The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

Chances are all the films you love, all the books you devour, have pulled you in because you can relate not only to the character and their journey, but to the underlying messages that apply universally to all human beings. There are recurring symbols and motifs weaved into the fabric of stories from 'The Three Little Pigs' to 'Harry Potter', that signal, repeat and reinforce the themes that writers from Shakespeare to Quentin Tarantino use to draw us in and deliver a moral takeaway. Speakers and copy writers can also use universal themes and the tools of symbols and motifs in stories and more widely in their content to hook the audience, keep them engaged and get them to remember the kernel message and action points. In this show, I'm going to share what I know about universal themes and story plots, and some examples of how you can use them practically in your public speaking and marketing content. What you'll learn: What universal themes and basic story plots are Why they are important in stories, speaking, and marketing copy The different types of universal themes How symbols and motifs reinforce universal themes and what they are The options for story plots How you might use them in your speaking and in business. Thanks for listening! Resources: How to Find Stories to Share in Your Talks, Teaching and Marketing Content - Episode 033 Simon Sinek Forbes Article Simon Sinek – Ted Talk JK Rowling Harvard Commencement I feel Pretty Trailer The Storytelling Tools Reference Guide 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. See you next time.

Margot Leitman is the founder of the storytelling program at Upright Citizen's Brigade, five-time winner of The Moth, and a winner of the Moth GrandSLAM. She is also author of 'Long Story Short – The only storytelling guide you'll ever need.' Given that the best stories are personal ones, it seemed like a no brainer to get Margot on the show to share how she creates and tells award winning stories. In this show she shares ideas for where you should get your stories, how you should structure them to connect with your audience, how to start off, the way to add pace, humour and emotion to keep people engaged…and what happened when she started bleeding on stage! It's a must for speakers, leaders, entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to get better at telling stories to grow their business or brand. What you'll learn: How you can find stories to share Why your story should be in the 'storyzone' and how to do it How you create your story so that the audience feel like it is about them. Why your story should contain universal themes and multiple points of access for your audience. Tips for starting stories. How to avoid your stories sounding overwritten. The critical elements of a compelling story. When you shouldn't tell a personal story. Tips for adding humour to your story. How to describe the characters in your story. Tips for being authentic in your stories. The process Margot goes through to prepare a story versus a speech Tips for using stories at networking events. Ideas for managing anxiety All things Margot Leitman: FaceBook / Twitter / Instagram: @MargotLeitman Margot's website Long Story Short by Margot Leitman Margot's Winning Grandslam Story Other Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) The Amours of Lillie Langtry – Edinburgh Fringe *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, which helps to keep the show going, but this does not affect your payment) 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.

Jeremy Nicholas gave up on a career in engineering before he'd even started, choosing to pursue his passion for radio, (even though his Mum said he was boring). He spent many years in broadcasting, also doing voiceover work, (you will recognize his dulcet tones if you are a FIFA Football video game fan), and trying his hand at stand-up comedy, before transitioning to a career in speaking. He is known for being a funny story teller and has many tales to draw on from when things went wrong on broadcasts for the Beeb. In this show he gives the lowdown on the different types of speaking and talks us through how he prepares for each. He shares how he uses stories and props in his talks and how he teaches corporate clients how to be more engaging. You will also find out about his upcoming one man show, and his comedy trousers. What you'll learn: The difference between being an MC, After Dinner Speaker and Keynote. How Jeremy prepares for the different types of speaking. How Jeremy built up his after-dinner material. The way that Jeremy uses stories in his keynote. Why you should keep a story diary. How developing your comedy and performance muscles can improve your speaking. What parts of your speaking you should develop for success? Should you specialize in a type of speaking? How Jeremy makes his talks more engaging and tips for you too. How to get more attention after a speech! Why it's important to stick to your guns if you charge a speaking fee. Why you should make sure the clothes you speak in fit! What you can learn from Churchill's speeches. All things Jeremy Nicholas: FaceBook / Twitter: @jeremy_nicholas Jeremy's Website Tour Dates for Jeremy's Edinburgh Fringe 2018 Show: After Dinner Stories from my Disastrous Broadcasting Career. June 15 Rad Fringe, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire June 21 Museum of Comedy, Holborn, London June 26 Hen and Chickens, Islington, London June 30 Quay Theatre, Sudbury, Suffolk July 4 Turk's Head, Twickenham, London. July 26 Bread and Roses, Clapham, London. Aug 1-27 Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh Fringe Other Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) Hey Mic – Amazon The Speaker's Handbook – Bob Monkhouse Stewart Lee & the Top Gear Presenters Stewart Lee and Café Nero The Amours of Lillie Langtry (the comedy play I'm in at Edinburgh Fringe) 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. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

