The Knowledge Project

How To Build A Cult | Lulu Cheng Meservey

The Knowledge Project

Show Notes

Lulu Cheng Meservey is one of the sharpest minds in communications and strategy. She has helped some of the best leaders through their hardest moments.

We talk about why trust and conviction are contagious, how to win attention in a noisy world, and how to handle attacks without losing ground. ----- About Lulu: Having been CCO and EVP of Corporate Affairs at Activision Blizzard and VP of Comms at Substack, she is now the creator of Rostra, the only advisory firm focused on founder-led comms. -----

Approximate Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(08:34) The Importance Of The Hook

(14:35) Why Do Governments And Large Corporations Communicate So Poorly?

(21:50) How To Build A Cult

(27:56) How Trust And Likeability Affect Your Messages

(39:19) How To Respond To A Public Relations Attack

(42:57) One Death Is A Tragedy, A Thousand Are A Statistic

(47:34) The Importance Of Being First

(55:22) Overcoming Being The Underdog

(1:00:03) How To Play Offence In PR

(1:05:36) 3 Things To Make A Difference In Your Comms / Storytelling

(1:21:07) The Halo Effect

(1:25:52) Practical Comms Advice For Everyday Work Interactions

(1:46:17) What Is Success For You?

----- Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:

Basecamp: Stop struggling, start making progress. Get somewhere with Basecamp. Sign up free at http://basecamp.com/knowledgeproject

reMarkable: Get your paper tablet at https://www.reMarkable.com today

.tech domains: Nothing says tech like being on .tech https://get.tech/

-----

Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------Follow Shane ParrishX ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Insta ⁠@farnamstreet⁠

LinkedIn ⁠Shane Parrish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from The Knowledge Project

Oct 13, 2026

Ryan Serhant is a real estate broker, founder of SERHANT., and star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing New York and Netflix’s Owning Manhattan.

Oct 6, 2026

I'm excited to share this previously unreleased 2022 conversation between Charlie Munger and Todd Combs.

Sep 29, 2026

Bill Ackman is the founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, one of the most closely watched investment firms in the world.

Sep 15, 2026

Shopify founder and CEO Tobi Lütke joins Shane Parrish to discuss AI agents, better decision-making, and the future of work. He explains how he uses an AI council to examine his hardest decisions and why taste, judgment, and responsibility become more valuable as AI becomes more capable.

Sep 1, 2026

We all know the Steve Jobs who came back in the late 1990s and saved Apple from becoming a footnote. And we've all heard the story of how, in 1985, he was pushed out of the company he'd created.

See all episodes →