The Talkative Toastmaster

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how the simple act of joining a Toastmasters club can transform your confidence? Join us as we explore Hilary Saxton's incredible journey from a novice public speaker to a celebrated club president and competition winner. Through her story, you'll learn about the unexpected opportunities and responsibilities that come with Toastmasters, and how this support...

Send us Fan Mail As the newly appointed Area 26 Director in District 69, I highlight the responsibilities that come with this position - from regular club visits to organising the 2024 Area 26 Conference, managing the area budget and council meetings, and more. I discuss how these activities are essential in assessing the health and quality of clubs, focusing on key aspects like first impressions,...

Send us Fan Mail What if your passion for public speaking could turn into a lifelong journey of leadership and growth? This episode of The Talkative Toastmaster is a must-listen as we bring you the inspiring story of Nicky Jurd, a Toastmaster with 25 years of experience who began her journey at just 16. Nicky shares the unique culture of District 69, where fun, camaraderie and connection reign sup...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode,  Melanie Surplice, the outgoing president of the Mount Gravatt Toastmasters Club shares her 12-month leadership journey, emphasising the importance of keeping members engaged and informed. She discusses the strategies she used to manage fluctuating attendance and maintain high-quality meetings. Plus, Melanie offers a glimpse into the experiences that shaped her le...

Send us Fan Mail A dog park encounter leads to a life enriched by public speaking - sounds like a bit of a tale, doesn't it? Yet, for Alex Stevenson, it's the origin of his journey with Chelmer Speakers, which he recounts with humour on this week's Talkative Toastmaster Podcast. Feeling the butterflies before a big speech is something Alex knows well, and together, we dissect the la...

Send us Fan Mail Could a simple Toastmasters club visit turn into an adventure filled with cultural exchange, networking and serendipitous discoveries? Join me in Episode 28, as I recount my recent holiday, that began with planned visits to the Malacca and Summit Toastmasters Clubs but unfolded into an unexpected immersion in the Malaysian District 102 conference - my second District conference in...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever craved genuine feedback that slices through the usual "good job" commentary? Toastmaster Steve Bates certainly did. Join us as Steve, an 11-year member of Toastmasters, and winner of the District 69 Table Topics Contest, recounts his unique foray into the world of Toastmasters. His quest for constructive criticism propelled him from firefighting to the pinn...

Send us Fan Mail In this Episode, I recap the District 69 Toastmasters conference, held on the first weekend of May in Caloundra, South East Queensland. As a first time District Conference attendee, member of the organising committee and contest participant, I delve into the agenda of the theme that encouraged us to "Grow By Design". From the stirring keynote on the 'Inner Game of G...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we explore the 12-month Toastmasters journey of Junyan Tan - a Toastmasters enthusiast, recently appointed Secretary of the Mount Gravatt Toastmasters Club - and one of my mentees. Junyan (who usually goes by the name of Brodie), shares his seven-year journey to the podium. Listen as we uncover the layers of personal and professional growth that come from facing fears,...

Send us Fan Mail As we celebrate The Talkative Toastmaster Podcast's journey through 23 episodes, I recap highlights of each episode to date - not only to surface some of the earlier content for new visitors to the podcast, but also to reflect on some of the inspiring personal stories that my guests have shared. Revisit our early guidance for Toastmasters newbies, the strategies to tackle the...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a unique journey with Sue Pinker, a beacon in the Toastmasters community, as she recounts her remarkable transformation from a shy and nervous woman to a charismatic leader and speaker. As we navigate Sue's personal anecdotes and her current role as District 69's historian, we uncover the impact of Toastmasters on her life - an influence that extends far beyond...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we unlock the treasure trove of conferences and training opportunities that await Toastmasters who choose to take advantage of a packed annual program! I walk through the various area and division gatherings, where fellow Toastmasters compete and learn through educational sessions. But that's just the appetiser! The main course is the illustrious district lev...

Send us Fan Mail When Leonard Scuderi steps onto the stage, he brings with him a treasure trove of experiences from three decades as a Toastmaster. His journey, which began with a nudge from his father and a personal quest to enhance his communication as an engineer, has taken him through clubs across the globe - each anecdote shedding light on the diverse and enriching world of Toastmasters. This...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we navigate through the competitive landscape of Toastmasters contests! From intimate club-level contests to the pinnacle of the World Championship of Public Speaking, I'll walk you through the stages where the art of public speaking is not only honed and celebrated, but judged. Peer behind the curtain of the evaluation, table topics, humorous, and international sp...

Send us Fan Mail In our latest episode, Kate Norris, a Toastmaster with 14 years experience, joins us to recount her transformative story. From the depths of personal challenge to the heights of district-level leadership roles, she shares how the community within Toastmasters not only honed her public speaking skills but also led her to develop lasting friendships and a stronger sense of confidenc...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the transformative power of leadership roles in Toastmasters, and how they forge skills you can apply in every facet of your life.  In this episode, I take you behind the gavel to reveal how taking on a leadership role at Toastmasters can provide invaluable experience. From the skill of decision-making to the finesse of meeting facilitation in a volunteer organisation, I&...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how a decade of transforming fear into finesse through public speaking feels? Let Toastmaster Mat Eyles take you on his captivating journey in the latest episode of the Talkative Toastmaster podcast. You’ll hear how Mat's initial reservations about joining Toastmasters melted away as he found the perfect club. His story isn’t just about speaking; it’s a deeper d...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the transformational power of mentorship, as we navigate the inner workings of Toastmasters' mentoring program to catapult your communication and leadership skills to new heights.  In this episode, I delve into how the mentoring program fosters the art of crafting successful mentoring relationships, discussing the process of pairing mentors with mentees, the importance...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a Toastmasters odyssey as my guest, Graham Cairns, shares experiences from six of his current Toastmasters clubs and the completion of some 15 Pathways. From the first anxious steps at a local community club to the polished podiums of advanced groups, Graham has navigated the seas of public speaking and leadership, each wave offering new challenges and opportunities. Fea...

Send us Fan Mail In this Episode, we explore the Toastmasters meeting agenda in detail, to provide you with an outline of the unique speaking opportunities at each meeting. I’ll touch on what each role is, what’s required and how you may be able to apply this to other areas of your life. Picture yourself as the Toastmaster, a conductor ensuring each speaker's voice harmonises with the meeting...

Send us Fan Mail Picture this: you're in a room full of people, your heart is pounding, palms are sweaty and it's your turn to speak. Daunting, right? Our guest for this week's episode, Geoff Roberts, shows us that it doesn't have to be! A long-standing member of Mad Chatter's Toastmasters, and current Area 26 Director, Geoff shares his transformational journey from a timi...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how seasoned speakers turn every critique into a stepping stone for success? Unlock this mystery with me as we dissect the transformative power of speech evaluations in the world of Toastmasters. Episode 12 provides insights on the subtle art of constructive feedback, which can help you to elevate your public speaking prowess and embrace personal and professional adv...

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, we pull up for a chat with Thomas Krafft, who at age 18, embarked on a jam-packed Toastmasters journey that led him to achieve a Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM) by age 25. Listen as Thomas outlines his Toastmasters experience, his role in steering five clubs as President and being an Area Director three times, and more. He also shares why he chose to...

Send us Fan Mail Ever find yourself tongue-tied when the spotlight unexpectedly turns your way?  Let me share with you, how Toastmasters can be instrumental in helping you to improve your impromptu speaking skills. In this episode, I discuss the many opportunities Toastmasters provides for anyone eager to elevate their spontaneous speech skills, whether it's during a nerve-wracking job interv...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, we hear highlights of the inspirational 35-year journey of Kevin Ryan, who went from an electronics company rep to a professional speaker, with the help of Toastmasters. Our conversation pulls back the curtain on the art of public speaking and the powerful life lessons that come from leading and growing within this global community. Kevin discusses key...