From Manipulation to Meaning - A Neuroscience Lens on Modern Marketing
Mon Jan 19 2026
Ever wonder why so much marketing feels exhausting, overwhelming, or manipulative - even when it technically “works”?
Curious what’s actually happening in the brain when people are overloaded, stressed, and constantly marketed to?
In this episode of the Marketing Mirror Podcast, I sit down with neuroscience-trained marketer Chantaille Ash to explore how the human brain really makes decisions, how trust is formed (and broken), and what responsibility marketers carry when they understand attention, emotion, and influence.
In this conversation, we unpack:
Why most decision-making isn’t conscious
What happens in the brain when people are overwhelmed
How urgency and pressure impact trust
Where ethical influence ends and manipulation begins
How AI scales behaviour without understanding human nervous systems
And how to market in a way that helps people feel seen, safe, and respected
This episode isn’t about hacks or trends.
It’s about understanding people before trying to persuade them.
Guest:
Chantaille Ash - Founder, IMM
Interested in being a guest on the podcast?
Reach out anytime at borck@onegroupagency.ca
Proudly hosted by the team at The One Group Agency
Learn more at https://onegroupagency.ca
If you’d like to connect or have questions, feel free to find me on LinkedIn - Matt Borck. I’d genuinely love to connect.
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Ever wonder why so much marketing feels exhausting, overwhelming, or manipulative - even when it technically “works”? Curious what’s actually happening in the brain when people are overloaded, stressed, and constantly marketed to? In this episode of the Marketing Mirror Podcast, I sit down with neuroscience-trained marketer Chantaille Ash to explore how the human brain really makes decisions, how trust is formed (and broken), and what responsibility marketers carry when they understand attention, emotion, and influence. In this conversation, we unpack: Why most decision-making isn’t conscious What happens in the brain when people are overwhelmed How urgency and pressure impact trust Where ethical influence ends and manipulation begins How AI scales behaviour without understanding human nervous systems And how to market in a way that helps people feel seen, safe, and respected This episode isn’t about hacks or trends. It’s about understanding people before trying to persuade them. Guest: Chantaille Ash - Founder, IMM Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Reach out anytime at borck@onegroupagency.ca Proudly hosted by the team at The One Group Agency Learn more at https://onegroupagency.ca If you’d like to connect or have questions, feel free to find me on LinkedIn - Matt Borck. I’d genuinely love to connect.