Toastcaster Communication Leadership Learning Lab

How to Earn the Toastmasters Accredited Speaker (AS) Designation - Sheryl Roush

[56:05] The Accredited Speaker (AS) designation is reserved for Toastmasters who combine subject mastery with professional speaking skills at the highest level of proficiency. Since the program started in 1981, there have been fewer than 100, 90 to be exact at this time who have earned the coveted title.

This is the audio for the unique webinar: How to Earn the Toastmasters Accredited Speaker (AS) Designation.

It was hosted in January 2023 by AS We Speak, an advanced club dedicated to supporting members who are pursuing applying for the designation.

Sheryl Roush, DTM, AS, PDG, CVP (right) who earned her credential in 1993, invited her fellow AS colleagues to join the conversation and leads the session.  

You will hear them share their journeys, professional speaking suggestions, and tips not included in the official handbook.

If you are already familiar with the AS, please note the Board recently made changes in the Accredited Speaker program for 2023.

You can also view the full webinar - video at  https://youtu.be/wXeNeePm15M. 

 

 

 

 

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ToastCaster 169: How AI Can Help the Future You – Live Longer & Prosper – Harry Glorikian

[37:29] Think of AI (Artificial Intelligence), particularly health care and your brain might conjure up The Doctor  - the Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek Voyager. But AI in healthcare is here, it’s real and it’s already disrupting healthcare and changing the ways in which we can -  in the words of Mr. Spock, “Live Long and Prosper.”

In this non-technical and eye-opening episode, Greg speaks with Harry Glorikian —an influential healthcare entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and company leader—has been at the intersection of the fast-moving science and business of healthcare and biotechnology. 

Harry offers us a number of insights from his new book: The Future You: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Get Healthier, Stress Less, and Live Longer - how AI is disrupting healthcare and what you need know to successfully navigate through it. 

In our conversation, Harry also helps demystifies the term AI. He illustrates some of the ways it’s being used in research, at your local healthcare provider, at home and in everyday gadgets. You’ll hear AI is about playing a role with vaccine development and how technology is being used to proactively identify individuals who may be predisposed to certain types of cancers.

You’ll also be inspired on how this advancing technology can help us improve preventative and preemptive care (before things happen) vs sick-care (after the fact).

Harry also impresses upon us how we are still very dependant on the human brain. However, given the ability of a machine to handle lots of data along with AI technology, you’ll hear how the two together can help predictability that someone may be predisposed to a certain condition. You also be introduced to the term Digital Therapeutics on how non-medicinal treatments in some areas are already FDA approved to replace the need for meds. 

Harry also shares a number of personal stories and how he himself uses technology to better his personal health, and more. 

Harry Glorikian lives int the greater Boston area and can be reached via LinkedIn or Glorikian.com . 

His book The Future You: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Get Healthier, Stress Less, and Live Longer is designed for anyone and includes over 50 pages of references, You can find the book on Amazon. 

ToastCaster 169: How AI Can Help the Future You Live Longer & Prosper – Harry Glorikian

 

ToastCaster 168: Yoodli - Your AI-Powered Public Speaking Coach - Varun Puri

[27:53] In this episode Greg speaks with Varun Puri co-founder of Yoodli a web-based platform, that helps individuals practice, record, upload and store speeches or interviews and provides feedback and AI enabled analytics as well as an auto-generated transcript of the speech.

In our conversation, Varun enlightens us on a little more of what Yoodli is, why it was created it, how it was funded, how it works and why he refers to it as a “smart- mirror.” 

He gives us a few examples and explains on how Yoodli,  in real-time, provides users with personalized feedback such as filler and repeated words, body language, word pacing and more. We’ll also hear about the added bonuses like games you can play to further step-up those skills. 

We also hear a little bit about the recent partnership between Toastmasters International and Yoodli, giving Toastmasters members, at no-cost, a customized version of the Yoodli platform tailored to the Toastmasters experience including the ability to practice your Table Topics (impromptu speaking).

We’ll also hear about how you can get your analytics on your Zoom communication by inviting Yoodli to join your meeting through a pasted link or your calendar. (Public version only)

And finally Varun shares with us how the platform has helped him in fine-tuning his own communication skills.

