Why tell stories? How do you make them unforgettable? Kindra Hall replies using her story journey from ‘unofficial elementary school storyteller’ to National Champion Storyteller…
You’ve got the ‘gig’ and you’ll get to showcase your expertise and experience. But why are you REALLY there? Darren and Mark answer this question…
“LIVE YOUR DREAMS!” Millions have heard these words by the legendary Les Brown, who opens up to Mark and Darren about his incredible journey, which…
Do you have a story, a presentation, a sermon or experience that you haven’t used in a long time? Maybe you think it’s past its…
Today Mark and Darren help Denise Banks-Grasedyck uncover the power of her stories using ‘triads’…the power of three. Denise learns how characters and contrast can…
How can you tell if you’re connecting with your audience? How can you make your characters come alive? How can your face, hands and body…
What happens when you STRETCH? Darren and Mark chat with four of their speaking students, Kory May, Amanda Mae Gray, Sara McGill, and Kathi Kulesza,…
After spending almost 6 years as a Prisoner of War, writing a book so people will STOP asking about it, giving over 400 FREE speeches,…
Props can be powerful tools for supporting your premise and reinforcing your message. Should you use them? Why? When? How? Mark and Darren provide answers…
Without knowing it, we sometimes leave unanswered questions in the minds of our audience…open loops that we don’t close. Today Darren and Mark examine 4…
If you’ve ever left a presentation wondering, “Is that it?” it’s possible that the speaker didn’t close convincingly. Mark and Darren discuss 5 common closing…
Perhaps you’ve failed, at something, at some time. If you’d rather not share it, that’s normal. Today Mark and Darren discuss failures…and share a few…
‘HUMOR ENGINEER.’ Somehow those two words just don’t seem to belong together. Today Mark and Darren chat with Drew Tarvin, the world’s FIRST humor engineer,…
Did you ever accept a dare when you were younger? Or did you choose the comfortable path and ‘play it safe?’ As presenters, it’s easy…
It’s easy for a presentation to become a lecture, as we spoon-feed the audience with the knowledge we want to share. Mark and Darren investigate…
When life hits, it’s hard to ‘look on the bright side’. Darren and Mark offer specific strategies for seeking out the blessings in our battles,…
You’re suddenly asked to ‘say a few words’ at a special occasion, or to replace a no-show speaker at the last minute. Are you nervous,…
“If you’re trying to be anything other than yourself, you’re playing a game called ‘YOU LOSE!’” So says magician, coach, and speaker Judy Carter, author…
In this final episode of a 3-part series, Jacob and Linda share their need for authenticity, originality, proven processes, and hope. Finally, Carolyn, the meeting…
Today we hear from 3 more audience members, Gavin, Kristoff & Mark, as they reveal what they are REALLY thinking during your presentation. Darren and…
If your audience members could personally tell you what they really need, would you adjust your content or your presentation? Mark and Darren hear from…
Virtual training done well can be delightful. Done poorly, it can be disastrous. Darren, Mark & guest host Ed Tate, CSP take a deep dive…
Do you know that favorite movie scene when there’s a plot twist, a change in a character, a revelation, or a shock? Think STAR WARS…
It’s tough creating a new presentation 50 times a year, and keeping your audience engaged week after week, but Pastor Josh Teis does just that.…
Do you remember the times when your family got together for holidays, anniversary celebrations or special occasions? The laughter you shared, the memories you made,…
Take another peek behind the coaches’ curtain as Darren and Mark show Denise Marek, award-winning speaker and author, how minor adjustments can have major impact.…
Imagine: Winning the World Championship of Public Speaking with a timeless message, pioneering unconventional attire & audience response, and mentoring several other finalists and champions,…
Have you clarified your why lately? What drives you to get on stage…or online…and deliver a presentation? We all have our reasons, and they may…
Racism is a highly volatile social issue. Tackling it head-on, to a global audience, breaks the mold, yet the 2020 World Championship Of Public Speaking…
How do you put a smile of the faces of your audience, or make them laugh out loud…especially when you KNOW you aren’t funny? Mark…
