Podcasts about toastmasters

Stacy Bruce, PharmD is a pharmacist in Alabama. Listen to her list of accomplishments with speaking and how she got to where she is today. Her roles at the hospital place her in numerous public speaking situations. She is a member of two Toastmasters clubs. Stacy spoke with me at the SHAA convention in Birmingham in February, 2025. She recently participated in a panel discussion about stuttering with graduate students in SLP. We discuss a holistic approach using CBT and SLP.

Whether it's in the workplace during a meeting, or in your personal life such as weddings or birthdays, opportunities for getting up and saying a few words in front of a crowd often happen.

Send us a textIn this inspiring episode, get ready to meet a true powerhouse: Bridgett LaRé! Bridgett is a best-selling author of the captivating "First 33" book trilogy, a sought-after transformational coach who empowers individuals to unlock their full potential, and a captivating TEDx Talks speaker whose words have resonated with audiences around the globe.Adding a unique and deeply human perspective, Bridgett also brings her experience as a former nurse, radiating an incredible energy that truly ignites the hearts of those she connects with.Prepare to be uplifted, motivated, and deeply inspired as Konstantin dives into a conversation with the incredible Bridgett LaRé. You won't want to miss this!✨ Selected links from the episode: ✨Next Level Speakers Academy:https://www.nextlevelspeakersacademy.com/Bridgett LaRé IG:https://www.instagram.com/bridgettlare/Bridgett LaRé Website:https://bridgettlare.com/

