Trendy Words Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/trendy-words Welcome to Trendy Words, the podcast about words and phrases that are popular in business and marketing, but are often misleading, meaningless, or outright bullshit. We talk about these words and what we could be writing or saying instead that is more effective. Andrew Monro Copywriting & Content 74c97ad0-1ae5-58e1-9846-4483e2ad2dd5 yes en Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:00:06 +0000 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:01:43 +0000 https://img.transistorcdn.com/PwK9-lG3isQ7WRPsr67Hv1QmzL2MjgEuQpSCEcUrtQw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83MmVm/NDQ0YzEzODQ4ODhh/YjZjYmE0MzMwOGVl/MmRmYS5wbmc.jpg Trendy Words episodic Andrew Monro Welcome to Trendy Words, the podcast about words and phrases that are popular in business and marketing, but are often misleading, meaningless, or outright bullshit. We talk about these words and what we could be writing or saying instead that is more effective. Welcome to Trendy Words, the podcast about words and phrases that are popular in business and marketing, but are often misleading, meaningless, or outright bullshit. Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business Andrew Monro No No Episode 12: "2025" with Jon McGreevy Episode 12: "2025" with Jon McGreevy full 0a6c311d-8514-40f0-bb0b-e16718e26789 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0059b70a  2025 has been a right year for absolute nonsense. We name things using marketing words that aren't factually accurate. Critical thinking across the industry is at all-time low. Things that aren't marketing are being called marketing. And what's left is being used to focus on things that marketing often has the least influence.

Jon McGreevy and I round out 2025 with a highlight of AI, digital literacy, and the realities of businesses in the B2B and tech sector, and what we think needs to change if 2026 is going be better.
SaaSy as Fuck Podcast: https://saasyasfuck.substack.com/
Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatwriterjon/
Jon's website's: jonmcgreevy.com 

]]>  2025 has been a right year for absolute nonsense. We name things using marketing words that aren't factually accurate. Critical thinking across the industry is at all-time low. Things that aren't marketing are being called marketing. And what's left is being used to focus on things that marketing often has the least influence.

Jon McGreevy and I round out 2025 with a highlight of AI, digital literacy, and the realities of businesses in the B2B and tech sector, and what we think needs to change if 2026 is going be better.
SaaSy as Fuck Podcast: https://saasyasfuck.substack.com/
Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatwriterjon/
Jon's website's: jonmcgreevy.com 

]]> Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 3853  2025 has been a right year for absolute nonsense. We name things using marketing words that aren't factually accurate. Critical thinking across the industry is at all-time low. Things that aren't marketing are being called marketing. And what's left is being used to focus on things that marketing often has the least influence.

Jon McGreevy and I round out 2025 with a highlight of AI, digital literacy, and the realities of businesses in the B2B and tech sector, and what we think needs to change if 2026 is going be better.
SaaSy as Fuck Podcast: https://saasyasfuck.substack.com/
Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatwriterjon/
Jon's website's: jonmcgreevy.com 

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 11: "Elevate" with Olga Pope Episode 11: "Elevate" with Olga Pope full 639416ab-27f9-4ee9-935f-157e37ac1457 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b45bc90e So much of our culture and formal education has encouraged and rewarded us to use "fancy" words when explaining things -- words that show off our education, make us feel sophisticated and important. But almost all of this notion fails when it comes to marketing, and it's a challenging process to unlearn that way of thinking about words. Olga Pope has raised picking fights over this kind of overly ornamental language to almost an art form, and today she's taking aim at one of the common and bland words you see, especially in ad marketing: "Elevate." It sounds elegant, but in usage, often means almost nothing more than "better in some kind of fuzzy way" Olga's website: https://www.olgapope.com/ Olga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-pope-436b...

]]> So much of our culture and formal education has encouraged and rewarded us to use "fancy" words when explaining things -- words that show off our education, make us feel sophisticated and important. But almost all of this notion fails when it comes to marketing, and it's a challenging process to unlearn that way of thinking about words. Olga Pope has raised picking fights over this kind of overly ornamental language to almost an art form, and today she's taking aim at one of the common and bland words you see, especially in ad marketing: "Elevate." It sounds elegant, but in usage, often means almost nothing more than "better in some kind of fuzzy way" Olga's website: https://www.olgapope.com/ Olga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-pope-436b...

