Confusion to Clarity: Mastering the Art of Analogies
Have you ever tried explaining a concept and been met with blank stares? Maybe you’re a leader, trainer, coach—or just someone who needs to make the complex sound simple. And despite your best efforts, your audience looks confused. You know the feeling: polite nods, vacant eyes, maybe even a quick glance at a phone. That’s […]
New! Free Public Speaking Toolkit for Teens
If you teach public speaking to teens—whether in a classroom, homeschool setting, or youth leadership club—you know that helping students find their voice is one of the most valuable skills you can teach. But getting started can sometimes feel overwhelming.What activities work best? How do you make public speaking approachable and even fun? That’s why […]
5 Quick Tips for Using Humor in Presentations
We’ve all sat through speeches that felt like an eternity… but what about the ones that kept us engaged, entertained, and actually laughing? Humor isn’t just for comedians—it’s a powerful tool for connection, persuasion, and making your message memorable. Below are 5 quick tips you can incorporate into an upcoming presentation. 1️⃣ Find the Funny […]
The Best Plan Ever (Humorous Speech)
Call me weird, but I’ve always been fascinated by natural disasters.
My favorite movie as a kid was a disaster movie… The Wizard of Oz. Hey, there was a tornado!
Turns out, I didn’t need a tornado to land in strange places. I’ve lived through disasters in three states: California, Minnesota, and Texas.
Talk Like Trump
Love him or hate him, you can still learn from him. Sometimes, it’s what NOT to do, but in the case of his 2nd Inaugural address, Trump had some eloquent moments (I’m guessing he had a good speech writer). In the short video (1:29) below, you can see two examples of effective rhetoric, using parallel […]
Speak with Impact: Build Confidence and Clarity as a Communicator
Have you ever spoken up in a meeting, only to feel like your words disappeared into the void? Like no one really heard you? If you’ve ever felt invisible when you speak, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too. Years ago, fresh out of college as a new engineer, I struggled to communicate my ideas. […]
Help! I Have to Write a Speech FAST!
Maybe you’ve been asked to speak at an event tomorrow or to present a speech at work, school, or Toastmasters. Maybe you are filling in, or maybe you procrastinated. No fear! You can write a speech quickly! Below is a 2-minute video and a PDF for you to use to create magic in 5 minutes! […]
Storytelling: The Basics of Why, What, & How
Why Tell Stories The answer lies in the inherent memorability of stories. Cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner suggests we are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it has been wrapped in a story. Stories transcend the abstract, connecting directly with our emotions, making them not just memorable but also impactful. In the realm of […]
How to Create a Killer Keynote
If you’ve ever wanted to captivate a room with your words, impel your audience to action, and maybe even get paid to speak, you need a speech that engages. You need to create a Killer Keynote. In the video below, excerpted from a longer workshop, you will learn the steps to create YOUR Killer Keynote. […]
Breaking the Stage Fright Barrier: 10 Techniques
Have you ever experienced stage fright? You know, the butterflies in the stomach, the shaky hands, sweaty palms, and maybe rapid breathing? It’s not fun. This performance anxiety is common in public speaking and other performance-related activities. Many years ago, when my children were teenagers, I experienced performance anxiety when I wanted to encourage them […]