In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Kay Korsh.

For over 20 years, Style Strategist Kay Korsh has been behind the scenes – dressing celebrities, consulting for luxury brands, and helping professional speakers dress in a way that aligns with their message. And that leads to more bookings, higher fees, and a whole lot more confidence on stage. 

In this episode we talked about how your style shapes your presence – from common mistakes and myths to practical tips that help you look more like YOU on stage and on camera.

What You'll Learn:

- How to dress in a way that supports your message

- What to avoid when preparing your look for a talk or video

- Why looking like yourself helps you connect with your audience

- How style influences the way people see and remember you

- A small change that can improve how you show up immediately

In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction

08:49 - Align Your Look With the Venue

15:28 - Stop Dressing Like the Audience

41:36 - How to Instantly Improve Your Look

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Kay Korsh: 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kay-korsh/ 

- Website: https://www.mindoverfashion.com/ 

- Colour Quiz for Speakers: https://kkorsh.outgrow.us/speakers-colourtest

- How to Work with a Photographer: https://outfit.mindoverfashion.com/get-the-best-results-from-brand-photoshoot 

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

- Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

- The Confident Presenter Scorecard: ideasonstage.com/score  

- Free Web Class: ideasonstage.com/uk/events/   

- Free Mini-Course: bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course  

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Amanda Baker. 

Amanda Baker is a story strategist and coach who knows the future belongs to those brave enough to share their stories. Creator of the 5 Stories method, she shows creators and founders how to make a difference in the world and stay true to themselves through the stories only they can tell. 

In this episode we talked about how to tell your story and why it matters.

What You'll Learn:

- Why your personal story matters

- Common mistakes when telling your story

- The 5 Stories framework to guide your message

- Shaping stories that connect with your audience

- Applying your stories across pitches, talks and websites

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Amanda Baker: 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandatells5stories/

- Website: https://www.5stories.com/ 

Recommended books: 

- How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price

- Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport 

- The Artist's Way by Julian Cameron 

- Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr 

- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 

- Connect by Carole Robin Ph.D. 

- The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer

Mentions: 

- Iris Murdoch: 'Unselfing' 

- Polaroid’s campaign: Real stories. Not stories & reels

- Elizabeth Gilbert

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

- Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

- The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score  

- Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/events/ 

- Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course  

#IdeasOnStagePodcast #Storytelling #LeadershipCommunication #PersonalBranding

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Graham Allcott.

Graham Allcott is an author, speaker and entrepreneur.

He is the author of multiple books, including the global bestseller How to Be a Productivity Ninja, How to Have the Energy, and How to Fix Meetings. His latest book, KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work, focuses on why organisations with kinder, more human-centred cultures are more successful.         

In this episode we talked about the power of kindness at work – from personal stories and Italian coffee traditions to leadership myths, culture change, and how silence can speak volumes.

What You'll Learn:

- Why kindness leads to better performance and stronger teams

- The difference between being kind and being nice

- How to lead with empathy without losing focus or urgency

- Practical ways to build a culture of kindness at work

- One small step you can take to lead more kindly today

In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction

11:16 - Caffé Sospeso in Naples  

17:16 - The Business Case for Being Kind  

25:15 - Kind vs Nice 

31:26 - What to Do When Your Boss is Toxic

38:44 - Timpson 

48:42 - People First. Work Second.  

01:03:03 - How to Make People Feel Heard

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Graham Allcott: 

- KIND: The quiet power of kindness at work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KIND-quiet-power-kindness-work/dp/1399417401 

- KIND Free Resources: https://www.grahamallcott.com/kindful 

- Graham's mailing list: https://www.grahamallcott.com/ 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamallcott/ 

- Instagram: @grahamallcott 

- Other resources: https://www.grahamallcott.com/links 

Recommended books: 

- Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman

- Humankind by Rutger Bregman 

- Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

- Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

- The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score  

- Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/events/ 

- Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course 

#IdeasOnStagePodcast #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #KindnessAtWork #PeopleFirst

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Mary Mackenzie. 

Mary Mackenzie is an author, trained mediator, and CNVC Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication. She holds a master's degree in human relations from Northern Arizona University and is the CEO of the NVC Academy, the only online school for learning Nonviolent Communication.

Mary teaches Nonviolent Communication to individuals, couples, families and organisations through a wide variety of workshops and retreats. Her book Peaceful Living: Daily Meditations for Living with Love, Healing and Compassion offers inspiring practical methods for creating peace in our everyday lives.

In this episode we talked about using Nonviolent Communication to better understand needs, give feedback with care, build strong relationships and lead with empathy.

