Category: LCWRC

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Having trouble connecting emotionally with a speech you’re writing or rehearsing? Maybe it’s because you’re trying to speak to the whole audience instead of just one person.

This episode, here’s why you may want to take a leaf from TV cop shows — and zoom way in.

(Note: This is episode of the podcast includes mild profanity: The word “bullsh*t” is used several times.)

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “Looking Back,” “Lost Days,” “Hold Music” and “Here’s the Thing.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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I’m always telling you to tell stories… so for the 50th episode of the podcast, I’m going to share one of my own. It’s about what a dead pigeon taught me about being a good speechwriter.

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “More On That Later,” “Places Unseen,” “Sad Marimba Planet,” “Small Steps,” “It Was Like That When I Got Here,” “Landing” and “Solutions (c).” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Dawood Javed on Unsplash

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Coming up empty as you try to write your speech? Wondering why your presentations aren’t landing quite as well as you know they should? You probably know you should connect emotionally with your audience — but maybe you need to think through just what kind of emotional connection you’re both looking for.

This episode, we look at six kinds of emotional connection, and how you can build them: confidence, trust, understanding, appreciation, shared values and what I call the mensch factor.

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “In a Moment,” “Under Suspicion” and “Places Unseen.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Will O on Unsplash

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For some reason, we love to hear how superheroes got their powers — their origin stories. And audiences will want to hear yours, too. Here’s how to tell the story of how you got here in a way that connects with your audience and even moves them to action… faster (cough) than a speaking bullet.

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “Swiftwind,” “Twitter Will Kill Us All,” “Pensacola Twilight,” “Atmospheres” and “Thoughtful.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Andrew Martin from Pixabay

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As leaders, it can be tempting to forget that not everyone likes being the centre of attention. And when you have an audience, you can all too easily throw a harsh, unforgiving spotlight onto someone who isn’t ready for it.

This episode, we look at how to wield your audience’s attention responsibly, whether it’s from the stage or online.

Links: Skip Weisman was kind enough to let me share his story with you. https://www.yourchampionshipcompany.com/

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “It Was Like That When I Got Here,” “More On That Later” and “Systematic.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

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This summer’s film Long Shot is an entire movie about how speechwriter and speaker relate to each other. And it has something to teach us about making that relationship work — and how the key ingredient is time.

If you’re thinking of catching it, the movie’s a lot of fun, even if (or probably because) it isn’t exactly a documentary portrayal of political speechwriting. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen are great, and their chemistry is super (although, ahem, that’s a line I don’t recommend speechwriters cross with their clients).

Links: Most important, props to Long Shot’s writers, Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah.

This episode name-checks a bunch of movies and shows, including Long Shot, Speechless, The Good Wife, BrainDead, The Good Fight and House of Cards.

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “As I Was Saying,” “Small Steps” and “Waterfront.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Fabrizio Verrecchia on Unsplash

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What does a speech look like stripped of the craft of speechwriting? HBO’s hit show Succession gave us a glimpse with a hilarious eulogy delivered by character Connor Roy… and in the process, helps speechwriters and speakers avoid delivering dull, lifeless speeches.

Links: Here’s that eulogy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEdOB9OIh70.

Succession on HBO: https://www.hbo.com/succession.

The writing credits for that episode of Succession go to series creator Jesse Armstrong (https://twitter.com/jessearmstrong1), writer Georgia Pritchett (https://twitter.com/georgiapudding) and story editor Alice Birch (https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/alice-birch).

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “Drive ’til Dawn,” “Thought Bubbles,” “More on That Later” and “Where Was I.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Humam on Unsplash

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You can write a speech for a someone. Read it through. Rehearse with the speaker. But you won’t really know how effective it is unless you’re there when they deliver it.

This episode: why speechwriters should fight for a spot in the audience, and how to use it to write better speeches.

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “You’re Enough (version a),” “Start the Day” and “Not My Problem.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

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A lot of speakers who’d happily get up in front of a thousand-person audience start getting the shakes at the thought of speaking to children or (gulp) teens. Fortunately, we have child-and-teen author Robin Stevenson here to share her experience speaking in front of countless school auditoriums and classrooms. She’ll tell us how you can keep your next young audience rapt from beginning to end.

About my guest: Robin Stevenson is the award-winning author of 25 books of fiction and nonfiction for kids and teen, including the Stonewall Honor book Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community. Robin speaks to groups of all sizes and all ages, from librarians and teachers, to aspiring writers — but she particularly enjoys presenting to kids and teens and has visited hundreds of schools all across Canada. She lives on Vancouver Island with her family.

Links: You can find Robin on the web (http://www.robinstevenson.com) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/robin_stevenson).

Here are some of Robin’s latest books:

• Kid Activists (https://www.quirkbooks.com/book-authors/robin-stevenson) — “Moving, funny, and totally true childhood biographies of Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Helen Keller, Malala Yousafzai, and 12 other inspiring activists.”
• My Body My Choice (https://www.orcabook.com/My-Body-My-Choice-P3991.aspx) — “The long fight for abortion rights is being picked up by a new generation of courageous, creative and passionate activists. This book is about the history, and the future, of that fight.”
• Ghost’s Journey (https://www.rebelmountainpress.com/ghosts-journey–a-refugee-story.html) — “This book is based on the true story of Eka, Rainer, and their cat, Ghost. When life in Indonesia becomes too dangerous for LGBTQ people, Ghost and her two dads are forced to leave their home and escape to freedom in Canada. The story is told from the perspective of Ghost.”

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “Where Was I” and “Thought Bubbles.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Roksolana Zasiadko on Unsplash

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We’ve focused on speaking and speechwriting in the podcast — but there’s more than one way to connect with an audience. And one of the best is the venerable op-ed piece.

About my guest: Today’s guest knows op-ed pieces better than anyone I know: Professor Mira Sucharov is the author of Public Influence, and a prolific writer of op-eds published in such outlets as Haaretz, The Forward, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Citizen, The Daily Beast and Huffington Post.

Dr. Sucharov is an associate professor of political science at Carleton University, and the author of several other books, including serving as co-editor of Social Justice and Israel/Palestine: Foundational & Contemporary Debates. She’s is a four-time teaching award winner, including receiving the 2017 OCUFA award for teaching excellence — the highest university teaching award in Ontario. And she won the 2019 Carleton University Faculty of Public Affairs award for Excellence in Public Commentary.

Links: Public Influence: A Guide to Op-Ed Writing and Social Media Engagement is Dr. Sucharov’s terrific book on writing op-eds and making them a springboard to productive conversation. It’s available on Amazon (U.S., Canada, U.K.), Indigo/Chapters, the University of Toronto Press and fine booksellers everywhere. I highly recommend it.

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “Sad Marimba Planet,” “Betrayal,” and “Not My Problem.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Typewriter photo: Mira Cosic from Pixabay

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If you really want your audience to care about what you’re saying, they need to know you care about it too. And that starts with the attitude you project… and the stands you’re willing to take.

Music: Theme: “Good Times” by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including “Thought Bubbles,” “HEAVN,” and “It Was Like That When I Got Here.” Used under a Creative Commons license.

Lee has released a beautiful album in honour of Apollo 11’s 50th anniversary, and you can buy a limited-edition CD. I did and I’m delighted with it. Give it a listen here.

Photo: Eirik Skarstein on Unsplash

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