Many brands do them, most brands miss the mark – testimonials.

They are too often bland, generic, and do little to add value. In fact, many do brand damage.

In under 17 minutes, Corey Kay and Mickey Maher draw on 30 years in media and their work with Thinking Cap Solutions to show where brands go wrong, how to get it right, and the lessons they have learned creating testimonials for leading businesses from Real Estate, Radio, Sports Clubs and more.

You’ll hear why written reviews and five star ratings are overrated, and how audio and video testimonials done well can transform brand perception. Most importantly, we share tips any brand can apply today to capture authenticity, emotion, and stories that connect.

Testimonials can add value to any brand no matter what industry, they build trust, loyalty and enhance perceptions (but only if done well, following our tips). 

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

Are you frustrated by slow social media growth, even though your business is thriving? In this episode of the Thinking Cap Solutions podcast, we dive into the dangerous game of focusing on vanity metrics like follower counts and likes.

Hosts Corey Kay and Mickey Maher challenge the common misconception that bigger numbers equal bigger success, sharing a personal story about a business owner who was discouraged by his social media stats despite his revenue soaring. Learn why a small, engaged community of "true fans" is far more valuable than a large, disengaged one. They discuss the importance of patience, consistency, and a clear content strategy, explaining that building a trusting relationship with your audience is what truly leads to long-term growth.

Discover how to shift your focus from fans over followers and loyalty over likes, and start building connections that actually convert.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

In episode 25, we explore why the best real estate agents aren’t just great negotiators, they’re great content creators.

Drawing from over 30 years in media, we break down the real opportunity in real estate: building trust, standing out, and creating real connections before the listing appointment. Because if your only content is “just sold” and “just listed”… you’re playing the same game as everyone else.

We discuss:

• Why real estate brands of the future will look more like mini media companies
• What content actually works (hint: it’s not just listings, walk throughs & sold pics)
• How agents can move beyond generic to memorable content
• The link between storytelling, trust, and winning listings
• Your Personal Brand is the hidden gem most agents are not maximising 
• Simple ways to get started, even if you are time poor or hate being on camera
• How Thinking Cap Solutions is helping agents across SEQ right now

We're not here to tell you how to sell houses, but we are here to help you find your POD to build an engage audience with a smart content strategy that done right will lead to referrals and listings.

Whether you're a seasoned agent, a newcomer, or a business leader curious about how content drives cut-through, this episode will shift how you think about your brand.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

Is podcasting really killing radio? 

In this episode of the Thinking Cap Solutions Podcast, we get into the podcast vs radio debate and break it down.  

We chat:

• The two different business models with differing audience needs & habits
• Why attempting the radio model on podcasts (or vice versa) just won't work
• What each medium can learn from the other
• Aussie audience numbers in 2025 (They might surprise you)
• What content creators need to understand about both without fearing either
• It isn't just radio talent jumping into podcasting, podcasters are crossing into radio too. 

Content Creators have more opportunities than ever to tell their story, audiences are spoilt by choice, so does it have to be Podcasting Vs Radio?

You decide.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

When two of the world’s most powerful men (Trump & Musk) carry on like schoolkids online, it’s more than just headlines — it’s a masterclass in poor emotional intelligence.

This episode’s not political. It’s personal and professional. We’re unpacking what real emotional intelligence looks like (and doesn’t), why it matters more than ever, and how to build it in leadership and life.

Mickey Maher and Corey Kay bring relatable examples, real talk, and a breakdown of the five key traits — from self-awareness to social skill. You’ll hear why EI is the difference between trust and turnover, connection and chaos.

✅ Real examples (Trump, Musk, Jacinda)
✅ The 5 traits of EI in plain English
✅ How to spot it, grow it, and use it

EI isn’t fluff. It’s a leadership superpower — and we all need it.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

Not every creative clash is about the idea itself. More often, it’s about how the people behind the idea work together. In this episode, we unpack the three personality types you're most likely to encounter when shaping creative work as part of a team.