How do you deliver a potentially controversial presentation with grace and dignity, yet be effective without being offensive, and ultimately become UNFORGETTABLE? Mark and Darren…
What happens when 2 World Champions are each asked to officiate a wedding for the first time? How do they approach it? Perhaps you will…
With the global pandemic, it seems the whole world has been thrown off balance. How can you still be impactful? What if you’re a presenter…
What does it take to ‘out-speak’ 35,000 global contestants to become the first VIRTUAL World Champion of Public Speaking? Mark and Darren chat with the…
Unforgettable presentations have MOMENTS…scenes, conversations, statements, and emotions that resonate with the audience or with the presenter. These are the moments that remain in our…
That ‘Nudge Your Neighbor’ moment; when the speaker starts to tell a story you’ve heard before, so you nudge your neighbor and say, “You’re going…
Entertainment superstar Will Smith calls him ‘The Legend’. Michael Hauge is a story expert and Hollywood script consultant to the stars. Today he responds to…
Have you ever wondered what it’s like being coached on your story? Today you get a peek behind the coaches’ curtain as Darren and Mark…
Imagine yourself in the HOT SEAT, as an expert grills you with questions, with the only goal of showing you how to enhance your presentations,…
From tiny obscure comedy clubs to television specials to stages on 3 continents, Butch Bradley has conquered the comedy world. But what techniques has he…
“An unforgettable presenter is an imperfect presenter striving to be unforgettable.” So says co-host Darren as he and Mark share 10 choices that every presenter…
“Look for those events in your life that brought you pain…and go deeper into the pain. Audiences will identify…and connect with your vulnerability.” These words…
“Having fun allows me to do what I love without any great pressure.” says Olympic double gold medalist Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic. As…
How can we improve as communicators daily? Former prosecutor David Henderson, civil rights attorney, Toastmaster, and educator has answers. He has been published in Newsweek…
Where can you continue to find fresh material every day? Every month? Every year? For more than 55 YEARS? Legendary speaker, ‘Grandma Gone Viral’ with…
“Business is a dance between the practical and the creative,” says today’s guest. Mark and Darren sit down Grammy-Nominated musician, Freddie Ravel who toured with…
“Your last words LINGER.” So says Hall of Fame speaking legend Patricia Fripp. You may have delivered a presentation containing hilarious humor, powerful stories, and…
Do your first words FASCINATE, or FRUSTRATE? Your opening lines can make or break your presentation, and your audience will either tune in, or check…
Perhaps you’re thinking about working with a Speaker Bureau. What do they need from you? In what ways can you help them to help you?…
What does it take to be successful in one speaking market, then to radically change lanes and become equally successful in a completely different market?…
So you want to give a TED or TEDx talk. What do event organizers and TEDs coaches look for? What are the DOs and DON’Ts…
Be honest. You’ve seen them. PowerPoint slides with images taken from a Google search. Clip-art that has been on the Internet for years. Stock photography…
Special Edition Episode for Speech Contestants: You were SURE that you won the contest. You were set to ‘WOW’ your audience. You were confident that…
During his journey ‘from pothead to pastor’ as he put it, Manley Miller discovered the power of AUDIENCE CONNECTION, and has been committed to becoming…
The need for virtual presentations has skyrocketed in recent weeks, and as presenters, none of us wants to be BORING. But how can we keep…
Picture this: All your life you feel awkward, and out of place. You make the commitment to develop your speaking skills. You decide to become…
Conflict makes a story interesting and suspenseful. It also engages the audience, especially if they identify with the conflicted character. But how can you use…
From 14-year-old sports commentator, to movie reviewer, to being hired by Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak at the White House, Scott McKain has had a distinctive…
One of the strengths of every presentation is the MAIN CHARACTER in a story. But how do you get the audience to SEE, FEEL &…
You have to deliver a presentation, provide a corporate update, facilitate a workshop, host a seminar, or moderate a panel. But you have to do…
