
The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
If you want to have a laugh whilst learning how to increase your confidence and public speaking skills, for personal or business growth, then you have come to the right place. Discover tips, tricks and strategies on how to speak and pitch using humour and performance. Find out how to better connect with people’s pain points in a way that they will want to talk about and share, and get the low down on powering up your mind set. Sarah Archer, is a stand-up comedian, playwright, speaker and business woman. She is also author of ‘Cracking Speech Mate! – How to use humour to make you an amazing speaker’, and ‘Straight to the Top – How to create and deliver a killer elevator pitch’. Communicating with authenticity and power, influencing through copy, spoken word and body language, managing negative thoughts and anxiety, building authority and trust, story-telling and comedy secrets...oh and we’ll also cover focus and time management ‘cause Sarah has a mind like a butterfly! Join her for fun and aha moments.
Latest episodes

Jul 22, 2021 • 21min
Tips for Remembering Your Talk - 180
In my experience, the impact of the fear of forgetting what you want to say manifests itself in three big ways: First there are the group of people who put off, or give up on their dream of speaking and sharing their message… and this can lead to negative self-talk, low self-worth, and the anger and frustration of comparisonitis. Then there are the people who compensate for this fear of forgetting by having their talk as text on their slides, or having a full script that they read from. This will likely sabotage their success because the audience will become bored and disengaged. The third group is the ‘wing it’ brigade. They’re also compensating for the fear, but they do it by not preparing properly. Very few people will do a good talk here, and it’s more likely their message will be rambling, and maybe the audience will be paying attention, but only in the way that people do when a car crash is happening. In this show, you’ll hear me working with one of my TSC Live members who wanted to get some tips for remembering her talk. If you would also like to improve your recall and content confidence, then you’ll find this useful too. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: How your memory is better than you think it is. How to break down a talk so that it’s easy to remember. Why you can’t inject personality without content familiarity. The power of letting go. Why you need to separate your ‘creator’ and ‘critic’ sides. Why your introduction should not be the first thing you do. How powerful metaphors can be mental signposts for you. What to be mindful of using autocue. Why the high level structure of your talk is the most important thing to commit to memory. There is no magic wand to replace rehearsal and practice. Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Resources: https://unraveltea.com Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

Jul 15, 2021 • 46min
Yes, And... How Improv Can Help You Grow Your Business And Impact with Avish Parashar - 179
Avish Parashar is one of those rare examples of someone who made his passion his business. So many of us settle for less than what makes our heart sing. In love with performance growing up, when he started college he resigned himself to following a traditional and more secure career path to please his family. Then one day he saw improv comedy and everything changed. In this show, Avish shares his journey and how he ended up teaching organisations valuable business skills through improvisation. He is an in demand speaker, weaving together humorous stories, jokes, audience interaction, and improv comedy games, to keep the audience engaged while imparting key lessons. Not only will you learn some new business tools through improv, but you’ll also discover some great speaking tips to keep your audience engaged and entertained. What you’ll learn: What made Avish fall in love with improv. The challenges you faced in making a career out of your passion. How Avish positioned himself and his content for the corporate world. What a ‘ding’ moment is. The biggest ‘ding’ moments in Avish’s life and how improv helped. The specific business skills that improvisation tools can help improve. How Avish navigates getting the balance right between practical tools, motivation and entertainment in his talks. Why you need to kill your darlings in your talk. What Avish did to get his first speaking gigs. Tips for how to combine doing what you love and earning a living. Why planning is important, but improvising is essential! How learning improv can increase your resilience. How Avish puts his talks together. All things Avish: www.DingHappens.com www.DingHappens.com/podcast https://www.facebook.com/avishparashar https://www.facebook.com/groups/MotivationalImprov http://avishandmike.com Books: The One Thing by Gary Keller Improvise to Success by Avish Parashar Say, “Yes, and” by Avish Parashar Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

