D50 After Dark

Join us on D50 After Dark as we kick off Season 3 with Monnica Rose, a mechanical engineer turned Toastmasters leader. With 19 years in Toastmasters, Monnica shares her journey from aircraft modifications to international director, highlighting leadership growth, communication skills, and the power of invitation. Keywords: Toastmasters, leadership, communication, engineering, mentorship.

Highlight Chapter List (0:00)

Introduction: Season 3 kickoff, special guest (0:31)

Toastmasters Journey: 19 years, leadership roles (1:11)

Engineering Career: 35 years, aircraft modifications (11:18)

Leadership Insights: Area director, region advisor (5:47)

Mentorship Impact: Guiding global leaders (9:30)

First Evaluation: Learning from feedback (16:55)

Current Roles: Club VP, district historian (9:30)

Keywords and Key PhrasesToastmasters, leadership, communication skills, mechanical engineering, aircraft modifications, mentorship, region advisor, international director, district historian, emotional intelligence, corporate clubs, growth mindset, team collaboration, strategic thinking, public speaking

Dive into the D50 After Dark Season 2 Recap with host Mickey Bennett and the team! This season, they ventured beyond Habitat Commons, recording in coffee shops and offices, mastering green screen tech, and hitting 50 episodes. Highlights include Walter Price’s Robert’s Rules breakdown and the youth leadership team’s vibrant interview. With Toastmasters leadership in focus,

Season 3 promises live streams and demo meetings. Share your feedback and join the excitement for what’s next!The D50 After Dark Season 2 Recap celebrates 50 episodes, with recordings in diverse locations like Habitat Commons and libraries. Key moments include Walter Price’s Robert’s Rules masterclass and a green screen youth leadership episode. The team embraced guest-driven content for natural interviews. Season 3 plans include live streams, demo meetings, and Toastmasters leadership interviews. Listeners are encouraged to share the podcast and suggest guests to make Season 3 the best yet!

Chapter Marker Highlights:

0:06 - Introduction: Mickey Bennett opens the Season 2 Recap, introducing the team and plans for Season 3.

1:14 - New Locations: Team discusses recording beyond Habitat Commons in coffee shops and offices, embracing flexibility.

3:00 - Habitat Commons Upgrades: Studio upgrades led to epic episodes, with plans for more on-location recording.

4:01 - Outdoor Ideas: Potential outdoor episode with Kim sparked creative ideas despite equipment challenges.

6:02 - Dynamic Intros: Inspired by Willie Geist, the team explores walking intro shots for engagement.

8:44 - Content Insertion: Highlights include Walter Price’s voting clip and Hesh’s green screen youth leadership interview.

11:52 - Guest-Driven Focus: Season 2 prioritized Toastmasters leaders for more natural, engaging interviews.

14:34 - Behind-the-Scenes: Proposals to capture conference or planning meeting footage for a Toastmasters showcase.

18:08 - Live Recording: Plans for a live podcast at the spring conference as a breakout session.

20:01 - 50 Episodes: Celebrates hitting 50 episodes by segmenting interviews for weekly releases.

21:47 - Favorite Moments: Walter Price’s Robert’s Rules, youth leadership, and Ezekiel’s vibrant interview stand out.

25:14 - Lessons Learned: Flexibility in locations, quick setup/teardown, and guest-driven content were key takeaways.

29:42 - Season 3 Goals: Expand team, live stream, record demo meetings, and interview Toastmasters leadership.

43:35 - Election Interviews: Ideas for interviewing big three candidates, navigating Toastmasters rules, possibly post-election.

48:06 - Future Guests: Suggest Aletta Rochat, Pauline Shirley, division directors, and enthusiastic new members.

55:43 - Call to Action: Share D50 After Dark, comment on desired guests, and engage on social media.

This video is NOT sponsored.

===========================

Connect!

