If you want to have a laugh whilst learning how to increase your confidence and public speaking skills, for personal or business growth, then you have come to the right place. Discover tips, tricks and strategies on how to speak and pitch using humour and performance. Find out how to better connect with people’s pain points in a way that they will want to talk about and share, and get the low down on powering up your mind set. Sarah Archer, is a stand-up comedian, playwright, speaker and business woman. She is also author of ‘Cracking Speech Mate! – How to use humour to make you an amazing speaker’, and ‘Straight to the Top – How to create and deliver a killer elevator pitch’. Communicating with authenticity and power, influencing through copy, spoken word and body language, managing negative thoughts and anxiety, building authority and trust, story-telling and comedy secrets...oh and we’ll also cover focus and time management ‘cause Sarah has a mind like a butterfly! Join her for fun and aha moments.
Dare to be Different with Kyla Skinner - 275
How often, when it comes to writing in your business, has the blank page beaten you? I’ve seen so many people get stopped, or never share what they have written because they don’t think it’s good enough, or they are worried about being judged. Just like when you speak, in your business writing too, you get an amazing confidence boost from knowing that your message is good, that your content will make you stand out and connect with your target audience. When that happens you’re excited to put yourself out there. So how do you shift from stuck to successful? How do you go from getting underwhelming results with your business writing, to your audience saying … “this person gets me and my problem, I think I need to work with them”? That’s where this show comes in. My guest today is Kyla Skinner, copywriter and business writing mentor. She he
23/11/2023 • 53 minutes 29 seconds
The Art of Explanation with Ros Atkins - 274
It’s often said that the real experts are the ones that can make the complex easy to understand, and Ros Atkins is an expert on making things easy to understand … so I guess that would make him the expert’s expert! As a journalist, and BBC News' Analysis Editor, Ros Atkins has presented and reported on the biggest stories around the world for twenty years . He's also the creator of the critically acclaimed 'Ros Atkins on...' video series, which has become a phenomenon, garnering millions of views. His ability to explain complex stories in a clear, concise and consumable way has led to him being dubbed the nation's 'Explainer-in-Chief'. On this show he is sharing his stories from the front lines of news reporting, the mistakes he made, and how he discovered the secret to the art of explanation. You’ll also get some fantastic tips that will improve your communication generally, and will power up your content and delivery. E
10/11/2023 • 1 hour 12 minutes 24 seconds
The Epic Journey to the Stage with Jamie McAnsh - 273
Waking up paralysed in 2014 completely turned Jamie McAnsh’s life upside down. He lost his job, and his independence, but he was determined to forge a new path and purpose for his life. That included becoming a top disabled athlete, and fulfilling his dream of climbing Mount Everest in 2022. What he realised was that he had a great support network around him, helping him to achieve his goals, and he wanted to create something so that other people could experience that support too. That was when he created his company ‘See No Bounds’ with his wife Charlott. Today, Jamie divides his time between speaking all over the world on various topics, and building the See No Bounds global business community. In this show you are going to get some brilliant insights into what it takes to keep going even when your life and world comes crashing down again and again! You are also going to get some great tips from Jamie around how he built his speaking career.</
27/10/2023 • 1 hour 11 minutes 59 seconds
[Quick Tip] Commit to the Hook of Your Talk - 272
One of the most important parts of your talk is the opening, because you have to grab the attention of your audience and show why the talk is relevant for them. What I’ve noticed recently with some of my clients, is that their ‘hook’, (or ‘lightning bolt’ as I call it), is good, but they aren’t fully committing to it, and that is weakening the opening and the connection with the audience and the topic they’re speaking about. So … I thought I’d share the coaching and feedback I gave them with you, so that you avoid this issue, and make the start of your talk rock! In this show I’m covering: The triggers for attention recap. Three potential ‘lightning bolt’ options to hook your audience. The problem and an illustration. What to do instead. Why i
20/10/2023 • 18 minutes 51 seconds
Getting the Slide Advantage with Philippa Leguen de Lacroix - 271
Still one of the most prolific tools around, Powerpoint can literally make or break your presentation, depending on how you use it. That’s why I wanted to get Philippa Leguen de Lacroix on the show. She started life employed as a graphic designer, and was increasingly tasked with creating powerpoint slides for the different organisations she worked for. But … Philippa had a yearning to become her own boss, and after a hockey match with another designer pal they decided to start their own agency. That company has gone from strength to strength, pushing the boundaries of powerpoint to deliver jaw dropping presentations that continue to delight audiences and win new clients. In this show you are going to get some great tips to help you avoid the pitfalls of powerpoint and other types of software, and create slides that support you creating a talk that shines. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What made Philippa focus on powerpoint.<
07/10/2023 • 1 hour 5 minutes 21 seconds
[Quick Tip] How to Downsize Your Keynote - 270
This quick talk tip is in response to a situation one of my client’s found herself in, that could be an obstacle for you too. In this show I’m covering: Why you need to be able to flex your talk. Why it works How I used it and you can see it in action Tips for building this skill Enjoy! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Books: Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver
13/09/2023 • 11 minutes 39 seconds
Decoding Audience Sophistication: Tailoring Talks for Maximum Impact - 269
It wasn’t until I embarked on my marketing, influencing and sales odyssey, that I discovered the concept of ‘audience sophistication’ as I call it. It’s something I’ve often shared with marketing clients, but although I used it myself in my talks, I’ve not taught it to speakers until recently. And the feedback when I have has been so positive, that I thought I’d better share it with you too! In this episode, I’m going to break it down for you, so that you can level up your talks and get better results. What you’ll discover: The origin story of audience sophistication. Why it matters for speakers. How it affects your content. A practical example of how you might use it. How you can discover the sophistication of your audience. Enjoy! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of
05/09/2023 • 22 minutes 22 seconds
Increase Your Speaking Impact by Creating a ‘Push and Pull’ Talk - 268
As a speaker you need to be like the director of a movie, using your talk content and delivery to captivate the audience. Your talk should contain moments that challenge them, make them ponder, create desire and yearning and move them towards your intended destination. All in a way that feels natural and aligned. In this episode, I’m going to share the levers you can use to achieve those things. If you want to increase the impact of your speaking then you will definitely want to grab a listen. What you’ll discover: The ‘approach and avoid’ programming and how it affects us. What impact it can have on your effectiveness as a speaker. When to use ‘push’ and when to use ‘pull on our audience’. What you need to understand to use this successfully. <li dir="ltr" r
24/08/2023 • 16 minutes 8 seconds
Telling Stories and Creating Legacies with Jo Gatford - 267
As you may know in addition to teaching people how to become awesome speakers, I am a writer, and that’s how I first discovered Jo Gatford. I was writing my second play, and needed some concentrated time to focus on getting it written, queue Writers HQ. Jo Gatford is an award-winning writer of short and long fiction and the co-founder of Writers' HQ. It’s an organisation dedicated to providing low-cost writing courses and resources to arse-kicking writers with no time or money. In the past five years Writers' HQ has given away over £10,000 of writing courses and retreats to under-represented and systemically excluded writers, and seen hundreds of students go on to be published and win prestigious literary prizes! Jo has worked as an editor and copywriter for over 15 years and has been teaching creative writing workshops for almost a decade. You’ll probably be aware that the best talks are full of stories
07/07/2023 • 58 minutes 14 seconds
How to Overcome Skepticism and Increase Audience Buy-In - 266
With technology now able to doctor images, people and chatbots pretending to be who they’re not and the advent of fake news, it might feel like it’s going to be harder than ever before to get people to believe new ideas. That doubt can hold us back from sharing our message for fear that we might not be able to get it across in the right way, causing damage to our reputation and confidence. But I want to let you know that it is absolutely possible to overcome skepticism and get your audience bought in and wanting to work with you. In this episode, I’ll be sharing tools that you can use as a speaker in talks, webinars and workshops to establish credibility and overcome skepticism, so that you get the buy-in to your message. What you’ll discover: What makes us believe things? The most obvious sources of credibility Are you an anti-authority? How to establish your authority How to make statistics meaningful<
29/06/2023 • 27 minutes 9 seconds
Becoming a Magnetic Speaker with Tina Bakehouse - 265
Adding the label of speaker to your bio is becoming more common, but calling yourself a speaker and actually being able to deliver your message in a way that educates, inspires and motivates are two very different things. There are lots of people boring the pants off audiences, when they don’t need to, and this is a belief that my guest Tina Bakehouse and I share in common. Tina is a communications coach and soon to be author of a new book called ‘Discover Our Magnetic Speaker Within’. She asked me and other speaking coaches to input into the book and I am chuffed to have her come on the show to share more about it and for us to discuss some great tips for helping you become that magnetic speaker. Tina spent many years teaching communications in education, and then in the corpo
18/05/2023 • 1 hour 5 minutes 36 seconds
Live Well and Make Sales Every Day with Ross O’Lochlainn - 264
Ross O’Lochlainn is a former engineer-turned-copywriter who has blended his talent for problem solving and building systems with his ability to engage an audience with his storytelling flair. The result of this combination is a new way of looking at marketing that is getting incredible results. Ross was so confident in his model that he built his entire business by getting paid on results rather than charging up-front fees – which is something that is very unusual. Today, his company Conversion Engineering is like an oasis in the desert of burnt out business owners, who are looking for a way to get off the feast and famine sales roller coaster. In this episode we’ll be dismantling some myths about sales that might be sabotaging your business, looking at how Ross uses stories to engage his audience, and showing you how you can stand out in a crowded marketplace. If you want to build a sus
12/05/2023 • 1 hour 28 minutes 38 seconds
How to Write and Deliver a Eulogy - 263
It’s hard enough to cope with the grief that follows the loss of a friend or family member, but add in the pressure of being responsible for the eulogy for the person you cared for and maybe some anxiety around public speaking, and you have a recipe for huge overwhelm. If you find yourself in this situation, my hope is that this show relieves a little of the pressure. I’ll be sharing some ideas and tips for putting the eulogy together and delivering so that you can honour their memory, keep your audience engaged and get through it without breaking down. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The purpose of a eulogy Eulogy writing tips How long a eulogy should be A eulogy example How to find and use stories <li dir="ltr" role="pres
10/04/2023 • 28 minutes 12 seconds
Exploratory Writing, Speaking and the Truth About Business Books with Alison Jones - 262
When you have a big idea and message to share, and you want to get it out to more people you have so many more channels available today for achieving that. Regardless of the number of platforms at your fingertips, your choice really comes down to two options - do you communicate one to many using speaking or writing? For business, two of the best options available are creating a talk or writing a business book. Over recent times, with the advent of the internet and self-publishing, both of these have become more accessible. There is also a symbiosis between a book and a talk, with one being a vehicle to promote the other. The reality is, to have the biggest impact and reach the most people you probably should have both. That’s why I’ve invited Alison Jones, founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing, advocate of business books, Judge of the Business Book Awards and hos
30/03/2023 • 55 minutes 18 seconds
[Quick Tip] Becoming a Thought Leader - 261
This quick talk tip will help you if you know that you have a big message and want to have more impact, but find yourself playing small! In this show I’m covering: The truth about thought leadership How to differentiate yourself in your niche The three obstacles to becoming a thought leader Questions to help you step up Enjoy! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) LinkedIN - <a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/posts/saraharcher15_tokenism-internationalwomensday-equality-activity-7038419174582296576-aJv
24/03/2023 • 11 minutes 8 seconds
Engaging Ostriches and Speaking about Super Wicked Problems with Catherine Weetman - 260
The ‘path of most resistance’ - that is essentially what Catherine Weetman faces as a specialist in the area of regeneration and the circular economy. She talks to organisations about the need to ditch outdated business models and go beyond current thinking. She also challenges current practices around product life cycles and materials, and shares practical and meaningful strategies and plans for becoming more sustainable in a world with dwindling natural resources. All of this is so that they are able to survive and prosper in the changing environmental and consumer landscape, and they also contribute to averting the wider peril affecting all of us. Catherine is an Award-winning author, keynote speaker and circular economy strategic advisor, and she is fascinated by the 'sweet spot' where strategy, stakeholder value and sustainability come together. Her award-winning A Circular Economy Handbook, published by Kogan Page,
16/03/2023 • 1 hour 13 minutes 58 seconds
[Quick Tip] Rant and Reverse - 259
This quick talk tip is in response to an issue that really winds me up, but that needed to be presented in a way that was engaging and entertaining. In this show I’m covering: The ‘Rant and Reverse’ comedy technique Why it works How I used it and you can see it in action Tips for building this skill Enjoy! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Link to See my Rant and Reverse in Action LinkedIn - <a href= "https://www.linked
09/03/2023 • 8 minutes 56 seconds
Thrutopia - The New Storytelling Genre with the Power to Change Everything with Manda Scott - 258
As speakers we are using stories to affect our audience. At the bare minimum a story will entertain. When you begin to infuse the story with emotions, fears and desires that your audience shares then it becomes engaging at the next level. But if we truly want our audience to shift into action then our stories must show transformation, and this is the type of story that I teach speakers to use in their talks. When I heard about Manda Scott’s new take on transformational storytelling for writers, I wanted to get her on the show to find out more. Manda has had an interesting journey from veterinary surgeon, to best-selling novelist, to founder of the ‘Accidental Gods’ movement and podcast, and the Thrutopian genre of writing. Her own story is fascinating and she shares some experiences she has had that you might find challenging, because they feel so far removed from ‘convention’. There is so much value and importance in what she shares, and if y
04/03/2023 • 1 hour 31 minutes 52 seconds
[Quick Tip] Comic Timing - 257
This quick talk tip is in response to the question: Can you teach me comic timing? In this show I’m covering: My definition of comic timing. The ingredients for great comic timing Re-framing ‘the punchline’ Tips for building this skill Enjoy! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Books: Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Kil
28/02/2023 • 10 minutes 47 seconds
Snackable Story Masterclass with Greg Satell - 256
A few times people have singled out one interview of mine as a great example of someone using short stories brilliantly. That episode was 107, and it was with Greg Satell. Greg’s work has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Barron’s, Forbes, Inc and Fast Company, and he is considered one of the foremost experts on innovation today. Greg also speaks around the world on these topics and works with leading organisations too. What I wanted to do in this show, was firstly to give you a practical structure you can use yourself, and then to illustrate using examples from this interview with Greg, how you can utilise stories in different ways as a speaker, and indeed a writer to engage and inspire your audience. I’ve put the link to the full interview with Greg in the show notes, and if you haven’t yet listened to that one, then I highly recommend you check it out next. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: A short story st
24/02/2023 • 32 minutes 54 seconds
How to Write and be Understood with Anne Janzer - 255
Great speakers do two things better than other people… They create content that is designed to connect with their audience where they are and engage them in new and compelling possibilities for the future; and They deliver it in a way that builds rapport, entertains and motivates them to take the next step. The truth is that whilst the way they do them might be different, authors must also accomplish these two things in their books. That’s where my guest today comes in. Anne Janzer is a nonfiction book coach and the author of multiple award-winning books on writing, including The Writer’s Process and Writing to Be Understood. She is fascinated by human behaviour and cognitive science, and is always looking for clues about how we communicate more effectively. And she loves talking about the geeky aspects of writing and communicating. In this show, Anne a
16/02/2023 • 1 hour 6 minutes 59 seconds
The Four Steps to Standing Out in a Competitive Niche - 254
No matter how far you niche down in terms of your message and services, there will always be competition. How you think about that competition and respond to it will determine the level of success you have and the speed at which you achieve that success. I know that it can feel scary and all sorts of doubts can surface about what you can offer compared to everyone else. That is normal. Certainly, I’ve been there, and still have lapses that slow me down, but I know now how to move away from those thoughts more quickly these days, and the things I need to do in my space to carve out my unique message to attract my crowd. In this show I want to share those with you, so that you can become a thought leader in your niche. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: How to reframe a competitive niche. A new way to share the problem you solve a
10/02/2023 • 27 minutes 54 seconds
How to Build Rapport with an Audience and Why You Should do it - 253
There are more platforms available for speakers to share their message than ever before. There are also more people speaking than ever before. This means that when the opportunities arise for you to speak, you have to make them count. To stand out from the hoardes of wannabe speakers you must have three things, value driven content, a presentation style that is engaging and compelling, and a talk that builds a relationship with your audience. In this show I’ll be focusing on sharing the principles of making that connection with your audience so that your talk gets you the results you want. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why you must build a relationship with your audience when you speak <span style="fon
02/02/2023 • 18 minutes 35 seconds
Can Meditating Make You a Better Speaker? - 252
There’s a lot of talk about the benefits of meditation, not only in helping us cope with the challenges we face in modern life, but also the physical benefits that may give us longer lives and better overall health. That’s why a lot more people are now meditating, and I’m one of them. Until now, I’ve dabbled in it, but one of my goals this year was to go all in on meditation and do it every day. So, I enrolled on a 10-day virtual meditation retreat, which I’m halfway through at the time of recording. Currently, I’m meditating for two hours a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, which is a challenge. I’m doing this for two key reasons, firstly to improve my focus and secondly to get a stronger connection to my intuition. But the big question I wanted to expl
26/01/2023 • 21 minutes 54 seconds
From Empty Corporate Buzzword to Your Competitive Edge… Collaboration with Deb Mashek - 251
We are overwhelmed with evidence of competition and divisiveness in our governments, in reality TV, and in the corporate world. However, in order to tackle the world’s biggest challenges, and indeed operate in business life, we need to be successful collaborators. But … with little effective role modelling day to day, a complete lack of training in the education system and beyond, and our own survival instinct working against us … how do we get better at this crucial skill? That’s where Dr. Deb Mashek, PhD, and guest on this show comes in. Deb is the founder of Myco Consulting LLC, where she applies relationship science to help people collaborate better and companies to thrive. She is also an experienced business advisor, professor, higher education administrator, and national nonprofit executive, and the author of the forthcoming book Collabor(h)ate: How to build incredible collaborative relationships at work (even if you’d rather work alone). <p
19/01/2023 • 1 hour 17 minutes 48 seconds
Harness the Power of Persuasive Language to Get What You Want with Jackie Brennan - 250
Jackie Brennan discovered the power of language to influence our own and other people’s behaviours whilst she was still working as a Director of Health and Safety in the construction industry. This was the start of a personal journey which culminated in her awakening to the fact that for most of her life she had not been in the driving seat. Today, she is a qualified hypnotherapist, speaker, NLP practitioner, speaker. She also combines all of this with her construction industry experience, to help construction industry leaders to tackle the growing mental health crisis within the construction industry. Here she is unpacking some of the most powerful and persuasive aspects of language that you can use in your talks, 121 or in teams to get people to do what you want! Enjoy! What
05/01/2023 • 1 hour 12 minutes 38 seconds
The 12 Speaking Gems of Christmas (Treasure Hunt) - 249
This is a festive, fun edition of the show, but don’t be mistaken, it’s also designed to give your speaking a boost in 2023. I am sending you on a treasure hunt to find 12 ‘gems’ located in 12 previous episodes of The Speaking Club. Each of these ‘gems’ will be related to developing your confidence, talk content or performance. In this show, I’ll be giving you the clues and the location of the answers… All you have to do is follow them, listen, discover and learn! Once you have found all 12 ‘gems’ you will be able to enter our Treasure Hunt Prize draw, for a chance to win one of 12 fantastic prizes to supercharge your speaking and business impact in 2023. There is a treasure hunt guide that goes along with the show, and you can find the link to grab that, and details of all the prizes in the show notes. Good luck and enjoy! What you’ll discover: The biggest barrier to fulfilling your speaking potential The Two Must
23/12/2022 • 23 minutes 12 seconds
Moving Your Audience from Pessimism to Possibility with Marcus Hemsley - 248
Marcus Hemsley is the founder and Director at one of the world’s best marketing agencies. He is an expert in results led marketing and his company was recognised by Google as the best in growing companies online. As you would expect as the founder of one of the most successful digital agencies, when Marcus speaks about marketing he is not short of an audience. But over the past few years Marcus has been sharing about something else that he is passionate about, but is a subject that comes up against more resistance than marketing - and that is the climate emergency. Marcus has co-foundedmovement as a response to the environmental issues, and in order to be a good ancestor to his 877 descendants. On this show, he will be sharing about that movement, the challenges he has faced in getting the message out there and how he has approached it. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: How Marcus ended up doing what he does today in busine
19/12/2022 • 59 minutes 2 seconds
Best Of: Staying the Course with James Ketchell - 247
What does it take to make your dream come true? How do you cope with being in the ocean alone for nearly four months? What happens when you get a lung infection at the top of Mount Everest? These are just some of the things that my guest James Ketchell shares on this show. From nearly losing a foot in a motorbike racing accident, to completing the ultimate triathlon, whilst being “crap at running’, James is a man who let’s nothing stand in his way when he’s pursuing his dreams. As a professional speaker, and now author, James now shares the stories and lessons learned from his amazing journeys. He talks about the grit and persistence needed just to get to the start line of his adventures, never mind the mental resilience and determination he had to find to complete them I’m chuffed to bits that he joined me to tell some of those stories and to share some of his speaking tips with us on The Speaking Club. What you’ll learn How a sens
08/12/2022 • 1 hour 11 minutes 47 seconds
How to Stop Networking Feeling as ‘Awkward as Arse’! with Charlie Lawson - 246
Very few people feel like ‘natural’ networkers and most people feel uncomfortable in business networking situations. Part of that discomfort stems from how we position ‘networking’ in our minds, and a lot of it is down to how we prepare for the event. Networking, just like speaking, has never been bigger. Online networking is still as popular as it was during the pandemic for many reasons, and now in-person networking is back in play. And regardless of how you feel about it … the bottom line is that if you want to grow your career or business then you must build relationships and grow your network. If you know that you’re avoiding networking or you want to get better at it so that you can rock 2023, then you’re in the right place. That’s because my guest on this show is Charlie Lawson. Until relatively recently, Charlie was the UK head of one of the biggest networking organisations, BNI. On top of that he has written two books of networking - ‘The Unnatural Ne
01/12/2022 • 58 minutes 43 seconds
Overcome Anxiety and Power Up Your Speaking with this Secret Weapon - 245
What if I told you there was something you could do with your presentations, that would dissolve your anxiety, supercharge your confidence and power up your speaking impact … Would you be interested in finding out more? Well you’re in luck because in this show, I’m going to share this secret weapon with you. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The secret to increasing your presentation confidence and impact How the actor, Kevin Kline changed his approach and increased his success The most precious gift you can give your audience Why it’s so powerful The ways it affects your speaking confidence How to build this into your presentations Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to
22/11/2022 • 13 minutes 56 seconds
Why Wealth is Your Birthright with Susie Carder - 244
Susie Carder started business life as a hairdresser working for someone else, but she knew that she’d only realize her dreams of wealth, security and success if she started her own business. Even though she was a single mum with 2 little girls to support, she went on to create, not one, but two $10 Million companies! Speaking mixed with her super power of implementing simple systems have created growth for her own business and many clients too. She has helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs increase their revenues by more than 3000% and worked with top business moguls including John Assaraf, Lisa Nichols, Steve Harvey, Doug Carter, and Paul Mitchell. Her newest book (number 10) ‘Power Your Profits' is a bulletproof start-to-finish plan for taking your business from startup mode to the multi-million-dollar mark. And eve
03/11/2022 • 1 hour 7 minutes 12 seconds
Tips for Applying the Spice and Seasoning to Your Talk - 243
If you’ve listened to many episodes of The Speaking Club, you will no doubt have heard me share that a talk should be planned and scripted, but that at the right time you should let go of the script to bring the talk alive for you and your audience. That is what this episode is all about. As you know, I teach a talk structure that I developed to make it easy for you to engage your audience with stories, whilst also moving them onto the same page as you, so that they are more likely to buy into your idea, change, product or service emotionally and logically. But, as I always say, the content is only half of the equation to becoming a great speaker, and the other half is about how you deliver the message and those stories. It’s important that you’re able to lift the con
27/10/2022 • 16 minutes 16 seconds
[Best of] Build Your Brand By Being an AWESOME Podcast Guest – 242
There are so many people starting podcasts these days. That’s because the evidence that podcasts are one of the best ways to get your message out there is undeniable. Over 62% of the US population has listened to a podcast, 38% in Canada and nearly 20% of people in the UK listen to a podcast every week. The statistics also show that of those people that listen 60% are likely to buy what was advertised on the show. The Speaking Club is proof of the huge global growth of podcasts and podcast listeners. At the time this episode was originally recorded the show was in 159 countries and now is in 192. But starting a podcast is a lot of work and a big commitment, and if you don’t fancy that, then finding podcasts to be a guest on is another great way to leverage this platform to grow your brand, audience and business. <
20/10/2022 • 24 minutes 7 seconds
My Five in Five Discoveries for Success and Happiness - 241
Five years ago, I launched The Speaking Club and it’s been an interesting journey. From me talking to myself in a little cubby hole, wondering if anyone would listen, to the show being downloaded in over 190 countries and it becoming a top 1% podcast, regularly in the charts. To recognise this milestone, I decided that I wanted to share my biggest learnings over the past five years, some of which I’ve already covered with you in podcast episodes and some which haven’t. I hope that some of the aha moments I’ve had and share with you here, will help you too. Maybe as a new concept that gives you insight and shifts something that might be holding you back, or as a reminder for something you know but has bobbed below the surface. Where there is a companion episode, I’ll point you to it in case you want to dig deeper. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The counter intuitive positioning for growing your audience Why letting go
14/10/2022 • 22 minutes 5 seconds
Getting Yourself in the Frame with Marcus Ahmad - 240
A lot of the heavy lifting for your brand is done by the image you present to your target audience offstage. People not only look at your credentials and experience, but also your photo to gauge how you come across and whether you’ll be a right fit for them or their audience. That profile picture of you is often the start of the ‘know, like, trust’ journey and it’s important that you don’t fall at the first hurdle. So, as well as investing in developing your content and speaking skills, you also need to pay attention to your photo as another marketing asset. That’s why I’ve bought Marcus Ahmad onto the show. He started his career in fashion photography leading shoots across the globe, including Paris, New York and London. From there he became a professor of photography, teaching today’s hot shots how to capture t
06/10/2022 • 41 minutes 46 seconds
How to Share an Emotional Story Without Losing Control - 239
As Brené Brown pointed out, there is power in being vulnerable. I believe there is even more power in showing that vulnerability through a story about a personal experience. BUT … if that story is emotionally charged then there are some additional things you need to consider before you share it. That’s because it can be done badly, and when that happens you can make your audience feel uncomfortable, distract them from your core message and undermine your impact. So, in this show, I’m going to be giving you the lowdown on what you should consider before you use an emotionally charged personal story in your talk and some tips for managing your own emotions when you share it. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The big mistakes people make when sharing emotionally charged stories. How to decide whether to use a painful personal story. What factors to consider when choosing how much to share. Managing your audience’s emotio
29/09/2022 • 18 minutes 11 seconds
Applying the Psychology of Sports Performance to Sales Success with Phil Coley - 238
Phil Coley started off his business journey as a sports psychologist working with olympians, world and european champions in a variety of sports and disciplines. Phil’s ability to influence team performance in the sports arena was spotted by a business leader, who wanted to achieve the same success with his sales team. This led Phil to train 100 sales managers and initiated his switch from sports to business performance. He started his own consultancy in 2007 and after initial success ended up losing everything, and having to start again… teaching him some of the most critical business lessons of all. Today, Phil has a number of successful business interests including a sales & marketing agency, accountancy firm, recruitment company, digital publishing and wellbeing business
22/09/2022 • 57 minutes 54 seconds
[Insights] on Making Complex Ideas Simple, Relatable and Engaging - 237
Over my career, I’ve worked with lots of scientists, IT specialists and engineers, and I know that sometimes it can be challenging to communicate complicated concepts and ideas in a way that’s simple enough for your audience to understand. However, those people who can do this successfully stand out from the crowd and are sought after as speakers and leaders. That’s why in this insights episode, I’ve reached into the archives and picked extracts from my episodes tackling this issue, alongside those from other experts spanning the disciplines of science, engineering and law who have developed a reputation, or had success in making the complex compelling to the layperson. You’re going to get ideas, tools and techniques for making your presentations scintillating and accessible for audiences, even if the information you’re sharing is highly technical.
