Cuttlefish Communication

08/06/2026

The too long, didn't read (tl;dr)?

You want help with public speaking, media presenting and adjusting to AI in your comms career.

We’ve got it. For free. Here: 👉: https://mailchi.mp/heymelcomms/8-6-26

So sign up for more free stuff here: https://training.us6.list-manage.com/profile?u=a4e0f5f80596568d857875e0d&id=89b2354fad&e=%5BUNIQID%5D&c=742f306292.
[Image description: An image of a text screen from a phone. There are three messages, one says: "how is public speaking going?" with a love heart eye emoji. In response, the text says: "Ugh, I am struggling! I think I need tips..." and the final text reply says: "Don't worry! This fortnight's newsletter has got you covered! Check it out." after which two photos of Mel presenting are sent. The conversation is with Cuttlefish Group.]

08/06/2026

Ever met someone who sells houses Monday to Friday… and body slams people on the weekend? 🤼

This week on the pod, I chat with Mitch — real estate professional, pro wrestler, and one of the most interesting people you'll ever hear from. He's toured Japan, worked as a removalist to fund his dream, and built a career doing something most people told him was a weird idea.

He told us everything — the training, the politics, the weirdest fan encounters, and why he nearly kept it secret for years.

New episode out now - listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2612623/episodes/19303720

Or find Wait, You Do What? on your podcast app of choice.

07/06/2026

When are you okay with using / receiving AI, and when does it grind your gears?

As AI becomes woven into the fabric of our ways of living and working, we're all going to need to make decisions about what we think is okay, and what's not.

And that will be different for everyone because we all have different values, ethics, expectations, and experiences, and that's okay.

But as an individual you need to get clear on what you're comfortable with and what you're not (for now ... it might change), and at a team and business level too.

For example, I'm so okay with talking to a bot over the phone to cancel a physio appointment, because then I don't feel guilty / bad / awkward.

But an AI job interview? Absolutely not!

So I'm interested to gather a baseline of what you're okay with, and what you're not. This research will be used to help guide some work I'm doing in this space, and of course the findings will be shared!

***Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/ZgLaLVbzSJtTurTn9 ***

I'll also then run a follow-up survey in a year to see if perceptions have changed.

So ... can you be a helper and take a few minutes to complete the survey? And share it with others?

All responses are anonymous and will be treated confidentially.

[Image description: Yellow tile with black headline text that reads: When is the use of AI okay? (My view). Below are two lists, one with a cross at the top to indicate 'not okay', one with a tick at the top to indicate 'okay'. The 'not okay' list includes things like leader comms, job ads for brands that promote humanity, AI slop. The 'okay' box includes using a bot to cancel or change an appointment, managing life admin, and creating first drafts.]

03/06/2026

New week, new poddy episode!

In this week’s episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we sit down with media trainer, journalist and author Theresa Miller to talk about what separates confident spokespeople from those who struggle under pressure.

We give you the insider tips on how to prepare for tough questions, why plain English beats jargon every time, and what to do when things don't go to plan.

Listen in here: https://www.heymelcomms.training/173 🎧
[Video imagery description: Mel and Theresa in front of their microphones talking to the camera.]

02/06/2026

You can be the smartest person in the room and still struggle to get your message across when the pressure is on.

High-pressure situations can change the way we think, speak and respond and often, the challenge isn't a lack of expertise. It's knowing how to communicate that expertise clearly and confidently.

In our latest blog, we explore why great communicators aren't born with natural confidence, they're built through preparation, structure and practice.

So, what do you need to practice to get there?

Read the blog to discover why the best communicators prepare more than they perform. 👉 https://heymelcomms.training/blog/speak-confidently
[Image description: A gold mostly transparent background of a tv presenter in front of a camera. On top of this is a white rectangle with the words in black: "SPEAK MORE CONFIDENTLY in front of the media, public and during presentations". The first three words are bold, and above this in a black circle is the words: "HOW TO" in gold. Beneath this is a black graphic of stars, and the Cuttlefish logo in black in the bottom left.]

