Top of Their Game

In-Game Learning

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The show where we delve into the minds of people making communications clearer, fairer, and just plain better.

3d ago

Christopher Balmford and Cinzia Theobald

Meet Christopher Balmford and Cinzia Theobald: plain language champions, international standard setters, and the co-founders of In-Game Learning. From Christopher’s early days challenging the legal profession’s resistance to plain language to Cinzia’s work improving health communication for culturally diverse communities, their careers have been driven by one idea: people deserve communication they can actually understand. Together, they’ve helped shape the international plain language movement and the ISO plain language standards. In this special episode, Christopher and Cinzia reveal how they first met, what it took to turn decades of plain language expertise into The Plain Game, and why they believe games could be the key to making workplace training more engaging and more effective. It’s a lively conversation about plain language, learning, and why play is the brain’s favorite way to learn. Learn more about our guests and the topics discussed: In-Game Learning’s The Plain Game Christopher’s article about the journey to developing the ISO Plain language standard The ISO Pattern Library The Victorian Law Reform Commission's Plain English and the Law The Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) Clarity International The Cent for Plain Language The International Plain Language Federation Christopher’s mother’s autobiography, A Funny Course for a Woman Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Jul 21

Vijayalaxmi Hegde

Meet Vijayalaxmi Hegde: a writer and plain language specialist, and one of the leading voices advocating for clear communication in India. With hundreds of languages and extraordinary cultural diversity, India demonstrates why plain language is critical to ensuring everyone can participate in the world's largest democracy. In this episode, Vijayalaxmi shares the state of the plain language movement in India, the push to reform legal and government communication, and how AI and international standards could shape its future. It's a fascinating conversation about language, inclusion, and the power of clarity. Learn more about Vijayalaxmi’s work: Vijayalaxmi’s Plain Language India Blog Vijayalaxmi’s Newsletter ‘Clear Enough’ Vijayalaxmi’s LinkedIn profile Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Jul 6

Torunn Reksten

Meet Torunn Reksten: an advocate, lecturer, and plain language expert at the Language Council of Norway. In this episode, Torunn reflects on her work on the Norwegian Language Act and ISO plain language standards. We also explore the roles user experience, innovation, and minority language preservation play in making Norway a global leader in clear public communication. Learn more about Torunn’s work and the resources she mentioned Torunn’s LinkedIn profile Menon Economics’ Benefits of Plain Language report The Norwegian Plain Language Project Norway’s official plain language website (In Norwegian) Best practices for complying with the plain language legislation (In Norwegian) Principles for plain language in digital solutions (In Norwegian) Methods for user testing and measuring effects of plain language (In Norwegian) Plain language profit calculator (In Norwegian) Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Jun 9

Nadja Green

Meet Nadja Green: a plain language content developer, researcher, and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. In this episode, Nadja reflects on the challenges of persuading South African business and government that plain language is a strategic priority, not just a stylistic preference. She also discusses South Africa’s remarkable post-apartheid constitutional process, where plain language experts played a role in shaping one of the country’s most important documents, as well as her work helping develop the first ISO standard for plain language. It’s a conversation about history, strategy, and the power of language to shape how people understand and engage with the world around them. Learn more about Nadja’s work Nadja’s LinkedIn profile Nadja is a partner at The Plain Language Institute Nadja is a course instructor at The Plain Language Academy Nadja’s Google Scholar profile Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
May 21

Anthony Fauci

Meet Dr Anthony Fauci: a physician, scientist, and one of the most influential public health leaders of our time. He advised 7 US presidents and shaped the national and global responses to HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. Few people have navigated crisis, uncertainty, and public scrutiny on this scale. In this episode, Anthony reflects on a lifetime at the center of infectious disease response. And what it takes to communicate clearly when the science is evolving, the stakes are high, and trust is fragile. Learn more about Anthony’s work Anthony’s website Anthony’s memoir Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Apr 28