How do you transform a FRAUD INVESTIGATOR into ‘The FUNNY FED?’ What’s the magic behind taking a so-so story, and making it hilarious? How can…
How do you perform at 100% when PowerPoint fails, you’re not physically at your best, the meeting planner is pulling their hair out, you have…
Same presentation again? How do you keep it fresh and make it UNFORGETTABLE? Ask Kevin Burke who has performed as a Vegas Headliner, for a…
How can you deliver stories that pack an emotional punch…even if the story is simple, with only a few characters, and is fewer than 20…
Perhaps you’ve seen them; the presenters who wander aimlessly back and forth across the stage. Or those for whom EVERY talk is like a Ted…
How can you live life in the ‘FRONT ROW’, instead of in the ‘CHEAP SEATS’ up in the balcony, all the way in the back…and…
How do you create a classic presentation, break down the tensions that exist between audience and presenter, appeal to various learning styles, give your audience…
What are some of the most memorable ‘AHAs’ that, when applied, can transform any presentation? Listen as Darren and Mark discuss seven of the most…
How can you WOW your audience with presentations that pack a PUNCH, and eclipse more famous speakers who share your stage? Darren and Mark chat…
How do you stand out on the platform, whether you’re one of 30,000 competitors with a dream of winning the World Championship of Public Speaking,…
It’s not what you think. You’ll probably be surprised. No, it’s not your amazing opening, your signature story, your dazzling slides and infographics, or your…
What does it take to own the stage with energy as high as Mt. Everest, and lie face down on the platform, in a shocking…
many speakers offer…the Q & A session. Suddenly, attendees start to fidget, some start to pack their things, and others head for the door. But…
“Don’t give a speech; give an EXPERIENCE!”, says podcast co-host Mark Brown. 21st-century audiences are more savvy than ever, rarely wanting a presenter who will…
How can you GUARANTEE that your audience won’t get lost as you deliver your message? That’s the sexy, yet unsexy part of presentation preparation. Lean…
Amateur mechanic at the tender age of 8. First-time pro basketballer at the ancient age of 25. NBA All-Star at 32. Now, entrepreneur, author, media…
So you want a new keynote, a ‘sexier’ presentation, the perfect story, to find the funny, or better platform technique. You need a SPEAKER COACH!…
Fly-swatter. Cinder block. Tattoo. These are just a few of the items that speaker, author, attorney, church pioneer, consultant and pastor Vince Antonucci employs when…
How should you MENTALLY prepare for the platform? What should you do 2 months before, 2 days before, and 2 minutes before your presentation? Mark…
Would you wake up 100 days in a row with the specific goal of getting REJECTED? Would you abandon your Bill Gates-inspired ‘tech-trepreneurial dream’ to…
How do you get your audience to lean in, eager to hear your every word…BEFORE you take the stage? The secret is in your PRESENTER…
How do you get your audience to lean in, eager to hear your every word…BEFORE you take the stage? The secret is in your PRESENTER…
How do you fulfill your promise to your clients, your family, and yourself, while delivering presentations that are both wildly entertaining and deeply insightful? Get…
Can you recall leaving a presentation wondering, “What was their point again?” That’s probably because the premise or the main idea was unclear. In this…
Mark & Darren sit down with one of their mentors, an UNFORGETTABLE singer, speaker & entertainer! What would you do if at the height of…
Be honest. Have you had STORY ENVY? You know…you hear a presenter share a SENSATIONAL story and think to yourself, “Man! I wish I had…
In this episode, Mark delves deeper into the key questions that helped Darren to mine the gold in his life, uncover his message, and deliver…
Do you want to find your unique message, or the gold from your life’s story? The gold is there if you know where to look.…
What does it take to defeat more than 20,000 contestants and win the World Championship of Public Speaking? Listen in as three World Champions dissect…
Have you ever seen a keynote speech where the audience jumped to their feet and erupted in a well-deserved standing ovation? It’s just magical and…
Are you making any of the Top 10 Presentation Mistakes? The first step to being unforgettable is to be aware of the mistakes most presenters…