The Toastmasters Podcast

[32:22] What does it take to turn a difficult past into an opportunity to help others? Dr. Sherri Raftery, a college professor, six-time Distinguished Toastmaster and former foster youth, joins host Greg Gazin to share how her experiences shaped her passion for education, mentorship and advocating for young people in foster care. Growing up in foster care, Sherri attended 15 different schools. Des...

[43:04] Dirceu “Didi” da Silva is the 2026 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking. The Rotterdam, Netherlands, speaker rose above seven other finalists after a months-long competition that began with thousands of Toastmasters from more than 100 countries. In this episode, Didi takes us behind his winning speech,  Best Decision Ever! , his long road to the championship, and the lessons...

[39:18]  Forty plus Voices from around the world. And one question at the heart of it all: What was it like to experience the 2026 Toastmasters International Convention in Vancouver, Canada? In this bonus episode and Part 2 of our convention coverage, Toastmasters Podcast host Greg and fellow podcaster & Toastmaster  Michael Dugan  turn the microphone over to the people who were...

[34:30]  The 2026 Toastmasters International Convention brought 1,137 attendees, including 392 first-timers, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in August for four days of learning, inspiration and connection under the theme  Wide Open Communication . For this special episode, we're doing things a little differently. Greg is joined by fellow podcaster and 12-year Toastmaster  Mic...

[33:03]  Meet Distinguished Toastmaster  Stefano S. McGhee , the 2026–2027 Toastmasters International President from Weymouth, Massachusetts. A senior IT executive and Toastmaster since 2005, Stefano is also an aviation enthusiast, motorcyclist, and yacht club leader who readily admits that becoming International President was never part of his original plan. On today's episode, we explo...

[34:44]  We've all heard the old cliché about first impressions. But what if the biggest lesson isn't about making a better first impression at all? In this episode, Accredited Speaker Lauren Parsons challenges us to think differently about those first 30 seconds, explaining why they're really about building trust, creating connection, and focusing on your audience rather than yourself. Drawi...

[29:10]  Sometimes all it takes is one invitation. In this episode, Greg Gazin talks with 16-year-old Runfeng Bruce Yu, whose first Toastmasters experience inspired him to help other young people discover the confidence and encouragement that changed his own life. What began with a single club visit soon grew into a remarkable leadership journey. Bruce went on to charter the Sea Dra...

[28:45] Some of life's best lessons come from the most unexpected places, even an animated fish.  In this episode,  Suneet Singh  shares how an unlikely source of inspiration, Pixar's  Finding Nemo , helped transform his club's approach to growth. Together, we explore the story behind the journey, the lessons learned along the way, and how one unexpected idea led to remarkable...

[31:52] What happens after the gavel changes hands? In this episode Greg Gazin speaks with Distinguished Toastmaster António Mendes about one of Toastmasters’ most overlooked leadership roles: the Immediate Past President (IPP). Drawing on his experience serving as club president and Immediate Past President four times, António shares why this role may continue to influence a club long after a lea...

[18:39] The countdown is on for the 2026 Toastmasters International Convention taking place August 19 to 22, 2026, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In this annual convention preview episode, Greg Gazin speaks with Convention Host Co-Chairs Carole Murphy and Tom Jones for an early look at what attendees can expect and to learn more about the volunteers and leaders helping bring Toastmasters’...

[47:36] What happens when 20 years and hundreds of conversations change the way you communicate, listen, and tell stories? In this special milestone episode, guest host Ryan Levesque turns the microphone around on Greg Gazin to reflect on the journey behind The Toastmasters Podcast, ToastCaster, and the lessons learned along the way. From launching a podcast as a Toastmasters High Performance Lead...

[37:05] The Toastmasters International Golden Gavel is the prestigious annual award presented to an individual distinguished in the fields of leadership and communication. In this insightful and thought-provoking episode, Greg Gazin speaks with Jennifer Moss , award-winning author, workplace culture strategist, and the 2026 Golden Gavel Honoree . Jennifer shares personal stories and practical insi...

[31:42] Generative AI can help you work faster and sharpen your message, but only if you stay in control. In this episode, Greg Gazin speaks with Joel Schwartzberg about how to spot and resolve common AI pitfalls so your communication remains clear, credible, and authentic. Joel approaches AI as a tool—useful, but not a replacement for decision-making. It can improve clarity and efficiency, but it...

[26:51] What happens when students are given a real stage and someone willing to guide them there? In this episode, Greg Gazin speaks with CeCe Espeut about helping students step onto South Florida’s TEDx Miramar stage and what unfolded along the way. CeCe Espeut, a two-time TEDx speaker, five-time Distinguished Toastmaster, and creator of TEDx Miramar, brought together Toastmasters to mentor stud...

[28:53]  Across parts of Africa, Toastmasters has seen double- and even triple-digit growth over a 10-year period—at a time when global membership has slightly declined. So what changed—and why did it stick? Frank Tsuro shares his experience, what contributed to that growth, and what others can learn—while offering a closer look at Africa and Toastmasters across the continent. Frank puts the...

[25:38]  Imagine preparing for a presentation so intensely that you create life-size cutouts of your audience just to practice answering their toughest questions. That’s exactly what one entrepreneur and longtime Toastmaster did before pitching his business TV’s   Shark Tank . In this episode host Greg Gazin speaks with Ari Siegel , founder of History By Mail, about how Toastmasters...

[36:05] What would happen if you committed to having lunch with 500 strangers? In this episode, host Greg Gazin reconnects with Nick Bendel (Episode #250), who not only reached that goal, he surpassed it. What began as a business experiment to improve social skills became something much deeper, a lesson in confidence, curiosity and personal growth. This episode isn’t really about lunch. It’s about...

With more than 30 years in Rotary, Stephanie was deeply engaged in community service long before Toastmasters entered the picture. When she later discovered Toastmasters through Rotary, she found a safe environment to practice speaking, calm presentation anxiety, and strengthen skills she could immediately apply back in Rotary meetings and projects. That experience turned Stephanie into an advocat...

[32:03] Cross-cultural moments aren’t rare anymore—they’re woven into our daily conversations. In this episode, Greg speaks with leadership communication strategist Maria Garaitonandia about why well-meaning communication can miss the mark and how greater cultural awareness helps speakers, leaders, and teams avoid misunderstanding before it hardens into judgment. Maria brings a p...

[25:52] When managing your time isn’t enough, it may be time to look at where your energy is actually going. In this episode, host Greg Gazin speaks with Ambeka Khadse , a talent development leader and Toastmasters contributor, about how a personal energy audit helps speakers and leaders move from feeling busy to working with greater focus, clarity, and intention — without adding more hours to the...

[32:40] Many of us learn early on how to train our bodies, and later, how to prepare a speech through practice and repetition. But when it comes to training the mind—especially under the pressure of a live audience—most speakers are left to figure it out on their own. In this episode, Sarah Centrella joins Greg to discuss mental fitness and how speakers can prepare mentally with the same intention...

[33:33] What if AI could help you think more clearly, simplify complex ideas, and sharpen your message—without replacing your voice or creativity? In this episode of the Toastmasters Podcast, Greg Gazin welcomes back Diane Windingland, DTM , for a practical conversation on using AI as a thinking partner to improve clarity, strengthen messages, and communicate with greater impact. Diane offer...

[27:20] In this episode Greg Gazin welcomes back longtime contributor and speech delivery coach Bill Brown for a conversation that reflects  back and shares lessons learned from more than a decade of writing for the Toastmaster magazine. A Toastmaster for nearly 20 years Bill has become a familiar name to readers through The Toastmasters Toolbox , The Answer Man , and dozens of feature articl...

[31:36] What does it take to build a thriving Corporate Toastmasters club within a business—and turn it into a catalyst for professional growth and company culture? In this episode, Greg Gazin chats with Lance Kotler , a Vice President at BNY Mellon and Vice President of Membership for the BNY Mellon Toastmasters Club in New York City. Lance, one of five members featured in a recent Toastmas...

Saby, a behavioral change expert based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, rose above seven other finalists after several elimination rounds that began earlier in the year with thousands of participants from more than 100 countries. A two-time TEDx speaker and host of the Method and Madness podcast, he helps organizations embrace the human side of change—with energy, humor, and heart. Kissing the Stage In...