Your Intended Message

Better Conversations from Better Questions Be Curious to Create Positive Conversations

Episode 303 (Jackie is based in Michigan. Cheri is based in North Carolina)

In this conversation with Jackie Stavors & Cheri Torres we explore:

• the conversations we have with ourselves before we speak to others
• the difference between appreciative and depreciative thinking
• how pausing and breathing can interrupt defensive reactions
• why cu...

Emotional Freedom Techniques Explained How Tapping Helps You Overcome Fear

Episode 302 (Brad is based in California)

In this conversation with Brad Yates we explore:

• how stress shapes behavior, decisions, and success
• why people unknowingly avoid opportunities
• how emotional freedom techniques (EFT) work
• the connection between stress and self-sabotage
• how fear of judgment blocks communication
• why thinking alone cannot resolve st...

Leadership Speaking for Success How to Speak Like the Leader you Claim to Be

Episode 301 (Ty is based in Toronto)

In this conversation with Ty Hosegan we explore:

• how communication skills influence hiring, promotion, and career growth
• why technical expertise alone does not lead to leadership roles
• how lack of structure weakens clarity in meetings and conversations
• how the PRP framework helps organise ideas and improve understa...

Virtual Speaking Skills: Master Engagement and Timing How to Run High-Impact Virtual Events That Aren't Boring

Episode 300

(Bernie is based in Detroit)

In this conversation with Bernie DeSantis we explore:

• the shift from in-person to virtual presentation delivery
• why engagement—not content—is the biggest challenge in virtual settings
• how small delivery details determine audience attention
• the role of a virtual producer in supp...

Podcast Guest Mistakes That Hurt Your Crediblity Podcast Guesting Tips: Preparation, Presence & Promotion

Episode 299 (Noemi is based in Cyprus)

In this conversation with Noemi Beres we explore:

• why podcast guesting builds authority and long-term visibility
• how evergreen content continues to work for you over time
• how to identify and target the right podcast audience
• why podcast interviews are about the host and audience—n...

How Emotions Shape Every Business Negotiation The Power of Questions in Negotiation Conversations

Episode 298 (Fotini is based in Toronto)

In this conversation with Fotini Iconomopolous we explore:

• why the concept of “winning” in negotiation can damage outcomes
• how conflict is a natural and necessary part of negotiation
• why emotions—not information—drive most decisions
• how perception differs from intention in communication
• the...

Adaptive Leadership Starts with Communication Discipline Three Communication Habits for Every Leader to Practice

Episode 297 (Robert is based in Florida)

In this conversation with Robert Mixon we explore:

• the shift from a culture of compliance to a culture of commitment

• why communication must become a two-way process

• how lack of clarity leads to repeated mistakes and wasted effort

• the importance of confirming understand...

The Four Communication Skills Every Leader Must Master The Communication Skills That Separate Leaders from Managers

Episode 296 (Michael is based in Las Vegas)

In this conversation we explore:

• why many executives fail because of communication breakdowns rather than lack of expertise

• how leaders get promoted based on technical skills but must later rely on communication ability

• what happens when organizations promote high ...

Clear Messaging in a Noisy Marketplace From Threat to Oppoutunity: Turn AI Disruption into Business Growth

Episode 295 (Wes is based in Australia)

In this conversation with Wes Towers, we explore:

• how the rise of AI forced a digital agency founder to rethink his business strategy

• why niching into trades and construction improved messaging and positioning

• how specialization makes marketing communication clearer and more co...

Head & Heart: The Formula for Audience Connection Motivation vs. Information: What Makes a Great Speaker?

Episode 294 (Martin is based in Toronto)

In this conversation with Martin Peremuter we explore:

• how evergreen topics like leadership and trust continue to anchor conferences

• why AI dominates current conference agendas

• what an audience can realistically apply from a one-hour keynote

• the balance between informatio...

Scoping, Empathy, Ideation: A Structured Process for Innovation Innovation Catalyst: How to Help Your Team Come Up With the Ideas

Episode 293 (Lee Kitchen is based in south-west Ontario, Repeat of episode 54)

In this conversation we explore:

• the role of an innovation catalyst in helping teams think differently

• the importance of scoping before solving

• walking in the end user’s shoes through empathy

• defining a clear human...

Direct Mail Discipline in the Age of Email Marketing Over Deliver: Building a Business for a Lifetime

Episode 292 (Repeat of espisode 24, Brian is based in Connecticut)

In this conversation with Brian Kurtz we explored:

• why intention must guide every marketing action

• how list selection often matters more than copywriting brilliance

• why segmentation allows deeper audience connection

• how direct mail discipline sharpens em...

The Static in Your Message How Unintended Signals Sabotage Communication

Episode 291 (Solo show with your host, George Torok)

In this episode, we explore:

• how intended and unintended messages travel together

• why clarity starts before you speak, not while you speak

• the filters that distort messages before they are accepted

• how beliefs, experience, and emotions block understanding

• why credibility disappears when message...

Why Facts Don’t Persuade: Stories Do How to Tell Business Stories That Create Emotion and Action

Episode 290 (Michael is based in California) Repeat of episode #34

In this conversation with Michael Hague we explore:

• why stories persuade more effectively than facts and data

• how emotional connection drives audience engagement and action

• the role of empathy in powerful storytelling

• why conflict is essential to creating emo...

Communication Techniques from a Retired Spy Why Deception Fails: The Rule for Rapport

Episode 289 (JJ is based in Ottawa) Repeat of episode #79

In this conversation with JJ Brun, we explore:

• how a contact handler succeeds without “shooting your way out”

• why names act as a fast track to trust

• why deception breaks rapport and authenticity restores it

• how to listen and observe so you earn better information

• how to create...

The Three-Box Storytelling Framework The Hidden Psychology Behind Stories that Change Behavior

Episode 288 (Graham is based in Singapore) This is a repeat of episode #68.

In this conversation with Graham Brown, we explore:

• how the three-box storytelling model simplifies complex ideas

• why backstory builds trust before persuasion begins

• how fear of the unknown blocks decision-making

• why analogies help audiences understand...

When You Serve First, Business Follows How a Servant’s Heart Builds Trust, Teams, and Sustainable Sales

Episode 287 (Jim is based in Arizona)

In this conversation with Jim Hardwick we explore:

• why serving others builds trust faster than traditional selling

• how servant leadership strengthens teams without weakening authority

• the role of vulnerability in effective leadership

• why intentional service creates long-term busin...

How David Copperfield Creates Belief What a Master Illustionist Taught Me about Communication and Leadership

This wasn't an intterview. It was me live on stage with David Copperfield at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I had no idea that I would learn so much from this experience as a volunteer in his magic act.

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Key Lessons from this experience:

• there is no magic, only mastery

• perception matters more than reality

• people ...

The Missing Leadership Skill: How to listen for Real Results Listening for Oppportunity, Danger and Challenge 

Episode 285 (Julian is based in the Orkney archipelago northeast of Scotland)

In this conversation with Julian Tresure we explore:

• why listening is a learnable skill rather than a personality trait

• the difference between hearing and conscious listening

• how personal filters shape what people hear

• why senior lead...