15/09/2022 • 1 hour 27 seconds
Where There’s a Will There’s a Voice with Shrenik Shah - 236
Shrenik Shah has been described as the ‘Yoda’ and ‘Mr Myagi’ of cancer. At the age of 44 he was working in marketing to support his family, when he started to get unwell, he lost weight, began to lose his voice and after about six months of deterioration he decided to go to the Doctor. The diagnosis was stage four vocal cord cancer, and he was given an ultimatum by a cancer surgeon … lose your voice or lose your life. When he heard this he felt like his world was crashing down around him, but he trusted the surgeon and clung to hope. It was 26 years ago this week that Shrenik beat stage four vocal cord cancer, and although he lost the physical ability to speak, he was determined not to lose his voice. He felt compelled to
08/09/2022 • 52 minutes 52 seconds
Vibrating at the Right Frequency When You Speak - 235
In the last episode of the show I shared 12 podcasts that could help to level up your speaking skills. I also told you that my intention is that anyone I work with, through my programmes and this podcast has compelling content AND charisma as a speaker. Speaking skills and delivering your message confidently are a big part of that, but there is one thing that separates the speakers you remember from those you forget. The speakers whose message lands with your heart as well as your head, and that thing is what I want to talk to you about today. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: What made the difference between a four star and five star show review and why it’s relevant to your speaking. The missing ‘thing’ that will
01/09/2022 • 12 minutes 31 seconds
The Diamond Dozen for Developing Your Speaking Skills - 234
To be a great public speaker you need substance and style. I’ve seen many speakers who are very showy, but their content completely misses the mark, and I’ve seen speakers with a great message to share, but who fail to communicate it in a way that engages their audience. I want anyone I work with, through my programmes and this podcast to have compelling content AND charisma as a speaker. I want you to have a talk that you’re excited to share and the confidence in your own speaking skills that means you step ‘on stage’ with power. In this show, I want to focus on the second half of the speaking equation, supporting you with the delivery of your message. In my opinion there are four core speaking skills, mindset, storytelling, performance and humour, and that’s why I’m sharing a dozen episodes that really zero in on helping you develop these, so that you can get ready to rock after the summer break. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: The four core spe
04/08/2022 • 26 minutes 15 seconds
How to Harness the Power of Silence in Your Public Speaking - 233
I can’t think of one person I’ve worked with, whom I haven’t had to coach on using more pauses in their talks. That’s because most of us are uncomfortable with silence even in 121 conversations, so throw an audience into the mix, plus nerves, and passion, and you have a recipe for speedy speaking. The trouble is that the pause is a powerful speaking tool that you want to be able to wield to make your public speaking more impactful and keep your audience with you. That’s why in this show I want to persuade you to be bold, commit and give it a try. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why the pause is so powerful. Why finding the big moments and pivot points in
28/07/2022 • 15 minutes 53 seconds
How to Beat Stage Fright with Elisa De Napoli - 232
Many people suffer from performance anxiety and it can get in your way if you want to speak to grow your business - but stage fright can have a whole other level of impact if your business is performing. That is the situation that singer-songwriter Elisa De Napoli found herself in. She spent a number of years trying a number of different remedies to overcome her fears, but none of them worked. In the end, she found the answer right in front of her nose! Now, Elisa is a best-selling author of the book, online course, and podcast ‘Dare to Be Seen’, which helps artists command the stage, magnify their presence, and defeat stage nerves so they can share their gifts with their audience and shine their light on the world. She is an artist coach, hypnotherapist, and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter. Under the stage name Elyssa Vulpes she has produced 12 albums, with a focus on inner transformation through sometimes dark and atmospheric sometimes comedic storyte
20/07/2022 • 57 minutes 49 seconds
The Important Distinction That Will Set You Free and Increase Your Impact - 231
Most of us human beings are weird. We make these declarations about what we want, then when it comes to taking the steps necessary to make that happen, we do everything we can to avoid them. And the longer we do that, the bigger the task seems to be and the more we beat ourselves up for not doing it. If you have behaved the same way, or you’re stuck at the moment, then take solace from the fact that you aren’t alone. All of us do it, and more often than not for the same reason. In fact this situation came up recently in a coaching session with one of my Speaking Club Live members, Donna Ferenth, who has kindly agreed to let me share our discussion with you. Donna is the owner of a multiple taste award winning artisan tea company called Unravel Tea, based in the highlands of Scotland. She first came into my world thr
14/07/2022 • 16 minutes 58 seconds
How to Overcome the Odds and Achieve Your Goals with Dre Baldwin - 230
Dre Baldwin has approached his life as if he is the exception to the rule. He has achieved what some people would have deemed impossible … becoming a pro basketball player without playing for his college basketball team. His story is fascinating as is the way that he thinks about what’s possible for him, and the way that he views obstacles that others would see as insurmountable. Today, Dre is the CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. He has given 4 TEDxTalks and has authored 31 books. Hi Youtube content has been viewed over 73 million times. His daily Work On Your Game Podcast has over 2,200 episodes and over 4.5 million listeners. If you feel that you’re not achieving your potential, and you want to get some inspiration, ne
07/07/2022 • 1 hour 11 minutes 1 second
What is the Big Idea and Why Does it Matter for Successful Presentations? - 229
We all want our talks and messaging to have punch, to take our audience closer towards saying ‘yes’ to our idea, change, product or service. But that won’t happen unless we understand and include what I call ‘the big idea’. When I’ve taught this concept to people I’ve seen the lightbulb go on, and it helps them to shape not only their talk, but the other messaging around what they do. That’s why I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: What the ‘big idea’ is. Why you need to get clarity on your ‘big idea’. The big problem with the big idea. How you s
30/06/2022 • 16 minutes 2 seconds
[Insights] Framing and Managing Anxiety Around Public Speaking - 228
Everyone, to some degree, has anxiety around speaking, and it can affect us all in different ways. Maybe it affects your ability to relax, try new things and show your personality when you speak, or maybe anxiety is paralyzing you, and keeping you stuck and small. That’s why in this episode I’ve gathered together insights from experts with different perspectives on managing anxiety and fear, and thrown my own two penneth into the mix for you to consider. What Mark, Clare, Tim, Colette and I share will give you some new ways to look at anxiety and tips for managing it, so that you can begin to fully step into your speaking power. If you want to start speaking, or feel more at ease on stage, so that you can be fully self expressed … sharing your passion, purpose and personality with more impact then listen up! Enjoy! What
23/06/2022 • 55 minutes 33 seconds
Best Of: Changing the World One Talk at a Time with Devin Thorpe - 227
If you’re anything like me at the moment, you may feel torn between wanting to be a global citizen and keep up with the news, and wanting to forget about it all and bury your head in the sand. Our world is facing multiple challenges and at a time when we should be joining together to overcome them, we seem more divided than ever. All of this can make you feel helpless and hopeless. That’s why I wanted to bring this show back to the top. Devin Thorpe believes that we do have hope and one person can make a difference. He has a huge mission and a big message because of a promise he made to himself at the age of 11. After spending many years in a corporate career within the finance function, he pivoted after taking a long hard look at his life, and set out on a new path.
16/06/2022 • 52 minutes 16 seconds
The Difference Between Inspirational and Motivational Speaking - 226
I see so many people with a great story to tell and an important message to share getting deflated and frustrated after their talks. Even after people in the audience come up after and say… “that was so inspirational … thank you” They get upset and frustrated because despite being inspired, no-one takes action. And when that happens it leads to the inevitable question. What am I doing wrong? The problem is that so many people confuse being ‘inspirational’ with being ‘motivational’. But being inspirational isn’t enough. Your talk also needs to create the desire in your audience to do something. Which is what ‘motivational’ actually
09/06/2022 • 13 minutes 58 seconds
Leveraging the Power of Individuality and Personality in Business with Gavin Howarth - 225
I reached out to invite Gavin Howarth to be a guest on the podcast for a number of reasons. Firstly, he writes some of the most engaging and authentic posts I’ve seen on LinkedIN that get a lot of traction Secondly, one of his posts made reference to an experience he had whilst waiting to do a talk recently, and I knew that this would be useful to you. Thirdly, he is a brilliant leader and has a powerful vision for his company and his team that I am sure will be an inspiration to you. So … who is he? Well Gavin is the Managing Director of Howarths, and his company helps thousands of other businesses manage one of the most challenging aspects of navigating growth - taking on and managing people. <span style="font-weig
02/06/2022 • 1 hour 7 minutes 40 seconds
The Confidence Catch 22 for Using Stories and Humour in Speaking - 224
If you want your talks to stand out, inspire, entertain and be more memorable, then you need to use stories and humour. Getting the right stories together and crafting appropriate jokes are the first thing you need to get right, but that doesn’t guarantee things will go the way you want. That’s because there is another issue that I see tripping people up in this area, and often they’re not even aware that they’re doing it. That’s what I want to cover today. I’m going to share exactly what this problem is and also show you what you need to do to stop it from sabotaging your success. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why you should consider using stories and humour in your talks.<
26/05/2022 • 15 minutes 35 seconds
Why Employees Need Great Pitching Skills Too! - 223
Elevator pitches are often thought of as only relevant for entrepreneurs, sales people and business owners. But I’m here to let you know that if you are an employee, then you need to understand how to create a pitch too. In this show, I’m going to share all the reasons why you need a pitch, the big mistakes people make, and the ingredients of a great pitch. My aim is that you understand what you need to do to create a pitch that works, and gives you the confidence to share about what you do, or your idea or project in a way that will shine. If you want to always be ready to take your shot, then this is for you! Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why you need to understand how to create a c
19/05/2022 • 20 minutes 41 seconds
[Insights] on Better Networking, Follow Up Conversations, and Connecting Strategically - 222
In this episode I’ve pulled together insights from four powerhouse networkers, and each of them is an expert in creating value and building relationships. What they share will make sure you grow your network powerfully and authentically, so that your business or career prospers and you make some great friends along the way. Devora Zack has carved out a reputation as a networking guru, and what she has to share about authentic networking is valid whether you're doing it online or eyeball to eyeball. She’s been featured in many publications and media such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, Women’s Health and Fast Company - to name but a few! Stefan Thomas believes that putting effort into building and sustaining relationships at scale, over time, has benefits for every person,
12/05/2022 • 1 hour 1 second
The Story of the Early Warning System that Could Save Your Life with Verla Fortier - 221
With a Master's in Health Science, Verla Fortier is a former Director of Surgery at The Toronto Hospitals in Toronto, Ontario and a retired Associate Professor of Nursing at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She is also a returning guest to The Speaking Club, and she is back because she has written a new book that I believe will save lives. In episode 88, her first interview with me, she shared her own story of what happened when she was diagnosed with systemic lupus just a few days before she was due to retire to her hometown of Manitoba. That led to her writing her first book, ‘Take Back Your Outside Mindset’, creating a podcast, and becoming a speaker and expert about green space. If you haven’t heard tha
05/05/2022 • 1 hour 5 minutes 58 seconds
Leading Successful Change Through Storytelling - 220
So many organisations struggle to implement change effectively. Certainly in my many years of being involved in projects and big change programmes, I rarely saw one that didn’t overrun, exceed the budget and lose employee goodwill along the way. It wasn’t until I left the corporate world and trained in marketing, sales and influencing that I understood why it happened so often, and how to proactively dismantle the barriers and obstacles that get in the way. So … in this show I want to answer two questions for you: Why are most organisations crap at effecting change? How can stories help leaders to make change happen successfully? And just so that we’re on the same page … to me successful change means minimal deviation from plan and budget, minimal disruption and minimal loss of employee goodwill. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why most organisations struggle to implement change successfully The Star Trek st
28/04/2022 • 19 minutes 10 seconds
Tips for Creating a Talk and Using Speaking to Get More Book Sales - 219
If you listened to episode 218 of the show you will have heard me talking to AnnMarie Wyncoll, who helps people write and publish their books. But one thing that AnnMarie was very clear on was that once the book is written whether you’re with a publishing company or self-publishing - the marketing and promotion of that book pretty much rests with you. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that speaking is one of the most effective ways to build an audience and make more book sales. But you don’t often get specific advice about what to put in the talk and how to adapt it for the multiple speaking mediums that you can use to get your message out there. That’s where this episode comes in. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why you need to spend time creating a talk about your book The ingredients that need to be in the talk about your book Ideas for creating your book promotion campaign How you can adapt that talk for
21/04/2022 • 21 minutes 15 seconds
How You Can Share Your Passion and Purpose on the Page with AnnMarie Wyncoll - 218
Have you got a story to tell? Do you have a big message to share? Perhaps you should consider writing a book. Just like a great talk, a book is a fantastic way to bring that message or story alive for people and in a way that you can scale… as long as it’s done in the right way. But there are many potential traps waiting to slow you down, or stop you from getting the book finished and out into the world, that’s where this show can help. My guest AnnMarie Wyncoll is an author and founder of Begin a Book. Her desire to become an author was born when she had an epiphany about her life with a toilet brush in her hand. Unfortunately, her journey was fraught with obstacles to overcome, but she didn’t give up and eventually she held her first book in her hands. Today, through her company Begin a Book, she makes the book creation process stress free and easy for other aspiring authors. In this show, she will be sharing how to avoid the pitf
14/04/2022 • 1 hour 15 minutes 32 seconds
[Insights] Using Your Voice in Public Speaking with Jay Miller, Helen Langford, Kristin Linklater and Sarah Archer - 217
Your voice is one of the most neglected, yet most important tools you have as a public speaker. Your ability to be heard clearly, to last out the talk energetically, and to connect powerfully with the emotions of your audience are all reliant on your voice. That’s why for the first of the insights episodes, I have pulled together highlights from some of the best voice artists and teachers to help you ensure that you are looking after and fully utilising this incredible instrument. First up, joining me on the show is Jay Miller. Jay has spent the last 20 years training speakers, actors and business people how to develop a great voice, as well as overcome anxiety around public speaking. He is now one of Canada’s finest voice and speech coaches, appearing across the Canadian media, and his work has had a profound effect, not only on building compelling and engaging voices, but also on the lives of those people that work with him. Helen Langford is a voice actor, who absolutel
07/04/2022 • 44 minutes 15 seconds
What do TV Documentaries Have to Do with Whether You Should Use Slides in Your Talks? - 216
There is lots of information out there around how to use slides in the right way, and indeed I covered this in great detail in podcast episode 082 The Seven Deadly Slide Sins and How to Avoid them. But what there isn’t much on is the answer to the question of whether you should use them in the first place, which is one I’ve been asked a lot recently. So, in this episode I want to give you my definitive answer to the question ‘Should I use Slides’ and explain why I came to that conclusion. I hope it gives you a few ahas and helps you to have more impact when you speak. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: My view on whether speakers should use slides What the ‘Tinder Swindler’ and ‘Inventing Anna’ can teach us about using slides. What a visual anchor is and how to use them when you talk. Myths around slide use Alternatives to using slides And more!! <a href="https://www.ratethispodcast.
31/03/2022 • 15 minutes 28 seconds
Why the Conventional Approach to Managing Mental Health is Flawed and What to Do Instead with Jackie Brennan - 215
Jackie Brennan spent over 30 years building a career in the construction industry. She was dedicated, career focused and ambitious and worked her way up to become a senior leader. But after returning from an overseas contract, she decided to take a rare short break before the next one. Something happened in that time at home that turned her view of her life upside down. Despite having every intention to return, after her revelation she found that she couldn’t bring herself to do it, and that short pause turned into a permanent break from a corporate job. It also forged a new purpose for her, and a complete change in direction. Today, Jackie uses her experience and her skills in complementary therapies to share a new perspective on mental wellbeing. Through her speaking and coaching she challenges conventional thinking, and sets out a different approach for individuals and organisations. One that will enable them to avoid the traps of burnout and
23/03/2022 • 1 hour 8 minutes 22 seconds
Why You Should Always Lead with Emotion in Your Speaking and How to Do it - 214
It’s no secret that telling stories is the single most powerful tool you can have in your speaking and marketing. But not all stories are created equal. There are some that are simply a series of events pulled together into a narrative arc that certainly meet the definition of a ‘story’. And then, there are the others … … the stories that get into your head and your heart and cause you to feel something… maybe anger, hope or laughter. And that makes you want to share them, and then that story becomes your story. So, what is it that sets these two types of stories apart? Emotion. Emotional stories w
18/03/2022 • 15 minutes 10 seconds
How to Ensure Your Message Lands When You’re Speaking to an International Audience with Shelley Purchon - 213
For 20 years Shelley Purchon taught people from all over the world to improve their English. Then she decided to turn the tables. She now helps English speakers to adjust the way that THEY communicate, so that people who didn’t grow up with English as a mother tongue can understand them more easily. Shelley learned the hard way how it feels to try to understand a foreign language when she moved to Spain in her twenties. Seven years later she moved back to the UK and taught refugees. She began to notice that although her students could understand her, they were struggling to understand other English people. She realised that most native English Speakers just didn’t know how to adjust their speech for a person who wasn’t fluent in English. In 2018 Shelley set up English Unlocked to tackle this problem. In this episode, she shares some great tips for individuals and organisations, so that you can make your message equally engaging for everyone you’re speaking to,
10/03/2022 • 1 hour 12 minutes 27 seconds
Stimulating Serendipity: How to Be Luckier in Speaking and Business - 212
How lucky are you? Does it matter if you are lucky or not when it comes to success in business and speaking? What if you’ve been looking at the matter of luck in completely the wrong way. In this episode, I’m going to show you that you can increase your chances of being lucky, and as a result create more success for yourself. Lucky people leave breadcrumbs for us to follow and I’m going to be sharing what those are so that you can become the architect, rather than a victim of chance. Then in relation to speaking and business specifically, I’m going to give you the equivalent of a four leafed clover so that you can confidently grab opportunities and move forward in your mission.