=============================

➡︎IG ttps://www.instagram.com/d50.afterdark

===========================

Subscribe and Listen to D50 After Dark Podcast HERE:📱 ======================================================

Here are the ways to work with me:

===========================

⚡️https://d50tm.org/blog/

===========================

Connect on Social Media:

===========================

➡︎IG https://www.instagram.com/d50.afterdarkFB - https://www.facebook.com/D50AfterDark

===========================

#D50AfterDarkPodcast #D50AfterDark #Toastmasters Unfolding Toastmasters'

StoriesD50 After Dark is your gateway to the untold narratives within the Toastmasters community. Hosted by Mickey Bennett, DTM, this podcast brings together Toastmasters' finest to discuss the nuances of public speaking, share their journeys, and explore the diverse aspects of communication and leadership.Don't miss this chance to learn, grow, and engage. Mark your calendars for a thrilling podcast experience. Inquiries or suggestions? Contact us at [email protected]. Let's empower District 50 Toastmasters together!

Storytelling, Toastmasters, and Customer Experience

• Name: Vijay Tambwekar

• Bio: Vijay is the author of Customer Experience Decoded and an experienced professional who has led large teams in IT and organizational initiatives. His passion for storytelling and effective communication has driven his success in writing and leadership, enhanced by his involvement in Toastmasters.

• [0:00] - Intro

  [00:27] - Introduction: Mickey welcomes listeners and introduces guest Vijay Tambwekar, setting the stage for a discussion on storytelling and customer experience.

• [02:17] - Vijay’s Toastmasters Journey: Vijay explains his initial needs for improving writing and leadership communication, leading him to join the Storytellers Toastmasters Club.

• [06:00] - Applying Customer Experience Model: Vijay discusses how his model, inspired by Maslow’s hierarchy, helped identify his storytelling needs and how Toastmasters addressed them.

• [09:58] - Levels of Needs in Storytelling: Vijay outlines how his needs for content, language, and effective delivery were met through Toastmasters’ practical feedback.

• [13:27] - Practical Learning in Toastmasters: Vijay describes how table topics and speeches provided experimentation opportunities, refining his storytelling skills.

• [18:13] - Storytelling in Leadership: Vijay emphasizes the importance of storytelling for leaders to inspire teams and ensure memorable communication.

• [20:43] - Future of Storytelling: Vijay shares plans to continue using storytelling in daily interactions and potentially for future writing projects.

• [26:18] - Call to Action: Vijay advises listeners to assess their own needs using his model and seek resources like Toastmasters to achieve personal growth.

• Vijay Tambwekar’s book: Customer Experience Decoded: A Guide to Design, Measure, and Improve Customer Experience, available on Amazon.

• Vijay’s blog: Personal and Professional Excellence.

• Podcast Platforms:

  • Spotify

  • Apple Podcasts

• Subscribe: Follow D50 After Dark on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other platforms to stay updated.

• Host: Mickey Bennett

• Guest: Vijay Tambwekar

Finding Their Voice: Success Stories from District 50's Youth Leadership Programs

Highlights

0:00  Jen discusses parents' appreciation of their children's progress in gavel club.

1:42  Suhani shares her experience learning key speaking skills: impromptu speeches, vocal variety, and hand gestures.

6:09  Jason explains how his initial skepticism about Toastmasters changed, helping him overcome nervousness.

9:06  Jen describes how parents witness their children's transformation in confidence and skills.

11:42  Discussion of how some gavel clubs mix children of different ages, with older students serving as role models.

14:52  Nikki mentions how adult Toastmasters can fulfill DTM requirements by leading youth programs.

16:32  Jen shares how her daughter benefited from the youth leadership program, becoming a confident speaker.

Summary

This episode of D50 After Dark focuses on success stories from District 50 Toastmasters' youth leadership programs. The guests discuss testimonials from participants Suhani and Jason, who developed confidence and speaking skills through the programs. 

Suhani transformed from a nervous speaker to one who masterfully demonstrates techniques like vocal variety and hand gestures. Nikki reveals that Jason was the oldest in his class and initially unhappy about attending, but she encouraged him to stay, emphasizing the importance for "a young Black man to present himself well." With his mother's support, Jason stuck with it and flourished.

The conversation turns to parental involvement, with Jen explaining, "The parents are in the back of the room, usually. I let them stay if they're well behaved." They often report amazement at the transformation in their children's confidence, organization, and ability to provide constructive feedback. Nikki adds that parents themselves learn presentation skills by watching the children.

