Toastcaster Communication Leadership Learning Lab

TC176: Think Faster, Talk Smarter—A Deeper Dive – Matt Abrahams

[35:25] In this episode speak with Matt Abrahams—a return guest and a name synonymous with spontaneous speaking - about mastering the art of speaking on the fly.

This is a special cross-over companion podcast to The Toastmasters Podcast with Greg Gazin & Ryan Levesque #235: Think Faster, Talk Smarter in the Moment with guest Matt Abrahams.

We're also thrilled to have Ryan Levesque also co-hosting today's episode.

Today's episode

Today we dive a little deeper into the concepts in Matt's book. He starts off by sharing what it's about and how you can use it.

Matt explains why there’s no right or wrong way to communicate–only better and worse ways. He demystifies a cognitive psychology concept of heuristics and explains their importance. 

Matt suggests a helpful reframing of speaking opportunities as “Conversations, Not Performances.”

He touches upon how improv has shaped his approach to communication and introduces us to the playfully-named “F-Word of Public Speaking.” 

Matt offers additional examples of structures you can use to master your Q&A session, gives an easy-to-use format for apologizing successfully, and more. Sorry about that! :)

Matt Abrahams is a Lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He’s the author of two books, Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, and his brand new book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot, and the host of Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast. 

You can reach Matt and get his book at MattAbrahams.com. You can also find him on LinkedIn.

Resources from Matt Abrahams at FasterSmarter.io.

TC176: Think Faster, Talk Smarter—A Deeper Dive – Matt Abrahams

 

 

TC 174: Tips on Becoming a World Class Host & Emcee – Nathan Cassar

[39:37] Wonder what it takes to be a great Emcee and Host? It takes more than just being able to be a good talker with an ability to wing it off the mic. Our special guest today Nathan Cassar is an award-winning professional and one of Australia's Premier Wedding & Corporate Emcees and known as the go-to guy for making any event unforgettable.

Nathan Cassar has over a decade of experience and a strong reputation in the entertainment industry, this includes being a former Entertainment Host for prestigious Princess Cruise Line for several years. Nathan has also had the privilege of performing for thousands of happy guests spanning 40+ nationalities across the globe.

Nathan shares with us a little about his journey starting with his humbled origins as a young bullied introvert who overcame adversity to today where he has become a world-class host and Master of Ceremonies.

Nathan also shares many tips and best practices on what makes a great emcee for those who may want to entertain that career path.

You’ll also hear many do's and don'ts and learn how to create your own improv treasure chest that can be used both onstage and offstage and in many other impromptu speaking environments.  In addition to many entertaining stories full of his invaluable wisdom, Nathan also shares tips on what to look for if you are searching for an emcee for your event and more.

Nathan Cassar lives in Sydney, Australia an can be reached via his website NathanCassar.com.au as well as on his various social media platforms below.

• Facebook:
• Instagram: 
• LinkedIn: 
• YouTube:
  
  TC 174: Tips on Becoming a World Class Host & Emcee  – Nathan Cassar

Toastcaster 172: Fireside Chat – A Great Alternative to a Podcast Interview – Oscar Santolalla

[32:54] In this episode, Greg speaks with Oscar Santolalla about the Fireside Chat – a great alternative to a typical Q & A style one-on-one podcast interview. Oscar introduces us to the concept, where it originated and how he successfully adapted this 90 year old delivery format to his podcasts.

You'll also hear the pros and cons of the format and what you can do if you would like to try one for yourself.

Greg's shares his first experience with a recent Fireside chat on Oscar's podcast - what he learned, what surprised him - and more.

Oscar Santolalla is an accomplished speaker, author, coach, and Sales Engineer and Trainer for Ubisecure. His mission is to help people in technology companies present better, inspire others, and sell more.

Oscar is this author of:  Rock the Tech Stage  and Create and Deliver a Killer Product Demo.  He also hosts Time to Shine, a podcast about public speaking and as his company's podcast, “Let’s Talk About Digital Identity.” 

You can find Oscar's interview on The Toastmasters Podcast about using Metaphors - to power your presentations - episode #218.

An example of a fireside chat: How to Give a Tech Talk Successfully with Greg Gazin & Heather Flanagan on Time to Shine Podcast #196.

Oscar Santolalla lives in Helsinki, Finland but is originally from Peru.

You can reach him at RockTheTechStage.com or on LinkedIn. 

 

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 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 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 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.