03/03/2022 • 19 minutes 55 seconds
Best of: Universal Themes & Story Plots for Powerful Public Speaking & Marketing Content - 211
Chances are all the films you love, all the books you devour, have pulled you in because you can relate not only to the character and their journey, but to the underlying messages that apply universally to all human beings. There are recurring symbols and motifs weaved into the fabric of stories from ‘The Three Little Pigs’ to ‘Harry Potter’, that signal, repeat and reinforce the themes that writers from Shakespeare to Quentin Tarantino use to draw us in and deliver a moral takeaway. Speakers and copy writers can also use universal themes and the tools of symbols and motifs in stories and more widely in their content to hook the audience, keep them engaged and get them to remember the core message and action points. In this ‘best of’ show re-run, I’m going to share what I know about universal themes and story plots, and some examples of how you can use them practically in your public speaking and marketing content. Enjoy! What this episode cove
24/02/2022 • 30 minutes 12 seconds
How to Build a Massive Audience on YouTube with Dr Clare Roberts - 210
Dr. Clare Roberts has gone from being a clinical psychologist in the UK, to a YouTuber in Florida. Her YouTube channel, Generation Calm, which she juggles while still being a full-time homeschooling mum, now has 25,000 subscribers and over 2 million views. Her channel helps people looking to better manage their mind and live a more powerful life. She posts videos on stress management techniques, anxiety relief and relaxation methods, including guided meditations, which are very popular. In part 1 of my interview with Clare, we talked about all things public speaking anxiety and how to tackle it. Now, in this second part of the interview we’re getting into all things YouTube. So, if you’re thinking of using YouTube to get your message out there and as a growth strategy to build your audience and income, then you’ve got to
17/02/2022 • 45 minutes 1 second
Is Your Talk Speaking to the Right Audience? - 209
In this show I’m going to be sharing an important distinction you need to make when you’re creating your talk. This is something that comes up regularly when I’m working with people on their signature talks, because it’s an easy trap to fall into. The problem is that if you don’t recognise and address this distinction, you could invest time and money to produce a talk that doesn’t get you results. And we don’t want that! So, if you want to be sure your talk (and indeed) marketing hits the right target and helps you make a difference and grow your business, then listen on. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The fundamental mistake many speakers are making that will be costing them sales. The big distinction you need to make in order to sell when you speak Why every talk needs to sell The questions to ask yourself to make your signature talk into a powerful marketing asset. How to make every talk count with this one off t
10/02/2022 • 14 minutes 58 seconds
Overcoming the Different Dimensions of Public Speaking Anxiety with Dr Clare Roberts - 208
Dr. Clare Roberts has gone from being a clinical psychologist in the UK, to a YouTuber in Florida. Her YouTube channel, Generation Calm, which she juggles while still being a full-time homeschooling mum, now has 25,000 subscribers and over 2 million views. (At the time of recording in January 2022) Her channel helps people looking to better manage their mind and live a more powerful life. She posts videos on stress management techniques, anxiety relief and relaxation methods, including guided meditations, which are very popular. In part 1 of my interview with Clare, we are talking about public speaking anxiety and how to tackle it. If you have issues with confidence around public speaking then this is well worth a listen to pick up tips, tools and new ideas to stop fear getting in the way of sharing your message. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: How Clare shifted from NHS psychologist to YouTube influencer The differences betw
03/02/2022 • 44 minutes 9 seconds
The Power of Speaking and the Lessons of Losing it All with Peter Roper - 207
Peter Roper has ridden the rollercoaster of business success. After many successful years in a corporate career, where he was responsible for a company turning over £38 million, Peter set out to create his own business in 1996. The journey as a business owner was not easy and led to some of the biggest challenges of his life, and the greatest insights about business success. Alongside his business journey, Peter has been a professional speaker, President of the Professional Speakers’ Association and author of best selling books. In 2015, Peter formed the Family Business Practice, to help family business owners successfully develop the skills, experience and networking community that enable their businesses to thrive. This
27/01/2022 • 53 minutes 39 seconds
‘KISS’… My Arse! How to Make Your Message Connect Better - 206
When peoples’ attention spans are so short you can’t afford to lose your audience by making your message complicated or confusing. That’s why in this episode, I’m sharing four of the biggest mindset barriers that get in the way of your message landing with impact and what you should do to combat them. I’m also aiming to shatter one of the big myths that really winds me up and in my opinion will also hold you back with your speaking. If you want to make sure you’re connecting with your audience and making it easy for them to see the value of your idea, product or service then have a listen to this show. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: One of the biggest struggles people have in
20/01/2022 • 16 minutes 50 seconds
How You Can Improve Your Sales by ‘Selling Hot’ with Marcus Cauchi - 205
For 17 years Marcus Cauchi did sales all wrong, but then he discovered a different way to sell that not only led to amazing results but also created an amazing customer experience. Marcus is a 35+ year sales veteran who teaches sellers that they get further when they learn to collaborate, not manipulate, and serve others instead of serving themselves. Over the years, he has helped companies generate in excess of £6.5bn in additional and repeat sales. Marcus works with organizations to align the efforts of their marketing, sales, customer success, channel sales and account growth teams, so that they create a safe, risk-free environment for their clients and customers. An environment in which they enjoy a seamless, frictionless buying experience, throughout their lifetime as a customer. <span style="f
13/01/2022 • 1 hour 6 minutes 31 seconds
Beyond Busy Podcast: Telling Your Story with Sarah Archer - 204
This week, the tables have turned and I'm the one answering questions on Graham Allcott’s Beyond Busy podcast. I was chuffed to be a guest on this great show and to share a bit more about my life and experiences relating to speaking, performance, storytelling and my time in the corporate world. I talk about the time I was failing in my corporate job and the valuable life lesson I learned. How I manage my expectations around success for my comedy shows and plays. The big mistake people make around selling a change, idea, products and services and what’s important for a great elevator pitch. Plus I’m sharing my views on authenticity, overcoming fear, storytelling, and much more. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: What it’s like taking shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival What happened when I only had one person in the audience. How I deal with the nerves and feelings of vulnerability that ca
06/01/2022 • 58 minutes 14 seconds
Why You Should Consider Creating Your Own Stage with Ben Bennett - 203
As more people recognise speaking as the powerful marketing tool that it is, the number of aspiring speakers has grown exponentially. This means that competition for speaking gigs is incredibly high. So if you’re a speaker or business owner wanting to build your brand and audience any ideas that can help to give you the edge are really valuable. That’s one of the two compelling reasons I asked Ben Bennett to come on my show. Firstly, Ben has developed a strategy for getting more speaking opportunities and secondly he is also a sales expert and business coach who wants to change the way sales is seen. Ben has been in sales for many years and today he works with small business owners and startup founders to enable them to understand the power of selling in order to take control of growing their customer base, consistently. Founder of Second Voice, Ben is also a mentor to the NatWest accelerator programme and host of the South Coast Sellers Club. Enjoy! <s
30/12/2021 • 52 minutes 44 seconds
Why You Should PAT Your Audience! - 202
I’m a strong believer that structure and systems actually set you free and enable you to be creative (even if you think you aren’t). That’s why I’ve developed processes and frameworks to underpin my speaking and marketing courses, programs and coaching. In this pre-christmas show, I want to give you the gift of one of my favorite business storytelling frameworks, which I’ve seen get brilliant results for people time and time again in various ways. I know it will help you too, especially if you come up against any of these issues: You struggle to come up with ideas for your ‘lives’ or videos. You feel awkward starting and ending your stories. You start to speak about one thing and then get lost or distracted and that throws you off. You’re scared to do a video or ‘live’ partly because you haven’t got a clue how to structure it. You have stories to share, but you don’t know how to make them relevant for your audience and the problem
23/12/2021 • 22 minutes 54 seconds
How to Build and Grow Your Professional Network with Stefan Thomas - 201
Investing your time to build a professional network could give you one of the biggest returns, both in business and life. That’s because as our life and career changes and develops we never know when we might need someone in that network. My guest on this show is author, speaker and coach Stefan Thomas and he believes that putting effort into building and sustaining relationships at scale, over time, has benefits for every person, whether they own their own business, work for a company, or do a mixture of both. As Stefan says the trouble is: “What most people think networking is, and what it actually is, are two very different things.” So that’s why in this show, we’re getting to the heart of what networking ‘really’ is, how you can grow your network and how to nurture
16/12/2021 • 52 minutes 47 seconds
How to Make the Most of Speaking Opportunities Whilst Staying True to You with Kaye King - 200
In this show I’m celebrating 200 episodes by sharing a case study interview. Speaking to an audience offers so many benefits, including building your brand and authority and helping you stand out from the crowd, whether that’s in a corporate environment or as a business owner. So, when Kaye King was offered the chance to do a 45 minute keynote talk to an audience of 80 of her dream customers, she recognised the big opportunity it offered to share her mission, make a difference and grow her business. Kaye King works in the niche of marketing, a really competitive space, and she wanted to make sure that her talk not only engaged her audience, but showed how different her approach and message was from other marketing coaches. She also wanted to use the talk to make an offer to the audience but in a way that was true
09/12/2021 • 38 minutes 2 seconds
Big Conversations and Why they Matter with Sarah Rozenthuler - 199
Not all conversations are of equal importance. There are some that become pivotal to our life’s purpose and success. But how do we know which ones they are and how should we prepare for them? That’s where this show and Sarah Rozenthuler come in. Sarah is a chartered psychologist, dialogue coach and leadership consultant with over 15 years’ experience consulting to many of the biggest profit and not for profit organisations around the world, including BP, Discovery Inc, Standard Chartered Bank, the World Bank, Choice Support and Booktrust. With deep expertise in coaching teams, making dialogue authentic and connecting people with a compelling purpose, she inspires leaders, empowers teams and strengthens organizations to generate competitive advantage and become a force for good. Sarah is also the author of How to
02/12/2021 • 54 minutes 46 seconds
The Biggest Barrier to Fulfilling Your Speaking Potential - 198
In this show, I’m talking about one of the biggest reasons speaking is ranked higher than death in people’s fears. I became consciously aware of this thing in my early forties, and it’s something I’ve struggled with all through my life, and still do today. The trouble is that I’m not alone. This is a struggle I see affecting so many people, and in a lot of ways it’s worse now than ever before. The trouble is that no matter how ‘polished’ and accomplished you are, your impact will always be diminished if this barrier gets between you and your audience. What is it, and how can you get rid of it? That’s what this episode is all about. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: <li
25/11/2021 • 27 minutes 55 seconds
The Simple Truths About SEO and How it Makes Your Business Grow with Graham Baylis - 197
Getting traffic to your website or speaker page is important for getting sales and bookings. The trouble is that for most of us, how to get Google to notice us via search engine optimization (SEO), can seem like a mystical dark art that is beyond our understanding. That’s why I’ve brought Graham Baylis onto the show. If you imagine the internet as the wild west, then Graham would be considered one of the original frontiersmen. He’s been working with the internet since 1993 and set his own internet company up in 1999. For more than 20 years he’s been on a mission to demystify SEO, so that business owners don’t get ripped off or put off harnessing the power of the internet to corral new customers into their world. If you want to increase your impact and get more eyeballs
18/11/2021 • 49 minutes 55 seconds
The Art and Science of Successful Conversations - 196
You’ve probably heard many people share the importance of building networks and relationships in business. You may also have heard myself and some of my guests talk about treating your speaking and marketing like a conversation. The trouble is that ‘just having a conversation’ is easier said than done, and there are a number of things that can get in the way of us being good at this. First of all there’s the lessons we had drummed into us as children - things like ‘don’t talk to strangers’ and ‘it’s rude to ask too many questions’. Then there’s our own insecurities around whether we’ve got anything interesting to say or ask people. Finally, there’s the feeling that it all seems so manufactured. <span style
11/11/2021 • 16 minutes 29 seconds
The Simple Truth About Successful Marketing with Kaye King - 195
Kaye King has had a long career in marketing, working for big brands like Kenco, Hilton and the Nationwide Building society. But when she left her corporate job to start up her own marketing consultancy, she found so many myths around marketing for small business owners. These myths were causing fear, confusion and overwhelm and ultimately stopping them from having successful businesses. Today, Kaye is on a mission to debunk these myths that paralyse people from doing any marketing, or cause them to waste time, energy and money on marketing that isn’t right for them. Using her experience, she’s able to strip everything right back to basics through practical, manageable, and stress-free mentoring. Kaye is here to share her thoughts on how to promote your business in a way that feels right for you, and how she uses
04/11/2021 • 1 hour 4 minutes 58 seconds
Storytelling. The Long and Short of It - 194
There is no doubt that stories are the most powerful vehicle for getting your audience to buy in emotionally to your message. BUT you have a limited amount of time to get your story across before their attention starts to wander. Even TV, movies or books that you have chosen to engage with, have a finite time to grab your attention, before you switch off, and in the world of speaking and marketing, that window of time is even smaller. In this show, I’m going to be sharing the what and the why of tiny stories that pack a big punch, so that you can make sure you're not missing your opportunity to make your message land. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The urban myth that started a tiny story trend. <span style="font-w
28/10/2021 • 16 minutes 38 seconds
Best Of: The Productivity Ninja Speaks with Graham Allcott - 193
One of the main things I teach people is how to get and keep peoples’ attention. That’s because in today’s world attention is more precious and valuable than gold. Social media companies employ genius minds to work out better ways to keep us ‘in the matrix’, and all of us are bombarded with notifications, information, entertainment and choice. So... not only is it harder to get peoples’ attention, it’s harder for us all to pay attention. Yet without time that’s free from distraction, we will never get our best work done. That’s why I’ve brought this show back into focus for you. It’s one of the first 50 shows I released and I believe it is one of my best. Graham Allcott is a productivity expert, but it wasn’t always that way. In this show you’ll find out how he got productive and has helped thousands of people t
21/10/2021 • 1 hour 9 minutes 43 seconds
Spotlight Review - Learn from My Take on These Talks - 192
I wanted to do something a little different with this episode and that’s to add in some video content, so that you can see my teaching points in action. Every month, as part of my regular newsletter, I do a talk spotlight. I share a link to a short talk and my analysis on what is good, or could be done differently to increase audience impact and engagement. In this show I’m sharing some of these talks, my take on their structure, content and delivery, and some of the coaching points I’d have given to the speakers if they had been working with me. I’m hoping that it helps cement some of the tips and coaching I’ve given you in past episodes by bringing them to life for you. Also, these talks have some great ideas and messages, and I’m sure you’re going to learn some extra stuff from them too. <span s
14/10/2021 • 24 minutes 29 seconds
How to Avoid Decision Making Disasters & Optimise Performance with Dr Sherril Kennedy - 191
Dr Sherril Kennedy has spent many years helping organisations be more effective. First as an academic researching social psychology in relation to marketing, with organisations such as Bradford University, Cranfield School of Management, and as a founding member of the International Management Centre, the first action learning post-graduate school to be established in Europe. Then latterly via her consulting company Kennedy, through which she has successfully helped many companies thrive through change and increase organisational effectiveness. Sherril has developed a reputation for constructive challenge, and tackling issues and individuals others find too daunting. Her decision making work has enabled top teams to better understand human dynamics in decision making, and how to mak
06/10/2021 • 49 minutes 13 seconds
The Top 5 Reasons Your Speaking Isn’t Having the Impact You Want! - 190
My aim is that by the end of this show you’ll get clear on what might be impacting your speaking success, so that you don’t squander the golden opportunities that speaking gigs present. I’ll be walking you through the top five mistakes that I believe can stop you from making the most of the speaking opportunities you get. And for each of these mistakes I’ve identified what I think is the underpinning thought or belief that causes them and what you should be doing instead. On top of that, I’ll be sharing what you need to include in your ‘Signature Talk’, so that it becomes a powerful marketing asset that you can use to engage your audience and create new customers and fans. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: <li style="font-weight: 400;"
30/09/2021 • 23 minutes 9 seconds
Why We Need to Treat Our Audience Like Ebenezer Scrooge - 189
As you know I believe that speaking is marketing, it’s an opportunity to influence and inspire an audience to make a change. But getting anyone to shift perspective and do something differently is as challenging as getting a river to alter its course. For most of us the status quo is more comfortable and subconsciously feels ‘safer’, even if it isn’t leading us to where we say we want to go. So … when you only have a short amount of time with your audience, how can you possibly motivate them to take action? That’s what this show is all about. I’m going to be sharing the dynamics of change with you, so that you understand what levers you need to pull, and then I’m going to show you how to move them in the direction you want to go. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The dynamics of change. Why time is our friend in influencing change and what we can learn from Charles Dickens. How this strategy wo
23/09/2021 • 15 minutes 23 seconds
The Cold Hard Truth About Becoming a Successful Speaker - 188
Do you have what it takes to become a successful speaker? There are a lot of people who want it, who dream of holding the audience in the palm of their hand and getting all the rewards that come with it… but so often they never progress from dreaming to doing. So what makes the difference between the many and the few? In this show, I’m going to share the cold, hard, simple truth with you, so that you know what you need to do to achieve your speaking goals. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The one thing that separates the best from the rest. A shocking statistic and why it’s holding you back. Thre
16/09/2021 • 16 minutes 16 seconds
Best Of: The 4 Steps to Framework Success in Your Public Speaking - 187
Have you got a framework that pulls your IP together and makes your idea, product or service more memorable? I believe if you haven’t - you should! Recently, something happened with one of my mastermind members that brought the content of this episode to mind. She had been stuck with her messaging and content - yes, she was moving forward but it felt like she was wading through treacle, rather than being inspired, energised and motivated. Then a conversation happened at a networking meeting which helped her to identify a framework for the process she takes her clients through. Suddenly the clouds parted and this is what she said … “This framework could then form the basis of a
09/09/2021 • 18 minutes 12 seconds
Speaking About How It Should be with Ruth Anslow - 186
A lot of people have ideas that they think would make things better, but few progress beyond the daydream of what if? My guest in this show had an idea that she just couldn’t shake, and after enrolling her sister, they set off on an adventure to make it real. Today, Ruth Anslow is a social entrepreneur and a keen advocate of doing business for social benefit, beyond just making profit. In 2010 she decided to take on supermarkets and co founded HISBE Food with her sister, Amy. HISBE is a supermarket chain with a difference, built on a social enterprise business model and designed to support a sustainable future for food and farming. Alongside running HISBE, Ruth co founded The Good Business Club, to connect entrepreneurs who are starting, running and growing a “business for good” with the support and resources they need. In 2019 she started “HISBE Bootcamp,” to equip the next generation of food rebels to follow in HISBEs footsteps and launch their own change
02/09/2021 • 58 minutes 14 seconds
Why You Need A Signature Sign Off - 185
One of the things that is critical to success in business and speaking is building your brand. And a big trap that many people fall into, is failing to share how they add value in a way that makes their brand and message memorable. The problem is that if you’re not memorable then you won’t be recommended or referred, and if people forget who you are they can’t look you up. That’s why a great ‘signature sign off’ is something I recommend all my clients and students to craft, so that they minimise the risk of being forgotten. But, there are some important things to get right and pitfalls to avoid when you’re putting this together, and that’s where this show comes in. Enjoy! What you’ll discover:</strong
25/08/2021 • 15 minutes 41 seconds
How to Harness the Power of Subconscious Communication with Paul Ross - 184
If you can get your audience to believe what you believe then there is a strong chance that they’ll buy into your idea, product, service or movement. There is an art and a science to achieving this and a big part of this relates to the language you use with your audience. That’s why I’ve invited language expert Paul Ross onto the show. Paul is on a mission to teach entrepreneurs and sales people how to powerfully increase their results through the power of subconscious communication. He has spent 30 years helping people fall in love with the power of language to influence, persuade, sell, and turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones. He's a Master Hypnotist, Master Trainer of NLP, author, and speaker, and he’s been regularly featured on media outlets including BBC, Fox, CNN, NBC, The Huffington Post, Uproxx, and Rolling Stone. His talks get rave reviews and he has helped tens of thousands of people to successfully harness the power of subcon
19/08/2021 • 47 minutes 49 seconds
Level Up Your Lives With These Nine Tips - 183
For many the choice between swimming in shark infested waters or going live on social media is a tough one. But because it can play such a powerful role in building your brand, authority and following more and more people are, (often reluctantly), going live. The trouble is that whilst there is absolutely merit in going live regularly to get through the fear and build your confidence, the content produced when you’re ‘having a go’ can often be dull as dishwater. If you’re going to take the plunge, and do some live speaking on social media, there is no reason you can’t do it well from the start. That’s where this show and my nine tips come in. These tips will form a kind of ‘essentials checklist’ for you to follow, so that you can be confident that your ‘lives’ are moving you and your audience forward on the journey towards working together. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: How to be more strategic with y
12/08/2021 • 24 minutes 30 seconds
Best Of: What Makes a Great TEDx Talk with Ryan Hildebrandt - 182
This episode was originally released a couple of years ago, and it absolutely meets my ‘best of’ criteria. Ryan Hildebrandt is an engineer, entrepreneur and marketer who is a TEDx expert and works with people who want to get their first TEDx talk. As a founder of one of the most successful TEDx events in the UK, he knows what it takes to get selected, and what you need to do to get your message heard by the most people. What you’ll learn: How you get a TEDx Talk. How you can make your talk stand out. Common myths about TED Talks. The life-changing opportunities your TEDx Talk can bring you. Why you need to treat a TEDx talk differently to a normal speaking engagement. Why a TEDx Talk is one of the best ways to build your credibility, authority, and brand. Why speaking at TEDx is more like copywriting than speaking. How long it takes to prepare for your TED ta
05/08/2021 • 57 minutes 48 seconds
Saving Lives through Storytelling with Gareth Lock - 181
Gareth Lock has been involved in high-risk work since he left school in 1989. He spent 25 years in the RAF in a variety of front-line operational, research and development and systems engineering roles which has given him a unique perspective. In 2005 he fell in love with diving, started his training and is now an advanced diver. As he was learning and diving, Gareth couldn’t help but notice issues within the industry that increased health risks and potential loss of life. So, in 2016 he formed The Human Diver with the goal of bringing his operational, human factors and systems thinking to diving safety. His work in diving safety and performance development is all about telling context rich stories that help people learn through adverse events. Over the past five years he has trained more than 350 people face-to-face around the globe, and taught nearly 2000 p
28/07/2021 • 1 hour 3 minutes 47 seconds
Tips for Remembering Your Talk - 180
In my experience, the impact of the fear of forgetting what you want to say manifests itself in three big ways: First there are the group of people who put off, or give up on their dream of speaking and sharing their message… and this can lead to negative self-talk, low self-worth, and the anger and frustration of comparisonitis. Then there are the people who compensate for this fear of forgetting by having their talk as text on their slides, or having a full script that they read from. This will likely sabotage their success because the audience will become bored and disengaged. The third group is the ‘wing it’ brigade. They’re also compensating for the fear, but they do it by not preparing properly. Very few people will do a good talk here, and it’s more likely their message will be rambling, and maybe the audienc
22/07/2021 • 20 minutes 43 seconds
Yes, And... How Improv Can Help You Grow Your Business And Impact with Avish Parashar - 179
Avish Parashar is one of those rare examples of someone who made his passion his business. So many of us settle for less than what makes our heart sing. In love with performance growing up, when he started college he resigned himself to following a traditional and more secure career path to please his family. Then one day he saw improv comedy and everything changed. In this show, Avish shares his journey and how he ended up teaching organisations valuable business skills through improvisation. He is an in demand speaker, weaving together humorous stories, jokes, audience interaction, and improv comedy games, to keep the audience engaged while imparting key lessons. Not only will you learn some new business tools through
15/07/2021 • 45 minutes 38 seconds
Why You Need to Go Beyond ‘Understanding’ Your Audience - 178
You can powerfully shift perspectives and inspire people to take action whether you’re doing a three minute talk or a two hour workshop, but not without developing customer intimacy. I’m not just talking about understanding your audience, I’m talking about focusing your message so that it speaks to people within that audience that have the specific problem that you can help resolve. In this show I’m going to give you some tips on how you can speak with the people in your audience at a new level of connection, so that they are awakened to the problem and want to get it solved. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What I mean by customer intimacy. Why it matters. <span style="f
08/07/2021 • 18 minutes 26 seconds
Taking Back Control of Your Future with Tim Box - 177
Tim Box is a Remedial Hypnotist and Mind Coach specialising in helping clients get control of their anxiety response. He has run a full time therapeutic practice in the UK for more than 10 years. Although Tim experienced anxiety when he was younger, and the impact it can have on your choices and freedom, it took him a few years to discover his calling in this field. When he did though, he began to shake things up. In 2017 he released his first book: Clear Your Head: How to enjoy life without anxiety getting in the way which went on to become an Amazon best seller. In 2019 he gave a TED talk entitled 'How to stop feeling anxious about anxiety’ which has now had over three quarters of a million views. He is also the creator of The CONTROL System, which is a method of mind coaching that helps people overcome the psychological barriers that limit their personal growth. He teaches his method internationally and has now certified CONTROL Practitioners throu
01/07/2021 • 1 hour 6 minutes 40 seconds
The Key Thing You Need to Become an In Demand Speaker & Change Maker - 176
If you’re an expert that wants to make a difference, you’ll probably already know that to inspire change, to grow your audience and your income, you have to become someone who can influence the narrative, someone who is a ‘Thought Leader’. Unfortunately, most of the experts, authors and entrepreneurs that set out on the journey to thought leadership make the same costly mistake. In this show, I’m sharing what that is and the things that set some of the biggest thought leaders and changemakers on their path to success. If you want to have more impact and stand out from the crowd then this episode is spot on for you! Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What you’ll have to become to inspire change and gr
24/06/2021 • 25 minutes 36 seconds
Creating a Tipping Point for the Planet One Talk at a Time with Graham Hill - 175
Graham Hill has always been a pioneer. Early on, he created and sold one of the first internet companies, which gave him the opportunity to shift his focus. Since then he has created more companies, all with a focus on influencing the narrative around sustainability, which have been featured by the New York Times, Dwell, Discovery Channel, and “The Minimalists” documentary. Today, he is a leading figure at the intersection of entrepreneurialism, innovation, and sustainability. One of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Graham is sought after for his ability to clearly communicate how we can all create a simpler, wealthier, greener, and happier planet. He has presented at many prestigious conferences including two main stage TED talks that have reached over 10 million people. <span style=
17/06/2021 • 57 minutes 2 seconds
The 4% Mindset and Why You Should Think Like Apple with Iain Cahill - 174
Iain Cahill is a qualified accountant, with over 30 years’ experience creating and investing in businesses as well as providing financial mentoring to other Business owners and he’s on a mission! In the early 90’s Iain Cahill started a company in the catering industry with his sister, a while later he took a break to take his accountancy exams. When he returned the company had run into financial trouble, and Iain had to find a way to pay off the debts, a significant proportion of which were overdue tax payments. Having just studied taxation and the opportunities available to big organisations to make them work in their favour, Iain wondered if small businesses could adopt the same approach. This set him off on a mission, one which not only salvaged the reputation of his first company, but led to him identifying what he calls the 4% mindset, which is at the hea
10/06/2021 • 48 minutes 59 seconds
Shifting from Awkward to Awesome in Public Speaking (Part 2) - 173
I was asked to do a session for Catherine Gladwyn’s membership on ‘How to Nail Public Speaking’... I didn’t chose that title… I can certainly get you a long way forward, but even I can’t teach you to nail public speaking in an hour! In order to deliver the most value to this group of entrepreneurs and business owners, I asked Catherine to ask them a couple of questions… What problems / fears do you have around public speaking? What do you want to be like? We had some great responses. The top five fears centred around lack of confidence, concern about looking or feeling inadequate, forgetting what to say, and two around delivery in terms of filler words and being clear and articulate. <s
03/06/2021 • 19 minutes 58 seconds
Shifting from Awkward to Awesome in Public Speaking (Part 1) - 172
I was asked to do a session for Catherine Gladwyn’s membership on ‘How to Nail Public Speaking’... I didn’t choose that title…she did… now I can certainly get you a long way forward, but even I can’t teach you to nail public speaking in an hour! In order to deliver the most value to this group of entrepreneurs and business owners, I asked Catherine to ask them a couple of questions… What problems / fears do you have around public speaking? What do you want to be like? We had some great responses. The top five fears centred around lack of confidence, concern about looking or feeling inadequate, forgetting what to say, and two around delivery in terms of filler words and being clear and articulate.</sp
27/05/2021 • 20 minutes 39 seconds
The Secret Stigma that Turned into a Superpower with Lexa Wokersien - 171
Lexa Wokersien has had a career in marketing and communications for 17 years, and during that time, in addition to juggling the demands of her job, she has been keeping a big secret. Worried about what it would mean for her career should it come out, she has struggled alone to find workarounds and tools that will enable her to fulfil her potential despite being at a significant disadvantage to her peers. Recently, Lexa came on my Snackable Story Challenge and over the course of five days she found that she had a powerful message to share. Lexa is dyslexic, and she wants to tell her story so that other people in the same situation don’t have to hide away and cope on their own like she did. When I heard about her journey and the potential her story had for showing other
