David Nihill, an Irish author and stand-up comic, shares his revolutionary approach to public speaking. He discusses the transformation from a timid presenter to a confident trainer, emphasizing storytelling and humor over stiff techniques. David critiques traditional speaking training, advocating for engaging content and relatable analogies. He also highlights how PowerPoint can enhance storytelling, and offers practical strategies to master pacing and overcome presentation anxiety. His insights promise to change how listeners connect with their audiences.
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Humble Beginnings with Udemy Course
David Nihill began his speaker coaching career by creating a low-quality online course for himself on Udemy to overcome public speaking fears.
The course attracted real paying students, leading to private clients and a career in speaker training.
insights INSIGHT
Content Over Delivery Rule
Content always trumps delivery in public speaking, according to David Nihill's observations.
Genuine story content beats polished delivery, and acknowledging on-stage mishaps builds connection with the audience.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Comedy Techniques in Speaking
Use stand-up comedy techniques like joke structures and concise storytelling to improve speaking effectiveness.
Study comedians for real-life practice managing difficult audiences and crafting engaging stories.
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This book is an edited collection of reminiscences by Richard Feynman, based on recorded audio conversations he had with his friend and drumming partner Ralph Leighton. It covers a variety of instances in Feynman's life, including his work on the Manhattan Project, his critique of the science education system in Brazil, and his various hobbies such as safe-cracking, painting, and playing the bongo drums. The book also includes his famous 'Cargo Cult Science' lecture, where he cautions against the superficial appearance of scientific investigation without a self-critical attitude. Feynman's stories are lighthearted yet insightful, reflecting his high intelligence, curiosity, and humor.
Talk Like TED
CARMINE GALLO
Carmine Gallo's "Talk Like TED" is a guide to crafting and delivering compelling presentations. It analyzes successful TED Talks to identify common elements, such as storytelling, emotional connection, and clear messaging. The book provides practical advice on structuring presentations, using visuals effectively, and engaging the audience. It emphasizes the importance of passion and authenticity in communication. Ultimately, it aims to help readers become more confident and effective speakers.
It's your lucky day! Episode eighty of The Presentation Boss Podcast. Joining us today is Irish author, speaker trainer and stand-up comic, David Nihill. His philosophy around hacking public speaking, combined with his leverage of using Stand-Up techniques means he has a grounded, sensible but effective approach to what works in presentations.
The interview starts with a bit of fun, but soon settles into a conversation with loads of stories and a huge amount of great advice. David wouldn't let us move on until he'd made sure he shared all the tips and techniques he had prepared to talk about. Can't argue with that dedication to service!
Show your support for this episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/presentationboss
About Our Guest
David Nihill is the author of the best-selling book Do You Talk Funny? and the Founder of FunnyBizz Conference. His work has been featured in Inc., Lifehacker, The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Forbes, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The Irish Independent, Newstalk, TED and The Irish Times.
"One of the best speaking coaches out there" according to Forbes.com, David's Hacking Public Speaking program has had over 34,000 students. His book was listed by Book Authority as the #1 public speaking book of all time and his speechwriting company is used by some of the world's leading CEO's.
A sought after international business speaker, David also performs stand-up. He has over 40M views on his comedy videos. As a lecturer he has taught at Stanford Graduate Business School, UC Berkeley, University of Oxford and University College Dublin.
A graduate of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School he calls San Francisco home, and was named on the Irish America 100 List, which recognizes the accomplishments Irish-American and Irish-born leaders.
What You'll Learn
• How a simple online course launched David's speaker coach career
• The vast difference between the importance of content compared to delivery
• Exactly how to use joke structure and comedy patterns in business presentations
• Three techniques to make even the most boring and dry content come alive
• Why you might use slides to boost the entertainment value of your presentation
• What the difference is between 'speaking slower' and 'pausing', and why one is more effective
• The benefits of memorising your talk the right way
Mentioned In The Show
• David Nihill's website: https://davidnihill.com/
• David's course: hackingpublicspeaking.com
Continue the Conversation:
• Email us: podcast@presentationboss.com.au
• The Presentation Boss Podcast: https://presentationboss.com.au/podcast/
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• Join our online community: Presentation Bosses Facebook Group
• Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-norris/
• Thomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-krafft/
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