The Toastmasters Podcast

Lauren’s article, " Lead Like a Master Gardener : Successful teams need the same 12 conditions as healthy plants in order to thrive ," appears in the April 2024 Issue of the Toastmaster Magazine. Lauren Parsons is a speaker, author, business coach, and Wellbeing Specialist where, for over two decades, her practical solutions have helped thousands of busy people feel vibrant, confident, and e...

[28:47] For speakers to be effective, they not only need to be competent communicators and experts in their field, but they also need to be authentic to help build trust and credibility. In today's episode, our guest Elizabeth (Liz) Danziger will enlighten us on, "C ultivating authenticity as a speaker - helping us learn how to let your true self shine while presenting,"  which happens to be the t...

[28:56] Step out of your comfort zone and imagine having lunch with 500 strangers to enhance your social skills, fortify your mindset, expand your network, and unlock new opportunities. In this, our 250th episode, we delve into his journey and speak with Nick Bendel , a dedicated Toastmaster whose lunch tally currently sits at 376. Nick pulls back the curtain and sheds light on the motivations beh...

[29:52] The Toastmaster Magazine serves as a rich source of monthly inspiration for our guests, Dorothy Chanakira DTM and Viola Dondo DTM , both from Zimbabwe. They’ve taken the lead in combining their passion for Toastmasters, learning, and reading. Their creative approach involves establishing an online group TOAST & READ Along with Coach, where participants give a toast to Toastmaster...

Olya’s article appears in the January 2024 Issue of the Toastmaster Magazine:  Finding a Balance to Beat Burnout: Daily routines deliver big benefits when personally tailored to your lifestyle . In our podcast interview, Olya pulls back the curtain taking us back to how and when the downward spiral began, manifesting to the point where she left a well-paying job in the corporate world....

[27:25] Improvisation—or improv —the art of saying or doing something relevant to the moment, yet completely unplanned, is a great way to get people laughing and flexing their spontaneous speaking skills. In this episode, we speak with Karen Rae Hannah,  a 16-year Toastmaster who belongs to five clubs, two of which are dedicated to humor and improv and one of which she is the President. In this li...

[29:39] A Roast is something you can bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes per pound but it’s also a humorous way to honor or recognize an individual by poking fun at them in a good-natured way.  (Remember the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts?)   On today’s episode, our guest, Chris Arning demystifies and enlightens us on this time-honored topic - also in a good-na...

The Accredited Speaker (AS) Program recognizes some of the most exceptional professional speakers in Toastmasters. It is designed for sought-after presenters who combine expert knowledge in a particular subject with mastery of the spoken word. This AS awardmrequires applicants to pass two levels of judging, is the highest-earned designation recognized by Toastmasters International. In this episode...

[34:07] Even when you've thoroughly prepared for a presentation, things can go awry that you could never possibly anticipate. Today's guest, Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE  has faced the impossibly unpredictable countless times. He joins us to share his stories, strategies, and mindset for dealing with the unexpected with grace. Jim is a professional speaker who has delivered more than 3,500 convention s...

[29:17] Our guest today Philip Wilkerson III likens his four years of Toastmasters membership to being equivalent to receiving a college degree.  He enlightens us a little about the fruits of his Toastmasters journey and how others can also benefit from the program. He also shares about how his communication and presentation skills continue to blossom and how mentors help guide him and encourage h...

We also hear how her 15 years of Toastmasters speeches helped her realize the dream of becoming a fiction writer, and about her latest novel, 'Letters to Singapore.' Kelly enlightens us on how she said NO to an arranged marriage, and found herself moving to Calgary, Alberta, Canada from Singapore to pursue an education and Master's degree. Her writing is now finding itself on a Lunar Codex project...

About Aman Chopra Aman Chopra is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, and public speaking coach based in New York City. He hosts and produces an innovative AI x Comedy show with his team, ComedyBytes , where human comedians collaborate with AI robots in live performances. Alongside his stage endeavors, Aman runs a podcast and offers professional public speaking coaching. His passion lies in authenticit...

On today's episode, Greg and Ryan speak with Jocelyn, a first-time speech contest competitor, about her journey. You'll learn about the additional pressures Jocelyn was facing at the time of the competition, the back story behind her championship-winning speech, and much more. Jocelyn and the other finalists were featured in the November issue of the Toastmaster. Watch Jocelyn's winning speech: ht...

[22:24] Toastmasters changes lives. In this episode, host Greg Gazin speaks with Jane Osemwegie . In her youth, Jane was bullied and called names, never feeling like she would ever amount to anything. With dedication, determination and Toastmasters,Jane, in her own words says, "(Now) I see a blessed, confident, Black, and gifted woman in me.”   J ane enlightens us, sharing a little about her journ...

[26:35] While most organizations recognize the importance of brand consistency and uniformity, getting everyone on board to follow brand guidelines can sometimes be a challenge. Today we speak with Distinguished Toastmaster Mayuri Assudani who single-handedly took a stand for the brand, cascading brand awareness through her entire district—including through a live competition, no less. Mayur...

[33:35] For some of us, Imposter Syndrome is an obstacle that gets in the way of  being an effective leader. In this episode, Greg and Ryan speak with Dr. Valerie Young who helps demystify this topic to loosen the grip this phenomenon can have on us. Dr. Young is a featured expert in an article appearing in the August 2023 issue of the Toastmaster written by Maureen Zappala called “ The Secret to...

The Toastmaster magazine featured International President Morag Mathieson in the Sept 2023 issue . Read President Mathieson's profile in the September 2023 issue of the Toastmaster : https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2023/sept/meet-morag-mathieson  

[33:17] Spontaneous or impromptu speaking—or Table Topics, as we practice it in Toastmasters—is something that we have to do every day. Returning to the podcast for the 5th time, we welcome Matt Abrahams , an expert whose name has been synonymous with Spontaneous Speaking from a ripe young age. Matt has dedicated his career to assisting others with their communication. In this episode,...

[33:08] You've heard of a meditation practice, a yoga practice, or a writing practice. But a podcast practice? Today's guest, Tara McMullin—a podcast fanatic and audio aficionado—suggests just such an approach to podcasting. Tara demystifies how to do that and along the way shares her passion for the medium. This episode is a follow-up to Tara's article in the August 2023 issue of the...

Pamela & Tony tell us what it's like to be the co-chairs,  how they've shared the role, what they've learned, and how Toastmasters has played a role in their development. They also enlighten us with little-known facts as they share the wonders the Bahamas has to offer, even beyond the picturesque pink-sandy beaches. Listeners will also hear what attendees may expect at the Convention and...

Sara is a Distinguished Toastmaster, currently serving as the Program Quality Director for District 3 in Arizona. She wrote an article in the July 2023 issue of the Toastmaster magazine called " Are Your Behavioral Patterns Causing Burnout? Advice for managing your mental state ." Read Sara's article: https://www.toastmasters.org/magazine/magazine-issues/2023/july/burnout Listen to Sara's podcast,...

[27:39] Traveling internationally can open our eyes to a whole new world of experiences, especially for Toastmasters, given there are clubs located all over the world. Back for the third time, our guest today Maureen Zappala has connected with several members with Toastmasters-inspired experiences and stories and shares them with us today. She also offers tips for enhancing your travel abroad by v...

Diane Windingland, DTM is an author, speaker, and presentation coach from St. Paul, MN. She is a member of two clubs: PowerTalk Toastmasters and Readership Toastmasters, and the author of over 10 books related to communication. Diane wrote an article in the December 2022 issue of the Toastmaster magazine called 7 Tips to Brush Up Your Small Talk.   Diane's article: https://www.toastmasters.or...

Eddie’s article, It’s Your Turn to Toast: Get past your fear by learning to C.H.E.E.R.S.  will appear in the June 2023 issue of the Toastmaster magazine.   Eddie Rice  is a professional speechwriter with over a decade of experience in helping business leaders, keynote speakers, TED talk presenters, nonprofit organizations and everyday people, enhance the messages they tell through great storytelli...

Jolene Stockman is an award-winning writer, author, and TEDx speaker. She is a Master of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and one of the youngest people in the world to achieve the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. Jolene lives in New Zealand and speaks globally through the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau. You can read Jolene's article, Learning to Love My Autistic Identity: T oastmasters tur...