19/05/2021 • 52 minutes 11 seconds
How to Avoid Drowning Your Future in the Well of Intention - 170
There are some areas of my own life and business where I’ve not been getting the results I want. No matter what I’ve tried I just can’t seem to get it to work, and it’s been frustrating and upsetting and a few times I’ve wanted to throw in the towel. But recently, I discovered that I might be making the same mistake that countless numbers of us do, a mistake that leads us down the path of suffering and away from the island of success. If there is any aspect of your life or business where you have or are experiencing similar feelings, then take a listen as this might apply to you too! What you’ll discover: The difference between ‘attention’ and ‘intention’ The big mistake that many of us make that drowns our desires in the well of intention. How you are supposed to use them together. What you need to do to maximise the chances of your intention being realised. Enjoy! <strong
13/05/2021 • 15 minutes
Best Of: Psychological Speaking Success with Richard Wiseman - 169
This episode was originally released a couple of years ago, and it definitely meets my ‘best of’ criteria. Richard Wiseman is a powerhouse in many different worlds from entertainment to academia. He’s a multiple best-selling author, renowned academic, global speaker, and youtube influencer, which really doesn’t even scratch the surface of what he does! Suffice to say he’s a man of many talents…he started off in magic and still acts as a creative consultant to the world’s best magicians and illusionists, TV shows, and movies…and if he’s not advising on them he’s presenting them. He is a Professor of Psychology, and his research has been published across the world, alongside being a 12-time author of some of the most popular business psychology books today. His books have been translated into over 20 languages, and many of them explore the science of success, and focus on practical, evidence-based, techniques that improve people’s personal and professional lives. <
06/05/2021 • 49 minutes 51 seconds
The Lowdown on Ums, Ahhs and Filler Words and Why Worrying About Them Could be Sabotaging Your Speaking - 168
So many people worry about using umms and ahhs when they speak ... and some speaking organisations and coaches make the elimination of filler words a big focus. But do they matter? In this show I want to share why we use them, and to make the case for and against focusing on getting rid of filler words. We’re also going to look at the psychological trick we play against ourselves that contributes to this fear. Finally, I’m also going to give some strategies for eliminating them, if you really feel they are getting in the way of you becoming a successful speaker. What you’ll discover: Why we use filler words The case for eliminating them. The case against eliminating them. My view about filler words. Strategies for eliminating filler words. Next steps. Enjoy! Resources: Join the Next Sna
29/04/2021 • 16 minutes 47 seconds
Best Of: The Hollywood Guru and the 100 Million Dollar Story with Michael Hauge - 167
This episode was originally released in early 2018 and it has so much gold in it for making your stories more powerful and growing your audience and business, that I wanted to bring it to the top of the pile. It’s like you’re attending a mini-masterclass from a Hollywood expert. Michael Hauge has been involved with creating compelling stories for years. Mention Michael’s name at any exclusive Hollywood party and everyone knows who he is and how he supercharges the power of story in their scripts. He’s written best-selling books on screenwriting, how to pitch your story in Hollywood, and one on how you can share your story so that you build an emotional connection with your audience and win more business. Michael began working with entrepreneurs like Andre Chaperon and Russell Brunson to take their stories deeper and help their messages create amazing results. In this show, he is sharing the same lessons and value and I hope they help you to have as much success
22/04/2021 • 1 hour 5 minutes 19 seconds
Getting Results with the Law of Attraction ...Whether You Believe in it Or Not! with Andrew Kap - 166
A load of old rubbish, or the secret to unlocking everything you’ve ever hoped and dreamed of? Those are the two sorts of reactions that you get when the subjects of ‘Manifestation’ and ‘The Law of Attraction’ come up. Like many, I watched ‘The Secret’ and was ever so slightly skeptical that if I visualised a Maserati turning up in my garage it would happen … (I actually don’t have a garage, so I would have been doubly impressed!) But over the past two years I’ve been actively exploring the Law of Attraction and manifestation and I’ve had results with it that I can’t ignore… that’s why I wanted to bring Andrew Kap onto the show. Andrew is the author of “The Last Law of Attraction Book You’ll Ever Need To Read” and it offers readers a different take on it from the usual books you’ll find. It addresses WHY people wh
15/04/2021 • 1 hour 4 minutes 15 seconds
Stop Sabotaging and Start Soaring! - 165
If you feel that there is a gap between where you are with your speaking and where you want to be, then chances are this show will give you an insight into what might be causing it and how to begin closing it. That’s because in this episode, I’m going to be sharing how I believe you need to ‘be’ as a speaker, if you’re going to use speaking to successfully build your audience, business or movement. The greatest speakers, those who light up the space and the audience, have four things in common. They are natural, inspiring, compelling and engaging… NICE. I believe that being a NICE speaker is something that is within everyone’s grasp, but some people sabotage themselves before they’ve had a chance to fulfil their potential. That’s why I’m going to be sharing the things that can sabotage your success and those that can make you soar. What you’ll discover: The complementary episodes. A breakdown of each NICE element an
08/04/2021 • 18 minutes 35 seconds
Unblock the Dam and Set Your Stories Free! - 164
My life and business revolve around stories… in my downtime I love reading, watching and listening to them, and in my business, I tell, teach and write them. But it’s not just my life that stories impact… they underpin the fabric of all of our cultures, religions and societies, and they can bypass defences, connect with us, and build bridges like nothing else can. Whilst the power of stories has always been there, it feels like their potential is just being realised in the world of business and I think it’s true to say that if you are not using them yet in your business to market your products or services and build a relationship with your customers then you are missing a vital piece of the puzzle. In my experience of working with clients both on the speaking coaching and the marketing side, there are two things that get in the way of people using stories. The first is not being clear on what is meant by story… and the second is doubting you have any interesting one
01/04/2021 • 25 minutes 2 seconds
How to Spend Your Time Wisely with Catherine Gladwyn - 163
If you’re hustling day and night, but finding you’ve very little to show for it in terms of results, then don’t worry you’re not alone. One of the biggest complaints you’ll hear from people in business is that “there’s not enough time in the day”... any yet many of us are wasting so much of it without even realising. This can cause overwhelm, stress, anxiety and potentially burnout… and that’s why I wanted to bring Catherine Gladwyn on this show. She’s an expert business mentor and multi-award winning #1 bestselling author of two business books. In 2018 The Independent newspaper listed her first book as one of ten best business books written by women and since then she has gone on to be featured in many national publications including The Guardian, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, etc. <span style="font-weight:
25/03/2021 • 47 minutes 12 seconds
The 4 Step Formula for Smashing Interview Presentations! - 162
The news that you’re going to have to do an interview presentation can result in a number of different reactions. Frustration and worry, overconfidence, or a complete meltdown that can even lead to withdrawing your application! It’s understandable why people can feel nervous, or cavalier about them. Often you get just a title, if you’re lucky maybe a few lines of a brief, and if you’re unlucky maybe you won’t know what you’ve got to present on until you arrive at the interview. Even in the best scenario, where you have a bit of a brief, it can feel like you have very little control, like you don’t really know what they want and so you either get analysis paralysis or you decide to ‘wing it’. What I want to do in this show is to shift you away from these reactions, and show you a formula that you can apply to interv
18/03/2021 • 24 minutes 23 seconds
Supercharging Your Presence & Audience Connection with Brett Hill - 161
After graduating with a degree in interpersonal communication, Brett Hill ended up becoming a technology expert, before bringing the two strands of technology and communication together to create a distinguished and successful career as a technical speaker and storyteller. Alongside that career, Brett has spent many years studying and practicing mindfulness in many forms. He studied Hakomi, a mindfulness-based somatic psychology with founder Ron Kurtz and he also trained as a facilitator in Matrix Leadership group dynamics with founder Amina Knowlan, before establishing the Quest institute meditation center in Dallas. He credits much of his professional success in the corporate world to the skills and tools he picked up from the mindfulness world he also moved in. Eventually, the desire to share the many benefits of mindfulness with others, so that they could live a richer and more powerful life of intention and connection, led to the work he does toda
11/03/2021 • 1 hour 10 minutes 40 seconds
Can You Make Boring Subjects Sexy? - 160
Let’s face it… on the surface some topics look dryer than the Sahara Desert… and a lot of people will get blocked from sharing their message because they struggle to see how they can make it interesting. But I don’t believe there’s any subject that you can’t make engaging for an audience. So, if you’ve dreaded your turn to pitch at a networking meeting, or you’ve said “no” to speaking opportunities, or you’ve stopped yourself from doing a podcast, video or webinar because you think your subject is boring, then this is for you. In this episode, I’m going to show you that anything can be made sexy, and how to do it. What you’ll discover: Why there are no boring subjects How you can make ordinary extraordinary The three laws involved in making a message go viral and how they apply to your speaking The four tools you can use to make any topic sexy Examples of making ‘boring’ subjects sexy
04/03/2021 • 17 minutes 45 seconds
How to Master Your Mind and Memory with Anthony Metivier (Part Two) - 159
There are some obvious benefits to improving your memory if you’re a speaker, or you need to use speaking as part of your job or to grow your business. Remembering your content, people’s names, complex information to name but a few… BUT besides these valuable advantages that improving your memory brings, there are other positives that make it a compelling goal. That’s why I am so pleased to have Dr. Anthony Metivier as a guest on this two-part show. Anthony is an experienced memory expert, author, professor and memory improvement teacher, and is known as a bit of a rebel in the world of mnemonics, because of the different approach he advocates. Since confronting his own negative beliefs about his memory, and seeing the amazing results he achieved, he has taught thousands of students in three different countries to achieve incredible results too. What you’ll discover: The difference between e
25/02/2021 • 48 minutes 15 seconds
How to Master Your Mind and Memory with Anthony Metivier (Part One) - 158
There are some obvious benefits to improving your memory if you’re a speaker, or you need to use speaking as part of your job or to grow your business. Remembering your content, people’s names, complex information to name but a few… BUT besides these valuable advantages that improving your memory brings, there are other positives that make it a compelling goal. That’s why I am so pleased to have Dr. Anthony Metivier as a guest on this two-part show. Anthony is an experienced memory expert, author, professor and memory improvement teacher, and is known as a bit of a rebel in the world of mnemonics, because of the different approach he advocates. Since confronting his own negative beliefs about his memory, and seeing the amazing results he achieved, he has taught thousands of students in three different countries to achieve incredible results too. What you’ll discover: That you don’t have to be trapped by the current state o
18/02/2021 • 44 minutes
Six Reasons You Should Make Speaking Your Number One Marketing Tool This Year - 157
It’s going to be interesting to watch this year unfold, inevitably things will begin opening up again as the vaccine begins to turn the tide against COVID, but we all know that the landscape of business will not go back to the way it was. The scrabble to shift online has birthed new professions, industries and communication platforms. It has also resulted in companies realising that there are significant economic benefits of automation, remote working and virtual communication...and they will be unlikely to want to give those up. It also means that the way to reach your audience of potential customers has changed, and now more than ever you are going to need to see speaking as the number one marketing tool for your business. In this show, I’ll be sharing six big reasons why being able to both create and deliver co
11/02/2021 • 16 minutes 42 seconds
Rediscovering Your Birthright with Bernadette Bruckner - 156
As a girl working hard in her parent’s bakery in a small village in Austria, Bernadette Bruckner never imagined she would be standing on stage helping people transform their lives. That’s what she does today, but the journey to get there was painful both physically and emotionally. Lost and broken, Bernadette began searching for herself in order to find her way back to mental and physical health and happiness. Listen to this episode to discover the answers she found and how they helped her discover her birthright and unlock the door to resilience, productivity and achievement. What you’ll discover: What your birthright is and how to rediscover yours. Why we lose the ability to be ful
04/02/2021 • 1 hour 27 seconds
The Seven Sins of Storytelling - 155
Whether it’s books, film, television, newspapers, or the internet, it is true that those who tell the stories have enormous power to influence. I believe in today’s digital world great stories are also the secret to standing out, making people care and successfully selling online As a comedian, writer, speaker and performer… (not to mention years as an HR professional relying on influence over power)...stories have been the golden thread running through my life. Over the past thirty plus years, I’ve researched, studied, practiced, written and performed stories, and I’ve had successes alongside failures. Each experience has taught me something valuable, (including there is always more to learn), and I wanted to share some of those lessons with you. So, to help you wield this magical communication tool more powerfully, here are my seven storytelling sins for you to avoid! What you’ll discover: The start counts
28/01/2021 • 21 minutes 13 seconds
Why You Don’t Need Confidence with Paul Wilson - 154
After bumming around the world overcoming baggage from his past and avoiding responsibility, Paul Wilson made the unexpected 180 degree turnaround to become the Emergency Response Manager for the Channel Tunnel. After a successful career, Paul felt ready to make a change which embraced his lifelong interest in the mind and human behaviour. He subsequently trained in a number of different methods, including hypnosis and NLP, all geared towards helping people remove unwanted mental baggage in order to clear a path to success. Today, he guides people through what he calls ‘the Devil’s Triangle’, to overcome their anxiety, fears, and improve their mindset and resilience to live happier lives. If you struggle with confidence, and get stopped by fear, there will be value for you in this show. <span style="
21/01/2021 • 1 hour 7 minutes 57 seconds
12 Pitching Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them - 153
Your elevator pitch is one of the first and most important marketing assets you need to get together. It’s also likely to be the first bit of public speaking you do related to your business. Considering both the significant positive or negative impact it can have on your business, it’s surprising how few people invest in learning how to create and deliver it with power and impact. But that’s not you...because you’re here! I want to make sure you avoid the mistakes that can sabotage your success, that’s why, in this show, I’m going to be sharing my 12 pitching pitfalls. This episode will help you make your pitch a platform on which you can build your speaking confidence, build meaningful business connections and build your sales. What you’ll disco
14/01/2021 • 19 minutes 42 seconds
How to Make Your Success More Meaningful this Year with Lottie Moore - 152
Like many people, Lottie Moore hit a wall in the middle of her career, losing herself in the process of living the ‘expected life’. Unlike other people though, she made the decision to pack one suitcase and escape with her 10 year old daughter to deepest, darkest Africa...well Burkina Faso to be exact. There she learnt a lot about what made her happy, but she didn’t finish the journey of self-discovery, and after a few years back in the UK with a new business things snapped again...literally. She was forced to confront what she calls her ‘shadow side’ and do the work to deal with the issues that surfaced. BUT...what she experienced on the other side of that made it all worth it. Her business took off to new and exciting levels, her personal happines
07/01/2021 • 57 minutes 40 seconds
Public Speaking and Performing with Sarah Archer by Scott Gazzoli - 151
Scott Gazzoli is a regular listener of The Speaking Club and he is just starting out on his journey as a stand up comedian and podcaster. When he reached out to ask me to come on his show, so he could pick my brains for himself and his audience, I checked him out and then said a big fat “yes”. He’s a guy who’s transitioned from being a financier to embracing his creative side, and he is going all in. Although he is primarily asking the questions in this show, he also has some great insights to share based on the breakthroughs he’s experienced along the way. If you want to hear a bit more about my own journey, my experiences and struggles as a speaker, entrepreneur and performer, AND get some tips to help you on yours then listen up... What you’ll discover: The parallels between comedy, speaking and storytelling.
31/12/2020 • 53 minutes 3 seconds
2020 Top 10 Speaking Questions Asked and Answered - 150
I love to know what’s stopping you, slowing you down and getting in the way of you getting the results you want with your speaking. That’s why when people start working with me, join the Speaking Club Facebook Hub or post in the group I’m always asking what’s the biggest challenge. Over the past 12 months, we’ve been gathering the responses, so that I can make sure that this podcast, and my coaching and courses are giving you both what you want, and what you need to realise your potential and become a sensational speaker. Each of the questions I’m answering could be a whole episode on it’s own, (and where I’ve done a deeper dive on this already, I’ll pop a link in to these notes directing you to the relevant episode), but I wanted to give you some tips in this show, so that you can get going on improving your speaking and increasing your impact for better results in the coming year. What you’ll discover: How you can be more authen
24/12/2020 • 22 minutes 54 seconds
Why Failure is the Quickest Path to Getting What You Want with Jill Salzman - 149
Jill Salzman is on her third entrepreneurial adventure. She has already successfully sold two businesses, one in the music industry and one in baby jewelry. CNNMoney has called her a “mommy mogul,” she was named one of the Top 50 Women to Watch In Tech. She’s also an author, a podcast host for Inc. Magazine’s top-rated entertaining business podcast, Breaking Down Your Business, and an international speaker. She’s shared the speaker stage with Richard Branson, Sheryl Sandberg, Daymond John, Marilu Henner, and Desmond Tutu. Jill is currently growing her third business, which is The Founding Moms, the world’s first and only global collective of offline masterminds and online resources for mom entrepreneurs. In this show, she is sharing lessons learned from her own journey so that you can take the fast pass to success in yours. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The impact of Jill’s mom on her entrepreneurial journey.<
17/12/2020 • 48 minutes 7 seconds
Your Internal GPS to Success - 148
Even though I coach people on speaking and marketing, inevitably I always end up working as much on mindset as I do on developing skills and strategy. That’s because, in my experience as a coach, and from my own journey, the thing that trips us up most as an entrepreneur are our thoughts and beliefs. It doesn’t matter how many skills you’ve got, your mindset can be your biggest saboteur - showing up as things like impostor syndrome, procrastination, comparisonitis, shiny penny syndrome or as in my own case..all of them! The trouble is that often we aren’t aware of why we’re stuck or struggling to do the things that we know will move us closer to realizing our potential and achieving our goals and dreams...and even if we are, sometimes we don’t register at a conscious level, that we’re thinking unhelpful thoughts.
10/12/2020 • 23 minutes 52 seconds
How to Make that One Connection That Could Change Everything with Brandon Fong - 147
Brandon Fong made a connection at the age of 22 that changed his life. It led him to work alongside one of the most successful podcasters and entrepreneurs around and gave him access to an elite group of influencers at the top of their fields. This all became possible because of the lessons that Brandon learned from his parents at the age of 12. These lessons enabled him to master at a young age, the right mindset and three of the most important skills that an entrepreneur needs for success. They also happen to be the ones that many entrepreneurs struggle to implement. He has continued to build on those skills and today he is on the journey to his own seven figure business and is helping entreprepreneurs use his ‘Magic Connection’ method to develop relationships that will change their lives too. Enjoy! <p
03/12/2020 • 1 hour 12 minutes 35 seconds
Do You Need to KonMari Your Mind? - 146
I’ve been a big fan of Marie Kondo, a tidying expert, for a while, (even though when I first heard Tim Ferris interviewing her a few years before I was like what?! Really? People need help with folding!?) I started practicing her techniques about 18 months ago, and I love the space, calm and good habits that it has created for me and my home. BUT this episode isn’t a promo for Marie, folding your clothes or chucking out your books… it’s about something that came up for me as I was working on a new story idea. I had a bit of a lightbulb moment about some of the thoughts and beliefs that were holding me back, and so I thought I’d share with you in case it helps you too! What you’ll discover: The story prompt that started this all off. How we can be sentimental about things that don’t serve us. Why I think you should treat your beliefs like your clothes. The KonMari concepts we can apply to our min
26/11/2020 • 18 minutes 23 seconds
Tips for Creating a Compelling Message with Paul Archer - 145
Paul Archer is a lawyer, trainer and campaigner, who can make even the most complex things simple and relatable. As an employment lawyer he has represented both employers and the aggrieved, creating compelling arguments to win over tribunal panels. As a trainer, he has worked with many companies and charities, making the law accessible and manageable. As a campaigner he has championed many causes, predominantly to fight poverty, but also to make the world a better place. Paul is also my ex-husband and co-parent to our daughter! I’ve been trying to get Paul onto the show for a long time and now we’ve managed to make it happen! So, he’s finally here on the Speaking Club to share how he sets about making the complex simple, an
19/11/2020 • 1 hour 14 minutes 2 seconds
How to Captivate the Room When You’re Networking on Zoom - 144
Networking meetings after Covid19 are definitely a different experience...and for some of us the convenience of not leaving the house and the thrill of knowing you’re talking business in your ‘jammie’ bottoms, has worn off. Zoom fatigue is definitely a thing… and it’s surprising given that most of us can manage to sit for hours watching a whole box set of our favourite show on Netflix. The trouble is that there’s a world of difference between passively enjoying well-written, engaging content versus trying to look interested in the 20th turgid, soulless pitch, which focuses on the ‘thing’, rather than why it should matter to you. However you feel about networking online, all the indications are that it’s going to continue beyond the demise of Corona. That means it’s time for you to stop seeing this as a stopgap and start embracing Zoom and some of the advantages it offers you to level up your pitch. In this show, I’m going to be covering off the basics you need
12/11/2020 • 20 minutes 4 seconds
Why You Need to Be More Strategic About Business Relationships with Peter Beaumont - 143
Whatever way you look at it, business comes down to relationships. People do business with people not companies. Peter Beaumont has led the marketing teams for some of the most iconic global brands, in a career spanning over 80 countries. In that time he figured out the secret to creating and managing relationships and now he speaks and consults with other companies using his six step process to help them develop more powerful connections and take things to the next level. Being able to take a more strategic, intentional and measured approach to developing relationships will benefit you whether you have a multi-million pound company, or you’re an online entrepreneur, coach, author or expert looking to grow your network, audience and sales. That’s why I’ve invited Peter onto the show! Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The problem with business relationships that needs to be solved. That not all relationsh
05/11/2020 • 52 minutes 13 seconds
Why You Should Stop Listening to this Podcast - 142
If you’re currently not getting the results you want with your speaking or business, then this episode is probably going to help you. I think at some point we’ve all fallen into the trap I’m talking about today, I know I have and still do. It’s one of the best ways we deceive ourselves into thinking we’re moving forward, when it’s actually like we’re on a treadmill, and we’re only walking on the spot. Fortunately, when I can’t see it for myself, I’ve got a coach that calls me out on it. I genuinely want to help you get your message out there powerfully, so that you can grow your audience, and make a difference to their life and yours. So, it’s time for some tough talking from me. <span style="font-weight: 400
29/10/2020 • 17 minutes 12 seconds
Wave Goodbye to Your Fears with Mark Visser - 141
Many of us have big goals and dreams, but usually achieving our ambitions means taking action outside our comfort zone, overcoming fear and uncertainty, and putting ourselves ‘at risk’ in some way...even if it’s just our ‘ego’ that’s in danger. My guest on this show is Mark Visser, and he had a dream so big and dangerous that many people told him it wasn’t possible to achieve. But he continued anyway. He knew he had to prepare for and accept the unpredictable so that he could achieve the unbelievable. So he trained and learned and practiced until he’d completed the challenge he’d set himself and conquered his biggest fear. Mark is an Australian big wave surfer, author, keynote speaker and ocean adventurer. He created a process to help him reduce fear and perform at his peak in extreme danger and he has since used it to coach many world champion athletes, professional sporting teams, business and elite military groups around the world. Today, he is shar
22/10/2020 • 52 minutes
Where are You on the Path to Speaking Success? - 140
As a coach the measure of your success is student and client results. That’s why I’m always reviewing my systems, processes and tools to ensure that they lead people down the simplest and quickest path to success by delivering the right teaching and coaching at the right time. Whilst each person I work with has their own personal goals, ultimately, I believe your success as a speaker comes down to your ability to engage, influence and motivate your audience to take the action you want. With that in mind, I’ve noticed whilst working with my students, that there are additional elements required for speaking success that need to be in place before any of the other systems, processes and tools that I teach can be put into effective use. As a result I’ve created a new success path, which enables me and my students to identify where they are on their speaking journey and what they need at that point to move forward to their intended goal. I wanted to share
15/10/2020 • 12 minutes 1 second
Mind These Gaps to Avoid Losing Your Audience - 139
As you know...there is one thing you can be sure of as a speaker, (whatever platform you’re using) and that is… ...if you make your audience snooze, you lose! There are some more obvious places like the beginning and end of your talks where you probably know that you need to grab people’s attention, but there are traps all the way through your talk that you can fall into and lose engagement. During recent coaching sessions, a few of my students had parts of their talk where audience engagement would drop and we worked through these, so that their message would land as planned. To make sure your talks come alive for your audience I wanted to share a few of the big mistakes, so that you can avoid them too. What you’ll discover: <li
08/10/2020 • 12 minutes 18 seconds
The Art & Science of Your Personal Brand with Tamara Glick - 138
Tamara Glick has spent almost 20 years helping people express their personal brands through their wardrobes and their words. It’s an important aspect of your message, especially when you’re trying to get people to buy your stuff, (whether that’s an idea, change, cause, product or service), because they need to know, like and trust you first. Yet so many of us don’t have a clue where to start, or don’t give our personal brand the attention it deserves. On this show, Tamara will be sharing exactly what your personal brand is, what ingredients go into it and what you should be paying attention to, so that you get the results that you want. We’ll be looking at the mistakes to avoid and how your brand interacts with your audience and customers at the various touch points of their journey with you. If you want to up your brand game, so that more people fall in love with you and your message, then listen up! Enjoy! What you’ll di
01/10/2020 • 1 hour 2 minutes 56 seconds
The Keys to Becoming a Compelling Force When You Speak - 137
If you follow me you will know that I want you to be provocative with your audience. I want you to shock them and challenge them so that they pay attention and continue to be engaged with your message. When you speak you achieve that both with what you say and how you’re delivering it. How you use your voice, expressions, energy, body, video or props to convey the purpose and emotion of your message are incredibly important parts of the equation, but in this show, I’m focusing on the content aspect of your message. I’m going to give you some tips on how to find the stuff that will open up people’s eyes to new possibilities, that will shift perspectives AND will help to position you as a leader in your niche. I hope you enjoy the show! What you’ll discover: The three ‘p’s to power Why you need to start with what matters to you. The content quartet you need to identify. How to find them
24/09/2020 • 21 minutes 14 seconds
Why You Should Love Your Audience and Yourself with Lynn Ruth Miller - 136
Lynn Ruth Miller has had a tumultuous life! She’s survived a challenging childhood, numerous personal disappointments, and many near death experiences and now she’s 86 and going strong! Over the past nine decades she has been a teacher, writer, and TV presenter, but despite three degrees including one in journalism from Stanford she never managed to get her dream job as a journalist...but in the end she found something better. Today, she is the oldest female comedian on both sides of the Atlantic and she is still going strong. In this show, Lynn shares the ups and downs of her journey and how she overcame fear and learned to love herself. She also gives lots of tips for speaking, humour and storytelling, including how you should r
17/09/2020 • 54 minutes 54 seconds
Have You Got The Most Desirable Attributes of a Great Speaker? - 135
Whatever kind of speaker you are, platform, motivational, corporate leader, podcast host, online entrepreneur or influencer...there are two attributes that will have a big impact on your success. These two things are admired by audiences when they are present, and most commented on when they’re not. They are also two of the things that are most desired by experienced and novice speakers alike and most requested by my students as developmental goals. Ironically, these two attributes are nebulous, difficult to define and can be subjective...but then I’m always up for a challenge! In this show I’ll share these two attributes, with my definitions, so that you’ll know whether you have them and what’s next to get them if you don’t! I hope you enjoy the show! What you’ll discover: The two most desired attributes of a great speaker Why they matter How you know if someone has them as a speaker <l
10/09/2020 • 20 minutes 37 seconds
Leveraging the Power of Direct Response Marketing as a Speaker with Brian Kurtz - 134
I truly believe that speaking is marketing, because no matter whether it’s a project, change, idea or a product or service...you’ve got to sell it to get people buying in or buying your stuff. As speakers we have to be great copywriters too… because the words that we speak have to be relatable and compelling. Combined with storytelling, humour and performance skills, these words have to inspire and motivate our audience to say ‘yes’ and take action. Besides the marketing that we do with our talks on our ‘stage’, whether that’s online, or in front of a ‘live’ audience, we need to use the power of marketing to get the opportunities to speak to audiences in the first place. Given all this, I would urge you to hang on every word of my guest on this episode… Brian Kurtz. He’
03/09/2020 • 1 hour 12 minutes 14 seconds
Why You Need a Mission Message & How to Find Yours - 133
You can have a great idea, product, or service, and be a great speaker, but if you don’t have clarity around who you're serving, their story and your mission message, then your business is built on sand. Yet so many of us miss this critical piece of the speaking and marketing puzzle. In this show, I’m going to cover why these things are so important, the thinking that stops people from creating this clarity and focus, and I’m going to be giving you the steps you need to take to find and define your mission message, customer, and their story. I hope you enjoy the show! What you’ll discover: Why your mission message is critical to your business success. <span style="font-weight: 4
27/08/2020 • 17 minutes 28 seconds
The Three Keys to Achieving Your Dreams With Patti Dobrowolski - 132
Patti Dobrowolski poured her heart and soul into her dream, and then watched it fall apart. She was so embarrassed by her failure that she decided she had to skip town and reinvent herself. As a performance artist in New York, a throwaway question from a friend got stuck in her head and was the spark that ignited her true calling. To help people harness the power of visual goal setting to bring their dreams into existence. Patti has since helped individuals and companies harness this power to get clarity and focus and to build the momentum they need to make it all happen. She has many, many examples in her own life, and in those of her clients that illustrate the power of her work and she’s going to be sharing those and how it all works on this show. Enjoy!