]]> Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 1836 So much of our culture and formal education has encouraged and rewarded us to use "fancy" words when explaining things -- words that show off our education, make us feel sophisticated and important. But almost all of this notion fails when it comes to marketing, and it's a challenging process to unlearn that way of thinking about words. Olga Pope has raised picking fights over this kind of overly ornamental language to almost an art form, and today she's taking aim at one of the common and bland words you see, especially in ad marketing: "Elevate." It sounds elegant, but in usage, often means almost nothing more than "better in some kind of fuzzy way" Olga's website: https://www.olgapope.com/ Olga on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-pope-436b...

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 10: "Best Practices" with Samar Owais Episode 10: "Best Practices" with Samar Owais full 4d0511f7-aa02-4526-a3b3-8262ffe6077e https://share.transistor.fm/s/4fa48571 Best Practices in marketing are often a lie. At least, they are far less useful and relevant than best practices in other professions and disciplines. 

Samar Owais, known for her stellar writing and penchant for picking fights with people online over how to compose an email, explains how, more often than not, marketing "best practices" are usually nothing more than herd behaviour, at best a starting point for developing marketing and content, but are so often used while avoiding listening to customers and using real data to make your message effective. 

How to find Samar: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarowais/
Emails Done Right: https://emailsdoneright.com/

]]> Best Practices in marketing are often a lie. At least, they are far less useful and relevant than best practices in other professions and disciplines. 

Samar Owais, known for her stellar writing and penchant for picking fights with people online over how to compose an email, explains how, more often than not, marketing "best practices" are usually nothing more than herd behaviour, at best a starting point for developing marketing and content, but are so often used while avoiding listening to customers and using real data to make your message effective. 

How to find Samar: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarowais/
Emails Done Right: https://emailsdoneright.com/

]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2025 07:30:00 +0000 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 1666 Best Practices in marketing are often a lie. At least, they are far less useful and relevant than best practices in other professions and disciplines. 

Samar Owais, known for her stellar writing and penchant for picking fights with people online over how to compose an email, explains how, more often than not, marketing "best practices" are usually nothing more than herd behaviour, at best a starting point for developing marketing and content, but are so often used while avoiding listening to customers and using real data to make your message effective. 

How to find Samar: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarowais/
Emails Done Right: https://emailsdoneright.com/

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 9: "Personal Brand" with Jo Watson Episode 9: "Personal Brand" with Jo Watson full b4b7c81c-61ab-4fe1-83c9-dc89e2103d26 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7187fd16 Personal Brand.
This might one of the silliest and most pointless phrases in modern marketing. It means almost nothing beyond "things about myself" and it's questionable if committing to the idea has helped anyone market or sell anything. In this episode, I talk with copywriter Jo Watson CMgr MCMI (the extra letters are important) about why personal brand is mostly irrelevant and how to better approach the challenge of marketing oneself to the world.
Jo Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-watson-agoodwriteup/
Jo's website: https://agoodwriteup.com/ 

]]> Personal Brand.
This might one of the silliest and most pointless phrases in modern marketing. It means almost nothing beyond "things about myself" and it's questionable if committing to the idea has helped anyone market or sell anything. In this episode, I talk with copywriter Jo Watson CMgr MCMI (the extra letters are important) about why personal brand is mostly irrelevant and how to better approach the challenge of marketing oneself to the world.
Jo Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-watson-agoodwriteup/
Jo's website: https://agoodwriteup.com/ 

]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 2070 Personal Brand.
This might one of the silliest and most pointless phrases in modern marketing. It means almost nothing beyond "things about myself" and it's questionable if committing to the idea has helped anyone market or sell anything. In this episode, I talk with copywriter Jo Watson CMgr MCMI (the extra letters are important) about why personal brand is mostly irrelevant and how to better approach the challenge of marketing oneself to the world.
Jo Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-watson-agoodwriteup/
Jo's website: https://agoodwriteup.com/ 

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 8: "Human Firewall" with Sara Carty Episode 8: "Human Firewall" with Sara Carty full 35f59d4d-4ba3-4e4d-83ce-4f09e7000aea https://share.transistor.fm/s/a9b4d8c8  For this episode, we wade into the (somewhat nice) jargon and empty words of cybersecurity with "Human Firewall."

