Person

Principles

Problems

Perspicacity

Rutger Bregman challenges us to create ripple effects from small personal changes that benefit entire communities.

Jefferson Fisher revolutionises everyday communication by eliminating power-draining language and embracing uncomfortable directness.

A hotel chain’s tone-deaf Mother’s Day spam highlights the need for sensitivity in seasonal marketing.

And Golden North’s Giant Twin ice cream becomes a lens for examining whether sharing still resonates in modern advertising.

Get ready to take notes.

Talking About Marketing podcast episode notes with timecodes

02:00 Person This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal.
Creating Space for Moral Ambition

Starting with Rutger Bregman’s “Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference,” our hosts explore the delicate balance between self-care and societal impact, thanks to Bregman’s appearance on the Making Sense podcast with Sam Harris. Steve introduces the concept of a “Draper Day” (inspired by Mad Men’s Don Draper), suggesting we all need occasional disappearances for genuine recharge – not just mental health days, but proper disconnection.

David connects Bregman’s philosophy to the recent Australian federal election, where voters rejected divisive politics that “pointed fingers” and embraced competition over cooperation. The discussion reveals how entropy means nothing maintains itself without effort – whether that’s democracy, business culture, or personal wellbeing. As David notes, every day requires doing “the next necessary thing” to make life better for yourself and those around you.

11:30 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today.
The Art of Not Apologising (And Other Communication Revelations)

Jefferson Fisher’s “The Next Conversation” provides a masterclass in communication refinement that had both hosts reconsidering their linguistic habits. This young Texan attorney’s approach centres on three transformative principles that challenge comfortable communication patterns.

First, stop cheapening apologies – replace “sorry I’m late” with “thank you for waiting.”

Second, eliminate minimising language like “just” that undermines your right to participate. David recalls teaching university students, particularly women, to stop diminishing their contributions.

Third, deliver difficult news directly – the segment’s most confronting lesson involves firing an employee without false pleasantries that raise cruel hope before crushing it.

Steve’s admission of chronic over-apologising and David’s observations about gendered language patterns reveal how these seemingly minor shifts dramatically alter perceived authority and confidence.

24:00 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners.
When Mother’s Day Marketing Hits Raw Nerves

Michael Mills’ scorching Facebook post about receiving multiple Mother’s Day lunch promotions after his mother’s death launches a necessary conversation about marketing sensitivity. The hotel chain’s spam campaign represents a broader failure to consider diverse customer circumstances during emotionally charged holidays.

Our hosts highlight positive examples, including Café Belgiorno‘s thoughtful approach acknowledging that for some, Mother’s Day involves cherished memories rather than current celebrations. Etsy’s proactive strategy emerges as best practice – sending pre-emptive emails asking if customers want to opt out of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day promotions entirely. This segment underscores how genuine empathy in marketing requires anticipating customer pain points, not just chasing seasonal revenue.

27:30 Perspicacity This segment is designed to sharpen our thinking by reflecting on a case study from the past.
The Evolution of Sharing (Through the Lens of Ice Cream)

Golden North‘s marketing journey provides fascinating insight into changing social dynamics through their iconic Giant Twin – an ice cream designed to be snapped and shared. From early provenance-focused ads emphasising their Laura, South Australia heritage to clever visual gags of see-through cows, the brand’s evolution mirrors broader advertising trends.

The revelation comes in a 2021 video featuring twins recounting childhood Giant Twin memories – many involving tears and tantrums over forced sharing. This “scarily refreshing” honesty acknowledges that their sharing-focused product often caused conflict rather than fostering harmony.

Our hosts explore whether modern campaigns should embrace our increasing individualism (couples buying two) or remind us of sharing’s value. Steve’s vision of children using protractors to divide ice cream mathematically captures both the absurdity and truth of human nature. The discussion ultimately questions whether the “mini taste of sacrifice” inherent in sharing still resonates in contemporary culture.