20/08/2020 • 54 minutes 25 seconds
Are You Missing Out On This Incredible Opportunity to Build Your Brand? – 131
Many people have felt like the rug has been pulled away from underneath them with what has happened in 2020, but from adversity can come new opportunities that had never been on our radar before. I want to talk to you today about one of those opportunities, and a strategy you may not have actively considered before for sharing your message. That is podcast interviews. Many people have seen the potential and begun utilising the incredible power of this platform to spread the word about their idea, product or service. BUT, if that’s not you, then I want to persuade you that now is the time to start! In this show I’m going to walk you through the compelling reasons for making podcast interviews one of your key speaking channels and marketing strategies from here on in. I’m also going to share the steps you need to take to start making it work for you.
13/08/2020 • 18 minutes 40 seconds
The Secrets to Running Successful Events & Getting Booked to Speak at Them! With Debbie Bell - 130
It was while Vicky and Debbie were working for a large event management company when they realised there was a gap in the market for an agency that would deliver inspiring events to help clients achieve their goals...so they decided to start ZiaBia. That was in 2012 and they are still going strong, despite the current challenges. They and their team have delivered a range of events internationally for some of the biggest charities and organisations, from small, intimate affairs to large conferences with thousands of delegates. As many of you are creating your own events, I thought it would be useful to explore what makes an event successful. Of course, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to get the lowdown on what event organisers are looking for in speakers too! Make sure you listen to find out what you need to have in place and deliver to get more bookings, whether it’s a virtual event or a live one. Enjoy! What you’ll discover:</s
06/08/2020 • 34 minutes 45 seconds
How to Gather and Leverage Testimonials to Grow Your Audience – 129
Positive reviews of your product or service are worth their weight in gold…and that’s why it’s so critical to know how to get them, what should be in them and how to present them to maximise their impact. In my experience though many of us are losing out on the power and benefits of testimonials for a number of reasons: We miss opportunities to get them. We’re so grateful if someone says they will give us one that we don’t tell them what we want them to cover. We don’t put them in the right format. We overlook potential ways to leverage them. Given the impact of social proof to build trust, overcome objections and connect at an emotional level I thought it was worth learning the ins and outs of testimonials for my own business…and of course sharing what I’ve discovered with you too. Enjoy! What I’m going to cover: Why testimonials are so valuable Top 3 mistake
29/07/2020 • 24 minutes 21 seconds
The Inside Track to Networking Like a Boss! with Devora Zack - 128
Devora Zack has carved out a reputation as a networking guru, and what she has to share is valid whether it’s networking online or eyeball to eyeball. She’s been featured in many publications and media such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, Women’s Health and Fast Company - to name but a few! She’s also won numerous awards and written many books, including her best-selling ‘Networking For People Who Hate Networking’ which is currently circulating in 45 different languages! If that’s not enough Devora is a global keynote speaker and leadership consultant to some of the biggest names in the world! I know you’re going to love this episode, as there are so many nuggets of wisdom to pick up! Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why networking is the opposite to what most people believe Why authenticity is key to successful networking The 3 key differences between being an introvert and extrove
23/07/2020 • 47 minutes
The Secrets to Getting More Leads When You Speak Online (Part Three) – 127
The online space is becoming more crowded than ever as more entrepreneurs make the switch to save their business. This means that standing out and building a tribe who want to buy your stuff is going to be more challenging than ever before. So, what should you do if you’re having these sorts of thoughts and feelings: “I can’t get people to easily understand what I do” “I don’t know where to start in getting my message across” “I find the sales part of speaking uncomfortable and awkward” “My business doesn’t stand out” “I can’t seem to connect with people” “I feel like my talks are boring” “I can’t communicate the value of what I do” “I can’t keep people engaged.” “It just feels so forced when I speak, not like me at all.” If you can relate to one or more of these and you want to stand out and sell more, then this three-part podcast series is for you. In part three I’m going to be sharing
16/07/2020 • 16 minutes
Exploring Creativity and Speaking Impact with Fredrik Haren – 126
Fredrik Haren is an international speaker on creativity and change and the author of ten books, including ‘The Idea Book’ which was included in ‘The 100 Best Business Books of All Time’. For the last 2 decades Fredrik has been travelling the world to learn as much as he can about creativity from people who are out there doing fascinating things. He has been praised for his “unusually effective speaking style of combining humor and audience interaction with useful content”. In this episode, we’re talking about the importance of creativity in your speaking and your business, and you’ll pick up some brilliant tips for both! Enjoy! What you’ll discover: How you define an ‘expert’ speaker. Why Frederik thinks people who say they aren’t creative are cowards. Who we should compare ourselves to in relation to how creative we are. Why scheduling creative time can help
09/07/2020 • 1 hour 11 minutes 23 seconds
The Secrets to Getting More Leads When You Speak Online (Part Two) – 125
The online space is becoming more crowded than ever as more entrepreneurs make the switch to save their business. This means that standing out and building a tribe who want to buy your stuff is going to be more challenging than ever before. So, what should you do if you’re having these sorts of thoughts and feelings: “I can’t get people to easily understand what I do” “I don’t know where to start in getting my message across” “I find the sales part of speaking uncomfortable and awkward” “My business doesn’t stand out” “I can’t seem to connect with peo
02/07/2020 • 18 minutes 47 seconds
Ideas for Creating Art with Your Speaking with Jade Jeffers - 124
Jade Jeffers left the city to slow down and fight a progressive illness. After she moved to the coast, she not only rekindled her love of art, but she found contentment in her life. She is now a beachcombing artist and sells her work all over the world. In transitioning to be an artist, Jade also had to become an entrepreneur realising that in order to share her work she would need to speak to sell. In this show, Jade talks about her journey, how she finds the stories behind her pieces and how she ‘reads’ her audiences before making her pitches. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: How Jade turned her life upside down to reconnect with her passion, find a simpler existence and sl
25/06/2020 • 51 minutes 15 seconds
The Secrets to Getting More Leads When You Speak Online (Part One) – 123
Whilst social distancing means everyone has more room in real life, Covid-19 has resulted in the online space becoming more crowded than ever as more entrepreneurs make the switch to save their business. This means that standing out and building a tribe who want to buy your stuff is going to be more challenging than ever before. So, what should you do if you’re having these sorts of thoughts and feelings: “I can’t get people to easily understand what I do” “I don’t know where to start in getting my message across” “I find the sales part of speaking uncomfortable and awkward” “My business doesn’t stand out” “I can’t seem to connect
18/06/2020 • 21 minutes 10 seconds
Speaking a Brighter Future into Existence with Michael Arterberry – 122
Michael Arterberry took sanctuary in sports to distract from the fear and hardship he faced at home growing up. As an adult, he recognised that his ability to stay resilient, keep perspective and positive during the trials of his childhood was not something everyone facing the same challenges was able to do. That epiphany led to a life dedicated to helping others find their way through the challenges life throws at them to discover their place of peace. Michael says “I can’t change your circumstances, but I can help change your perspective.” That’s what his talks and transformational coaching programs do and in this show he is sharing his journey, and some of the tips and techniques he uses with people to manage those difficult situations. He also shares how he puts his talks together and some of his secret speaking tricks that inspire, lead, and encourage people to choose the right path for them. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: <li
11/06/2020 • 1 hour 3 minutes 15 seconds
Build Your Brand By Being an AWESOME Podcast Guest – 121
Over 51% of the US population has listened to a podcast, 37% in Canada and one in eight people in the UK regularly listen to them. The stats show that the numbers of podcast listeners are growing across the globe...I can vouch for this as The Speaking Club is now listened to in 159 countries! As well as the audience growing, so are the numbers of podcasts with 192,000 new ones launched just last year. So what does this mean for speakers, authors and online entrepreneurs? It means that if you’re not already leveraging this platform for growing your brand, audience and business, then you should be. I have many people approach me to get a guest spot on this show with poor pitches that don’t do them any favours. For the people that do make it on, not all are maximising th
04/06/2020 • 20 minutes 38 seconds
How to Navigate Sales Conversations Online with Diane Banister – 120
Covid-19 has affected all our lives, forcing us to make dramatic changes to the way we live and work to adapt to a new reality. Life will revert to some form of ‘normal’, but this experience will result in some lasting behavioural shifts...and more remote working and online communication are likely to be two big ones. The bottom line is that not only do we need to get comfortable presenting online, but we need to get comfortable having sales conversations online if you want to grow your business now and in the future. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a corporate leader with sales teams who have to make this transition, it’s going to be important that you are able to start back strong in this new context. That’s why I’ve brought Diane Banister, the CEO of Intelligent Dialogue, on the show. She has spent decades he
28/05/2020 • 27 minutes 45 seconds
How to Share and Make them Care with Monder Ram – 119
Professor Monder Ram OBE is an expert on small businesses and ethnic minority entrepreneurship research. He has published many papers, consults with small businesses, is a global keynote speaker and a government advisor too. I am also very proud to say he is one of my star students too. In this episode not only do we discuss some of the findings of Monder’s many years of research into small business challenges and particularly the challenges that migrants and migrant entrepreneurs face, but we talk a whole heck about his speaking too! This show is a goldmine for great insights and tips that will help you shine as an authentic, captivating speaker and I’m sure you’re going to love it. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why
21/05/2020 • 57 minutes 11 seconds
Is Your ‘Content Flow’ Causing Your Audience to Switch Off? – 118
Content flow relates to the composition of your talk and how you get your audience from ‘a’ to ‘b’. This is relevant whether you’re doing a 15 second Tik Tok, three minute facebook live, blog or or a 45 minute keynote. You need to consider some often overlooked factors relating to ‘content flow’ that will affect the experience people have on their journey with you... whatever medium it’s on, or how long it may be. Get it right and you may win a fan, but get it wrong and you may leave your audience bored, confused, and unlikely to bother engaging with you again. In this show I’m going to be sharing those factors you need to pay attention to, so that your content keeps your audience focused, engaged and eager to take the next steps with you. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: <li st
14/05/2020 • 17 minutes 27 seconds
How to Build Your Brand and Grow Your Audience on Instagram with Tasha Meys – 117
Viv Conway and Tash Meys originally had companies on the side whilst they were friends at college. They focused on Instagram as the platform to grow their businesses, and eventually had so much success with it that they decided to ditch their side hustles and open up their own Instagram agency called Ace The Gram. Not only have they mastered Instagram to move their personal profiles to over 200K followers, but they have worked with clients from 70 followers to 1.9 million followers across Australia, the USA, the UK, and New Zealand. From influencer marketing and giveaways, to using Instagram for driving traffic to your website/product, Viv and Tash now work to bring their knowledge and passion to anyone who wants to leverage social media for their business. They are excited to share everything they have learnt along their journey and they’re doing that on this
07/05/2020 • 51 minutes 14 seconds
Setting Your Authentic Voice Free for Great Public Speaking with Kristin Linklater – 116
Kristin Linklater has been helping people to transform their voice into an instrument of passion, power and performance for many, many years. I am honoured that she is a guest on the show and that she is sharing such value for anyone that wants to reach their full potential as a public speaker. She has had a long and distinguished career as a teacher and actor in Europe and America. She has worked with some of the most prestigious theatre companies and dramatic institutions in the world and has written one of the seminal books on voice technique based on hearing ‘the person, not the voice.’ Kristin has published several articles on voice and has lectured and given workshops in the U.S., the UK, Europe, Russia, Taiwan and China. Since 1965 she has trained over 200 teachers in her methods; they teach in a majority of the actor-training programs in the U.S., and i
30/04/2020 • 1 hour 5 minutes 37 seconds
The Journey to Business and Speaking Success with Mike Michalowicz – 115
Mike Michalowicz is a best-selling author, speaker, multi-millionaire business owner and the man that Simon Sinek calls “the top contender for the patron saint of entrepreneurs” However, his work today came as a result of learning some crucial business and life lessons after losing everything he’d made from selling two companies. Since then Mike has devoted his life to finding better ways for himself and other entrepreneurs to grow healthy, strong companies. He is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and business makeover specialist on MSNBC. Mike is a popular main stage keynote speaker on innovative entrepreneurial topics. One of his most popular books and systems is Profit First, which is used by hund
23/04/2020 • 35 minutes 18 seconds
Stop Expectations Sabotaging Your Success – 114
There is one common factor I’ve noticed time and time again in relation to people who ‘make’ it, whatever field or industry they’re in. That common factor is that those who achieve success don’t live their lives based on expectations, they set their own course. The path that they follow is based on what is possible and it’s available to all of us equally, although it’s one that few people choose to tread. In this show I want to explore why that is, and the difference between what is probable versus what’s possible, so that you can choose a new perspective and path for yourself to achieve the success you want in speaking, business and life. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why my family regret me doing a sponsored swim at eight-years-old. The difference between probable and possible when it comes to mindset Why the young and the naive succeed The problem with expectations W
16/04/2020 • 15 minutes 50 seconds
Understanding Anxiety and How to Beat It with Colette Etheridge – 113
About 20 years ago Colette Etheridge fell ill with anxiety...one event triggered her to lose control of her life and become someone she didn’t recognise. She was lost in a world of paranoia, displaying irrational and selfish behaviours without a thought for anyone else. After four months of hard work she managed to make the changes she needed to and get her life back on track. Today, she helps others conquer anxiety issues including depression, fears and phobias. In this episode, she is sharing her story and many tips and tools for beating any anxieties you might have. You’ll get benefit from this show if you’re struggling to cope with what’s going on in the world at the moment, or you’re having to step outside your comfort zone to respond, or you just want some help to overcome your public speaking issues. I hope you enjoy the show. What we talk about: How anxiety showed up in Collette’s life and the impact it had on her.</
09/04/2020 • 52 minutes 3 seconds
How to Protect the Lifeblood of Your Business with Nicki Kinton – 112
It might not be sexy, but whether you have a speaking business, or a business that you grow through speaking, you are going to want to listen to this show, now more than ever. Even in normal circumstances poor cashflow kills more businesses than anything else, but when there is turbulence its reach is much bigger. If you are struggling at the moment, this show may help you find a lifeline. If you are experiencing a boom or getting buy, it’s also important you listen to get the right things in place to protect your business and preserve the cashflow that can so often trip people up even when the order book is full. Cashflow expert Nicki Kinton is sharing a range of advice from getting late payments in, to what to cover in your terms and conditions to maximise the chance of your business getting paid. I hope you find it useful. What we talk about: The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs and business owners make in relation to
02/04/2020 • 39 minutes 55 seconds
Why You Should ‘Seek the Truest Thing’ For Connection and Laughs with Christian Russell-Pollock – 111
Now more than ever we need to be meeting our audience where they are to reach them with our message. As an MC at comedy gigs being able to build a rapport with your audience is an imperative and that is why I am chuffed to have Christian Russell-Pollock as my guest on this show. An award-winning comic and marketer, Christian is a master at engaging his audience whether it’s onstage doing comedy or online promoting events or individuals. In this episode he is sharing some game changing tips for speaking and growing your brand. Enjoy! What we talk about: What Christian loves about stand-up comedy. How you can cover if your material doesn’t land and still get a laugh. Why it’s better to know your material and trust yourself than learning every word. How to bring an audience into the experience and move easily between your material. The difference between an MC and a performer and how the skills of an
26/03/2020 • 1 hour 9 seconds
The Obstacle is the Way – 110
The inspiration for this show comes from what is happening in March 2020, but I hope that this episode will stand the test of time and you’ll find what I’m sharing gives you food for thought and inspiration whenever you’re facing an obstacle that’s slowing you down, stopping you or getting in your way. I want to give you some mindset tips that have been helping me, then I want to share a few practical suggestions and examples for what to do if your speaking gig, event, or workshop has been cancelled, or your business is losing clients. You’ve got this! What you’ll discover: The TV show that created an ‘aha’ moment about ‘fear’ Why fear and a scarcity mindset are never the answer Why it’s important to moan The trick for never getting stopped by a problem again The illusion of money and what might be keeping it from you Ideas for repurposing your talk if your gig, event or workshop get canc
I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly second guessed and doubted myself...and many times have wondered whether I’m good enough... and I’m sure that all of this has got in the way of me achieving goals in the past, or at the very least slowed me down. In speaking, whether that’s on stage, in a webinar, video or on a podcast, imposter syndrome rears its head often and that’s why a big part of my work with students and on here is helping you manage and master your mindset. That’s why I invited Clare Josa onto the show this week and I know you’re going to love it. Clare is the UK's leading authority on Imposter Syndrome, having spent the past fifteen years working with business leaders to help them to overcome it, as well as leading the landmark 2019 Imposter Syndrome Research Study and publishing her new book: Ditching Imposter Syndrome. An expert in the neuroscience and psychology of performance, her original training as an engineer, specialising in Six
12/03/2020 • 46 minutes 39 seconds
The Speaking Techniques Author Verla Fortier is Using to Make Sales Soar – 108
After being diagnosed with systemic lupus, Verla’s retirement dreams were crushed until a year later, when she discovered something that reinvigorated her health and her life. When she realised that the information she’d unearthed, wasn’t available to others suffering like she had...she made it her mission to get the word out, and so she wrote a book. That book is now reaching people all over the world and helping them to enjoy life again...but just a few months ago things were very different. Having finished writing her book, Verla had put it on Amazon and waited...and waited, and eventually a few sales trickled in, but she was frustrated that her message wasn’t getting to the people who needed it fast enough...so she decided she needed to start speaking...on stage, off stage and online. The trouble was she didn’t know where to start. As a former Director of Surgery at The Toronto Hospitals and a retired Associate Professor of Nursing at McMaster University in
05/03/2020 • 29 minutes
Tips for Getting Your Ideas Created & Adopted with Greg Satell – 107
Greg Satell spent 15 years living and working in Eastern Europe where, among other things, he managed a leading news organization during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. During that time, he became friends with one of the main protagonists of the revolution, who now coaches people on starting a successful revolution! After years spent in the trenches of a media outlet, followed by further research, Greg discovered the secret to creating new ideas and getting them adopted. That led to two books, Mapping Innovation, selected as one of the best business titles of 2017 and his new book, Cascades. His work has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Barron’s, Forbes, Inc and Fast Company, and he is considered one of the foremost experts on innovation today. Greg also speaks around the world on these topics and works with leading organisations too. I got Greg on the show because I believe these skills are important for speakers and because I believe Greg is an amazing storyt
27/02/2020 • 1 hour 4 minutes 14 seconds
Taking the Fear Out of Successful PR with Angharad Massie – 106
Made redundant from her dream PR job at 40, instead of becoming a victim to uncertainty and fear, Angharad Massie grabbed them by the horns and pulled them along in her wake. Now she owns Fearless PR and works for some of the biggest and littlest brands in the UK and Globally. I asked her onto the Speaking Club to breakdown the myths and misunderstandings about what PR really is, so that you can begin to use PR as a tool to help you build your brand, spread your message and increase your impact. Angharad didn’t disappoint and shares brilliant strategies, tools and tips for creating your PR content, developing your network and influencing stakeholders to become advocates and fans. Make sure you listen to this show if you would like to get more people shouting about what you do! Enjoy What we talk about: How life events that seem devastating can be the biggest gift if you can just stay strong. The definition of success
20/02/2020 • 47 minutes 40 seconds
Bring in the Funny For More Money! - 105
In this show, I’m going to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and that’s do a little breakdown of how two of the most successful viral video adverts used humour for massive success. Then I’m going to show you how you can apply the same humour success principles to your talks and other marketing content. I often reference these two brands when I’m showing people how valuable humour is, because undoubtedly it played a massive part in the results that they achieved with their video ads. They are Dollar Shave Club and Squatty Potty. Both of their videos were very funny, both went viral and gave them massive brand recognition and sales growth. Dollar Shave Club is a mail order razor company and its founder Michael Dubin’s first video promo launched the company in 2012. 24 hours later they had 12,000 new subscribers and four years later Dollar Shave Club was bought by Unilever for £1bn. After Squatty Potty’s video went viral sales increased by 600% and that video
13/02/2020 • 26 minutes 13 seconds
From Silent Protestor to Viral Word Warrior with James Aspey – 104
At the age of 17, James Aspey was diagnosed with leukaemia and given six weeks to live. Over the next 3 years, he fought to survive, which he did. He emerged from that battle with a new appreciation of life and a personal understanding of suffering. During his treatment he’d gained 23kg and after being given the all clear he began, with the help of a trainer to get his weight and fitness back on track. Inspired by the help he’d got James became a personal trainer too. It was whilst on a cruise ship working as a PT that James met a man that would completely change the path of his life. He began to question some of the things he’d always believed about food and health and embarked on a journey that would lead him first to giving up eating animals, then to giving up his voice for animals and finally, to what he does today, speaking all over the world about animals and veganism. His words are visceral and provocative, his message is hard to hear...but more and more
06/02/2020 • 1 hour 10 minutes 16 seconds
Getting Your Public Speaking Persona Right! - 103
There are a lot of organisations, coaches and possibly even people you know with opinions and advice about what makes a good speaker. There are probably also lots of speakers you admire. All of this can sometimes lead people to develop a presentation style that isn’t in line with their natural way of being and personality. I have some strong views on persona and in this show I’m taking a look at persona, what it is, how important it is in public speaking and even how you can find out what yours is. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Whether you should develop a different persona for public speaking Why you, your message and your audience need to be in alignment Why I disagree with Roger Ailes What a vitamin brand can teach us about how we need to be on stage How you don’t need to lose yourself even if you want to be funny How you can discover your persona The difference between me and
30/01/2020 • 17 minutes 22 seconds
Building Your Sales Voice and Confidence with Diane Banister – 102
Diane Banister is the CEO of Intelligent Dialogue, and she has spent decades helping companies develop their customer service and get incredible sales results. In this episode I have brought her on to help you look at selling in a new way, so that you can get more gigs or grow your business. The truth is that unless you have the right attitude towards sales, you are likely to fail whether you are selling an idea, a change, or a product or service. If you can get comfortable and good at selling not only will your message have more impact, but your bank balance will look better too! What we talk about: The beliefs about sales that may be holding you back. Reframing sales for better results. The impact of reluctant salespeople on the bottom line. The importance of ‘pain and gain’ in successful selling. Why you need to know the value of your product or service to your customer. The question you shou
23/01/2020 • 51 minutes 23 seconds
Tips on Creating Stories and Speaking (Part Two) with Film Maker Mickey Lemle – 101
I believe that public speaking can only be truly effective in moving an audience if the speaker views themselves first and foremost as a storyteller. In this way public speaking is no different to other mediums, like writing, comedy and filmmaking, where stories are also used to affect an audience. That is why I like to bring guests from those other arenas on to the show to give you ideas for making your own message more powerful. That is why I am chuffed to bits that for this 100th and 101st episode I have Producer/Director Mickey Lemle as my guest. Mickey Lemle has been making feature films, television series and documentary specials since 1971. His film and television works have been shown theatrically, on television and at film festivals around the world. He has covered such diverse topics as media manipulation, the first astronauts to land on the moon and two feature length documentaries about the Dalai Lama. In addition to his award-winning films he was also a pe
16/01/2020 • 40 minutes 45 seconds
Tips on Creating Stories and Speaking (Part One) with Film Maker Mickey Lemle – 100
I believe that public speaking can only be truly effective in moving an audience if the speaker views themselves first and foremost as a storyteller. In this way public speaking is no different to other mediums, like writing, comedy and filmmaking, where stories are also used to affect an audience. That is why I like to bring guests from those other arenas on to the show to give you ideas for making your own message more powerful. That is why I am chuffed to bits that for this 100th episode I have Producer/Director Mickey Lemle as my guest. Mickey Lemle has been making feature films, television series and documentary specials since 1971. His film and television works have been shown theatrically, on television and at film festivals around the world. He has covered such diverse topics as media manipulation, the first astronauts to land on the moon and two feature length documentaries about the Dalai Lama. In addition to his award-winning films he was also a personal fri
09/01/2020 • 42 minutes 41 seconds
12 Life Changing Book Suggestions to Help You Rock 2020 - 099
I’ve decided to curate 12 book suggestions from some of my most popular guest episodes. My intention is to give you some new ideas and inspiration to help you rock this coming year! If you’re anything like me, the New Year brings an opportunity for a fresh start. It's an opportunity to look back at the past 12 months of achievement, learning and growth and to consider what you want for the coming year. I’ve set some pretty big goals for the next 12 months and I know that these will be challenging. That's because I will have to open up my mind, be coachable and invest in my growth to achieve what I’ve set out to do. Reading or listening to books will play a big part of my growth as it always has done, and that’s why I absolutely love hearing from my guests about the books that they’ve read that have created transformation in their life. Many of those books I’ve gone on to read myself and they have opened up new possibilities for me. So, in this episode I thought I'd put
02/01/2020 • 34 minutes 15 seconds
Two Must Have Skills for Powerful Public Speaking – 098
Whether you’re a storyteller, salesperson, marketer, leader, entrepreneur, coach, consultant or public speaker in order to be successful you have to be an effective communicator. You have to find a way to get your audience to pay attention and persuade them to act. Whether that action is changing their perspective, buying into an idea or project, or purchasing your product or service. To grab attention and persuade people to act, you need to understand what they want, what they don’t want, and what matters enough to move them into action. To gain this knowledge there are two skills we need to master, and in this episode, I’ll be sharing what they are and what could stop you or get in your way of leveraging their power in your communication. Enjoy! What we’re going to cover: The two critical skills every effective communicator needs to master Why these skills are important The human psychology traps that sabotage o
27/12/2019 • 24 minutes 5 seconds
How to Use and Interpret Non-Verbals to Get What You Want with Shelly O’Donovan – 097
Shelly O’Donovan, CEO of the Authentic Influence Group is back to give us more insight and tips about non-verbal communication. She is an expert in body-language and facial expressions after switching from over 20 years in the public policy arena. She has worked with corporations to shape their strategy and building bridges between the commercial interests of organizations and government affairs. During her time working in government relations, public policy, lobbying, grassroots advocacy, legislative and regulatory processes, and policy maker engagement she has seen the gamut of body language dos and don’ts. It was in this arena she noticed some of the brightest people weren’t having the impact they deserved, yet others with half the substance and potential were having great success. After studying the arts of body language, personality types and lie detection, not only did Shelly see her own status and influence increase, but she was able to discern why others were successf
19/12/2019 • 59 minutes 32 seconds
The Lowdown on Using Webinars to Deliver Your Message – 096
I’ve used webinars in my business before and not only do they provide a great opportunity to connect with and add value to your audience, but they are awesome for getting your message out to people all over the world at the same time. Webinars also give you the chance to show off your personality and share stories about your big idea, product or service. You will be with people on your webinar for a minimum of 30 minutes and during this time you are aiming to educate, engage, influence and motivate them to take action. If you’ve been considering doing a webinar, but you don’t know where to start, then this show is for you. Enjoy! What I’m going to cover: The benefits of hosting webinars and workshops The essential ingredients How you should structure your webinar for success Presentation considerations for webinars How long a webinar should be How much webinars cost T
12/12/2019 • 20 minutes 1 second
The Shortcut to Happiness... with Nahla Summers – 095
After suffering tragedy in her life, Nahla Summers felt lost, alone and hopeless. A chance meeting with a stranger on a beach offered a chink of light and hope that things could be different. That chink grew until six months later Nahla found herself climbing Kilamanjaro and hating every minute. Today, Nahla has given up her home, her job and her beliefs about what matters in life, but what she has gained in exchange is priceless in her eyes. In this podcast, my guest Nahla shares about how she started a charity where monetary donations are not accepted, the challenges she has faced, what’s next and how speaking underpins everything she does. This episode will make you think about your life and your speaking and I’m sure you’ll come away with insight, inspiration and value. Enjoy! What we talk about: How one tiny act of kindness can cause ripples across the world Why Nahla thinks human connection is more valuable tha
05/12/2019 • 54 minutes 31 seconds
Build Your Niche, Not Your Brand! – 094
In business today, it’s a fairly established principle that you have to start small in order to grow big...that you have to find a ‘niche’. But that rule doesn’t just apply to business, it applies to anything you want to build a business or movement from. Whether you’re a speaker, author, expert, inventor or charity founder if you don’t find a way to be different, you’ll get lost in the crowd. In this show I want to share about what a niche is, and how you can create one. I often talk about helping you stand out and whilst storytelling and humour will certainly separate you from the crowd, your message needs to do the same. I’m hoping this episode gives you more food for thought and another angle to come at this from. Enjoy! What we’re going to cover: The two traps we can fall into as speakers and business owners. Why being ‘better’ is bad. Why you should actively try to alienate people with your message.
