Informed: the podcast for LinkedIn® users
John Espirian
"Informed" is for you if you'd like to understand more about how LinkedIn works so that you can be an effective user of the platform.
It's hard to know whom to believe with so many self-appointed gurus out there telling you the latest hacks for going viral and earning 7-figure deals. And even LinkedIn's own publications often don't speak to the reality of using the platform.
But for those who see past superficial promises and sanitised reports, this podcast provides evidence and thoughtful opinion. With a track record of more than 10 years of sensible, no-nonsense advice about honest best practice for LinkedIn, Informed is a trusted source of insight by many thousands of regular listeners.
The show was created by Mark Williams, who's affectionately known as "Mr LinkedIn". Mark retired in late 2025 and handed over the reins of the show to John Espirian, the relentlessly helpful® LinkedIn nerd. John is a LinkedIn trainer and consultant, the founder of the Espresso+ community, the creator of the UpLift Live conference (the UK's original event dedicated to LinkedIn best practice), and the author of the personal branding handbook Content DNA.
John's reputation is for getting to the point and for not being a salesy douche canoe, so you can expect short, sharp episodes with zero ads or sponsored slots. This also is NOT an interview show, so if you've read this far then please don't pitch yourself for a guest appearance. However, you're welcome to get in touch if you have a LinkedIn question you'd like John to cover on the show. (To do that, search for the "Informed podcast" company page on LinkedIn and send a message.)
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the LinkedIn® corporation. John Espirian is an independent trainer and does not work for LinkedIn® – while it would be great to have LinkedIn's endorsement, the show's independence from the corporation means you, the listener, are never fed an airbrushed political spiel.
It's hard to know whom to believe with so many self-appointed gurus out there telling you the latest hacks for going viral and earning 7-figure deals. And even LinkedIn's own publications often don't speak to the reality of using the platform.
But for those who see past superficial promises and sanitised reports, this podcast provides evidence and thoughtful opinion. With a track record of more than 10 years of sensible, no-nonsense advice about honest best practice for LinkedIn, Informed is a trusted source of insight by many thousands of regular listeners.
The show was created by Mark Williams, who's affectionately known as "Mr LinkedIn". Mark retired in late 2025 and handed over the reins of the show to John Espirian, the relentlessly helpful® LinkedIn nerd. John is a LinkedIn trainer and consultant, the founder of the Espresso+ community, the creator of the UpLift Live conference (the UK's original event dedicated to LinkedIn best practice), and the author of the personal branding handbook Content DNA.
John's reputation is for getting to the point and for not being a salesy douche canoe, so you can expect short, sharp episodes with zero ads or sponsored slots. This also is NOT an interview show, so if you've read this far then please don't pitch yourself for a guest appearance. However, you're welcome to get in touch if you have a LinkedIn question you'd like John to cover on the show. (To do that, search for the "Informed podcast" company page on LinkedIn and send a message.)
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the LinkedIn® corporation. John Espirian is an independent trainer and does not work for LinkedIn® – while it would be great to have LinkedIn's endorsement, the show's independence from the corporation means you, the listener, are never fed an airbrushed political spiel.
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Sep 7, 2024 • 50min
447. Overthinking Content
Many struggle to post on LinkedIn due to overthinking, often causing delays. Discover tips to simplify content creation and overcome self-doubt. A humorous take on assessing LinkedIn profiles adds a light-hearted touch. The conversation also dives into authenticity, with a surprising suggestion that cold showers can help break creative blocks. Heartfelt stories, including one about dementia, remind us of the human side of content sharing.
Aug 31, 2024 • 1h 4min
446. Why do you post?
What drives you to post on LinkedIn? The discussion challenges listeners to reflect on their goals and objectives. The podcast dives into innovative AI tools for crafting posts and reveals the privacy dilemmas in direct messaging. It further tackles the decline of organic reach due to algorithm changes and stresses the value of meaningful engagement over chasing virality. Understanding your audience is key for creating impactful content, along with strategic contrasts in business development methods. It's a thought-provoking exploration of social media engagement!
