The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

Just recently I’ve had people reach out to me with a bleeding neck, and what I mean by that is … they have a huge speaking gig less than three weeks away and they haven’t got a talk to give. So in this quick tip show, I want to give you a heads up on the problems with winging it and what to do instead. 

In this show I’m covering:

Enjoy!

Imagine the scenario, you’ve turned up to a speaking gig, or important presentation and your stomach is playing up, or you’re feeling foggy, and it’s not because you had a heavy night out. It’s just that it happens, and often at the most inconvenient times, and you don’t know why, and your Doctor hasn’t been able to tell you either. 

So instead of feeling energised and ready to wow your audience, you’re feeling uncomfortable, maybe even embarrassed if your stomach has swelled up, and worried about delivering a sub par performance as...

The question I hear most frequently from people, whether they’re starting out on their professional speaking journey, or they have been going at it for a while is this one …

“How do I get paid to speak consistently?”

All they’re getting is the odd few gigs, then tumbleweed. They want a pipeline of speaking gigs but they don’t know how to build it, or they’re trying and failing miserably.

That’s why in this show, I’m going to share the big obstacles to building your speaking gig pipeline, so that you can sh...

I was at the Speaker Summit and Speaker Awards in London a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to share some of the advice and tips from the experts there on the day. 

In this show I’m covering:

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the epsiode - plea...

Please be aware that this episode does discuss the topics of death and suicide.

Each of us has a story to tell, but for many people no reason compelling enough emerges for us to embark on the journey to sharing that story with others. 

But for some people, there comes a time where something happens and it ignites a burning desire to share their story, so that others can learn what we’ve discovered or  avoid the pain that we’ve encountered.

That is what happened to Don Ryan. 

He was a regul...

This quick talk tip will help you avoid procrastination, move closer to your dreams and keep going when things feel tough. 

In this show I’m covering:

Enjoy!

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We are living in tumultuous times, we are facing some of the biggest challenges ever as a species, and as individual countries, organisations and people. 

And despite the huge incentives to come together to work through these problems, we are in a lot of ways more divided than ever before. 

Many speakers today are talking on some of these big topics and wicked problems, looking to shift audience perspectives and inspire them to get into action and make positive change happen.

To achieve this, conventional wisdom has suggested that we need to incentivise pe...

This quick talk tip will help you avoid the trap that many speakers fall into, and will help you become more marketable to your target audience. 

In this show I’m covering:

Enjoy!

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All of us want to be healthy, happy and live a long and active life, but getting clarity on how to achieve that is a struggle. The information we get is often tainted by corporate interests pushing us in the direction of their products or pills, and all of this can leave you feeling like you’re in a maze full of dead ends, getting spun around with no way to find the right path to wellness.

In the meantime, many of us are getting diagnosed with obesity and chronic diseases that can feel like a prison se...

This quick talk tip will help you avoid the pitfalls that stop most speakers from realising their dream to become a professional, paid speaker. If you have that dream, then listen up. 

In this show I’m covering:

Leave a rating or review for The S...

How can you get the edge as a professional speaker?

What can you do to make yourself more marketable?

Well today on the show, my guest Elliot Kay, will be sharing valuable insights on how to achieve just that through The Speaker Awards.

Elliot is co-founder of the speaker awards, a speaking coach, and a professional speaker. 

About three years ago, he saw a huge gap for speakers, and had a big idea to fill it. 

That’s when The Speaker Awards were born, and over those three years they...

When I met David Van Bennekum on Linked In and he told me he’d written a self-help book on National Security, I thought ‘That’s a bit unusual, followed by blimey he’s got some guts … that’s a challenging topic’. 

My curiosity was well and truly piqued though, so I had a look at his LinkedIn profile and saw that he was a former United States Marine Corps Infantry and Logistics Officer. He was a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and he’d retired from active service as a Lieutenant Colonel. 

Then I saw that besides t...

The other day I had a talk planning call with a potential client, and he said:

“I just want to get consistent results. Sometimes I start my talk and I can feel the energy shift, and I know I’ve engaged them. But other times, I just can’t get their attention, and I want to understand how to do this consistently every time I speak.”

The truth is that grabbing your audience’s attention in the right way, (or ‘hooking’’ them in, as I call it), is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for a successful tal...

Quick tips to build your speaking confidence, skills, impact, business or engaging talk content. These tips originate from issues that come up for students, and questions from my audience. If you want to get your question answered DM me on Instagram or LinkedIN @Saraharcher15.

This quick talk tip will help you attract people into your world and build a deeper connection with them, so that you will be able to get them engaged and into action.

In this show I’m covering:

Why your own journey has created obstacles to reaching you...

Not too long ago I heard one of the gurus in my space say that one of the big factors in his success is that when everyone else ‘zigs’, he ‘zags’. You can see ‘zigging’ going on all around you, suddenly everyone wants to be a neurodiversity expert, or an AI expert, because that’s what’s hot, because they are chasing the trend. 

But what if you don’t do that? What if you go your own way, and stay true to who you are and who you want to help? 

That is the path that Becky Benf...

Itunes Summary (45 Words):

Quick tips to build your speaking confidence, skills, impact, business or engaging talk content. These tips originate from issues that come up for students, and questions from my audience. If you want to get your question answered DM me on Instagram or LinkedIN @Saraharcher15.

SHOW NOTES

If people believe that you can deliver what they want and need, they will book you to speak, or buy your products or services. But in showing them that you can deliver there's a fine line between confident and cocky, and if you cross...

Most of us have experienced sales ‘tactics’, and likely we’ve either recoiled against them and scarpered (physically or digitally), or have gone ahead with our needed purchase, even though a little bit of shine has worn off the relationship with the person that used them on us.

