Feel awkward in interviews or freeze up when the spotlight hits? Emmy-winning journalist and communication coach Bill McGowan reveals the biggest mistakes even top performers make—and how you can avoid them. Learn how to speak memorably, redirect tough questions with grace, and deliver your message with clarity and confidence every time.
Bill McGowan is the Founder and CEO of Clarity Media Group and a two-time Emmy Award–winning journalist. He's the bestselling author of Pitch Perfect: How to Say It Right the First Time, Every Time and Speak, Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience. Bill is the top global communications advisor to leaders across tech, business, entertainment, and media, including founders of Amazon, Meta, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Airbnb. His communication training has helped professionals at the highest levels deliver their message with clarity, confidence, and impact.
WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Coaching High Performers in Media Training
02:50 Preparing for Media Interviews Effectively
06:11 The Art of Brevity in Communication
08:54 Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety
11:50 The Importance of Storytelling
15:13 Avoiding Clichés in Communication
18:02 Injecting Humor and Levity into Presentations
20:51 Understanding Energy in Communication
35:06 The Power of Energy in Communication
39:26 The Magnificent Seven: Tools for Effective Communication
43:13 The Importance of Engagement and Attention
49:55 The Art of Preparation and Practice
57:10 Navigating AI and Authentic Communication
01:05:46 Creating Memorable Analogies and Stories
Thanks for listening! New episodes drop every Tuesday. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified. <3
If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all our episodes on YouTube → http://www.youtube.com/marieforleo
COME SAY 'HI!'
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/marieforleo
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marieforleo
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/marieforleo
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/marieforleo
MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:
Grab your copy of Bill McGowan's new book Speak, Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience → https://amzn.to/45xyge4
FREE MASTERCLASS → Do you want a way to get more done, in less time, and with waaay less stress. Watch my brand new FREE masterclass called "3 Sneaky Mistakes That Kill Productivity & Tank Profits" https://marieforleo.com/freeclass
YEARLY GOALS MAP → Get instant clarity & achieve your goals with less stress. In 10 minutes or less, this powerful FREE tool will help you cut through the noise, zero in on what matters most, and drop the guilt about the rest. https://marieforleo.com/yearly-goals
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review! <3 It really helps us get encouraging and actionable advice to entrepreneurs and creatives who need to hear it most!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!