HearSay
The language experts from maslansky + partners take on the smartest, savviest, and sometimes stupidest messages in the market today. CEO Michael Maslansky and President Lee Carter bring their experience with words, communication, and behavioral science to the table — along with a colleague or two — and offer up a "lay of the language." Their insight helps make sense of business, life, and culture, and proves over and over again that It's Not What You Say, It's What They Hear.
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The Price of Life: Shifting Perceptions of Pharmaceuticals
04/18/2024
The Price of Life: Shifting Perceptions of Pharmaceuticals
In this episode, CEO Michael Maslansky, and Partners Lee Carter and Katie Cronen delve into the pharmaceutical industry's enduring reputation struggles, tracing their origins back to pre-pandemic times and exploring the transformative impact of COVID-19. Through insightful discussions and case studies, they’ll propose strategies for reshaping the industry's narrative, emphasizing the importance of recasting pharma as more than profit-driven entities and fostering consumer trust.
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The Language of the Candidates
03/28/2024
The Language of the Candidates
In this new episode of HearSay, Lee Carter and Ben Feller look at what the two presidential candidates are saying, what’s important about it – and what people should be listening for in the political months ahead. Now that President Biden and Former President Trump are officially set for a rematch, Lee and Ben will analyze their contrasting approaches to how they frame issues like the economy, threats to our democracy, and the issue looming above both of theme room—their age. Lee and Ben offer insights into the current political landscape and speculate on the future trajectory of the election, based on many years of covering and considering how language shapes voter perception and behavior.
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The Real Cost of Corporate Speak
03/14/2024
The Real Cost of Corporate Speak
Corporations think they know what they need to say but they can never say it when it comes to responsiveness, and empathy, but what is happening behind the scenes causing these crisis situations and what could they have said differently? In this episode of Hearsay, Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and Ben Feller explore different moments of crisis and share their insights on what the challenges of corporate speak are, what it cost corporations that do nothing, and the different solutions to manage a crisis.
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The LVIII Superbowl Ads
02/14/2024
The LVIII Superbowl Ads
Join Lee Carter, Keith Yazmir, and Will Howard in this special episode of HearSay as they delve into the world of Super Bowl ads. They'll debate which ads truly stood out, not just in terms of popularity but in their messaging impact. From breaking down language to assessing brand impact, this episode explores the ads that left a lasting impression on viewers during the biggest advertising night of the year.
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What Would You Have Said?: Boeing
02/06/2024
What Would You Have Said?: Boeing
Once something goes wrong, it’s easy to criticize the message a company uses to respond. But it's much harder to figure out what they should have said instead. In this episode of Hearsay, Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and Will Howard dive into the wrongs, the rights, and how Boeing’s language will matter in the weeks and months ahead.
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Framing an Organization’s Mission with Theirworld
01/11/2024
Framing an Organization’s Mission with Theirworld
What’s so hard about doing the right thing? In today’s environment, it’s often met with skepticism. So how do you take an organization with a noble cause: like educating the world’s youth and ending the global education crisis and get people to both care and act about it? In today’s show, we’ll talk through the process we go through in framing an organization’s mission and impact in a way that ensures you’re heard the right way.
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Language Moments of 2023
12/14/2023
Language Moments of 2023
What were those top Language Moments of 2023? As language experts, we’re always listening for those moments that change the way we view companies, politics, business… and each other. From Bidenomics to MAGAnomics, from rainbow capitalism to Barbenheimer, this year had more than its share of new language moments, and in this new episode of Hearsay, Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and guest Ben Feller talk through those big moments of the year that changed our view of the world around us.
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Walking the Walk on Responsible Business with Daggerwing
11/30/2023
Walking the Walk on Responsible Business with Daggerwing
Congratulations, you’ve set your sustainability goals! Now you actually have to achieve them. How do you make environmental sustainability work for your business? It all comes back to people. Selling in, rolling out, and scaling up real, functional sustainability programs requires understanding your employees. It requires a thoughtful business case, careful change management, and, of course, the right message. In this episode of HearSay, we'll discuss how to implement environmental sustainanability programs in a practical, profitable, and people-centric way with our two special guests from Daggerwing Group, Michelle Mahony and Tiana Ritchell.