Parents play a crucial role by facilitating attendance and witnessing their children's growth. They often report amazement at the transformation in their children's confidence, organization, and ability to provide constructive feedback. Jen's club uniquely includes children from second grade through high school, creating valuable cross-age learning experiences.

Adult Toastmasters also benefit professionally from these programs, as leading them helps fulfill Distinguished Toastmaster requirements. Jen shares her personal experience organizing a program for her daughter's class in 1993, which later enabled her daughter to confidently present to corporate executives.

The program offers exceptional value compared to other public speaking training, with the youth leadership program being completely free. Through these initiatives, Toastmasters creates pathways for youth to develop essential communication and leadership skills that serve them throughout their lives.

Starting a Gavel Club: Bringing Toastmasters to Young People

Highlights

0:14  Mickey introduces D50 After Dark, focusing on starting a Gavel Club for young people interested in Toastmasters.

2:32  Jen explains that starting a Gavel Club has fewer requirements than starting a Toastmaster Club.

3:45  Clubs pay a $125 registration fee plus $125 annual fee. 

7:00  Pathways is not accessible to Gavel Club members; they use digital versions of older Toastmaster manuals.

9:42  Hitesh notes that Gavel Clubs face similar challenges to regular Toastmasters Clubs.

10:53  Nikki identifies finding free meeting space as a major challenge for youth leadership programs.

14:12  Jen recommends starting with the youth leadership program as a short introduction before connecting with a Gavel Club for continued development.

Summary

This D50 After Dark episode, hosted by Mickey Bennett, features guests Jen Hoch and Nikki Jones, with input from Hitesh Bhalala, about starting and running Gavel Clubs for youth. The conversation is warm and informative tone with plenty of back-and-forth exchanges.

Jen, who has 15 years of experience with Gavel Clubs, explains they're easier to establish than adult Toastmasters Clubs. Requirements include having members under 18, endorsement from a host location (often a local Toastmasters club) and following Toastmasters International procedures. It is recommended to have at least seven members to start. The club pays a one-time $125 registration fee plus an annual $125 fee for affiliation.

Gavel Club members use digital versions of the Competent Communicator, Competent Leader, and advanced manuals. Jen appreciates these resources, noting that the ten speeches in the Competent Communicator manual progressively build skills from icebreakers to more complex presentations. The Competent Leadership manual helps members understand meeting roles  and the corresponding leadership skills.

Hitesh mentions that Gavel Clubs face similar challenges to regular Toastmasters Clubs, particularly managing summer breaks when students may be unavailable. Nikki adds that finding suitable free meeting spaces is a significant hurdle for youth leadership programs, though they have successfully partnered with libraries and community centers. Jen's club meets in a city community center with discounted rental fees due to their nonprofit status.

Both Jen and Nikki enthusiastically confirm the programs are "100%" worth the effort, with Nikki highlighting parents' amazement at the dramatic changes they see in just four weeks. Jen shares success stories of students who started in second grade and continued until joining high school debate teams.

For those interested, the hosts recommend reaching out via email to [email protected], where Nikki personally responds and connects interested parties with nearby clubs. Jen suggests starting with the youth leadership program as an introduction before moving to a Gavel Club and recommends having young people visit Toastmaster meetings or contests to see the process firsthand.

The episode ends with Mickey promoting the next installment, which will feature stories about the experiences of kids in these programs.

Youth Leadership Summit: A Celebration of Success

Highlights

(0:43) “And in today's episode...we’re going to be talking about the Youth Leadership Summit.”

(1:17) Youth Leadership Summit is a celebration of successes, workshops, and a speech competition.

(3:04) Educational workshops, like public speaking for social media

(4:10) When registering for Summit, they can choose if they want to participate in the International speech contest.

(6:45) This is for anybody, so the first invitations went out to past participants and gavel clubs. 

(8:02) The fee is $20, which includes workshops, lunch and access to mentors.

(11:27 Kids are like sponges, picking up ideas and techniques from competitors.

Summary

The transcript captures a lively discussion about the upcoming Youth Leadership Summit on the D50 After Dark podcast, hosted by Mickey Bennett. He’s joined by Nikki Jones, the program coordinator, and Jen Hoch, who has attended previous summits, with a video message from Hitesh Bhalala, District 50 Youth Leadership Chair.