Jul 8, 2021 • 18min
Why You Need to Go Beyond ‘Understanding’ Your Audience - 178
You can powerfully shift perspectives and inspire people to take action whether you’re doing a three minute talk or a two hour workshop, but not without developing customer intimacy. I’m not just talking about understanding your audience, I’m talking about focusing your message so that it speaks to people within that audience that have the specific problem that you can help resolve. In this show I’m going to give you some tips on how you can speak with the people in your audience at a new level of connection, so that they are awakened to the problem and want to get it solved. Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What I mean by customer intimacy. Why it matters. How to identify the burning platform for change. Future pacing, what it is and why it’s a powerful speaking tool. The secret weapon for shifting perspective. How to mitigate objections. Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Resources: Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

Jul 1, 2021 • 1h 7min
Taking Back Control of Your Future with Tim Box - 177
Tim Box is a Remedial Hypnotist and Mind Coach specialising in helping clients get control of their anxiety response. He has run a full time therapeutic practice in the UK for more than 10 years. Although Tim experienced anxiety when he was younger, and the impact it can have on your choices and freedom, it took him a few years to discover his calling in this field. When he did though, he began to shake things up. In 2017 he released his first book: Clear Your Head: How to enjoy life without anxiety getting in the way which went on to become an Amazon best seller. In 2019 he gave a TED talk entitled 'How to stop feeling anxious about anxiety’ which has now had over three quarters of a million views.
He is also the creator of The CONTROL System, which is a method of mind coaching that helps people overcome the psychological barriers that limit their personal growth. He teaches his method internationally and has now certified CONTROL Practitioners throughout the UK, Europe, and the US. Enjoy What you’ll discover: Tim’s own experience with anxiety and his journey since. How your negative patterns become part of your identity. A new way to frame anxiety. Tips for managing anxiety. Why we appear to be less able to cope with anxiety today than we were 100 years ago. Whether the experience of anxiety is influenced by gender. The Control Method and how it works. Tips for managing anxiety related to public speaking. How Tim gets the balance right between stories, humour and the important message he wants to convey. How Tim uses speaking to grow his audience and business. All things Tim: www.thecontrolsystem.co.uk https://www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-akeh4-a50450 https://www.youtube.com/c/TimBoxMindCoach @timboxmindcoach (Instagram) https://www.facebook.com/timboxhypnotist (Facebook) TEDx - How to Stop Feeling Anxious About Anxiety by Tim Box Books: Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

Jun 24, 2021 • 26min
The Key Thing You Need to Become an In Demand Speaker & Change Maker - 176
If you’re an expert that wants to make a difference, you’ll probably already know that to inspire change, to grow your audience and your income, you have to become someone who can influence the narrative, someone who is a ‘Thought Leader’. Unfortunately, most of the experts, authors and entrepreneurs that set out on the journey to thought leadership make the same costly mistake. In this show, I’m sharing what that is and the things that set some of the biggest thought leaders and changemakers on their path to success. If you want to have more impact and stand out from the crowd then this episode is spot on for you! Enjoy! What you’ll discover: What you’ll have to become to inspire change and grow your audience The big mistake made by many aspiring ‘influencers’. Four things Brene Brown, Simon Sinek and Captain America have in common. What a signature talk is. The ingredients of an effective signature talk. How I discovered the powerful ingredients of the signature talk Some big signature talks being deconstructed so that you can see how and why they work. Common limiting beliefs and misconceptions that maybe holding you back from realising your potential as a speaker and influencer. Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) TEDx How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek TEDx The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown Resources: Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