Cybersecurity has a knack for creating turns of phrase that are hard for outsiders to understand. Human firewall has sprung the the idea that it is people, rather than tools or technology, is both the first and last line of defence against cyber attacks, and while this is accurate, it is regularly weaponised into fear rather than empowerment.

Sara Carty is one of the co-founders of cybersecurity marketing studio, Unboring, and Ph.D candidate in Cyber Diplomacy.

Sara's reading recommendations:
- Sizing People Up, by Robin Dreeke
- The People Hacker, by Jenny Radcliffe
- The Psychology of Spies and Spying, by Adrian Furnham and John Taylor

Unboring: https://www.unboring.digital/
Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saracarty/ 

]]>  For this episode, we wade into the (somewhat nice) jargon and empty words of cybersecurity with "Human Firewall."

Cybersecurity has a knack for creating turns of phrase that are hard for outsiders to understand. Human firewall has sprung the the idea that it is people, rather than tools or technology, is both the first and last line of defence against cyber attacks, and while this is accurate, it is regularly weaponised into fear rather than empowerment.

Sara Carty is one of the co-founders of cybersecurity marketing studio, Unboring, and Ph.D candidate in Cyber Diplomacy.

Sara's reading recommendations:
- Sizing People Up, by Robin Dreeke
- The People Hacker, by Jenny Radcliffe
- The Psychology of Spies and Spying, by Adrian Furnham and John Taylor

Unboring: https://www.unboring.digital/
Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saracarty/ 

]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:30:00 +0100 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 1583  For this episode, we wade into the (somewhat nice) jargon and empty words of cybersecurity with "Human Firewall."

Cybersecurity has a knack for creating turns of phrase that are hard for outsiders to understand. Human firewall has sprung the the idea that it is people, rather than tools or technology, is both the first and last line of defence against cyber attacks, and while this is accurate, it is regularly weaponised into fear rather than empowerment.

Sara Carty is one of the co-founders of cybersecurity marketing studio, Unboring, and Ph.D candidate in Cyber Diplomacy.

Sara's reading recommendations:
- Sizing People Up, by Robin Dreeke
- The People Hacker, by Jenny Radcliffe
- The Psychology of Spies and Spying, by Adrian Furnham and John Taylor

Unboring: https://www.unboring.digital/
Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saracarty/ 

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 7: "Passionate" with Anna Gunning Episode 7: "Passionate" with Anna Gunning full 6f208b88-6465-44a3-905f-1c412ca0a3c6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b845ee15 "We are passionate about what we do" has been a tired, overused cliche in marketing for nearly 20 years now. We continue to be regaled with how much businesses want to tell you how much they like the things they do. It needs to go, and a return to showing your customer why they should care that you like your work, rather than talking our ear off about it.

This episode's guest, Anna Gunning, has been marketing and writing copy for even longer than passionate has been overused. She explains why passionate is rarely a good choice in your marketing language, especially when you're trying to differentiate yourself, and how it's better to "show, not tell" when it comes to passion in business.

]]> "We are passionate about what we do" has been a tired, overused cliche in marketing for nearly 20 years now. We continue to be regaled with how much businesses want to tell you how much they like the things they do. It needs to go, and a return to showing your customer why they should care that you like your work, rather than talking our ear off about it.

This episode's guest, Anna Gunning, has been marketing and writing copy for even longer than passionate has been overused. She explains why passionate is rarely a good choice in your marketing language, especially when you're trying to differentiate yourself, and how it's better to "show, not tell" when it comes to passion in business.

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0100 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 1583 "We are passionate about what we do" has been a tired, overused cliche in marketing for nearly 20 years now. We continue to be regaled with how much businesses want to tell you how much they like the things they do. It needs to go, and a return to showing your customer why they should care that you like your work, rather than talking our ear off about it.

This episode's guest, Anna Gunning, has been marketing and writing copy for even longer than passionate has been overused. She explains why passionate is rarely a good choice in your marketing language, especially when you're trying to differentiate yourself, and how it's better to "show, not tell" when it comes to passion in business.

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 6: "Safe" with Jim Compton-Hall Episode 6: "Safe" with Jim Compton-Hall full 24e4cffc-fa0f-478b-944e-4be616891d54 https://share.transistor.fm/s/78e47664 Marketers and clients have a fundamental misunderstanding about what "safe" means when it comes to creative ideas.

