The Toastmasters Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

#260: Luisa Montalvo — 2024 World Champion of Public Speaking Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

At 65, Luisa is a retiree and passionate dog rescue volunteer from San Juan, Texas, USA. She rose to the top, competing against seven other finalists after several elimination rounds that began earlier this year, with about 30,000 participants from 150 countries. However, she almost didn’t make it to the stage—last-minute uncertainty nearly held her back from competing. But in true champion form, she overcame those doubts and delivered a powerful performance.

In this episode, Luisa shares her journey to victory, reflecting on her runner-up finish in 2019 and how it paved the way for her success. We also dive into her winning speech, inspired by a life-threatening accident, and she offers valuable advice for aspiring speakers—including her unique use of props. As the first Hispanic and possibly the oldest champion to earn this prestigious title, Luisa's story is truly inspiring.

Luisa has been a Toastmaster for 13 years and is a proud member of Hub City Toastmasters.

Her dog rescue foundation is called Foxtrot and Finn Foundation,

You can find Luisa on Facebook and LinkedIN as well as by email.

Watch her award winning speech on YouTube but also keep your eyes open for an upcoming profile in the November 2024 Toastmaster Magazine.

#259: Gearing Up for Growth: Meet 2024-25 International President Radhi Spear, DTM Sep 15, 2024

Show notes

You can also read her President's message each month in the Toastmaster Magazine including, "Fun and Friendship in Toastmasters," in the September 2024 issue.

Radhi Spear, DTM, is from Piscataway, New Jersey USA. She is a software engineer for AT&T and a veteran in the telecommunications industry for over 30 years. She has expertise in software development, systems administration, and acceptance testing. She troubleshoots problems and develops software for projects that impact millions of people.

Spear holds a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Very active, she participates in employee resource groups at AT&T, including Women of AT&T and InspirASIAN, which foster development and leadership opportunities for its members. She was also an assistant Girl Scout troop leader for five years.

Radhi is a Distinguished Toastmaster, a member since 2000 and only the 9th woman to lead our illustrious organization since its inception 100 years ago. She is a member of three clubs including being a charter member of her home club, AT&T Middletown Toastmasters in Middletown, N.J.

Radhi was also recognized for her achievements receiving a Presidential Citation award from Toastmasters in 2009.

#258: Breaking Down Nice vs. Kind: A Deep Dive with Ben Guttmann Sep 01, 2024

Show notes

We'll also hear how sometimes it's okay to be kind and not nice, and learn the three principles of Benefits, Focus, and Empathy that Ben shares to help show kindness when it comes to feedback,.

Ben’s article: "Kind vs. Nice Communication: Learn how to deliver an effective and considerate evaluation," can be found in the May 2024 edition of Toastmaster Magazine.

Ben Guttmann is an experienced marketing executive and communications expert and author of Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win — and How to Design Them. He is on a mission – to help leaders to more effectively connect by simplifying their message.

Ben is the former co-founder and managing partner at Digital Natives Group, an award-winning agency that worked with the NFL, I Love NY, Comcast NBCUniversal, The Nature Conservancy, and other major clients.

Currently, Ben teaches digital marketing at Baruch College in New York City and consults with a range of thought leaders, venture-backed startups, and other brands.

Ben lives in New York City, NY, and can be reached at BenGuttmann.com, where you find his book, get a few free chapters and sign up for his newsletter

#257: How Supercommunicators Identify and Match Conversations – Charles Duhigg Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

CHARLES DUHIGG is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and the author of three best-selling books: The Power of Habit, which spent over three years on The New York Times bestseller lists, Smarter Faster Better, and his latest book, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, which was published in February 2024.

A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Charles has been a frequent contributor to This American Life, NPR, The Colbert Report, PBS’s NewsHour, and Frontline.

Charles currently writes for The New Yorker magazine and is also the author of the article in the July 2024 issue of Toastmaster Magazine, entitled, "Strengthen Your Conversation Skills: Enhance your communication skills for better relationships."

