Rob’s blog
Ep. 21. Make the most of your voice on stage
When you treat your voice as an instrument (and not an afterthought!) great things happen to your speeches… and to your audiences. This episode we break down three powerful vocal tools: pitch, pace and volume.
Ep. 20. Hey! The audience’s eyes are up here! And over here… and…
For once, the conventional wisdom has it right: eye contact with your audience is powerful. Here’s how to put it to work for you — even when you have to read your speech from the page.
Ep. 19. Get your hands dirty (and know your tools)
Roll up your sleeves… because this episode we talk about the tools of the public speaking trade. And one tool in particular: your microphone.
Ep. 18. Prepare… even when you don’t have time
Maybe this isn’t going to be a virtuoso performance. But it can still be a really good one. Here’s how to lift a speech from the page when you only have a few minutes to prepare.
Ep. 17. Practice. No, really practice.
Think rehearsal and preparation kill your spontaneity? This episode could change your mind — by showing you how rehearsal actually frees you to make spontaneous choices in the moment. Tips, techniques… and an excuse to use coloured highlighters. What more could you ask from a podcast?
Ep. 16. Don’t just read your speech. Perform it.
This episode, we pivot from speechwriting to speaking itself. And we start with the single biggest way most speakers can level up: authentic performance.
Ep. 15. How to get great feedback on your speech
Want actionable feedback on your speech? Here’s how to ask the right person, for the right feedback, at the right time.
Ep. 14. Get your audience to expect more… of themselves.
You’ve reached the end of your speech. Now it’s time for a powerful call to action and conclusion. And you can do it in four steps: challenge, call, recipe and reward. Here’s how.
Ep. 13. Don’t meet your audience’s expectations
By all means, meet — or beat — your audience’s expectations for what they’ll get out of your speech. But not for what you put into it. Here’s how to be surprising and unpredictable, but still reliable.
Ep. 12. Make your audience a little uncomfortable
Every instinct tells us to make our audiences comfortable. Yet a little discomfort can lead to some of the most powerful experiences your speech can offer. Here’s how.
Ep. 11. Use slides well… if at all
The world is full of speeches weighed down with terrible slide decks. Don’t let yours be one of them. This episode, we look at how to make PowerPoint work well for you and your audience — and I make the case for not using slides at all.
Ep. 10. Ease up on the statistics
A flood of statistics can lose your audience. Let’s talk about how to chose a gem of a statistic and put it in the perfect setting… and then make it part of what drives your story, instead of dragging it off course.
Why, yes — I’d LOVE to speak at your event
Public speaking and speechwriting: the essential guides
Looking for advice on public speaking, speechwriting and leadership communications? Here are some of my most comprehensive posts, on topics that people ask me about most often.