Copywriter Jim Compton-Hall sits down with me and talks about his experience of "safe" in marketing, and how that comes across on an emotional level when clients hear it. We discuss why this actually leads to really weak and risky marketing, and what we can do to change the language of risk in our client relationships, and hopefully make more effective campaigns.

]]> Marketers and clients have a fundamental misunderstanding about what "safe" means when it comes to creative ideas.

Copywriter Jim Compton-Hall sits down with me and talks about his experience of "safe" in marketing, and how that comes across on an emotional level when clients hear it. We discuss why this actually leads to really weak and risky marketing, and what we can do to change the language of risk in our client relationships, and hopefully make more effective campaigns.

]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0100 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 2042 Marketers and clients have a fundamental misunderstanding about what "safe" means when it comes to creative ideas.

Copywriter Jim Compton-Hall sits down with me and talks about his experience of "safe" in marketing, and how that comes across on an emotional level when clients hear it. We discuss why this actually leads to really weak and risky marketing, and what we can do to change the language of risk in our client relationships, and hopefully make more effective campaigns.

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 5: "Content" with Ed Callow Episode 5: "Content" with Ed Callow full a9926c51-a8f0-4906-a603-8e9866f99ce0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d1d66e24  "Content" is one of those words that's so buried in how we make things on the internet that it's hard to see how empty it has become as a word. It does no one any favours: not the creators, not the brands, and not the distributors. In this episode, listen to copywriter Ed Callow give a takedown of content and we can rethink this pervasive, vapid word we use in modern business marketing

Ed's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecallow/
Ed's Substack: https://substack.com/@edcallow? 

]]>  "Content" is one of those words that's so buried in how we make things on the internet that it's hard to see how empty it has become as a word. It does no one any favours: not the creators, not the brands, and not the distributors. In this episode, listen to copywriter Ed Callow give a takedown of content and we can rethink this pervasive, vapid word we use in modern business marketing

Ed's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecallow/
Ed's Substack: https://substack.com/@edcallow? 

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0100 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 2293  "Content" is one of those words that's so buried in how we make things on the internet that it's hard to see how empty it has become as a word. It does no one any favours: not the creators, not the brands, and not the distributors. In this episode, listen to copywriter Ed Callow give a takedown of content and we can rethink this pervasive, vapid word we use in modern business marketing

Ed's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecallow/
Ed's Substack: https://substack.com/@edcallow? 

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 4: "Death of..." - Jon Harrison Episode 4: "Death of..." - Jon Harrison full c251c0a6-82c7-4170-883e-4eb357a9d96d https://share.transistor.fm/s/40b0627c If there's one thing that marketers and consultants love to preach, it's the death of something: brands, SEO, content marketing, social media, sales funnels, programmers... the list goes on, and not a single proclamation has been right (with the possible exception of the Blackberry smartphone).

Jon Harrison, co-founder of Birmingham-based brand agency, One Black Bear, unleashes all the anger and annoyance we all feel at these silly pronouncements, sharing his own experience from several decades as a marketer, and what you can to do to see past the noise when you hear of the death of anything in marketing or business.

]]> If there's one thing that marketers and consultants love to preach, it's the death of something: brands, SEO, content marketing, social media, sales funnels, programmers... the list goes on, and not a single proclamation has been right (with the possible exception of the Blackberry smartphone).

Jon Harrison, co-founder of Birmingham-based brand agency, One Black Bear, unleashes all the anger and annoyance we all feel at these silly pronouncements, sharing his own experience from several decades as a marketer, and what you can to do to see past the noise when you hear of the death of anything in marketing or business.

]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0100 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 2161 If there's one thing that marketers and consultants love to preach, it's the death of something: brands, SEO, content marketing, social media, sales funnels, programmers... the list goes on, and not a single proclamation has been right (with the possible exception of the Blackberry smartphone).

Jon Harrison, co-founder of Birmingham-based brand agency, One Black Bear, unleashes all the anger and annoyance we all feel at these silly pronouncements, sharing his own experience from several decades as a marketer, and what you can to do to see past the noise when you hear of the death of anything in marketing or business.

