Less Chatter, More Matter: The Communications Podcast

Hosted by Mel Loy

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Episodes

185

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Communications expert, business owner, group fitness instructor...that's your podcast host, Mel Loy! In the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, Mel shares tips on how to improve your communication skills, and interviews with the experts. In 2020, after almost 20 years in corporate communications, Mel (happily) took a redundancy from her full-time, executive corporate job and went out on her own, founding her communications agency, Cuttlefish Communications. These days, she's a sought-after speaker, workshop facilitator, and consultant, working for some of the biggest brands in Australia and popping up on speaker line-ups at conferences world wide. Expect short, entertaining episodes packed with valuable tips that will inspire you to try new things. Communication tips to improve your relationships at work, navigate crises, internal communication, and deliver change are top of the agenda.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 19, 2026Episode 18436 min

#184 What good change communication really looks like (ft. Jen Frahm)

Change communication has come a long way... but we are still treating it as simply telling people what’s changing, rather than ensuring they are understanding what we are saying, too. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're joined by Dr Jen Frahm, global expert in organisational change and change communication, co-founder of the Agile Change Leadership Institute and author of Change Communication: Less Noise, More Meaning, Change That Lands. Jen shares insights from three decades working across change, communication and transformation, including the research behind her latest book. Together, we unpack three distinct roles of change communication: monologic, dialogic and sense-making while exploring what approach is useful, why the three need to be deliberately sequenced, and what happens when the way we communicate doesn’t match people’s expectations. Then, we bring in neuroscience and what it can teach us about communicating change, including why people often look for the threat before they’re ready to hear about the benefits, why expectation management is becoming increasingly important, and what happens when there’s a vacuum of information. Plus, we chat AI, business acumen, measuring what actually matters, informal learning, empathy and the power of pausing for 60 seconds before sending yet another communication. So.. needless to say: you'll want to listen in! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

August 12, 2026Episode 18319 min

#183 Why do employees resist change, and how does communication reduce that resistance?

Employees aren’t actually 'resisting' change, they're giving you feedback. In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we take a different look at one of the most frustrating parts of change: what happens when people don’t want to get on board. Rather than treating resistance as something communicators need to overcome, we explore what might be sitting underneath it from uncertainty and lack of control to poor communication, a lack of trust or simply the very human tendency to dislike being told what to do. Plus, we also chat about how communication can’t magically make every change popular... but it can help you understand what’s getting in the way. In fact, sometimes, the people pushing back are the ones giving you the most valuable information about what needs to change. Now, what can us communicators do to reduce this resistance? Let's find out. Links mentioned in this episode: 90 minute S trategy Power Session Public workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

August 5, 2026Episode 18229 min

#182 The importance of horizon scanning in communications (ft. Ann-Marie Blake)

Communication professionals are often called in after the big decisions have already been made. For example, a change is announced, a crisis erupts or a project is approved. Only then, after the fact, are we asked to communicate it. But what if our greatest value came before any of that happened? In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we’re joined by communication and change expert Anne-Marie Blake, co-founder of True, to explore the growing importance of horizon scanning (plus, what is it?) and why communicators need to become more proactive, strategic advisors. Anne-Marie explains what horizon scanning is, why it's about preparing rather than predicting, and how communication professionals can identify weak signals, challenge assumptions and help organisations navigate an increasingly complex world. We discuss practical techniques for incorporating horizon scanning into communication planning, using scenario planning to test future possibilities, bringing diverse perspectives into strategic conversations, and helping leaders prepare for change before it arrives. Get your headphones on for some practical ideas on strengthening your strategic influence and helping your organisation prepare for whatever comes next. Links mentioned in this episode: Ann-Marie’s LinkedIn Ann-Marie’s website 90 minute S trategy Power Session Public workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

July 29, 2026Episode 18137 min

#181 How to write a book that builds your credibility (in the age of AI) (ft. Jade Miller)

AI can write content in seconds, but it can't replicate your lived experience, your perspective or your voice. Which is why books remain one of the most powerful ways to build credibility, establish thought leadership and create meaningful connections with your audience. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast , we chat with author, artist and book coach Jade Miller to really understand what it takes to write a successful book. We start with the basics: nailing your core idea and identifying your audience, before navigating the self-publishing vs. traditional publishing dilemma and everything that comes after launch. Maybe it's time you wrote a book? We also explore the elephant in the room around AI and why books are becoming even more valuable for their lived experiences, including how storytelling creates trust, why your personal brand matters long before your manuscript is finished, and the common mistakes that prevent great ideas from ever making it onto the page. Even if you never take the leap to write your own, you'll know how to do it from this episode. So, listen in! Links mentioned in this episode: Jade's LinkedIn Jade's websi te 90 minute S trategy Power Session Public workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

July 22, 2026Episode 18034 min

#180 Why trust is the new competitive advantage (ft. Petra Zink)

Trust is declining, scepticism is rising, and in a world where AI can make almost anyone sound like an expert, the result is that credibility alone is no longer enough. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're joined by leadership strategist, keynote speaker and author Petra Zink to explore why trust has become one of the most valuable assets leaders, communicators and organisations can build. Together, we analyse what's driving the global decline in trust, how AI is changing recruitment, education and leadership, and why organisations are placing greater value on judgement, consistency and transparency over polished outputs. Petra also shares her concept of "trust assets", i.e. the practical habits, behaviours and frameworks that help leaders build influence and confidence over time. In the day and age of AI everything, we've collated some of the best ways you can increase your credibility while staying efficient.... alongside keeping your comms at the forefront. Listen in now. Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

