The Presentation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

e257 - Making PowerPoint Better, One Papercut at a Time, with Derek Johnson Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

Episode #257, Forget the AI headlines for a moment. There are a lot of non-AI features changing in the PowerPoint experience people use every day! Microsoft's Derek Johnson joins The Presentation Podcast to talk papercuts, Franken-decks, file performance, tables, SmartArt, Presenter View, and how the feedback PowerPoint users send to Microsoft every day influences the product's development.

Listen now for a peek inside with the PowerPoint team as we hear how they are working to usher in "the Renaissance era of PowerPoint!"

Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e257

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e256 - Are PowerPoint's Interactive Slides Right for You? Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

In episode 256, Troy Chollar of TLC Creative Services explores Microsoft's new PowerPoint Interactive Slides feature and evaluates its practical value for presentation professionals, asking the question, "Are PowerPoint's Interactive Slides Right for You?"

The conversation highlights how Interactive Slides can create engaging dashboards, simulations, and exploratory experiences directly within PowerPoint, all on a single slide. While the feature shows significant potential for training, education, and workshops, the episode also examines limitations around customization, branding, and design control.

The conclusion is balanced: Interactive Slides may not replace traditional presentations, but they introduce an important new capability that presentation designers should know about. Listen now!

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e256

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e255, The Ask vs. The Offer Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Episode #255 - What does a Presentation Designer actually do, and what should the job pay?

In this episode, Troy, Nolan, Sandy, and former design recruiter Stephanie Hogan review real Presentation Designer job postings and break down the details. They compare qualifications, responsibilities, salary ranges, and the fine print behind the listings. Along the way, they found job postings for everything from a part-time freelance 5–20 hours a week gig, to full-time corporate positions. Plus they explore how AI resume filters are eliminating qualified candidates from ever reaching hiring managers.

Listen in for an honest look at today's presentation design job market.

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e255

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e254 - Confessions of a Reluctant AI Presentation Designer Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Episode #254 (Part B) - Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic buzzword. AI is a practical, transformative force in business workflows, AND, for the world of presentation design, AI has become part of our workflows. Troy Chollar (TLC Creative Services) and Nolan Haims (Nolan Haims Creative) share their firsthand experiences and insights on how AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, and standalone image AI Tools like Adobe Firefly and others are reshaping the way professionals are now approaching presentations and daily operations. Listen now!

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e254

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e254 Part A - BRB, we're at the Presentation Summit Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Short episode with a welcome from Troy Chollar of TLC Creative Services and a note that next week, September 22, will be the real episode.

e253 - What Makes the Presentation Summit 2026 a Must-Attend Event for Presentation Professionals? Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Episode 253 welcomes Presentation Summit founder Rick Altman to chat with hosts Troy Chollar, Sandy Johnson, and Nolan Haims about the upcoming 2026 Presentation Summit. Celebrating its 24th year, the Summit remains the gold standard for presentation training and networking. It is a fully virtual event, globally accessible (for both attendees and presenters!), a packed schedule with the industry's best presentation instructors, and amazing non-industry guest keynotes. Want to know what makes this year's event special? Listen and get a behind-the-scenes preview before the conference begins.

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e253

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e252 - Midyear Check - Where Do You Use "AI" for Presentations? Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Episode 252 - As we reach the midpoint of 2026, the world of presentations is still undergoing a transformation, driven by the rapid evolution of AI. So in this episode, we're joined by presentation experts who share their real-world experiences, frustrations, and triumphs with AI-powered tools for their PowerPoint workflows! Across all conversations, a clear theme emerged: AI is a powerful assistant, but not a replacement for human expertise. Listen now!

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e252

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

Wait! Clients Are Using AI for Their Slides Already!? Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

Let's face it: the Future of Presentation Design is going to involve AI. The world of presentation design is undergoing a seismic shift. In episode 251 of the Presentation Podcast, Troy Chollar and Lori Chollar of TLC Creative Services pull back the curtain on how they see AI is transforming the way presentations are created, delivered, and managed, especially for corporate clients. Drawing from their recent experience supporting the presentation design for a large sales conference, they offer insights into their observations on the real-world impact of AI on presentation design workflows happening now. Listen now!

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e251

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e250 - Here's An Interesting AI-Presentation Use Case Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

Episode 250 of the Presentation Podcast brings together industry experts Troy Chollar, Sandy Johnson, Nolan Hames for a deep dive into how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the workflow of professional presentation design. Drawing from a real-world case study Lori Chollar of TLC Creative Services talks about a real-world success story that is literally at the intersection of AI and presentation design. Lori shares how an end client leveraged AI to develop a reference presentation before engaging the presentation design team. Listen now!

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e250

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New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e249 - Exploring the Balance Between AI Assistance and Human Expertise in Modern Presentation Design Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Episode #249, In this podcast episode, Troy, Nolan, and Sandy explore how AI is reshaping presentation design today. The conversation revolves around the two key spaces where AI operates: thinking (e.g. outlining, structuring) and design (e.g. visuals, layouts). While all three agree AI enhances efficiency, they also agree AI is not set to replace human storytelling, editorial judgment, and contextual understanding in professional presentation design. Ultimately, as AI produces "good enough" results, which makes human expertise more critical in creating authentic, memorable presentations that stand out. Listen now!

Full Episode Show Notes

https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e249

Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts?

Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com

Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks!

http://apple.co/1ROGCUq

New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month