Varun Puri, Co-Founder, Yoodli is based in Seattle, Washington and can be reached at Yoodli.ai where you can also access the public version of Yoodli.

Toastmasters members are encouraged to access the Toastmasters Yoodli by simply logging onto their accounts at Toastmasters.org/myhome. 

You can also read more about Yoodli and the partnership in Laura Mishkind's new article on Yoodli in the Toastmaster Magazine On-line.

ToastCaster 167: How Far? A Tale of Determination, DNA, and Drama – Bob Wilber

[29:17] “How Far? A Tale of Determination, DNA, and Drama” by Bob Wilber is a book written in the "historical fiction" genre, and features two fictional characters who "write" the book in their own voices. One is a baseball player from Southern California. The other is a hockey player from Roseau, Minnesota. When their very different lives intersect, they become friends and the drama begins.

It’s a life book told through a sports lens and - everyone can relate to it. It’s not only an incredible read and a great story but it’s also full of life and leadership lessons that anyone can benefit from.

In this episode we speak with the author about his book and why he wrote it and what's unique about it. We get to better understand about the genre of historical fiction and how it can be used for any type of storytelling.

We learn more about who Bob is, the skills he acquired including wisdom from his writing coach and the lessons he learned about himself on this journey and much, much more.

ABOUT Bob: Bob Wilber has been writing creatively since grade school and first published at age 16. He is the son of a former Major League baseball player and a mother who passed along her communications and public relations skills to her youngest son. 

After earning a full athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, he spent six years in professional baseball as a player, coach, and scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bob then moved on to international sports marketing and eventually spent 22 years in the world of NHRA Drag Racing, as a PR representative and team manager for Funny Car drivers Del Worsham and Tim Wilkerson. In 2017, he published his autobiography "Bats, Balls, & Burnouts"  and his latest book is "How Far?"  A Tale of Determination, DNA, and Drama.

Bob lives in Minnesota with his wife Barbara and their cats Boofus and Buster. You can reach him at BobWilber.net where you learn more about Bob and purchase the book through links to Amazon.

Toastcaster 166: Is Your Sales Pitch like Playing Golf with Only a Putter?

[05:31] When you play a round of Golf, chances are that you will use more than just a putter. So why is that businesses sometimes have only one message or one sales strategy regardless of the demographic or who the potential client is?

Same goes for communicators. Some deliver the same speech verbatim regardless as to whom their audience is.

Sadly the results are not always as you think.

Listen on few a few tips - for business, not golf! :)

Image by Kevin Phillips from Pixabay

 

Toastcaster 165: 4 Tell-Tale signs to spot fake or phishing emails

[11:59] It’s Halloween time. Let me share with you something that’s perhaps a little scary and that’s email.  Boo! Before you chuckle, I want you to think about this...

You’re trying to lead your team, get your projects done and get ready for that next meeting. You’re obviously multitasking and in so much of a hurry, you don’t realize that opening just that one email could not only put you behind time, it could potentially create your worst possible nightmare - a phishing email which you've been oblivious to. Don't be afraid! Listen on.   You can also read my previous article on the topic at Gadgetgreg.com.

Bonus: GadgetGreg: CHQR Radio Interview: Nightbuds Earbuds - Kokoon

[06:31] Greg Gazin is interviewed on CHQR Radio about his Troy Media article Try Nightbuds Earbuds for a good night’s sleep.

For anyone who offers a product or service, or in my case writes about one, it's always important to be ready and always have a few talking points and a story or two in your back pocket in case the media literally comes calling. It's great PR for you and for the product or service you're talking about.

This is also where your Toastmasters International Table Topics impromptu skills come in really handy. 

 

ToastCaster 163: Reinvention & Tips for When Business is Slow – Stephanie Northcott

[23:52] Ever wonder how to fill the gaps when business is slow? There are a number of productive things we can do - some we already know but are often forgotten. But what about when things are so slow and choices are so limited that you have to totally reinvent yourself?

Our guest today is an expert in both those areas. Stephanie Northcott, a former corporate project administrator from Calgary, Canada in the construction and electrical utility industries found herself in a position of having no position that fit her skills due to a corporate. 

