The Presentation Podcast

Episode #231, I am excited to dive into the evolving world of AI with David Fortin on our latest episode! Yes, overall we are in an awkward phase of AI adoption. David and I focus primarily on how Microsoft Copilot is reshaping the landscape of workflows with so many elements now able to be connected; Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams meetings and file. We also talk about creating better AI prompt...

Episode #230 - In this latest episode, hosts Troy, Sandy, and Nolan are joined by Rick Altman, director of The Presentation Summit. They discuss the upcoming Summit (October 19 th -22 nd 2025), its array of guest speakers and engaging sessions. Rick shares behind-the-scenes insights and announces a special $75 registration discount, exclusively for The Presentation Podcast listeners. Listeners can...

Episode #229, In this episode of The Presentation Podcast, hosts Troy Chollar, Nolan Haims, and Sandy Johnson explore where to learn PowerPoint and slide design. They discuss a wide range of resources, including online tutorials, webinars, training programs, professional organizations, books, webinars, conferences and communities. The overall takeaway, the importance of hands-on experience. The ho...

Episode #228, In this episode of The Presentation Podcast, the hosts are joined by Bethany Auck, founder of SlideRabbit, for a candid and insightful conversation. The group reflect on the past decade of transformation in presentation design. They also talk with Bethany about the journey of building SlideRabbit and its recent acquisition and transition to new ownership. Listen now! Full Episode Sho...

Episode #227 - In this episode of The Presentation Podcast, hosts Troy Chollar, Sandy Johnson, and Nolan Haims chat with guest Jody Wissing – a truly energetic and creative presentation designer! They talk about how everyday experiences, travel, and even advertising inspire presentation design and storytelling. Jody shares her tips for simplifying slides, engaging audiences, and using AI as a crea...

Episode #226, In this episode of "The Presentation Podcast," the hosts, plus guests Julie Terberg and Lori Chollar, dive into the art of typography in PowerPoint slide design. We discuss the differences between fonts and typography, share practical tips for font pairing, and address PowerPoint's limitations compared to professional design software. We also explore sources of design inspiration, ha...

Episode #225. This episode of The Presentation Podcast dives deep into the role of typography in PowerPoint presentations. The hosts discuss font selection, line and paragraph spacing, alignment, visual hierarchy and more. Plenty of practical tips and frustrations of typography formatting within PowerPoint are shared, along with comparing PowerPoint's features to other advanced design and desktop...

Episode #224, In Season 10, Episode 224 of The Presentation Podcast, hosts Troy Chollar (TLC Creative Services), Sandy Johnson (Presentation Wiz), and Nolan Haims (Nolan Haims Creative) take a deep dive into customizing PowerPoint. Their discussion is a goldmine for anyone looking to streamline their PowerPoint workflow, leverage hidden settings and features, and create more in less time. Listen n...

Episode #223- Ever wondered how those stunning ultra-wide presentations you see at big corporate events, concerts and trade shows come to life? In the latest episode Troy Chollar is joined by Lori Chollar for an all TLC Creative Services conversation. And the topic of the day? Ultra-wide presentations! These presentations are becoming increasingly common, as more events use LED walls along with mu...

Episode #222 - In the latest episode of "The Presentation Podcast," hosts Troy Chollar, Sandy Johnson, and Nolan Haimes sit down with Sheila B. Robinson, a seasoned expert in teaching and learning. The conversation is about the ins and outs of e-learning, self-paced learning, course creation, and where PowerPoint fits into everything. Sheila's extensive background in professional development has m...

Episode #221, This episode of the Presentation Podcast, hosts Troy Chollar, Sandy Johnson, and Nolan Haims, along with guests David Blatner and Chris Converse, delve into the evolving landscape of design tools, the significance of community and collaboration in the design process. It is a lively discussion about the evolving capabilities of PowerPoint, and how it can be a serious contender in the...

Episode #220 - In the latest episode of The Presentation Podcast , Troy and Nolan delve into everything PowerPoint and vector. What does PowerPoint consider a vector graphic? What types of vector files does PowerPoint recognize? What are PowerPoint limitations with vector graphics? This episode is a treasure trove of insights, practical tips, and expert advice on leveraging vector graphics, partic...