Michael Kirby

Meet the Hon. Michael Kirby: former High Court justice, human rights champion, and one of Australia’s most compelling legal voices. From shaping landmark decisions on the High Court of Australia to championing plain English long before it was fashionable, Michael shares why clarity in communication isn’t just good practice, it’s a matter of justice, fairness, and humanity. A sharp, deeply thoughtful conversation with a true giant of Australian law. Learn more about Michael’s work Michael’s official website Michael’s 10 Commandments of clarity [See page 8] Michael’s talk ‘Write for the people: Plain English and the law with Michael Kirby’ Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Apr 7

Helen Keleher

Meet Dr. Helen Keleher: a leading voice in public health who’s spent her career tackling some of society’s most complex, and urgent, health challenges. An Adjunct Professor at Monash University and Life Member of the Public Health Association of Australia, Helen brings deep expertise in health equity, prevention, and population health. From shaping strategy to influencing generations through her writing and teaching, her work has consistently focused on creating fairer, more effective systems. In this episode, she shares why clear communication and health literacy are critical to creating fairer systems, and what it really takes to drive meaningful change. Learn more about Helen’s work Helen’s textbook Understanding Health Helen’s Google Scholar Citations Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Mar 17

Jamila Savoy

Meet Jamila Savoy: an emerging leader in the world of plain language advocacy. As co-founder of Plain Language Matters, Jamila helps organizations communicate clearly; from simplifying complex policy to shaping public health messages and coaching teams to write with confidence and purpose. In this episode, she shares how her passion for plain language began, how she convinced the Victorian Government to invest in clarity, and the key lessons she’s learned as a leading voice for accessible, human-centered communication. Learn more about Jamila’s work Jamila’s business is Plain Language Matters, where she and Jess Mathew help organizations transform their documents and train their teams She was a finalist for the Plain Language Awards 2025 Further reading The Victorian Government’s Accessible Communications Policy The Plain Language Community of Practice on the Innovation Network; open to all Victorian public servants Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Feb 24

Peter Doherty

Meet Laureate Professor Peter Doherty: Nobel Prize winner, scientific heavyweight, and master communicator. From a discovery that transformed modern medicine to decades as a trusted public voice on pandemics, climate change, and science itself, Peter shares what it takes to communicate complex ideas with clarity, credibility, and impact. A big-brain conversation with one of the world’s best. Learn more about Peter’s work List of books by Peter Peter’s biography on The Nobel Prize website Peter’s profile on The University of Melbourne website Doherty Institute Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Feb 3

Annetta Cheek

Meet Dr Annetta Cheek: a true trailblazer of the plain language movement. After 25 years as a federal employee, Annetta saw firsthand how badly government communication was failing the people it was meant to serve. From chairing PLAIN, the federal interagency plain language group, to serving as chief plain language expert on Vice President Al Gore’s National Partnership for Reinventing Government, she became one of the most influential voices pushing for clarity, accountability and human-centered communication. In this episode, Annetta shares how she discovered plain language, what it took to convince government that clarity was worth legislating for, and the long road to passing the US Plain Writing Act of 2010. It’s a powerful conversation about persistence, persuasion, and the real-world impact of writing that people can actually understand.Learn more about Annetta's work: Introducing Annette Cheek on the International Plain Language Federation. Annetta’s profile on Clarity International. These word cops stand guard to keep language clear and simple, in the Los Angeles Times. Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.
Jan 13

Joe Kimble

Meet Prof. Joe Kimble — a true legend of plain-language legal writing. After 35 years teaching legal writing at Cooley Law School, helping draft the US Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure, and authoring three landmark books, Joe has spent a career proving that the law can be clear, human and accessible. In our very first episode, Joe shares how he found plain language, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and why clarity matters for all writers — legal or not. We couldn’t imagine a better guest to kick things off. Learn more about Joe’s work: Law books Kids’ books Selected articles Plain Language Column Top of Their Game has been brought to you by In-Game Learning: the most fun you'll ever learn.

11 Episodes

The show where we delve into the minds of people making communications clearer, fairer, and just plain better.

Creator

In-Game Learning
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

11
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© In-Game Learning
Show Website

Top of Their Game