Tag Archives: language strategy

The Art & Science Behind Language that Works

March 6, 2026

What if your communication strategy was less about intuition and more about evidence? At maslansky + partners, our linguists treat language the way scientists treat any phenomenon: we look for patterns, form hypotheses, and test them rigorously.

In this thought piece, Kat Starcevic and Alannah Connolly explore how combining linguistic rigor with real-world communication challenges—from healthcare to genomics—transforms the way organizations build trust, bridge gaps, and move audiences to action. Because when you approach language as both an art and a science, something magical happens.

Continue reading →

Reformulate or Hold the Line? How to Talk About Ingredients in the MAHA Era

March 3, 2026

If you work in food and beverage right now, you don’t need another explainer on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. You’re living it.

A year or two ago, you might have called it fringe. Today, it’s shaping regulations, rattling supply chains, and driving what ends up in shoppers’ carts. Consumers are reading labels more closely than ever. Politicians on both the left and right are suddenly food reformers.

This isn’t just about what’s in your products. It’s about how you talk about what’s in your products. Because right now, one word on a package or in a CEO quote can mean a lawsuit, a boycott… or a breakthrough.

Here’s some practical guidance for how to talk about ingredients in this new era.

Continue reading →

The Language of Super Bowl LX Ads: the messaging winners & losers

February 11, 2026

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 talked-about commercials. What made some ads resonate so powerfully that people can’t stop talking about them? Why did others completely miss the mark despite massive budgets and star power?

Lee, Michael, Keith, Ben, and Katie analyze the themes, language choices, and strategies that separated the winners from the losers. You’ll discover what these ads reveal about how audiences think right now, and gain a behind-the-scenes look at what actually makes messaging work. Whether you’re a communicator, a business leader, or simply curious about why certain messages stick with us, this episode is a masterclass in the power of language done right… and a whole lot of fun!

Continue reading →

The Language of MAHA & Food Ingredients

February 4, 2026

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 it’s moving fast.

If you’re a communications or business leader, you’re already feeling the pressure. The old playbook doesn’t work. Talking about the “science” doesn’t persuade. Even the words themselves can blow up in your face. So what do you say when the language itself is contested—and how do you say it so people will actually listen?

In Episode One of our sixth season, we reveal strategies to help you navigate this moment of change, find language that actually connects, and position your brand to lead—not just survive—through what’s coming next.

Continue reading →

The New Language of “Healthy”

January 15, 2026

For decades, “healthy” was one of the most powerful words in food. It sat proudly on cereal boxes, snack packs, and frozen meals. But under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, “healthy” is suddenly a liability. And the brands who don’t evolve their language are already paying for it in lawsuits, recalls, and reputational damage. m+p Senior Vice President Jason Martuscello shares why Language Strategy matters now more than ever.

Continue reading →

Our Top Language Moments of 2025

December 16, 2025

Language shapes what we notice, remember, and act on. The words and phrases that break through—from the funny to the “cringey” to the profound—become true Language Moments. They jump out, capture our imagination, and change the way we talk and think about people, issues, and events.

In 2025, they spanned politics, business, tech, and culture. From the “Golden Age of America” and “MAHA” to “AI slop,” “job hugging,” and who can forget “Labubu”… our annual video compilation highlights the language moments that defined the year. It’s fast-paced, punchy, and packed with the year’s most memorable phrases!

Continue reading →

The Language Moments that Defined 2025

December 15, 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.

Continue reading →

The Language of MAHA & Vaccines

November 10, 2025

America’s trust in vaccines is declining fast, as the “Make America Healthy Again” movement is reshaping the national conversation. If you’re a communicator or business leader, you’re probably already feeling the pressure. The old rules don’t work. Talking about “science” doesn’t persuade. Even the word “vaccine” can blow up in your face. So what do you say when the language itself is under attack—and how do you say it so people will actually listen?

In this episode, we reveal some strategies that can help you break the deadlock, connect with skeptical audiences by communicating effectively about vaccines, and turn a polarizing issue into a moment of real leadership.

Continue reading →

From Goodness to Fairness: A Wake-Up Call for Corporate America

October 16, 2025

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 changed. And it’s vital for companies to start rethinking how they engage with consumers in the world we’re operating in. In this new era, every business must view its actions and words not through their own efforts at goodness, but through the lens of fairness.

In this powerful episode of HearSay, Lee and Michael will help you understand the context that we’re living in and why people are so angry, so you can begin to communicate, resonate, and engage more effectively. They’ll help you find a path forward by thinking differently about where your customers are, so you can meet them there… talk to them and engage with them in different ways… to reduce that anger and begin to rebuild trust.

This is critical listening for anyone who’s responsible for shaping messages, building trust, or protecting your brand.

Continue reading →

Calming the Chaos: Communicating to Win in Today’s World

September 24, 2025

Today, one misstep in communication can cost you trust, customers, and credibility. Whether you’re navigating the unknowns of AI, political upheaval, or global market shocks, the difference between chaos and clarity comes down to one thing: how you communicate when it matters most.

On this episode of HearSay, we talk with Michelle Russo, EVP and Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, about “Calming the Chaos.” Michelle has spent her career turning uncertainty into opportunity—and she shares some real-world communication strategies to help businesses not just survive, but win in this environment.

Continue reading →