28/11/2019 • 17 minutes 37 seconds
The Biggest Mistake in Pitching and Presenting and How to Avoid it! - 093
Getting and keeping attention is something we all want to be good at, but for many of us it’s a necessity for our career or business growth. The problem is there are some fundamental principles about attention that we need to be aware of to avoid some massive mistakes with our pitches and presentations. If you want to make sure people pay attention to your message when you’re speaking, pitching or marketing, then you’ll want to listen to this show. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The gatekeeper you have to get past for your message to be heard Why you need to keep things simple The chemical cocktail that creates attention What triggers you need to pull to keep your audience alert How to pull each attention trigger The most powerful attention grabber you can use Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on T
21/11/2019 • 15 minutes 53 seconds
Why Speakers Should Consider Writing a Book and Tips on Doing it… with Joanna Penn – 092
Writing a book is on the ‘one day’ list of many public speakers and entrepreneurs, but after listening to this show you may decide it’s a must have rather than a nice to have. That’s because today, I’m speaking with Joanna Penn, award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author,about the whys and wherefores of book writing for public speakers. Joanna writes thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors with 30+ books published in 84 countries and 5 languages. She is also a professional speaker, entrepreneur and host of The Creative Penn Podcast, which has been downloaded over 3.7 million times in 219 countries. This episode is jam packed with golden nuggets that apply to business and speaking as well as to how to make writing a book work for you. We cover a lot of ground and I know that you will get massive value from listening. Enjoy! What we talk about: Why you should side hustle before you
14/11/2019 • 55 minutes 57 seconds
Breaking Free from ‘Bad’ Stories - 091
If you’re anything like me there are times in your life where your actions and performance have been influenced by ‘bad’ stories. These are the stories we make up that slow us down or stop us from fulfilling our potential and achieving our goals and dreams. In this show I’m sharing some of my ‘bad’ story moments, what happened as a result and what I do differently today. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What ‘bad’ stories are and what can happen if you let them grow. Why we create them. Tactics for tackling ‘bad’ stories. What we’re really scared of. The two most powerful tools you can deploy in your life to become unstoppable. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get
07/11/2019 • 23 minutes 34 seconds
Event Promotion & Increasing Your Odds of Being Booked to Speak - 090
In the last show I told you that as a speaker you are also a marketer of your message. That’s when you’re on stage, but in order to get to that stage you’re going to have to learn how to successfully market yourself as a speaker. A big part of that includes showing promoters how working with you will help make their event a success. That’s why in this episode I’m going to share the key things you need to demonstrate to be attractive as a speaker, and the things that will separate you from the herd in an event promoters’ eyes. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why getting the right speaker is so important to the success of an event The nine ingredients of a highly bookable speaker The importance of being ‘easy to work with’ and what that means How to become the promoter’s dream speaker Thanks for listening! To share your joke go to https://www.thesp
31/10/2019 • 16 minutes 44 seconds
When Should You Change Your Presentation? - 089
In this show, I’m going to be talking to you not only as speakers but as marketers of your message. That’s because I’ve had students raising the question of how long you should be sharing the same presentation before you change things up? I have some strong views on this. I believe there are some fundamental marketing principles that come into play when you are considering this question as a public speaker. The students that asked about this were potentially going to make a big mistake and I don’t want you to fall into the same trap too… Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What Category Kings are and what we can learn from them The importance of defining the problem you solve How you become a thought leader Actionable tips for moving forward and avoiding pitfalls Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or
24/10/2019 • 17 minutes 30 seconds
Stepping out of the Shadows into the Light with Verla Fortier – 088
With a Master's in Health Science, Verla Fortier is a former Director of Surgery at The Toronto Hospitals in Toronto, Ontario and a retired Associate Professor of Nursing at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. At 63, after a long and high-powered career, she was looking forward to retiring back to her hometown in Manitoba, when a routine visit to her own Doctor shattered her plans. Instead of moving back to enjoy life in the country she was confined to her bed and she felt like her life was over. That was when she had an epiphany and decided to go against the prescribed medical advice and take her life and future into her own hands. She is now an author and speaker, sharing the almost miraculous results she has experienced in her own life to help other people avoid dementia, live longer and reduce the effects of chronic illness. I am sure you will enjoy this show! Whatwe talk about: Ground-breaking research into
17/10/2019 • 41 minutes 28 seconds
Become a Message Led Speaker not a Robot - 087
My mission is to help people overcome any fears they may have about public speaking, using stories or adding humour to their talks, so that they get to share the message they’re passionate about in the most powerful way. My focus in my 121 coaching and courses is on teaching my students to be the vehicle for their message that could change lives. Everything I do is aimed at landing that message in the most engaging and compelling way and helping them to get out of their own way to achieve that. Now I’m not saying that my way is the only way, far from it…there are many other great speaking coaches and companies out there…but when I hear things shared or taught that will undermine people’s confidence or speaking impact, or turn them off public speaking altogether then I feel compelled to debunk those things, and that’s what this episode is all about! Enjoy! What you’ll discover: Why you need to focus on outcomes not perfect del
10/10/2019 • 20 minutes 51 seconds
How to Stay Mentally Strong Whatever Life Throws at You! – 086
Today it feels that stress, anxiety and depression are reaching epidemic levels, and for many people who slip into that black hole, it can take years to scramble out and get life back on track...if they manage it at all. For public speakers there are many potential triggers for stress and anxiety… the actual act of speaking can be terrifying for some, then there’s the rejection to deal with, and perhaps one of the biggest ones we face…the old imposter syndrome. That’s why I decided to invite Linda Clarke on the show. I have been working with Linda to develop her new workshop and I’ve been so impressed by her story, her knowledge and experience and the results she gets people. So, for me it was a no brainer to ask if she would come onto The Speaking Club to share her wisdom with you. A Master Hypnotherapist, with many other qualifications to her name, Linda has been in practice since 2006. She was based in South Africa for most of that time, with a thriving business, ev
02/10/2019 • 1 hour 4 minutes 10 seconds
How to Find the Big Moments of Your Talk - 085
I believe your goal as a speaker is to make your talk believable, interesting and thrilling. That’s because if your audience can relate to and is captivated by your message, then they will be more likely to remember it, and be moved enough to take the action you want. To achieve this goal, you need to recognise that whilst every second of your talk counts, there are some moments that are critical for achieving that goal and successfully building the narrative of the journey you are taking your audience on. In this podcast I’m going to give you tips on identifying those big moments and making them count. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What ‘big moments’ are How you can find them The questions you need to ask when you find them A reminder of the performance tools you can use to help you bring these moments to life Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a co
26/09/2019 • 14 minutes 2 seconds
Five Insider Tips for Adding Humour to Your Stories - 084
I love stories, but I love stories with humour more! So does your audience, and in fact the majority of the population. Humour brings people together, builds a connection between you and your audience and is more likely to get your message shared. The trouble is that it can seem scary and hard to do in public speaking, and that is where this episode comes in. For most of my life I’ve worked in the corporate world by day, alongside doing stand-up comedy and theatre by night! During that time, I realised that the humour I used in the comedy clubs, was not going to be appropriate when speaking to audiences in my corporate job. The principles behind creating the humour were exactly the same but my brand and my audience were not. I know the power of comedy in both contexts and that’s why I’m so passionate about helping you use it in the right way to get results in your speaking generally, and your stories especially. So, in this show I’m focusing exclusively on adding humo
19/09/2019 • 22 minutes 52 seconds
The 4 Steps to Framework Success in Your Public Speaking - 083
Last week I was in Boise, Idaho attending a conference called ‘Offermind’. It was primarily about marketing and how to create an irresistible offer, but there were lots of golden nuggets that applied to speaking too! As you may know I coach and consult on marketing and speaking with a specific focus on storytelling and humour. That’s because I believe that the two are so closely linked AND as well as educating and motivating your audience speaking is also one of the best ways to market and sell your products and services. All of the speakers who were on stage at the conference were amazing and I was particularly chuffed to be able to see one of my marketing heroes in action. This guy is also one of the highest paid speakers in the world, so when he talks, I listen. He gave away many value bombs during his keynote including the one I’m going to be sharing with you today! Enjoy! What this episode covers: Why frameworks are impo
12/09/2019 • 23 minutes 12 seconds
Seven Deadly Slide Sins and How to Avoid Them - 082
Over the years, I’ve noticed a disease that has infected many, many people…particularly those working in the corporate world. That disease is ‘slide sickness’. The symptoms are nasty, and they result in the audiences for your talk slapping themselves in the face to stay awake. I know that what to do with slides pre-occupies and perplexes many speakers and since I’ve only touched on the topic of slides once before in a guest show, I’ve decided to go a bit deeper in this episode. I’m going to give you my take on the seven deadly slide sins and how to avoid them, so that you are confident about using slides and they won’t cause you problems again. Enjoy! What this episode covers: Where slide creation comes in the preparation process Slide design and what you need to think about Why you need to think about what your audience can see How you can avoid unnecessarily breaking the audience connection What
29/08/2019 • 14 minutes 43 seconds
Great Wedding Speech Tips & Humour Hacks with Chris Waddell – 081
When you ask the love of your life to marry you, your daughter tells you she’s getting married, (to someone you approve of), or your friend asks you to be best man… after the initial joy, often comes dread. That’s when you suddenly remember that you have to do a wedding speech. Now whether you’re an experienced public speaker or not, the stakes always feel higher in these situations. It’s their big day, you’ll be speaking in front of some of the toughest critics going…family, friends and in-laws… and you feel obliged to try and get some laughs. That’s why I thought it was time to do another episode on this terrifying topic. I specifically invited my friend Chris Waddell to help me do this show for a number of reasons. He is a veteran wedding speech giver, and recently was best man for his brother, he is very funny, and…he had a lot to say about the last wedding speech episode I did on the show! Alongside his speaking and comedy, Chris is a Graphic Designer, Photographe
15/08/2019 • 48 minutes 26 seconds
The 10 Steps to Unlocking the Sensational Speaker Within - 080
I have a weird background that mixes a long corporate career with speaking, stand-up comedy, theatre, content marketing and coaching. Over the past eight years I’ve been drawing on that unique blend of experience to teach and coach people to connect with and captivate audiences through storytelling and humour. Throughout that time, I’ve learnt what works best to get results for people and now I’ve captured that success path in my 10-step Story Led Speaking system. In this show, not only am I going to share those 10 steps with you, but I’m also going to signpost you to previous podcast episodes that are relevant for each step. This system includes the four core ingredients you need to become a sensational speaker and the six-stage process that you must go through every time to get consistent and powerful results with your public speaking. So, whether you’re looking to motivate, educate, sell, pitch, or get stakeholders to buy in I promise this episode is going to be gol
08/08/2019 • 18 minutes 3 seconds
Tips for Good Health and Tackling Taboo Subjects in Your Talks – 079
Katherine Brooke-Mackenzie helps people feel well again using alternative therapies, but particularly colon-hydrotherapy. She has spent a large part of the last 15 years happily taking people’s crap. Based on what she has seen she believes that many of us are living with discomfort, pain and shame because we don’t feel like we can talk about what’s wrong…and she is on a mission to change that. In this episode we discover the personal challenges and epiphanies that led Katherine to what she does today. She explains why we need to be paying attention to the connection between our minds and our bodies and she shares some great tips for improving our gut health. We are also talking about Katherine’s public speaking, and how after years of trying she has finally overcome the fear and found her voice. She is sharing about what she does to engage people in a topic that is not normally discussed in polite society. What we talk about: The co
25/07/2019 • 51 minutes 55 seconds
How to Make Your Audience Care and Create Lightbulb Moments - 078
Most of us that speak in public have a relatively high level of expertise in the topic we’re presenting on…and that is how it should be. But therein lies a risk and an issue that has turned many potentially scintillating talks into snooze fests. Depending on our experience as a speaker, the context in which we’re speaking and our own level of insecurities, there is sometimes an overwhelming desire to ‘prove’ ourselves and show how much we know. (Trust me I’ve been there before!) The trouble is that this is often at the expense of engaging our audience and getting our message across. Here I’m going to share my three top tips to help you avoid the ‘expert’ trap, so that you land your message and create light bulb moments for your audience. Enjoy! What this episode covers: The shift in thinking that will transform your speaking Why common sense is ignored and what to use instead How to keep your audience atte
11/07/2019 • 23 minutes 54 seconds
Building Mental Resilience and Speaking Success with Anthony Taylor – 077
It has taken Anthony Taylor a number of years and false starts to find his path and purpose. Like many of us he was lost for decades looking for fulfillment in status and financial reward, until he discovered contentment for him was helping people develop the mental toughness and resilience to achieve their goals. In this show he is sharing his journey, alongside his suggestions for building resilience and developing the personal tools to cope with whatever life throws at us. He is also sharing his experience of stepping up to the next level in public speaking and how he changed his game in order to serve his audience better and increase the impact of his message. If you want to become a better public speaker this show has lots to offer you. What we talk about: Why building resilience has never been more important Emotional snapping, what’s causing it and how to avoid it. The power of knowing your worth and your va
27/06/2019 • 52 minutes 24 seconds
How to tell a Story with Your Voice with Helen Langford – 076
Helen Langford has a very nice voice, and you may even have heard it before as she does get about a bit! Having trained to be an actor, she switched to voiceover work when she discovered that not only did she like it but people liked her voice. Working mostly for corporate clients, including companies like Nestle Royal Mail, Boots, Highways England, and Cambridge English. Every day she tells stories, explains tricky concepts, promotes brilliant ideas and gets to be somebody new! In this show I asked her to share her story and some voice tips to help public speakers bring their talks to life. So listen to the show to discover Helen’s secrets for increasing engagement and utilizing one of the most powerful tools in your public speaker’s kit. What we talk about: Why it’s important to record yourself as a public speaker. The power of the pause and why it should be one of your go to voice tools. How to avoid the
13/06/2019 • 44 minutes 1 second
The Truth About What Matters Most in Public Speaking and How Sexy Talk Titles Fit In - 075
There are two reasons I created this podcast episode. Firstly, I heard a story from an influencer that really pushed my buttons. This story made me realise that a lot of organisations and coaches who teach and influence public speaking may be failing to share a vital ingredient for success…and I don’t want you as a Speaking Club listener to miss this out. That’s why in this show, I’m going to share what I believe is the primary thing to focus on and develop on your journey to becoming a sensational speaker and why. The second reason for this show is that during the course of coaching my students to develop their talk and speaking skills, we always cover their talk title and coming up with the right one can be a struggle for them. Because the talk title is linked closely to the first reason for the show, I’m going to give you some tips on how to make it sexy and explain why you should! Enjoy! What we’re going to cover: What is not im
30/05/2019 • 18 minutes 4 seconds
How a Self-Proclaimed Geek Ditched the Facts and Turned Public Speaking from a Waking Nightmare into a Golden Opportunity with Karin Layton – 074
This show happened because a listener reached out to me and told me about the difference The Speaking Club had made to her life in just one month. Engineer and confirmed techie Karin Layton hated public speaking with a passion. She had massive anxiety, which resulted in shaking and sweating when she was forced to speak at all in her job. She described the thought of speaking as a waking nightmare. But Karin was forced to have a heart to heart with herself when she entered a competition to get funding for her invention and realized that without becoming a better public speaker, she was going to fail miserably. So, she decided to do something about it and looked for a podcast to help her. She discovered the Speaking Club and binge listened to all the episodes, following the processes, putting the learning into action and fighting against all her instincts in relation to the content. Listen to the show to discover the key lessons she learned, how her public speaking chang
16/05/2019 • 30 minutes 49 seconds
The Map to Greatness in Public Speaking - 073
There is something that gets in the way of a lot of speakers having as much impact as they would like. This thing is stopping them from delivering their message with power, authority, passion and personality. I know this because I’ve had the same issue…I couldn’t stop trying to be ‘perfect’. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain in the hope that seeing my challenges and mistakes will help you either pat yourself on the back if you don’t have them…or see that it’s not just you, and there is a way to overcome them. Without us being our most uninhibited, authentic and present selves when we talk, our message is going to be diluted. To achieve this state, we need to ‘let go’, but that is often easier said than done. Letting go has been very hard for me and in this show, I am sharing what was underneath it all and the new strategies and beliefs I used to find myself. Enjoy! What this episode covers:
02/05/2019 • 21 minutes 35 seconds
The Secret to Becoming a Public Speaker that Changes Lives - 072
Regardless of whether you’re a motivational speaker who wants to inspire people to take action, an educational speaker that wants the audience to think in new ways, a corporate leader who wants their employees to buy into change, or someone who uses speaking to sell their products or services… to achieve your goals you need to understand how to reach people and how to influence them. In most scenarios when we speak, we will be trying to convince people to take a different view of their life, their business, their health or something else. To do this we will need to overcome the beliefs that our audience is likely to be holding about the topic, themselves and a myriad of other things, that get in the way of them seeing new possibilities. To overcome these beliefs, you have to engage your audience in a way that shows them that what you’re offering is possible and possible for them. In this episode I will be sharing the most powerful tool public speakers
18/04/2019 • 22 minutes 8 seconds
How to Discover the Power of Letting Go in Life and Public Speaking with Jesse Brisendine – 071
Jesse Brisendine was on track to have a good life when tragedy and loss shook his world. Feelings of grief and guilt overpowered him, stifling his passion and purpose and snuffing out his natural positivity and optimism. In this podcast he shares how he found his way back towards the light, and how he now uses his story and experience to touch and transforms the lives of others, through his coaching, writing and speaking, and the global movement he has started. There is gold sprinkled throughout this podcast for helping you manage life, loss, achieve your goals and become a great speaker. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. What we talk about: The fear of not being enough and not being lovable. How stories can connect us across cultures and continents The impact of loss and what we make it mean about us. The epiphany Jesse had that led to him starting a movement tha
04/04/2019 • 1 hour 6 minutes 26 seconds
How Intentional Movement Can Power Up Your Public Speaking Part Two - 070
In order to realise your full potential and impact as a speaker, it’s important that you understand and harness the power of your body language and movement in your communication with an audience. Performers in every genre, can evoke emotion in their audience without uttering a single word. Whether it’s the arch of an eyebrow that makes the audience collapse in laughter, the arch of a body that communicates desire, or the arch of a conductor’s hand bringing an orchestra to a crescendo. As a speaker you can also use your body in harmony with your voice and words to change the state of your audience and move them to action. In part two of this series I’ll be continuing to share how you can use your body and intentional movement to increase your impact. Enjoy! What this episode covers: How you can choreograph your talk to direct an audience’s attention and emotion. Why it’s critical t
22/03/2019 • 15 minutes 14 seconds
How Intentional Movement Can Power Up Your Public Speaking Part One - 069
In order to realise your full potential and impact as a speaker, it’s important that you understand and harness the power of your body language and movement in your communication with an audience. Performers in every genre, can evoke emotion in their audience without uttering a single word. Whether it’s the arch of an eyebrow that makes the audience collapse in laughter, the arch of a body that communicates desire, or the arch of a conductor’s hand bringing an orchestra to a crescendo. As a speaker you can also use your body in harmony with your voice and words to change the state of your audience and move them to action. In part one of this two part show I’ll be sharing why body language is so critical to successful communication and how you can get it wrong on life as well as on stage! Enjoy! What this episode covers: Why body language and movement are critical to becoming a sensational s
14/03/2019 • 17 minutes 34 seconds
From Page to Stage…Getting Bolder with Carl Honore - 068
Carl Honore started out his career as a journalist driven by a personal mission to change the world for the better. One day he realized that in his pursuit of making other people’s lives better his own was passing by at breakneck speed and he was missing the important moments. This epiphany set him on the path to writing his best-selling book ‘In Praise of Slow’ and spear heading the ‘slow’ movement which has impacted lives all over the world. It also meant that he had to face the terror he felt about public speaking and make the transition from ‘page to stage’. A few best sellers on and he is now an international speaker with a new book, ‘Bolder’ just out that deals with another fear of his…aging. In this show Carl shares some gems on the benefits of living more ‘slowly’, on how we should view aging, and gives a look behind the curtain at how he is putting his brand-new keynote together for Bolder. I hope you enjoy this interview as m
28/02/2019 • 1 hour 5 minutes 34 seconds
8 Tips for Managing Anxiety Around Public Speaking - 067
This episode came about because someone contacted me for help two days before they were going to speak at an international conference to over 300 people. They were very scared and asked if I could give them some last-minute tips, which I did. It got me to thinking that maybe there’s others out there that would benefit from the same advice. Whether you’re leading your first team meeting, or you’re trying out a new bit of humour in front of a massive audiences, chances are you’ve felt anxious… and if you continue to grow, you’ll keep on feeling it and the buzz that goes with it… if it’s good anxiety getting you into perak performance state… BUT, if you are feeling so anxious that it’s making you ill, that it’s stopping you from sharing your message, or affecting the impact of your delivery… then it’s bad. I hope there’s some tips in this episode that will help, whichever scenario you’re in. Enjoy! What this episode covers:</stron
14/02/2019 • 14 minutes 18 seconds
From Recluse to Unstoppable International Speaker with Vicky Martin - 066
After leaving her job as an auditor and feeling like a helpless victim, Vicky Martin spent four years hiding from the world. Then something happened that gave her the strength to take back control of her life. She switched careers and found her purpose. That was 19 years ago, when she became a Tattooist. Over the 19 years since she has developed her skills in tattooing to become an industry expert, teacher and international speaker. She has also spent years studying the mind and its impact on our lives, and today its part of the medical tattooing she teaches, the service she gives clients and her public speaking. She is passionate about helping people discover their best selves and become Unstoppable and she shares her journey and tips about mindset and speaking on this show. Enjoy! What we talk about: How to see the positive in bad situations. Why it's important to recognise that
31/01/2019 • 58 minutes 25 seconds
The Shocking Truth About How to Open and Close Your Presentations - 065
You’ve probably heard me say before, that people’s attention is one of the hardest things to get, and one of the most precious commodities of today. As a speaker people might say you have an advantage because you’ve got a captive audience, but I don’t think that is true. With mobile phones and social media, with some of your audience potentially having been forced to attend, and with our decreasing spans of attention it’s still a massive challenge. That’s why how you open your talk is crucial because that will be what your audience uses to judge whether they will get more value out of listening to you then catching up on emails or sharing photos of the conference catering on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. How you finish your talk is equally important because, as you are probably aware, people are more likely to remember the start and end most easily… so this is your last big opportunity to influence the message they leave with. In this episode I’m s
17/01/2019 • 23 minutes 27 seconds
My Top 10 Tips for Public Speaking Success in 2019 - 064
In this episode I’m sharing my top 10 tips for public speaking success. They cover all aspects of speaking from mindset to performance and I believe that if you use them in your public speaking then you’ll be increasing your effectiveness as a speaker significantly. Some of them are very simple, but in working with clients I’ve seen some of these small, seemingly insignificant changes have a massive impact… and often we experienced speakers forget some of the basics sometimes! This is essentially an overview episode to give you a heads up on each of the 10, and where I have done episodes that go into more detail on them, I have added the link to that show in the notes. It is so often true that what we measure gets managed and I hope that you will be able to use these tips as a checklist for your public speaking, so that every time you step in front of an audience they are getting the best version of you and an entertaining, engaging and valuable messa
03/01/2019 • 29 minutes 53 seconds
How Speaking Can Bring Solace and Purpose with Clarry Bean – 063
After a battle lasting nearly eight years Clarry Bean’s wife Christine lost the fight for her life a year and a day from when this show was recorded. Despite thinking that he was prepared to face the future without the love of his life, Clarry found himself in shock and despair. Taking inspiration from the strength Christine found in facing her illness, he forced himself to find something positive to come out of his situation. The idea for a musical tribute came into his mind and he tentatively began reaching out to friends and family to make his little project happen. In this podcast, Clarry shares his and Christine’s story and how his small idea grew into a full-blown Christmas single and a speaking tour with a message that is touching people all over the world. (Please be aware that whilst this show is filled with joy, and love and hope, and the aim is that it helps those who are grieving to find peace, you may find it upsetting if you have lost so