What You'll Learn:

- How to hear the real needs behind what people say

- How to give feedback without causing defensiveness

- How to build strong relationships to get better results

- How to lead difficult conversations with care and clarity

- How to align your actions with your core values

In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction

06:29 - Everything People Say Expresses a Need

08:48 - You’re Not the Cause of Their Pain

10:47 - Evaluations vs Observations 

16:21 - Feedback Without Tension

19:42 - Tasks vs Relationships 

24:12 - Leading Critical Dialogues With Care

27:38 - How to Empathise Without Agreeing

30:35 - The Moment Someone Feels Truly Heard

34:19 - Misconceptions about NVC 

44:42 - The Why behind NVC 

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Mary Mackenzie:

https://www.nvcacademy.com/ 

https://marymackenzie.net/ 

[email protected] 

Book: Peaceful Living by Mary Mackenzie

Recommended books: 

Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg

Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids by Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson 

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score  

Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/events  

Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Beth Sherman. 

In today’s fast-moving business world, attention is short, trust is fragile, and most presentations fall flat. Comedian and Emmy Award-winning comedy writer Beth Sherman teaches professionals how to use humour – not simply for laughs, but for connection, persuasion, and impact.

In this episode we talked about using humour to connect, engage and communicate with confidence.

What You'll Learn:

- Use humour as a tool to connect and communicate clearly

- Find the funny in truth, detail and self-awareness

- Know when humour helps – and when it doesn’t

- Avoid common humour mistakes in professional settings

- Start using humour, even if you don’t think you’re funny

In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction

15:55 - Specificity 

19:59 - Lighten Heavy Messages with Humour

40:51 - The Power of Surprise 

43:06 - Stop trying to be funny 

52:20 - The Right Way to Time Your Slides

54:15 - Smile 

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Beth Sherman:

- Website: https://www.bethsherman.com/one-to-one-services 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-sherman/ 

- Newsletter: https://www.bethsherman.com/newsletter-sign-up 

Recommended comedians: 

- Jim Gaffigan (hilarious and clean)

- Mike Birbiglia (funny and story-based)

- Wanda Sykes (on the spicier side)

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

- Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

- The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score  

- Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/events/  

- Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course  

#IdeasOnStagePodcast #HumourInBusiness #BusinessCommunication #PublicSpeaking #StorytellingTips

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Mark Denton. 

Mark Denton is an award-winning keynote speaker and expert in leadership, teamwork and resilience. In 2024, he was named Booker’s Choice at the Speaker Awards, a recognition of his ability to deliver high-impact talks that event organisers love to book.

In this episode, Mark shares what makes a speaker irresistible – not just on stage, but in the eyes of those hiring them. We talked about how he turns his talks into a powerful marketing engine, a smart technique he uses to collect glowing testimonials, and what speakers can do to get booked more often and increase their value.

If you want to elevate your speaking career and make it easier for organisers to say “yes” to you, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

What You'll Learn:

- What makes a speaker irresistible to event organisers and speaker bureaus

- How to turn your on-stage performance into your best marketing tool

- A clever way to collect testimonials that boosts your credibility and bookings

- Why being easy to understand, book and sell matters as much as your talk

- How to increase your value as a speaker and get hired more often

In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction

07:43 - What Speaker Bureaus Look for 

11:55 - What Event Organisers Look for

13:13 - The #1 Booking Mistake

16:13 - Being Easy to Work With

18:40 - The Right Way to Set Your Speaking Fee

21:12 - Why Shorter Talks Shouldn’t Cost Less

33:24 - How to Keep Your Pitch Fresh Every Time

39:05 - Turn Your Audience Into Raving Reviewers

44:53 - Audience participation 

50:10 - Know your lane 

52:06 - Pivoting 

56:04 - What It Really Means to Be a Professional Speaker

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Mark Denton: 

- Website: https://www.markdenton.co.uk/ 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdentonspeaker/ 

- Email: [email protected] 

Mentions: 

- Customer reviews tool: https://www.reviews.io/ 

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

- Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

- The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score  

- Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/masterclass  

- Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course

#IdeasOnStagePodcast #PublicSpeaking #ProfessionalSpeaking #SpeakerTips #SpeakingBusiness

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Patricia Ryan Madson. 

Patricia Ryan Madson is a world authority on improvising in everyday life. She is the author of IMPROV WISDOM: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up. Her book has been translated into nine languages. 

Patricia is a professor Emerita from Stanford University where she taught since 1977. In their Drama Department she served as the head of the undergraduate acting program and developed the improvisation program. In 1998 she was the winner of the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Outstanding Innovation in Undergraduate Education at Stanford. 

She is a frequent speaker for business and educational groups. Her corporate clients have included: IDEO, Google, Gap Inc.’s Executive Leadership Team, The Lucille and David Packard Foundation, the Banff Centre for Leadership, Sun Microsystems Japan Division, Apple Computers, Adobe Systems, and Price Waterhouse. 

In this episode, we talked about how the principles of improvisation can help you become a more engaging presenter, and communicate with greater authenticity and impact.

