April 01, 2025

Pivots, Perseverance, and the Magic of Stories in Public Speaking

38 minutes

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Dr. Danny Brassell, a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, coach, and author. Danny has spoken to over 3500 audiences worldwide and authored 19 books. He talks to Sara about his latest book, “Leadership Begins with Motivation” and the life journey which has brought him to his current position. Danny believes in education and his mission is to infuse joy back into education in the workplace.

Danny shares a summary of his career path going back 30 years where he started as a journalist before becoming a teacher, then a professor. He credits becoming a Christian and beginning a public speaking business on the side to avoid bankruptcy for propelling him to his present success. Danny explains how strategy and storytelling form the backbone of the company, The Well-Crafted Story Workshop, which he co-founded with Coach Jimmy Hays Nelson.

Sara and Danny dive into why a well-told story is the foundation of a great speech, what shaped a client’s journey from complete inexperience to a daily audience of 6000 people, and how to find the heart of the story being told. Danny tells three powerful stories from his book, “Leadership Begins with Motivation” and emphasizes the impact the right tale can have upon an audience. Danny praises the greatness of reading, touching on the reading engagement program he runs, and stresses that adults need to be modelling good reading for children. The episode is engaging and upbeat, driven by the positivity and motivation of Danny Brassell.

About Danny Brassell:

For nearly three decades, Dr. Danny Brassell has served as an educational advisor to students ranging from preschoolers to rocket scientists. While he has held a variety of titles and worked with leaders from a variety of fields and disciplines, Danny has always considered himself first and foremost a teacher.

A recognized authority on leadership development, motivation and communication skills, Danny has been honored consistently for his strategic intellect and practical solutions. Audiences rave about Danny’s ability to deliver meaningful and memorable messages that are applicable for individuals within all levels of organizations. A gregarious, sought-after author, speaker and business consultant, Danny is characterized by friends, colleagues and clients as one of the most insightful, powerful and compassionate individuals in business today. Thousands, from small business owners to corporate executives, have enjoyed his energetic, interactive and informative presentations.

Resources mentioned in this episode: