The Cambridge Marketing Podcast

Opinionated Marketers on: BUDGET 2025

This week, Kiran and Charles discuss the 2025 UK Budget and what it really means for people and businesses. They dig into tax changes, rising costs, climate policy twists and why the headlines don’t tell the full story.

Opinionated Marketers on: AI BUBBLES

Charles and Kiran discuss whether the rapid rise in AI valuations is heading for a bubble burst, sparked by big investor moves and unrealistic expectations. They stress that AI is here to stay but due a reality check.
The conversation then turns to online pricing tactics; hidden fees, fake discounts and murky sales practices - and why marketers should stick to transparency if they want to keep their reputation intact.

Social Media Secrets Made Easy: What Really Helps You Get Seen

Social media consultant Daisey Cooke joins Kiran Kapur for a lively conversation about showing up online without losing your mind.
They explore where your audience actually is, why consistency beats chasing trends, and how simple strategy brings calm to the chaos. Practical, honest and full of human insight, it’s a gentle guide to making social media work your way.

Opinionated Marketers on: GLOBAL CONSUMER TRENDS

From China’s Singles Day to the rising price of gold - Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon explore how global consumer habits, cultural events, and economic shifts shape marketing opportunities.
This week, they discuss adapting to new social and retail phenomena, the importance of wide-ranging news sources, and why smart marketers always look beyond the headlines.

Why Great Copy Starts Before You Write a Word – with Jamie Thomson

Kiran Kapur talks to copywriter Jamie Thomson about why the best writing begins long before fingers touch the keyboard.
He explains his five-step “Brand New Copy” method, showing how understanding goals, psychology, and positioning makes copy clear, human and effective. A practical chat about thinking, not just typing — and why AI can’t replace that.

Opinionated Marketers on: NOSTALGIA

Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon talk about the new John Lewis Christmas ad, the comfort of old-fashioned catalogues, and the joy of getting something in the post. They share memories of real shopping and chat about a brand that skips Black Friday discounts to give money to charity instead — proving kindness can stand out more than sales.

Am I Paranoid About AI? A Conversation with Neil Wilkins

AI is reshaping everything—from business to our sense of what’s real. In this thought-provoking conversation, Kiran asks Neil Wilkins whether our unease around artificial intelligence is justified or simply misunderstood.
Together they explore AI-first businesses, human–machine “relationships,” and what happens when technology starts to feel a little too human.

Opinionated Marketers on: ROBOTS

Charles and Kiran explore the reality of robots in care homes, from Japan’s seal-like companions to machines that just get in the way. They debate why humans keep giving robots faces, what makes automation useful, and whether we’re designing for need or novelty.

Creating NEW Product Categories

Vahagn Sarksyan, VP of Marketing at KRISP, shares how the company turned a simple noise-cancelling tool into a whole new voice AI category.
From educating users who didn’t know they had a problem to shifting from B2C to B2B, he talks about testing ideas fast, building trust, and turning product value into the story. 
This episode is a sharp and honest look at marketing in action.

Opinionated Marketers on: LONG WAVE THEORY

In this episode of Opinionated Marketers, Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon discuss Schumpeter’s long wave theory and the cycles of creative destruction—from steam power to AI. They look at how innovation changes economies, jobs, and industries, why adaptability matters, and whether solar energy could drive the next global revolution.
Read more: “4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment” – The New Yorker