Commical

What can improv comedy teach us about communicating and working better with other humans? A LOT.

Kelly Leonard has spent 38 years at The Second City, the legendary Chicago comedy institution behind names like Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Steve Carell and Amy Poehler.

Today, The Second City takes improv well beyond the stage and into boardrooms, using it to help organisations build better communicators, collaborators and teams.

Kelly joins Marie El Daghl to talk about what improv in business actually looks like - from "Yes, And", listening and curiosity to trust, adaptability, difficult conversations and humour at work. They also discuss the supposed generational communication divide and why many of our workplace communication problems may have very little to do with generations at all.

Love Kelly as much as we do? Check out his excellent podcast Getting to Yes, and… with Kelly Leonard wherever you get your podcasts! And buy his book called (you guessed it) Yes, And before his next one comes out – it's available from all good book stores and Amazon.

How do you communicate when your colleagues are also your family?

Lucie Chami has spent more than 20 years working alongside her parents and siblings at Vitex Pharmaceuticals, helping grow the family business from a small operation into one of the world's leading complementary medicine manufacturers.

Today, Lucie is Chief Procurement Officer. Her brother is CEO. Her siblings also hold senior roles across the business. Her father is Chairman.

Which makes communication interesting.

What happens when you completely disagree with your brother's decision? When your dad needs to tell you you've stuffed up? When an argument gets heated at work but you have a family dinner at 8?

In this episode of Commical, Lucie joins Marie El Daghl for a candid conversation about communicating with family at work - the disagreements, difficult conversations, boundaries and dynamics that come with building a business together.

Emma Lawrence has spent years performing under pressure. But stepping into the commentary box as the first woman to call play-by-play rugby league brought a different kind of scrutiny.

In this episode, Emma opens up about the pressure of being "the first", the perfectionism that can quietly derail performance, and the routines that help her stay composed when the stakes are high. From voice coaching and mindfulness to recovering from mistakes, building rapport, thinking on your feet and resisting complacency, she shares the routines behind calm, confident communication.

It's a fascinating conversation about what pressure reveals and how preparation shapes the way we show up when it counts.

Commical is a Chasing Albert podcast hosted by communication specialist, trainer and coach, Marie El Daghl.

A letter arrives unexpectedly and turns Phil Sim's world upside down.

In this episode of Commical, the CEO of Influencing and MediaConnect shares the moment he discovered he was adopted, and the communication challenges that followed.

From navigating difficult conversations to balancing the needs of multiple individuals, Phil reflects on what happens when the stakes are intensely personal and there is no playbook.

A moving conversation about identity, empathy, timing and the power of thoughtful communication. Hosted by communication specialist and coach, Marie El Daghl, from Chasing Albert.

What does it take to go from journo to digital marketing heavyweight?

John Kerrison started his career in TV newsrooms before shifting gears into government communications. Today he's Director of Digital Content & Creative at the NSW Department of Customer Service, leading teams across social, web, video and brand.

In this episode, we talk about: • The surprising skills journalism gave him for digital comms • Why trust and transparency are non-negotiable for brands in the AI era • How curiosity (and the odd chocolate croissant) fuels career growth • The story behind a Sky News panel and some very quick-thinking producers

From broadcast to government, John's story is all about reinvention, resilience and finding your voice in unexpected places.

How do you take a local cookie brand from a Byron Bay market stall to Qantas flights and Oscar gift bags?

In this episode, we explore the magic behind building brands that last, without losing what made them lovable in the first place. Emilie shares how her small but mighty marketing team gets big results, and the surprising role comedy and improv play in her creative process.

From supermarket shelves to stand-up stages, this episode leaves no crumbs.

What difference can a business make to Reconciliation in Australia?

Hint: It's not just an Acknowledgment of Country on the footer of your website.

It's about real action - creating jobs, supporting Indigenous businesses, and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a seat at the table. This is where a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAPs) comes in.

We spoke with Adrian Cheatham, from Reconciliation Australia to learn more about the power of RAPs and the tangible benefits of having one in place. We've even committed to starting on ourselves.

In this episode, hear why:

• Why over 3,300 organisations have committed to a RAP

• The real impact RAPs are having in workplaces across Australia

• The uncomfortable truth about businesses that choose to do nothing

80% of working parents are now in the workforce, and the juggle is real. It's pushing brilliant people out of fast-paced industries like media and marketing.

In this episode, we hear from media gun Lauren Thornborough, co-founder of The Village, a community built to support, connect and advocate for working parents in the media industry.

Lauren shares why she launched the movement and what needs to change if we want to keep great talent in the game.

We talk flexibility, mental load, and building cultures that work with people's lives, not against them.

Are you ready to move beyond ticking boxes and truly connect with Aboriginal culture?

Fear of saying or doing the wrong thing often keeps people stuck in their comfort zones, creating barriers to genuine connection with culture and Country. But cultural confidence isn't about perfection—it's about intention, action, and authenticity.

In this episode of Commical, we're joined by Aboriginal educator and cultural desensitivity expert, Rhys Paddick, who shares four simple steps to ditch fear, embrace curiosity, and find your own way to connect with Aboriginal culture. Rhys explains why small, meaningful actions matter and how marketing companies, individuals, and organizations alike can create connections that go well beyond words.

🎧 Tune in and take your first steps toward a deeper, more impactful connection with culture and Country

Elise Hedley-Dale has been shaking up the media world since the 90's (exact year, not to be disclosed!). With nearly three decades of experience, she's gone from media planner to business owner. Elise is the Founder of Media Words, a company born from the request of a loyal client – Ocean Spray.

This episode discusses how media consumption has transformed over the years from traditional TV spots and glossy magazines to the wild (and rapidly evolving) world of digital media. While some brands are quick to chase the next big thing and jump on the latest trends, it doesn't mean you should throw out the playbook and follow suit. Elise emphasises that knowing your audience like the back of your hand is the key to creating a successful campaign. Elise reminds us of the fundamentals —understanding who your audience is, where they are, and how they want to be spoken to.

Elise and Marie discuss the power of adding a touch of humour and creativity into campaigns, from the viral 'poo at work' campaign (yes, you read that correctly) by Queensland Health to the clever 'Love a Duck campaign. Elise stresses the power of simplicity and wit in creative messaging, and how a well placed billboard can still pack a punch.