What’s really going on behind those “too good to be true” marketing promises?

Simon and I are talking the good stuff first: marketing that treats people like actual humans (ground-breaking, we know). Clear communication, real expectations, transparency that isn’t just sprinkled on top like glitter.

Then we jump straight into the chaos... the fear-based messaging, the “act now or you’ll die cold and alone” tactics, the pretend scarcity, the “guaranteed results” promises, and the guilt-tripping funnels that somehow convince you you’re failing at life if you don’t buy the course. You’ve seen them. You’ve probably rolled your eyes at them. Same.

From SEO cowboys, to lead-gen “gurus,” to PPC agencies that promise the moon and deliver a pebble, we shine a very bright, very unapologetic light on the worst offenders, and why these tactics stick around. Spoiler: because people don’t always know they’re being manipulated.

But here’s the good news! Once you understand how unethical marketing works, you’re a lot harder to fool. Consumer education is the real power move, and ethical businesses (the ones who actually care) are the ones who win long term.

If you’ve ever felt confused, pressured, or straight-up bamboozled by a marketing message… you’re going to love this episode. It’s honest, it’s funny, it’s slightly chaotic, and yes, we definitely rolled our eyes more than once.

Grab your brew, press play, and enjoy.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

In this week’s episode, Simon and I dive into a topic that comes up again and again… corporate denial. You know the one, the moment a huge organisation gets caught red-handed, denies everything with a perfectly polished statement, and quietly carries on making millions. Yep!

We unpack some of the biggest examples from recent years and explore why it happens, how companies manage to bounce back so quickly, and why society seems to give them more grace than they sometimes deserve.

We also talk about the performative side of corporate “values,” where glossy marketing promises don’t always line up with what’s happening behind the scenes. It’s the gap between what brands say they stand for and what they actually do that frustrates so many of us.

This isn’t just a rant session (although we had a few moments!). It’s an honest look at accountability, reputation, and why genuine change is so rare in corporate spaces. We explore whether public outrage ever leads to lasting transformation, or if most businesses simply ride out the storm until the media moves on.

If you’ve ever wondered why some companies seem untouchable... or why “lessons learned” often feels like an empty phrase, this episode pulls back the curtain. It’s thought-provoking, a little spicy, and full of those conversations we all have privately but rarely say out loud.

Grab a cuppa and join us. This one goes deep!

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.

Grab your mug and settle in, because this week we’re tackling one of the biggest questions shaking up the creative world... can artificial intelligence really be creative?

We chat about the good, the bad, and the slightly terrifying side of it all, from how AI can supercharge efficiency to the uncomfortable question of whether it could ever replace genuine human creativity. Spoiler! We’re not convinced it can.

There’s also a serious side to this brew-fuelled chat, the ethical and legal mess that comes with AI-generated content. Should creators be declaring when something’s AI-made? Who’s responsible if it copies someone else’s work? And what happens when regulations finally catch up?

This episode isn’t a doom scroll in podcast form, it’s a conversation about balance, transparency, and remembering that while AI can imitate, it can’t feel. Creativity, at its core, is still a human heartbeat.

Tune in and join us as we unpack the ethics, the innovation, and the odd existential crisis, all in the name of keeping our creative cups half full.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.