PODCAST · business
Clear as Mud
by Ray Welling & Lawrence Ang
Communication failures from around the globe
Episodes
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26. Artificial intelligence is STILL as clear as mud!
Clear as Mud is on a short hiatus while Ray and Lawrence work on a new concept for season 3. In the meantime, Ray was interviewed for radio to talk about LinkedIn's 20th birthday and the buzz topic of the moment, artificial intelligence. With the cooperation of Radio 107.3 2SER, we've reproduced...
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25. Artificial intelligence is clear as mud!
We speak to ChatGPT, AI and CX researcher and expert Liam Bray to explore whether robots are going to take our jobs or make them more interesting. Can he convince Ray that we're not headed for the singularity? You'll have to listen to find out.
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The Internet's 'Sliding Doors' moment
Who knew that Tim Berners-Lee came up with a way to combat online misinformation more than 25 years ago? You'll never guess what killed it off! Also, Ray and Lawrence try to extricate themselves from goblin mode to discuss words of the year, worrying TikTok trends and the only thing that is…
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23. The metaverse: A bright future, or clear as mud?
In which polymath metaverse pioneer Sami Tauber tries to convince a couple of old cynics that the next phase of digital development is not going to end in tears (Spoiler alert: she does a great job!)
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21. The enduring power of storytelling
Despite shrinking attention spans, storytelling remains a powerful way to get your message across. We speak with corporate communications coach Arabella McPherson about how telling a story helps you get straight through to the emotional part of someone's brain, so your communication is NOT clear…
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20. Movie stars, ad tech, algorithms and politicians all behaving badly
In which we discuss Hollywood affairs, a promising development in the fight against ad tech, a triggering stumble from KFC and - surprise, surprise - lying politicians. And who knew Ray was a punk rock aficionado?
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19. Donald Trump and the inexplicable power of demagoguery
For most people around the world, the initials that come to mind when conversation turns to Donald Trump are not MAGA, but WTF? To try and understand how this blustering bankrupt became the leader of the free world and how he continues to hold sway over so many people, Ray speaks to the woman who...
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18. Amateur sportspeople take it all off, corporate life imitates art, and feeling sorry for Mark Zuckerberg and weather forecasters
In which we discuss the relationship between college athletics and OnlyFans, how TikTok is changing the entire social media landscape and over-reactions to wrong weather forecasts. Meanwhile, Ray digs up a long-forgotten comedy routine that pre-dates the carbon footprint debate.
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17. TikTok envy, nation brands at war, random not-so-kind acts and partying PMs
In which we decry Big Tech's most viral activity - copying each other - as well as examining Ukraine's nation branding efforts, a kind/not kind viral trend and ageism and sexism on the international stage.
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16. Who's to blame when the public rejects the facts?
Ray casts aspersions on the 18th century structure of the scientific publishing industry, while Springer Nature global VP Stephen Pincock points out how researchers have embraced story-telling as part of their ambit in the 21st century, and suggests Ray is suffering PTSD from his...
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15. Crikey! It's Murdoch vs Streisand, news for the un-newsed, Go Ask Beatrice and going viral on LinkedIn
In which we explore what Lachlan Murdoch has in common with Barbara Streisand, why Channel 5 is both the past and the future of news and how a middle-aged Mormon housewife channelled her inner drug-addicted teenager to become a publishing sensation. Served with a chaser of LinkedIn...
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14. 'Psychological antibodies' and clear as mud messages on COVID vaccinations
We talk to Professor Julie Leask, the person who coined the term 'vaccine hesitancy' about what governments got right - and wrong - about COVID messaging. Spoiler alert: Humour often works best, even when talking about a global pandemic!
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That '70s episode: Elvis, Watergate, ice cream metaphors and nyet to Macca's
In which we unpack the ongoing obsession with Elvis, the power of the -gate, did-he-or-didn't he make a Tiananmen Square reference, and McDonalds' exit from Russia, in our all Good, Bad and Hilarious episode.
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12. Don't want a personal brand? Too bad, it's the 21st century
In which we speak with culture whisperer Susie Khamis about why personal branding has become an inescapable part of contemporary life. Plus, influencers in the raw, Trump on trial, real estate wankers on screen and the power of stranger music.