Charles Duhigg lives in Santa Cruz, California, with his wife and two children. You can reach Charles at CharlesDuhigg.com and find his books on Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore.

#256: 2024 Convention: Celebrating 100 yrs – Anaheim, CA – Joan Lewis & Jessica Allen Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

Joan and Jessica share their thoughts about this upcoming significant milestone event and how they became the host co-chairs. They enlighten us about what they have learned by taking on this role and how they used their family connection and skill and personality differences to help them excel in their roles.

They give us a little sneak peek into what people can expect at the conference and share just one of the many surprises attendees will be wowed by.

While many know Anaheim, California, as the home of Disneyland, Joan and Jessica also give us some ideas of what people can do before and after the convention in Anaheim and the surrounding areas.

You can meet Joan & Jessica in the article: Convention Co-Hosts Welcome You to Anaheim! Get to know the mother-daughter duo co-hosting convention, by Laura Mishkind.

You can reach Joan Lewis at JLewis @ Toastmasters dot org.

You can also read Paul Sterman's article, 2024 Convention Takes You to Southern California: From Disneyland to dazzling beaches, there are plenty of area attractions.

Both articles can be found in the June 2024 issue of the Toastmaster Magazine.

You can register for the conference here: REGISTER NOW.

#255: Gravitas Personified: Meet the 2024 Golden Gavel Recipient – Lisa Sun Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

Lisa will be presented with her Golden Gavel award during the Toastmasters International's 100th Anniversary Convention being held in Anaheim, California August 14-17, 2024.

The award ceremony and presentation can be seen live and live streamed on Friday, August 16, 1:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)/Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) -7. You can also meet Lisa in person at 2:30PM following her presentation.

Lisa is also featured in the cover story in the May 2024 issue of the Toastmaster Magazine, entitled "Lisa Sun Redefines Confidence; The 2024 Golden Gavel recipient has gone from lacking gravitas to owning it."

About:

Lisa Sun is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author. She founded her company Gravitas in 2012 with a mission to catalyze confidence. The company’s origin story dates back to her first professional review, where she was told that she “lacked gravitas,” and “should go buy a new dress, big jewelry, and great shoes.” With those words in mind, Sun filed for a global patent to build shapewear directly into dresses. Two months after launch, her first collection was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, People, and on Today all in the same month.

Lisa is also the national best-selling author of Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. It’s a USA Today best-seller and Amazon #1 best-seller for September 2023. Prior to founding Gravitas, Sun spent 11 years as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.

Lisa lives in New York City and can be reached at: gravitasnewyork.com as well as on Instagram: @LisaLSun and @GravitasNewYork.

You can take the 56-question My Confidence Language Quiz, which is not a personality test but rather a way to unlock your best self and discover your confidence language at MyConfidenceLanguage.com.

You can register for the conference here: REGISTER NOW.

#254: A Toastmasters Ribbon of Inspiration for my 6-Year Old Daughter – Todd Bryant Jun 15, 2024

Show notes

Todd recounts his daughter’s early interest in Toastmasters and her persistent desire to attend a meeting. We hear how she prepared, what transpired, and how she felt about the experience.

Todd also shares how he discovered Toastmasters, what he has learned, and how it has helped him both as a professional and as a father. He also offers his advice to parents who want to encourage their children to develop public speaking skills on how they can benefit from Toastmasters, even while juggling professional and family commitments.

Todd’s article is featured in the "My Turn" section of the April 2024 issue of The Toastmaster Magazine, entitled: "A Toastmasters Family: How My Membership Inspired My Daughter."

Todd Bryant is from Winter Garden, Florida, where he lives with his wife, Lindsey, daughter Cambrie, and son Colton.

Todd is a Financial Planner. In 2020, the Orlando Business Journal recognized him on the Top 40 Under 40 list. He’s been a Toastmaster for seven years and is a member of Citrus Club Toastmasters in Orlando.