Jun 17, 2021 • 57min
Creating a Tipping Point for the Planet One Talk at a Time with Graham Hill - 175
Graham Hill has always been a pioneer. Early on, he created and sold one of the first internet companies, which gave him the opportunity to shift his focus. Since then he has created more companies, all with a focus on influencing the narrative around sustainability, which have been featured by the New York Times, Dwell, Discovery Channel, and “The Minimalists” documentary. Today, he is a leading figure at the intersection of entrepreneurialism, innovation, and sustainability. One of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Graham is sought after for his ability to clearly communicate how we can all create a simpler, wealthier, greener, and happier planet. He has presented at many prestigious conferences including two main stage TED talks that have reached over 10 million people. On this show, he is sharing about how speaking has helped him become a thought leader in the environmental space, and about his latest venture. 20 years in the making, The Carbonauts is the culmination of Graham Hill’s environmental career and the start of a movement that could tip the balance in nature’s favour, so that our planet and future generations are safe. Enjoy. What you’ll learn: How Graham got started on his mission and why. The impact you can have when you have a powerful vision of the way you want things to be. How Graham has pivoted multiple times in his environmental career. Graham’s view on the effect that the pandemic has had an effect on our relationship with the planet. Why we need to have an ‘improv mindset’ to climate change. The change we could make tomorrow. How the personal benefits of choosing a lower carbon footprint can far outweigh the sacrifices. The 5 most impactful ways we can reduce our carbon footprint? The impact that 3.5% of the population changing can have on change. Why speaking has been so critical in helping Graham become a thought leader. All things Graham: Thecarbonauts.com @wethecarbonauts TED Talk - Why I’m a weekday vegetarian by Graham Hill TED Talk - Less Stuff, More Happiness Books: Natural Capitalism - The Next Industrial Revolution by Paul Hawken, Amory B. Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins The Overstory by Richard Powers Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

Jun 10, 2021 • 49min
The 4% Mindset and Why You Should Think Like Apple with Iain Cahill - 174
Iain Cahill is a qualified accountant, with over 30 years’ experience creating and investing in businesses as well as providing financial mentoring to other Business owners and he’s on a mission! In the early 90’s Iain Cahill started a company in the catering industry with his sister, a while later he took a break to take his accountancy exams. When he returned the company had run into financial trouble, and Iain had to find a way to pay off the debts, a significant proportion of which were overdue tax payments. Having just studied taxation and the opportunities available to big organisations to make them work in their favour, Iain wondered if small businesses could adopt the same approach. This set him off on a mission, one which not only salvaged the reputation of his first company, but led to him identifying what he calls the 4% mindset, which is at the heart of what he does today and the market disrupting businesses he has created. Enjoy What you’ll learn: The 4% mindset, what it is and why this matters for entrepreneurs and the communities they live in. Why small business owners need to treat themselves as the ‘principal company shareholder’. Why financial literacy should always come before social media strategy on a business owners development plan. The economic wars that are underway at the moment, and why they will result in a new financial landscape. The vehicles that Iain has created to help small business owners leverage the 4% mindset in their businesses. The difference these have been making to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The biggest objections Iain comes across and how he counters it. Why you need to ‘walk the walk’, before you ‘talk the talk’. Why you should craft a talk, then let go of a script. All things Iain: https://gewardz.com https://2tiertravel.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/gewardz/ Books: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Napoleon Hills’ Success Principles Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

Jun 3, 2021 • 20min
Shifting from Awkward to Awesome in Public Speaking (Part 2) - 173
I was asked to do a session for Catherine Gladwyn’s membership on ‘How to Nail Public Speaking’... I didn’t chose that title… I can certainly get you a long way forward, but even I can’t teach you to nail public speaking in an hour! In order to deliver the most value to this group of entrepreneurs and business owners, I asked Catherine to ask them a couple of questions… What problems / fears do you have around public speaking? What do you want to be like? We had some great responses. The top five fears centred around lack of confidence, concern about looking or feeling inadequate, forgetting what to say, and two around delivery in terms of filler words and being clear and articulate. The top five desires were to be confident, relaxed, natural, interesting and entertaining and to have a presence. So I created this interactive talk, which I’m sharing across two episodes, to move them closer to overcoming those problems and becoming the speaker they want to be. And I hope it helps you too! What you’ll discover: The honest admission I make about one of their biggest fears. The experience I had with a troll. The decision you need to make in relation to other people to be able to become a great speaker. What confidence is and how you build it. What you share when you feel completely comfortable. The three ingredients to becoming a great speaker. A framework for nailing the intention of your talk. Why you should avoid talking about how brilliant you are. How you should hook your audience in at the start of your talk. How you add value to the audience. The reasons why stories are so powerful and you should be using them. Why you should repurpose the same story and how to do it. The different ways you can use stories in your talks. Why you need to let go of worrying about perfect delivery and what you should concentrate on instead. Enjoy! Other Episodes: The Lowdown on Ums, Ahhs and Filler Words and Why Worrying About Them Could be Sabotaging Your Speaking – 168 Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Resources: FREE Masterclass on The Three Step Formula to Selling When You Speak Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Stand Out Pitching Bootcamp The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc https://www.hotflushrebels.com https://coachcampus.com/coach-portfolios/power-tools/tonia-jenny-attention-vs-intention/ http://www.avishparashar.com/article-attentionvsintention.html Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

