Sensemaking 101 ft. Michael Guimarin's Info Diet — Daily Persuasion with Joshua Lisec Ep. 36

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ABOUT TODAY'S EPISODE:

Are you consuming information that changes your behavior—or just stuffing your brain with headlines that don’t matter?

Welcome back to Daily Persuasion with Joshua Lisec, Episode 36: Sensemaking 101 ft. Michael Guimarin's Info Diet. In this thought-provoking episode, Lisec unpacks the difference between being "informed" and actually being influenced. The distinction may just change how you consume media—forever.

If you’ve ever scrolled headlines that seem factually correct yet collectively incoherent, you’re not alone. Joshua Lisec explores why today’s news doesn't make sense, despite being grammatically and logically sound. This is where the sensemaking framework enters the chat—especially as discussed by thinker Michael Guimarin. While Guimarin isn’t a guest on the show, his approach to the info diet—a radical concept for rethinking your information intake—plays a starring role in this episode’s discussion.

Lisec dives deep into the sense making process, questioning whether our day-to-day news consumption qualifies as sensemaking at all. He asks the most important question in the sensemaking theory canon: Will this information change your behavior? If the answer is no, why are you paying attention to it?

This episode breaks down what is sensemaking, how it applies in your everyday decisions, and why it’s more important than ever to be media smart. Lisec offers a practical sensemaking definition for professionals, creators, and anyone exhausted by the modern info-overload. He explains how sensemaking in organizations should shift from headline-chasing to insight-generating.

Drawing on real-world persuasion examples, Lisec makes a compelling case: your personal influence—whether in business, branding, marketing, or relationships—will skyrocket once you stop consuming irrelevant data and start applying strategic persuasion techniques. Want to know how to persuade someone to do something more effectively? Start with purging your media habits. That’s persuasion by subtraction.

This conversation also taps into persuasion psychology, examining why news outlets use identity-based manipulation to keep you addicted to staying “informed.” Through Lisec’s lens, these aren’t just stories—they’re carefully engineered techniques of persuasion in writing, designed to hijack your sense of self. It’s not about facts; it’s about identity.

In this episode, you’ll also learn:
• How a smarter info diet makes you a stronger persuader.
• Why most examples of persuasion in advertising work better than political headlines.
• The reason high-level professionals focus more on industry publications than world events.
• How Lisec applies these principles in his own ghostwriting and consulting work.

If you’ve ever wondered what is sensemaking really—or why so few people practice it—this episode is your wake-up call. Lisec doesn’t just explain the theory; he models it. He walks you through the decisions you’re not making because your brain is clogged with information that has nothing to do with your life, your work, or your goals.

And of course, Lisec pulls no punches. From deconstructing persuasive techniques to calling out the mainstream media’s identity games, this episode is a clinic in how to think—not just what to think.

So if you’re tired of being manipulated by the news, stuck in low-impact conversations, or unsure what information actually deserves your attention, this episode of Daily Persuasion is a must-watch.

Welcome to the information cleanse. Welcome to Sensemaking 101.