With a decade of extensive experience under her belt, Stephanie decided to take matters into her own hands. She put her administrative skills and strengths to work becoming an entrepreneur specializing in helping sole proprietors and online entrepreneurs as a virtual assistant, relocating her family and now working from the paradise of Guanajuato, Mexico.

In this episode, Stephanie shares a little about her journey, what a virtual assistant does and shares a number of tips that she has discovered and things you can do when business slows to a crawl.

Many of her tips and nuggets of wisdom come from the article: Filling the Gaps when Things Get Slow that can be found on her blog as well as on LinkedIn.

Some of the tips include: Examining your business from the outside in, posting past content and cleaning up those nagging “tolerations” and more.

You can find Stephanie Northcott on LinkedIn or reach her via her website: StephanieNorthcott.com.

ToastCaster 162: 5 Lessons From My 1st professional Speech – Kate McClare

[25:23] What can you learn from your first professional speech (outside Toastmasters)?

In this episode Greg speaks with copywriter Kate McClare who pulls back the curtain and shares five powerful lessons and more from her recent live presentation to a group of CPAs. These lessons are basic fundamentals but important reminders that every speaker should remember if they want to make an impact on their audience and of course the organization who engaged them.

You can also hear Kate in her interview with Greg Gazin & Ryan Levesque on the Toastmasters Podcast, episode #201, Powerful Collaboration between Toastmasters International and Rotary International.

Kate McClare  runs a company called Kate’s Copy, a writing and editing service. Specializing in Digital, Video and Print content for Marketing and PR professionals, Web Designers and Entrepreneurs.

Kate is passionate about Language and prides herself with her ability to harness the power of the written word for better storytelling.  She’s is also a Distinguished Toastmaster and a frequent contributor to the Toastmaster Magazine.

Kate McClare lives in Hollywood, Florida and can be reached on LinkedIn or at KatesCopy.net.

 

Toastcaster 161: Recognizing and Harnessing Life Changing Moments

[31:19] Has the pandemic created for you or someone you know an unnerving unexpected and totally unprepared for, life changing moment? In reality, life-changing moments happen all the time. Many however, are not crises but unrealized opportunities. In fact, some of the best ones are often disguised, pass us by and are only noticed in hindsight. 

In his opening keynote session, you’ll hear from Past District 42 Governor (Director) Greg Gazin, DTM.  You’ll hear ways you can recognize life-changing moments and learn tips to harness them to help you catch your second wind and keep you sailing in the right direction.  

In this light-hearted session, Greg will share some of his epiphanies, adventures and misadventures of transformation both outside and inside Toastmasters as he meandered some of those moments. You’ll also hear how Toastmasters played a role but also mistakes he made and the differences it would have made if Pathways - Toastmasters Educational Program would have come along earlier.

Recorded via Zoom as part of Toastmasters District 42 2022 Spring Conference.

VIEW AS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ohXygqYKtqA

(Note: In one moment inadvertently said "Toastmaster" when I should have said "ToastCaster." "In 2006, I created the ToastCaster Podcast." The Toastmasters Podcast was originally created by Ryan Levesque & Bo Bennett. I became host and producer of the Toastmasters Podcast in 2014.)

 

Toastcaster 160: The Toast: Short Speech with a Big Impact – Eddie Rice

[29:23] Writing and delivering a good Toast might seem to be something you can just stand up and deliver off the cuff but many YouTube #fails say otherwise. A great toast that makes an impact needs to be well thought out, well written and delivered properly.

In today’s episode we speak with professional speechwriter and newly published author Eddie Rice. Eddie shares with us some valuable tips and advice on preparing, delivering and mastering this ceremonial speech. He highlights his 7-step process and offers up some do’s and don’t when it’s time to raise a glass.

You’ll also learn about what the true purpose of a toast is and some of the different occasions a toast can be written for.

A lot of what Eddie shares is from his just released new book,

TOAST: Short Speeches, Big Impact, available on Amazon. 

