Nick Parker

"The best communication is always a dance between clarity and surprise."

Nick Parker is, mostly, a writer.

He’s fascinated by how a few letters, shuffled around, can build entire worlds; out there in public, or quietly in our own heads.

These days, he runs That Explains Things, his language strategy studio.

He helps brands find their voice. He writes newsletters. Books. And a fair bit of word-related mischief.

He used to be Creative Director at The Writer. Before that, a decade at The Oldie magazine, as writer, editor and unapologetic corduroy wearer. Before that, a cartoonist for Viz. And way before that, a joke writer for the radio.

Nick believes business is one of the greatest problem-solving tools ever invented. And that a brand is just what happens when a business takes Dolly Parton’s advice: figure out who you are, then do it on purpose.

To him, all writing is really just joke-writing. You set it up. You land it at just the right moment. Lightbulb on. Laughter, if you’re lucky.

He tries to have lots of unrelated normal ideas. Because most good ones are just that, two ordinary things, mashed together.

In September 2025 he was a guest with Rob Poynton for DO Radio.