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HearSay Presents: Pile of Scrap with John Sacco and Michael Maslansky
09/07/2023
HearSay Presents: Pile of Scrap with John Sacco and Michael Maslansky
How can a simple shift in language revolutionize perceptions? In this special episode of HearSay, join Pile of Scrap host John Sacco as he engages with communication expert Michael Maslansky where they explore the rebranding of the recycled materials industry. From redefining raw materials to spotlighting its vital role in iconic products, Michael's insights guide listeners on embracing recycled materials' value, changing the narrative, and encouraging responsible disposal.
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Fear, Trust, and AI
08/17/2023
Fear, Trust, and AI
How can companies use language to overcome fear and build trust in AI? In this episode, Michael Maslansky, Keith Yazmir, and Robert Ledniczky dive into the rapidly changing world of AI and explore how companies should be talking about it. They discuss widespread concerns and excitement surrounding AI to set the stage for recommendations on how to generate trust. By narrating the AI story with a focus on benefits, responsibility, and familiarity, they shed light on how companies can successfully communicate about how they’re integrating AI into their business.
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Authenticity is in the Eye of the Beholder
07/31/2023
Authenticity is in the Eye of the Beholder
Not all actions that companies take in the name of ESG are controversial. How do some companies manage to seamlessly integrate ESG initiatives into their brand messaging while others get accused of superficial "greenwashing" or "rainbow-washing"? In this episode of Hearsay, Michael Maslansky, Will Howard, and Keith Yazmir discuss the delicate balance of serving stakeholders while remaining authentic and credible.
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The S in the ESG
07/13/2023
The S in the ESG
What’s the future for ESG now that it has become politicized? Can companies speak out on ESG without risk of being criticized as Woke Capitalists or should they really just focus on products and profits? What if the most controversial aspect of ESG is the language used to talk about? In this episode of HearSay, Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and guest Will Howard cover new research on the language of ESG and how companies can find a path forward that serves stakeholders and customers on both sides of the political aisle.
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An Intellectually Honest Approach to Insights with Ori Ben Yishai
05/25/2023
An Intellectually Honest Approach to Insights with Ori Ben Yishai
We all know it’s critical to understand your audience before creating any marketing, but how do you do it in an intellectually honest way? How do you make sure you are truly focused on your audience as they are, not as you want them to be? In this episode of HearSay, guest Ori Ben Yishai, a partner at Viewpoint Ventures, talks about the intellectually honest approach to insights and how to use what you learn to build language strategy that drives results.
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Lazy, Legal, and the Default Language: Flipping the Mindset on Customer Communications
05/15/2023
Lazy, Legal, and the Default Language: Flipping the Mindset on Customer Communications
Every customer communication, no matter how small, is a moment of trust. Transactional communications—like order confirmations, account updates, or payment notices—can have an outsized effect on your brand and reputation. After all, the brand customers know is the one they experience every day. What makes good customer communications? And how can the language you choose help you make the most of every touchpoint? In this episode of HearSay, Senior Vice President Maria Boos shares her insights on the impact of customer communications, why so many companies struggle to get them right, and how to make them work for you, not against you.
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Crisis Fatigue and Climate Change: Is it time to change the language?
04/20/2023
Crisis Fatigue and Climate Change: Is it time to change the language?
Scientists and climate activists have been warning people that the world is ending since the 80s. The U.N. recently upped the stakes in the climate report. How do you make people care when they’ve been hearing the house is on fire for 40 years? Is this the issue that cried wolf? In this latest episode of HearSay, Will Howard and Director of Ad Net Zero John Osborn share their insights on the message fatigue surrounding climate change, creating credibility, and choosing the right words to drive change. Whether you discuss climate change in your personal life or about sustainability topics in your company, there's something in it for you.