Whether you're managing, coaching, producing, selling, or delivering content, knowing how to read the room and guide different personalities can be the difference between missed potential and standout results.

Through something we've seen firsthand in media, real estate, and content creation, Corey and Mickey explore what to do when personalities collide, how to build rapport quickly, and how to give feedback without killing the vibe.

We share practical frameworks for:

• Building trust and alignment in minutes
• Giving feedback in the moment without defensiveness
• Understanding what makes or breaks collaboration
• Handling confident controllers, quiet resistors, and willing learners

This isn’t just for team leaders. It’s for anyone who works with others to get creative work done.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

In episode 21 of the Thinking Cap Solutions Podcast, Corey Kay and Mickey Maher dive into how brands of all sizes can seize the day to drive deeper audience connection. From local moments to national headlines, this episode explores how timely, well-aligned content creates cut-through in an always-on world.

You'll learn:

• Why seizing the day is more than a social post — it’s a mindset shift
• How to build a content strategy that allows you to be reactive and relevant
• What brands like cafes, real estate agents and even mechanics can do to stand out
• Why hiring content-savvy staff could be your brand’s secret weapon
• Low-cost, high-impact tactics that any business can use to show personality and connect

Plus, Mickey and Corey break down how brand personality, audience understanding and internal creativity can unlock scalable, authentic engagement — all without blowing your budget.

If you're building a brand and want to move beyond “just pushing product,” this episode gives you practical tools to pull your audience closer.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about mental health, suicide, and personal loss. Please listen with care.

This isn’t our usual episode.
There’s no structure. No polish.
Just two blokes sitting down to talk about something we couldn’t ignore.

The recent deaths of Adam and Troy Selwood shook us. Not just because of who they were, but because of what their story says about the silent battles so many men are fighting — even those who seem to have it all.

We hit record, not knowing if we’d ever release what came next.
It’s raw. It’s emotional. It’s personal.
We talk about loss, leadership, dark moments, and what it means to really check in on your mates — and yourself.

We're not experts. We're not here to offer solutions.
But maybe this chat helps open up one more conversation that needed to happen.

🧡 If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out:

• Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 (mental health support service)
• MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78 (support for men)
• 13YARN – 13 92 76 (culturally safe support for First Nations people)
• Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 (young people aged 5–25)
• In an emergency, call 000

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

In this episode, Corey Kay and Mickey Maher delve into the critical importance of identifying your Point of Difference (POD) in today's saturated markets. Drawing from their extensive experience in media and branding, they discuss how a well-defined POD can set your brand apart, foster genuine connections, and drive success. Through real-world examples—from Bunnings' community-centric approach to Koala's eco-friendly innovations—they illustrate the power of standing out. Whether you're a real estate agent, a podcaster, or a small business owner, discover actionable strategies to uncover and leverage your unique POD.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook

In this episode of the Thinking Cap Solutions Podcast, we dive into the dynamics of managing two very different personality types: the analytical and the creative. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, Corey Kay and Mickey Maher share their insights on coaching, working with, and balancing these two styles in any team or industry.

If you're working with creatives who thrive on spontaneity and analyticals who need structure and planning, this episode is for you. We explore the challenges and rewards of bringing these opposites together and how to create the right ecosystem for them to thrive—whether you're leading a business, a team, or a creative project.

Tune in for practical advice on managing these dynamics, setting clear roles and expectations, and fostering a team culture that celebrates diverse strengths.

Listen on your favorite platform:

🔹 Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-Podcast
🔹 Apple: https://bit.ly/TCS-Apple
🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4kd7BbS
🔹 Buzzsprout: https://bit.ly/TCS-Buzzsprout
🔹 YouTube: https://bit.ly/TCS-YouTube

Get in Touch:

• LinkedIn https://bit.ly/TCS-LinkedIn
• Website: https://bit.ly/TCS-ContactUs
• Email Mickey: [email protected]
• Email Corey: [email protected]

Socials:

• Instagram https://bit.ly/TCS-Insta
• Facebook https://bit.ly/TCS-Facebook