As 2025 draws to a close, our Opinionated Marketers reflect on the year that was.

Among this week's topics - Kiran and Charles discuss the new 'Great British Railways' branding, and why no Marketing Agency will have a single positive word to say about it!

Marketing is fast, demanding and often overwhelming. In this episode, we talk honestly about why the job feels so stressful, how burnout shows up, and why resilience varies so much from person to person. Psychotherapist and marketing consultant Kim Tasso explains warning signs, team pressures, remote-work challenges, and simple ways to lower stress before it hits a breaking point.

In this episode, we explore the world of police communications with Janeen Harding, Digital Communications and Engagement Advisor for Lincolnshire Police. We discuss crisis communications, media training, stakeholder engagement, and the challenge of reaching diverse rural communities. Janine also reveals how powerful campaigns like Think of Denii are created—and why the force launched a successful TikTok strategy to engage younger audiences. It's a Perfect listen for those interested in public sector communications, digital strategy, and community engagement.

This week, Kiran and Charles discuss the 2025 UK Budget and what it really means for people and businesses. They dig into tax changes, rising costs, climate policy twists and why the headlines don’t tell the full story.

Charles and Kiran discuss whether the rapid rise in AI valuations is heading for a bubble burst, sparked by big investor moves and unrealistic expectations. They stress that AI is here to stay but due a reality check. The conversation then turns to online pricing tactics; hidden fees, fake discounts and murky sales practices - and why marketers should stick to transparency if they want to keep their reputation intact.

Social media consultant Daisey Cook joins Kiran Kapur for a lively conversation about showing up online without losing your mind. They explore where your audience actually is, why consistency beats chasing trends, and how simple strategy brings calm to the chaos. Practical, honest and full of human insight, it’s a gentle guide to making social media work your way.

From China’s Singles Day to the rising price of gold - Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon explore how global consumer habits, cultural events, and economic shifts shape marketing opportunities. This week, they discuss adapting to new social and retail phenomena, the importance of wide-ranging news sources, and why smart marketers always look beyond the headlines.

Kiran Kapur talks to copywriter Jamie Thomson about why the best writing begins long before fingers touch the keyboard. He explains his five-step “Brand New Copy” method, showing how understanding goals, psychology, and positioning makes copy clear, human and effective. A practical chat about thinking, not just typing — and why AI can’t replace that.

Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon talk about the new John Lewis Christmas ad, the comfort of old-fashioned catalogues, and the joy of getting something in the post. They share memories of real shopping and chat about a brand that skips Black Friday discounts to give money to charity instead — proving kindness can stand out more than sales.

AI is reshaping everything—from business to our sense of what’s real. In this thought-provoking conversation, Kiran asks Neil Wilkins whether our unease around artificial intelligence is justified or simply misunderstood. Together they explore AI-first businesses, human–machine “relationships,” and what happens when technology starts to feel a little too human.

Charles and Kiran explore the reality of robots in care homes, from Japan’s seal-like companions to machines that just get in the way. They debate why humans keep giving robots faces, what makes automation useful, and whether we’re designing for need or novelty.

Vahagn Sarksyan, VP of Marketing at KRISP, shares how the company turned a simple noise-cancelling tool into a whole new voice AI category. From educating users who didn’t know they had a problem to shifting from B2C to B2B, he talks about testing ideas fast, building trust, and turning product value into the story.  This episode is a sharp and honest look at marketing in action.

In this episode of Opinionated Marketers, Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon discuss Schumpeter’s long wave theory and the cycles of creative destruction—from steam power to AI. They look at how innovation changes economies, jobs, and industries, why adaptability matters, and whether solar energy could drive the next global revolution. Read more: “4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment” – The New Yorker

This week on The Cambridge Marketing Podcast, Anthony Smith from Red Stag Media explains how to market to farmers and agribusinesses. He shares insights into agricultural and horticultural marketing, the power of digital tools in farming, and why using the right language is vital for connecting with rural audiences.

In this episode, we explore a Three-Step Formula for successful PowerPoint presentations. Our guest is Richard Goring of BrightCarbon, who reveals why many presentations miss the mark and therefore fail in their objective. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who uses PowerPoint, Google Slides or any other tool for business communication, sales, training or marketing.

Email expert Kim Arnold joins Kiran to reveal why most of us are terrible at writing emails—and how to fix it. From the “Dump Truck” (walls of text) and “White Bread” (bland, personality-free emails) to the “Undertaker” (buried calls-to-action), Kim explains the biggest mistakes people make and shares practical tips to write clear, persuasive, and human emails that actually get replies. Whether you’re emailing colleagues, chasing clients, or battling Teams and Slack overload, this episode is packed with real-world advice to make your messages stand out.

What does “commercial intelligence” really mean for marketers, and why do so many of us avoid it? In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Hatcher (entrepreneur, investor, and fellow of the Cambridge Marketing College) to cut through the noise around numbers, ROI, and lifetime customer value. We dig into the stuff marketers often push aside: how much it costs to get a customer, how much it takes to keep them, and what they’re actually worth over time. Andrew explains why being “too creative for the maths” is just an excuse, why brand awareness can be measured, and how simple calculations can change the way you justify campaigns, budgets, and even your next pay rise. From Google Ads and HubSpot funnels to B2B sales, referrals, and lifetime value, we get into the practical side of marketing that every creative professional needs to face. If you’ve ever thought “I don’t do numbers, I just make content,” this conversation will change your mind.

What does a strong employer brand really look like? Alexis Drake of Reed Talent Solutions explains why honesty beats buzzwords, how the right Employee Value Proposition attracts top talent, and why cutting through the corporate beige is essential for smarter talent acquisition and retention.  

What really makes a community tick? Hayley Williams, founder of Keystone Marketing, shares how to spark community engagement, move beyond personas, and build trust through authentic conversations.