The summit is described as a “celebration of successes” that will take place on Saturday, April 26th at the Scottish Rite in Frisco, running from 9:30 AM after registration. For just $20, participants receive a full day of workshops, lunch, and mentorship. The event features educational sessions like “public speaking for social media,” “Hook, Line, and Sinker” to grasp audience attention, and practical skills like interview preparation with HR managers from various companies. Parents are encouraged to stay and will have their own dedicated sessions.

A highlight of the summit is the Inspirational Speech Contest, where participants can deliver a 3- to 5-minute speech on any topic, with prizes for the top performers. As Jen excitedly explains, “They love getting a medallion or a trophy or recognition as being one of the better or best speakers for the contest.” The competitive environment also provides valuable learning opportunities as participants watch each other and “pick up things that they like and will take them back and incorporate them in their next speech.”

Registration opened first for past youth leadership program participants and gavel club members, but it will be available to the public as well. The team expects spots to fill quickly, as their previous event “filled up in less than a minute.” The summit is open to anyone aged 10-18, not just those who have participated in previous programs.

The conversation is punctuated with enthusiasm, with Nikki sharing her excitement about keynote speaker Denise Castille: “I totally fangirled because I think she’s such a dynamic speaker. She’s amazing.” Mickey connects by sharing his own childhood memory of a Nintendo World Championship, suggesting the summit will create similarly lasting memories for participants.

District 50 Toastmasters’ webpage about youth programs is https://d50tm.org/pq/youth-leadership/

Building Tomorrow's Leaders: D50’s Youth Leadership and Gavel Clubs

0:00 - Highlights

(0:34) In this timely episode, Mickey interviews District 50 leaders in the youth programs.

(1:21) Mickey introduces Hitesh Balala as the youth leadership chair.

(3:05) Hitesh explains gavel clubs are like Toastmasters clubs but for youth, ages 10-18.

(6:40) Jen shares her experience starting youth programs in 1993.

(9:06) Nikki describes the youth leadership program as a four-week mentoring course.

(12:56) Nikki explains that the youth leadership program serves as a gateway to Gavel clubs.

(15:01) Nikki highlights the main benefits: increased confidence and positive self-talk skills.

Summary

This conversation captures the vitality of youth leadership programs and gavel clubs in District 50 Toastmasters. Host Mickey Bennett interviews Jen Hoch and Nikki Jones in studio, along with pre-recorded insights from Youth Leadership Chair Hitesh Balala. The discussion reveals how these programs help children ages 10-18 develop crucial communication and leadership skills through structured, engaging sessions.

Jen shares her 15-year journey running a thriving gavel club in Plano with about 17 members who meet twice monthly. Nikki details the transformative four-week youth leadership program that teaches everything from speech construction to stage presence. What comes through strongly is the remarkable transformation these volunteers witness—from shy kids speaking in “little voices” on day one to confident speakers using the full stage with proper gestures by the end of the program.

The conversation highlights how the programs build confidence for school presentations and debates while teaching valuable life skills like positive self-talk. As Hitesh notes, since 2015 he’s helped start several gavel clubs and witnessed “tremendous transformation in students’ public speaking as well as leadership skills.” The collective enthusiasm of host Mickey and his guests shows with frequent affirming phrases and shared stories, as they discuss impacting hundreds of young people in the community.

District 50 Toastmasters’ webpage about youth programs is https://d50tm.org/pq/youth-leadership/

Highlights

 0:00 -

(3:31) Origins of the book from IoT implementation observations

(8:02) Introduction of “customer experience on the go” measurement concept

(12:35) Definition of customer experience as satisfaction of needs

(16:47) Application of Maslow’s hierarchy to retail

(18:31) Discussion of customer segmentation

(21:41) Exploration of belongingness in customer loyalty

(26:04) Extension of the model to personal relationships

Summary

D50 After Dark celebrates its 50th episode as hostMickey Bennett interviews Vijay Tambwekar about his book Customer Experience Decoded. The conversation reveals how Vijay's IT background led him to develop a comprehensive model for understanding customer experience afternoticing inconsistent results in IoT implementations across similar companies.