Aug 24, 2024 • 51min
445. Podders 'Exposed'
LinkedIn™️ are finding it hard to control pods so some LinkedIn™️ users have decided to take the law into their own hands and expose people who use pods to falsely inflate the engagement on their content.But are these exposures accurate and could some people be caught up in the fallout? That plus:'Videos for you' on mobile app Sharing comments You really don't need hashtags 'LinkedIn is a mess. Here's how to fix it' The Guardian has it all wrong! Post of the week Mentioned in this episode:This show was created by the original host of the show, Mark Williams.
Aug 17, 2024 • 1h 2min
444. Proactive vs Inbound Business Development Strategies
Finding the right balance. This week, I am replaying a conversation I had with Gillian Whitney on her recent LinkedIn™️ Live. You can view the full Livestream hereAlso the post of the week can be viewed hereMentioned in this episode:This show was created by the original host of the show, Mark Williams.
11 snips
Aug 10, 2024 • 1h 4min
443. LinkedIn™️ Q&A
Discover the art of business development on LinkedIn and how AI shapes user engagement! Dive into the rise of collaborative articles amidst the challenge of misinformation. Learn the perfect character count for text-only posts that capture attention. Plus, hear personal reflections on caregiving during a cruise and exciting travel tales from Norway and the Swiss Alps. Unpack the evolution of LinkedIn’s badge system and how it recognizes content creators. Get savvy tips for leveraging LinkedIn to elevate your business success!
Aug 3, 2024 • 58min
442. Interesting People - John Espirian
We often come across people on LinkedIn™️ who look interesting and produce content we find valuable, so we follow or connect and over time we feel as though we get to know them better.But do we REALLY know them?Interesting People interviews are designed to reveal more about the background, personal lives and characteristics of some of our favourite people on LinkedIn™️This week I chat with one of the nicest and most helpful LinkedIn™️ Experts out there, my friend John Espirian.Subscribe to my newsletter for full show notes: https://linkedin.com/newsletters/6726487426274992128/Mentioned in this episode:This show was created by the original host of the show, Mark Williams.
Jul 27, 2024 • 1h 12min
441. From Bland to Brilliant: Transform Your LinkedIn™️ Content with Personal Flair
In this engaging discussion, personal branding specialist Ella Orr shares her insights on adding personality to LinkedIn content. She highlights the struggle between being overly loud or too bland and emphasizes the value of authenticity. Listeners learn how to balance personal experiences with professional branding, leveraging storytelling to forge deeper connections. With examples of visual storytelling and personal anecdotes, Orr encourages embracing individual identities to transform LinkedIn into a vibrant networking tool.
Jul 20, 2024 • 53min
440. Why LinkedIn Automation Tools Are Ruining the Platform
I was hoping that we, the LinkedIn™️ community, would have learnt by now but no, illegal (LinkedIn law) automation products are still thriving and new ones seem to appear almost every month.It's been a long time since I tackled this subject - remember the battle I had with John Nemo in episode 198? John has since changed his views but since those days (2018), the tools have become more sophisticated but still do the same damage to this platform so I thought I would return to this important topic.Also in this episode I talk about:A content generation tool called AuthoredUp Two new features A worrying security issue Post of the week Subscribe to my newsletter for full show notes https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6726487426274992128/Mentioned in this episode:This show was created by the original host of the show, Mark Williams.
Jul 6, 2024 • 1h 7min
439. Appropriate posting for a company?
Should a company be posting this?Congratulations you are in the top ten experts list!Four new featuresLinkedSummit 2024Post of the week Mentioned in this episode:This show was created by the original host of the show, Mark Williams.
Jun 22, 2024 • 1h 5min
438. Interesting People - Lynnaire Johnston
We often come across people on LinkedIn™️ who look interesting and produce content we find valuable...so we follow or connect and over time we feel as though we get to know them better.But do we REALLY know them?Interesting People interviews are designed to reveal more about the background, personal lives and characteristics of some of our favourite people on LinkedIn™️This week I chat with my favourite Kiwi, New Zealand based LinkedIn expert Lynnaire Johnston.Lynnaire has a fascinating career history in radio, publishing and copywriting before finding her passion for LinkedIn™️.Lynnaire is one of the friendliest, most generous and knowledgable LinkedIn™️ experts out there and I'm sure you will enjoy hearing her describe her background.Mentioned in this episode:This show was created by the original host of the show, Mark Williams.
