
SPEAK LIKE A CEO
SPEAK LIKE A CEO is the leading podcast on CEO communications. Every week Oliver Aust has an in-depth conversation with an inspiring founder or entrepreneur about leadership and communications. Tune in and find out all about how CEOs are tackling their communications
Oliver is a best-selling author, and one of Europe’s leading communications & personal branding experts. He is on a mission to help people reach their full potential and share their unique voice. As founder and CEO of a leading communications consultancy, he is a trusted advisor to many high-profile individuals and organisations.
Latest episodes

May 8, 2025 • 36min
286: Pirates, Hostages & Cyber Attacks: What They Taught Me About Decisions with Top Kidnap-for-Ransom Negotiator Scott Walker
Scott Walker is a world-class kidnap-for-ransom negotiator who deals with hostage takers, pirates and cyber-attacks. Scott has successfully negotiated more than 300 such incidents using the principles he shares in his best-selling book ‘Order Out of Chaos’.The New York Times called it “a masterclass in communication excellence”. Now Scott is back with his follow-up, ‘Eye of The Storm’ – a book that lifts the curtain on how we make decisions, and how we don’t become slaves to our emotions. Since we all make hundreds of decisions every day, becoming better at this skill can be a game-changer for your life. As always, Scott delivers with clarity, humor and fresh insights. He shows us how to thrive in any situation, regulate our emotions under pressure, and build our decision-making muscle. Also check out Episode 239 with Scott when we talked about becoming a world-class negotiator. Find out more about Scott at https://winanynegotiation.com/. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

May 1, 2025 • 52min
285: How to Get What You Want From the People in Charge. Melody Wilding
Success isn't just about what you know, but your ability to influence and persuade those in positions of power. On this episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust sits down with the brilliant Melody Wilding. Melody is an award-winning executive coach, speaker, and bestselling author.Drawing on her extensive experience and insights from her book, "Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge," Melody provides you with practical strategies for effective communication with superiors and decision-makers.Listeners will learn how to frame their requests in a way that resonates with their bosses' motivations, navigate different communication styles to ensure clarity and respect, set healthy boundaries to avoid burnout, strategically position themselves for career advancement, confidently approach salary conversations, and even deliver constructive feedback upwards. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their influence, build stronger professional relationships, and ultimately, get what they need to thrive in their careers.Find out more about Melody Wilding: https://melodywilding.com/Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career.https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Apr 24, 2025 • 48min
284: How to Be Inspiring: Science-Backed Strategies from the World’s #1 Expert. Adam Galinsky
Forget the myth of the "naturally" inspiring leader. Adam Galinsky, author of "Inspire", reveals the science behind inspiration – and how you can cultivate it.Adam is the world’s #1 expert on inspirational leadership. He is a professor at Columbia Business School and has been studying the science of inspiration for over 20 years. His new book “Inspire” is one of the best books on leadership in recent years. His TED Talk, “How to Speak Up for Yourself,” has been viewed millions of times.Adam shares science-based yet actionable strategies to become more inspiring in any setting, how to deal with infuriating leaders, and how to use the “leadership amplification effect” in your favor. Find out more about Adam Galinsky and how inspiring you are in his 3 minute quiz: https://adamgalinsky.com/ Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career.https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Apr 17, 2025 • 42min
283: How to Make Your Idea Maximally Contagious with Storytelling Guru John Yorke
Want your idea to spread like wildfire? Do you want to move your audience to action? There is a way to achieve this. This week, Oliver is joined by John Yorke, a world-renowned storytelling expert and former head of BBC Drama, to unravel the secrets of compelling narratives.John wrote the OG of storytelling books: "Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them" and became the storyteller’s storyteller. When it was published over a decade ago, it opened many eyes to story structures, the importance of change and turning points, and the protagonist’s internal and external conflicts that create the tension. In our conversation, John shares how storytelling techniques – long used by writers, playwrights, and screenwriters – can be applied to leadership and business.He also shares details about his forthcoming book, the follow-up to Into the Woods. Find out more about John Yorke: https://www.johnyorkestory.com/ Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Apr 10, 2025 • 39min
282: Talk Less, Lead More: The Secret Skill of Elite Communicators. Oscar Trimboli
Are you really listening? Or just waiting to talk?Most leaders overestimate their listening skills. To understand why and how you can become a 10 out of 10 listener, Oliver is joined by Oscar Trimboli.Oscar is a globally-recognized listening expert and the author of How to Listen who will shatter your assumptions about hearing and connection. Discover how deep listening can revolutionize your communication, influence, and leadership.Uncover the hidden gap between hearing and truly listening, and learn actionable strategies to become a communication master. Trimboli shares groundbreaking insights on overcoming the 'speed mismatch' that sabotages understanding, so you can finally grasp the full meaning behind others' words.This episode helps you create more productive, meaningful, and impactful conversations. Build stronger relationships, foster collaboration, and unlock extraordinary outcomes through the transformative power of deep listening.Find out more about Osar Trimboli: https://www.oscartrimboli.com/ Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career: https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com

