Ever been tempted to “wing it” when speaking? Think again. While improvisation can seem natural and authentic, it’s also a risky move that can leave you stumbling, rambling, or losing your audience entirely.

In this episode, Colin explores three major reasons why speaking off-the-cuff can derail your talk—and what to do instead to feel prepared and confident. You’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls, connect with your audience, and deliver a presentation that truly leaves an impact.

Whether you’re preparing for a keynote, a pitch, or a team meeting, this episode is packed with practical advice to take your speaking skills to the next level.

Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Want to learn how to grow your business and make an impact through public speaking? Go to ⁠⁠⁠https://www.speaknextweek.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to download our free guide or to get recommendations from Colin on how you can become a memorable and influential public speaker.

In this episode, I tackle a question from a listener: How can I share serious stories while keeping my presentation positive and NOT losing the audience? So I tested out an answer: drawing from my personal experiences crafting a powerful story about navigating the American healthcare system around my own health challenges (see what I mean? SERIOUS!), I share three key strategies to create emotional balance in your talks and keep it light, engaging, and inspiring no matter the content area you are sharing:

Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this episode will help you transform serious stories into impactful presentations that leave your audience feeling inspired—not overwhelmed.

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at ⁠⁠⁠speaknextweek.com⁠⁠⁠ or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

In this episode of "Memorable Public Speaking and Storytelling," Colin shares a personal experience from a recent storytelling event where everything seemed to go wrong—yet the crowd loved it. Drawing lessons from that night, Colin reveals two powerful tips for any speaker: 1) Pay close attention to your environment—it can fuel your connection with the audience. 2) Embrace imperfection—allow yourself to make mistakes. Through a hilarious story about running with the bulls (or not), Colin shows how authenticity, even in moments of stress, can make you more relatable and memorable. Tune in to hear how to turn fear and failure into connection and engagement in your public speaking.

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at ⁠⁠speaknextweek.com⁠⁠ or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

In this episode we dive into the art of using humor effectively in your presentations. Humor can turn a dry, forgettable talk into something memorable and engaging, but it’s a tool that requires balance. Colin walks you through why humor is such a powerful connection tool, how to craft jokes and funny stories, and—most importantly—how to avoid offending your audience. We’ll cover practical tips on testing humor, steering clear of disrespectful jokes, and even a bonus tip on getting audience feedback. Tune in to learn how to make your audience laugh for all the right reasons!

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at ⁠speaknextweek.com⁠ or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

🎤 **Feeling Nervous About Networking? You're Not Alone!**

At its core, networking is about making that first connection and seeing if there's a vibe, mutual interest, or curiosity. But what if you don't feel confident? What if you're in your head about it? 🤔

Here's a truth: everyone feels awkward sometimes. I've been the confident networker and the one wanting to go home.

Recently I found a way to go from nervous-wallflower to networker-extraordinaire. Here's a story about an initial moment of honesty that led to a meaningful connection.

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#Networking #PublicSpeaking #Authenticity #CareerGrowth

You will never more of your audience's attention than you do in the first 30 seconds. There are all kinds of fun and creative things you can do to hook them immediately, keep them engaged, and get them to say Yes.

A true story to remind you that we’re all pretending!

Key Ideas:

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Do you have a speaking opportunity coming up? Would you like to feel amazing after your next talk? Download our free guide at speaknextweek.com or speak to Colin personally to get a free recommendation on what you can do next to become a stronger public speaker.

Did you know that MOST people are used to NEVER being listened to. There's a reason for this: most of us never took a class or training on HOW to listen well. Well I took a 2-day listening training, and I'll sum it up for you in a few minutes (saving you a lot of time, you're welcome!)As you become a better listener, your world and your career opens up in a really remarkable ways, you learn a lot more, and you make other people feel amazing so then they listen better too!

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Want to feel amazing after your next talk? Check out free resources at ⁠https://speaknextweek.com⁠ or get a free recommendation from me on becoming a stronger public speaker. In less time than you think, you can transform public speaking from something you dread into something you love! 🎙️

For me, doing stand-up comedy 10 years was a great tool to be a better communicator. And it also taught me a trick that's great for you to help boost your confidence.

I call it "open mic-ing." Whether the thing that's intimidating you is public speaking, speaking up in meetings, raising your profile, or recording yourself on video to send with emails, this trick will help you get more comfortable FAST!

This will help you say yes to more speaking opportunities, even when it feels scary. And speed up your progress using a trick I call "open mic-ing" as a way to practice and improve.

⁠I still use this trick to get confident at new things (like posting videos on social media), because I still struggle with perfectionism and self-doubt, and I always will. So you're not alone! And why should that stop you from reaching your goals and amplifying your voice? It shouldn't!

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Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a deep struggle with depression and suicidal tendencies throughout his life? I did not. I want to share this with you, including an amazing clip from his final speech, and share what I've learned about how our mental health challenges make us better leaders and public speakers!

From the episode: "As a leader, in your life there are people who you lead, people who you serve, people who you love; those people need all parts of you. Not just your confidence but your vulnerability too.

They need you to manage your own mental health so you can show up for them. And you need that too. And more importantly, you deserve that!"

Article Link: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Depression and Empathy That Contributed to His Humanity

MLK's final Speech: "I Have Been the Mountaintop" 3-minute video clip