The Toastmasters Podcast
Greg Gazin
[39:37] What do singing and public speaking have in common? According to Jillian Mitchell, more than you might think. In this fun and hands on episode, host Greg Gazin chats with Jill about why singing isn’t just for performers—it’s a secret weapon for confident communication. A professional singer, recording artist, and vocal coach with nearly 20 years of experience, Jill explains how singing strengthens your voice, sharpens articulation, improves pitch, and builds stamina. More than mechanics, she reveals how singing taps into the emotional side of the voice, helping speakers connect with authenticity and presence.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 15, 2024 • 0sec
#254: A Toastmasters Ribbon of Inspiration for my 6-Year Old Daughter – Todd Bryant
[28:22] Toastmasters can certainly be a family affair. In this episode, we speak with Todd Bryant about his delightful experience bringing his six-year-old daughter, Cambrie, to a Toastmasters meeting, where she was fully engaged in the activities and proceeded to walk away that day with a prized ribbon for Best Table Topics speech.
Jun 1, 2024 • 0sec
#253: Meet the Resilient Shawn Ellis: 2024 International Convention Keynote Speaker
[33:37] In this episode, we speak with renowned motivational speaker Shawn Ellis who has the honor of being the opening keynote speaker, marking Toastmasters’ 100th anniversary at the 2024 Toastmasters International Convention to be held in Anaheim, California from August 14-17, 2024.
May 1, 2024 • 0sec
#252: Leading Successful Teams Like a Master Gardener – Lauren Parsons
[25:01] You may be amazed to discover that building and leading successful teams is very much like being a master gardener. In today’s episode, we’ll hear from speaker, author, business coach, and Wellbeing Specialist, Lauren Parsons, who will enlighten us on this concept. Using the Master Gardener metaphor, Lauren will help us develop our proverbial green thumb by assisting us in better understanding and visualizing some elements of leadership, which can sometimes be viewed as a broad and abstract concept, as it can manifest itself in various forms and styles.
Apr 15, 2024 • 0sec
#251: Cultivating Your Authentic Self as a Speaker – Elizabeth Danziger
[28:47] For speakers to be effective, they not only need to be competent communicators and experts in their field, but they also need to be authentic to help build trust and credibility. In today’s episode, our guest Elizabeth (Liz) Danziger will enlighten us on, "Cultivating authenticity as a speaker - helping us learn how to let your true self shine while presenting," which happens to be the title of her article that appeared in the January 2024 issue of the Toastmaster Magazine.
Apr 1, 2024 • 0sec
#250: 500 Lunches with Strangers: Breaking Bread for Personal Growth – Nick Bendel
[28:56] Step out of your comfort zone and imagine having lunch with 500 strangers to enhance your social skills, fortify your mindset, expand your network, and unlock new opportunities. In this, our 250th episode, we delve into his journey and speak with Nick Bendel, a dedicated Toastmaster whose lunch tally currently sits at 376.
Mar 15, 2024 • 0sec
#249: Group Wisdom: Reading The Toastmaster Aloud – Dorothy Chanakira & Viola Dondo
[29:52] The Toastmaster Magazine serves as a rich source of monthly inspiration for our guests, Dorothy Chanakira DTM and Viola Dondo DTM, both from Zimbabwe. They’ve taken the lead in combining their passion for Toastmasters, learning, and reading. Their creative approach involves establishing an online group TOAST & READ Along with Coach, where participants give a toast to Toastmasters each month. Following the toast, they engage in in-depth discussions by reading aloud articles from the Toastmaster Magazine. Through this unique endeavour, they aim to enhance knowledge and foster meaningful conversations.
Mar 1, 2024 • 0sec
#248: How One Person Beat Burnout Through Personal Daily Routines – Olya Amelina
[29:52] If you’re feeling emotionally or physically drained or mentally exhausted you may be suffering from burnout -- and you’re not alone. Today’s guest, Olya Amelina, has been there - rebuilding her life from scratch and turning it into a career as a health and performance coach. On Today’s episode, you’ll hear a little about her journey and hear ways how you too can turn it all around.
Feb 15, 2024 • 0sec
#247: Improv: Laugh While Flexing Your Spontaneous Speaking Skills – Karen Rae Hannah
Karen Rae Hannah, expert in improv and its application in speaking and leadership skills, enlightens us on what Improv is and how it can be used in Toastmasters meetings to boost speaking and leadership skills. The podcast also discusses the integration of Improv into Toastmasters Club meetings, the transformative power of Toastmasters, the benefits of Improv for speech delivery, and advancing Improv skills and club recommendations.
Feb 1, 2024 • 0sec
#246: The Roast: Lightheartedly "Grilling" the Person of Honor – Chris Arning
[29:39] A Roast is something you can bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes per pound but it’s also a humorous way to honor or recognize an individual by poking fun at them in a good-natured way. (Remember the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts?) On today’s episode, our guest, Chris Arning demystifies and enlightens us on this time-honored topic - also in a good-natured way.
Jan 15, 2024 • 0sec
#245: Meet the Newest Toastmasters International Accredited Speakers 2023
Meet the newest Toastmasters International Accredited Speakers for 2023. They discuss their journeys, challenges faced during the pandemic, building company cultures based on values, achieving the accredited speaker designation, personal transformations with Toastmasters, faking confidence, handling interruptions, and promoting a personalized book service.