We also learn a little about Eddie, how he transformed his career 180 degrees from being a Science Teacher to a Speechwriter and how Toastmasters helped him and continues to help him through that process. He also pulls back the curtain and shares some of the things he went through when writing his book including how he decided to first get feedback on his extensive outline which he in turn used to write his book.

Eddie Rice is a professional speechwriter with over a decade of experience in helping business leaders, keynote speakers, TED talk presenters, Nonprofit organization and everyday people, enhance the messages they tell through great storytelling and structure. 

Eddie is from Cleveland Ohio and can be reached at http://ricespeechwriting.com

Toastcaster 159: Overcoming Awkward: Introvert’s Guide – Networking, Marketing & Sales - Monica Parkin

[37:21] Wonder how did a shy, socially awkward introvert turn into a successful serial entrepreneur and master relationship builder? Just ask Monica Parkin, who on today’s show will give us an insight into the answer to that question and more by telling us about her recent book, part memoir, part instruction guide, Overcoming Awkward: The Introvert's Guide to Networking, Marketing, and Sales.

You don’t have to be an introvert to benefit from Monica’s wisdom. In this fun and lighthearted episode, you’ll hear honest stories (many from the book) of her often sometimes challenging but fruitful transformation and overcoming her obstacles. You’ll hear about a number of lessons she’s learned and how these can be applied in many areas of one’s personal, professional, business life and even through social media.

You’ll hear how things blossomed for “Mortgage Monica” as she revealed her authentic self and how her moniker as a “crazy goat lady” who lives on a small farm with an assortment of furry creatures actually contributes to her business success and more.

Some of the other topic areas she touches upon include: Difficult conversations, asking questions, setting boundaries, mentorship, Toastmasters and her podcast Juggling Without Balls.

Monica Parkin is from Courtney, British Columbia, Canada. She’s a licensed mortgage broker and successful serial entrepreneur an award-winning international speaker, author, podcaster and Toastmaster. 

You can find her book: Overcoming Awkward: The Introvert's Guide to Networking, Marketing, and Sales on Amazon.

Monica can be reached at MonicaParkin.ca. 

Toastmaster 158: Celebrating Milestones Forward Can Yield Amazing Results

[18:33] Milestones are achieved and celebrated every day and recognized in a variety of different ways. Celebrations are also often backward looking going back to where one once was to where they are now. But what if you commemorated by celebrating forward? Using the milestone as a way of encouraging a future activity.

In this episode we look at the milestone of 200th episode of the Toastmasters Podcast and how instead of looking back at the first 200 episodes as many do, the hosts Greg Gazin and Ryan Levesque decided to create a contest - a Pitch Us Your Podcast Idea! contest. 

The idea would be to create more buzz around podcasting and encourage members to give it a try. Members could submit their most creative idea - a pitch and an audio sample and they did not have to have an existing podcast.  The winner would be announced and  be a guest on Episode #200 where they could introduce themselves to the world and pitch their idea to Greg and Ryan. 

When the dust settled, the winner was Rashmi Ketha from Ledgewood NJ, USA  with “The Experience Passport.” Personal development through hobby sampling.

You can catch the 200th episode - shown above at ToastmastersPodcast.com, and Apple & Google Podcasts. 

Also, if you want to find out a little more about the Toastmasters Podcast and its hosts, please check out: Tune In to The Toastmasters Podcast, in the March 2022 on-line issue of the Toastmaster Magazine.

Toastcaster 157: New Year’s Resolutions Not Working, Try Naming Your Year - Dave Fuller

[25:28] Resolutions for many just don't seem to work but our guest today, Dave Fuller uses "Naming Your Year" as a method to accomplish what resolutions are meant to do.

In this episode Dave shares how he stumbled upon this method; what it does and how it works. You'll hear how puts it into practice at home, at the office for both himself, his team and his clients and learn how you can implement it for yourself.  You'll also hear about how Naming can also help achieve goals and how Dave uses this to help focus on a 12-week planning method.

David (Dave) Fuller MBA, is an award-winning business coach and a partner in Pivotleader Inc. and the Author of Profit Yourself Healthy. 

You can also read Dave's article at Troy Media, New Year's Resolutions are out, naming the year is in, at Troy Media. 

Email him at Dave AT Pivotleader.com. Dave would love to hear what you named your year.