In this recap, Lesley and Brad reflect on their convo with Aletta Rochat, a trailblazing and executive presence coach, who shares what it really takes to show up with confidence. Together they unpack why owning your strengths—and saying no when it matters—can shift how you lead, speak, and connect with others. With this episode, you'll leave feeling grounded, energized, and ready to give yourself full permission to belong. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co.And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:The real-world script for gracefully exiting client relationships.Why permission and belonging unlock authentic confidence.The danger of saying yes out of guilt or reflex.The difference between reaction and intentional action.Why your greatest strengths may be things you take for granted.Episode References/Links:OPC Summer Tour https://opc.me/eventsOPC UK Mullet Tour https://opc.me/uk eLevate Mentorship Program - https://lesleylogan.co/elevatewaitlistPilates Income Accelerator … prfit.biz/accelerator Cambodia October 2025 Waitlist - https://crowsnestretreats.comAletta Rochat Website - https://www.alettarochat.comFemGevity - https://www.femgevityhealth.com/?via=lesleyCliftonStrengths by Gallup - https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/ Resources:·        Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-g·        Lesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/·        Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/·        Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/·        Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQ·        Profitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/ Follow Us on Social Media:·        Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/·        The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-g·        Facebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilates·        LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/·        The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Brad Crowell 0:00  Because we don't recognize this as a strength, we hold back articulating our value. We don't identify that we have something that most people might not have, and that becomes our superpower. Lesley Logan 0:13  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started.Lesley Logan 0:55  Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the emboldening convo I had with Aletta Rochat in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that episode yet, you are missing out. She's amazing. She's a badass. You're gonna wanna listen to it after you listen to this one, if you can just go back into your feed. I mean, she's the first president-elect who's a female for the International Toastmasters. Brad Crowell 1:19  Yeah, international president-elect, yeah. Lesley Logan 1:21  Insane, amazing. And that's not even what she went to school for, or thought she'd be doing. So I just think it's great. We'll get into her in just a second. But first, today is May 29th 2025 and it's World Digestive Health Day. World Digestive Health Day is celebrated every year on May 29th around the world. I think it's really funny whenever they describe the day, and then the description is the same thing with the words. Brad Crowell 1:44  Yeah, it's also like today is May 29th. On May 29th we celebrate. Yes.Lesley Logan 1:51  The holiday provides resources and tools for gastrointestinal (G.I.) diseases to help more people in the general public make better decisions around their health. Awareness can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of G.I. diseases including cancer. It should also be known that G.I. diseases can lead to obesity. It can also create more understanding and better support for patients experiencing digestive diseases when their issues and conditions are better understood by the general public. I just think it's so important, if you are dealing with some stomach stuff, most people are not realizing how long they've been dealing with it, and it can lead to, as I mentioned, diseases, cancer, crazy stuff. You can have an imbalance of hormones, your mind, your actual mindset, how you feel, your emotions, are related to your gut, and if your gut biome is a fucking mess, and then you are also like, why does the world hate me? No amount of therapy is going to help you if your gut is telling your brain some other things. And so I highly, highly recommend, if you've got gut stuff going on, go advocate for yourself. If your G.P. is not listening to you, go talk to somebody else. We just had someone come to the house, which blew our mind. Our crappy insurance sent works to the company, and that company came to our house and literally sat down was like, what doctor referrals do you need? And I was like, oh, you can do that for me? And so you all know from over the last year how much FemGevity helped me with my gut stuff. Like, it's been really amazing to know the difference between like, I'm not feeling awesome, and, oh, this is my gut problem and. Brad Crowell 3:22  But it still doesn't change the fact that you have to go to a doctor locally to get blood drawn or things like that, right? Lesley Logan 3:28  Yeah, you still have to go do stuff, yeah? Well, FemGevity sends something to you, but you don't have to use it, like, you have to go, like, it is annoying to go advocate yourself. It is annoying to feel like you're crazy. It's annoying to feel like you're not being listened to. But literally, if you have H. Pylori, and you let it go on its own thing, it can lead to cancer, okay? If you have other things, it can lead like you don't get to ignore your gut, you don't get to. So I'm really excited that this day has its own day, which is May 29th, and it's a world holiday. Brad Crowell 3:56  It's a world holiday. Lesley Logan 3:58  Go talk to your G.I. about your shit, like literal shit. Okay, OPC Summer Tour tickets.Brad Crowell 4:06  Don't tell us about your shit when we meet you on tour. Lesley Logan 4:09  No, please don't. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to talk about my shit. I don't want to hear about your shit. But do you want to go on the West Coast tour? The tickets are already available. I actually don't even know how many cities we're going to at the time that we're recording this, but the team does.Brad Crowell 4:22  I haven't actually. Lesley Logan 4:22  We are, here's what I do know, we are spending a fuck ton of time and money to cross the border and go to Canada. So we are finally adding an international options to our West Coast tour. And so you're going to definitely want to the other Canada stops and or I know that we're hitting when I say West Coast, I mean California, Oregon, Washington. I know that we are hoping to do Idaho and Utah. Obviously while we're recording this, I don't have it in front of me, but I do know that the tickets sell fast, because our seventh tour, which is our winter tour, our last one, had literal cities sell out in 24 hours. So go to opc.me/events to see all the locations. Next up is September. We're going to be in the U.K. We have two cities with two day events at each one, Leeds and Essex.Brad Crowell 5:06  Nineteen.Lesley Logan 5:08  19 cities? Brad Crowell 5:08  I think we're on track for 19 cities with classes. Lesley Logan 5:12  Cool. Brad Crowell 5:12  Yeah, on the Summer Tour. Lesley Logan 5:13  Okay, well, thank you. So now we're on to Essex and Leeds and so this is our business in the front, Pilates in the back event, and it's two days long. Super fun, super affordable. You get six workshops, two classes for 550 pounds. Brad Crowell 5:29  I mean, it's kind of a steal, not a lot, yeah. Lesley Logan 5:32  Yeah, it's nuts, it's insane, and it's really fun. We get to spend a lot of time together, and the space is really limited and Leeds is like (inaudible).Brad Crowell 5:38  I think it's 485 pounds, 400, it's like 500 pounds. Somewhere around. Lesley Logan 5:41  Oh, maybe it's only 500 pounds. Brad Crowell 5:42  Yeah, because this is exchange thingy, so I can't remember exactly, but. Lesley Logan 5:46  Don't, don't listen to either of us quote a price. Just go to opc.me/uk. Brad Crowell 5:51  Yes. Lesley Logan 5:51  Because the early bird is over, but they're still a deal. Because the actual events, if we were to charge you for each one by itself, is like 2000 pounds, it was something ridiculous. Brad Crowell 5:59  That's way, way, way, way, way more. So yeah. Lesley Logan 6:02  So, opc.me/uk for the Leeds event or the Essex event. Leeds only has 16 spots, and I know we only have four left at the time we're recording this and then (inaudible).Brad Crowell 6:11  And it's not just Lesley who will be teaching, it'll be me, too. I'm actually gonna be there helping out. We're gonna do a couple of business life workshops, and then we're gonna do four Pilates workshops where you're digging into actual Pilates stuff, then I'm not teaching those. And then Lesley is also going to do a couple of classes and all the things, and then we're going to hang and, you know, all of it's going to be a blast, so. Lesley Logan 6:32  It's going to be so fun. And here's the deal, if you're like, oh, I'll go to the next U.K., I'm already in talks. Brad Crowell 6:37  Literally don't know when that's going to be. Lesley Logan 6:38  Yeah, I'm already in talks with several other countries that are across the world. And to be honest, Brad and I actually do like living in Vegas. So we are no longer doing multiple 12 hour flights in a year, just like not a thing for us. So I don't know that we'll hit the U.K. in the next two years after this. Brad Crowell 6:57  Yeah, at least.Lesley Logan 6:57  Even though that Brad loves it, we'd be there for vacation and not for work. So opc.me/UK is where you get your tickets there. What else, Brad? Brad Crowell 7:04  Okay, next up we got eLevate, y'all. If you've not heard of it, it's Lesley's Pilates mentorship program. It's a nine-month program, and you should do it, because it's going to change the way that you teach in incredibly dramatic way. You're going to feel way more confident about everything. People who take this program have told us they've stopped class planning. Their voices are not shot by the end of the day. They are not afraid of a random client walking in the door that they wouldn't necessarily know what to do with or prepare for. They don't have to do those things anymore, because when you go through this program, what you're going to do is you're going to dig in to all the different pieces of equipment, okay? And you're not just like learning exercises on them, although you will do that, you will learn everything that Lesley learned from Jay Grimes over the more than 10 years she studied with him and with Sandy Shimoda. You are actually going to be connecting the dots across the pieces of equipment that is going to allow you to understand why are you doing this thing with this person on the chair? Why would you then take them over to the barrels and do this other thing over there? And then, you know, because ultimately, you're understanding what their goals are, and then you can create the path through the equipment and through the exercises for them to reach their goals. Okay, how cool is that for you to just be able to understand that and not necessarily have to, like, go hit your books and be like, oh, I can't remember what I need to do with this person. No, when you go through elevate this stuff really comes together. And the the amount of confidence that has brought the people who have finished, which at this point, we got about 50 grads and 25 more people going through it this year. It's just been overwhelming feedback and in a positive way. And we want you to come. We're gonna do just the workout. Come get you know, move with Lesley, and then hang out afterwards. We're gonna do a Q&A talk all about eLevate. We are literally more than 50% sold out for 2026 so there's not that many spots left, but to find out about when this class is going to happen, go to lesleylogan.co/elevatewaitlist elevatewaitlist.Lesley Logan 9:09  I love this program so much. It's so much fun, and I'm really excited because next year we are going to do the two, two rounds again. We're not going to do it for the following year. This is the last time we can really commit to doing that, mostly because we just had so many people interested. We really, really didn't want you to wait. So we opened up another section, and like Brad said, it's almost sold out. It's just one of my favorite things. I get to spend so much time with you guys, and you, the progression, and then also, when you graduate, you're in the alumni group, and then I get to and then we're still together, and I'm still watching people elevate it's just (inaudible).Brad Crowell 9:25  We actually have a smaller group inside of the alumni who all virtually get together once a week to take an OPC class together and encourage each other and just get their movement. Lesley Logan 9:51  From around the world. Brad Crowell 9:52  From around the world. It's super cool. You know, we didn't set that up. They set it up. It's awesome. Anyway you want to be at this class. Go to lesleylogan.co/elevatewaitlist that'll be this summer. Brad Crowell 10:04  All right, next up, we got the Pilates Income Accelerator. If you are taking money from any person to teach them anything, whether that's Pilates or yoga or whatever, probably Pilates, because of who our audience usually is, I want you to come to this free workshop that I'm doing called the Pilates Income Accelerator. Go to prfit.biz/accelerator that's profit without the O dot biz slash accelerator. We're going to be covering three major secrets, about mindset, about money, about the numbers, and about marketing, and the messaging, the language you're using. We're going to be digging into those things, and then afterwards, I'm going to be able to answer questions about your business. So you can send in a question early, and I'll have it prepared so I can read through these questions and make sure everybody gets some kind of an answer here. I want you to come. It's free. You should do it. So go to prfit.biz/accelerator. Finally, Les, where are we going in October?Lesley Logan 10:59  Crowsnestretreats.com that's where we're going. We're going to our house in Siem Reap we have a lovely retreat planned for you. Oh my goodness. It's so wonderful. It's so cozy. It's a small group that can attend this event. We do Pilates five days. We go to the temples for two days. We take you to a lotus farm. We take you on a water tour. You get massages, and you also get to, like, really figure out what it is that you want when you leave, when you go home from the retreat. Brad Crowell 11:26  Yeah, so those are all what are we doing, but why would they go? Lesley Logan 11:30  Oh, I mean, because you're gonna feel like a freaking rock star when you come back, like you're actually gonna feel so good, you're gonna feel like you actually were in wonderment for a week. Wouldn't you like to get in wonderment for a week? I think so.Brad Crowell 11:43  Yeah. Wonder. Lesley Logan 11:45  Why do you think? Brad Crowell 11:46  When you think about Angkor Wat, it does create that intense curiosity, that wonder. How was it possible that they did what they did 1000 years ago, and for it to still be standing today, with all this epic, intricate carvings and all this stuff. You know, when you go on a journey like this, it's an adventure. You get to meet other amazing, adventurous people. We've also had, similar to eLevate, we've had retreaters stay connected afterwards. We've had like group retreat calls afterwards. We've had retreaters come back, bringing other people, because it was so inspirational. Lesley Logan 12:24  This coming one in October has someone from the last one, and then someone she's bringing her friend. And then last October, we had someone coming for the second year in a row, so like, just fun. Brad Crowell 12:34  Three or four times now, you know, yeah, we've had it happen over the years. Lesley Logan 12:38  It's a true like, when we hear the word retreat, it's like a true retreat. You get to really turn off what's going on in the world and focus on you and being in awe.Brad Crowell 12:47  Yeah, that's what's in it for you, y'all and you should join us. Go to crowsnestretreats.com. Before we get to Aletta, we have an audience question but. Lesley Logan 12:55  Yes, okay, I'm hijacking the questions again. Brad Crowell 12:57  Yeah, before you ask the question, I'm just gonna give it a quick preface. We spent the better part of a year building a tool that allows you to effectively have your own internal Google search situation going on through an AI tool that allows you to understand all the answers that Lesley and I have been giving to people for the past 10 years of coaching for fitness business. We call it the Pocket LL. And this tool, it was trained on 10 million words, where blog posts, webinars, courses, coaching, calls, group coaching calls, all these things where we're answering all these questions. And then we compiled it all into this insane database. And then we've got this awesome tool that you get to use when you're an Agency member. And today, we wanted to feature a question anonymously. We're not going to say the person's name, but we're going to feature a question that somebody actually asked the Pocket LL, so here you go.Lesley Logan 13:48  Yeah, so I have a problem client that gives me anxiety every time she comes in, but I owe her another six sessions in her 10 back. How do I fire her? Brad Crowell 13:57  That is, that's tough. Lesley Logan 13:58  And Pocket LL, said firing a client is never easy, but it's often necessary for your peace of mind and the health of your business. The image you see here captures an essential truth, it will never feel good to fire a client, but the sooner you take action, the fewer issues you'll have. Holding onto a problematic client can cost you more than just your sanity. It can affect your energy, your other clients and even your team. Here's how you can handle this gracefully. One, acknowledge sessions owed. You can refund the remaining six sessions or offer them to another instructor if you have one available, this ensures you're honoring the financial commitment without continuing the relationship. Two, be direct, but kind, say something like, thank you so much for working with me. I've realized that I'm no longer the best fit for your Pilates journey. I'd be happy to recommend another instructor or studio that might suit your needs better. Three, stick to your boundaries. If this client has been violating your policies or creating undue stress, don't feel obligated to explain or justify your decision. As I said before, you're not going to convince crazy. Keep it professional and move forward. I love when she quotes herself, which is me. Brad Crowell 15:00  You're not gonna convince crazy. That is amazing.Lesley Logan 15:03  I know. I mean, like I said that, so that's what I love about this. Okay. Four, prepare for pushback. Some clients may try to argue or guilt you into staying. Stay firm. Remember, you're creating space for better clients who respect your time and energy. And number five, focus on the opportunity. Once this client is gone, you'll have room for someone who uplifts you and aligns with your business values. Trust that the universe will fill that space with someone amazing. And then she always prompts with other questions. If you want to continue the conversation or you can just go start it's all good. Brad Crowell 15:32  Yep. Yeah. I mean, listening to those answers, I actually know the story behind every piece of that answer, because it's multiple conversations, over multiple calls, over multiple years, over multiple courses. And it's amazing that this, this tool is a, this search tool, is able to gather all that information and turn around and present it to you in a way that is cohesive, concise, and also you can actually use to take action. So. Lesley Logan 15:57  And it's and it's from all the years of experience of coaching thousands of businesses, and also all of my years of being and everything in this industry you could be. So I just really am so proud of the Pocket LL. And I do go through once a week and edit anything. And I'll, first, I stick with the things where people trigger an alert, because you could say avocado, if she makes sense to you. And then also I'll just go through for quality control and just read some of our answers. Sometimes I add another sentence because I'm like, oh, here's another idea. You know, now that I'm this many more years or I've helped this many more people, so it's always evolving. It's always getting better, and it's there for you no matter where you live in the world, as long as you're an Agency member. Brad Crowell 16:36  Yep, yeah. So if you're interested in what that even means, what that is, come to my free webinar like I was talking about go to prfit.biz/accelerator we will talk about Agency at the end, before I answer questions and come check it out.Lesley Logan 16:48  And then also, we'll go back to answering the questions you send in. I just wanted to hijack it because it's my podcast. Brad Crowell 16:53  I love it. I love it. All right. Well, stick around we'll be right back. We're going to dig into the conversation you have with Aletta Rochat. It was very inspirational. She is really good at bringing out excellence in people, so we'll be right back. Brad Crowell 17:09  All right. Welcome back. Let's talk about Aletta Rochat. Aletta is a public speaking coach and executive presence mentor based in Cape Town, South Africa. So an executive presence mentor, okay? She coached and trained in 21 countries, and will soon become the first woman from Africa the and only the 10th woman in 100 years to be the international president of Toastmasters International. So the 10th woman in the in what the last 100 years. She helps clients become more confident presenters by communicating with clarity, owning their presidents and reclaiming their sense of belonging. She also has been involved with Toastmasters since 2008. She has gone through all their educational material, and she's like the highest educator that they certify all the things she actually had a really great story about how she started to realize public speaking became like her survival mechanism, and then how it went on to now become her, you know, how she's supporting others succeed. I thought that was pretty cool. Lesley Logan 18:10  I also just, you know, like you like you hear, I heard about Toastmasters, like. Brad Crowell 18:14  I've heard about it so many times and I've never done, I don't even know what it was. Lesley Logan 18:16  And you kind of think like, oh, it's kind of like a Moose Club, like the Moose Lodge. Like, it's just, you know what I mean, but it's not, it's like, still going so strong, and it's helping a lot of people.Brad Crowell 18:26  She said they're in 150 countries. Lesley Logan 18:27  Yeah and it made me go all the people who are like, I need a friend. Go to fucking Toastmasters. Like, hear their stories. You'll connect. Yeah, you have to publicly speak, but you're gonna be around people.Brad Crowell 18:37  Well, she said you're guaranteed claps and guaranteed support, or you're guaranteed an audience and you're guaranteed claps. Lesley Logan 18:43  It sounds better than AA, where you also get both of those. I just think it sounds amazing. I'm so excited we're gonna highlight this. She said, "I show up differently when I think I belong." And she said that someone once told her, remember that you belong. That phrase helped her stay relaxed and be more spontaneous and likely to share her ideas. And I think that that's so important because for her to be where she's at in, in the world, but also in Toastmasters, each time she leveled up, there'd be, like, a reason to go, oh my God, who let me in here? They're gonna find out, like Maya Angelou is like, someone's gonna find out that I don't know what I'm doing. But if you remember that you belong, it changes how you show up. And you show up willing to be more yourself, which is going to allow you to connect with more people. And it's just so, so important. Brad Crowell 19:32  Well, I think also not only the vibes, the vibes are weird when you feel like you don't belong, but when you feel like you belong, you will approach the group, the conversation, the experience, in a much different way, because you're gonna participate. I mean, honestly, that's like the biggest thing. When you feel like you belong, you feel like you're allowed to participate, and if you feel like you don't belong, what do you do? You stand there and listen. You don't talk, you don't do anything. So I thought it was really, also, like, amazing that advice, hey, remember that you do belong. Remember that you do and she said, this was instantaneously a life-changing statement for her. Lesley Logan 20:11  Yeah. And so she even said, even though it wasn't a Be It Action Item yet, she said, "If you belong, how would you show up? How would you speak up?" And she says, like, it's like a fundamental building block of confidence and executive presence. And I just thought, yeah, we need to put that on our mirrors everywhere we can read them before we walk into a room where it's new for us. We're feeling a little nervous. I just thought was brilliant.Brad Crowell 20:32  I really dug in when she was talking about when to say yes, because you, you were asking her, it's like, wow, you seem willing to say yes to things. And she said, to my own detriment, sometimes I've said yes when I shouldn't have, but she said, the worst thing you could do is say yes to something that you don't want to do. And she was talking about, I think her example was like the Boy Scout troop, they asked her to do some specific role and and she said, thanks, but that's not the right role for me. I you know, she said there was nothing about it that lit me on fire, nothing that was exciting in any way to me, and to other people it might be really exciting, but for her, it wasn't. And she she said something very specific. She said when you say yes to something that you don't want to do, you literally start off building resentment from the, from day one. Lesley Logan 21:19  Yeah, she's correct. Honestly, I can look back going to the question, like, how do we fire a client? I remember taking the check going, I don't really want to teach her. And then the moment she texts me the next week, can I change my time? I'm like, like, it was, like a zero to 60 resentment, as opposed to someone I was really fired up to teach but like, oh yeah, this is your first time. We can do it, but not after that, you know. So she is 100%.Brad Crowell 21:44  Yeah, that was so poignant that she identified the resentment factor right out of the gate, you know. And we, why do we say yes to things that we don't want to do? Probably because we feel stuck, you know, like we feel like we have to. We feel like we're, you know, social pressure, guilt, money, something. There's underlying fear there that is making us do it. Could be family. That's like forcing us to do it, and it just builds that resentment. She said it should be both sides of the coin. You want to say yes because you want to do it and you also want to learn. I mean, what are the stories we tell ourselves? I have to say yes because I'm the right person for the job. I have the most experience. I just have to do it. No one else is going to do it, so I'm going to do it. These are a lot of reasons why we say yes, but we don't want to. Ultimately, it's important to offer service. I'm not arguing that we shouldn't be serving people, but even that service should be also doing something for you.Lesley Logan 22:37  Yeah, because you won't show up the same you just won't show up the same way. And I had someone who we actually really love and support in a lot of ways financially, and they'd ask me to be on a board. And if you guys have ever been around me, you know I've been on a board before I got burned. It was traumatizing. It was a whole thing. And I was like, I'll never be on an unpaid board again. And of course, I get this invite to apply. And I was like, there's a part of me is like, oh, they want me. And then I was like, oh, I can't do this. And then I was like, oh, I'm gonna let them down. I have, I know they need someone. Maybe I could do it if it's just, like, this much time a week, I was literally doing like, mental gymnastics to figure out how to say yes to the thing I already knew would not be the right thing. And then it took me forever to write up a thank you. But no, thank you. And you know what they said? We totally understand and thank you for being so honest. We don't want anyone to do this because they feel obligated, you know, and know that the door's always open if you, if anything ever changes and I was just like, oh, it could be that simple. It could be that simple. And honestly, if they'd answered any other way, I've been like, we're so disappointed. That is a fucking red flag to run away from. But if they're willing to be grateful, and you know, if they asked me, like, Who else do you do you know anyone else who could be right for this? I would have absolutely sent them some people, you know. So I just think that, like you can also see the true colors of the person if you're, if you're being authentically honest about whether you can say yes or no. Brad Crowell 24:09  I was laughing when she started to, to, she basically said, if you have helium hand, where just your hand goes up and you can't seem to stop it. I was laughing. I was like, what did she say? I literally rewound it. Listened to it twice. She said she's now learned to sit in her hands every now and again. So, good for her. And she said, you know, just make sure saying yes is not a reaction or a reflex reaction, but it's a concerted action. It's a decision that you're making. So awesome. Brad Crowell 24:37  Well anyway, great takeaways right there from Aletta. Stick around. We'll be right back. We're going to dig into those Be It Action Items. Brad Crowell 24:46  All right, welcome back. Let's dig into those Be It Action Items from Aletta Rochat. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo? She said, hey, here is how you identify your superpowers, which I'm all about. She said what are the clues to your superpowers? It's what other people keep asking you for help with. What is, what is it that you are consistently asked about, like, hey, can you help me, like, prep this thing or cook this dish or organize this event or be on the board or whatever. What is the thing that you keep being asked to do? She shared that most people overlook their strength, strengths because A. they come supernaturally to you. You might not even realize that they are a strength that you have, that others don't. They often become the most powerful gifts, right? Like, my mom has the gift of gab. That's what everybody said. Wow your mom, she's amazing. She talks to everybody. She's got the gift of gab, right? Well, sometimes the gift of gab was like, my dad was like, are we ready to go? Are we ready to go? So the way that I grew up, sometimes the gift of gab was a negative thing, because it was like, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, right? And it wasn't until later that I realized that it can also be a positive thing. So sometimes we look at what actually is a strength in the wrong light.Lesley Logan 26:04  Because somebody may have told you, yeah, told you you talk too much, or you're a big jokester, or you don't take things seriously, but there's always a positive side to a coin. Brad Crowell 26:12  Yeah, and I'm not trying to do my dad a disservice there, but I called him out, that's not what I meant.Lesley Logan 26:17  If Steven listens to this. Hi, Steven. You can come visit anytime.Brad Crowell 26:30  Aletta said that somehow society, that's a very inside joke, y'all, and I don't think literally, anybody except for my family, would get that. Aletta also said somehow society has conditioned us that we tend to verbalize what we're good at saying, oh, it's nothing, no big deal. Oh, yeah, you know, glad to help. You know, but we don't actually identify that it's really a superpower. An example that I didn't understand when I was in my band in when I first moved out to L.A. and I'm like, running around getting us set up to do the get the show, I talked to the venue owner, I like, figured out the night of the week that the band could do it. We rehearsed. We had to do a bunch of rehearsals. We get in there. We made a little marketing flyer. We distributed the marketing flyer, got it out into the community. All to do what? I just wanted to play. I just wanted to play on stage, right? And so I'm doing all the things to so that I can get up on stage and play. And what I didn't understand was that doing all those things that's actually part of my superpower. I saw the path through, how do I get to the end goal, you know? And then what are the steps that we need to do to do it? And ultimately, when I, when I finally identified that this was a strength of mine by doing the Strengths Finders exam, the first time I took it in 2010, it was this mind-blowing thing, because I was like, oh, everybody doesn't do that. I thought this was just the what you just do, what you have to do. I guess. That's the way I saw it. And it wasn't until I understood that this was actually valuable that I was able to go get a job to do literally that, and that's how I got into operations instead of companies. Kind of crazy. (inaudible) Yeah, you know, she said, We trivialize it because we don't recognize this as a strength. We hold back articulating our value. We don't identify that we have something that most people might not have, and that becomes our superpower. It can, it should. When we look at it through that lens, suddenly you're like, oh, this is something I'm inherently good at, and that is really a superpower. It's amazing. Like my mom's gift of gab is a superpower. You know, figuring out a way through the chaos is my superpower. But how do you identify that? Right? Then, when you finally are able to identify that again, I do recommend Strengths Finders, Clifton Strengths, they call it now. Now you get to finally say, my superpower is x, right?Lesley Logan 28:48  Yeah. Brad Crowell 28:49  What about you? Lesley Logan 28:50  Okay, so I said it before, but I think it's real. I really love that it's back here in the Be It Action Items, just in case you need to hear it again. She said, reclaim your sense of belonging and give yourself permission to belong. Aletta urged us to reclaim the feeling of belonging if we've lost it. She emphasized, it's within our power to grant ourselves permission to belong. And once you reclaim it, start playing with it. You can start thinking and start speaking and start acting as if you belong. It might feel like you're this is like the true be it till you see it, it's gonna feel like you're acting. There was an interview that's coming out, or it may have already been out, where someone talked about how they love the podcast name, because every day, we allow actors to play a role in a movie, and we believe them, right? We believe that they are that person for that period of time. And being it till you see it is like acting as it. And so you are going to reclaim it, and you're gonna play with it. You're gonna play with belonging, all that stuff, and before you know it, you'll have played it so much that you become it. That's it. You become the person that belongs. You're giving yourself permission. So I just thought, I was like, that's a be it till you see it right there. That's why this exists. So thank you, Aletta, for being you. You're so amazing. I'm so glad we're able to make this happen. I'm Lesley Logan. Brad Crowell 30:03  And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 30:04  Thank you so much for listening. I hope this was really awesome for you. I really loved it. I also just love her voice. I love the way she explained things, the helium hand, like there's just so many things to go back to and listen. So please take another listen through if you haven't already, share it with a friend who needs to hear it, especially the ones who need to sit on their hands, but also the ones who need to be reminded that they belong and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 30:26  Bye for now.Lesley Logan 30:28  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 31:10  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 31:15  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 31:19  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 31:26  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 31:30  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What happens when we finally break the silence about one of humanity's most natural yet stigmatized experiences? Periods affect half the world's population, yet remain shrouded in shame and misunderstanding. This candid conversation bridges generations and cultures as Mia and and her guest Urmi Hossain share their personal experiences with menstruation across different backgrounds.The stigma begins early—Urmi recalls being forbidden from attending school classes about periods, while advertisements portrayed menstruation as a joyful experience with blue liquid instead of blood. Both women share cringe-worthy stories of workplace period emergencies and the complex mental gymnastics required to hide a perfectly normal bodily function from colleagues. Their experiences, despite being decades apart, remain disturbingly similar.The statistics are sobering: 30% of adolescents lack access to needed menstrual products, while 64% of adults report being unable to afford period products at some point in the past year. Globally, 500 million people lack access to basic menstrual necessities. Beyond the physical challenges, cultural taboos label menstruating women as "impure" and restrict their participation in religious and community activities.This episode doesn't just identify problems—it explores solutions, from workplace "period days" to better education for everyone, especially men. As Mia pointedly suggests, "If men had periods, there would be baskets of tampons and Advil everywhere." The conversation concludes with information about organizations working to address these issues, including Women in Leadership Canada and Femme Influence.Whether you menstruate or not, this conversation offers critical insights into an experience that shapes lives, workplaces, and communities. Breaking the taboo isn't just about comfort—it's about dignity, equality, and recognizing biological realities that affect millions. Listen, learn, and join us in normalizing this essential conversation.Urmi Hossain is a woman who wears many hats.; Urmi is a self-published author, speaker, blogger, polyglot, mentor, and holder of both the CFA ( Chartered Financial Analyst) and CAIA ( Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) designations. She works in the financial services industry in Canada, where she lives.Her first book, Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle, reflects her journey as a third-culture kid.Passionate about women's empowerment, Urmi is the Social Media Lead for Women in Leadership's Victoria Chapter and the Campaign Manager at Femme Influence. She is a big proponent of learning and self-development; one of her passions is public speaking. She has been part of the Toastmasters club since 2019, where she served as both VP of Education and President.She enjoys reading thrillers and mystery books and working out in her free time, such as boxing, HIIT workouts, and running.Find Mia On Social Media ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen and subscribe to the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lesley Logan sits down with public speaking coach Aletta Rochat—president-elect of Toastmasters International—to explore how communication shapes confidence, leadership, and executive presence. If you've ever held back your voice or downplayed your strengths, this is your reminder to reclaim your space, speak with purpose, and lead with clarity. Whether you're leading a team or learning to own your story, this conversation will change the way you show up and speak up. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co.And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:Why your “yes” should come from alignment—not fear.How to use your voice with clarity and intention.The power of naming and owning your superpower.What executive presence really is—and how to build it.Why Toastmasters helps far beyond public speaking.Episode References/Links:Aletta Rochat Website - https://www.alettarochat.comAletta Rochat Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alettarochatAletta Rochat Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aletta.rochatAletta Rochat Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alettarochatToastmasters - https://toastmasters.org"I Belong" Playbook - https://beitpod.com/belongingMastering the Art of Exercising Authority - https://beitpod.com/exercisingauthorityThe Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - https://a.co/d/9CwCcIpGuest Bio:Aletta Rochat is a certified World Class Speaking Coach, professional speaker, and president-elect of Toastmasters International. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, she has coached clients in over 21 countries and is the first woman from Africa elected to lead Toastmasters in its 100-year history. Aletta helps leaders and professionals communicate with clarity, confidence, and executive presence—whether they're stepping into boardrooms, big stages, or everyday conversations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Witwatersrand and a diploma in marketing management from the University of South Africa. Aletta is also the author of two books on public speaking and the creator of the “I Belong” playbook, a self-reflection tool designed to help individuals reclaim their sense of belonging. Through one-on-one coaching and group programs, Aletta empowers people to lead not by being the loudest voice in the room—but by being the most intentional. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/ Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/ Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Aletta Rochat 0:00  We hold back articulating our value and how we can help solve problems and how we can move projects forward, because we somehow have this incredible anxiety around saying what we're good at. And once you get over that and saying, my superpower is, and this is how it can help you, you become someone who contributes to problem solving on a personal level, in your job, in your community.Lesley Logan 0:27  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started.Lesley Logan 1:05  All right, Be It babe, this is for you. If you have ever downplayed an idea or thought about doing something on a whim, maybe you've downplayed yourself. Today's guest went from like being a stay at home mom to kind of following this urge to go to a Toastmasters to then being, correct me if I'm wrong, Aletta, but like, the head of Toastmasters for the world, 150 countries and like that. So I am really excited because we talk about public speaking, but we also talk really about how to belong, and I think it's an important message that every single one of you needs to hear. And hopefully, we inspire you to check in with yourself, and maybe, and maybe think about the words that you want to communicate in this world, and how you can get them out there and not be super scared about it, because we all actually are so blessed and so lucky to have special gifts and superpowers. And Aletta Rachat, our guest here today, really helps you kind of be proud of that and own that. And so here she is. Lesley Logan 2:12  All right, Be It babe, we're about to have a very fabulous, wonderful conversation, and I think you're also just going to love to listen to our guest, because she's got one of those accents you just want to all the time. Aletta Rochat, thank you so much for being here. Will you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at?Aletta Rochat 2:26  Thank you, Lesley, wonderful to be with you. My name is Aletta Rochat. I'm speaking to you all the way from beautiful Cape Town South Africa. And my passion is helping people be more successful through the way they communicate. And the first person from Africa, never mind the first woman from Africa, who will soon be the international president of Toastmasters International, which I'm so excited for, and only the 10th woman in 100 years of the organization's history. So we are really helping, hopefully inspiring many other women to follow in my footsteps. I've coached and trained in 21 different countries, and I currently spend a lot of my time coaching clients to build executive presence, which is rooted in the way we communicate with each other and what we think about who we are and what we have to offer the world. And the author of two books on public speaking, so you can see, I'm just in the communication game. I love it. Lesley Logan 3:27  Okay, so first of all, congratulations. That is amazing, the accomplishments, and it's a little shocking in the length of time that you'll be the 10th but I, but I love that. I think it's important. I was really drawn to you because so many people are afraid of public speaking. So many people have a desire to share a story. Now, more than ever, I meet people who want to talk about the things that they do. They want to help people. They want to take their story and give it out there. But they could write the book. They could put the posts, but once they have to actually, like, put their face to words in front of people, and now public speaking isn't even just being on stage it's even just like putting stuff out on social media, people have a hard time communicating because they get so scared. Aletta Rochat 4:09  Yeah, they do. And it's, you know, people are scared for different reasons. Sometimes it's you've had a bad experience when you were at school and somebody laughed when you spoke up. Sometimes it's a comfort zone thing. So you find speaking to your friends, but should you be in a meeting at work and speaking to senior management? Suddenly your brain evaporates and you just can't get out. And it's not that the thoughts aren't within you. You've got the ideas, you've got the talent, you've got the commitment, but somehow articulating that in front of people can be very difficult. The thing that I've noticed in myself and other people, when you get anxious, your brain is thinking, oh my gosh, what am I going to say? And you're trying to formulate those words. At the same time, you're watching yourself make a fool of yourself. So the anxiety just explodes and it becomes almost impossible to be you. And ultimately, if you and I were sitting across the table having a cup of coffee together, you'd easily be able to tell me what your ideas were and why they're important. But, somehow, some context freak people out and then they just shut down. And then we don't see the real them. We don't see the value that they can offer.Lesley Logan 5:24  Yeah, well, thank you for, like, kind of normalizing it, because it's a common thing that people are going through. So, can we go back how did you get started in even helping people speak and communicate? Because that's not something, when you're a child, I wonder, like, is that something you dreamed of doing? Well, how did you get into this?Aletta Rochat 5:42  It was a survival skill. I had a very nomadic childhood. My dad was in mining, and from a very young age, we moved around a lot. So I was born in South Africa, we moved a couple of times there. By the time I was five years old, we moved to Zambia, and then we moved to Canada, and then we moved to Tasmania, and then we moved back to South Africa. So I can have I've got such a clear memory of being about eight years old, going to my next new school on my third continent, and standing in front of this classroom of people I didn't know, and innately knowing that the way I spoke to them would determine whether or not I had friends at break time. And of course, very importantly, if you're eight years old, whether or not you get an invitation to a birthday party. And I remember holding my mom's hand, you know, before she said goodbye and saying to myself, Aletta, you've done this before, you can do it again. And at that young age, I figured out a few basics. When you're new in an environment, you listen before you speak, because you've got to find out what's important to that group. And once you know what's important to them, then you can slot in on the conversation. That type of thing. So I had many opportunities to practice that as a child, I was always a kid with a funny accent, the one who started not at the beginning of the year, but midterm. And that happened again and again. And as an adult, with my husband's job, we moved and stayed in America, in Pittsburgh for a while. We lived in London. So, I got to repeat those practices many times. And then when I started coaching, I suddenly thought, where did I learn this? And it all went back to my childhood. So it was just very important to me to fit in, like for all of us, whether it's a new job or a new team or, you know, you're dating someone and they've got friends and family you want to fit in with, these skills are applicable in all those situations.Lesley Logan 7:40  Yeah, thank you for saying that because I also think people could hear, like, you're Toastmasters or not, because I could get coached for these things. But really, we all need these skill sets, even in family dynamics, especially now in family dynamics, not everyone agrees. How incredible, as a child that you're like you learn to observe and also to clearly state who you are and what you like, so that you could be accepted in. That's a superpower that you have. They were traveling and everything. But how did you get into Toastmasters and public speaking? Did your job have you doing presentations or did you decide, because you're a coach, you wanted to go out and talk? What was the impetus to make you want to go out and speak more?Aletta Rochat 8:20  So Lesley, I'm one of these strange people that actually has always enjoyed public speaking. I know I'm not the normal. But it never, it never freaked me out. So I've always enjoyed it, and I did it as part of my job, before I started raising kids, and then I got to the point I had three beautiful children and love being a stay-at-home mom, but I was wanting something for me, and when I went to my first Toastmasters meeting, it wasn't to become a better speaker. I joke that I was running away from my kids. I just wanted me time. And when I got there, I want to, I'm a lifelong learner. And immediately, I was so impressed with the people who were, you know, speaking that evening, and I knew I could learn, so I just followed the desire to learn. And of course, I loved communicating in any event. And I just there was a path I could never have foreseen that I would become the leader of this global organization at the time. But I just kept on saying yes to the next opportunity. They started asking me to do PR for the club, and I said yes. While I was doing that, someone called, and I said, well, come along to our meeting and see what it's like. And then she said, I'm phoning for my boss. He's too busy. Can't you help him? So I just said, oh, yes, I can. And that became my first client. And so it was an unintended consequence of joining Toastmasters was stepping into this role of coaching other people, and subsequent to that, I've got coaching certifications, and it's really my happy place training and leading and coaching is, feeds my soul, so I really enjoy it, and that means it doesn't feel like work.Lesley Logan 9:56  Yeah, you are seeking out things and then you would say yes to things. And I wonder, you know, some of the people who listen get themselves into places because they say yes too much. How did you make sure that when you were saying yes to things, that it actually was enhancing what you were doing and not compounding or stressing or causing you to not be able to do the things that you love? Is there something that you, you measured each yes with? Was it like a gut feeling? How did you do that? Because I'm wondering how we can take your like saying yes to these amazing things, to people who might be saying yes to not amazing things.Aletta Rochat 10:33  I think the reason you've got to, you've got to understand why you're saying yes. So if you're saying yes to get validation or you're saying yes to feel accepted, or you're saying yes because you're afraid of saying no, those could all lead you down very strange paths. So you've got to say yes to something that means something to you. You know, I've always been a volunteer. I love volunteering, but I remember when my kids, my son, was involved in scouting, and they wanted me to take on a role of quarter master, which was looking after all the scouting equipment. I just knew I had to say no because it didn't feed my soul, you know, I couldn't imagine anything. You know, I know they're talented people who do that job, but it wasn't me. So you've got to be true to yourself when you say yes, and it's got to bring you joy at some level, but it's not yes out of a sense of duty, and then you've got resentment for it. It's got to be something where you say yes because you want to give and you also want to learn. So to me, that, it's both sides of the coin. You can't just say yes to give and you're not learning or getting anything back. There's got to be value in it for you. And we've all got busy lives, and we've got to fit this into whatever else you've got going, your job, your family, looking after you as a person, your emotional and physical well being. So sometimes we get it right, sometimes we get it wrong, but I've always been one of these ones. I joke that I suffer from the Helium Hand Syndrome. So when people say, do you need anything? The hand magically goes up and, to your point, I've said yes to too many things in the past and then been burnt out. So I've learned to sit on my hand every now and again and make sure that I don't just it's not a reflex reaction. It's a considered action where I can add value and where it adds value to me.Lesley Logan 12:20  I love that you broke down all of that. And why are you saying I think that that is so important, you guys, I think you can all just take that clip apart. Everyone could just put it as a little card. Am I saying yes because I'm afraid of saying no. Am I saying yes because it's like, I'm like, you know, until it becomes an innate muscle, you know? I think that's really helpful because it is true. I know I had someone to send me a thing, and of course, I wanted to say yes to it. The yes was, like, a no brainer. The reason I said no is because the timing that just didn't work. There was no way I could do it. And so there's that part, that old version of me who's like, oh my God, if you say no to this, they're never going to ask again. And it's like, that is actually a story. If they are never going to ask me again, because I said no one time, I probably don't want to actually be with that kind of demanding space. But typically, I said, Oh my God, I'm so thrilled you asked me. I'm, I would love to do this. The date is wrong. I could do the weekends before, I could do the weekends after. I can't do that weekend. So you know, if the date changes, please consider me again. And they respond, of course, like that would be, thank you so much for letting us know. So it's like, you know, it's not, sometimes we, like I, could I have moved my other things to say yes? Not really. So I think it's really important for us to kind of understand why we're saying yes and what fears are coming up if we are struggling with it, you know, just paying attention to that stuff. What are some of the things that you, tools or sayings that you have that help you show up for all the things you want to do. Is there, like, a saying that you have, or something that someone taught you that helps you because you have so much confidence, and I imagine there was some of that you were born with, but like, what keeps you going in that way?Aletta Rochat 14:01  When I was running for election to a position, I've spent a lot of time speaking to past leaders and trying to glean information from them, and I'd chat to them and get their ideas and share my ideas, and at the end of every call, I would always say to them, what's the one thing in your opinion that I should remember as I go on this journey? And there was one of my colleagues who was senior to me in the organization, and he said words I've never forgotten, and he said to me, Aletta, remember that you belong. And that, to me, was so profound, because if I believe I belong, I'm likely to be more relaxed, more spontaneous, I'm more likely to share my ideas, and if I believe I belong, then I would probably be thinking at a different level. If I'm aiming for a senior position. And I thought, well, if I was in the C-suite, what would be important to me if I belonged, if I already had that position? How would I approach this? And that, to me, became quite a powerful mindset shift to check whether I'm waiting for someone else to tell me I belong, or whether I'm taking ownership and reclaiming my sense of belonging. And when I realized that I show up differently when I think I belong, and I thought, well, why don't I grant myself permission? Why does it have to be delegated to the world to give me a tick and say, yes, you can go the next step? So it's a powerful concept that's meant a lot to me personally, and when I've shared it with clients, it somehow resonates with people. If you belong, how would you show up? How would you speak up? Why would you share your ideas, or why wouldn't you share your ideas if you belong? So for me, it's almost like a fundamental building block of confidence and executive presence is this concept of belonging, but we can't give it to ourselves, and that was a game changer. Lesley Logan 15:55  Aletta, I'm obsessed with this because that is Be It Till You See It. If I belong, I show up differently. If I believe I belong here, if I believe I belong in the role I'm applying for, if I do that, your energy is different, how you answer the questions, you're not waiting for validation. I'm obsessed with this whole thing. So is this a mantra that you have people say? Is this something you repeat to yourself? Is it on Post-It notes like, how do you how did you incorporate it. How did you remind yourself?Aletta Rochat 16:22  It was so powerful to me that it suddenly became part of everything I did. If I belong. Because as soon as I felt as if I didn't belong, the clue was, that's when I'm not so sure of myself, and I start doubting myself. Where I start saying, well, you know, why am I here? So and so is better than me. Any of those negative voices that camp in your head. As soon as they became prominent, then I'd start to say to myself, but no, calm down. Take a step back. You belong. And if I can get into that calm state and say, actually, I do belong, then it's like a whole, my body calms down, my anxiety goes down, and then I can have clarity of thought, because it's not the anxiety tripping me up. So to me, it was just such a powerful saying that it I just embraced it and didn't let go of it. And now I've woven it into the coaching tools I have. I've created the I Belong playbook to get people to start thinking which areas of their life do they have a sense of belonging, and which is there a lack of a sense of belonging, and can we fix that by spending some time and saying, actually, if I did belong, what would I do? And a lot of that is linked in with self-acceptance, because if you belong, you're not wanting. You are enough if you feel you belong. And that's such a empowering thing. And it also just allows you to relax and be you, as opposed to trying to be something that you wish you would be, or you think someone else needs you to be. So it gives you permission just to just make it so much easier. Lesley Logan 17:56  Yeah, oh, my God, it there is an easy button. It's that mantra. But I, I, you hit something, you hit like on self-acceptance. And I think that is difficult. I think we have a lot of perfectionists who listen, a lot of over achievers, a lot of women. They're so amazingly powerful. They're awesome. They handle everything. They're handling their parents, health that's going on. They're handling their work, they're handling their kid's stuff. And yet I feel like sometimes they're where, like you can have the I belong in some areas, I feel like there is a lack of feeling they belong in the areas that they want to be going towards. And it's easy for them to use all this other stuff as an excuse, as a distraction to maybe not exploring the I belong, but also, like self-acceptance on that thing that they're desiring. Do you find that, like, have you worked with people in your coaching practice who, like, they can, they have some amazing areas where they belong, and then they're just not accepting themselves in the area that actually is where they desire to grow?Aletta Rochat 19:00  Exactly. One of the starting points for any coaching conversation I have with clients is trying to identify their superpowers. We all have them. But somehow society has conditioned us to say, oh, it's nothing. I can do this. It's nothing. It's, then we trivialize it, and once I start asking questions like, one of the clues to your superpowers is, what do other people ask you for help with so now you're really good at doing Excel spreadsheets and pivot tables and all this. And people come to you because you can do it in a heartbeat and they take three hours. You think it's nothing, because it's innate to you, but it's a gift you've been given. But where I find the disconnect is we know, maybe at a deep level, we're good at something, but we're almost scared to admit it or to articulate that to someone else, and therefore we hold back articulating our value and how we can help solve problems. And how we can move projects forward, because we somehow have this incredible anxiety around saying what we're good at, and once you get over that and saying, my superpower is, and this is how it can help you, you become someone who contributes to problem solving on a personal level, in your job, in your community, but if you aren't willing to share your God given talent, we don't know how wonderful you are, and you get overlooked. So that sense of belonging often is related to this trivialization of what we're good at, and if we can get over that, so much opens up. Lesley Logan 20:37  Yeah, yeah. I think it takes time. It always takes an outsider to help you with that. It's kind of hard to do, you know, like, there's some things you become aware of on your own, and some people a light bulb can turn on, and there's like, a lot like, I remember I did The Artist's Way once, and I was answering one of the questions, and I had an aha moment that I never had, ever thought about. And I was like, oh, no wonder I never cook. Like, when I was eight years old, my grandfather told me, like, are you fucking idiot? Why would you do this with the bread? And I did not realize that, oh, at a young age, I just kind of learned, you know, even though I was following a recipe, you know. So sometimes things can be done with an, with an, a book or, or a hearing something, and then other times, if you are hearing it and you know it, and you're struggling with it, you need support of someone to kind of guide you. How long have you been coaching and what drew you to supporting others?Aletta Rochat 21:29  I've been coaching probably for about 15 years now, and what drew me towards it? It's I get such a kick out of seeing other people blossom. It, to me that's, the best reward ever is when I share something, someone takes action on that, and they sent me a letter it worked. And to see clients growing in confidence, in whichever way is important to them. You know, it doesn't matter whether they're IT professionals or entrepreneurs or whatever, but to see them grow is just so powerful. So that feeds my soul, and it's something that I just as I say, it doesn't feel like work to me. I feel it's my purpose in life. That's my God-given talent is helping other people be more successful. So, for me, it's just natural to do it, and I enjoy doing it. And you know, I do it one-on-one. I do it in group coaching programs. I do it often with no reward whatsoever, just because I love it and it feeds my soul. So it makes sense. Lesley Logan 22:30  I think that's so fun about a lot of things we get to do on this world now. And so many of us have a superpower, and then we can make it be the thing that we do. And it doesn't have to feel like work. It can feel like part of any wonderful day that we're given to do. I have some questions, because I know some of our listeners have probably heard Toastmasters, but probably thought it was like the thing that their parents did in the 90s. Is that something that everyone should be doing, is it something only people who wanna publicly speak do? What drew you to it? I mean, obviously you run it, so obviously you're obsessed. But I would just like to know, because I remember when I was a young adult hearing about Toastmasters, but not necessarily something that, I've been told I should do it, and I just never did it. So I would love I'm curious now I'm asking you.Aletta Rochat 23:15  Toastmasters, for those who aren't aware of it, is an organization that teaches people public speaking and leadership skills, and we do that in clubs. So clubs usually about 20 people, some of them are bigger, some of them are smaller. And you come to club meetings and you choose your own speech topics. There's a curriculum that you can personalize. We call them pathways, and you decide which one you want to go to. And your first project, for instance, is called your icebreaker, where you simply introduce yourself to the club. We give you a few criteria. We tell you how long to speak for. So we time everything to try and train people not to go on and on or speak too short. And the beautiful thing about Toastmasters is two things, you're guaranteed an audience which often is hard to find, and you're guaranteed applause, and then, which is something very precious. And then in that audience, somebody will be given the task of giving you feedback. And if you were speaking, let's say, Lesley, we love that you did this, this, and this. Next time, challenge yourself. Here's my suggestion to improve that. So it's an incredibly positive, supportive environment. Everybody is there for the same reason. So it's an incredibly safe space. If you want to make mistakes, that's the place to make it. But that if you participate, within three months, you see such a tangible increase in confidence, which you take back to your family, your community, your career. So my advice is go to toastmasters.org and there's a Find a Club feature, and look for clubs in your area that meet at a day or a venue that suits you or a time, and go and visit a few clubs. They've each got their own personality. And don't be put off if they look different to you. They're older or younger than you. Just go and give it a go. You actually will be amazed. And one of the best things about it is you meet people that are different to you, people from different backgrounds, different experience sets, so your life, just by hearing their stories, is enriched. But it's a lot of fun. But you know, it's the best way to do it is just go attend a meeting and see what you think. Lesley Logan 25:23  What a fun hobby. I think that could be, even if you're not wanting to, I love that you brought up like you bring the confidence to the other parts of your life. We hear a lot of people, they struggle to make friends as an adult, because it's so much harder, like especially when you have kids, if you move to a new city, good luck making new relationships, new friends. It can be really difficult. But I sound, it sounds like Toastmasters would bring multiple facets of people to the same place, and so you can connect with other people. I mean, guaranteed applause. Who doesn't want that? But also, like. Aletta Rochat 25:53  In 150 countries all over the world, so, it's very hard to find a country that there isn't a Toastmasters club. So it's probably closer and easier than you imagine.Lesley Logan 26:02  I'm gonna look it up after just to see, because I've lived in the city four and a half years, but I find I have a great group of connections. But also I'm like, well, how would I meet more friends if I wanted to add more friends? Because, you know, it becomes, the city can come really small, if you like, stay in your group and you just have that network. So I think that it could be really cool. And also not that you have to want to go and be a public speaker, but also if you want to present in your office. You know.Aletta Rochat 26:26  In your office, at a wedding, at a friend's birthday, at a funeral. You know, there's so many opportunities we get to, especially these special occasions, speaking, where your speech is a gift that only you can give and you really want to do it well, you know, whether it's a friend or someone who's retiring or someone getting married, what a wonderful way to pay tribute to someone. And if you have a bit of practice, and you can even practice those speeches at Toastmasters and get feedback before the event, so that when the day comes, you can shine.Lesley Logan 26:59  Ah, that's so cool. That would have been very helpful when I had to speak at a funeral a few years back. Aletta Rochat 27:05  It's just so hard to do. It's not easy.Lesley Logan 27:06  So hard, you're so, you're so emotional, you're trying to, like, share your love, but you're also feeling your emotions. But I mean, you know, even though it's my company that I'm running, sometimes I have to present an idea. We talked about, at the beginning of this, it's like getting, in one-on-one, I could, like, totally share the idea, but then you got to present the idea to people who are the marketing department for it. They're the payroll department going, can we afford this? They're the ops department who has all these questions. And sometimes you're like, okay, now my idea doesn't, I don't have as much confidence in it. I feel a little muddy around it. I'm actually nervous, because now I have to translate it to all of you and get you excited, because I want to do it. It's hard. Aletta Rochat 27:45  Yeah, it's not easy, but with a bit of practice, you'll be amazed at how much easier it will get and how quickly you can achieve that.Lesley Logan 27:52  This is, I love this a lot. So what are you most excited about right now? We're in the new year when we're recording this. Is there something that you're super excited to do this year that you haven't been doing before, or is it more of the same?Aletta Rochat 27:59  I think it is growing what I've already done. I've got a beautiful group coaching program, and I want to invite more people into that, where I mentor them for a 12-month period on executive presence, and that group has just achieved so much that that is very exciting. I've also planning to publish a book on executive presence, putting all the tools that I've created and publishing that. Don't ask me for a publication date, because I don't know yet. I'm still trying to get it done, but it's a dream that excites me. Lesley Logan 28:37  Oh, around here, we love reading books, so you'll just have to let us know if there's a waitlist thing or something. Executive presence, is that something we all have inside us innately, or is that something that we have to cultivate?Aletta Rochat 28:49  I think people probably have an ability for it. Whether they nurture that ability is a different question. I remember when I was at school, the headmistress of my school, describing in a reference she wrote for me, she said a letter has a quiet authority, and in those days, maybe that was what executive presence was. So you don't have to be the loudest voice in the room. You don't have to be the best brain in the room, but if you have executive presence when you speak, people will listen because you're adding value, and you will speak in a way that contributes to the group and contributes to the bigger picture. So I believe everybody needs it and can cultivate it and can benefit from and it covers so many things. It covers the confidence, the self-belief, the sense of belonging, the way you articulate your message. So whether you're having to say no to someone, or whether you're giving feedback, or whether you're inspiring a team, if you've got executive presence, it's easier. So it's something that I think all of us should develop as a muscle, because the benefits are multifaceted, and it's not out of reach of anybody. We just have to become self aware, and then learn a few tips and tricks, and then have, build our awareness of others, because that's also part and parcel. You can't just be an island with your executive presence and nobody around you. You've got to learn to get the best out of people and give the best to people so that we all benefit.Lesley Logan 30:16  Beautiful. I think that what you're doing is really cool. You have such a calm, like this headmistress said, like this calm leadership about you, there's just something, and I think that's so nice. Sometimes people have so much fluttering energy. And there's something about you that everything that you say feels possible and doable, even, even if I've heard it before, but the way you say it, it's easy, like the I belong, and how that that can change the way we feel, and how all that can work. Lesley Logan 30:44  I wonder, before we take a brief break, what are the ways that you prioritize yourself because you are so passionate helping people and it doesn't feel like work, how do you make sure that you are prioritizing you in your day?Aletta Rochat 30:58  Got quite a good sense of when I'm not feeling at my best, and when that anxiety comes up when I'm just kind of not feeling me, my remedy is to go into nature, either go walk the garden, or take a dog for a walk or to have a run. Exercise and outdoors really helps me. My husband is very good. He'll just say, you know, what's going on? You know when, if it's Toastmasters related, he'll say, you joined to have fun. If you're not having fun, change something. So I'm also very aware of my energy levels. So, you know, I try and surround myself with people who lift my energy, and hopefully I do the same for them. So I've learned over the years to say no to things that aren't good for me, but I think it's just, it's almost like that barometer you've always just got to check how you're feeling today and if you're feeling off, why? I was trying to track it back, when did it change and what was it? And sometimes it's anxiety. You're worried about something, and then suddenly your energy changes, and then you become contracted inside, and then you can't be at your best. So how do you remedy that? Is it going back inside and reminding yourself that you belong? Is it taking a walk? Is it phoning a friend? It's just being aware of when you can recalibrate to get back into the position that you can be creative and spontaneous and add value, but knowing what it feels like when it's right and knowing what it feels like when it's wrong is a key to looking after yourself.Lesley Logan 32:29  I love that. I think that that's important to give ourselves time to do that, you know, I think that's really key. And it takes, it takes a muscle, it takes practice. I'll let everyone take a brief break and then find out how people can find you, follow you, work with you, and your Be It Action Items. Lesley Logan 32:44  All right, Aletta, you mentioned you have a I Belong playbook. I would like to know more, because I feel like that is the be it till you see it playbook right there and you've made it. So we may as well make sure people have it.Aletta Rochat 32:58  Well, I created it in the process of trying to challenge myself to identify which parts of my life I belong and which I don't feel I belong and why, and to kind of have a playbook where I can say, okay, that's the area I want to pick up on. So it's very simple. It's just prompts for you to follow. But the idea is that you do an inventory of your belongingness, of I can put it that way, I've never expressed it quite like that, and then that'll help you take the next step and inform yourself and just create that awareness that you can take further to get that sense of belonging and to cultivate it, nurture it. Because it's not a once and done deal. It's a practice, yeah, but it's a very powerful practice. So if people would like to download that they go to, I'm going to give you lots of letters here, H-T-T-P-S, you know the story, coaching.executivepresenceformula.com/belonging.Lesley Logan 33:55  We will put that in the show notes, guys. We will put that in the blogs. It's easy to click. Yes, that is wonderful. And do you hang out on any of the socials that people can find you, follow you on?Aletta Rochat 34:07  The best one to find me on is LinkedIn. And if you just Google my name or search my name on LinkedIn and send me a message, I'd love to have a conversation with you, and it's just, yeah, finding out, when I have a conversation with you, how I could be of service and, you know, whether we're a good match. And a conversation is the easiest way to determine that and then to see what's next.Lesley Logan 34:31  Love that. I love that. Thank you for that. Okay, you've actually given us so many great things. But for the people who may skip to the end, or they get to hit this point, and they are like, okay, but what, what should I do next? The bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it, what do you have for us?Aletta Rochat 34:48  The first thing I have is to own your sense of belonging, reclaim it if you've lost it. Second thing is you be the one to grant yourself permission to belong. It's within your power. You've got agency. It's a choice you have. And the third one is then start playing with it, start thinking, start speaking, start acting as if you belong, and watch the difference that results once you have that mindset. So it's reclaiming our sense of belonging. And that'll unleash so many possibilities for you, and it's something it's a gift you give yourself. Lesley Logan 35:26  Yes, yes. Oh my gosh, I love this so much. I think it's a great reminder and a wonderful tool. And so also, thank you for your playbook, because I do think the inventory of belongingness is, is key. People who listen to this, obviously, y'all want to know more about yourself, and I think what a great place to evaluate and have some aha moments. So, Aletta, thank you so much for being here and sharing your gifts with us and your positivity and your tools. You are wonderful. and you're doing great work. Lesley Logan 35:56  Y'all, make sure you share this with a friend. Share this with someone who needs to hear it. Make sure you hit up Aletta on LinkedIn and let her know your favorite takeaways and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 36:05  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 36:49  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 36:54  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 36:59  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 37:06  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 37:09  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Braxton Critcher welcomes Jimmy Lea from the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence. Why? Because Jimmy actually did something newsworthy! Bout time! Jimmy is now, to our knowledge, the ONLY presenter in the automotive aftermarket certified as a Certified Speaking Professional. It was quite the journey to get here, though! Hear Jimmy walk us through the process and tell us why this is important for other speakers to try and get as well.00:00 Jimmy's choice in suit coats05:46 "Reapplying for CSP Certification"08:11 Failed Speaker Review Video11:08 Videographer Hire: Costs & Requirements16:06 Speaker Recognition and Status20:11 Becoming a Professional Speaker21:01 Joining Speaking Associations Explained25:58 Collaborative Industry Improvement Insights28:35 "Shopmonkey Expert Series in Chicago"

