30 years ago this spring, I wrote my first speech as a professional — and started a career in leadership communications that has now spanned three decades.
To celebrate, I’ve launched a podcast: 30 short episodes with the key lessons I’ve learned in the business of planning, crafting and delivering powerful speeches.
Check for the latest episode every Tuesday and Thursday.
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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. Links: Steal the Show by Michael Port is a smashing book on speaking and performance. I reviewed it a while back,...
Ep. 15. How to get great feedback on your speech
How often have you asked for feedback with "let me know what you think"? If you're trying to spark conversation, it isn't a bad gambit. But if you want actionable feedback on your speech, you need to use a much more focused approach. Here's how to ask the right...
Ep. 14. Get your audience to expect more… of themselves.
Your speech has brought your audience on an emotional odyssey, and you've reached your narrative destination together. Now's the time to invite them to continue the journey themselves—with a powerful call to action and conclusion. And you can do it in four steps:...
Ep. 13. Don’t meet your audience’s expectations
...Wait, what? 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. Music: "Upbeat" by John Luc Hefferman. Used under a...
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. Links: "Nanette" by Hannah Gadsby on Netflix, and Gadsby's speech on "The Good Men" Music: "Upbeat"...
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. Links: Here are the books I...
Ep. 10. Ease up on the statistics
When your speech unleashes a flood of statistics, you can lose your audience's interest — and their emotional connection — fast. 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,...
Ep. 9. Suspense!
One of the most effective ways a speech can hold an audience's attention is suspense. And withholding a little information can whet their appetite for the answer to the question, "What happens next?" Links: Story by Robert McKee. He wrote it with screenwriters in...
Ep. 8: Consider all of your audiences
The folks in the room are just one of the audiences your speech is going to reach. Here's how to think through who else may be listening in... and how you'll account for them when you're writing your speech. Music: "Upbeat" by Jon Luc Hefferman, and Cheese by David...
Ep. 7. Use plain language… but not just plain language
Plain language can make your speech a lot clearer, and allow your ideas and thinking to shine through. But there are times when speechwriters and speakers want to reach for the more complex words... and even use (gasp!) jargon. Music: "Upbeat" by Jon Luc Hefferman,...