Author: Dr Ray Welling
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16. Who’s to blame when the public rejects the facts?
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clear-as-mud/id1614555804 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 journalistic-inspired efforts at research. He just might have a point!…
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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 self-congratulation! The Good, The Bad and The Hilarious…
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‘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! Links from the interview Julie Leask Should we do battle with anti-vaccination activists? (Leask 2015) How…
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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. The Good, The Bad and The Hilarious links https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-14/elvis-presley-tribute-cooly-rocks-on-festival-tribute-artists/101145630 https://www.dw.com/en/watergate-how-a-scandal-produced-a-suffix/a-62141531 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-18/china-livestreamer-austin-li-censored-over-tiananmen-massacre/101160890 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/12/whats-in-a-name-russia-rebrands-mcdonalds-restaurant-chain https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-61774950
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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. The Good, The Bad and The Hilarious links ‘How utterly brilliant!’ Kate Bush reacts to…
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11 – The slow death of journalism, virtual singers, shrinking chocolate and shrinking politicians’ 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 benefits of shrinkflation and explore the relationship between…
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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. Interview links See Episode 3 for Graeme Turner interview links Love on…
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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 money than we are! The Good, The Bad…
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Episode 8 – How to fight newspeak, gambling’s election gateway drug, karaoke for profit and Trivago’s muddy algorithm
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 turns a profit…
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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. Interview links Jim Morris’ website Badvertising on Amazon Tip of the Freberg (John Cody Online) The Good, The Bad and The Hilarious links…