It's fair to say that public speaking is hated by most of the population - you're on display, all eyes on you, your hearts racing, and palms are sweaty.Sounds like a shit time to me.Well those are all normal reactions to pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and getting on stage.My public speaking journey starts when I was just 10 years old as Cinderella at my school production, next was when I was 16 years old and I became house leader at my high school , and then it was in my third year of uni when I won top of the class and $2.5k for my internship presentation.No one is born with the ability to public speak, it's something you craft over time, and if you're an extroverted person, you might get a little kick out of the thrill, and the pre-stage nerves are worth the feeling of euphoria afterwards.This is why I public speak.Because I am so damn proud of myself every time I do it. I'm not the biggest fan of the task itself, but I love the confidence it instills in me and that's what we're chatting about today!I can attribute most of my self confidence to the opportunities I have had to public speak and now I'm taking that to the next level this year with Toastmasters, tune in for a goodie.

I recently attended my first Toastmasters conference.  Reflecting on my Toastmasters journey, I've learned that this organization is about so much more than public speaking.  It truly is about finding your voice and learning to share your unforgetable story.  Learning and growing with this incredible community has my creative energy flowing.  I can't wait to tell you all about it!

District 23 (2020) International Speech Contest Winner Eva Fanari shares about earning her Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award. While less than 1% of members earn their DTM, all members are eligible to do so.

Beacon4Hope: Veterans and Youth Suicide PreventionWelcome to the Lean to the Left Podcast as we explore the pressing issue of suicide among veterans and young people. Our guest, Douglas Brinker, founder of Beacon4Hope, Suicide Prevention, and author of 'My Shadow From a Suicidal Self to a Purpose with Hope,' shares his incredible story of overcoming his own suicide attempts and turning his life around to become a beacon of hope for others. Doug discusses the vital work his organization does in suicide prevention through speaking engagements, one-on-one coaching, and group coaching sessions. He emphasizes the importance of having open conversations about mental health and the critical need for better support systems. Tune in to hear Doug's inspiring journey and learn how you can help combat suicide in your community. CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Today's Topic00:27 Meet Douglas Brinker: A Beacon of Hope01:09 Douglas Brinker's Personal Journey02:31 The Mission of Beacon for Hope03:52 Strategies for Suicide Prevention07:10 Douglas Brinker's Military Service and Struggles14:38 The Impact of Bullying and Teenage Suicide16:13 Toastmasters and Public Speaking22:26 Challenges Facing Veterans and the VA28:38 Douglas Brinker's Memoir and Future Plans33:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Ron Papke's journey from addiction and homelessness to building a thriving cleaning restoration business is nothing short of inspiring. With just $2,500 and a few lawn mowers, he laid the foundation for what would grow into a million-dollar company specializing in water restoration, mold remediation, air duct cleaning, and more.What makes Ron's success stand out is his mastery of organic marketing—achieving massive growth without relying on hefty advertising budgets. His company's leap from $500,000 to its first million in revenue came largely from a simple yet powerful strategy: customer yard signs. By placing signs at every job site and leaving them up until a client objected (which almost never happened), he created an unstoppable local presence. The proof? His business boasts over 700 Google reviews, while his nearest competitor has just 40.Beyond marketing, Ron's business approach is full of game-changing strategies. His innovative “scheduling close” technique shifts the focus from price to value by first asking if customers qualify for special discounts (like first responders, teachers, and veterans) before offering time-sensitive pricing incentives. He also requires a $50 deposit on every job, which not only reduces last-minute cancellations but reinforces his company's professionalism.Ron is a firm believer that strong communication skills are key to success—so much so that he recommends every business owner join Toastmasters. Not only does it refine public speaking, but it also serves as a powerful networking tool with management-level professionals. He also leans heavily into video marketing, stating, “People trust videos on a whole other level.” His email campaigns are equally strategic, with segmented messaging that tracks engagement to fine-tune follow-ups.Perhaps one of Ron's most impactful business practices is how he nurtures relationships with referral sources. Whether it's insurance agents or property managers, he keeps his business top of mind through thoughtful, memorable gestures—homemade jerky, bottles of liquor that double as constant reminders of his brand, and seasonal gifts that create natural touchpoints throughout the year.Want to revolutionize your cleaning business? Connect with Ron on Facebook to learn more about his strategies or join his private group for exclusive insights on building a thriving cleaning empire.This version keeps the energy high, refines the flow, and makes Ron's strategies even more compelling. Sign up for my email list here: Send us a text It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn from Erica Paynter is the brains behind My Virtual Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm for cleaning companies, and the creator of Clean Co. Cash Flow Academy and the Clean Co. Collective. She's on a mission to help cleaning business owners make sense of their numbers without boring them to tears! Erica's all about turning messy books into profit-packed powerhouses. support@myvbk.com Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States. Support the showQuestions? Feel free to reach out!Shannon Miller: cleaningbusinesslife@gmail.com Join my FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583362158497744YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjMz_-9YyiFvNVIgb61iYgSee Shannon's latest courses: www.KleanFreaksUnversity.com

What happens when someone dares to speak up—not just clearly, but confidently—in the moments that matter most? Aletta Rochat, International President-Elect of Toastmasters International, joins Mary Ann Faremouth on this episode of Career Can Do to explore how powerful communication and leadership skills can shape careers, strengthen confidence, and create lasting personal impact. Aletta shares insights from her global leadership journey, emphasising the unifying nature of Toastmasters: “We come from different countries who might speak different languages and have different cultures. But as Toastmasters, we unite and connect. And we're there for a common purpose. And that's why it works so well.” In times of crisis, communication can be your greatest tool. Aletta recalls a moment shared by a longtime Toastmaster she mentored: “Suddenly, with the confidence she built up through Toastmasters, she was able to take charge in a very stressful moment… and to keep calm in the midst of something that could have been exceptionally stressful.” Experiences like these, she says, highlight how communication skills, built over time, become instinctive when you need them most. She also tells the inspiring story of Emil, a new member who gave his first speech—despite a profound stutter: “It took him 16 agonizingly long minutes to get those words out.” With ongoing support, Emil went on to become a confident leader. “He learned, and he improved because of the support of the members around him. He couldn't have done that by himself.” Looking ahead to her conference session, Building Clubs That Are Member Magnets, Aletta promises to keep things practical and impactful: “I'm not going to give you the theory. I'm going to give you the stuff that works.” Reflecting on her 16-year Toastmasters journey, Aletta sums it up in one word: “Enriching.” She explains, “Toastmasters is not a spectator sport. The more you get involved, the better the return on investment.” This episode is a powerful reminder that communication isn't just a skill—it's a life-changing asset, and one that's more essential now than ever. Resources Toastmasters on the Web | District 65 Annual Conference 2025 Aletta Rochat on the Web | LinkedIn Mary Ann Faremouth on the Web | X (Twitter)

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/687 What happens when a finance professional clicks a mysterious purple icon in Excel and discovers a whole new world? For Mate Tóth, that moment sparked a journey from spreadsheets to becoming a Microsoft MVP. In this episode, Mate shares how curiosity, community, and a passion for learning transformed his career. From building his first Power App in production to leading Hungary's Power Platform user group, Mate's story is a masterclass in grassroots tech leadership and the power of showing up.KEY TAKEAWAYSStart Small, Think Big: Mate's Power Platform journey began with a single Excel task—proof that big transformations often start with small curiosities. Community as a Catalyst: His involvement in Toastmasters and local tech groups helped him grow as a speaker and leader, eventually leading to his MVP nomination. Localization Matters: Language barriers and cultural nuances shape tech adoption—Mate shares how he's bridging gaps in Hungary's tech scene. AI with Purpose: While enthusiastic about AI, Mate emphasizes ethical considerations and the importance of understanding each model's strengths. From Goals to Impact: Ironically, Mate became an MVP the year he stopped chasing the title and focused solely on helping others. RESOURCES MENTIONED

In this Humans of Meraki episode, Helen Fream takes us on her dynamic Cisco journey—from designing the popular Meraki e-learning program to championing mentorship and leading Women of Meraki. With humor and heart, Helen shares how she's created opportunities, mastered public speaking, and pursued her love of sustainable fashion. You won't want to miss this uplifting conversation, full of insights on inclusion and growth and making bold moves in the workplace!Embark on the Meraki FIT journey https://community.meraki.com/t5/Meraki-FIT/ct-p/merakifitHostSammy Brenner, Virtual Sales Leader, Cisco MerakiGuestHelen Fream, Instructional Designer – Join & Connect Enablement Hfream@cisco.comHelen is a Learning & Development professional with a strong background in instructional design, program management, and digital learning solutions. Throughout her career at Cisco, she has built global onboarding initiatives and created impactful learning experiences for diverse audiences. Known for her creativity, organization, and cross-functional collaboration, she is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, having led the ERO Women of Meraki, as a sustainable fashion enthusiast, and as a dedicated Toastmaster!

In this week's episode Shirley discusses the Sucessful Club Series with emphasis on finding new members, the word of the week is MANIFEST and Moira talks about the use of AI in Toastmasters,.This episode is published on 10th May 2025 with Dr Shirley Gallagher & Moira O'Brien DTM, edited & produced by Moira O'Brien.Contact us:Website: ⁠www.irishtalkers.com⁠Facebook: The Talk Show for Talkers

My guest today is Jen Oliver. Jen is a speaker, writer, and coach. She founded Speaking REAL Communications to help clients bring their truest voice to work and personal life; Jen believes communication should be relational, engaging, authentic and life-altering. Showing up REAL matters. With roots in Toastmasters, training in Fierce®Conversations and licensing as a leader in the WomanSpeak™ method, Jen also offers private and group coaching for high-stakes talks and keynotes. She is the Director of Curation and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom and several other U.S. based speaking events. Jen converses with vulnerability and candor with guests on the Listen for REAL podcast. And in recent years, she hosts The REAL Conversations Speaker Series – pop up events designed to equip and synergize people around ideas while building connection and community.. In this episode we discuss public speaking, personal growth, vulnerability and speaking tips .Website - https://www,realjenoliver.comIG - https://www.instagram.com/realjenoliverLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/realjenoliverFB - https://www.facebook.com/realjenoliverPodcast - https://www.listenforreal.comIn this episode you will learn:1. How to re-frame your anxiety around public speaking and partner with your energy rather than fearing it.2. Understanding why listening is a crucial skill in both personal and professional conversations.3. Why being your true self is more powerful than following any formulaic approach to public speaking. “You need to show up as you. This is probably the biggest thing I capitalize as a speaker coach is, and that makes me a little bit different. I'm so about them being them, not following formulas. ” - 00:03:43“When I equip speakers with tools, each one is about getting them into this new habit developing the new neural pathways that don't immediately jump to what the mind and the chatter is giving them, but slowing down, almost like meditation." 00:27:49“So storytelling is just, it's so beautiful in that it can make an idea that's worth transmuting or research. that needs to be shared, or a new technology or innovation, it suddenly makes it sticky and memorable and relatable. ” 00:40:27

Get More LVWITHLOVE Content Guests: David Robertson – Founder & Executive Director, JOSHWAY Glenn Breslauer – JOSHWAY Board Member In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love: Off the Record podcast, hosts George Wacker and Jeff Warren sit down with David Robertson and Glenn Breslauer of JOSHWAY, a new nonprofit based in Easton, Pennsylvania that's using technology, collaboration, and lived experience to connect with and uplift the youth of Northampton County and beyond. Learn more about JOSHWAY at: https://joshway.org Watch Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC2J-Fca-wc www.lvwithlove.com Thank you to our Partners! WDIY Lehigh Valley Health Network Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub Banko Beverage Company Episode Recap JOSHWAY: Building a Future Where Vision Meets Action JOSHWAY began as a personal mission after founder David Robertson lost his brother Joshua to “modern day challenges.” What started as a response to grief has become a movement grounded in digital literacy, financial education, public speaking, and youth mentorship. “Joshua was the response to a loss,” David says, “but what was lost became something beautiful.” Tech-Driven, Vision-Focused JOSHWAY's programming is uniquely collaborative—partnering with nonprofits and schools to bring modern tools and leadership development to young people. From Toastmasters-style public speaking to Apple-powered media literacy, JOSHWAY isn't just meeting kids where they are—it's helping them lead. They're not reinventing the wheel—they're upgrading it. “We're not just starting new programs,” says Glenn. “We're transforming existing ones for the 21st century.” Digital Skills Meet Real-World Impact Through partnerships with Apple and others, students are learning how to use Keynote to build presentations, GarageBand to create podcasts, and financial literacy tools to better understand money. And the team's entrepreneurial spirit shines: “We're scrappy. We're flexible. We move fast,” David adds. Community First, Always JOSHWAY's new headquarters on Northampton Street is just the beginning. The team is now running inbound and outbound workshops and collaborating with organizations like El Sistema and Century Promise to scale impact. They're calling for others—especially those aged 35 to 45—to join the movement. “If you're not ready to start your own thing,” David says, “take a board seat. Get involved.” What's Next? JOSHWAY is working on expanding into school curricula, launching youth Toastmasters programs, and publishing Joshua and the Power of Resilience, a forthcoming book co-authored by Glenn. The message is clear: This is just the beginning. And they're building a blueprint for a new kind of youth empowerment—visionary, modern, and deeply rooted in community. Learn more, collaborate, or donate: https://joshway.org

In this episode of the Learning from Smart People Podcast, Rob Oliver talks with Chris Castanes—an award-winning insurance agent, speaker, and author of You Are Going to Be Great at This. Chris brings decades of sales wisdom with a refreshing blend of humor and authenticity. Whether you're a reluctant entrepreneur or a seasoned salesperson, you'll appreciate Chris's real-world insights on what it really takes to succeed in sales—without the sleaze.Here are some of the key takeaways from Chris Castanes' conversation with Rob Oliver:Sales success starts with learning how to find people to talk to.A full pipeline and consistent networking are essential to growth.Rejection is part of the process—develop “Teflon coating” and keep moving.Toastmasters and public speaking can help introverts build communication confidence.Sales isn't just about product—people buy from people they trust.Building rapport and demonstrating integrity beat pushy tactics every time.Relationship selling means showing up sincerely, not just closing a deal.You're always selling yourself—in business and in life.Humor and resilience can defuse rejection and create memorable moments.“Selling on the approval of others” taps into a powerful psychological motivator.Real-life examples (like Popeye and spinach!) make sales techniques relatable.Listening is more powerful than talking—find the client's real pain point.Be genuinely curious about your client's needs, not just your pitch.Follow up consistently; a client's circumstances can change unexpectedly.Keep multiple solutions “in your quiver” to serve evolving needs.Transitioning to virtual and social media-based sales requires creativity and adaptability.The barrier to entry on social media is low—standing out requires strategy.Your name is your brand—keep it consistent and focused.Avoid diluting your identity with conflicting side hustles.Chris's humor-infused book was a passion project turned powerful teaching tool.You can learn more about Chris Castanes and connect with him through the links below:Website: www.chriscastanes.com Twitter: @ccastanes Instagram: @chriscastanesThanks for listening to the Learning from Smart People Podcast!Subscribe, leave a comment and follow us on social media:Twitter: http://twitter.com/LFSPPodcast Instagram: http://instagram.com/LFSPPodcast Facebook: http://facebook.com/LFSPPodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lfsppodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imroboliver/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbWV_LuUad7ZWuE9j5D9v-wYou can also use the "Contact" page on the "Learning from Smart People" website:https://www.learningfromsmartpeople.com/contact

In this raw and empowering episode, Carrie takes us behind the scenes of a life-changing moment at a Toastmasters speech competition, where an unexpected disqualification could have crushed her public speaking dreams. But instead of letting disappointment define her, Carrie chose to rise.She opens up about how she leaned into emotional intelligence, reframed the situation, and made the courageous decision not just to move on, but to compete again—stronger than before.This episode is a masterclass in turning setbacks into comebacks and a powerful lesson in resilience, leadership, and effective communication. Carrie shares the importance of feeling your emotions, seeking wise counsel, and turning adversity into fuel for growth.If you're facing a challenge, a disappointment, or a roadblock, this episode will inspire you to stand tall, pivot with purpose, and keep moving forward. Because you can't let one moment define you.Radical Empowerment Method Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Bdp2BCBook CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-meJoin the Confidence and Clarity Membership!  https://carrievee.com/confidence-clarity-1Schedule your Discovery Call with CarrieVee!https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596Step Into Your Big Life Freebie: https://www.coachcarriev.com/stepintoyourbiglifefreebieThe Radical Empowerment Method 2.0 Online Course https://www.coachcarriev.com/radicalempowermentmethod2Get to an EVENT!  www.carrievee.com/eventsContact CarrieVee!IG: @iamcarrieveeLI and FB: Carrie Verrocchioemail: carriev@coachcarriev.com 

