
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

Nov 14, 2024 • 26min
266: Throw Out The Rulebook. Gigi Danzinger
What if we challenged traditional notions of success and leadership?
In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Gigi Danzinger, a philanthropist and social entrepreneur who, at 60, changed her name to reflect a bold new chapter.
Gigi shares her unique approach to social impact, focusing on empowering communities through initiatives in Hudson, New York.
From a basic income pilot, her investments in underappreciated founders and her "no strings attached" philanthropy, Gigi is redefining what it means to make a difference as a leader.
Tune in as she discusses her journey to challenging traditional success, investing in underappreciated founders, and building sustainable, community-driven models that inspire change.
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/

Nov 7, 2024 • 41min
265: The Culture Expert: Crafting a Culture of Transparency, Innovation, and Empowerment. Chris Dyer
Culture is destiny. How we treat each other at work has a huge impact on business success and personal fulfillment.
But how can leaders navigate the complexities of remote and hybrid work while cultivating an environment that attracts top talent and drives innovation?
Oliver Aust sits down with company culture expert Chris Dyer, author of "The Power of Company Culture" and "Remote Work", to unpack the key pillars of building a world-class company culture.
From embracing transparency and empowering employees to encouraging productive risk-taking, Chris shares practical strategies that any organization can implement.
Discover how to:
Foster a culture of openness and trust, even in remote/hybrid settings
Empower employees to solve problems and drive innovation
Attract and retain top talent through an engaging, people-first culture
Leverage "cockroach meetings" to boost productivity and collaboration
Adapt your culture and communication for the hybrid/remote landscape
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to cultivate a thriving, future-proof company culture.
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/

Oct 31, 2024 • 41min
264: Stop Drowning in Work and Get Your Hours Back. Nick Sonnenberg
Do you ever feel like you're drowning in work? Constantly battling a never-ending swarm of emails, Slack messages, and meeting invites? Wondering how you can use automation and new tools to make your life easier?
We all know the feeling all too well. In this week's episode, Oliver Aust speaks with Nick Sonnenberg. Nick is a serial entrepreneur, a guest lecturer at Columbia University, and the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller, "Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work."
As the founder and CEO of Leverage, Nick has made it his life's work to help companies and individuals break free from the overwhelm. And communication is a huge part of that.
In this conversation, Nick shares his proven strategies for mastering meetings, crushing email, using AI the right way, and putting an end to the dreaded "scavenger hunt" for information.
The upshot? You could potentially gain an extra full day of productivity per week - just by using the right tools and systems the right way.
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/

Oct 23, 2024 • 33min
263: Seth Godin: All Leadership Is, Is Communication
Seth Godin, the world’s most famous marketer and author of 21 best-sellers, discusses revolutionary ideas from his new book, "This is Strategy." He emphasizes that true leadership is rooted in effective communication, not just management. Seth paints leadership as a journey that requires adaptability, using storytelling to forge deeper connections. He also contrasts traditional and innovative leadership methods, all while advocating for proactive climate action to create meaningful change. Tune in for insights that inspire!

Oct 17, 2024 • 44min
262: Radical Candor CEO: Don’t Avoid The Tough Conversations. Jason Rosoff
Positive feedback is easy. But if you are like most, you have probably struggled with having tough conversations at work.
To find out how to give honest feedback without destroying relationships, Oliver Aust is joined by Jason Rosoff, CEO of Radical Candor, the company he co-founded with Kim Scott, the author of the bestselling book with the same name.
Radical candor allows us to care personally while challenging directly, and for Jason it is the key to creating a thriving workplace.
Jason highlights that avoiding feedback can lead to relationships degrading due to neglect rather than tough conversations, reminding leaders to prioritize difficult discussions early on to prevent bigger issues.
Discover how radical candor can prevent small issues from becoming big problems, create a feedback culture, and ultimately change your team’s dynamics for the better.
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. For listeners of the podcast, we offer a 15% discount in October: PODCAST15
https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Oct 10, 2024 • 42min
261: The Transformation Expert: Change Your Team Can Believe In. Tamsen Webster
Change is inevitable, yet 70% of change processes fail. This has become a major issue for many organizations, whose very survival depends on adapting to changing times.
To find a way forward for both leaders and teams, Oliver Aust is joined by Tamsen Webster, a world-renowned expert in change communication and author of the brand-new book Say What They Can't Unhear.
Tamsen, who also wrote the excellent book Find Your Red Thread, shares key insights into why people resist change—it’s not the change itself, but the fear of loss that holds them back.
Tamsen explains the critical mistake most leaders make: failing to connect the change to what employees already care about. She dives deep into how to address loss aversion, build belief in the change, and anchor your message in the identity of your team. By aligning with what people already believe, leaders can turn resistance into buy-in.Tune in to learn how to personalize your communication for different stakeholders, avoid the “dilution effect,” and inspire lasting commitment to change through clear, purposeful narratives.
Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now enroll in the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver Aust over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator. https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