He can be reached at ToddBryantCFP.com.

#253: Meet the Resilient Shawn Ellis: 2024 International Convention Keynote Speaker Jun 01, 2024

Show notes

[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.

Shawn shares with us a bit about his journey of resilience and adaptability, along with stories of some of the key moments in his life and nuggets of wisdom he has acquired over the years. This includes a sneak peek of his upcoming keynote, appropriately entitled “Mastering Real-World Resilience and Adaptability,” along with some of his key takeaways.

You’ll also hear about the importance of “Mastering the Moments,” which is both his signature philosophy and the title of his upcoming book, as well as highlights of his 5 C’s framework, a cornerstone of his message.

You can read “Meet Shawn Ellis: Keynote Speaker for 2024 International Convention Reflects on the Value of Resilience” by Ruth Nasrullah in the June 2024 issue of the Toastmaster Magazine.

Shawn Ellis is a renowned motivational keynote speaker, dynamic storyteller, podcaster, entrepreneur, and modern-day philosopher with over 20 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience. He guides leaders and teams toward adaptability and resilience, offering insights rooted in mindfulness, neuroscience, and psychology, inspiring those looking to navigate an ever-changing world.

Shawn Ellis lives in Columbus, Ohio. You can find him on most social media platforms as @ShawnJasonEllis. He can be reached through his website at ShawnEllis.com, where you can also download a free copy of his book: Adapt & Thrive: 5C’s to Cultivate Resilience & Growth in Times of Change.

In celebration of Toastmasters' Centennial, Shawn will be delivering his keynote live and via livestream on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. PDT (UTC-7) following the Parade of Flags.

#252: Leading Successful Teams Like a Master Gardener – Lauren Parsons May 01, 2024

Show notes

Lauren’s article, "Lead Like a Master Gardener: Successful teams need the same 12 conditions as healthy plants in order to thrive," appears in the April 2024 Issue of the Toastmaster Magazine.

Lauren Parsons is a speaker, author, business coach, and Wellbeing Specialist where, for over two decades, her practical solutions have helped thousands of busy people feel vibrant, confident, and energized.

Lauren has been bestowed with the honor of being named New Zealand’s both ‘Keynote Speaker of the Year’ and ‘Educator of the Year’ for 2024 by the Professional Speakers Association of New Zealand. Her speaking engagements have also taken her to the TEDx stage. Lauren is also the host of the Thrive TV Show and podcast.

Furthermore, Lauren has been a Toastmaster for 10 years and is currently a member of the PN Advanced Club in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Lauren Parsons hails from Manawatu, New Zealand, and can be reached on LinkedIN and at LaurenParsonsWellbeing.com. You can also download for free the first chapter of her book, www.ThrivingLeadersThrivingTeams.com.

#251: Cultivating Your Authentic Self as a Speaker – Elizabeth Danziger Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

[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.

Liz will help us understand what it means to be authentic as a speaker and how you can maintain authenticity even in environments that don’t allow you to fully express yourself. She also shares tips on how to build authenticity and avoid the pitfalls of coming across as inauthentic to your audience. Additionally, we learn on how it's ok to be vulnerable on stage yet not overshare, and how to strike a balance between preparation and spontaneity to become more effective on stage.

As wedding season approaches, Liz offers advice to those who may find themselves all dressed up and behind the mic.

Elizabeth (Liz) Danziger is the founder of Worktalk Communications Consulting. Liz is also the author of four books, including Get to the Point!, a text on business writing initially published by Random House. Her writings have also appeared in many magazines and journals, including Harvard Business review and Inc.com where she is a columnist.

For over three decades, Liz has taught business communication to companies throughout the United States, enabling their people to wield the power of words to enhance their credibility and catapult ahead in their careers.

Liz lives in Los Angeles California and can be reached at Worktalk.com, where you can also sign up for her free Writamins monthly writing tips.

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