This week's guest is Kimberly Winters, vegan coach, consultant, and host of “Did You Bring the Hummus?” Kimberly's path to podcasting started as a Toastmasters speaking project (before she even listened to a podcast herself!).  You'll hear how Kimberly found confidence and community through her vegan storytelling, and why every small choice matters—even when no one seems to notice.Kimberly unpacks the philosophy and ethics behind veganism, offers actionable tips for effective communication, advice for individuals, and helping restaurants to see inclusivity is just good business. Topics Covered:Kimberly's podcasting journeyStorytelling vs. “conversion”: Planting seeds with authenticityHow to navigate vegan communication—without “bumming out” your friendsPractical vegan hospitality tips for restaurants and businessesHow every small choice and action makes a differenceThe power of community: You never know who's watchingSystems, self-talk, and showing up messy—why it's worth itFind Kimberly:Instagram: @DidYouBringTheHummusPodcast: Did You Bring the Hummus? Website: didyoubringthehummus.comRecommendations:Listen & subscribe to “Did You Bring the Hummus?”Follow, rate and share to help boost vegan and plant-based podcasts Subscribe & Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us grow and share the message of plant-based living with more listeners.For more information, to submit a question or topic, or to book a free 30 minute Coaching session visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@micheleolendercoaching.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music, Production, and Editing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Charlie Weinshank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For inquiries email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charliewe97@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Virtual Support Services: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://proadminme.com/⁠

Send us a textNikolaj Kloch shares his unique journey from aerospace engineering to becoming a leading videographer specializing in content creation for public speakers. He discusses how engineering skills translate into entrepreneurship, content creation, and business development.Main Topics:Transitioning from aerospace engineering to videographyBuilding a business by leading with valuePublic speaking tips for engineersLeveraging engineering skills in content creationSocial media and networking strategiesCareer change advice for professionalsAbout the guest: Nikolaj Kloch is a former aerospace engineer turned videographer who specializes in creating content for public speakers. With over four years of experience, he helps speakers boost their visibility, book more engagements, and increase their income—serving clients who've spoken for top companies like AWS, Jaguar, and Airbus. Previously, he worked at Boeing as a Propulsion Design Engineer and was part of the MSTEP Steering Committee. He holds engineering degrees from Georgia Tech and the Technical University of Denmark. Outside work, he's an ultramarathon runner and Eagle Scout, known for his dedication, versatility, and inspiring career journey.Links:Nikolaj Kloch - LinkedInThrivr Design Website 

Episode 58 Stagefright, or even a little relunctance to stand up in a meeting and express ourselves, can be inhibit our growth and advancement in our jobs. Toastmaster is a perfect place to overcome that anxiety. I'll tell you about a great place to overcome all that here in Lexington, Kentucky. Bluegrass Region Voices and Views...hosting conversations with creative and inspiring people and spotlighting engaging activities, organizations, and places around the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. You can find complete show notes, links, and photographs on my website at: https://www.bluegrassregionvoicesandviews.com/club Thanks for listening. -Tom Hailey    

This installment of eponymous food stories is entirely about fruits. We’ve got a berry, a pome, and a citrus, all with varying degrees of documentation. Research: “A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Algeria.” Office of the Historian. U.S. Department of State. https://history.state.gov/countries/algeria#:~:text=Algeria%20under%20French%20Control%2C%201830,Algeria%2C%20Oran%2C%20and%20Constantine. “Anaheim Pays Last Respects to Park Superintendent Rudy Boysen.” Anaheim Gazette. Nov. 28, 1950. https://www.newspapers.com/image/866864789/?match=1&terms=rudy%20boysen “ANAHEIM WILL PLANT 4400 TREES IN CITY.” Los Angeles Times. January 22, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/image/380543208/?match=1&terms=%22rudolph%20boysen%22 Bartlett, Thomas Edward. “The Bartletts. Ancestral, genealogical, biographical, historical. Comprising an account of the American progenitors of the Bartlett family, with special reference to the descendants of John Bartlett, of Weymouth and Cumberland.” Stafford Printing Co. New Haven, Connecticut. 1892. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/bartlettsancestr00bart Brown, L. Carl, Zaimeche, Salah, Sutton, Keith, Chanderli, Abdel Kader. "Algeria". Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/place/Algeria Caramanna, Carly. “The Tangled History of the Boysenberry.” Paste Magazine. March 21, 2022. https://www.pastemagazine.com/food/history/history-boysenberry-pie-knotts-farm The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "boysenberry". Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Jun. 2015, https://www.britannica.com/plant/boysenberry Hendrick, U.P. et al. “The Pears of New York.” State of New York—Department of AgricultureTwenty-ninth Annual Report—Vol. 2—Part II. Accessed online: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46994/46994-h/46994-h.htm#illus-0124 “Horticultural festival.” New England Farmer. Oct. 10, 1832. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404574942/?match=1&terms=%22enoch%20bartlett%22 “Horticultural festival.” New England Farmer. Sept. 25, 1829. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404563194/?match=1&terms=%22enoch%20bartlett%22 “Horticultural Premiums.” New England farmer. Dec. 26, 1832. https://www.newspapers.com/image/404576179/?match=1&terms=%22enoch%20bartlett%22 Karst, Tom. “Clementine and Mandarin Category Continues to Soar,” The Packer. January 31, 2023. https://www.thepacker.com/news/produce-crops/clementine-and-mandarin-category-continues-soar Kayal, Michele. “Clementines Darlings of U.S. Fruit Crop.” Cape Cod Times. Jan. 2, 2008. https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/lifestyle/food/2008/01/02/clementines-darlings-u-s-fruit/52691796007/ Laszlo, Pierre. “Cirtus: A History.” University of Chicago Press. 2007. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780226470283/page/24/mode/1up?q=clementine “Memorial Day Program to Honor Nation’s Dead.” Anaheim Bulletin. May 28, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/image/966752153/?match=1&terms=%22rudolph%20boysen%22 Mendonca, Melissa. “Berry Delicious.” Enjoy Magazine. April 26, 2024. https://enjoymagazine.com/2024/04/berry-delicious-2/ Munch, Daniel. “U.S. Citrus Production – An Uphill Battle to Survive.” Farm Bureau. April 25, 2023. https://www.fb.org/market-intel/u-s-citrus-production-an-uphill-battle-to-survive “New Type of Orange Grown in Valley; of Hybrid Origin.” Bryan-College Station Eagle. Sept. 30, 1932. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1000979455/?match=1&terms=clementine%20orange “Parnet of Clementine Orange Tree Lives.” The Daily News-Journal. May 10, 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/358917936/?match=1&terms=%22clementine%20orange%22 “Rudy's Original Boysenberry -- The 100 Year Journey.” Boysen Berry farm. June 25, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijVK-I1A2AM “Toastmasters to Foster Oratory.” Anaheim Bulletin. Jan. 18, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/image/966818953/?match=1&terms=%22rudolph%20boysen%22 “Tree Planting Now Underway in City.” Anaheim Bulletin. Feb. 14, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/image/966748082/?match=1&terms=%22rudolph%20boysen%22 “Week to Honor Creator of Famed Boysenberry.” Los Angeles Times. June 14, 1959. https://www.newspapers.com/image/380671622/?match=1&terms=rudy%20boysen White, Joan S. “’Rudy Boysen’ Garden at Palm and Water Still Bears Berries Developed by Famed Hosticulturalist.” Anaheim gazette. May 29, 1952. https://www.newspapers.com/image/866195421/?match=1&terms=rudy%20boysen “Who created the Boysenberry?” Rotary Club of Anaheim. March 1, 2021. https://www.anaheimrotary.org/who-created-the-boysenberry/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode with Phil Barth is a refreshing affirmation of life. Phil is a public speaker, author, and heart attack survivor. Get ready for some fun as we discuss the importance of rubber chickens in romance, chat GPT, and the importance of Ohio in the American story. connect with Phil here: Phil Barth Squawk squawk. […]

Welcome to the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we're going to be talking about how to break free from a limited life controlled by debilitating social anxiety and public speaking phobia.Marla Genova began having panic attacks while speaking at the podium at age 12. She lived a very limited life until her late 20s when she began facilitating support groups and sharing many different methods and resources. She has worked with thousands of people with social anxiety and/or public speaking fear for the past 19 years through individual and group sessions, workshops, including a 16-hour intensive weekend workshop for many years. Marla uses a cognitive-behavioral therapy approach that focuses strictly on anxiety, not presentation techniques or Toastmasters-like tips. She teaches you how to genuinely connect with your audience, calm your physical symptoms and empower your thought patterns, by shifting the critical, negative thoughts about yourself into much larger, positive perspectives. She has the unique combination of her own personal anxiety journal, a Masters in Psychology and a professional background as a researcher and author of scientific journal publications in mental health clinical trials at Yale University and at the University of Connecticut Health Center for 25 years. Marla became a certified master coach through the International Coaching Federation in 2017 and founded Socially Speaking LLC in 2018. She offers in-person in Connecticut services and remote services worldwide: complimentary support groups, individual and group sessions, workshops, finds customized resources for loved ones trying to help someone with this type of anxiety. She mostly works with ages 18 and up but has recently been working with teenagers and youth to overcome the fear of phone calls, and job and college interviews anxiety. Having suffered from intense social anxiety from ages 12-30, she strongly advocates for transitioning youth as early as possible, before it severely limits their personal and professional lives. Connect with Marla Here: https://lnk.bio/MarlaGenova_SociallySpeakingLLC/ - everything is linked here and up to datehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marlagenova/https://www.meetup.com/connecticut-ct-social-anxiety-public-speaking-support-group/https://www.instagram.com/anxietycoachmarla/https://www.facebook.com/SociallySpeakingPlus/https://calendly.com/marlagenova/30-min-complimentary-call/https://sociallyspeakingplus.com/Grab the freebie here: https://sociallyspeakingplus.com/===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

Welcome to the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we'll talk about grief—how to come to terms with loss, find peace of mind, and move forward into a hopeful, meaningful future.Pat's 1st loss was miscarrying a daughter, then her 23-year-old son to suicide. In a recent 2-year period, she lost 7 immediate family members, a brother & 9 days after, her husband. She does understand how deep the pain of grief goes. She had no safe place to fall & did not have the finances to hire a therapist. A fellow Life Mastery Consultant suggested she look into becoming an Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist. She took the training, understood what she was experiencing in her grief, became licensed to help others & be a soft place to fall for them.Pat specializes in helping people who have suffered a significant loss, be it a death, divorce, loss of a child, sibling, parent, friend, divorce, or any of the other 40+ types of loss that create grief. She takes them through an 8-week program to find their peace of mind & a new lease on life. She can then offer to transform them into "A New Beginning" program, where in 12 weeks they can create a new life, build their dreams, accelerate their results, and create a rich, fulfilling life.For 11 years, she has studied and implemented transformational life & grief recovery success principles and is also a public speaker. Pat's workshops and coaching programs help people break through limitations and achieve greater results than they've ever known before. If you're looking to increase your clarity, amplify your confidence, and achieve your next level of success, Pat's coaching programs can help you get there.Pat is also a 6-year Toastmaster & currently serving her 2nd year as Club 1294 President, which has enriched her teaching & speaking.Connect with Pat Here: www.PatAcklieRoth.comGrab the freebie here: 1-hour free conversation with Pat for grief or life & signed copy of Short, Sweet, & Sacred which contains her story of overcoming a situation with resilience.===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, and Today's Class Recorded at Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo 2025, two attendees of a communications class, led by Chris Cloutier and Craig O'Neill, were chosen as the top speakers during a Toastmasters style mock run-through. Their heartfelt and authentic stories resonated so strongly with the audience that they were invited to share their experiences on the podcast. What began as a simple role-play exercise turned into a powerful conversation about the role of communication and relationship building in the automotive shop industry. Our guests reflect on the value of active listening, vulnerability, storytelling, and how these traits fuel strong leadership and team culture in repair shops. This episode is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful moments are unplanned, and communication is at the heart of every successful business. Corey Evaldi, Olmstead Auto Care, Olmstead Falls, OH. Listen to Corey's Episodes HERE. Allen Garcia, A+ Auto & Diesel, Syracuse, KS Show Notes: Watch Full Video Episode Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo: https://visionkc.com/ Guest Introductions (00:00:00) Toastmasters Roleplay Overview (00:01:37) Importance of Communication (00:03:00) Corey's Speech Experience (00:03:57) Alan's Leadership by Example (00:05:03) Value of Communication (00:07:30) Vulnerability in Communication (00:08:08) Corey's Emotional Connection (00:15:01) Building Relationships (00:17:35) The Value of Training (00:19:12) Energy and Growth (00:22:04) Comfort Zone and Growth (00:24:03) Toastmasters Experience (00:25:45) The Importance of Storytelling (00:27:14) Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/ Connect with the Podcast: -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Join Our...

Today, I interview Julia Miron, who grew up in a home where speaking her truth wasn't safe. As the youngest in a household filled with anger, control, and emotional chaos, she learned to stay silent to protect herself. She retreated into journaling, music, and nature—places where she didn't have to explain herself, where she could finally breathe. Her voice, however, remained hidden. Her words barely above a whisper, while the other kids laughed and played freely.Years later, when a loss made her realize that she wanted to speak, the fear of being seen and heard still held her tightly. The idea of standing in front of people terrified her. She had tried Toastmasters, but the pressure to perform only made things worse.Then someone told her about Speaking Circles. Skeptical but curious, she walked into her first session—and everything shifted. For the first time, she stood in front of others and didn't feel the need to hide. There were no judgments, no corrections, just presence. Even though she was sweating and trembling, she was allowed to simply be. She began showing up not only on the page but in her voice.Today, she is a certified mindfulness teacher and coach, supporting individuals through one-on-one sessions that blend mindfulness and Speaking Circles. She's also launching her podcast, The Messy Meditator, where she opens honest conversations about the beauty and struggle of being human. Through her work, she helps others find the safety, stillness, and self-acceptance she had searched for most of her life.__________________Julia Rebecca Miron is a mindfulness teacher and coach, qualified by Brown University as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher. Her mission is to make mindfulness accessible to more people by demystifying the idea that you need to be perfect and Buddha-like to practice it. She believes that showing up messy is better than not showing up at all.She's also a writer, and her work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She's currently preparing to launch her podcast, The Messy Meditator, which explores mindfulness, messiness, and life.In her free time, she loves hiking, listening to R&B and hip hop, connecting with loved ones, and doting on her dog, Disco.__________________Find Julia here:https://www.instagram.com/the.messy.meditator/https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliarebeccamiron/https://www.themessymeditator.com/Support the showI'm Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

On this episode of Mastery Unleashed, Christie Ruffino sits down with Renee Cooper, an accomplished speaker, corporate fundraising expert, and Toastmasters leader, to discuss the art of speaking with confidence and connecting with an audience.Renee shares her inspiring journey, from a childhood dream of becoming the next Oprah Winfrey to overcoming self-doubt and societal expectations, ultimately stepping into her true calling as a speaking coach. With over 15 years of experience in corporate fundraising and public speaking, Renee reveals how storytelling is the key to capturing attention and making a lasting impact.She provides three powerful strategies to help entrepreneurs, professionals, and aspiring speakers connect more and present less:Know Your "Why": Stay grounded in your message and ensure clarity in your purpose.Start with a Story or Powerful Question: Grab attention immediately and engage your audience emotionally.Master the Power of the Pause & Nonverbal Communication: Own the stage, make eye contact, and let silence work for you.Listeners can download Renee's exclusive empowerment speaking tips, a printable resource to boost confidence and elevate their speaking skills in any setting.ABOUT RENEERenee is a Communications expert and has been a Speaker for 15+ years, raising millions of dollars in Corporate Fundraising. Along her journey, many executives and leaders on all levels would ask her how she enjoys speaking so much and how they could consistently appear more authentic. Renee turned her lifelong love for speaking and educating to mentoring, coaching, and training individuals, teams, and organizations to improve their sales and leadership skills, by discovering, developing, and amplifying their voice, the most important instrument we were given. Renee uses a unique and customized interactive approach to help her audience's create authentic and engaging connections with their audiences, big or small. By using science-backed techniques including Improvisation, coupled with specific voice techniques and her own story overcoming adversity in the workplace, Renee is passionate about improving Communications in the workplace by getting her clients and audiences to walk through the discomfort of speaking, or working through conflict by doing a deep dive in Communications Training so they can reach the next level in their success journey - personally or professionally.Renee is a Toastmaster through Toastmasters International and a graduate of Dale Carnegie Leadership program. Renee is a speaker for the United Way of Broward County, has been a Speaker for Eagle's Haven in Coral Springs, FL, appears on Virtual Stages, leads Communication Masterclasses on Eventbrite, and runs a private Communications Coaching practice as a Transformative Communications Coach, supporting individuals and leaders in all industries in person and via Zoom. Renee, an educator by heart, was an Improv teacher and has led Improvisation classes at her local community center, to give back to her community.We have been conditioned, especially throughout school and in our careers, to get our presentations done and over with. Yet most people throughout every industry are still simply presenting. This is because most people simply share their message and hope that it will land for their audiences. Having the ability to take your message, while being able to transform your experience with them, through your voice, so that your audience will step into that message with you, is where authentic connection happens as a Speaker.GET RENEE'S GENEROUS GIFTSelf-Trust, Empowerment Tips when you speak to ANY-sized audienceACCESS THIS GIFT AND MANY MORELINKS...