Rutger Bregman challenges us to create ripple effects from small personal changes that benefit entire communities.
Jefferson Fisher revolutionises everyday communication by eliminating power-draining language and embracing uncomfortable directness.
A hotel chain&rsquo;s tone-deaf Mother&rsquo;s Day spam highlights the need for sensitivity in seasonal marketing.
And Golden North&rsquo;s Giant Twin ice cream becomes a lens for examining whether sharing still resonates in modern advertising.
Get ready to take notes.
Talking About Marketing&nbsp;podcast episode notes with timecodes
02:00 Person&nbsp;This segment focusses on you, the person, because we believe business is personal. Creating Space for Moral Ambition
Starting with Rutger Bregman&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="https://amzn.to/43o0Jlv">Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference</a>,&rdquo; our hosts explore the delicate balance between self-care and societal impact, thanks to Bregman&rsquo;s appearance on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/412-better-things-better-people">Making Sense podcast with Sam Harris</a>. Steve introduces the concept of a &ldquo;Draper Day&rdquo; (inspired by Mad Men&rsquo;s Don Draper), suggesting we all need occasional disappearances for genuine recharge &ndash; not just mental health days, but proper disconnection.
David connects Bregman&rsquo;s philosophy to the recent Australian federal election, where voters rejected divisive politics that &ldquo;pointed fingers&rdquo; and embraced competition over cooperation. The discussion reveals how entropy means nothing maintains itself without effort &ndash; whether that&rsquo;s democracy, business culture, or personal wellbeing. As David notes, every day requires doing &ldquo;the next necessary thing&rdquo; to make life better for yourself and those around you.
11:30 Principles This segment focusses principles you can apply in your business today. The Art of Not Apologising (And Other Communication Revelations)
Jefferson Fisher&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="https://amzn.to/4k90XlW">The Next Conversation</a>&rdquo; provides a masterclass in communication refinement that had both hosts reconsidering their linguistic habits. This young Texan attorney&rsquo;s approach centres on three transformative principles that challenge comfortable communication patterns.
First, stop cheapening apologies &ndash; replace &ldquo;sorry I&rsquo;m late&rdquo; with &ldquo;thank you for waiting.&rdquo;
Second, eliminate minimising language like &ldquo;just&rdquo; that undermines your right to participate. David recalls teaching university students, particularly women, to stop diminishing their contributions.
Third, deliver difficult news directly &ndash; the segment&rsquo;s most confronting lesson involves firing an employee without false pleasantries that raise cruel hope before crushing it.
Steve&rsquo;s admission of chronic over-apologising and David&rsquo;s observations about gendered language patterns reveal how these seemingly minor shifts dramatically alter perceived authority and confidence.
24:00 Problems This segment answers questions we've received from clients or listeners. When Mother&rsquo;s Day Marketing Hits Raw Nerves
Michael Mills&rsquo; scorching Facebook post about receiving multiple Mother&rsquo;s Day lunch promotions after his mother&rsquo;s death launches a necessary conversation about marketing sensitivity. The hotel chain&rsquo;s spam campaign represents a broader failure to consider diverse customer circumstances during emotionally charged holidays.
Our hosts highlight positive examples, including&nbsp;<a href="https://caffebelgiorno.com.au/">Caf&eacute; Belgiorno</a>&lsquo;s thoughtful approach acknowledging that for some, Mother&rsquo;s Day involves cherished memories rather than current celebrations. Etsy&rsquo;s proactive strategy emerges as best practice &ndash; sending pre-emptive emails asking if customers want to opt out of Mother&rsquo;s Day and Father&rsquo;s Day promotions entirely. This segment underscores how genuine empathy in marketing requires anticipating customer pain points, not just chasing seasonal revenue.
27:30 Perspicacity This segment is designed to sharpen our thinking by reflecting on a case study from the past. The Evolution of Sharing (Through the Lens of Ice Cream)
<a href="https://goldennorth.com.au/">Golden North</a>&lsquo;s marketing journey provides fascinating insight into changing social dynamics through their iconic Giant Twin &ndash; an ice cream designed to be snapped and shared. From early provenance-focused ads emphasising their Laura, South Australia heritage to clever visual gags of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=924735604920383">see-through cows</a>, the brand&rsquo;s evolution mirrors broader advertising trends.
The revelation comes in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16dxK77LXK/">2021 video featuring twins recounting childhood Giant Twin memories</a>&nbsp;&ndash; many involving tears and tantrums over forced sharing. This &ldquo;scarily refreshing&rdquo; honesty acknowledges that their sharing-focused product often caused conflict rather than fostering harmony.
Our hosts explore whether modern campaigns should embrace our increasing individualism (couples buying two) or remind us of sharing&rsquo;s value. Steve&rsquo;s vision of children using protractors to divide ice cream mathematically captures both the absurdity and truth of human nature. The discussion ultimately questions whether the &ldquo;mini taste of sacrifice&rdquo; inherent in sharing still resonates in contemporary culture.