This show is like attending a mini-masterclass from a Hollywood expert. Michael Hauge has been involved with creating compelling stories for years. Mention Michael's name at any exclusive Hollywood party and everyone knows who he is and how he supercharges the power of story in their scripts. He's written best-selling books on screenwriting, how to pitch your story in Hollywood, and a great new book about how entrepreneurs can tell their story, and those of their best customers to win more business. Michael began working with entrepreneurs like Andre Chaperon and Russell Brunson to take their stories deeper and help their messages create amazing results. In this show, he is sharing the same lessons and value and I hope they help you to have as much success with stories in your business. Enjoy! What you'll learn How Michael works with Hollywood heavy hitters like Will Smith The biggest distinction between movie writers, speakers and marketers How one story generated over $100 million in sales for one of his clients. Why stories are so powerful in marketing Why everyone in business is a problem solver Why giving an emotional experience to your potential client or customer through your story is the key to success. The correct way to tell your story to emotionally connect with your audience. Why conflict is crucial to telling a compelling story and how you can use it. How you can use case studies and testimonials as stories to convert potential clients and customers. The Six Step Success Story Approach and Case Study. All things Michael Hauge: http://www.storymastery.com Michael's Freebie – 6 Step Success Story E-book & Case Study FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.hauge.96 LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/michael_hauge Other Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) 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. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

This is the start of a storytelling themed month, here on The Speaking Club. I have some amazing guests coming up, all experts on storytelling, and with different expertise to share. On top of that, I will be sharing tips to help with your storytelling and public speaking, starting with this show, where I'm answering a question I get asked often… how can I find stories to share? If you're like many of the people I coach, you can feel stumped when it comes to finding stories for your presentations, teaching, or marketing copy. You know the value of using them… you know they help audiences to relate and connect to your talk, but you feel that you haven't got any worth sharing, or you can't find a story to work with the point you want to make. Well, that's about to change. In this show, I'm giving you several techniques for exploring your life, and unlocking your memories. As you listen to the episode and work through the accompanying cheat sheet, you'll find stories bubbling to the surface in abundance. I'm also giving you some examples of stories from my own life, and I show you how I would use them in a business presentation from different angles. What you'll learn: How to find stories from events Prompts for exploring your life episodes The seven story question categories for unlocking your story memories How you can relate stories back to your presentation or copy message 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. Resources: Story Generator Cheat Sheet Yes Man – Danny Wallace Episode 5 – Secrets to Storytelling Part One Episode 7 – Secrets to Storytelling Part Two Episode 9 – Secrets to Storytelling Part Three See you next time.

Richard Wiseman is a man of many talents…he started off in magic and still acts as a creative consultant to the world's best magicians and illusionists, TV shows, and movies…and if he's not advising on them he's presenting them. He is a Professor of Psychology, and his research has been published across the world, alongside being a 10-time author of some of the most popular business psychology books today. His books have been translated into over 20 languages, and many of them explore the science of success, and focus on practical, evidence-based, techniques that improve people's personal and professional lives. Alongside all of this he speaks around two to three times a week and has two YouTube channels 'In 59 Seconds' and 'Quirkology' that have over 2 million subscribers and 500 million views. Described as one of the most "innovative experimental psychologists in the world today", and "one of the top 100 people that make Britain a nice place to live", he's clearly got lots to share on the secret of success, how to make your stuff, (even science stuff), engaging Enjoy! What you'll learn What are the genuine lessons of magic for performers and speakers Why you must understand things deeply to explain them simply Why speakers must find a skin they're comfortable in How authenticity is a skill to be developed rather than a quality you have. Why you should throw your book away before you prepare a speech on it. How military tactics can be used as a planning structure for presentations. The most vital two minutes of your talk and tips for making this successful. The difference between performing and showing off and why this is important for speakers. How Richard uses humour in his talks, (including practical examples). Why the audience must believe it's the first time you've done your talk… every time. How Richard adapts his talk depending on the audience. How to get the balance right between education and entertainment. A trick for getting people to remember the most important message of your talk or conversation. Richard's top 3 tips for making your content engaging Why talks are like soap bubbles. All things Richard Wiseman: http://www.richardwiseman.com Richard's Books: The Luck Factor 59 Seconds Night School Quirkology How to Remember Everything 101 Bets You Will Always Win – The Science of the Seemingly Impossible Rip it Up – Forget Positive Thinking it's Time for Positive Action Paranormality – The Science of the Supernatural Did You Spot The Gorilla?: How to Recognise the Hidden Opportunities in Your Life The As If Principle Richard's You Tube Channels: Quirkology - https://www.youtube.com/user/Quirkology In 59 Seconds - https://www.youtube.com/user/In59seconds Other Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking – Dale Carnegie 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. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Lee Jackson is a Past President of the Professional Speaking Association, a motivational speaker, author and coach who knows his onions. He regularly coaches experts on how to design their slides in a way that connects with regular people. Speaking to teenagers and young adults, was a challenge that Lee conquered early on in his journey, and one which laid the foundation for the speaking and coaching success he enjoys today. He continues to give motivational talks in the education sector, alongside the keynotes he delivers in the corporate world, and his down to earth and playful style make sure he is very much in demand. This episode is jam packed with gems that will help you get more confident, get more engaging and generally get better at public speaking. What you'll learn The key ingredient for talking to young people How to make sure your slides don't suck! Pointers for sharing technical / complex information on slides for lay people. Why you should never share notes before you present. The importance of distilling your presentation down into core points. Why it's important to challenge the system and culture within your organisation. The purpose of slides in your presentation. How humour, used appropriately, can build a bridge between you and your audience. Three tips for reducing speaking anxiety. How a routine can raise your speaking game. Why it's important to get the balance right in your preparation. How breaking your presentation down into chunks can help with your preparation and practice. Why you should always try to get objective feedback on your talk and your slides from more experienced speakers. All things Lee Jackson: http://www.leejackson.biz Get Good at Public Speaking Book Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) Nancy Duarte – Slideology Book 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. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Malcolm Gregory hasn't always been a confident speaker, and in his early days he was keen to avoid doing presentations because he didn't feel that he fitted the mould. Eventually, he discovered the secret to unlocking his confidence as a speaker and has used speaking to stand out and win business ever since. Malcolm has developed a reputation known for his ability to "dispel complexity and reduce challenging scenarios to simple and ordered next steps". Within the legal profession he is recognised as a leader in his field of employment law, and he can often be found in court arguing cases for his clients. As a Speaker he is sought-after because he is able to make employment law engaging and is in demand as much for his presentations and training, as he is for advising on difficult cases. In this show he is sharing the secret he discovered to make him a successful speaker, alongside some great tips for making mundane content memorable. What you'll learn Why the more you understand your subject, the simpler you can make it. How important it is to bring your personality to speaking. The link between preparation and anxiety. What you should do if your mind goes blank. What to say to encourage questions. Why stories are vital to make difficult content engaging. How stories can help you memorise your content. Why keeping detailed notes in a separate handout can help audiences to engage with your content in the moment. How using humour and stories in your speaking can help you to win new business. Why you should aim to be able to summarise your content in a sentence. What makes a great speaker. All things Malcolm: http://www.roydswithyking.com email: Malcolm.gregory@roydswithyking.com Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) 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. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment

Accountants can sometimes have a bit of a reputation, and Mark Lee has certainly got one! After 30 years in the industry, sprinkled with some magic, he switched from advising businesses on accountancy, to speaking to accountants about business. Today, he is one of the biggest influencers in the profession, he is also Treasurer of the Magic Circle, a coach, mentor and writer, all of which he does alongside his speaking. He specialises in advising professionals how to make themselves stand out as a business and as an individual, using a combination of stories, magic tricks, and great tools to help people move forward. He can be controversial, and challenging, but always with the right balance of fun and positivity to make sure his message lands. In this show he is sharing some of his secrets to making your talks more engaging, based on his time as a professional speaker, and many years performing magic. What you'll learn Why you should always ensure there is a customer for your talk. How you can use the stage to support your message. Why it's important to have valuable takeaways for your audience. The value of having a model to talk around. How you can use a structure for your talk that can be flexed for length. Why personal stories are so important for making your message memorable. Why creating the title of your talk is the first bit of marketing you do. What tools you can use to gather content for your talk. Why topical messages can help your message become more engaging. The four suits method for increasing your networking success. Why analogies are such a powerful tool. Why you should watch performers from other disciplines to develop your craft. How your passions can be used to frame your talk. All things Mark: http://bookmarklee.co.uk/speaking/ All social platforms - @bookmarklee Resources* Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (Original) Win the Crowd – Steve Cohen 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. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

In episode 019, I gave you what I believe are the essentials for humour, and in this show, I've got some more of the good stuff for you. Most people are worried that using humour is risky, that it will sound forced, and that if they do a 'joke' and the audience doesn't laugh, it will undermine their credibility. That's why in this show I'm sharing tools and techniques that you can use in a very low risk way, in other words, it won't matter if the audience doesn't 'get it'. Even if you don't think you're funny, I believe you will be able to use these tips to make your content funnier and more engaging, which will help you grow your brand, career or business. What you'll learn: How to recognise and use your creator and critic modes effectively. The Rule of Three and how you can use it to make people laugh without forcing the gag. Why it's important to keep things brief. How getting specific will crack people up. Why you should use characters and get personal. How using dialogue will bring your characters to life and make them funnier. How you can get more comedy mileage by using topical and local references. 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. Resources: Episode 019 – Humour for Speakers 101 Jon Acuff Speech Jon Acuff Website Sensational Speaker Rehearsal Blueprint Cracking Speech Mate – How to use humour to make you an amazing speaker