In this episode, our 47th episode, we talk with Renate Devin of Hull, MA, USA.  Reante has been in Toastmasters since June 2024 and has given three speeches, including the Ice Breaker Speech.In this episode we discuss:MentorshipEtiquetteCommunicationsRenate Devin can be contacted via:Email ~ rdevin@bostonschoolofetiquette.comThis podcast episode is sponsored by our 2024 Calendar Year Sponsor District 31 Toastmasters ~ serving Eastern Massachusetts, USA, and Rhode Island, USA.  District 31 (“D31”) helps toastmasters become better Communicators, and Leaders.  Learn how D31 Toastmasters can help you become a more powerful speaker and impactful leader by visiting district31.org/talkingtoastmasters.

In this episode, host Mark Jewell sits down with Jared Flinn, Co-founder and Operating Partner of BulkLoads, for a conversation that spans leadership, innovation, faith, and the untapped power of curiosity. Jared shares how his journey—from managing freight at Bartlett Grain to building a top-tier digital freight platform—was rooted in one powerful revelation: “We're a transportation company that moves grain.”What follows is an inspiring deep-dive into intentional leadership, servant-hearted business practices, and how obsession with solving real problems leads to massive impact. Whether you're in logistics, ag retail, or managing a team of young sellers, this episode will challenge and refresh your approach to leadership.Key Takeaways:

The Great Starvation Diet From Ancel Keys | Improvement Warrior Podcast Episode #73This podcast is from when I was in Toastmasters and gave my talk on the Great Starvation Diet and calories. I added a little bit from a circadian perspective since the talk was before 2018 when I started learning the teachings of Dr. Jack Kruse. Summary Highlight PointsEating nutrient-rich foods can lead to healthy weight loss and improved metabolism.Ancel Keys' study shows dangers of severe calorie restriction despite weight loss.Nutrient-rich diets balance hormones like insulin and leptin, essential for metabolism.Seasonal, whole foods enhance nutrient intake and support circadian rhythms.Movement and proper alignment reduce stress and hormonal disruptions.Prioritizing health over weight loss leads to sustainable wellness and vitality.Focus on nutrient density over calorie counting for long-term health benefits.Balanced intake of essential fats and proteins supports overall wellness.Understanding circadian rhythms can optimize digestion and nutrient absorption.Resources Mentioned (any resources missing please let me know) Improvement Warrior Newsletter: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/nlAll Light Related Recommend Products: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/blueblockersPatreon: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/patreon IWU Premium: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/iwuLeptin Transformation: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/leptintransformationCircadian App: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/circadianapp (Code YUN316)Mitochondriac Guide: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/mitochondriacSocialFB http://www.facebook.com/sun.yun.jasonIG http://www.instagram.com/sun.yun.jasonTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/YuntrainingYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/YunTraining Links to support through Patreon and other channelsPatreon: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/patreonPaypal: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/paypalAnchor: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/anchorKO-FI: http://www.improvementwarriorfitness.com/kofi

What if the breakthrough isn't about fixing your speech but letting go of the pressure to hide it? As a kid, Dennis did everything he could to try and keep everything under control, especially his stutter. Now a PhD engineer and public speaker, he opens up about the real work behind his personal and professional growth: learning to meet himself where he is and speak from a place of presence. In this warm, story-rich episode, Dennis and I explore what personal growth through self-expression really looks like. We talk about overcoming perfectionism in communication, the emotional cost of always trying to “sound right,” and how learning to communicate more authentically changed Dennis's confidence, career, and relationships. Whether you're a high-achieving professional who struggles with speaking with confidence, or someone navigating the internal tension between how things look on the outside and how they feel on the inside, I invite you to listen to Dennis' story and remember that communication growth starts with self-compassion. In this conversation on personal growth through self-expression, Dennis shares the personal and professional growth that came from embracing his stutter rather than hiding it. Here's what you'll discover: How perfectionism shaped his early communication and why he's let it go Why speaking with presence matters more than speaking “right” The connection between mental state, mindfulness, and confident communication How spontaneity became more powerful than fluency A real-life “Billy Madison moment” that unexpectedly shifted his relationship with stuttering What it means to meet yourself where you are and how that changes everything And much more TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction to TranscendingX 00:39 – Meet Dr. Dennis: the people-person PhD who stutters 01:34 – The personal growth journey of Dennis Szymanski 02:07 – Diving into semiconductors: life as a high-performing engineer 05:13 – Life and career of a semiconductor engineer 07:08 – Overcoming stuttering: childhood stories and mindset shifts 12:28 – How mindfulness and yoga support confident communication 21:37 – Spontaneity vs. fluency: a new paradigm for speaking with confidence 35:48 – The pressure of unscheduled conversations 36:23 – How mental state impacts stuttering and speaking performance 37:11 – Using yoga and mindfulness to improve self-expression 39:32 – Embracing imperfections 40:01 – Meeting yourself where you are 40:48 – Mental resilience and its role in effective communication 41:29 – Saying no without guilt & setting boundaries 41:53 – Navigating social interactions 42:15 – A speech science hack for smoother, more natural speaking 42:31 – Language constraints, adaptability, and confidence in speaking 50:41 – The power of mantras in reframing your communication mindset 55:53 – High school memories and stuttering: a Billy Madison moment 01:03:24 – Advice to a younger self: letting go of perfectionism 01:04:55 – Final reflections   ABOUT OUR GUEST Meet Dennis Szymanski, a Long Island native who has lived up and down the East Coast while developing his relationship with stuttering. Now settled in a quiet North Carolina beach town with his partner Sam, their dog Rocky, and turtle Lennie, Dennis fully embraces coastal living. With a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from NCSU, he works as a Product Engineer for a British semiconductor firm. When not in the lab, Dennis hits the disc golf course, practices yoga, plays trumpet, explores entrepreneurship, and enjoys all things water-related. The beach remains his sanctuary - a place to truly "Be As You Are" (yes, that's a Kenny Chesney reference - he's a country music fan). Dennis began speech therapy in public school, later transitioning to private practice, but that was just the beginning. His journey through stuttering has involved numerous highs and lows that shaped his entire being. Various therapeutic approaches beyond speech therapy have helped him develop a more mindful relationship with his stutter. As an active Toastmaster serving as Treasurer for his Jacksonville, NC club, Dennis continuously pushes beyond his comfort zone while building his speaking toolbox and competing in speech competitions. His philosophy? Growth happens outside your comfort zone - and for those who stutter, joining a public speaking club definitely qualifies. But as Dennis would say: You can do it. You will do it.   ABOUT YOUR HOST Uri Schneider, M.A. CCC -SLP is co-founder and leader at Schneider Speech; creator and host of Transcending Stuttering; and faculty at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.   SEE FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.transcendingx.com/podcast-episode/dennis-szymanski  LEARN MORE Visit http://www.transcendingx.com or http://www.schneiderspeech.com

Market Proof Marketing · Ep 381 - The Scooby-Doo MethodBeth, Jackie, and Julie uncover the value of process-driven problem-solving in marketing, from diagnosing odd data spikes to rethinking event strategy. They explore how tools like Loom, AI creator hubs, and collaborative data practices can transform communication and performance. Plus, honest talk about what Mercedes at The Masters can teach builders about intentional brand experiences.Story Time (02:06): Jackie's knee injury turns into a masterclass on data diagnosis and marketing analysis—hello, Market Proof Algorithm IRL.Julie shares a case of suspicious ad results that weren't what they seemed, and the importance of digging deeper.Beth compares marketing detective work to an episode of House (or Scooby-Doo), and how uncovering truth takes time.SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTSUnlock Your Digital Marketing Potential: Master Proven Strategies With The Upgraded Market Proof Marketing Academy!Over 50% of tickets have been sold! Class begins May 6th.Online Sales & Marketing Summit VIP Tickets Now On Sale!In The News (21:13): Meta's Instagram Announces New AI-Powered Tools, Creator Marketing SolutionsBad Data Bleeds Homebuilder Profits - Time to Stop The Loss(Referenced) Attribution is B.S. - 3 Part GuideThings We Love - Things We Hate (31:33):Jackie: Winning her Toastmasters speech competition—proof that exposure therapy works!Julie: Her 16-year-old's joy over his first car (older than he is).Beth: Watching her Marketing Leadership Collective cohort bond and pour into one another.Like and subscribe on your favorite platform! The post Ep 381 - The Scooby-Doo Method appeared first on Online Sales and Marketing for Home Builders - DYC.

Episode Title:Analyze Transcripts with AI: Enhancing Communication and RelationshipsEpisode Description:In this episode of the B2B Marketing Excellence and AI podcast, I explore how companies can unlock the hidden value in transcripts from everyday conversations — whether they're from internal meetings, sales calls, or interviews.I'll walk you through how AI tools like ChatGPT can help you analyze transcripts to uncover communication styles, tone preferences, and the subtle cues that can transform how you connect with your audience. It's not about replacing human interaction — it's about enhancing it so your messages land more effectively and your relationships grow stronger.I'll also share a real-world example from my conversation with Matthew McClosky, where we discussed how understanding a person's preferred communication approach can make all the difference in building trust and driving results.Whether you're a team of one or managing a growing sales or marketing department, this episode will give you practical ideas you can implement right away — even if you never work with us. Because at World Innovators, we care most about helping companies build meaningful relationships that lead to long-term success.Timestamps:• 00:00 – Welcome to B2B Marketing Excellence and AI• 00:18 – The Hidden Value in Transcripts• 00:50 – Real-World Note-Taking Tools and Use Cases• 03:06 – How AI Can Identify Communication Styles• 06:00 – Using Insights to Deepen Relationships• 08:15 – Practical Takeaways from My Experience• 11:08 – Final Thoughts and How to Get StartedLet's Keep the Conversation Going-If this episode sparked any ideas for your own sales or marketing efforts, I'd love to hear from you. Whether you're looking to improve your messaging, understand your audience better, or simply explore how AI can save your team time — I'm here to help.Feel free to reach out directly:

Have you ever wondered what God's plan is for you?Perhaps you've had the thought: "there must be more!"Or maybe, you're not sure what the Body of Christ even is. In today's episode, I'm chatting with my client Marty Mitchell, the Catholic author of The Capillaries of Christ, Speaker, and Life Coach, who helps Christians embrace their uniqueness, live their unique God-given purpose, and reachtheir potential in the body of Christ. Tune in to hear:How Marty turned his life of partying around to glorify GodWhat it means, according to his extensive research, to be a member of the Body of ChristHow Marty helps his clients find their unique purpose and use their gifts to grow the body of ChristWhat he learned as a student of the Captivating Speakers' Academy (even after years of attending Toastmasters).Marty is CEO of Marty Mitchell, LLC and founder of the ‘ShineLike a Saint!'™ Course and Coaching Program.  LEARN MORE HERE Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? Let me know by: leaving the show a review. singing me a DM on Instagram at @emanuela.hall YOUR NEXT STEPS: Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom

Send us a textIn this engaging episode, we dive into Dewan Ahmed's fascinating journey from electrical engineering to becoming a Principal Developer Advocate at Harness. Dewan shares how necessity drove his career transitions - first from renewable energy engineering to software development at IBM, and later to DevOps and Kubernetes. We explore the importance of content creation for career growth, how Toastmasters helped build his public speaking skills, and why job titles truly matter. Dewan also discusses his philosophy on resume reviews, having helped over 1,200 professionals pro bono, and shares insights on the delicate balance developer advocates must maintain between authenticity and company representation. Finally, we learn about his role organizing DevOps Days Halifax and his efforts to build the tech community in Atlantic Canada.Where to Find DewanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diahmed/Twitter: https://x.com/dewanahmedBlog: https://www.dewanahmed.com/Company: https://www.harness.io/Show LinksToastmasters: https://www.toastmasters.org/DevOps Days Halifax: https://devopsdays.org/events/2024-halifax/welcome/Harness CI/CD: https://www.harness.io/products/continuous-integrationKubeCon: https://events.linuxfoundation.org/kubecon-cloudnativecon/OpenShift: https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshiftFollow, Like, and Subscribe!Podcast: https://www.thecloudgambit.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCloudGambitLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecloudgambitTwitter: https://twitter.com/TheCloudGambitTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecloudgambit

SHOW DESCRIPTION Ever wondered how to land your first speaking gig without waiting for an invite? In this solo episode, I'm sharing exactly how I created my own stage and positioned myself as an expert by hosting my first event. Discover how this bold step quickly grew my community, visibility, and income—and how you can confidently do the same! CONNECT WITH ATI Ready to build a personal brand you're proud of? ✨ Free Quiz: Profitable Personal Brand Quiz ✨ Free Download: Visibility Power Play Connect with me: Instagram Website FB Community for Female Entrepreneurs RESOURCES MENTIONED Build Your Own Algorithm Program Visibility Power Play Freebie Toastmasters International EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The surprising truth behind my first speaking gig Why waiting for invitations keeps you stuck (and how to change that) Exactly how hosting my own event rapidly built my brand and community The power of collaboration vs. competition How to position yourself as an authority quickly KEY TAKEAWAYS You don't wait for authority; you create it by stepping into the spotlight. Hosting your own events positions you immediately as a leader, accelerating client attraction. Strategic follow-up is crucial; it's the goldmine most entrepreneurs overlook. The perfect collaborators share your audience but have different offers. Local events can amplify your brand faster and more effectively than social media alone. QUOTABLE MOMENTS “I wasn't waiting to be chosen—I chose myself. Don't wait to be invited to the table; build your own.” "You don't wait until demand or authority magically appear—you create them." "Collaboration beats competition every single time." EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro: The truth about my first speaking gig (hint: no invite needed!) 02:32 - How I created my first event (the birth of Power Tribe networking) 04:51 - The magic of creating your own stage and its immediate benefits 07:09 - Eye-opener: You only need a handful of clients for your first 10K month 09:27 - Why building your own algorithm and local community is crucial 11:28 - Golden nugget: How Toastmasters changed my public speaking confidence 13:41 - The perfect collaboration formula: same audience, different offers 18:15 - Understanding different event types and their strategic purposes 20:37 - How intentional networking creates endless speaking opportunities 23:03 - Accelerating online growth through offline positioning 25:15 - Opportunities to practice your pitch: enter speaking contests! ABOUT YOUR HOST Ati Grinspun, your Personal Brand Whiz, empowers women entrepreneurs to confidently build profitable, impactful brands. From world champion flair bartender and portrait photographer to coaching hundreds of successful women, Ati brings unique insight and a powerful energy to help you step fully into your potential. ABOUT THE SHOW Be You Brand Podcast is your go-to resource to build your million-dollar personal brand, income, mindset, and impact. Stop doubting, overcome imposter syndrome, and start creating a brand and life you truly love. Show Categories: Entrepreneurship Business Marketing Self Improvement Core Pillars: Personal Branding Business Mindset Energetics Purpose Life

In this episode, I invite you to reconnect with your inner dreamer and visualize the career and life you truly desire. Through guided reflection and real-life stories (including how Toastmasters helped me conquer public speaking), I share how tiny, intentional steps can lead to massive transformation. Tune in to reignite your purpose, define your “why,” and take one brave step toward your future self—because the life you're meant to live is waiting.