Talking About Marketing is a podcast for you to help you thrive in your role as a business owner and/or leader. It's produced by the Talked About Marketing team of Steve Davis and David Olney, with artwork by Casey Cumming. Each marketing podcast episode tips its hat to Philip Kotler's famous "4 Ps of Marketing" (Product, Price, Place, Promotion), by honouring our own 4 Ps of Podcasting; Person, Principles, Problems, and Perspicacity. Person. The aim of life is self-development. To realise one's nature perfectly-that is what each of us is here for. - Oscar Wilde Principles. You can never be overdressed or overeducated. - Oscar Wilde Problems. “I asked the question for the best reason possible, for the only reason, indeed, that excuses anyone for asking any question - simple curiosity. - Oscar Wilde Perspicacity. The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it. - Oscar Wilde Apart from our love of words, we really love helping people, so we hope this podcast will become a trusted companion for you on your journey in business. We welcome your comments and feedback via podcast@talkedaboutmarketing.com

Talking About Marketing is a podcast for you to help you thrive in your role as a business owner and/or leader. It's produced by the Talked About Marketing team of Steve Davis and David Olney, with artwork by Casey Cumming. Each marketing podcast episode tips its hat to Philip Kotler's famous "4 Ps of Marketing" (Product, Price, Place, Promotion), by honouring our own 4 Ps of Podcasting; Person, Principles, Problems, and Perspicacity. Person. The aim of life is self-development. To realise one's nature perfectly-that is what each of us is here for. - Oscar Wilde Principles. You can never be overdressed or overeducated. - Oscar Wilde Problems. “I asked the question for the best reason possible, for the only reason, indeed, that excuses anyone for asking any question - simple curiosity. - Oscar Wilde Perspicacity. The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it. - Oscar Wilde Apart from our love of words, we really love helping people, so we hope this podcast will become a trusted companion for you on your journey in business. We welcome your comments and feedback via podcast@talkedaboutmarketing.com

The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about...

Talking About Marketing

Talking About Marketing is a podcast for you to help you thrive in your role as a business owner and/or leader. It's produced by the Talked About Marketing team of Steve Davis and David Olney, with editing by Tim Whiffen. Artwork by Casey Cumming.

Each marketing podcast episode tips its hat to Philip Kotler's famous "4 Ps of Marketing" (Product, Price, Place, Promotion), by honouring our own 4 Ps of Podcasting; Person, Principles, Problems, and Perspicacity.
Person. The aim of life is self-development. To realise one's nature perfectly-that is what each of us is here for. - Oscar Wilde
Principles. You can never be overdressed or overeducated. - Oscar Wilde
Problems. “I asked the question for the best reason possible, for the only reason, indeed, that excuses anyone for asking any question - simple curiosity. - Oscar Wilde
Perspicacity. The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it. - Oscar Wilde

Apart from our love of words, we really love helping people, so we hope this podcast will become a trusted companion for you on your journey in business.

We welcome your comments and feedback via podcast@talkedaboutmarketing.com

<a href="https://talkedaboutmarketing.com/podcast/">Talking About Marketing</a> is a podcast for you to help you thrive in your role as a business owner and/or leader. It's produced by the Talked About Marketing team of Steve Davis and David Olney, with editing by Tim Whiffen. Artwork by Casey Cumming.
Each marketing podcast episode tips its hat to Philip Kotler's famous "4 Ps of Marketing" (Product, Price, Place, Promotion), by honouring our own 4 Ps of Podcasting; Person, Principles, Problems, and Perspicacity.
<ol>
<li>Person. The aim of life is self-development. To realise one's nature perfectly-that is what each of us is here for. - Oscar Wilde</li>
<li>Principles. You can never be overdressed or overeducated. - Oscar Wilde</li>
<li>Problems. “I asked the question for the best reason possible, for the only reason, indeed, that excuses anyone for asking any question - simple curiosity. - Oscar Wilde</li>
<li>Perspicacity. The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it. - Oscar Wilde</li>
</ol>
Apart from our love of words, we really love helping people, so we hope this podcast will become a trusted companion for you on your journey in business.
We welcome your comments and feedback via <a href="mailto:podcast@talkedaboutmarketing.com">podcast@talkedaboutmarketing.com</a>

From Rutger Bregman’s moral ambition to Jefferson Fisher’s communication wisdom, we explore why directness beats dancing around difficult conversations while pondering whether forced ice cream sharing still works in our increasingly individualised world.