Episode 118 – Satirising the spin – a bullsh*t investigation

The Internal Comms Podcast

If you have ever found yourself circling back, touching base, breaking down silos or leveraging strategic synergies — then these guests are speaking your language. Charles Firth and James Schloeffel are the Australian comedy duo behind Wankernomics. Their brilliantly sharp satire holds a mirror up to the strange, slippery and often nonsensical language we only use at work. What started as a comedic side project has become a global phenomenon, with their reels and live shows resonating around the world. In this gloriously unfiltered conversation, we discuss vertical slices, Human-Centred Design and the curious art of “North Starring” — even in the Southern Hemisphere. We examine how certain phrases allow us to deflect responsibility, sound impressive without committing to anything, and quietly opt out of saying what we really mean. But this is about more than buzzwords. At its heart, this is a conversation about belonging — about how language helps us fit in, how it masks insecurity, and why it’s so hard to speak plainly in a world that rewards waffle. Share your thoughts on this or any other episode of The Internal Comms Podcast using the hashtag #TheICPodcast. Thank you for listening.