Episode #219 - In this episode, our hosts engage in a lively and fun conversation about Canva, particularly its presentation features, with special guest Dani Watkins, an official "Canvassador"! This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to at Canva for their presentation design. Plus, did you know Canva now offers offline capabilities for presentations? We didn't either, but...

Episode #218 - Data visualization is an essential skill in today's data-driven world. It transforms raw data into visual formats like charts, graphs, and maps, making complex information understandable and engaging. In this podcast episode, Troy, Sandy and Nolan talk with Ann K. Emery of Depict Data Studio about the nuances of data visualization tools and best practices - especially for presentati...

Episode #217 - In the latest episode of The Presentation Podcast, our three seasoned presentation designers: Troy Chollar from TLC Creative Services, Sandy Johnson from Presentation Wiz, and Nolan Haims from Nolan Haims Creative discuss PowerPoint templates from the perspective of evaluating client provided files - and the state of the template provided. A conversation with a wealth of knowledge o...

In the latest episode of The Presentation Podcast, Troy, Sandy, Nolan, and Lori delve into the evolving role of animation in presentation design - particularly within PowerPoint. They explore how storytelling animation is becoming a significant trend in many aspects of graphic design and discuss how animation can be effectively incorporated into presentations to support the message. From organic m...

Episode 215 of The Presentation Podcast has the hosts, Troy Chollar, Nolan Haims, Sandra Johnson, and Lori Chollar delve into the financial side of running a presentation design business. This episode is a treasure trove of insights on managing finances, from invoicing and insurance to business structure and studio operations. Listen now! Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/...

Episode #214, Our three industry experts — Troy Chollar, Sandy Johnson, Nolan Haims — have a lively discussion about the future of presentation design in 2025. Each offering 2.5 presentation design predictions for this year, ranging from the impact of AI to the importance of accessibility and emerging design trends. Join the conversation! Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/...

Episode #213 - Welcome to a special episode of the Presentation Podcast, aptly titled "A Journey Through Time: Pro & Tech Tips Only". In this episode, hosts Troy, Sandy, and Nolan take a journey through their favorite Pro and Tech Tips from past episodes. They share their curated list of apps, presentation formatting tips, and gadgets that have been game-changers for them, and listener favorites....

Episode #212, The final podcast episode of 2024, #212, releases today with Troy, Nolan and Sandy recounting their 12 most memorable presentation highlights of 2024. Join the conversation now! Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2024/e212 Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at:  info@thepresentationpodcast.com Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple...

Episode #211 - In this episode, we welcome business professor and author Todd Cherches to discuss visual design and its impact on leadership management. We continuously say that no one has a direct path into presentation, and Todd shares his career journey from advertising and television to academia that shaped his teachings on the power of visual thinking and communication in leadership. And no p...

Episode #210, In this podcast episode, Troy, Nolan, Sandy, and guest Stephy Hogan delve into the intricacies of where familiar Adobe tools are in PowerPoint. Stephy's new book, "The Reluctant Designer's Field Guide to PowerPoint" is now available, and is an amazing resource for both Adobe designers working in PowerPoint, and PowerPoint designers moving to Adobe Creative Suite apps. This episode is...

Episode #209 - The 2024 Presentation Summit, held at the picturesque Zachary Dunes Resort in Central California, brought together a vibrant community of PowerPoint presentation professionals - including 13 (of the 39) Microsoft awarded MVPs for PowerPoint. This episode captures the essence of the Presentation Summit conference and showcases the camaraderie, expertise, and innovative insights of th...

Our latest guest, Mike Power, revealed how a simple challenge at his first job led to the creation of NXPowerlite, a tool that compresses images within PowerPoint without sacrificing quality. This innovative solution has now become an industry standard, helping countless presentations be optimized! The dev team then followed with SlideWise, our #1 go to tool to audit and fix PowerPoint files. Full...

Episode #207, In this episode of the Presentation Podcast, Troy, Nolan and Sandy spend some time with Mike Parkinson, a graphic designer, prolific conference speaker, and the person behind the Build-A-Graphic PowerPoint add-in. We talk about the evolving landscape of presentation design, particularly the role AI tools now play. Mike shares his "3 AI truths", emphasizing that AI tools enhance produ...