Toastcaster 150: Hardest Speech You‘ll Ever Have to Give - Greg Gazin

[32:53] Imagine the hardest speech you'll ever have to give.

In this episode you'll hear about that speech, the process that went into creating it and the speech itself and how on that day, I felt a rollercoaster of emotions the likes of which I’d never experienced in my life.

That day I was surrounded by loving friends and family as I said a final farewell to Elaine Baram, my best friend, my love, my wife, the sunshine of my life who I will miss forever .  It will also explain why there were no episodes over the past months. 

 

 

Toastcaster 149: How to Host a Live or Virtual TEDx Event Part 2 – Noel Bentley

[27:39] This episode, Part 2 is the final part of our conversation with Noel Bentley on how to host a TEDx event where he continues to share his expertise on being the best host you can be.

Noel also talks about getting help by borrowing - not copying but rather be inspired by others and other TED or TEDx events but at the same time being you own person and letting your own personality shine through.

Noel also shares additional best practices along with a few do’s and don’ts  and how you can prepare yourself even for impromptu situations and the unexpected.

You’ll also learn about some of the differences between live and virtual presentations and what you can do to make the latter seem more natural. He also shares some of the special considerations they had to make given the current global climate and environment which they knew could change without notice. He used real examples from TEDx BearCreekPark 2021  that took place just one month ago.

Noel Bentley is a speaker, humorist, storytelling coach, emcee and Toastmaster.  He started project called Power of 3 Speaking, a new way of doing keynote speaking. He can be reached at https://powerof3speaking.com or coming soon at NoelBentley.ca

You can also watch the latest TEDx BearCreekPark 2021 at https://tedxbearcreekpark.ca

If you missed part 1, you can find it (Toastcaster 148) at: http://bit.ly/toastcaster148

Toastcaster 144: Stories & Leadership Lessons from a TopGun Instructor – Dave "Bio" Baranek

[39:00] Flying in a Grumman F14 Tomcat, a supersonic fighter aircraft at over 1500 mph (almost 2500 kph) in the middle of a conflict can certainly put one's communication and leadership skills to the ultimate test. A split second action, reaction or decision can mean the difference between life and death. It also makes for a great movie and we all know and love as Top Gun staring a very young Tom Cruise (a.k.a Maverick).

 

In this exciting and lighthearted episode Greg speaks with Dave "Bio" Baranek, former TopGun Flight Instructor, F-14 RIO (Radar Intercept Officer), TopGun Instructor and Squadron Commander. Bio shares his insights, stories, lessons and experiences, many taken from his new book, TomCAT Rio: A Topgun Instructor on the F-14 Tomcat and the Heroic Naval Aviators Who Flew It. He also contrasts it from his two previous books, Top Gun Days & Before Top Gun Days.

 

Top Gun fans will not be disappointed. You'll hear a little about the movie where as a young TopGun instructor, Bio and his colleagues acted as consultants on the film and actually flew in the planes. He'll contrast what really happened to Goose (Anthony Edwards) in the movie; how it was written for Hollywood and how it can happen and be avoided in the real world.

 

Bio tells great stories that offer up a number of life and leadership lessons that can apply to anyone. He also opens up about some of his challenges, sharing how he handled the real life  "Danger Zone," mistakes he and others made and how had to learn to deal with what he referred to as his "Deadly Foe," called complacency...and more.

 

Dave “Bio” Baranek retired from the United States Navy in 1999 after successful and satisfying twenty-year career. He's now a defence contractor and author living in Satellite Beach, Florida. To get his bio and more about Bio, see more pictures or read more flying stories, visit www.TopgunBio.com.

 

TomCAT Rio is published by Skyhorse Publishing (208 pages including: large pictures and a 10-page glossary). It's available as a hard cover or Kindle e-book. You can find it along with Baranek's other books on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. 

 

PS. If you end up having Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone spinning in your head as you listen to the interview, don't fret, it's happened to all of us.

 

Headshot photo credit: Nicki Hovanec

Toastcaster 142: Virtual Interview Mistakes to Avoid He Learned Interviewing Zoom's Head Recruiter – John Bowe

[22:05] The Internet is full of experts doling out advice at what not to do during a virtual presentation or interview - job or otherwise.

 

In the episode, Greg speaks with John Bowe about his recent CNBC article, "4 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Next Virtual Job Interview -- Advice From Zoom's Head Recruiter,"  where he had a unique opportunity to interview Zoom's Phil Hayes - a guy who, of course, would really know.

