Podcast

“What happens when the man who saw it all coming returns to tell us… we misunderstood the punchline?” In this premiere episode of They Tried to Warn Us, we resurrect the voice and mind of media theorist Neil Postman—the man who warned us that entertainment would devour public discourse, and that we might laugh ourselves into tyranny. Recorded from beyond the grave (don’t worry, it’s not creepy—just uncanny), Postman joins our host Ray Welling for a conversation that feels more relevant now than when Amusing Ourselves to Death first hit shelves in 1985. In fact, it may be more relevant today. We ask Postman what he thinks of: TikTok, Trump, and 24-hour news Whether Orwell or Huxley got it right (spoiler: Postman was Team Huxley) Why he thought the printing press created reason, and TV dismantled it The meaning of his infamous phrase: “Now… this.” What schools have forgotten—and why tech won’t save them How algorithms shape belief And what he thinks of our podcast dragging him back from the dead… Postman responds with the clarity, wit, and dry dismay that made him one of the most prescient cultural critics of the 20th century. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a warning we’re finally ready to hear.

They Tried to Warn Us is the podcast that resurrects dead thinkers—writers, theorists,prophets, poets—and asks them what they make of the world we’ve built. We’ve used a little creative license—and a lot of historical research—to bring back the voices of those who saw it all coming. This season, we talk to ten prophetic voices from across history— from media theorists and science fiction authors to environmentalists, philosophers, and visionaries. Each episode is part time-travel, part interview, part wake-up call. So if you're feeling overwhelmed, confused, or just plain suspicious of your smartphone...You’re not alone.You’re not paranoid.You’re living in the world they warned us about. Subscribe now. Before it’s too late…

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you might even learn something as Ray Welling and Lawrence Ang examine communication failures from around the globe.

Clear as Mud is on a short hiatus while Ray and Lawrence work on a new concept for season 3. In the meantime, Ray was interviewed for radio to talk about LinkedIn's 20th birthday and the buzz topic of the moment, artificial intelligence. With the cooperation of Radio 107.3 2SER, we've reproduced the full interview for a special episode of Clear as Mud.

We speak to ChatGPT, AI and CX researcher and expert Liam Bray to explore whether robots are going to take our jobs or make them more interesting. Can he convince Ray that we're not headed for the singularity? You'll have to listen to find out.

Who knew that Tim Berners-Lee came up with a way to combat online misinformation more than 25 years ago? You'll never guess what killed it off! Also, Ray and Lawrence try to extricate themselves from goblin mode to discuss words of the year, worrying TikTok trends and the only thing that is keeping up with inflation.

In which polymath metaverse pioneer Sami Tauber tries to convince a couple of old cynics that the next phase of digital development is not going to end in tears (Spoiler alert: she does a great job!)

Oops – this episode got pinged because we included a few bars of Bruce Springsteen’s version of ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ – who knew that anyone was listening to us?

Despite shrinking attention spans, storytelling remains a powerful way to get your message across. We speak with corporate communications coach Arabella McPherson about how telling a story helps you get straight through to the emotional part of someone's brain, so your communication is NOT clear as mud!

In which we discuss Hollywood affairs, a promising development in the fight against ad tech, a triggering stumble from KFC and - surprise, surprise - lying politicians. And who knew Ray was a punk rock aficionado?

For most people around the world, the initials that come to mind when conversation turns to Donald Trump are not MAGA, but WTF? To try and understand how this blustering bankrupt became the leader of the free world and how he continues to hold sway over so many people, Ray speaks to the woman who wrote the book on Trump’s use of rhetoric and language, Professor Jennifer Mercieca at Texas A&M University. We dive into her book Demagogue for President and discuss the method behind Trump’s seemingly rambling rhetoric, and how he managed to take over the Republican party. And yes, Hitler gets mentioned, though not exactly as you might think!

In which we discuss the relationship between college athletics and OnlyFans, how TikTok is changing the entire social media landscape and over-reactions to wrong weather forecasts. Meanwhile, Ray digs up a long-forgotten comedy routine that pre-dates the carbon footprint debate.

In which we decry Big Tech’s most viral activity – copying each other – as well as examining Ukraine’s nation branding efforts, a kind/not kind viral trend and ageism and sexism on the international stage.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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 Sigmund Freud and George W. Bush.

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.

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!

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 for Trivago.

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.

In which we talk to Mark Gwynn from the Australian National Dictionary Centre about how politicians and the media twist meanings and use evocative language, analogies and even colour to try and make us believe what they have to say.

In which we explore the perils of modern fame with celebrity journalist Cynthia Wang, as well as Burger King being clear as mud with its plant-based patties, grumpy Bob Hoffman and the Connected Commerce Council and how Volvo conquered the Super Bowl without spending a cent. And of course, our gratuitous Kardashian reference of the week!

In which we speak with acclaimed writer Mike Sager, who was at Ground Zero for a key moment in the history of fake news – the Janet Cooke Pulitzer Prize scandal. This story has it all: sex, drugs, rock and roll, politics, profanity – and a real-life cameo role for Ray! In this American-themed episode, Ray and Lawrence also discuss how Fox News viewers can be redeemed for $15 an hour, the worst car launch of all time, and America’s stupidest murderer.

In which Ray and Lawrence examine their own failure to communicate through game shows and Hyundai’s Super Bowl triumph, as well as editing fails on Married at First Sight (as if the unedited bits weren’t bad enough!). We uncover Russia’s plot, years before their current invasion, to build their national soccer team by sleeping with the enemy. We also speak with the godfather of reality TV research, Graeme Turner, and try to uncover why so many people like to watch ‘ordinary people’.

We kick things off by exploring SpecSavers' 'clear as mud' billboard campaign, discussing how deepfakes are influencing modern warfare and fact-checking Australia's Prevaricator-in-Chief. Meanwhile, Orwellian professor Mark Satta describes how Vladimir Putin is mirroring the techniques of the original Big Brother from 1984.

In which Ray and Lawrence examine how a late-night TV advertising campaign toppled the Pinochet government, why the Australian government thinks it can stop Facebook from running fake celebrity endorsement scam ads and how dancing jellybeans made death likeable. We also speak with influencer scholar (is that a contradiction in terms?) Nataly Levesque to discover why influencers have taken over the world.