Fearless Presentations

Latest Episodes:

Use Audience Participation to Engage All the Senses Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

As presenters, we often focus on how we look, what visual aids we will use, and how we sound to the audience. But Sight and sound are just two of the senses. On today's episode, I'm going to show you how you can add a few simple things to your presentation to enhance the additional senses of touch, smell, and even taste.

Now, obviously, if you are presenting the financial report to the board of directors, you can probably just move onto the next episode. But, if you are wanting to create a memorable experience for your audience, been seen a different from other presenters, or if you are trying to win your audience to our way of thinking, some of these ideas can be a great way to set yourself apart.

The goal is to engage the audience in a way that most boring presenters don't. If you want to be seen as a capable presenter, you'll want to do things a little different. And many of these ideas are small and memorable. And they also allow your audience to participate in the presentation.

Show Notes: Use Audience Participation to Engage All the Senses

(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/audience-participation-in-business-presentations-inspires-the-senses/)

13 Phrases to Avoid in Your Speech at All Costs Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Even great content can fall flat if it’s delivered poorly. One awkward phrase, one outdated cliché, or one moment of uncertainty can derail your entire presentation. That’s why knowing what to avoid in a speech is just as important as knowing what to include.
You might have years of experience or the perfect PowerPoint presentation, but if you open with a weak phrase, or worse, a cringe-worthy one, you risk losing your audience’s attention before your message even begins.
In this episode, we’ll go through the phrases to avoid in a speech, why they’re harmful, and how to replace them with stronger, more effective alternatives. Whether you’re presenting to a small group, a packed auditorium, or a few coworkers in a meeting room, this guide will help you become a more effective speaker.
Show Notes: 13 Phrases to Avoid in Your Speech at All Costs

https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/6-phrases-you-should-avoid-in-your-next-speech-at-all-costs/

The Pros and Cons of Public Speaking Coaching Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

I taught a public speaking class in Houston last week for a great group of people. We had an absolute blast. But the class was a little smaller than normal. And it got me thinking about a topic that I covered a couple of years ago, but we haven't really delved into a lot -- public speaking coaching.
If you'd listened to a few episodes, you'll know that I am a big fan of public speaking classes because classes allow participants to practice speaking in a controlled environment. They are a safer way to experiment and try different techniques out. And, since everyone in a public speaking class is working toward the same goal, they are typically very supportive.
But what about public speaking coaching? Especially, one-on-one coaching. Is that really effective? So, on this episode, I give you the pros and cons of public speaking coaching.

Show Notes: The Pros and Cons of Public Speaking Coaching

https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/public-speaking-training/presentation-coaching/

Handling Q&A Sessions During a Presentation Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

This week, I’m covering how to master Q&A Sessions in a speech. This is the part of the presentation that most people dread because it is spontaneous and unplanned. And, because it is spontaneous and unplanned, it can be terrifying for new presenters.

So on this episode, I’m going to show you how this couple of minutes can be your secret weapon as a presenter (especially if you are trying to sell or persuade your audience.) I also give you five tips to help you master the Q&A session of your speech.

The key to performing well in a Question-and-Answer Session during a presentation is to prepare in advance. If you just try to "wing it," and someone stumps you with a tough question, your confidence can shatter. And, since this is the last thing the audience sees, you'll have a tougher time recovering and leaving the audience with a good impression of you.

How to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills in One Week (or Less) Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

This week, I'm going to give you a very simple, step-by-step process to help you improve your public speaking skills in just one week. This process is very similar to the one we use in our public speaking classes. And itis designed to help presenters create new habits that lead to better presentations.
If you follow the process, you'll only need to put in 10 to 30 minutes of work on each of five workdays. And by the end of the work week, you will have created a pretty good persuasive speech that will be easier to deliver.
If you are listening to this episode on an audio podcast like Apple or Spotify, I'd suggest listening to the entire episode once from start to finish. Then, go back to day one and follow the assignment for the first day. Next, pause the episode until day two and resume the episode.
If you use this process, the episode will stay on top of your listening schedule so you can come back to it as you put more of the strategies together.

Show Notes: How to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills in One Week (or Less)

(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-improve-your-public-speaking-skills-in-one-week-or-less/)

Get Paid to Speak: How to Make a Fortune Speaking for a Living Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

A couple of weeks ago, I started a series on how to get paid to speak. In week one, we talked about different types of motivational speakers and what a professional speaker is. Then, last week, I covered a few things that you absolutely need to do in order to get clients to pay you as a speaker.

This week, I'll show you how to cash in on one of the most lucrative industries on the planet. We'll cover three ways to get clients to pay you to speak. Remember what we covered in the first session a couple of weeks ago -- the expertise that you have is very valuable. If you play your cards right, you can use that expertise to generate additional revenue for you.