01/06/2026

What do you do when you love horses but can’t deal with the mud, the vet bills, and the 5am feeds?

If you’re Kerri from South Australia’s Barossa Valley, you collect them. In miniature. About 200 of them.

In the latest episode of ‘Wait, You Do What?’, I sat down with Kerri — professional show dog photographer and devoted model horse collector since 1997 — to talk about a hobby that’s way more fascinating (and valuable) than most people realise.

Here’s a taste of what we got into:

- Why she nearly cried telling me about a Phar Lap model she sold... that’s now worth $1,500

- How one Breyer horse sold for 20,000 USD at auction — for a single model horse

- There are model horse SHOWS, with breed classes, performance classes (tiny hand-stitched saddles and all), and community members across Australia and New Zealand

- And yes, there is a trophy called the Horse’s Arse Award. Kerri has won it. She has no regrets.

This one’s a great reminder that the hobbies that look a little quirky from the outside are often the ones with the most heart, the most artistry, and the most cracking communities behind them.

Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2612623/episodes/19263675

31/05/2026

If you want your language to cut through, be understood, and be memorable for all the right reasons, then there are three outcomes you should aim for:

- simple
- authentic
- tailored.

And it's important to get your language right, because if people can't understand your message, think it sounds like BS, or seems irrelevant or non-caring, then they will simply turn away to one of the millions of other things vying for their attention.

The SAT Triangle model is something I teach in my second book, 'Less Chatter, More Matter'. The beauty of the triangle is that you can dial up or dial down these elements if you need to, depending on the audience and the context.

But if you're ticking all three boxes at some level, then you know you're on the right track.

What's a good lesson you've learned about the language choices we make when communicating? Please share in the comments!

[Image description: Yellow tile with black headline text that reads: The Language Triangle. There is a hand drawn black-and-white image of a triangle with the words 'simple', 'authentic' and 'tailored' at the three points.]

31/05/2026

When are you comfortable interacting with AI, and when does it give you the ick?

We are currently conducting research on AI use - specifically, what people are 'ok' and 'not ok' with.

All responses are anonymous and treated confidentially. So if you've got just five minutes to spare, we'd love your thoughts.

And once you're done, why not share it with others to complete?

Take the survey here:

Thanks for dropping by! If we haven't met, my name is Mel Loy, the owner of Cuttlefish, a change communication agency based in Brisbane, Australia. I am conducting research on the use of AI - specifically, what you find comfortable or uncomfortable. Your responses are anonymous and will be treated c...

28/05/2026

How do you create a compelling 'case for why' during change?

A few weeks ago at Rethink Change I presented my new framework for developing and delivering your story (not case) for why.

Because it's not just about the message, it's also about how and when it's received.

On the left side of the diagram is the 'change architecture' (those familiar with Nudge theory will remember this). A lot of this is usually out of our control.

On the right side are the tools we have at our disposal.

Then in developing the story, we need to consider:
- the macro context driving the change - what's happening in the big, wide world that's impacting the business?
- the micro context - what's happening inside the business?

After that, it's about tailoring that 'why' for your different audiences, and getting very specific and tangible for each.

This was part one of the framework - I've also got a little matrix that I drew to show how to message your 'why'. But I'll share that later.

In the meantime, what do you think? Honest feedback always appreciated, because it's a new toy I'm playing with!

28/05/2026

Yep, we’re still on AI.

Why? Because AI is changing the communications profession faster than most organisations are prepared for.

Tasks that once took hours can now be done in minutes. Emails, reports, presentations, videos, social posts… increasingly generated by AI tools. Though while that creates efficiency, it also raises a big question for communicators:
Where do we fit in now?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore what communicators need to do to stay relevant in an AI-driven world, and why our future is far bigger than simply “creating content.”

Listen in here: https://www.heymelcomms.training/172 🎧
[Video imagery description: Mel in front of her microphone talking to the camera.]