Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies 140: Comparing Political Speeches from Michelle Obama, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [Storytelling Series]
What can we learn from political speeches to apply to our own presentations?
Quite a bit!
For this episode, we watched speeches given by former First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator and Presidential Candidate Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (known as AOC).
I’m joined by one of our speaking coaches Diane Diaz as we talk about the similarities and differences in their speeches, including:
- Understanding who their real audience is
- Using certain stories and historical references to relate to their audience
- The impact of visual imagery when telling a story
- Repetition of key phrases
- The change in tone and content between Michelle Obama’s 2008 and 2016 DNC speeches - and why
- The role authenticity plays
- Stereotypes that women leaders have to overcome
- The generational differences we see with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s speaking style
This episode is part of our Storytelling series, episodes 137-140.
About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. In this episode, Carol is joined by one of our speaking coaches, Diane Diaz. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.
Speeches:
- Michelle Obama's 2008 DNC speech
- Michelle Obama's 2016 DNC speech
- Elizabeth Warren's Sept. 2019 campaign speech
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speeches
- Greta Thunberg’s speech at the United Nations Climate Summit 2019
Links:
Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/140
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Related Podcast Episodes:
- Episode 92: Deconstructing My TEDx Talk: Why We’re Uncomfortable with Women in Power
- Episode 94: Speaking and Showing Up Powerfully as Women with Molly Baker McPherson
- Episode 125: Handling Hard Conversations at Live Events with Sarah & Beth of Pantsuit Politics
- Episode 137: The Missing Ingredients in Your Stories [Storytelling Series]
JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.