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Communicating Through Common Ground with Bob Rowe, CEO of Northwestern Energy
04/13/2023
Communicating Through Common Ground with Bob Rowe, CEO of Northwestern Energy
Connecting with customers is a challenge. It has to start with finding shared goals and a shared language. In this episode, guest Bob Rowe from Northwestern Energy shares his approach to creating common ground with your audience—so you can build trust, improve relationships, and reinforce reputation.
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The Language of Social Good
04/06/2023
The Language of Social Good
It’s not enough to do good nowadays. In a competitive environment, you need to find the right language to distinguish your organization from the rest. In this episode, guest Brian Crimmins, CEO of Changing Our World, Global Partner of ONE HUNDRED, and co-author of The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges shares his expertise on how nonprofits can reframe their language to cut through the noise.
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Trust, Transparency, and Turmoil
03/23/2023
Trust, Transparency, and Turmoil
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank kicked off a heated debate: are we headed toward a financial crisis? One thing’s for sure: we're already in a financial COMMUNICATIONS crisis. We've been watching how companies are talking—or not talking—about the state of the US financial system. And we have a few thoughts on what they're getting right and wrong. Join Lee Carter, Katie Cronen, Will Howard, and Rob Ledniczky for a fresh perspective on how the industry should be using language to their advantage, now and in the coming months.
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The Smartest, Stupidest, + Savviest Messages of 2022
12/20/2022
The Smartest, Stupidest, + Savviest Messages of 2022
HearSay for 2022 ends with a bang, as we look at the smartest, savviest, + stupidest messages of 2022. Michael Maslansky and Lee Carter are joined by HearSay veterans Keith Yazmir and Ben Feller, sharing their takes on the top pop culture language moments of the year: from Tom Brady and Will Smith’s outbursts to Serena Williams’ retirement to Jennifer Aniston’s conversation around her IVF journey. It’s a fun conversation about language and some of the moments we all remember from 2022, for better or worse — with important lessons we can learn from each of them.
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Your Most Important Audience Isn't Always Who You Think It Is
12/06/2022
Your Most Important Audience Isn't Always Who You Think It Is
Internal company communications often is just about sharing information. Employees are busy and can skip over communications, because they feel less important. Getting internal communications right -- communications that breaks through -- especially in a virtual or hybrid workplace is particularly important. It has to be relatable, urgent, and clear. Because it helps how we work together, how we think, and how we win with our outside audiences. Lee Carter and Michael Maslansky are joined by Ben Feller to highlight examples of where companies go right and go wrong, and what you can do today to build more trust for your team.
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How to Sell a Value-Backed Mission
11/22/2022
How to Sell a Value-Backed Mission
Whether it's public or private, kindergarten or college, schools and school systems today have objectives, just like any business might. They need to recruit faculty, attract students, raise funding, fight for policies, appeal to parents, win the big game, and achieve any of a dozen other essential objectives. They need to express the value of the service they provide. A service that's abstract, emotional, and, often, expensive. The institutions that do it best are often the ones that most effectively employ language. On this episode of HearSay, Michael and Lee are joined by Partner Ben Feller and Vice President Will Howard to talk about how to do it right, from characterizing what your school is and who it's for to what happens within the four walls of your school to the value your school provides.
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The 3 Themes of the Midterm Elections
11/08/2022
The 3 Themes of the Midterm Elections
At its core, good language strategy finds language that motivates people to take action. It’s how business is done and how elections are won. But voters find themselves increasingly focused on more and more issues, and what we like to call “wedge” issues aren’t wedges anymore — they’re make or break issues. In the 2018 election cycle, political messages hinged on the single issue of healthcare. Lee and Michael are joined by Partner Ben Feller to uncover the three main themes that are defining this midterm cycle. And why the message that resonates in each of these themes is usually from the party or candidates playing offense rather than defense.
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You Need a Personal Messaging Strategy
11/02/2022
You Need a Personal Messaging Strategy
We’re all creatures of habit, and we default to certain forms of communication without even realizing it. But what if those defaults are actually hurting your daily potential? Whether it’s in a meeting, in a customer service interaction, or even in a negotiation, the way you set yourself up and communicate in interactions changes the outcome. Lee Carter is joined by Keith Yazmir and Ben Feller for an engaging, practical conversation on how to use language strategy in your everyday life -- from putting your best foot forward in meetings, to getting your desired outcome in a customer service interaction, to setting yourself up to succeed in any presentation setting.