20/12/2018 • 1 hour 4 minutes 29 seconds
How to Generate Leads in Your Speaking without Selling - 062
It’s very likely that everyone who speaks has something to sell…if you’re a business owner you may be using speaking to grow your business, or you may be a corporate leader trying to sell an idea or change, or a professional speaker with a side hustle to diversify your income, (whether that’s a book, coaching, a different talk, or product or service). It is also likely that you have previously been speaking at networking or corporate events, where it is not allowed, tactically sensible or appropriate to sell ‘overtly’. I often coach clients on the strategies they can use to make sure their audience pay attention, they deliver great value without giving all of their content, whilst at the same time creating the desire and motivation for the audience to want to pursue the relationship further and in this show, I’m sharing those strategies and tools with you. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: The three triggers fo
06/12/2018 • 21 minutes 52 seconds
TransForming Perceptions Through Speaking with Joanne Lockwood – 061
In her own words Joanne Lockwood has traded being part of the most privileged demographic in society to becoming part of one that many people will either stare at or do their best to ignore. In this show, Joanne is sharing the story of two journeys…how she came to be an international speaker, and how she came to be standing on stage in a dress as a woman. Joanne’s early life was as traditional as it gets, joining the air force, switching to a career in IT with global travel, before starting her own IT business to spend more time with her wife and young family. She even became National President of the 90-year-old men’s club, The Round Table. But it was only in the past few years that in some ways she feels that her ‘true’ life began. It’s a fascinating insight into a journey that most of us will never take, and don’t really understand…but as Joanne says, my mission through my speaking is not to get you to understand, it’s to get you to accept differen
22/11/2018 • 1 hour 7 minutes 14 seconds
Mastering the Human Side of Speaking and Business with Peter Cheese – 060
When I met Peter Cheese, I knew he would make a wonderful guest for the show. He is an expert in people and change management, with a distinguished career at one of the biggest consulting firms in the world, followed by Chief Exec positions at two of the leading people organisations in the UK. On top of that he is a recognized thought leader, government advisor and a very in demand speaker. Peter’s career has taken him all over the world, working with different industries and cultures, and his ability to speak has been one of the big factors in his success. In this show we talk about business and speaking and consider the challenges that are facing people and organisations today and tomorrow and how to get prepared to meet them in the strongest way possible. We also look at the importance of the ‘human’ factor in all aspects of leadership and business and also in great public speaking. Peter shares his secrets for preparing and delivering successful engaging talks, a
08/11/2018 • 1 hour 6 minutes 54 seconds
Speaking with Perspective, Purpose and Power with Charles Hanna – 059
Charles Hanna was on top of the world with a successful business and a family that he adored, when he began to sabotage his own success. As his life began to spiral out of control, he started to uncover the source of his internal suffering. On the journey back from that dark period of his life he has found greater happiness and success than ever before. His book ‘Higher’ is helping many people with their own struggles and through his speaking he is sharing his mission and causing ‘aha’ moments about what’s important along the way. In this show we talk about what gets in the way of success and happiness for most people, and how to avoid hitting rock bottom before turning things around. How to see challenges in a way that lets you enjoy the journey whatever the outcome, and Charles’ journey as a speaker on how to live a ‘Higher’ life. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why you should never be too proud to ask for hel
01/11/2018 • 1 hour 4 minutes 30 seconds
Mongrels, Sales and Speaking with Steve De Mamiel – 058
After 20 years in sales and marketing working for vineyards and clients like Google and Facebook, Steve De Mamiel knows a thing or two about what works in attracting and converting customers. He is a sales and marketing coach and speaker has written a book called The Mongrel Method, which combines stories based around his dog, with sales tips. On this show we get into how sales have changed, the value of social proof in speaking and business. We also talk about the signals we should be reading from buyers in order to place them correctly on the acquisition journey…and of course we also cover off Steve’s speaking, how he gets his speaking gigs, and puts his talks together, and the position of speaker agencies in today’s world. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: Why there’s a strong correlation between how you scope a project and how you qualify a sale. How the distinction between sales and marketing has blu
25/10/2018 • 1 hour 5 minutes 18 seconds
Master your Mind to Achieve What Matters with Gail Gibson – 057
Gail Gibson grew up in Australia before getting itchy feet and setting up home in the UK. Feeling at cross roads in her career, she decided to leave her corporate job to pursue a new career as an entrepreneur. She founded and ran two businesses and discovered her passion for coaching. Her ‘Can Do’ programs have been helping business owners discover and conquer what has been holding them back. She has written a book on networking and spoken internationally and in this show she is sharing tips for improving our mindset and our speaking. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: The difference between mastery of self and mindset. Why any success is linked to self-belief. What is charisma and why it’s so critical to develop. Why we need to let go of conditioned thinking and beliefs. Three top tips for developing charisma. How it’s important to understand your relationship to money
18/10/2018 • 48 minutes 24 seconds
Changing the World One Talk at a Time with Devin Thorpe – 056
We all think we set big goals… but in this episode I got a little perspective on what big goals really are! Devin Thorpe spent many years in a corporate career within the finance function, but he never forgot a promise he made to himself at the age of 11. When he lost the job of his dreams that promise led him to re-evaluate his life purpose and set him on the path to what he does today. Devin has spoken at the UN and all over the world sharing his mission and training companies on crowd funding and corporate social responsibility. He is also a regular writer for Forbes magazine and a podcast host. In this episode he shares how he got into paid speaking, how it enables him to fulfil his mission and what he does to put his talks together. We also consider how Devin uses humour in his writing and speaking to increase the impact of his message. Enjoy! What you’ll learn: How losing something you care about can
11/10/2018 • 51 minutes 58 seconds
Stepping Up as a Motivational Speaker with Joy Marsden – 055
Joy Marsden left the corporate world of marketing and trade relations helping brands like Dolmio and Uncle Ben and became known as a motivational speaker, because that’s what her audiences kept calling her. Her messages resonate because they are real and relatable. She blends story, with song, humour and practical ideas to engage and inspire audiences across the globe. She doesn’t have a big ‘sob story’ but many little ones from everyday life that move audiences and connect with hearts and minds to inspire change and help people take action. She has worked all over the world helping individuals and organisations manage new challenges through her ethos of ‘Keep Stepping’. She is also a coach and author and uses simple, practical methods to help her clients achieve their goals. At the time of writing she is also just about to take over as President of the Professional Speaking Association of the UK and Ireland and gives real insight into being a member and the benefits
04/10/2018 • 58 minutes 8 seconds
Navigating Change & Staying Relevant with Sophie Devonshire– 054
Sophie Devonshire is a business leader, entrepreneur, brand specialist and author who has worked around the globe including roles with Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola GB, Leo Burnett and Interbrand. She is much in demand as a speaker on contemporary leadership topics, business acceleration, brand transformation, the relationship between work and family life and the role of diversity at work and is constantly curious about how to speed up success. She has also written a new book, ‘Superfast – Lead at Speed’ to help us navigate change when it is happening around us today at lightning speed. In this episode she is sharing tips and insight from her own experience and from over 100 senior leaders from some of the biggest and some of the fastest growing companies that she interviewed whilst researching the book. If you want to stay relevant and ready to take advantage of opportunity when it knocks, then you’ll enjoy this show. Enjoy! Wha
27/09/2018 • 58 minutes 46 seconds
Four Tools to Help Avoid Being a Dull Speaker - 053
One of my previous guests said that dull people should try something other than public speaking, and I have a slightly different view. I believe that being dull doesn’t have to be a permanent thing, I believe that you can learn and do things that will make you more engaging, entertaining and interesting as a speaker, and in life. One of the things that plays a big part in achieving that is how you use your voice when you are speaking…and the tools that you can use to make you sound better are pitch, pace, tone and volume. That being said, I thought I would do an episode on what those things actually are and how you can use them, not just to become less boring, but to make you a high impact speaker that gets results. I hope you enjoy the show! What you’ll discover: How you can tell if you’re a dull speaker. What your options are if you are a dull speaker. How you can influence the emotiona
20/09/2018 • 29 minutes 28 seconds
Persona, Passion and Marmalade with Simon Fanshawe – 052
Simon Fanshawe is funny, authentic and passionate about making the world a better place. He trained as a lawyer and promptly abandoned a career in law and became a comedian. Simon was doing stand-up comedy from 1982 to 1992, when it began to transition from safe jokes about your mother-in-law performed in men’s clubs to the diverse, political, anything goes stand-up that gets performed in stadiums today. He won the Perrier Award for comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1989, but comedy wasn’t to be where he made his mark. From 1992, Simon focused on writing and broadcasting, alongside a growing involvement in charity work and advocacy. He was a founding member of Stonewall and one of the architects of bringing equal rights to the forefront of the diversity debate. Today, Simon has an OBE and is in demand as a speaker on diversity, and as a consultant helping businesses use inclusion and diversity as tools to create business advantage. There are some mass
13/09/2018 • 55 minutes 38 seconds
Creating Stuff People Want with Paul Coleman – 051
Paul Coleman is a down to earth guy that spends lots of time taking a helicopter view of business and entertainment. He helps big companies come up with new ideas for products from washing powder to snack foods. With a career that has spanned the different disciplines of marketing, innovation, broadcasting and writing, he has a rich vein of experience to tap into whilst working with some of the biggest household brands today. Paul also writes comedy and you will have seen his work on Channel 4, BBC, and Comic Relief, amongst others. He has also created some of the funniest and most watched shows for years, including ‘Britain’s Got the Pop Factor… and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice’, which was the highest rated show on Channel 4 in 2008, and more recently, the BAFTA winning ‘Car Share’, which he wrote, and which starred Peter Kay. This show contains some marketing gold around product development, it also has ti
06/09/2018 • 53 minutes 54 seconds
Framing Your Talks for Bigger Impact - 050
This month has been loosely themed around performance, and I’ve had an idea for months of doing an episode on ‘Framing’. This concept is used in many art forms, and is basically another story, situation or structure that allows the original story to be told, or better understood by the audience. You will have come across ‘framing’ in various forms within the arts, from Shakespeare plays to Hamilton the musical, from the movie Forrest Gump to the book 1001 Nights. It’s so important to be able to keep your content fresh, engaging and relevant, and ‘framing’ is a tool that I use in my own talks and one that I teach when I’m coaching clients to achieve this. It allows you to keep your core content but frame it in a way that makes your presentation more accessible and relatable for different groups of people. I hope you enjoy the show! What you’ll discover: Why speakers should use framing. What ‘framin
30/08/2018 • 20 minutes 13 seconds
How to Make Clever Funny with Dr. Steve Cross – 049
Steve Cross began his career as a scientist, but soon left the lab to pursue his calling of making science more engaging. He shifted into communications, which led him to start the Bright Club, a project to make scientists funny. Today, alongside his more serious work with Universities and other institutions, who he helps with communication and engagement policy, he is also regarded as a Prince amongst Nerds! He has created a geeky comedy empire teaching all sorts of clever people how to make themselves and their content more engaging. In this show Steve gives us some brilliant tips for making our content funny, whether we’re a speaker looking to up our audience engagement, or a business owner looking for ways to build our brand and business. Steve is also keen to share why we should let go of the concept of a ‘great speaker’ and follow our own path in business. Enjoy! What you’ll learn Why learning comedy
23/08/2018 • 1 hour 7 minutes 38 seconds
Lifting the Curtain on Me and Facebook Live - 048
I’ve done hour long stand-up comedy shows, acted in plays, and spoken in front of big audiences, but despite all that, I’ve been avoiding doing Facebook Live. I recognise that getting comfortable with doing live video is important for my brand and growing my business. So, I decided to ask Brooke Hender, a cognitive hypnotherapist, to take a look at this issue with me, and I’m sharing what happened in this episode. I need to let you know that some unexpected things came up for me as we worked through what I thought was the fairly superficial issue of finding Facebook Live a challenge. There were deeper, more significant issues that I hadn’t been aware were driving my feelings, thoughts and behaviour in this area, and I want to say that although I believe that you will find what comes out of this positive, at times it gets quite emotional, and you may find listening to parts of the episode a challenge if you have recently experienced a loss. I did strug
16/08/2018 • 1 hour 3 minutes 44 seconds
Raise Your Voice with Jay Miller - 047
Jay Miller dreamed of and trained to be a classical singer, and though his original dream drifted away from him, his love and passion of voice stayed. He has spent the last 20 years training speakers, actors and business people how to develop a great voice, as well as overcome anxiety around public speaking. He is now one of Canada’s finest voice and speech coaches, appearing across the Canadian media, and his work has had a profound effect, not only on building compelling and engaging voices, but also on the lives of those people that work with him. Jay is of the firm belief, that you cannot work on the voice, without affecting the emotional and mental aspects of human beings at the same time. In this show Jay is sharing so much insight about a critical tool that we use every day but that we never give the attention and care that we should. This show will open up your eyes and ears to the power of the voice, and what you should be doing to cultivate it to fulfil its
09/08/2018 • 1 hour 17 minutes 12 seconds
Managing Your Mind with Brooke Hender – 046
Brooke Hender has had quite a journey, from project manager to actor to therapist. Although he found he had patterns of behavior that were negatively impacting his ability to live a happy and fulfilled life, he initially resisted getting help. He felt that this was just the way things were. Eventually, he gave therapy a chance but was amused when his own therapist suggested he would make a good therapist himself. Even though he dismissed the notion and fought against it for some time, after working on himself and transforming his life, he felt drawn to helping others get the same results and trained to become the Cognitive Hypnotherapist he is today. In this show Brooke and I explore some of the thinking and behaviours that hold us back from achieving the success we want, in life, in speaking and in business. We cover off phobias, anxiety and the limiting beliefs that live in the shadows of our mind. There are some great strategies and tips for identifying and managi
02/08/2018 • 1 hour 7 minutes 44 seconds
Apps, Hacks and Miracles - 045
The way my brain is wired means I have lots of ideas and I’m able to see the big picture quickly… that’s the upside. The downside is that I have a mind like a butterfly, and I get distracted super-easy… and then time just vanishes. But I hate the idea of wasting time… and I think that’s why I’m always on the lookout for things that will help me work smarter, faster and keep focused. As you know, this month I’ve been talking to productivity experts, who have tried and tested models and systems to help them do more in less time, and I’ve also been trying stuff out this month, and so I thought I’d share some of my recent discoveries, and some of my tried and tested aids to increased productivity in my speaking, life and business. What you’ll discover: What the Miracle Morning is and if it really delivers miracles. An app that gives you a full body workout in less than 10 minutes. The social media posting so
26/07/2018 • 27 minutes 36 seconds
The Productivity Ninja Speaks with Graham Allcott - 044
Graham Allcott fell into productivity when he found his emails going into a big black hole. He shifted from leading a team to working on his own and found that while had great ideas and could delegate well… he was not actually very good at getting things done. He did loads of research, carried out many productivity experiments and began to find the principles and systems that worked. That’s when he decided that other people could benefit from this stuff too. After founding his company Think Productive, Graham went on to write Productivity Ninja, which is a worldwide best seller. Today his team works with companies all over the world, he is a speaker, and is currently working on other productivity related projects that will broaden the Ninja brand and help us work smarter. Enjoy! What you’ll learn Why it’s good to teach what you struggle to learn yourself Why you should detach your ego from delegat
19/07/2018 • 1 hour 6 minutes
Five of the Best - 043
One thing I’ve learned in life and business, (and actually in theatre too – thanks Will Shakespeare), is that there are very few new ideas under the sun. It is inevitable in 99.9% of cases that someone else has already created something similar to what you want to do and often written a book or an article about it. But often we don’t check first. Even with the world at our fingertips, I know people who sit forever trying to invent the perfect wheel, when they could have looked at the wheel someone else created, learnt from it, built on it and adapted it for their needs in a fraction of the time. I’m always devouring content, I’m an avid learner and I love to find shortcuts, hacks and ways to do things better. In this show, I’m sharing some of my best literary discoveries in the hope they’re useful to you too. They just might give you some food for thought, and maybe help you move forward faster. What you’ll learn: Why it’s importa
12/07/2018 • 28 minutes 43 seconds
Life, Productivity and The Pursuit of Happiness with Simon Raybould – 042
Dr Simon Raybould found his way to becoming a Speaker and Trainer, by way of being a professional researcher, actor, lighting technician and fire eater. He got interested in communication after seeing valuable research getting lost as politicians and policy makers couldn’t understand it. That led him to write his first book Presentation Genius. It was when he was writing that book that the idea for his latest book on productivity, ‘Coming Up for Air’. He managed to research and write his first book in under three months, and spend more time doing the things he loved in the other areas of his life. In this show he is sharing some of the things he did to increase his productivity, and as a speaker, he also shares how he implements his system in his business. Enjoy! What you’ll learn What a sigmoid curve is and how it can help your productivity Why you shouldn’t work in fixed blocks</
05/07/2018 • 59 minutes 9 seconds
Disrupt Your Way to Success with Carl Reader – 041
Carl Reader started his working life as a hairdresser on a Youth Training Scheme, which didn’t last long. From there he shifted, by accident into accounting, starting at the bottom and rising to take over the business. His unorthodox background, entrepreneurial spirit, thirst for learning and passion for shaking things up, has helped him achieve success in the most traditional of professions in some not so traditional ways. As an author of two popular business books for small businesses, and a popular commentator on business in the press, he has developed a reputation for no nonsense advice, and a stand out personal brand. In this show I asked him to share his experience and tips to help speakers and entrepreneurs grow their business today. Enjoy! What you’ll learn Why you should get under the skin of your target customer and become intimate with their industry. The four-step model for business su
28/06/2018 • 1 hour 1 minute 38 seconds
The Secrets to Filling Your Events & Workshops with QJ – 040
QJ, (yes that is his name…I asked him), started life as a musician, although classically trained, his dream was to become a rock star. Through following this dream, he discovered a new passion…putting on and filling events that entertain and inspire. It turns out he was pretty good at it too…from the first gig he put on at his school, to the 1000 plus seater events he was later to stage, to the workshops he runs today. Over the years QJ has been fine tuning what works and what doesn’t, and now he shares this knowledge to help others successfully run their own events. QJ teaches speakers and coaches how to attract, (he calls it ‘magnetize’) your audience so that your events are full, and then how to mesmerize them with the event itself, so that they want to continue working with you. I tried my best to make the most of having QJ on The Speaking Club and picked his brains on all aspects of putting on an event to maximize the value for you…and boy did we
21/06/2018 • 1 hour 4 minutes 18 seconds
Body Language Secrets for Speaking and Sales Success with Shelly O’Donovan – 039
Shelly O’Donovan has spent many years in the public policy arena, working with corporations to shape their strategy and building bridges between the commercial interests of organizations and government affairs. During her time working in government relations, public policy, lobbying, grassrootsadvocacy, legislative and regulatory processes, and policy maker engagementshe has seen the gamut of body language dos and don’ts. It was in this arena she noticed some of the brightest people weren’t having the impact they deserved, yet others with half the substance and potential were having great success. After studying the arts of body language, personality types and lie detection, not only did Shelly see her own status and influence increase, but she was able to discern why others were successful or not. Today she speaks, coaches and trains on increasing the impact of your body language for speaking, confidence, gravitas, and sales, and we are lucky enough to have her on t
14/06/2018 • 1 hour 16 seconds
Growing Your Sales Power with Julie Holmes - 038
Julie Holmes didn’t have a typical path to sales, and for years she did all she could to avoid having anything to do with it. With a degree in public speaking, and some diverse jobs under her belt, she entered the corporate world as a software consultant implementing software systems for big players like Oracle and JD Edwards, before moving into marketing and eventually the dreaded sales in her own tech start up. After hundreds of hours of professional sales, marketing, leadership and entrepreneurial training, coupled with interviews of CEOs, other sales professionals, and her own experience of selling, Julie is now a seasoned expert. As a Professional Speaker, she talks about defining prospects, whole company selling and the value proposition, and on this show, she is giving us the low down on how to become the champion and trusted advisor of your prospects, and to sell without selling. What you’ll learn <li
07/06/2018 • 56 minutes 33 seconds
Universal Themes & Story Plots for Powerful Public Speaking & Marketing Content - 037
Chances are all the films you love, all the books you devour, have pulled you in because you can relate not only to the character and their journey, but to the underlying messages that apply universally to all human beings. There are recurring symbols and motifs weaved into the fabric of stories from ‘The Three Little Pigs’ to ‘Harry Potter’, that signal, repeat and reinforce the themes that writers from Shakespeare to Quentin Tarantino use to draw us in and deliver a moral takeaway. Speakers and copy writers can also use universal themes and the tools of symbols and motifs in stories and more widely in their content to hook the audience, keep them engaged and get them to remember the kernel message and action points. In this show, I’m going to share what I know about universal themes and story plots, and some examples of how you can use them practically in your public speaking and marketing content. What you’ll learn: Wh
31/05/2018 • 25 minutes 10 seconds
The Keys to Compelling Storytelling with Margot Leitman - 036
Margot Leitman is the founder of the storytelling program at Upright Citizen’s Brigade, five-time winner of The Moth, and a winner of the Moth GrandSLAM. She is also author of ‘Long Story Short – The only storytelling guide you’ll ever need.’ Given that the best stories are personal ones, it seemed like a no brainer to get Margot on the show to share how she creates and tells award winning stories. In this show she shares ideas for where you should get your stories, how you should structure them to connect with your audience, how to start off, the way to add pace, humour and emotion to keep people engaged…and what happened when she started bleeding on stage! It’s a must for speakers, leaders, entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to get better at telling stories to grow their business or brand. What you’ll learn: How you can find stories to share Why your story should be in the ‘storyzone’ and how t
24/05/2018 • 44 minutes 16 seconds
The After-Dinner Speaker is Served with Jeremy Nicholas - 035
Jeremy Nicholas gave up on a career in engineering before he’d even started, choosing to pursue his passion for radio, (even though his Mum said he was boring). He spent many years in broadcasting, also doing voiceover work, (you will recognize his dulcet tones if you are a FIFA Football video game fan), and trying his hand at stand-up comedy, before transitioning to a career in speaking. He is known for being a funny story teller and has many tales to draw on from when things went wrong on broadcasts for the Beeb. In this show he gives the lowdown on the different types of speaking and talks us through how he prepares for each. He shares how he uses stories and props in his talks and how he teaches corporate clients how to be more engaging. You will also find out about his upcoming one man show, and his comedy trousers. What you’ll learn: The difference between being an MC, After Dinner Speaker and Keyno
17/05/2018 • 1 hour 1 minute 37 seconds
The Hollywood Guru and the 100 Million Dollar Story with Michael Hauge - 034
This show is like attending a mini-masterclass from a Hollywood expert. Michael Hauge has been involved with creating compelling stories for years. Mention Michael’s name at any exclusive Hollywood party and everyone knows who he is and how he supercharges the power of story in their scripts. He’s written best-selling books on screenwriting, how to pitch your story in Hollywood, and a great new book about how entrepreneurs can tell their story, and those of their best customers to win more business. Michael began working with entrepreneurs like Andre Chaperon and Russell Brunson to take their stories deeper and help their messages create amazing results. In this show, he is sharing the same lessons and value and I hope they help you to have as much success with stories in your business. Enjoy! What you’ll learn How Michael works with Hollywood heavy hitters like Will Smith<
09/05/2018 • 1 hour 2 minutes 11 seconds
How to Find Stories to Share in Your Talks, Teaching and Marketing Content - 033
This is the start of a storytelling themed month, here on The Speaking Club. I have some amazing guests coming up, all experts on storytelling, and with different expertise to share. On top of that, I will be sharing tips to help with your storytelling and public speaking, starting with this show, where I’m answering a question I get asked often… how can I find stories to share? If you’re like many of the people I coach, you can feel stumped when it comes to finding stories for your presentations, teaching, or marketing copy. You know the value of using them… you know they help audiences to relate and connect to your talk, but you feel that you haven’t got any worth sharing, or you can’t find a story to work with the point you want to make. Well, that’s about to change. In this show, I’m giving you several techniques for exploring your life, and unlocking your memories. As you listen to the episode and work through the accompanying cheat sheet, you’ll find stories bu