]]> Marketing, Tech, Copywriting, B2B, Brand, Creativity No Episode 3: "Strategy" - Sophie Blackmore Episode 3: "Strategy" - Sophie Blackmore full e406c1bc-7a29-4a0e-9eb6-bfd03d24c4db https://share.transistor.fm/s/fc74d850 Strategy.

A word that's so abused in business in marketing its easier to find examples of it being used to describe things that are distinctly not strategic than it is to find accurate information.

What exactly is a strategy, and how it is different from a plan, a vision, or tactics?

Our guest, Sophie Blackmore, drawing on her years of experience from her strategic marketing consultancy, Happy Marketer, gives a clear explanation about what strategy is, how it's supposed to help business owners, and tips for what you could be doing right now to make your sales and marketing more strategic.

Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophieblackmore/
Happy Marketer website: https://happymarketer.co.uk

]]> Strategy.

A word that's so abused in business in marketing its easier to find examples of it being used to describe things that are distinctly not strategic than it is to find accurate information.

What exactly is a strategy, and how it is different from a plan, a vision, or tactics?

Our guest, Sophie Blackmore, drawing on her years of experience from her strategic marketing consultancy, Happy Marketer, gives a clear explanation about what strategy is, how it's supposed to help business owners, and tips for what you could be doing right now to make your sales and marketing more strategic.

Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophieblackmore/
Happy Marketer website: https://happymarketer.co.uk

]]> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0100 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 2256 Strategy.

A word that's so abused in business in marketing its easier to find examples of it being used to describe things that are distinctly not strategic than it is to find accurate information.

What exactly is a strategy, and how it is different from a plan, a vision, or tactics?

Our guest, Sophie Blackmore, drawing on her years of experience from her strategic marketing consultancy, Happy Marketer, gives a clear explanation about what strategy is, how it's supposed to help business owners, and tips for what you could be doing right now to make your sales and marketing more strategic.

Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophieblackmore/
Happy Marketer website: https://happymarketer.co.uk

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 2: "Communty" - Gus Bhandal Episode 2: "Communty" - Gus Bhandal full 01b3a07f-050d-4206-8549-3aabbdb05837 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9be3b22d For our second episode, we are taking on "community." An idea that often gets confused and used interchangeably with words like "audience," "market," and "subscribers."

Gus Bhandal, marketer and LinkedIn guru talks about his story about building and being part of a community, and what lessons you can take to create community that benefits you as both a person a business

Gus can be found on LinkedIn and via her website.

]]> For our second episode, we are taking on "community." An idea that often gets confused and used interchangeably with words like "audience," "market," and "subscribers."

Gus Bhandal, marketer and LinkedIn guru talks about his story about building and being part of a community, and what lessons you can take to create community that benefits you as both a person a business

Gus can be found on LinkedIn and via her website.

]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:29:19 +0000 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 2050 For our second episode, we are taking on "community." An idea that often gets confused and used interchangeably with words like "audience," "market," and "subscribers."

Gus Bhandal, marketer and LinkedIn guru talks about his story about building and being part of a community, and what lessons you can take to create community that benefits you as both a person a business

Gus can be found on LinkedIn and via her website.

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No Episode 1: "Innovate" - Sarah Catherine Jones Episode 1: "Innovate" - Sarah Catherine Jones full 67baea7d-9e43-4430-b8a2-491ff6b8652f https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e89dd8f For our first episode, we are taking on "innovate." A word so overused and abused that it's been used to describe a cheese sandwich.

Our guest is copywriter Sarah Catherine Jones, who breaks down how and why innovate is such a poor word to describe what many businesses do, and how to figure out what to write or say instead.

Sarah can be found on LinkedIn and via her website.

]]> For our first episode, we are taking on "innovate." A word so overused and abused that it's been used to describe a cheese sandwich.

Our guest is copywriter Sarah Catherine Jones, who breaks down how and why innovate is such a poor word to describe what many businesses do, and how to figure out what to write or say instead.

Sarah can be found on LinkedIn and via her website.

]]> Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000 Andrew Monro Andrew Monro 1758 For our first episode, we are taking on "innovate." A word so overused and abused that it's been used to describe a cheese sandwich.

Our guest is copywriter Sarah Catherine Jones, who breaks down how and why innovate is such a poor word to describe what many businesses do, and how to figure out what to write or say instead.

Sarah can be found on LinkedIn and via her website.

]]> Marketing, B2B, Tech, Copywriting, Business No