14 snips
Oct 3, 2024 • 46min
260: The 5 Principles of Presentations That Create Change. Kris Flegg
Most presentations are instantly forgotten. Or worse, people don’t even pay attention in the first place.
What makes a presentation stand out? To find out, Oliver Aust talks with Kris Flegg, founder of Presentation Design Co. and author of The Presentation Playbook about the art of capturing audience attention.
Kris, who transitioned from a “below-average” presenter to working with global giants like McDonald's and Coca-Cola, shares his five key principles for powerful presentations.
Listeners will learn about the mindset shift that separates mediocre presentations from those that stick.
Kris emphasizes the need for clarity in purpose and structure, explaining why presentations fail when they lack emotional storytelling or don’t start with a clear goal.
He also discusses the importance of preparation and rehearsal, treating audience engagement as a fair exchange of time and value.
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/

Sep 26, 2024 • 48min
259: Master Nonverbal Leadership with Insights from the Poker Table. Blake Eastman
Do you realize how much your body language influences the way others perceive you as a leader?
In this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust sits down with Blake Eastman, founder of The Nonverbal Group and School of Cards. As a former professional poker player, Blake mastered reading body language and high-stakes decision-making at the poker table.
He now applies these skills to help top executives and elite teams enhance their nonverbal communication – even though he is the first to admit that different games are played at the poker table and in the boardroom.
Blake reveals how the smallest facial expressions, gestures, and tones of voice can either amplify or detract from the message you’re trying to convey.
Through his research and years of coaching, Blake emphasizes the power of alignment between what you say and how you say it.
Listeners will learn practical strategies for improving their own nonverbal communication, building trust, and communicating more authentically during virtual meetings.
By the end of the episode, you’ll walk away with tools to build your leadership presence and communicate with confidence—without saying a word.
Find out more about Blake Eastman at https://www.nonverbalgroup.com/
Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now enroll in the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator.
https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

9 snips
Sep 17, 2024 • 40min
258: Obama’s Speechwriter: Working in the West Wing, Speeches that Make History, and Becoming a Confident Speaker. Terry Szuplat
Terry Szuplat, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama and author of "Say It Well," shares his journey in the White House and the art of impactful communication. He reveals personal anecdotes, including a memorable moment when Obama lost his train of thought. The conversation dives into overcoming speech anxiety and the importance of understanding both yourself and your audience. Terry also discusses effective speech preparation and the power of a hopeful conclusion, offering actionable tips to enhance your public speaking skills.

Sep 12, 2024 • 56min
257: The Laws of Connection That Will Transform Your Life. David Robson
Have you ever left a conversation doubting whether the other person liked you?
You’re not alone—it’s called the Liking Gap.
This week on Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust is joined by David Robson, author of the global bestsellers The Laws of Connection, The Expectation Effect, and The Intelligence Trap, and journalist and science writer for the BBC.
David reveals laws of human connection and the psychology behind the Liking Gap – why we underestimate how much others like us and how it impacts our personal and professional lives.
The conversation unpacks the consequences of the Liking Gap at work, including how it affects feedback, collaboration, and productivity.
David also shares actionable strategies to overcome this bias, build stronger connections, have better conversations, and improve communication skills.
By the end of this episode, you’ll learn practical steps to overcoming self-doubt so you can build deeper relationships in life and work.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve the relationships in their lives and make new ones.
If you're looking to connect with your audience, Oliver has a live Presentation Secrets Workshop coming up, so make sure you are subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/