03/05/2018 • 22 minutes 9 seconds
Psychological Speaking Success with Richard Wiseman - 032
Richard Wiseman is a man of many talents…he started off in magic and still acts as a creative consultant to the world’s best magicians and illusionists, TV shows, and movies…and if he’s not advising on them he’s presenting them. He is a Professor of Psychology, and his research has been published across the world, alongside being a 10-time author of some of the most popular business psychology books today. His books have been translated into over 20 languages, and many of them explore the science of success, and focus on practical, evidence-based, techniques that improve people’s personal and professional lives. Alongside all of this he speaks around two to three times a week and has two YouTube channels ‘In 59 Seconds’ and ‘Quirkology’ that have over 2 million subscribers and 500 million views. Described as one of the most “innovative experimental psychologists in the world today”, and “one of the top 100 people that make Britain a nice place to live”, he’s clearly
26/04/2018 • 46 minutes 42 seconds
The Powerpoint Surgeon Will See You Now with Lee Jackson - 031
Lee Jackson is a Past President of the Professional Speaking Association, a motivational speaker, author and coach who knows his onions. He regularly coaches experts on how to design their slides in a way that connects with regular people. Speaking to teenagers and young adults, was a challenge that Lee conquered early on in his journey, and one which laid the foundation for the speaking and coaching success he enjoys today. He continues to give motivational talks in the education sector, alongside the keynotes he delivers in the corporate world, and his down to earth and playful style make sure he is very much in demand. This episode is jam packed with gems that will help you get more confident, get more engaging and generally get better at public speaking. What you’ll learn The key ingredient for talking to young people How to make sure your slides don’t suck! Pointers for sharing technical / complex i
19/04/2018 • 49 minutes 18 seconds
The Natural Law of Good Public Speaking with Malcolm Gregory - 030
Malcolm Gregory hasn’t always been a confident speaker, and in his early days he was keen to avoid doing presentations because he didn’t feel that he fitted the mould. Eventually, he discovered the secret to unlocking his confidence as a speaker and has used speaking to stand out and win business ever since. Malcolm has developed a reputation known for his ability to “dispel complexity and reduce challenging scenarios to simple and ordered next steps”. Within the legal profession he is recognised as a leader in his field of employment law, and he can often be found in court arguing cases for his clients. As a Speaker he is sought-after because he is able to make employment law engaging and is in demand as much for his presentations and training, as he is for advising on difficult cases. In this show he is sharing the secret he discovered to make him a successful speaker, alongside some great tips for making mundane content memorable. What you’
12/04/2018 • 37 minutes 52 seconds
How to Make Your Public Speaking Less Taxing with Mark Lee - 029
Accountants can sometimes have a bit of a reputation, and Mark Lee has certainly got one! After 30 years in the industry, sprinkled with some magic, he switched from advising businesses on accountancy, to speaking to accountants about business. Today, he is one of the biggest influencers in the profession, he is also Treasurer of the Magic Circle, a coach, mentor and writer, all of which he does alongside his speaking. He specialises in advising professionals how to make themselves stand out as a business and as an individual, using a combination of stories, magic tricks, and great tools to help people move forward. He can be controversial, and challenging, but always with the right balance of fun and positivity to make sure his message lands. In this show he is sharing some of his secrets to making your talks more engaging, based on his time as a professional speaker, and many years performing magic. What you’ll learn Wh
05/04/2018 • 57 minutes 13 seconds
How to Make Your Content Funny Without Forcing the Gag
In episode 019, I gave you what I believe are the essentials for humour, and in this show, I’ve got some more of the good stuff for you. Most people are worried that using humour is risky, that it will sound forced, and that if they do a ‘joke’ and the audience doesn’t laugh, it will undermine their credibility. That’s why in this show I’m sharing tools and techniques that you can use in a very low risk way, in other words, it won’t matter if the audience doesn’t ‘get it’. Even if you don’t think you’re funny, I believe you will be able to use these tips to make your content funnier and more engaging, which will help you grow your brand, career or business. What you’ll learn: How to recognise and use your creator and critic modes effectively. The Rule of Three and how you can use it to make people laugh without forcing the gag. Why it’s important to keep things brief. How getting specific will c
28/03/2018 • 23 minutes 9 seconds
From Vulnerability Comes Power with Harriet Waley-Cohen - 027
How do you find the fortitude, determination and resilience to keep going in the face of adversity? How do you show your vulnerability in a way that inspires others and builds your credibility? Harriet Waley-Cohen has transitioned from addict to entrepreneur, from unhappily married wife to successful single mum…overcoming even more struggles along the way. Today, she speaks to young people in order for them to avoid some of the bear traps we can fall into, and also to adults who haven’t been able to do so. On this show Harriet shares how she uses vulnerability in her speaking and coaching, to help others beat their own demons, and grow her business. What you’ll learn How you can use speaking to get coaching clients Why your story can help you stand out from the crowd How you can use vulnerability as a tool for connecting with your audience Why using the same language your audience would use to d
22/03/2018 • 41 minutes 29 seconds
Staying the Course with James Ketchell - 026
What does it take to make your dream come true? How do you cope with being in the ocean alone for nearly four months? What happens when you get a lung infection at the top of Mount Everest? These are just some of the things that my guest James Ketchell shares on this show. From nearly losing a foot in a motorbike racing accident, to completing the ultimate triathlon, whilst being “crap at running’, James is a man who let’s nothing stand in his way when he’s pursuing his dreams. As a professional speaker, and now author, James now shares the stories and lessons learned from his amazing journeys. He talks about the grit and persistence needed just to get to the start line of his adventures, never mind the mental resilience and determination he had to find to complete them I’m chuffed to bits that he joined me to tell some of those stories and to share some of his speaking tips with us on The Speaking Club. What you’ll learn <li
15/03/2018 • 1 hour 10 minutes 17 seconds
Are You a Back-Seat Driver in Your Life? with Louise Ladbrooke
With a successful business, national awards raining down, and her very own billboard, anyone would have thought that Louise Ladbrooke was living the life so many people dream of. However, despite the invitations to speak in Europe and alongside the likes of Gordon Brown, she was feeling anxious 24/7, in fear of being discovered for the fraud she felt she was. Addicted to the drugs of praise and recognition, and driven by impossible standards she continued to maintain the façade of success, until her body caved in. After sacrificing her wellbeing and happiness at the altar of perfectionism, Louise had to begin a new journey to discover herself, how to manage the destructive thoughts that had made her ill, and to learn what actually made her happy. In this episode she holds nothing back, she’s painfully honest, and shares the lessons she’s learned so that you can navigate today’s world of social media, the hard world of speaking, and achieve business success without lo
08/03/2018 • 50 minutes 22 seconds
My 8 Hacks for Mental Resilience and Getting What You Want - 024
I’ve spent years and years fascinated with the impact of how we think on how we behave. I’ve read and researched the gurus on resilience, I’ve spent time and money on training and courses, and consciously, or unconsciously, I’ve cherry picked the things that I think work best for keeping me mentally tough and on track to achieve my goals. In this episode I’m sharing my eight hacks for staying resilient in a world where it’s harder than ever not to compare, where noise and distractions are invading our space almost 24/7, and where our minds and the way we think make the difference between whether we succeed, or we fail. What you’ll learn Why we should think like a kid for business success. How visual cues can keep us on track Where our mind needs to be to increase productivity, creativity and the deep work that takes us forward. A framework for challenging our thoughts and beliefs so that we can
01/03/2018 • 31 minutes 1 second
Increase Your Influence with Warren Cass - 023
Like many successful entrepreneurs, Warren Cass has tasted both success and failure, and he has many stories to tell. Acknowledged as a networking wizard, Warren believes his super power is bringing people together, and in his book ‘Influence’ he aims to share strategies for networking in the 21st Century. In this episode Warren talks about his journey to speaking, how he built his influence through networking, building key relationships and by being interested in people. He also shares some brilliant speaking tips…so jump right in! What you’ll learn How to build influence in the 21st Century. Why old school selling is dead and what we should be doing today. How speakers and businesses should use social proof. Why authenticity is critical to influence. Why speakers should show vulnerability. Why it’s true that all the fortune is in the follow up and what you should be doing. Why you s
22/02/2018 • 43 minutes 4 seconds
An Insider's Guide to the Speaking Industry and Becoming a Paid Speaker with Maria Franzoni - 022
The speaking industry is growing massively, but Maria Franzoni has been booking speakers for over 20 years! An owner of her own bureau, MFL, and a founding member of the European Association of Speakers Bureaux (EASB), Maria Franzoni is a formidable influence in the space. In this show, she takes me behind the scenes of speaker bureaux, what they are looking for in speakers, how to approach a bureau, what you need to have in place to transition into paid speaking and loads more! If you are serious about progressing your speaking career, or you’re curious to find out how the speaking industry works, then you’ll love this show. What you’ll learn The criteria speakers need to meet to get taken on by a bureau What not to do if you want to join a speaker bureau How to increase your chances of getting taken on by a speaking bureau Why it’s counterproductive to ta
15/02/2018 • 50 minutes 59 seconds
The Business of Speaking with Warren Knight - 021
Former Hip Hop dancer, Professional Speaker and Entreprenur, Warren Knight has a vision is to help 100,000 global businesses successfully sell more products and services by 2020. To achieve this, he uses speaking, and writing to show organisations how to use technology to build brand awareness and new revenue streams. At 22, Warren got a grant from the Prince’s Trust and started a successful European music and clothing distribution company, before shifting gears to become the director of a global stationery and accessory business working with Disney and Nickelodeon, where he grew the business from a $5 million to $30 million company in a 5-year period, selling to over 30 countries, and achieving $1 million sales in one month. With industry awards behind him, he then co-founded two IT companies and got the first to £1m value within two years. Today, he alongside his other channels he teaches people how to setup and use social networks for their business through online
08/02/2018 • 54 minutes 31 seconds
What Exactly is PR and How to Use it to Increase Your Speaking, Business or Brand Profile with Jo Smyth - 020
As well as being an in-demand PR Consultant, Jo Smyth is a funny lady, and this is one of my favourite interviews. As an ex-journalist and newspaper editor, she pulls back the curtain on life as part of the media, gives her view on the state of the news today, and tells some funny stories along the way. She also gives us the lowdown on how to use PR effectively to raise your public profile and get free advertising and social proof. Jo also shares what value a PR consultant can bring to the table over doing PR yourself. There are some brilliant tips and tricks for getting yourself in front of, and managing the media whether you’re a speaker, coach, business owner or corporate leader. What you’ll learn The difference between PR and Marketing What is a PR plan and who needs one? How to raise your profile through the media Why you should be strategic in approaching your publicity What’s more important, pri
01/02/2018 • 42 minutes 18 seconds
Humour 101 for Public Speaking - 019
If you want to get better as a speaker, being able to make your audience laugh, will help increase the power of your message, and will set you apart from the crowd. I’ve been writing and performing comedy for nearly 16 years. I’ve performed all over the UK, including solo shows in Edinburgh. I’m an international playwright, and my comedy drama ‘Dearly Beloved’, published by Lazybee Scripts, has been performed in the UK, Japan, and Canada. With a long background in business, I also know when and how to use humour appropriately in that environment, and as a Speaker, humour is one of the most important tools I have. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing the foundations of using humour, so that you can start to experience the power and joy it brings into your public speaking. What you’ll learn: What makes something funny The THREES formula and the ingredients every joke should have Where to find ideas for material How
25/01/2018 • 27 minutes 26 seconds
What has Humour Ever Done for Us?! with Emma Stroud - 018
Emma Stroud’s photo on LinkedIn is currently her dressed as a Banana…that might give you some insight into the lady herself. Not the typical background for an executive coach or host of global events, she has been a funny actress, a clown, and she is currently improvising in the centre of London. But it’s this cocktail of comedic exploits that makes her stand out, (even though she is teeny tiny!). In this episode, we delve into her passions, and mine her speaking experience for a raft of useful and enlightening nuggets for wherever you are on your speaking journey. What you’ll learn Why humour is useful for working with people on deep topics. How adopting the mind-set of a clown can help you become a better MC. The benefits of using improve tools in your speaking, life and business to create bigger profits. The difference between great speakers and average speakers. The first thing you should consider wh
18/01/2018 • 57 minutes 14 seconds
Speaking Funny! with Celia Delaney - 017
Being a professional actress, with a training business, Celia Delaney made a smooth transition into public speaking, but it wasn’t until she added humour into her presentations that her professional speaking career really took off. Now, between speaking events, she can be found making people laugh with songs and jokes on the comedy circuit! In this episode, we cover a lot of ground, and there are some fantastic tips for new, and experienced Speakers alike. Only listen to this show if you want to make some serious progress with your speaking this year! What you’ll learn The four pillars you need to work on to become a great speaker How to manage your state before speaking Why you need to treat speaking as a heightened form of conversation Why your content should be full of attitude. How adding humour to your speaking can increase your bookings and fees Why a Question and Answer session should be
11/01/2018 • 51 minutes 59 seconds
What is so funny... with Ashley Frieze - 016
With a powerful wit, and larger than life personality, Ashley Frieze has been making audiences laugh since 2003. His comedy songs and observations on the music world are a joy to behold, and his ability to hold the audience in the palm of his hand with or without his guitar, speaks to his skill as a compere and his adaptability as a comic. In this episode, not only is he taking us behind the scenes to have a peek at the life of a gigging comic…he’s sharing some absolutely golden tips for how you can bring humour into your toolkit, whether as a speaker or a people manager in the world of business. What you’ll learn Why comedy is an important cultural tool Why questions are the gateway to engaging content How to find ideas for humour Why acting confidently works to build your confidence How you can set yourself and the room up for success The different ways of being an MC The power of bei
04/01/2018 • 1 hour 2 minutes 17 seconds
My TEDx Talk – The Good, The Bad & What I’d Do Differently Next Time - 015
This is an honest, warts and all review of my recent TEDx talk. I’m sharing my wins, the things I could have done better, and things I would change for next time. This week’s episode brings together all the insight from my guests, and my own experience of TEDx, to give you a massive leg up to making your TEDx talk, (or any presentation), achieve the results you want…and there’s a fabulous TEDx Success Cheat Sheet that goes with the show! What you’ll learn: What do after you’ve decided to do a TEDx talk. The different types of TEDx events. Why you should be strategic and intentional about your TEDx talk? The things to think about relating to where you should do your talk, when you should do it, and what you should talk about. How to find your talk idea? Why and how you should do market research before deciding on your talk topic. How to maximise your chances of being selected. The step
28/12/2017 • 17 minutes 4 seconds
What's Your Big Idea? with Terri Trespicio - 014
Terri Trespicio is a New York–based writer, branding consultant, and co-creator of an online program for authors, experts and entrepreneurs who want to grow their media presence. She has worked for the Martha Stewart brand and has numerous TV credits. Terri speaks all over the USA, at a range of conferences and events, and was rated the #1 speaker at How Design Live in 2015. She also performs comedy regularly at clubs in New York City. What you’ll learn What branding is in one sentence Why you should brand yourself to be successful as a Speaker How a TEDx talk can accelerate your speaking success Why you shouldn’t trot out your usual speech for a TEDx Different ways to find your big idea for your TEDx talk Why there is no such thing as a boring topic Tips for doing live video Why stand-up comedy can make you a better speaker Resources: <a href="ht
21/12/2017 • 1 hour 2 minutes 48 seconds
Making Your TEDx Talk Memorable with Orlaith Carmody - 013
“I say have the confidence to nudge the people awake with stories, wit and insight.” – Orlaith Carmody A brilliant trainer, that speaks all over the world, and works with some of the most influential people in Ireland, Orlaith Carmody has a wealth of experience around TEDx and speaking generally. In this show, we get the low down on how to make any talk you do linger in the memories of your audience. What you’ll learn: Tips for getting your TEDx talk. The do’s and don’ts of an engaging presentation The role of an effective MC Why you need to know the difference between oral, aural and the written word as a Speaker. Why you shouldn’t give your audience information. Why you shouldn’t rely on learned memory to deliver your talk. Resources: http://gavinduffyandassociates.com <a href="https:
14/12/2017 • 32 minutes 24 seconds
What Makes a Great TEDx Talk with Ryan Hildebrandt - 012
Ryan Hildebrandt is an engineer, entrepreneur and marketer that works with multi-billion dollar clients to connect their message to their market. He also works with people who want to get their first TEDx talk. As a founder of one of the most successful TEDx events in the UK, he knows what it takes to get selected, and what you need to do to get your message heard by the most people. What you’ll learn: How you get a TEDx Talk How you can make your talk stand out Common myths about TED Talks The life-changing opportunities your TEDx Talk can bring you Why you need to treat a TEDx talk differently to a normal speaking engagement Why a TEDx Talk is one of the best ways to build your credibility, authority, and brand How long it takes to prepare your TED talk and why How to test your talk or app or book ideas to maximise their chance of success Why you should do a little upfront
07/12/2017 • 55 minutes 55 seconds
Technically Speaking! - 011
Over my career, I’ve worked with lots of scientists, IT specialists and engineers, and I know that sometimes it’s can be challenging to communicate complicated concepts and ideas in a way that’s simple enough for your audience to understand. This week’s episode gives you tools and techniques to use to make your presentations scintillating and accessible for audiences, even if the information you’re sharing is highly technical. What you’ll learn: The important things to think about before you start writing your talk Ideas for an opening your talk for maximum engagement. What you should do once you’ve grabbed their attention. Tools that you can use to present your data in a way that engages your audience. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an
30/11/2017 • 24 minutes 6 seconds
The Wedding Speech with Andy Merryweather - 010
Andy Merryweather is an extremely talented piano player and singer, who is also practically a professional best man. He’s been given the honour of being Groomsman for five and a third weddings so far. His wedding speeches have plenty of wow moments, and he shares some of the details, plus his best tips if you’re asked to do a wedding speech. He also has a knack for getting influencers and celebrities to do things for him and he shares how he makes the magic happen! What you’ll learn: Andy’s 10 top tips for wedding speeches How to relax yourself and get a first laugh from your audience How to build social capital and make big things happen How to approach starting your wedding speech (or any speech) Ideas for wowing the wedding party Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To he
23/11/2017 • 58 minutes 54 seconds
Secrets to Storytelling (Part Three) - 009
Here you get the low down on the storytelling model most widely used in business, Michael Hauge’s alliteratively named Six Step Success Story Process. Whether you’re speaking, writing copy, or a book, this can help you create emotion and make it entertaining and engaging for your audience. Here, I take you through the model, another practical example, and give you some extra tips to make the story even more powerful. What you’ll learn: The Six Step Success Story Process How to use it for case studies The autobiographical bear traps to avoid How to make your story pop for listeners and readers Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one.
16/11/2017 • 19 minutes 24 seconds
The Inside Track with Chris Dawes - 008
At University, Chris thought his fear of public speaking would cost him his degree. Fast forward to now and he has been a motorsports commentator since 2012, and works on some of the biggest events across the UK and Europe. He is also a speaker and public speaking coach, and he shares some great tips in this episode on how to manage fear, find speaking success and enjoy the ride! What you’ll learn: How and why to get free from the paralysing fear of speaking Tips on finding your unique speaking voice The number one tip for being in front of the camera The keys to successful speaking and being booked more than once How to add your personality to your speaking What makes the difference between a good speaker and a great one. What’s the most important tip for speaking in front of a camera. Network with Chris: Websites: <a href= "http://chrisdawescomms.
09/11/2017 • 47 minutes 37 seconds
Secrets to Storytelling (Part Two) - 007
The Hero’s Journey storytelling model has been popular since the 1990’s following its adoption by the movie industry, as a blueprint for blockbusters. It is now being widely used in business and sales, because of the power and impact it can have on customers and employees, and conversion rates! There are a few different models of the Hero’s Journey, and I’ve used most of them in my speaking and business. I’ll be taking you through all of them in future episodes, and in this show, I’ll be focusing in on the 12-Stage model. I’m de-constructing this and, I’ve searched for movie and business examples that will illustrate how it can work for you in speaking, business and in the corporate world too. I’ve also got another great freebie to give away, and you can find the link below when you’re ready! What you’ll learn: Where the Hero’s Journey came from. The multiple models of the Hero’s Journey The different stages of the Hero’s
01/11/2017 • 19 minutes 29 seconds
Let's Get Social with Lindsey Burden - 006
Lindsey Burden is a Speaker, social media expert, coach and business advisor, and she has had her own company since 2013. Before that her job was to run Salisbury City Centre (which is near one of the biggest tourist attractions in the UK!) That’s a big job, which she did for 10 years. She says that in that role she saw a lot of businesses thrive and others stall, and she took that insight into her new venture four years ago. What you’ll learn: The key reason businesses fail Her top tips for speaking success Why networking is important for business success How to network on social media How to get free publicity from big brands Where you should be spending your time on social media How to use social media to grow your brand and business How you can join her free 5-day social media challenge and increase your impact! Resources: Lindsey’s So
25/10/2017 • 50 minutes 55 seconds
Secrets to Storytelling (Part One) - 005
Stories have been with us since before language was invented to pass on history, learning, to keep order and to keep us alive, and they are as important today as they ever have been. For Speakers, and anyone who is selling…whether that’s a product, an idea, a change or any solution to a problem…being able to tell stories that create an emotional connection with your audience will get you results. I’ve spent years studying and writing stories, and have used them extensively, as a comedian, a speaker, an entrepreneur, and a playwright. In this episode, (the first of a few I’ll be doing on storytelling), I want to share why I believe stories are so critical to business and speaking success. I also give you the essential ingredients great stories must have and practical examples of these in films, adverts and copy so you can see how they work. I’ve also got another great freebie to give away at the end, so keep listening. What you’ll learn: W
18/10/2017 • 25 minutes 34 seconds
Murder Most Engaging with Helen Saxton - 004
In this show, Helen Saxton, tells us about how she managed to combine all her passions to create a unique business. It’s a business which uses storytelling brought to life to keep audiences engaged, entertained and learning. She shares some great tips for dealing with difficult delegates, and how she uses humour to bond teams. Helen is also an award-winning pitcher, (not the baseball kind, (although I didn’t ask that question, so I might be selling her short there)), and gives some insight into how she developed and delivered her barn storming business pitch. Hope you enjoy this episode and get some useful tips for your speaking journey. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.</l
11/10/2017 • 34 minutes 17 seconds
How to Create a Killer Elevator Pitch - 003
It’s said that you are only five relationships away from making a million dollars! In episode three of The Speaking Club, I’m sharing all my secrets for creating a killer elevator pitch, so you will be ready when opportunity knocks. Alongside my speaking, coaching and performing, I write… books, plays, jokes and copy. I’ve written 100s of elevator and investor pitches for clients, and on this show, I share some of my secrets. I talk you through my ICE CUBE framework, and give you practical examples of each step of the pitch creation process. I also cover off how to prepare, and when to break out your pitch. What you will learn: What is an elevator pitch? What makes a great elevator pitch? The essential ingredients of a killer elevator pitch How to use the 5 whys to get to the customer pain point How to use a segue question to carry on the discussion. Thanks for listening! To share your tho
27/09/2017 • 18 minutes 15 seconds
Magically Speaking with Richard Parsons - 002
In my opinion, if you’re a public speaker, you are also an entertainer… yes your primary purpose is likely to be to educate, inform, or inspire, but without being able to grab people’s attention, to keep them interested and stimulated, whatever message you have is likely to get lost. So, it stands to reason we could probably learn a lot from professional entertainers, which leads me to this week’s guest, Richard Parsons. Richard is an award winning, professional close-up magician, pick pocket and full member of the magic circle. This is an action-packed episode, not only do we delve into the life of a magician, and get the curtain pulled back on some tricks of the trade, but we get some great speaking advice. Richard talks about managing nerves, tips for engaging people, Coué's Law and the power of auto-suggestion, how he gets bookings, and lots, lots more more. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this
27/09/2017 • 46 minutes 39 seconds
No Negative Thought Puts You in the Corner! - 001
Welcome to the first episode of ‘The Speaking Club’, a podcast I’ve wanted to do for a long time to share some of the insights I’ve picked up over the years, and to share the learning from experts that will be coming on as guests, to help with all aspects of your public speaking journey. My other key aspiration with this podcast is to have some fun! Laughter has been a big part of my life, and I think there’s not enough of it in business, so I’m hoping with the learning, you also get some smiles. Whether you’re just starting out, have some experience with speaking in public, or you make a living speaking professionally, there’s will be something here for everyone. In this first episode, I tell you a bit more about the show, my background story, and share some tools and techniques for overcoming any fears you may have around public speaking, that will also work for other areas of your life. Mindset is such an important skill to master for public speaking s