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The Secret to Improving Your Brand's Reputation
10/18/2022
The Secret to Improving Your Brand's Reputation
When you are trying to build (or re-build) reputation, your job is to disrupt the way people think. And to disrupt, you can’t just speak louder, you need to speak smarter. Instincts tell us to correct misperceptions. And our instincts are often wrong. Leaning in to facts and data often backfires. Change the narrative and you can change minds. Lee Carter and Michael Maslansky are joined by Senior Vice President Katie Cronen to discuss one of the often overlooked elements of reputation management, the effective use of language, message, and narrative.
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You Win the Debate by Framing the Debate
10/11/2022
You Win the Debate by Framing the Debate
Language shapes how we view the world around us. The news is no exception. A border crisis. An immigration crisis. A humanitarian crisis. All language used to describe the same story but changes how we view it. Michael and Lee are joined by m+p Partner Ben Feller to talk about the value of personalization, why keeping it simple in your messaging gets you further, and what the idea of credibility and plausibility mean in a post-truth era.
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How to Change Someone's Mind
10/04/2022
How to Change Someone's Mind
You might think that empathy is as simple as putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. But it’s much more complicated. While most of us have empathy for people who we care about and love, we don’t have a natural ability to have empathy for people who aren’t like us. This distinction is easy to ignore until we realize that the audiences we’re focused on reaching with messages that resonate aren’t just like us. President Lee Carter, CEO Michael Maslansky, and Partner Keith Yazmir highlight what it means to practice active empathy; the need for understanding your audience, especially if you don’t agree with them; and how successful empathy can drive growth for your company.
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Differentiation: How You Stand Out From Competition
09/27/2022
Differentiation: How You Stand Out From Competition
You know your company or product is different. But does it sound different? Sometimes all that differentiates you from the competition is your story. The right language can change behavior, perception, and drive sales. How that story is framed matters more than you think. Using examples like “zero proof” non-alcoholic beverages, a “no hoops” rewards credit card, and an insurance company that “looks for ways to say yes,” President Lee Carter, CEO Michael Maslansky, and Vice President Will Howard highlight the tools you need you stand out from the crowd.
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Your Audience Is Always Right
09/20/2022
Your Audience Is Always Right
Language changes the way we view the world, politics, business, and products. Sometimes, it's totally intentional. Sometimes, it's not. But there is no doubt that the effective use of language can drive behavior. And that's what language strategy is all about. Finding the language that changes the game. President Lee Carter and CEO Michael Maslansky are joined by Partner Keith Yazmir to talk about how maslansky + partners invented language strategy, they discuss why certain messages resonate (and don't), and they also share some of their favorite Language Strategy wins: from Starbucks VIA® Instant Coffee to variable annuities.
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The Smartest, Stupidest, + Savviest Messages of 2021 (So Far)
06/01/2021
The Smartest, Stupidest, + Savviest Messages of 2021 (So Far)
Season One of HearSay ends with a bang: the smartest, savviest, + stupidest messages of 2021 so far. Michael and Lee are joined by HearSay veterans Keith and Katie to give their takes on the messages that have stood out: from Voltswagen, to Harry and Megan’s Oprah interview (and the royal response), to President Biden’s infrastructure plan and the true pronunciation of “cheugy.” They focus in not just in some of the biggest language moments of the year so far — but what we can all learn from them.
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Tell A Different Story: Words To Use And Lose For Sustainability Comms
05/25/2021
Tell A Different Story: Words To Use And Lose For Sustainability Comms
This week on HearSay, Michael and Lee welcome back podcast alumni Will Howard and Sachi Pettit to talk about all things sustainability, including how to respond appropriately to your critics, examples of successful corporate sustainability communication frameworks (from programs/products like Starbucks' Shared Planet, Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan, and Adidas' Ocean Shoe), and how to depoliticize your sustainability language.
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