Our experiences have made us sceptical of anyone with something to sell, and allergic to feeling ‘salesy’ ourselves. 

But whether we like it or not, we’re all in the business of selling something to someone, whether that’s ourselves as a speaker, our book to a reader, or our...

SUMMARY:

Getting a clear understanding of how to properly protect the IP and assets you’ve created as a speaker can be a struggle. But doing nothing could leave you and your business at risk. Worry no more, that’s where my guest Heather Pearce-Campbell comes in.

SHOW NOTES:

Let’s face it, trying to navigate how to protect the IP you’ve created in talks, books and courses, can make you feel like Frodo trying to get the ring safely to Mordor

… confused, scared and worried about people stealing yo...

As we leave 2023 behind and start making our plans for 2024, I’d like to offer you some suggestions for tools and techniques which you might want to add into your planning process.

These have worked to help me achieve my goals in the past and have also helped many others to build the future they desire. 

Some are a little ‘out there’, but I’ve tried them all out myself and I do believe they will give you more purpose, drive and clarity to supercharge this new year.

Whether you want to start speaking...

I had a similar issue come up with two clients this week, and it’s a mistake I see people making regularly, not just with their speaking, but in other critical content too. This mistake can result in people not paying attention to you, lost business opportunities, and normally leads to frustration and the question, “I just don’t understand what I’m doing wrong!”

What they are doing wrong is not leading with the problem. 

That’s why in this episode I’m sharing:

SUMMARY

Is it possible to brag in a way that attracts people to you, rather than turning them off? Lisa Bragg, author of Bragging Rights believes so, and she is here to redefine bragging and share exactly how to do it the right way.  

SHOW NOTES

We have been conditioned since childhood to keep quiet about our achievements. We are taught things like, ‘nobody likes a show off’, ‘stay humble’ and ‘self praise is no praise’. And the majority of us conform, stay quiet, assuming that our good work will be noticed, and we...

Quick tips to build your speaking confidence, skills, impact, business or engaging talk content. These tips originate from issues that come up for students, and questions from my audience. If you want to get your question answered DM me on Instagram or LinkedIN @Saraharcher15. 

I come across many speakers who are struggling to connect with their audience, and as a consequence their talks fail to get them the results that they want. One of the biggest reasons they struggle is because they are doing what I call … talking about the plane vs. talking about the pain. 

T...

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...

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...

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...

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 thi...

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 power...

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:

Enjoy!

Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club

(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at sarah@saraharcher.co.uk and get a free e-copy of my...

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 bette...

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 disco...

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 wri...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ac...

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:

Enjoy!

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(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at sarah@saraharcher.co.uk and get a free e-copy of my boo...

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 contri...

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:

Enjoy!

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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...

This quick talk tip is in response to the question: 

Can you teach me comic timing?

In this show I’m covering:

Enjoy!

Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club

(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at sarah@saraharcher.co.uk and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker...

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 i...

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...

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 qui...

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...

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 t...

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 th...

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 with...

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 ent...

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...

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...

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 th...

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:

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...

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 mor...

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...

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...

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...

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 co...

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 busin...

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...

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 truste...

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 y...

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...

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...

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 c...

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...

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 viewe...

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:

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 anxie...

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 hav...

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 n...

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...

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 i...

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 y...

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...

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 h...

So … in this show I want to answer two questions for you:

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 specif...

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 gue...

First up, joining me on the show is Jay Miller. Jay has spent the last...

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 h...

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 cor...

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. 

...

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, th...

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...

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 a...

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 t...

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 a...

In part 1 of my interview with Clare, we are talking about public speaking anxiety and how to t...

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 Practi...

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 aud...

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 grow...

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 chan...

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 busi...

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 issue...

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 tro...

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 mar...

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 d...

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 dimini...

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...

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 man...

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. 

Us...

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...

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 bro...

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 giv...

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 m...

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 s...

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...

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...

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 frame...

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 differen...

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 m...

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...

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...

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:

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 sys...

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 be...

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 toge...

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...

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...

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...

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 cr...

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 opp...

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… 

We had some great responses. 

The top five fears ce...

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… 

We had some great responses. 

The...

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...

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 lif...

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’...

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 g...

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 pi...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 bi...

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...

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 f...

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...

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...

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...

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 res...

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...

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 overcom...

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 t...

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...

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...

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...

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 Foundin...

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!

Th...

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...

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 s...

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...

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 th...

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 r...

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...

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 lear...

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...

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 a...

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 ingre...

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 m...

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 thi...

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...

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 fr...

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 missio...

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 th...

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 wan...

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 e...

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:

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...

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” 

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...

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” 

...

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...

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 mess...

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 an...

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 plat...

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’r...

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...

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 both...

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, t...

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...

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 sta...

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 p...

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 an...

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 yo...

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.

...

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...

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...

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...

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.

...

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 an...

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 Sha...

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...

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.

Enjo...

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...

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...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 noti...

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.

...

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...

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 hel...

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:

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 Podca...

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:

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 y...

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...

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...

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...

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 bee...

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 go...

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 us...

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 sp...

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 dead...

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...

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...

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 conn...

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 en...

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...

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...

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 se...

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...

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...

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...

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 y...

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 harm...

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 harm...

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 an...

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, yo...

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 s...

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...

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 t...

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 fam...

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...

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 I...

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...

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 th...

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 o...

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.

 <...

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 cro...

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...

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...

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...

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 broad...

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 c...

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’...

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 u...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 star...

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 thi...

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 Chaper...

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...

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 p...

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 a...

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...

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, a...

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 do...

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 u...

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...

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 al...

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...

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

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 curi...

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...

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...

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 S...

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...

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 yo...

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 humo...

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:

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

“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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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 d...

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:

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 epi...

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...

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 of...

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...

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 som...