Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

You’ve packed your presentation with data, insights, and value — but your audience isn’t responding the way you hoped.

If you’ve ever looked out and seen glazed-over eyes… or walked off stage and didn’t get the results you wanted, this episode is for you.

As a former software developer and technology strategist who has presented at countless conferences and meetups, I’ve learned what works — a...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to create, practice for, and deliver a powerful TED-style talk - especially one that’s only 8 minutes long?

In this episode, I’m joined by Diane Diaz, our lead speaking coach at Speaking Your Brand, as we take you behind the scenes of our recent TED-style speaking experience.

We were invited to be part of a live event called ElleX, hosted by a women’...

Have you ever walked away from a presentation thinking, “That was… fine,” but not truly moved, inspired, or motivated?

Here’s the truth: Most presenters mean well - they want to share valuable information - but they miss what truly makes a talk stick with the audience.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a recent presentation I gave at a local AI meetup that got amazing feedback -...

If I take a look at your slide deck or presentation outline and I can’t tell that the content is yours (vs. another speaker on your topic), you’re in danger of being a commodity speaker.

Commodity speakers are undifferentiated and interchangeable.

It will be harder for you to attract higher-profile speaking engagements, raise your speaking fees, and generate quality leads at your presentations...

As speakers and entrepreneurs, we often focus on the facts, data, and tactics we want to share – but what about the emotional connection?

In this episode, I talk about the power of finding the emotional heart of your message and why it’s essential for creating talks that resonate deeply with your audience and leave a lasting impact.

Have you ever imagined standing on a TEDx stage, spotlight on you, sharing a bold, transformative idea that resonates deeply with your audience?

TEDx talks are powerful platforms, not just for delivering information, but for sparking new perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring change.

In t...

Have you ever wondered what truly makes a “signature talk”… well, signature?

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down what a signature talk actually is (and what it isn’t), why most presentations fall flat, and how you can create a talk that not only connects with your audience — but also works for you as a spe...

I’ve been there. Heart pounding, mouth dry, butterflies swirling - even after years of speaking on stages and on live TV.

In this episode, I share some of my hardest speaking moments (including my worst ever speaking experience) and the surprising reasons we feel nervous before we speak, even when we 

Are you getting paid - or at least generating leads - from your speaking engagements?

Whether you’re speaking on stages, at conferences, or to community groups, your talks can (and should!) work for you, either by bringing in leads and clients or by earning you a speaker fee.

But here's what I often he...

Do you feel like hitting pause when everything around you feels uncertain?

Whether it's the economy, politics, AI, or just the general state of flux we're all living in, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. You’re not alone - I’ve been feeling it too.

In this episode, Diane Diaz and I talk candidly about what we've been noticing in ourselves, our clients, and the conver...

What does it really look like to lead with courage, advocate for yourself (and others), and embrace vulnerability as a strength?

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Mary Beth Plank-Mezo, who is the Vice President of Staff and Cultural Development at Full Sail University and has been with the university for an incredible 36 years. Her leadership has touched so many across the campus — and I ...

Are you unintentionally overwhelming your audience with too much information?

In this episode, I dive into one of the most common mistakes I see smart, experienced professionals make in their presentations: overloading them with information.

I know it’s tempting - after all, we want to provide value. B...

Have you ever had an idea that tugged at you, asking to be brought to life?

In this episode, I share why I believe so strongly that you are the exact messenger for your idea and your audience. Not someone else. You.

Yes, your topic may be similar to what others are ...

Have you ever wondered if you really need to add humor to your business presentations, keynotes, or conference talks?

Maybe you think, I’m just here to share valuable information - why should I try to be funny? 

Well, in this episode, I’m joined by our lead speaking coach, Diane Diaz, to show you exactly why humor isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s a must-have.

We’re diving into how...

I know you want to grow your business and brand and have a bigger impact as a thought leader.

But, as high-achievers, there are beliefs we have that get us stuck in the expert trap.

We believe that we need to teach/train to provide value; that training content is what our audience wants; and our identity is tied to seeing ourselves as the expert.

These beliefs are what can hold yo...

Is there a story you’re reluctant to share? The one that still makes you cringe a little, that feels raw and vulnerable?

That’s probably the exact story you should be telling - not just for your audience, but for yourself.

In this episode, I’m joined by Diane Diaz, and we’re pulling back the curtain on our own stories - the ones we’ve hesitated to share.

We talk a lot about storyt...

We hear all the time that we should “reinvent” ourselves to stay relevant.

Or that we should ignore or dismiss aspects of our careers that no longer seem to “fit” with what we’re doing now.

I’m not sure we can truly “reinvent” ourselves, nor should we.

Instead, we should embrace how we evolve over time - and actually seek out ways to challenge ourselves to evolve!

In ...

Are you feeling stuck or stagnant, bored and burnt out creating the same-old content? 

Or maybe you’re enjoying the content you’re creating and the topics you speak about, but you’ve hit a plateau. Your business isn’t growing, speaking opportunities aren’t growing, and most importantly you’re not growing.

Your business and opportunities will only grow if you’re stretching and growing yourself.

Have you ever attended a keynote that truly wowed you—one that stood out, engaged the audience, and provided an unforgettable experience?

Let’s face it, most keynotes do the job, but very few deliver that multidimensional magic.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Julia Korn, the founder and CEO of The Authenticity Guide and a recent client. 

We worked closely together to create h...