 

John tells us about how the article came about and shares some of the wisdom he learned from Hayes including practical do's and don't tips for virtual job interviews. It's quite timely as many more interactions than ever are being done virtually and over Zoom. He also shares some of his own thoughts on this topic of which he is well versed.

 

The beauty of these tips and techniques is that they can also apply everywhere - like to businesses and for those for example who may be pitching product or services or even interviewing suppliers.

 

Have you wondered if virtual interviews better than live ones? Are companies getting better candidates, a better picture of the situation or is the lack of being there, creating more of a challenge? Listen carefully to find out - and more!

 

You just may be surprised at what you hear particularly at some of the reactions recruiters have and what they are actually thinking especially when during the interview, the unexpected happens.

 

John Bowe is a speech trainer, award-winning journalist, and author of "I Have Something to Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection." He's contributed to The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, GQ, This American Life and more. He was Educational Presenter at the 2020 Toastmasters International Convention and we interviewed him in a recent Toastmasters Podcast entitled Aristotle was a Toastmaster.

 

John lives in New York City and can reached via JohnFBowe.com.

 

 

 

Toastcaster 141: How to Use Subtle Words that Sell - Paul Ross

[27:37] Words are very powerful and this episode, Greg speaks with Paul Ross about Subtle Words that Sell. This is not only the title of his new book, but also a revolutionary concept he's used for the past 30 years to teach tens of thousands of people around the world the power of language not just to sell, but to persuade, influence and also heal. 

 

Paul insists that sales is not about selling but rather about shaping and structuring states on consciousness. He shares some of his wisdom and also lessons from his book which was in part inspired by his competitive nature and his past experience as a dating coach.

 

In this lighthearted and entertaining episode, you'll learn from the man who's in love with language about categories of words to use and about techniques on how to reframe objections.

 

You'll also learn about pattern interrupt and the better understand the difference between persuasion or influence and manipulation and how focussing on selling decisions and good feelings rather than selling products and services are the key to success in business and life and much more.

 

Paul Ross is an author, international speaker, and sales trainer, Master Hypnotist and Master Practitioner and Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Paul Ross has been featured globally - on BBC, Fox, CNN, NBC, The Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, and now Toastcaster.

 

Visit his site SubtleWordsThatSell.com to find out more about his book, Subtle Words that Sell: How to Get Your Prospects to Convince Themselves to Buy and Add Top Dollars to Your Bottom Line and how you can also get two FREE BONUS courses on Destroying Objections and Building a Monster Mindset by using a special link.

 

 

 

Toastcaster 124: Consequential Communication in Turbulent Times – Diana Peterson-More

[29:57] In this episode, Greg speaks with Diana Peterson-More about her new book: Consequential Communication in Turbulent Times: A Practical Guide to Leadership. Peterson-More draws from her experience as a labor lawyer, HR executive and organizational development consultant to show individuals and business leaders the way to clear, concise, and intentional communication--vital to successful human interaction in today’s fast-paced, volatile (and #MeToo) world. 

A short read, this book has a unique format, for example, incorporating step-by-step how-to lists for each chapter, a number of case studies, analyzing what went wrong and food for thought through “What-if“ scenarios, often circling back to previous case studies as new concepts are learned.

The book is based on real stories and practical advice, some of which Diana shares with us during our conversation including using “I” statements and the Platinum Rule and more.

Diana Peterson-More is from Pasadena, California and can be reached through her website or at diana@dianapetersonmore.com. 

Toastcaster 118 - Grace Under Pressure - A Masterclass in Public Speaking - Lisa Wentz

[31:42] In this Episode, Greg speaks with Lisa Wentz about her new book, Grace Under Pressure - A Masterclass in Public Speaking from LID Publishing. It’s part of Lisa speaking and coaching program she’s releasing to the public for the first time. It’s cleverly broken into 3 sections: What’s holding us back, Vocal Training and Delivery and contains many topics you won’t see in most books on Public Speaking including 35 in-depth exercises.

Lisa will offer some valuable advice including dealing with your inner critic before, during and after your speech as well as a few stories from her book and how some of the exercises work.

Lisa Wentz has an extensive background in psychology, professional acting training and live performance. She has a Master’s Degree in Voice and Speech studies from the UK and is the founder of the San Francisco Voice Centre and has since coached public speaking clients from 37 countries. She can be reached at LisaWentz.com. You can find her book on Amazon. 