What You'll Learn:

- How to balance preparation with being fully present

- How improvisation can make you a better speaker – even if you fear public speaking

- Why performance anxiety is really about self-focus – and how shifting your attention can help

- How to handle mistakes during a presentation 

- A simple way to start using improv today to improve your communication skills instantly

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Patricia Ryan Madson:

Book: Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up 

Website: www.improvwisdom.com  

Blog: www.improvwisdom.blogspot.com  

Email: [email protected] 

Recommended books: 

Constructive Living by David K. Reynolds

Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score   

Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/masterclass   

Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course   

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Terry Szuplat. 

Terry Szuplat is a sought-after speaker and trainer and the author of the national bestseller Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience in which he shares the public speaking lessons he learned as one of President Barack Obama's longest-serving White House speechwriters. 

From 2009 to 2017, Terry served as a special assistant to the president and as a member of the National Security Council staff, and from 2013 to 2017 he was the deputy director of the White House Speechwriting Office. 

Today, Terry runs his own speechwriting firm, Global Voices Communications, and he teaches speechwriting at his alma mater, American University's School of Public Affairs. He lives outside Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children. 

In this episode, we talked about the lessons Terry Szuplat learned as Obama’s speechwriter. 

What You'll Learn:

- Obama’s approach to speaking 

- How to make your message stick 

- How to balance facts with storytelling

- How to engage your audience from the start

- How to leave your audience with hope and a clear takeaway

In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction

10:23 - The 50-25-25 Rule 

13:26 - Body Language

16:39 - 10 Words

19:43 - On Writing Your Speech 

23:26 - Say Hello 

26:21 - Tell the story of a single person 

31:06 - Why Data Doesn’t Change Minds

35:15 - Jargon Is Killing Your Message

38:31 - Cut 15% 

42:21 - Your ‘Why’

48:53 - The Only Way to Judge a Speech

50:36 - End with Hope 

56:39 - Tell the truth 

01:02:43 - Public Speaking Is a Learnable Skill

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Terry Szuplat: 

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-szuplat-456914137/ 

- Website: https://globalvoicescommunications.com/ 

Mentions: 

- Book: On Speaking Well by Peggy Noonan 

- Greetings from the President: Hola, Alo, Namaste! 

https://youtu.be/z6q5nWJkxz0?si=0IP-m0xzmTFcTbwQ

- Patagonia – Don’t Buy This Jacket: https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/stories/dont-buy-this-jacket-black-friday-and-the-new-york-times/story-18615.html

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

- Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ – free copy (https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-free) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

- The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score  

- Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/events/   

- Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course  

#IdeasOnStagePodcast #PublicSpeaking #Speechwriting #Obama

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Dr. Jill Stoddard.

Dr. Stoddard is passionate about sharing her expertise in psychology to help people flourish in their work and health. She is an international and TEDx speaker, award-winning former professor, three-time book author, licensed psychologist, coach, and co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast.

Her books have been translated into twelve languages and include: The Big Book of ACT Metaphors; Be Mighty; and Imposter No More. 

Her thoughts have also appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, Psychology Today, The Boston Globe, and more. She regularly appears on podcasts and as an expert source for various media outlets. She lives in Newburyport, MA with her husband, two kids, and disobedient French Bulldog.  

In this episode we talked about the imposter phenomenon. 

What You'll Learn:

- Why “imposter syndrome” is the wrong term – and what to call it instead

- Why success often increases self-doubt instead of erasing it

- How great leaders create a culture of vulnerability and self-compassion

- The power of holding outcomes lightly to reduce stress and fear

- Practical strategies to manage imposter feelings and take action anyway

In This Episode:

02:34 - Why ‘Imposter Syndrome’ Is Misleading

14:29 - Why High Achievers Feel Like Frauds

22:57 - Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable 

28:19 - Nerves Mean You Care

32:47 - Holding outcomes lightly

41:12 - Great Leaders Model Self-Compassion

We hope you enjoy it! 

———————

Jill Stoddard:

- Website: https://jillstoddard.com/

- Speaking: https://www.thewellbeingspeakers.com/ 

- TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_stoddard_how_to_succeed_in_every_moment_even_when_you_re_failing 

- The 5 types of imposter: https://jillstoddard.com/quizzes 

Recommended book: Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve by Alison Fragale

———————

IDEAS ON STAGE RESOURCES 

- Books: ‘Confident Presenter’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/resources/confident-presenter-book/) and ‘Business Presentation Revolution’ (https://www.ideasonstage.com/business-presentation-revolution/book/)

- The Confident Presenter Scorecard: https://ideasonstage.com/score  

- Free Web Class: https://www.ideasonstage.com/uk/masterclass  

- Free Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/confident-presenter-mini-course  

#IdeasOnStagePodcast #ImposterSyndrome #Leadership #PersonalGrowth