Message Received is a Syntax podcast delving into strategic communications and examining how the best ideas take shape. Each episode explores how strategy, storytelling, and insight come together — and why some approaches work while others fall short.
Join conversations with leaders, builders, and communicators who shape narratives that move organizations and who understand that what you say, when you say it, and how you say it matters.
Who Are You Willing to Exclude featuring Meggan Van Harten
In this episode of Message Received, host Jennifer Madigan speaks with Meggan Van Harten, Co-CEO of Design de Plume, about why accessibility belongs at the foundation of design and communications rather than tacked on at the end. They explore how good design is accessible by definition, why "the way we've always done it" is really a decision about who gets left out, and how catching accessibility gaps early saves organizations from far greater costs down the line. Van Harten also shares how building accessibility into brand guides and templates from the first decision sets teams up to reach everyone their work is meant for.
13 Jul 2026
What It Takes to Move people featuring Erin Benjamin
In this episode of Message Received, host Jennifer Madigan speaks with Erin Benjamin, Executive Vice President, Advocacy & Strategy at the Ottawa Board of Trade, about what it actually takes to move people and make change happen. Drawing on decades of advocacy, including her time as founding President and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, Benjamin shares how the first-ever economic impact study of Canada's live music sector helped shift the industry from a nice to have to a must have in the eyes of government. They explore why common ground is the starting point for any coalition, how relationships and reputation shape whether your message lands, and why she believes collaboration is Ottawa's biggest opportunity right now.
12 May 2026
Why Should Anyone Care
7 Apr 2026
Growing a Brand in Unspoken Spaces featuring David Gaylord
In this episode of Message Received, host Jennifer Madigan speaks with David Gaylord, Co-Founder and CEO of Bushbalm, about what it takes to build a brand in a category most people aren't comfortable talking about. They explore how Bushbalm found its voice through in-person conversations with early customers, why high engagement doesn't always mean positive brand impact, and how the company has evolved from UGC-driven marketing to intentional, visually compelling branded content.
27 Feb 2026
Perception, Positioning, and the Space Between
In this episode of Message Received, host Jennifer Madigan speaks with Lindsay Fair, Invest Ottawa’s Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Bayview Impact, about the idea of brand perception and why most organizations misunderstand it. They explore the difference between brand and branding, how to discover what people actually think about your brand, and why a visual “refresh” or campaign often fails to address deeper misalignment between brand promise and experience.
26 Jan 2026
The Gap Between Intention and Impact
In this episode of Message Received, host Jennifer Madigan speaks with Meggan Van Harten, Co-CEO of Design de Plume, about what it really takes to communicate with intention, care, and respect.
They explore the difference between performative inclusion and meaningful relationship-building, why inclusive communication isn’t a checklist or a script, and how language, assumptions, and speed can unintentionally cause harm. Drawing on the Indigenous Communications Toolkit, the conversation highlights the importance of slowing down, reflecting, and putting trust and relationships before output.
17 Dec 2025
When Playing It Safe Becomes the Biggest Risk in Communications
In the first episode of Message Received, host Jennifer Madigan speaks with Jennifer Stewart, Founder and CEO of Syntax, about how communications has evolved over the past decade and what that shift demands of leaders today.
They explore the move from traditional media to fragmented digital channels, why communications must be treated as a C-suite function, and how over-caution, over-approval, and the pursuit of perfection can slow progress and weaken impact. Stewart shares practical insights on originality, leadership visibility, and why momentum and clarity matter more than flawless execution.
The conversation ultimately makes the case that in today’s environment, playing it safe often carries more risk than moving with intention and that credibility is built by showing up, not waiting.
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