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11. The slow death of journalism, virtual singers, shrinking chocolate and former politicians' shrinking brains
In which we discuss the decline and fall of 'real news' and journalism as we finish our interview with award-winning writer Mike Sager. Before that, two boomers dissect Jimi Hendrix's lyrics, bemoan the fact that old rockers need to turn themselves into living holograms, debate the health…
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Episode 10 - Pre-loved clothing, energy-efficient TV ads and the most annoying thing about reality TV
In which we muse about how killing advertising could save the planet - if Meta doesn't do it first! Meanwhile, Ray bangs on about why reality TV gives him the s***s to expert Graeme Turner - and no, it's not pre-loved influencer togs.
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Episode 9 - Virtual influencers, murder and the mystery of the missing bite
In which we update listeners about the 'How to Murder Your Husband' case, finish our interview with influencer expert Nataly Levesque, ask why Kim Kardashian airbrushes her burgers, look at America's 'clear as mud' gun culture and bemoan the fact that even virtual influencers are making more…
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Episode 8 - How to fight newspeak, gambling's election gateway drug, karaoke for profit and Trivago's muddy algorithms
In which we finish our discussion with our Orwell expert and discover that Putin does not have a monopoly over newspeak. We also examine the sneaky way online gambling outfits are trying to hook unsuspecting voters, the success of carpool karaoke and how a record fine for being clear as mud still...
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Episode 7 - Is 'badvertising' a tautology, Trump and newspeak, tasteless burger and beauty ads and Musk invents Twitter
In which we ask award-winning copywriter Jim Morris why so much advertising is clear as mud, as well as measure the bullshit output from former presidents, space-seeking billionaires and game show contestants.
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Episode 6 - Election special: Politicians being clear as mud on the campaign trail
In which we talk to Mark Gwynn from the Australian National Dictionary Centre about how politicians and the media twist meanings and use evocative language, analogies and even colour to try and make us believe what they have to say.
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Episode 5 - Celebrities and influencers behaving badly, beet as beef, connected commerce cock-up and a Super Bowl steal
In which we explore the perils of modern fame with celebrity journalist Cynthia Wang, as well as Burger King being clear as mud with its plant-based patties, grumpy Bob Hoffman and the Connected Commerce Council and how Volvo conquered the Super Bowl without spending a cent. And of course, our...
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Episode 4 - The writer, his lover and the returned Pulitzer
In which we speak with acclaimed writer Mike Sager, who was at Ground Zero for a key moment in the history of fake news - the Janet Cooke Pulitzer Prize scandal. This story has it all: sex, drugs, rock and roll, politics, profanity - and a real-life cameo role for Ray! In this American-themed...
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Episode 3 - Why reality shows conquered TV, how foreign cars conquered the US market, and how hamburgers helped Russian women conquer the World Cup
In which Ray and Lawrence examine their own failure to communicate through game shows and Hyundai's Super Bowl triumph, as well as editing fails on Married at First Sight (as if the unedited bits weren't bad enough!). We uncover Russia's plot, years before their current invasion, to build their...
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Episode 2 - How we learned to love influencers, laughing at death and advertising saves democracy
In which Ray and Lawrence examine how a late-night TV advertising campaign toppled the Pinochet government, why the Australian government thinks it can stop Facebook from running fake celebrity endorsement scam ads and how dancing jellybeans made death likeable. We also speak with influencer...
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Episode 1 - Putin, Big Brother, deepfakes and (shock horror) lying politicians
We kick things off by exploring SpecSavers' 'clear as mud' billboard campaign, discussing how deepfakes are influencing modern warfare and fact-checking Australia's Prevaricator-in-Chief. Meanwhile, Orwellian professor Mark Satta describes how Vladimir Putin is mirroring the techniques of the...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Clear as Mud have?
Clear as Mud currently has 27 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Clear as Mud about?
Communication failures from around the globe
How often does Clear as Mud release new episodes?
Clear as Mud has 27 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Clear as Mud?
You can listen to Clear as Mud on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Clear as Mud?
Clear as Mud is created and hosted by Ray Welling & Lawrence Ang.
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