PODCAST · business
HearSay
by maslansky + partners
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.
Episodes
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Winning Arguments without Losing Friends... with Jessica Tarlov
Ever walked into a room where everyone disagrees with you—and had to stay calm, stay credible, and still get your point across? That's Jessica Tarlov's job every single day. As the lone liberal voice on Fox News's The Five, she's mastered something most communicators only talk about: how to argue...
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The Language of Super Bowl LX Ads: The Messaging Winners and Losers
The Super Bowl isn't just about football—it's about messaging. For 30 seconds, brands spend millions trying to connect with millions of viewers. But not all of them succeed. In this annual episode, one of our most popular every year, our partners break down the messaging behind this year's most...
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The Language of MAHA & Food Ingredients
The rules have changed. Food and beverage brands that market artificial ingredients used to have breathing room. Not anymore. With MAHA gaining real momentum in Washington, the conversation around "healthy," artificial additives, and what we put in our bodies has become impossible to ignore—and...
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The Language Moments that Defined 2025
This year's language didn't just describe the world—it reshaped it. In this episode of HearSay, an annual favorite, we recap and analyze the most memorable language moments of 2025, across politics, culture, and business. It's a fast, fun look at the language that moved audiences this year, from...
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The Language of MAHA & Vaccines
It's no secret that America's trust in vaccines is declining, fast. Childhood vaccination rates are dropping, and nearly one in three Americans now questions what used to be a no-brainer. Then there's the "Make America Healthy Again" movement. Once dismissed as fringe, it's become a rapidly…
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From Goodness to Fairness: A Wake-Up Call for Corporate America
We all feel it: anger, frustration, the sense that something fundamental is broken. People aren't just upset today. They believe the system is rigged against them. They don't just doubt companies, they expect to be taken advantage of. That's the reality we face today. The rules of engagement have...
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Calming the Chaos: Communicating to Win in Today's World
Do you ever feel like you're shouting into a hurricane… hoping your message lands, but knowing it might get lost in the storm? Today, one misstep in communication can cost you trust, customers, and credibility. The stakes have never been higher, and the noise has never been louder. Whether you're...
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Find Your Winning Corporate Narrative
Every day, in boardrooms, break rooms, and across the internet, people are shaping their own version of your company's story—whether it's accurate or not. Here's the hard truth: If you don't own your narrative, someone else will. And when that happens, you can lose control—not just of your story,...
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The Fairness Factor: Earning Trust in an Age of Rage
In case you haven't noticed, people are angry. And not just at politics, but at corporations. It's an anger that runs deep, based on a strong perception and a primal feeling of unfairness. As a result, the rules of engagement have changed, and what worked yesterday may not work today. In this...
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The Pharma Dilemma: Trust, Pricing, and the New Language of Fairness
In this episode of Hearsay, Lee Carter is joined by partners Keith Yazmir and Katie Cronen to unpack why communicating effectively—especially in industries like pharma—is harder than ever. In a world fueled by mistrust, audiences are no longer asking, "Are you doing good?" but rather, "Are you...
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Inside Voice: How Companies Are Navigating DEI Internally
In this episode, Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and special guest Michelle Mahony from Daggerwing, dive into the evolving role of language in business, with a special focus on internal communications and DEI. As companies face external pressures and shifting political climates, how do they…
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Threading the needle on DEI: What companies can do now
In this episode, CEO of Maslansky + Partners, Michael Maslansky, and President and Partner Lee Carter discuss the challenges businesses face in realigning their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies following recent executive orders from the new administration. With companies…
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The Tariffs Are Coming: Should Companies Speak Up or Stay Silent?
In this episode, Michael Maslansky and Lee Carter tackle a pressing question for businesses and trade groups: Should they publicly speak out on tariffs, or is silence the smarter move? And if they do want to engage, how should they do it? We explore the risks and rewards of making a statement…
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The Super Bowl LIX Ads: Playing It Safe or Striking a Chord?
Dive into the latest episode of HearSay, where Michael Maslansky, Lee Carter, and Ben Feller serve up a no-holds-barred analysis of the Super Bowl ads—because if there's one thing we love discussing more than touchdowns, it's bold messaging! Did brands play it too safe, or did they hit that sweet...
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From Populism to Purpose: Redefining your business narratives
Welcome back to a new season of HearSay! In this episode, CEO Michael Maslansky and President and Partner, Lee Carter delve into the complexities of communication strategies under the Trump administration. With public trust at an all-time low, companies must redefine their messaging to connect...
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The Language Moments of 2024
In our final episode of the season, we dive into the language moments that defined politics, culture, and business in 2024. From groundbreaking political quotes to cultural catchphrases and impactful business language, we explore not only what was said but what it means for the future. Join us…
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From Buzzwords to Meaning: Communicating about Access, Impact, and Equity in Healthcare
Equity, access, and impact are terms often used but seldom fully understood or effectively communicated within the healthcare sector. In this episode of HearSay, President and Partner Lee Carter, Senior Vice President Maria Boos, and guest Rajni Samavedam, CEO of Rabin Martin, delve into why it's...
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LIVE EPISODE: Lessons from the 2024 Campaign Trail
It's been one of the most unconventional and consequential presidential elections in American history. Amid the confusion, division, and turbulence, we spotted some valuable insights and important takeaways. This special live episode of HearSay will help you make sense of the outcome so you can...
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Misinformation: How words shape perceptions
In this episode of HearSay, Partners Michael Maslansky, Lee Hartley Carter, and Katie Cronen navigate the complex terrain of "bad facts" in messaging—a topic that is as timely as it is uncomfortable. In a landscape fraught with political controversies like Biden's age and corporate scandals such…
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Navigating Innovation: Selling the new in tech and beyond
You've got a breakthrough innovation that is much better than what's come before – why is it so hard to sell it? In this episode, CEO Michael Maslansky, Partner Keith Yazmir, and Senior Vice President Will Howard dissect the challenges of selling innovation whether you are selling enterprise...
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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...
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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…
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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,...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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Tell A Different Story: Words To Use And Lose For Sustainability Comms
With everyone telling their sustainability story, are you cutting through the crowd? Have you found one bold idea to center your communications around? It used to be that sustainability experts evaluated how companies were performing in this area. But now, customers and employees alike are paying...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
maslansky + partners
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does HearSay have?
HearSay currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is HearSay about?
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 —...
How often does HearSay release new episodes?
HearSay has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to HearSay?
You can listen to HearSay 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 HearSay?
HearSay is created and hosted by maslansky + partners.
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