conservative pundit and “his presence” should not cause anyone such a distress that PM had to make these apology tweets. Show me the harm that he causes to people, I can just as easily show you the opposite.

            Now if Ben did not pay to be there or did not get credentialed properly for the event, I agree he should be asked to leave the premises. However, if he, himself, paid for or if The Daily Wire paid for a pass for him to come by, then what is the issue about? Oh that’s right, it is a non-issue.

            Now what should PM have done in this situation? Well first off, do not apologize. Ben has a right to check in on his employees as a boss and owner. He also is a bit of a celebrity to many, so what better way to get to know your audience then to mingle with them. Now once they were aware of his presence, they should have contacted The Daily Wire team and offered to provide Ben with credentials. This is not something that should be exclusively offered to Ben or anyone else in the conservative side of politics, but to all CEOs, owners, and the like for a business.

            PM also should have acknowledged that Ben is a well-liked podcaster and presenter, though they disagree with his point of view. They could have taken a classier way of turning an awkward situation and putting a positive spin on while addressing the concerns of the vocal minority. Yet here we are, they failed to be a decent organization to a fellow podcaster.

            As I was writing this out, I found the clip from Ben’s show on YouTube where he talks about this. I will let him speak for himself and I will post the link below. Regardless of your opinion of the man, as an owner of a company he should have been credentialed just the same as Peter Freedman of Rode Microphones should be or the CEO of the same company Damien Wilson. These people have a vested interest in their companies at these events and should be able to check in on their employees.

            As I have said, I think that the best option for PM would be to embrace Ben and The Daily Wire team overall, because as they stated in their second tweet “We agreed to sell The Daily Wire a first-time booth based on the company’s large presence in podcasting.” This shows that PM did not actually care about their presence in the podcast community, but the dollar signs that bringing in a controversial group in would generate publicity for their own business.

            PM has every right to restrict access to their events. These are not public in the sense the general public can come and go freely. They have the right to charge for that access and companies that pay for access should pay for all the people that they THINK may want access to the event. The problem with these situations is the optics that can only be seen in hindsight, though should have been seen if it were not for the myopic views of the PR and Social Media teams for PM. While I do not expect them to apologize to Ben or The Daily Wire for the poor handling of this situation, I just know that I personally will not go to one of their events that I am paying for. If some company wants to pay me to cover one of their events, click the contact page link on the site.

Link to Ben’s video about this:

Lastly I want to add that I am doing a video on this topic, but I am hoping to get responses both from Podcast Movement and also from The Daily Wire in a news story style.