Apr 3, 2025 • 52min
281: The Burnout Trap: How to Reclaim Your Energy and Lead with Clarity. Dr Oliver Degnan
Dr. Oliver Degnan, a leading authority on burnout and former senior VP at IBM Watson Health, discusses the critical differences between stress and burnout. He highlights the importance of self-reflection in recognizing burnout triggers and advocates for healthy boundaries. The conversation touches on how generational distractions fuel burnout and emphasizes the power of positive connections. Degnan also explores the dual impact of AI on workplace stress and stresses that burnout can be prevented by taking charge of one's environment.

Mar 27, 2025 • 30min
280: How to Disagree Without Falling Out With Harvard’s Julia Minson
Why is it so hard to disagree without falling out? And how can we get better at managing disagreements?To find out, Oliver speaks to Julia Minson, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. They explore the crucial skill of productive disagreement in life and at work.Discover why smart people struggle with disagreements, the biggest mistakes we make in tough conversations, and practical strategies to foster a culture of constructive dialogue. Julia introduces her 'HEAR' framework – Hedging, Emphasizing Agreement, Acknowledgement, and Reframing to the Positive – and explains how to apply it in both personal and professional settings. They also discuss the impact of emotions, personality differences, and remote work on our ability to disagree effectively. Expect to learn how to listen actively, communicate receptively, and build stronger relationships through better conversations.This episode shows you how to turn disagreements into opportunities for growth and innovation. Find out more about Julia: https://www.juliaminson.com/Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career. https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Mar 20, 2025 • 43min
279: How to Become Indistractable in a World of Noise with Nir Eyal
Distractions are everywhere. But how do you regain focus and control in an age of constant interruptions?This week, Oliver speaks with Nir Eyal, the internationally acclaimed behavioral designer, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable, and former Stanford Lecturer.He explains that distraction isn't just about external triggers but often stems from a desire to escape discomfort.Discover practical strategies to manage internal triggers, design a focused environment, and create an indistractable workplace. Plus, learn why time-boxed calendars beat traditional to-do lists for productivity.Find out more about Nir Eyal at https://www.nirandfar.com/Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career. https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Mar 13, 2025 • 36min
278: The Ritual Effect: Build Elite Teams and Create Meaning with Harvard’s Michael Norton
What if I told you there's a secret weapon that can transform your leadership, boost team morale, and create a culture of peak performance?In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Professor Michael Norton, a renowned psychologist at HBS and author of The Ritual Effect: The Transformative Power of Our Everyday Actions.Professor Norton's research reveals the surprising impact of rituals – those seemingly small, repeated actions that hold immense meaning.They explore:How CEOs can use rituals to reinforce company values and visionThe role of rituals in building trust and psychological safetyWhy the most effective rituals are often the simplest onesPacked with actionable insights and real-world examples, this episode is a must-listen for CEOs, leaders, and anyone looking to elevate their communication and create a thriving workplace culture.Find out more about Michael Norton at https://michaelnorton.com/.Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/ Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career. https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Mar 6, 2025 • 34min
277: How to Become a Trusted Leader. Natalie Doyle Oldfield
No success without trust. But how do you build trust when trust in leadership is at an all-time low?Natalie Doyle Oldfield is a globally recognized expert on trust and author of Trusted: The Proven Path to Customer Loyalty and Business Growth. She explains how trust is often formed subconsciously as the first thing in an interaction between humans. People decide whether to trust you based on gut feeling and perception of your presence. So leaders must build trust BEFORE they need it. She explains how to build trust quickly, and how the human element is more critical than ever in the age of AI. Emphasize authenticity and connection to build trust.Natalie also emphasizes the importance of listening, clear communication, and authenticity while warning against inconsistency and broken promises.Plus: Natalie and Oliver explore the concept of trust equity and how businesses can build. Find out more about Natalie: https://www.successthroughtrust.com/Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career.https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/
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