Toastcaster 117 – Memory & Visualization Techniques for Better Recall & Learning – Kevin Achtzener

[25:00] In this episode Greg speaks with regular guest Kevin Achtzener in his 7^th appearance on ToastCaster, as a follow up to Episode #97, “Memory Techniques to Remember Just About Anything.”

Today Kevin talks about how his techniques have evolved and shares with us a new concept he’s learned about memory and how he’s been able to not only memorize key facts for his University Classes, but also how he processes and synthesizes the information he’s learning.

Kevin reminds us that memory is not just about remembering or encoding, but also about being able to recall the information. He shares examples how he remembers things by visualization, creating images of phrases in his mind like avatars, placing then recalling them using the memories of his childhood home as a backdrop or storage grid.

Kevin also introduces the audience to the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, a process that helps people learn and how this model fit into the big picture. Ideas and methods you’ll hear in the podcast not only apply to courses, but also for preparing and delivering speeches, presentations reports and anything you really need to learn.

Kevin Achtzener specializes in Mind Mapping, memory techniques, productivity and learning. He can be reached at VisualProductivity.net.

Toastcaster 114 Crutch and Filler Words Cripple Your Message and Reduce Credibility

[11:34] Simple crutch and filler words are sabotaging your speeches and crippling your communications and you may not even realize it’s happening.

In this episode, Greg takes a look at a number of these unwanted words and why we so often use them. He identifies some famous people who are also afflicted with this habit and offers tips and techniques as to how to rid them from your vocabulary as well as where to find help to do so. This is an updated version and reboot of Toastcaster Episode 42 and an article which can be found at GadgetGreg.com.    (Please Note:  The Ummo App mentioned in the episode is now no longer being supported by the developer)

 

Toastcaster 113 Top 3 Pro Tips for a Virtual Stage & Presenting On-Line

[15:22] The right stage presence can make or break a performance regardless of whatever words that may be coming out of your mouth. But what about an off-stage presence, that virtual presence, those times when you’re giving a presentation on-line, a webinar, doing an interview or recording a podcast anytime you’re in front of a computer screen?

In this episode, Greg, a.k.a The Gadget Guy offers an extended look at three pro tips and one bonus tip and things to consider when you’re presenting in a virtual world, things that may differ from when you are presenting on a traditional stage. This can help you take your next delivery from good to great.

Photo Courtesy Zoom.

Toastcaster 109 Perfecting Your Pitch in the Digital Age - Terry Kozlyk

[25:34] In this our final episode for 2018 Greg speaks with Terry Kozlyk, an engineer and budding entrepreneur from Calgary who a few years back discovered the power of the spoken word through Toastmasters that lead him to start his own podcast, TDK Talks, which later morphed into including video which he felt was was ideal for capturing a story. New to video he quickly found himself on a charity mission to Vietnam for a special cause where he created and produced a 30-minute documentary which was aired on Shaw TV.

Moving towards entrepreneurship Terry believes that every business person should be able to perfect his or her pitch. And what better way to do it than by using video.  So in this episode Terry will share a bit about his mission, enlighten you with a few tips on creating videos for yourself and your website and share with us a bit about his new venture “Perfect Your Pitch Live” based in Calgary, Alberta Canada he co-partnered to help people do just that - perfect their pitch.

Terry is also a Toastmaster and currently the PRM for District 42 (Southern Alberta / Southern Saskatchewan). He can be reached at TDKTalks.

You can find Perfect Your Pitch Live on Facebook.

 

Toastcaster 107 Talk on Water - Stephanie Scotti

[36:32] In this episode Greg speaks with Communications expert and Author Stephanie Scotti about her new book Talk on Water: Attaining the Mindset for Powerhouse Presentations.

In this fun conversation Stephanie shares with us a little about her journey, which started in her 10^th grade public speaking class and includes working with key policy makers, including the President’s Cabinet, preparing them to speak on energy policy by the age of twenty-two.

Stephanie also enlightens us with a number of valuable lessons from her book including, about the need to not only connect with your audience when you present; you also need to connect with your message as well as yourself; You’ll also take away a number of tips and tricks for effective presentations and learn about her C.O.D.E., and how your topic differs from your core message and a whole lot more.

Stephanie Scotti is from Chapel Hill N.C. and is the founder and director of Professionally Speaking Consulting LLC a communications consulting agency focused on executive communication success.

Stephanie can be reached at ProfessionallySpeaking.net

You can also find Stephanie’s book Talk on Water at your favourite bookstores as well as on Amazon. (The Kindle version is also sharable with your friends)