 

Toastcaster 156: Looking Backward, Looking Forward: Reflections of a Caregiver - Rick Lauber

[26:00] As we reflect back on this year, caregiving can mean many things to many people. Some people are caregivers in the traditional sense, others give care in many forms to others. In this episode we bring back author and former co-caregiver Rick Lauber. The idea of his return was prompted by a recent insightful tweet he made. 

“As a #caregiver, please don't ever question the difference you make in someone's life. Thank you so much to all caregivers for everything they do.”

This episode is for  those who give care, receive care or know someone who is either.

In this episode Rick enlightens us with what prompted him to share that wisdom. He reflects upon his own personal experiences sharing some of his thoughts and feelings, even those of guilt, which are also likely felt by many others - particularly during the holiday season and this past year.

Listeners are also in for a learning experience as Rick also reflects back with respect to what he’s learned, how he’s coped, some of the actions and steps he’s taken and continues to take and some of what he’s still dealing with even after many years.

He also shares with us how you can go about resetting your life when you are no longer a caregiver,  and more.

Rick Lauber is from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. You can reach him at RickLauber.com or on Twitter @CDNCaregiver. You can also find his two best-selling guide books  – Caregiver’s Guide for Canadians (2nd edition) and The Successful Caregiver’s Guide (U.S) on Amazon and the usual outlets.

You can also listen to past episodes with Rick Lauber. Toastcaster 69 How Toastmasters helps Authors and Toastcaster 127: Caregiving - The Ultimate Leadership Role.

Happy New Year 2022!

Toastcaster 155: Repetition Can Be A Good Thing - Greg Gazin

[06:05] Hearing things being repeated can often drive you absolutely crazy. In this brief episode you'll learn that if used effectively, repetition in presentations, conversations and even recordings can truly be an effective tool in getting your message across.

If you think about speeches like MLK Jr.'s, I Have a Dream, there's a perfect example.

This podcast is also available as an article. The original article can be found at GadgetGreg.com.

Toastcaster 154: Stepping Up Your Communication Skills with Livestreaming – Markus Seppälä

[37:43] With Livestreaming, you are both a producer and performer. These are words from our guest today,  Markus Seppälä, who adds that it’s also public and live and lonely and dependent on tech which can certainly make it a challenge. It’s with his comedic side that he jokingly takes on a sarcastic view of Livestreaming. 

For Markus however, it’s rewarding. He loves every minute of it and is with us to share his expertise and some of the things he’s learned along the way.

He enlightens us on how using live-streaming tools, learning from those tools and leveraging the communication skills and other disciplines you’ve already mastered you can super-charge those skills to a whole new level just as our guest today has done - and he shares with us some of the specifics he has accomplished.

You’ll hear how livestreaming is a mode of communication and how it differs from platforms like Zoom and Netflix.

Plus, you’ll discover how you can “level-up your tech” with free tools like OBS and Melon that also integrate with Zoom that add a dynamic level of uniqueness and professionalism to your presentations.

Markus also offers tips on planning a livestream, where to place your most important content and why, answering questions, and ways to engage the audience and keep them listening (not necessarily in ways you might think) and what to do when you get no audience reaction and how not to be dependent on it.

Your livestream will live on-line forever.  Markus touches upon on how you can best plan to balance your live feed to maximize the delivery of your content yet maintain its long-term replay value.

Any the end of the interview I’m sure you’ll all want to get started in Livestreaming.

You can also listen to our interview with Markus on the Toastmasters Podcast Episode  #180: Comedian Masters Hybrid Meetings.

Also check out Markus’ YouTube videos: How live streaming will improve your communication skills (5 tips) and  How to share PowerPoint slides on Zoom with OBS Virtual Camera

Markus Seppälä is a two-time TEDx speaker, event host and stand-up comedian who brings fun to the corporate stage. You can catch Markus on YouTube where you will find a plethora of videos - with tutorials one an array of different videos showcasing his talents with teachings on topics like - Zoom, Streaming, Hybrid Meetings, Video conferencing and ways you can be a better speaker.

Markus is based in Basel, Switzerland where he runs Comedy Basel, the biggest comedy club in town. You can find him at MarkusPresents.com.

