Tag Archives: messaging

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!

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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.

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Lee Carter on Foxnews.com: What Trump’s approval ratings reveal

January 20, 2026

Donald Trump has now been back in the Oval Office for a year. Polls and headlines are declaring that Trump is unpopular. In this provocative piece for Foxnews.com, Lee Carter suggests that it may be worth asking an uncomfortable question: What if the polls aren’t telling us Trump is failing, but that he’s delivering… and the country is splitting in response?

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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!

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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.

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How Democrats beat the GOP across the country

November 11, 2025

Democrats had some big wins nationwide this past Election Day. While Democrats understood what resonated with voters this year, Republicans are facing challenges similar to what cost Democrats so dearly in the recent past. Lee Carter says it all centered around one big issue–and one resounding message: AFFORDABLITY.

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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.

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