July 15, 2026Episode 17933 min

#179 What is agentic AI and what do communicators need to know about it? (ft. Bosco Anthony)

Agentic AI this, LLM AI that - you may be wondering… what does that even mean? In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we’re joined by AI strategist, futurist and storyteller Bosco Anthony to explore what the next wave of artificial intelligence means for communication, marketing and change professionals… plus, what agentic AI is. Moving beyond tools like ChatGPT and Claude, Bosco explains the rise of agentic AI, how organisations are already integrating AI into everyday workflows, and why the future belongs to people who know how to orchestrate AI rather than simply use it. Together, we discuss sophisticated prompt engineering, AI literacy, ethics, human oversight, and the skills that will become even more valuable as technology continues to evolve. We also explore the importance of curiosity over fear, why experimentation is critical, and how communicators can position themselves to thrive in an AI-enabled workplace. Ultimately, the main thing we took from this podcast was that without adaptation through curiosity… you may be left behind. Not to worry though, this episode runs you through how to keep up, too. Listen in now. Links mentioned in this episode: Bosco’s website Bosco’s LinkedIn 90 minu te Strategy Po wer Session Public workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

July 8, 2026Episode 17821 min

#178 7 ways to improve your town halls

Town halls have become the go-to communication channel for just about everything. Strategy updates, big announcements, leadership changes, engagement survey results - if there's a message to share, chances are someone suggests holding a town hall. …are they actually working, though? In this episode, we look into why so many town halls leave employees disengaged and what communicators can do to change that. We talk about getting clearer on the purpose of each event all the way through to creating genuine interaction and making it easier for people to ask the hard questions. Then, we share seven practical ideas you can use to make your next town hall one people actually want to attend. Yep, that’s this whole episode: let’s make your town halls not suck. Listen in to find out how. Links mentioned in this episode: 90 minu te Strategy Po wer Session Public workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

July 1, 2026Episode 17716 min

#177 Why and how you should write for LLMs (or AI)

Remember when SEO was the answer to everything? For years, communicators and marketers focused on keywords, backlinks and search rankings to improve visibility, but as more people turn to AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude to find information, the rules of discoverability are changing. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore why communicators need to start thinking differently about content and consider AI tools as a new audience segment in their communication strategy. You’ll learn what Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is, how it differs from traditional SEO, and practical ways to make your content more likely to be surfaced by large language models. Then, we give you the exact ways to change your writing to fit LLM search! So, you'll want to listen in and take some notes - this one could possibly change the way your comms function works. Links mentioned in this episode: 90 minu te Strategy Po wer Session Public workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

June 24, 2026Episode 17617 min

#176 Making the case for 'why' in change communications

Ever noticed that one of the first questions humans learn to ask is also one of the hardest questions organisations struggle to answer: why? In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast , we explore one of the biggest challenges in change communication: making a compelling case for change that people can actually connect with. Too often, change messaging focuses on the what and the how (timelines, implementation plans and project updates) while overlooking the one thing people are searching for most: meaning. Drawing on behavioural science, change communication principles and practical examples, we look into why people don’t automatically resist change, but they do resist change that feels unclear, disconnected or imposed on them. You’ll learn five practical ways to strengthen your “why” messaging, including how to explain what’s driving change, tailor benefits to different audiences, reduce uncertainty by talking about what isn’t changing, communicate challenges honestly and create a clearer picture of the future. Why? because people are far more likely to move when they know what they’re moving towards. So, you'll want to listen in now. Links mentioned in this episode: 90 minu te Strategy Po wer Session Public workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question

June 17, 2026Episode 17523 min

#175 The evolution of communications and the addition of AI (Part 2) (ft. Adrian Cropley)

If you listened to last week’s episode, you’ll know we opened up a big conversation about AI, ethics and the changing role of communication professionals with Adrian Cropley. Now, in part two, we go even deeper. This episode tackles the question so many communicators are asking right now: will AI take our jobs? Rather than offering easy reassurance, Adrian shares a practical and thought-provoking perspective on what’s really changing in our profession; from the impact on entry-level roles and shifting career pathways, through to the skills communication professionals need to build to stay relevant. Together, we unpack the future of communication work, including AI literacy, governance, responsible use, strategic counsel, storytelling and why change communication may become one of the most valuable capabilities organisations can invest in. Adrian also shares a three-tier skills framework developed through insights from the Global Alliance that explores the capabilities communicators need to remain trusted, influential and irreplaceable in an AI-enabled world. If part one explored the changing landscape, this episode is about how we respond. So get listening now! Links mentioned in this episode: AI-use survey Adrian's Lin ke dIn Cropley C omm s 90 minute S tra tegy Power Se ssion Publ ic workshops and training Less Chatter, More Matter - Mel’s book Template packs Change Isn't Hard! - Mel's book Sign up here to the fortnightly mail out of free resources! Say hi! Follow me on LinkedIn Find out what I'm up to Instagram Check out my website Ask a question