This week, we're thrilled to welcome back friend of the show, Sekki Tabasuares, for a fascinating conversation about the connections between public speaking and improv. Over the past year, Sekki has been building a strong foundation in the public speaking world and has discovered just how seamlessly improv techniques can enhance a speaker's confidence, adaptability, and engagement. Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights on how these two worlds intertwine. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the chat!

Doug is joined by John Drinkwater, known as toastmasters Lord Zoom. John talks to Doug about how he became a Zoom expert during the pandemic, creating virtual Toastmasters events including TV productions that drew global audiences. He shares Zoom's AI capabilities, content creation strategies and his unconventional approach to goal setting. KEY TAKEAWAYS John describes himself as either fully committed or completely disengaged, which explains his approach to goals as ‘dangerous rabbit holes’ that consume his focus once he commits to them. After closing his business to care for his parents, John joined Toastmasters International for mental stimulation, becoming involved just before COVID forced everything online, positioning him perfectly to become a Zoom expert! When faced with hosting a Toastmasters conference online with no budget, John engineered a complex computer setup that transformed Zoom meetings into a TV-show experience, earning him the nickname "Lord Zoom" and attracting nearly 1,000 viewers globally. John believes effective online presentations should combine public speaking skills, marketing techniques, acting methods, and video production knowledge. Being reasonably good at all four areas beats being excellent at just one. Zoom's built in transcription, caption capabilities and companion AI can work together to capture meeting content and refine it, with the AI able to process transcript content into polished, concise material that preserves the speaker's intent. For ambitious goals, John recommends multiplying your target by 10-100x to make it ‘stupendously stupid’, even if you fall short, you'll achieve far more than with modest goals, while pairing this with more realistic short term milestones. Creating scarcity through limited availability (like offering only 500 spots for a program) generates FOMO (fear of missing out) and makes people more likely to commit, even when pursuing extremely ambitious targets. Rather than giving all content away free, John advises offering enough value to inspire interest, then creating interactive coaching programs where people work through processes together, as group coaching provides multiple perspectives and is more scalable than one-on-one sessions. BEST MOMENTS "I'm a very binary guy, I either sit there and don't say a word, or you can't shut me up.“ "I basically just told my customers, I'm terribly sorry, but I'm going to stop trading in a couple of months time because I've decided that I love my parents so much that I want to look after them in their final years... and I disappeared for ten years." "If you're going to do it, you need to have an overriding ridiculous goal and whatever your overriding ridiculous goal is, you probably need to multiply it by 10 or 100 to turn it into absolutely stupendously stupid goal." "If you think half a million is good, then why not a million? And you think a million is not good, why not aim for five million? Now if I fail miserably and I get five hundred thousand, it's still a brilliant goal." "If people are gonna watch you, then you should take some effort to make it more interesting.” ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndrinkwaterlordzoom/ VALUABLE RESOURCES Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk/ Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FinancialDoug Facebook Wealth Tribe: https://join.dougbennett.co.uk/ Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here: https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOKS: Goals Do Come True is now live and available to buy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3phcy6Z Think Simple, Win Big is now live and available to buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/ Enjoy, and come back for the latest podcast each Wednesday. Thank you for listening.

New(er) Member Lisa Callahan shares her experiences at Toastmasters during her first few months.

Thank You To Our Partners The Institute, AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, In-BoundIn this episode - our host, Craig O'Neill welcomes two guests from his home Toastmasters club , Dylan Jayce and Evan Wisner. While Evan is familiar to our loyal listeners as - Dylan will be a new voice - and you'll hear about the journey Dylan has been on as he represented Grand Rapids Toastmasters - Club 404 in the recent Area level speaking competition.That's right - there is such a thing as competitive speaking!The title for today's episode is worth noting - as it is the theme selected for the year from current Club 404's President, Mark Amos. “Show up and Show Out” This is exactly what the club did on Feb 22 - when Dylan won 1st place in the Area contest over two other very accomplished speakers.Dylan is particularly inspiring in this episode as he articulates the impact that the show of support from club members had on his journey. While he considers himself an introvert, Dylan demonstrates that a commitment to growth, and a great support network, can enable you to do things you might never imagine you could. The episode is further enriched with Evan Wisner's keen insight, and how he shares, along with Craig, regarding their perspective of Dylan's progress through the years and recent weeks.Join this conversation and you will gain a greater understanding of what a great Toastmasters club can look like, how friendships form around embracing discomfort, and how remarkable individuals contribute to a winning culture.The Word of the Day: Inimitable - in-IM-it-uh-bul, adjectiveInimitable describes someone or something that is impossible to copy or imitate.Watch Full Video EpisodeThank You To Our Partners The Institute, AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound:The Institute at WeAreTheInstitute.com. "Stop stressing over your business, you deserve a good night's sleep. The Institute's coaching helps you achieve success and financial peace.AutoFlow at AutoFlow.com. Your partner in technology, Autoflow consolidates your client interactions - before, during and after the visit to a single thread. Learn more at Autoflow.comAutoLeap at AutoLeap.com. Are you tired of juggling multiple tools to manage your auto repair shop? Say hello to the streamlined efficiency of AutoLeap, the #1 all-in-one Auto Repair Shop Management Software! Shop Dog Marketing at Shop Dog Marketing.com. "Want to see your auto repair shop thrive? Let Shop Dog Marketing be your guide. Our customer-first approach, combined with AI-driven creative content, ensures top rankings. In-Bound at CallInBound.com. Cover your communication needs and revolutionize your auto repair business with AI-driven call analytics from InBound. Contact InformationEmail Craig O'Neill: speakup@craigoneill.netJoin Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmastersThe Aftermarket Radio Network:

Podcast Show Notes – Episode 219 | 03.04.2025 Episode Title: Sean Barnes on Stage Fright   Episode summary introduction: Sean Barnes delves into the art of mastering public speaking, offering a range of techniques and practices to enhance this crucial skill. He outlines key strategies for delivering effective and impactful speeches, emphasizing the importance of preparation and audience engagement. The episode explores how public speaking can serve as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, highlighting the significance of setting goals and utilizing available resources. Sean encourages listeners to embrace public speaking as a tool for development, providing actionable insights to help individuals overcome challenges and improve their communication abilities.   Key Moments 0:00 – Mastering Public Speaking: Techniques and Practices 6:08 – Key Strategies for Effective Public Speaking 8:50 – Growth Through Public Speaking: Setting Goals and Using Resources   Key Takeaways Preparation is key to overcoming stage fright, as having a strong command of your topic builds confidence. Engaging your audience through eye contact, hand gestures, and vocal variety helps maintain their attention and makes your message more compelling. Creating opportunities for practice, such as scheduling meetings or joining groups like Toastmasters, can significantly improve your public speaking skills and confidence.   Host: Sean Barnes Website: https://www.wsssolutions.com/ https://www.seanbarnes.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbarnes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wsssolutions/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewayofthewolf/ YouTube: youtube.thewayofthewolf.com Twitter: https://x.com/the_seanbarnes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_seanbarnes https://www.instagram.com/the_wayofthewolf TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_seanbarnes Email: Sean@thewayofthewolf.com Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Way-of-the-Wolf-Podcast/B08JJNXJ6C Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2BTGdO25Vop3GTpGCY8Y8E?si=ea91c1ef6dd14f15

"Who am I? Who are you? Who are we becoming?" In this transformative episode of Drops of Gold, Jeff Scult invites the electrifying Oren Harris—the master of flow, guide to awakening, and artist of presence. Together, they explore the art of living as your most authentic, expansive self.Through soul-baring stories and poetic revelations, Oren shares his journey of leaping into the unknown, surrendering to divine flow, and stepping into his destiny as a speaker, coach, and artist. From his first spiritual awakening amidst heartbreak to electrifying performances for thousands, Oren unveils the golden thread connecting his purpose, presence, and passion.✨ In this episode, you'll discover: The alchemy of breakdowns and breakthroughs: transforming pain into purpose. How to tune into the universal flow and unlock your highest potential. Oren's journey from Toastmasters to performing for 40,000 people. The essence of "being" beyond labels and accomplishments. Why true expression is not a performance but a prayer. How embracing your unique gifts can magnetize quantum leaps in your life.This is more than a podcast episode—it's an invitation to align with your essence, honor your messiness as part of the miracle, and say "yes" to the divine calling within you.✨ Tune in to feel the flow, embrace your authenticity, and awaken your soul. Listen now!Drops of Gold Website | ⁠⁠Drops of Gold Instagram | Jeff Scult InstagramThis episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠One Golden Thread⁠⁠⁠, the eco-chic regenerative fashion brand founded by Jeff Scult. As a special offering for Drops of Gold listeners, receive 22% off your first purchase with - dropsofgold⁠⁠⁠Drops of Gold⁠⁠⁠ is the NOW podcast hosted and threaded by Jeff Scult, devoted to reminding us how to release stuck stories, embrace life, and reveal our most expressive, authentic selves. Gratitudes:To One Golden Thread for powering the pod, to co-producers Mark Shapiro, Josh Robertson, and Victory for bringing it to life, Kat Benzova for her stunning guest portraits, and special thanks to artist Taib for featuring his electrifying new track Departures as the Drops of Gold title song. And infinite love to you, for your curiosity and commitment to living in your highest vibrational truth. Aho, here we grow. We are designed to be reminded, we are already golden inside. I'm Jeff Scult, Wishing you a radically yes f*ck yes day, Ase

In this episode, Sarah and Stef explore how body acceptance might feel like defeat for many who have struggled to change their bodies and feel oppressed by their circumstances. They dissect how acceptance is a proactive practice that differs from the feeling of defeat, which is reactionary and involves a perceived loss against external forces. Stef shares personal insights on how acceptance can feel oppressive when it seems to invalidate self-advocacy, while Sarah discusses how resistance to acceptance often stems from fear and shame. The conversation touches on therapeutic techniques to work through resistance, the importance of validating and allowing resistant feelings, and the transformative power of willingness and allowing reality as it is without judgment. They also talk about the importance of having a supportive space where resistance can be discussed openly and without the urge to “fix” it immediately. Towards the end, they discuss real-world applications of these concepts, bringing in examples like discomfort on airplanes due to body size and personal triggers in relation to diet culture. They also investigate how contextualizing experiences as non-personal and understanding biological and psychological underpinnings can help shift perspectives from defeat to empowerment. Join our growing support community. This community is for you if you want a safe space to work through your daily struggles with food and body image. Community membership includes livestream episode recordings (online), monthly Zoom support meetings, a private Facebook group and member-only Q&A episodes. For more information go to: https://www.patreon.com/lifeafterdiets Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast Email – hello@lifeafterdietspod.com Connect with Stefanie Michele, Recovery Coach, Somatic Therapist IT Stef's Binge Recovery Course -- www.iamstefaniemichele.com/iamstefaniemichelecourse Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/iamstefaniemichele Connect with Sarah Dosanjh, Author & Psychotherapist Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com Instagram – www.instagram.com/the_binge_eating_therapist YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist Sarah's book I Can't Stop Eating is available on Amazon If you find this episode helpful, you can subscribe to the Life After Diets podcast, leave us a review, and share your thoughts with us on Instagram and YouTube (@lifeafterdietspodcast). Your feedback helps us create content that matters to you.

Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert, author and international keynote speaker. His five TED talks and 11 TEDx talks have been viewed more than 150 million times, and one of them is the sixth most viewed TED talk of all time. ---    Upgrade Your Brain  Unleash & Use Your Uniqueness    ⁠⁠https://braingym.fitness/⁠⁠   Find a Virtual Assistant at va.world All about Roy https://roycoughlan.com/ ------------    Speaking Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts  ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠⁠⁠  ------------------    About my Guest Julian Treasure: Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert, author and international keynote speaker. His five TED talks and 11 TEDx talks have been viewed more than 150 million times, and one of them is the sixth most viewed TED talk of all time. He has been widely featured in the world's media, including TIME Magazine, The Economist, Vogue, The Times, TV and radio stations including NBC's Today Show, BBC TV and radio, and many podcasts. He has been honoured with both Toastmasters International's Golden Gavel Award and the International Listening Associations's Special Recognition award. Julian's first book, Sound Business, is the seminal work on effective business sound. His audio branding company The Sound Agency works with major brands worldwide, proving that good sound is good business by designing excellent customer experience for the ears. Julian's second book, How To Be Heard: Secrets for Powerful Speaking and Listening, is a practical guide to improving personal communication skills. The audiobook version won both the SOVAS and Audie global awards for best business audiobook of the year. His seven-hour online course How To Speak So That People Want To Listen includes modules on public speaking and wellbeing for presenters. Before The Sound Agency, Julian founded, grew and sold leading UK contract publisher TPD, during which time he was chairman of the Association of Publishing Agencies, a director of the Periodical Publishers Association, chairman of PPAinteractive and chairman of the UK government's Digital Content Forum. In 2002, he received the PPA Chairman's Award for services to the UK magazine publishing industry. Julian is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a long time musician, remembering with affection his two 1981 BBC John Peel sessions (the bands were Transmitters and Missing Presumed Dead) and scoring Sounds magazine's single of the week with Fish Turned Human. What we Discussed:    - How he got into Public Speaking (1 min) - The biggest problem in relationships is listening (7 mins) - Hearing V's Listening ( 8 mins) - Techniques to be Fully Preesent when Listening (12:30 mins) - Be present when listening (16 mins) - Can we comprehend if we listen at x2 times (18:30 mins) - What not to say as a CEO (23:15 mins) - Speaking from the Heart V's teleprompter (26:30 mins) - How he prepared his 5 TED speeches ( 29 mins) - Stop winging it ( 36 mins) - Why you need more than just Toastmasters (38:30 mins) - You do not need to be screaming in a Noisy Bar (43:30 mins) - The Power of Sound (48:30 mins) - Winning an Audio Book award ( 52:30 mins)   Where to find Julian Treasure:  http://www.juliantreasure.com http://www.speaklistenbe.com http://www.thesoundagency.com http://twitter.com/#!/juliantreasure http://www.linkedin.com/in/juliantreasure http://www.instagram.com/juliantreasure ------------------------------ More about the Awakening Podcast: All Episodes can be found at ⁠⁠http://www.speakingpodcast.com/⁠⁠   All Social Media + Donations link ⁠⁠https://bio.link/podcaster⁠⁠   https://roycoughlan.com/ Our Facebook Group can be found at ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakingpodcast⁠