Less Chatter, More Matter: The Communications Podcast

<p>Communications expert, business owner, group fitness instructor...that's your podcast host, Mel Loy! And in the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, Mel shares tips on how to improve your communication skills, and interviews with the experts.<br /><br />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, Hey Mel! Communication & Training. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.</p>

#137 Multi-lingual audience? Here’s how to communicate

Moving to a new country takes courage, especially when there may very well be different language barriers. However, it's worth wondering... what happens when your new workplace has communication you can't keep up with? Even if it's not just a different language, there is a risk of misunderstandings, safety risks, and missed opportunities simply from cultural differences alone! Which is what this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast explores. We focus on how internal communic...

09-24
16:44

#136 Let’s stop using ‘engagement’ as a measure of internal comms success

Engagement surveys are everywhere, and it’s tempting to use those scores as proof that your internal communications are working. In fact, a lot of people, and senior leaders, ask for exactly those scores to prove communication cut through. However, engagement isn’t just about comms because it’s shaped by leadership, culture, salaries, career development, values, and more. So if engagement isn’t the right measure, what is? In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we unpack why...

09-17
16:46

#135 5 communication skills every leader needs to master

Stepping into leadership doesn’t magically equip someone with the ability to communicate well. Yet, so many organisations still assume it does. In fact, research shows that 82% of new leaders receive no formal training, which means many simply copy the habits of their past managers. The result? Poor communication that trickles down and impacts whole teams. Which is why this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast explores the five core communication skills that every new leader...

09-10
16:52

#134 Change communications pet peeves, and how to fix them (ft. Gilbert Kruidenier)

Change and communication work can be challenging, with shifting priorities, tight deadlines, and complex approvals creating frustration. Which is why on this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we sit down with Gilbert Kruidenier, organisational change expert, author, and volunteer firefighter, to explore common frustrations in change projects and practical ways to overcome them. Gilbert shares insights from over 20 years of experience across industries including retail, g...

09-04
34:20

#133 Overcoming the silos - how to build bridges through comms

Have you ever been halfway through a project only to discover priorities have shifted? Or chasing information from another team that never comes? Maybe you feel like no one really knows what your team does. These are all symptoms of a siloed culture and while silos often start at the top, communicators can play a vital role in breaking them down. In this episode, we share four practical strategies to help bridge the gaps that silos create; we chat about building a single source of truth to am...

08-27
13:43

#132 Listening, and how it can change your internal comms (ft. Howard Krais)

When we think of internal communication, we often jump straight to emails, intranets, and town halls... but what about listening? How do we truly hear employees and act on what they share? In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're joined by Howard Krais, co-founder of True Communications and co-author of Leading the Listening Organisation. With decades of experience in global change communications, Howard has pioneered research into how organisations listen and why it ma...

08-20
40:51

#131  Why emotions matter for your comms and how you can tap into them

Ever nailed a comms campaign, where you know it's clear, concise and beautifully targeted, only to find it falls flat in action? The missing ingredient might be emotion. In this episode, we dive into the power of 'getting them in the feels' and why emotions are often the deciding factor in whether your audience engages, acts, or ignores your message entirely. Drawing on fascinating research, we share four practical ways to tap into emotions: making your message relatable, priming ...

08-13
25:08

#130 Storytelling to drive change for NFPs (ft. Gurpreet Bhatia)

In the crowded and competitive world of Not-For-Profits, how do you cut through the noise, move hearts, and inspire action? In this powerful episode, we chat with Gurpreet Bhatia, Regional Communications Director for Asia at Heifer International, about the art and impact of storytelling in the nonprofit space. Gurpreet explains why storytelling is the soul of effective NFP communication and how real stories can drive funding, build connection, and spark meaningful transformation. She shares h...

08-06
40:17

#129 A change comms dilemma - what to communicate when there’s nothing to say

Change projects don’t always run smoothly. In fact, they often stall, slow down, or get tangled in roadblocks. So what happens when you’re expected to keep communicating about a project… but there’s nothing new to report? In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore the tricky territory of staying visible and valuable when change efforts are stuck in the slow lane. You'll learn practical ways to communicate meaningfully, without creating noise or confusion, inclu...

07-30
10:20

#128 Building connection through cross-cultural comms (ft. Tiffany English)

In a global workplace, communication isn't just about clarity. It's about cultural context, and how you manage this across borders. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we are joined by cross-cultural communication expert Tiffany English, founder of Access Offshoring, to explore what it really takes to lead effectively across cultures. Tiffany shares a candid story from her own experience—when her collaborative leadership style wasn’t landing with her offshore team—and ho...