May 27, 2021 • 21min
Shifting from Awkward to Awesome in Public Speaking (Part 1) - 172
I was asked to do a session for Catherine Gladwyn’s membership on ‘How to Nail Public Speaking’... I didn’t choose that title…she did… now I can certainly get you a long way forward, but even I can’t teach you to nail public speaking in an hour! In order to deliver the most value to this group of entrepreneurs and business owners, I asked Catherine to ask them a couple of questions… What problems / fears do you have around public speaking? What do you want to be like? We had some great responses. The top five fears centred around lack of confidence, concern about looking or feeling inadequate, forgetting what to say, and two around delivery in terms of filler words and being clear and articulate. The top five desires were to be confident, relaxed, natural, interesting and entertaining and to have a presence. So I created this interactive talk, which I’m sharing across two episodes, to move them closer to overcoming those problems and becoming the speaker they want to be. And I hope it helps you too! What you’ll discover: The honest admission I make about one of their biggest fears. The experience I had with a troll. The decision you need to make in relation to other people to be able to become a great speaker. What confidence is and how you build it. What you share when you feel completely comfortable. The three ingredients to becoming a great speaker. A framework for nailing the intention of your talk. Why you should avoid talking about how brilliant you are. How you should hook your audience in at the start of your talk. How you add value to the audience. The reasons why stories are so powerful and you should be using them. Why you should repurpose the same story and how to do it. The different ways you can use stories in your talks. Why you need to let go of worrying about perfect delivery and what you should concentrate on instead. Enjoy! Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club (Take a photo of your review and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!) Resources: FREE Masterclass on The Three Step Formula to Selling When You Speak Join the Next Snackable Story Challenge The Stand Out Pitching Bootcamp The Speaking Club Facebook Group The Speaking Club ‘Live’ Membership Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.storyledmarketing.com https://www.hotflushrebels.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.

May 19, 2021 • 52min
The Secret Stigma that Turned into a Superpower with Lexa Wokersien - 171
Lexa Wokersien has had a career in marketing and communications for 17 years, and during that time, in addition to juggling the demands of her job, she has been keeping a big secret. Worried about what it would mean for her career should it come out, she has struggled alone to find workarounds and tools that will enable her to fulfil her potential despite being at a significant disadvantage to her peers. Recently, Lexa came on my Snackable Story Challenge and over the course of five days she found that she had a powerful message to share. Lexa is dyslexic, and she wants to tell her story so that other people in the same situation don’t have to hide away and cope on their own like she did. When I heard about her journey and the potential her story had for showing other people with dyslexia that speaking and storytelling are possible for them, I knew I had to have her on the show. What you’ll learn: What made Lexa decide to keep her dyslexia secret How she managed to keep it hidden for so long The stigma and shame she was trying to avoid and what toll it took How it affected the way she approached her career The new attitude she has towards her dyslexia and what shifted her perspective. What she would say to a younger version of herself looking back from today. The tools and techniques she has developed over the years to help her in her marketing role. Why organisations should embrace hiring a dyslexic person. Why she decided to take on a speaking challenge with me and what happened. The unexpected side effects of developing her storytelling and speaking skills. The new possibilities that have opened up for her and her future. All things Lexa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexa-wokersien-31627914/ https://youtube.com/channel/UCvU600rA5eWecNhDTgt1ckA https://www.robinshobden.com/coaching/ https://screening4dyslexia.com/ Books: SUMO (Shut Up and Move On) by Paul McGee Resources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespeakingclub/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge https://www.facebook.com/SarahArcherSpeak/ https://www.saraharcher.co.uk https://www.standoutpitch.com Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: leave a comment below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and review really help get the word out and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes.