Toasty Talks

Winning a speech contest is hard. Winning two at the same conference is almost unheard of. We sit down with Clarence Featherson right after his District 36 spring conference sweep, where he takes both the International Speech Contest and the Evaluation Contest, and we unpack what that kind of performance is really built on: years of repetition, smart feedback, and the willingness to be humbled in...

Some students don’t just participate; they command the room. They speak up in class, lead projects, and turn small conversations into real opportunities. That kind of presence can look effortless from the outside, but we’ve learned it’s built through practice, feedback, and the courage to start before you feel ready. We sit down with two standout college Toastmasters, Nicholas Duarte and Victoria...

You can deliver a killer speech and still never get booked, and Sylvia and Ty explain exactly why. We dig into the unglamorous truth about building a professional speaking business: the stage is only a fraction of the work, and the real engine is clarity, positioning, relationships, and consistent value long before you touch a microphone. Sylvia shares how Toastmasters helped her sharpen her messa...

What if your Toastmasters experience could be shaped around the things you’re most passionate about? In this episode, we explore the world of specialty Toastmasters clubs—clubs built around a shared focus, community, or purpose. From bilingual clubs to debate clubs and spaces designed to uplift specific communities, these clubs show that there’s more than one way to grow in Toastmasters. Join us a...

Mentorship isn’t a title—it’s a relationship that changes how people learn, lead, and stay. We sit down with District 36 leaders Sandra Coles-Bell and Scott Meyer to draw a clear line between coaching and mentoring, then follow the ripple effects from a single pairing to a club that runs on trust, clarity, and momentum.  If you’ve ever wondered why some meetings feel smooth and energizing while ot...

What better way to celebrate the Grow Season than with a surprise drop? 🌱🎙️ Surprise drop!  🚨 This month gets a special bonus episode–because we couldn’t wait to share it. Toasty Talks welcomes Toastmasters Latoya Skeine and Melissa Artavia Caravaca for a warm, high-energy welcome episode filled with culture, connection, and communication growth – 🇯🇲 “Wah gwaan?” 🇨🇷 “Pura vida!” In this conversa...

District 220 (D220) is here — and we’re building the inaugural 2026–2027 leadership team. In this special episode, Ena Okah (Past District 36 Director) and Annette Sanks (Immediate Past District 27 Director) join host Esohe to talk about what the new District 220 (Districts 27 + 36) means for members and clubs—and why this is a rare moment to help shape a district from the ground up. We discuss: W...

We gathered your most common questions about Pathways and brought them directly to the expert.  In this conversation, Esohe Irabor, PhD, sits down with Justine Desmarais, District 36 Pathways Chair, to discuss what Pathways is, how it works, what it costs, and how it supports members’ personal and professional growth.   Whether you are new to Toastmasters or looking to understand your Pathways jou...

In this special 60-minute episode, Dr. Esohe Irabor sits down with four inspiring leaders from District 36 — our Public Relations Manager (PRM) , Maria Pia Younger ; Club Growth Director (CGD) , Jill Vanderweit ; Program Quality Director (PQD) , Augusta Inniss ; and District Director (DD) , Arvind Venugopal . Together, they share candid insights about their roles, the RISE (or IRSE!) values that r...

What do successful clubs, thriving companies, and high-performing teams have in common? They track what matters—and use scorecards to turn goals into action. In this episode, Dr. Esohe Irabor sits down with Professor Barry Piatt —former U.S. Senate Communications Director, strategist, past Distinguished District 36 Director, award-winning evaluator, and Public Speaking Professor at George Washingt...

Welcome to the very first episode of Toasty Talks !  In this introduction, host Dr. Esohe Irabor and the 2025-2026 District 36 Public Relations Manager Maria Pia Younger pull back the curtain on our brand-new podcast.  You’ll hear why we created Toasty Talks , what you can expect in future episodes, and how this space will connect, encourage, and inform our District 36 community and beyond.      ...