Many speakers tell stories of adventure, of tragedy, of fall, and redemption. But what if you’ve lived a fairly uneventful…
Like many speakers, I have many more hours of material ready than I could ever share in a single keynote—stories,…
Many of us can recite poems and lyrics we first heard when we were children. Rhythm and rhyme are beyond…
Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” model offers a story structure that’s been used to create many successful narratives. Star Wars is…
Sound Effects The human voice is an amazingly versatile instrument. It can not only speak, it can sing, and imitate…
No big deal if you run over, right? That’s just more value the audience will get for the same fee.…
It’s so easy to grab a photo off the Internet It’s so easy to use your favorite song as background…
Tempo is speed, and it’s an important element of dynamic speaking. On a basic level, be aware of whether you’re…
Dynamics—change—is the hallmark of an engaging speech. One variable that’s often overlooked is emotional intensity. Changes in intensity offer a…
So many speakers miss out on a huge opportunity to engage audiences when they narrate dialogue in past tense. He…
I said goodbye to my traveling companion, rowed back to my anchored sailboat, sat in the cockpit, and looked around…
So many speakers—even professional ones—are afraid to be “theatrical.” They worry that will be inauthentic or phony. A speaker I…
We talked about the I-infection—about people who talk incessantly about themselves. I did this and I did that. That gets…
In part 1 we defined the transformation. By knowing how we want our audience to think, feel, or act differently…
If you want to become a great musician listen to great music. If you want to become a great speaker…
Many speakers talk about cortisol and oxytocin and how your brain reacts to stories. That’s all rather sophisticated sounding except…
Start with the golden rule of storytelling: Stories are always about people. And in a story, that person or group…
The two most important parts of a speech are the beginning and the ending. We need to engage the audience…
Over the years I’ve spent speaking, I’ve developed special ways to explain a variety of concepts. I’ve written books, created…
What is a “dynamic ramp?” In your speech, perhaps you share a story from many years ago and then you…
As a sailor, I ran aground more than once. I even spent a few uncomfortable nights with my keel stuck…
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