His innovative approach moves beyond traditional survey methods like Net Promoter Score, introducing a “customer experience on the go” system that tracks real-time customer reactions during interactions.

What makes Vijay’s model particularly fascinating is itsfoundation in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which he creatively adapts to business contexts. Using a grocery store as an extended example, he illustrates how customer needs evolve from basic availability to higher-level satisfaction,demonstrating how different customer segments— like younger versus older shoppers— require tailored approaches to meet their specific needs.

The conversation takes an intriguing turn when Vijay explains how his model extends beyond business to personal relationships. Using the evolution of mother-daughter dynamics as an example, he shows how understandingchanging needs over time is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships. This versatility of application makes his framework particularly valuable for both professional and personal growth.

Mickey’s genuine interest in the self-improvement aspects adds depth to the discussion, especially when exploring concepts like belongingness and loyalty through examples like Costco membership and Nike’s Jordan brand.

The interview concludes with information about accessing Vijay's book on Amazon and his blog “Personal and Professional Excellence,” while teasing about another podcast episode that discusses leadership storytelling.

Vijay Tambwekar’s book is available on Amazon:

Customer Experience Decoded : A guide to design, measure and improve customer experience by Vijay Tambwekar

Vijay blog  is located on Blogspot and is called Personal and Professional Excellence.

Highlights

0:00 -  Intro:

(0:38) Mickey Bennett welcomes Bonnie Dubin, District 50’s Quality Contest Chair, for a discussion on leadership

(1:39) Bonnie emphasizes the connection between leadership and team dynamics

(2:47) Bonnie distinguishes between motivation (temporary) and inspiration (lasting change)

(4:22) Leadership in healthcare involves seeing your team ascustomers, with patients as the end customers  

(10:13) Bonnie explains the team progression: “form, storm, norm, and perform”

(11:42) Discussion of employee retention and how team dynamics reset when membership changes

(13:42) Introduction of the final “adjourning” stage when teamcomposition significantly changes

Summary

In this episode of D50 After Dark, host Mickey Bennett and Bonnie Dubbin dive deep into modern leadership principles, particularly within Toastmasters and healthcare settings. The conversation takes an interesting turn when Bonnie challenges the conventional focus on motivation, instead advocating for inspiration as a more effective leadership tool. She explainsthat while motivation might create momentary enthusiasm, inspiration leads to lasting self-motivated change.

Bonnie brings fresh perspective by framing leadership through a customer service lens, particularly drawing from her healthcare experience. She suggests that leaders should view their team members as their primary customers, enabling better relationship-building and communication. Thisapproach involves asking questions and facilitating buy-in rather than simply giving directives.

The discussion becomes particularly engaging when Bonnie breaks down team dynamics into distinct stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing. She emphasizes how teams must navigate through communication challenges in the “storming” phase to reach effectiveness, noting that manyorganizations have struggled to move past this stage since COVID.

When a team changes its composition by losing a member or members, it enters another stage called “adjourning” when the dynamic of the team repeats itself through the initial four stages. The conversation takes on practical relevance when Mickey points out how these principles apply toToastmasters’ biannual officer transitions.

Throughout the interview, Bonnie weaves in real-world examples from her healthcare leadership experience at Willis-Knighton, where her team handles three distinct functions across a large health system. The conversation concludes with practical advice for Toastmasters clubs, encouraging new board members to study team development stages for smoother transitions. The natural back-and-forth between Mickey and Bonnie, peppered with personal insights andpractical examples, makes complex leadership concepts accessible and applicable.

Highlights

(1:44) A Toastmasters speech evaluation leads to an unexpected book opportunity

(3:27) Discovers and joins a publisher's writing challenge

(5:17) Book published in February 2021, inspired by fellow

(8:38) Reveals the story behind her book's powerful title

(12:18) Uses Toastmasters speech structure for book organization

(13:48) Announces plans for a children's heart health book

(15:00) Encourages all Toastmasters to write books

Summary

In this engaging D50 After Dark episode, Mickey Bennett continues his conversation with Denise Castile, Program Quality Director, focusing on her journey from speaker to author. After giving a Toastmasters speech about her

Denise discusses the emotional five-month writing process,

Looking ahead, she plans to write an illustrated children's book