Toastcaster 153: Making Freaking Meetings Fun & Productive - Matt Abrahams

[29:55] Many people avoid meetings at all costs - they feel they’re unproductive, a waste of time and simply a bandaid for bad communication in an organization. In this episode Greg speaks with return guest Matt Abrahams, educator and coach whose extensive exploration, research and experience has led him to discover a collaborative approach to keep meetings fun and exciting. More importantly they be can productive in achieving the goals of the organization and add value to the teams. And you might even be thanked for running a meeting.

You’ll learn about the importance of planning, executing and setting expectations up front - and even determining whether there is an alternative to holding a meeting. 

You’ll hear how to invoke emotion by leveraging meeting invites and making agendas valuable and how the information, emotion and actions are the three important key elements of any communication.   This includes the importance of paraphrasing and how that leads to better communication and boost engagement during the meeting. 

He also stresses the value of focusing on the experience and the creative order of things and not just the content and also using physical engagement and leveraging the use of technology tools and more.

Matt also touches on how to ensure the new way of running meetings endures and tips for running virtual meetings.

And finally, Matt talks about his new podcast, Think Fast Talk Smart from Stanford GSB.

Matt Abrahams teaches Strategic Communication for Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and Presentation Skills for Stanford’s Continuing Studies Program and co-founder of coaching consulting practice Bold Echo Communication Solutions. If that’s not enough, Matt is also the author of the book Speaking Up without Freaking Out, now in its 3rd edition. 

You can also hear Matt on episode #93 Speaking up without freaking out and also on the Toastmasters Podcast, Episode 111, with Greg Gazin and Ryan Levesque where he spoke on how to be confident.

Toastcaster 152: Unexpected Leaders that Leave a Lasting Impression - Guinness

[15:26] In this episode Greg speaks about two incredible individuals whom we can call unexpected leaders. These are people who positively impact others not really with any intention but simply by doing what they do. In fact they may not even be aware of the impact that they are having on others and the long lasting impression they leave.

You’ll hear about, Reverend Kevin Fast (left) from Cobourg, Ontario, Canada is best described as a modern day Popeye and Brittany Walsh, a.k.a  AcroBritt (RIGHT) from Portland, Oregon, U.S.A a dancer, a gymnast, former circus performer and  acrobatic archer who both happen to be individuals featured in the 2020 Guinness Book of World Records.

Greg shares a little about each of their stories and 3 leadership lessons he’s taken away by speaking with them

Related Materials

If you'd like to read the related article Leadership tips from the Book of Guinness World Records you can find it at Troymedia.com.

To hear the full interview podcast with these two inspiring Guinness world record holder's along with a bonus interview with an official judge or adjudicator and hear them tell their stories, check out:  Toastcaster 122: Setting a Guinness World Record – It Takes True Leadership. 

A short link for that is bit.ly/toastcaster122. 

Also please visit GuinnessWorldRecords.com

 

Toastcaster 151: Starting Effective Conversations that Yield Results – Chris Fenning

[31:31] Conversations are fundamental to everyday life – at work or at home, yet little emphasis is ever put on improving it as a skill, particularly in getting one started and keeping them a succinct as possible.

In this episode, Greg speaks with Chris Fenning - subject matter expert and author of the new book, The 1st Minute: How to Start Conversations that gets Results. Chris will share his expertise and insight with lessons taken for the book that you can apply in many communications situations, like job interviews, conversations with the boss, presentations and even written communications.

You’ll discover some of the most common mistakes made in that first minute and some of the misconceptions that surround it. You also learn about when that first minute really starts.

You’ll takeaway two methods you can out to use right away:

1) Framing, a simple 3-part process that in 15 seconds helps you provides context, clarifies your intentions, and makes your message clear: and

2) Structured Summary: How everything we do can be described in the form of a GPS – no, not your car’s GPS but rather Goal, Problem & Solution.

You’ll also learn why you should never ask someone, “Do you have a minute,” and more…

Chris Fenning, in addition to author is also a husband, father and communications instructor. He lives in Amsterdam in The Netherlands and can be reached at ChrisFenning.com.