You can make a fortune speaking for a living by doing these three things.

We'll cover each of these things in detail on the episode!

Show Notes: Get Paid to Speak: How to Make a Fortune Speaking for a Living (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-make-a-fortune-speaking-for-a-living/)

Five Things You Will Need to Become a Professional or Motivational Speaker Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Last week I started a series on how to get paid to speak. And if you are a new listener to Fearless Presentations, you might be thinking, "How can I get paid to speak if I'm scared to death to stand up in front of a group?"

If that is the case, just go back to some of the earlier episodes for tips on how to reduce nervousness. In this episode and the next couple, I'm going to show you how you can cash in on one of the highest-paid professions in the world.

This week, I cover the five things you will need to do to become a professional speaker or a motivational speaker. These five things are not non-negotiables... But they are pretty close.

The first couple of tips are about your presentation skills. A couple of the tips are about your confidence, attitude, and how to become the expert in the room. And one of the tips is a way to increase your income on each gig. In fact, in some cases, you may give the speech away to generate income in a totally different way.

Show Notes: How to Get Paid to Speak (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/want-a-career-as-a-public-speaker-ways-to-build-public-speaking-credentials/)

How to Be a Motivational Speaker and Get Paid to Speak Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Public speaking is one of (if not THE) highest-paid professions in the world.
In this episode, I'll dispel the myth about what a professional speaker is. Basically, a professional speaker is just a person whom someone has paid to give a presentation. So, elementary school teachers are professional speakers. So are trial attorneys. So are salespeople, Realtors, and combat officers who give mission briefings.
Each of these types of presenters delivers information in presentations or briefings that their audiences need in order to solve a problem. However, almost all of them give away this important information for free. So, in this series, I'll show you how you can generate an additional stream of income by speaking about your expertise.
Next week, by the way, I'll give you a step-by-step process to help you refine your presentation to build up your credibility in the marketplace. Then, in future episodes, I'll show you how to market yourself as a speaker.
By the way, if you are enjoying the episodes, I need a favor from you, please. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave me a review wherever you download the podcast. Your subscriptions, downloads, and reviews help us keep the show's content free because they allow us to reach a bigger audience.
Show Notes: How to Be a Motivational Speaker and Get Paid to Speak

(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/want-a-career-as-a-public-speaker-ways-to-build-public-speaking-credentials/)

What Is the Best Way to Conquer Public Speaking Fear in 2025? Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

This week, I explain the difference between the different formats of public speaking training in 2025. Communication has changed a lot in the last decade, and you now have every piece of information ever printed in the world at your fingertips. AI can now write speeches for you.
With all this technology and information available, what is the absolute best way in 2025 to reduce public speaking fear? Is there an easier way to conquer this fear now than in the past? Well, maybe.
You can listen to podcasts like this one, gain insights from online presentation classes, watch videos on YouTube or Rumble, get a public speaking coach, or even attend a public speaking class.
In this episode, I explain the differences between all of these formats and let you know what you can expect from each. By the way, all of these formats can help. But some will give you a much better return on your time and effort.

Full Show Notes: The Best Types of Public Speaking Training in 2025.

(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/public-speaking-training/)

How to Stop Saying Um When Presenting Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

In his episode, we're going to talk about filler words and how to reduce the negative fillers that can be annoying. Fillers come in a few different formats. Some are just sounds. These fillers are the ones that, when we do them, we tend to get more nervous because we think the audience is judging us.
These are the ers, the uhms, the youknows, etc.

How to stop saying Um is one of the most common public speaking concerns. Um is a filler word. And filler words are a natural part of everyday conversation. A surprising fact, though, is that you’ll actually sound strange (or even fake) to your audience if you don’t use any filler words.

However, there is a negative impact of using too many of these vocal fillers. If um, you say um, too many um, ums in your speech, the repeated use over and over will become a distraction. This excessive use of these filler words has the potential to detract from your message.

A funny example of this was in the movie, We’re the Millers. Scottie P., the young girl’s date, keeps using the phrase, “You know what I’m sayin'” over and over. And, Jason Sudeikis’ character calls attention to each of these verbal crutches in a very funny way.

The good news about Scottie P. is that what makes this scene really funny is that most people don’t use these filler phrases in everyday conversation. They show up more often when we are speaking in front of a group or delivering a formal presentation. If you understand why that happens, you can fix this bad habit very easily.

The best speakers in the world have trained themselves, over time, to minimize their use of fillers. (Notice that I said minimize, not eliminate.) Excessive use of um and other filler noises can frustrate the audience and make the speaker less credible. With a bit of practice, though, you can use fewer filler words as well.

Full Show Notes at How to Stop Saying Um When Presenting

(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-stop-saying-um-when-presenting/)

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