07-23
31:36

#127 Communicating process and policy updates in a way that isn't boring

Not every message we share is exciting, but often, it’s the dull updates that matter most. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we dive into how we can turn dry topics like new policies, process changes, or compliance updates into messages that people actually notice, understand, and act on. We explain why the temptation to send out an “FYI” isn’t enough and why failing to communicate the “boring stuff” well can create risks to operations, reputation, and even legal compl...

07-16
16:43

#126 How to use storytelling more effectively in your comms (ft. Soundari Mukherjea)

When was the last time a slide deck inspired you to act? If your answer is “never,” then you know exactly why the conversation you're about to listen to, matters. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast we chat with Soundari Mukherjea, a self-described Chief Everything Officer at Soundbytes11, who helps leaders and teams communicate with more purpose and impact through the power of storytelling. Soundari shares her own journey of building a portfolio career across consulting,...

07-09
31:12

#125 Hiring and applying: top tips for comms jobs seekers and hirers

Are you a comms professional searching for your next role, or are you in an organisation trying to find the right communicator for your team? It can feel tough out there right now: talented people are struggling to stand out, and employers are missing out on great candidates because their job ads just don’t connect. In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we share three practical tips for comms job seekers, including how to write a resume that shows your true value (not just a list of t...

07-02
20:06

#124 Why body language matters for your comms, even online (ft. Shea Evans)

When it comes to communication, what you don’t say can be just as important as what you do. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we sit down with speaking coach, performer, and strategist Shea Evans to unpack the often-overlooked power of body language, and how it can elevate your leadership, boost internal comms, and build stronger connections. With more than two decades of experience across performance and business, Shea brings a unique lens to communication. Toge...

06-25
35:48

#123 The Generational Divide and Comms … is it a ‘thing’?

Are generational communication preferences fact or fiction? This episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast dives into one of the hottest topics from the 2025 IABC World Conference: navigating communication across multiple generations in the workplace. From Gen Z to Boomers and beyond, we explore whether the so-called generational divide is backed by evidence or built on unhelpful stereotypes. We unpack why some assumptions may be doing more harm than good and we offer three power...

06-18
15:22

#122 5 ways to shake up your change communications

In this special episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, recorded live from the IABC World Conference in Whistler, we explore how to refresh and reframe change communication in a world where attention is fragmented and information overload is the norm. Too often, communicators fall back on familiar tools and templates when managing change initiatives... but with today’s audiences juggling endless priorities and digital distractions, those traditional approaches may no longer be fit for purpose. ...

06-11
18:31

#121 How to navigate misalignment with stakeholders as a comms pro

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we dive into one of the trickiest parts of being a communicator: managing challenging relationships with stakeholders who just don’t get it. Whether it's clashing with HR, navigating gatekeeping internal comms teams, dealing with leaders who think they know best, or trying to manage change in a project where everyone expects comms to do all the heavy lifting—we address it all, and we share all the practical, tried-and-tested tech...

06-04
20:21

#120 7 tips on making your comms easier for everyone to understand

Clear communication isn’t about using big words or sounding clever. It’s about making sure your message lands. In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we are sharing 7 practical tips to help you simplify your communication so it’s easier for your audience to understand and act on. Whether you're dealing with senior leaders, change-resistant teams, or complex topics that need breaking down, these tips will help you bring more clarity, confidence and cut-through to your message. We’...

05-28
19:18

#119 5 things leaders can do to improve their communication

Effective communication isn’t a nice-to-have for leaders, it’s essential. But here’s the problem: 9 out of 10 employees say their leaders aren’t cutting it when it comes to communication, and 6 out of 10 new managers receive zero training in this space. No wonder so many leaders are overwhelmed and underperforming. In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we explore five practical, no-cost ways leaders can improve how they connect, share, and support their teams. Even if you're in your f...

05-21
14:42

#118 Creative ways comms pros can help get employees back in office (ft. Anshuman Kumar)

The return-to-office debate is back, and a lot of businesses are all but making their employees return to the workplace. However, are these organisations giving the right reasons as to why employees need to return... or are they still communicating in a way that doesn't resonate? In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we ask culture and comms expert, Anshuman Kumar, how he's seen leading organisations across Asia Pacific manage the return to office shift and what they've done right... ...

05-14
33:06

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