In this episode, we sit down with Cory Johnson from Synthesia for a candid exploration of content creation, email marketing psychology, and the surprising evolution of LinkedIn. Discover how his unconventional "anti-LinkedIn" approach has made his feed one of the most engaging on the platform and the strategies behind successfully sending 14 million emails last year.

🎯 On the Docket:

00:00:00 - LinkedIn's evolution from formal network to platform for authenticity and satire

00:05:40 - How Ken Chang's boundary-pushing corporate parody influenced a movement

00:10:20 - Navigating the fine line between workplace satire and potential offense

00:15:30 - Why LinkedIn's algorithm works fundamentally differently than other platforms

00:20:00 - Email marketing psychology: effective hooks vs manipulative tactics

00:29:40 - Creating genuine personal connection through automated communication

00:36:40 - Why AI-generated content "reverts to the mean" and fails at distinctive marketing

00:45:20 - How creative writing practice directly informs professional communication

00:54:00 - When to NOT email your customers (and why restraint builds trust)

⚡ Key Points: Why LinkedIn might unexpectedly become Twitter's true successor

Email remains resilient because it creates a personal space for one-on-one communication

The most effective hooks speak to individual motivations rather than corporate goals

Shorter emails with strategic bold text create dual reading paths for different attention spans

Great marketing requires understanding the human behind the work persona

AI-generated content typically produces generic corporate language that lacks engagement

Embracing "artificial constraints" in writing leads to more creative outcomes

The importance of asking "why should the customer care?" before any communication

💬 Notable Quotes:

"People are more intelligent than we give them credit for. People are more than ever aware that there's a lot of bullshit in the world."

"The most bullshit hooks are the ones that get flagged by spam filters."

"If you write a fundraising announcement email, you've lost a bunch of people to unsubscribes that you'll never be able to pitch with email again."

"Embrace the cringe. The cringe only exists if you give it power."

"The worst emails are the ones that have no point beyond corporate self-congratulation."

🔗 Where to find Cory:

LinkedIn