Emotional intelligence gets talked about constantly in leadership and communication circles, but most people couldn't give you a clear definition of what it actually means -- let alone explain how to develop it deliberately.

Dr Stevie Dawn Carter can. She's a professional speaker, four-time business owner, and holds a doctorate in leadership from Colorado State University. With over 20 years of teaching and training experience, she has spent her career helping people become more visible, more connected, and more effective communicators.

In this conversation Stevie breaks down emotional intelligence in plain terms and explains exactly why it's the foundation of great communication -- for speakers, leaders, coaches, and anyone who needs to connect with an audience.

What you'll learn in this episode

What emotional intelligence actually means and why most definitions miss the point, how EQ directly impacts your ability to connect with and influence an audience, the difference between good and bad performance energy and how to control yours, why so many capable people feel invisible in professional settings and what to do about it, how to connect to your deeper why in a way that transforms how you show up, and why Stevie says you should be more like a shark.

About Dr Stevie Dawn Carter

Dr Stevie Dawn Carter is a professional speaker and coach based in Mansfield, Texas. Her background spans the private and public sector, and she brings real-world stories and practical frameworks to every engagement. She approaches every room with humour, energy, and a commitment to getting people moving toward their best work.

Her book Always Be The Shark is available via her website at drsteviedawn.com.

Books mentioned in this episode

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry, Atomic Habits by James Clear, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

If this episode resonated with you

The speakers who get booked consistently aren't always the most talented in the room. They're the ones who understand how to read people, adapt in the moment, and make every audience feel genuinely seen. If you want to find out what's actually blocking your growth as a speaker, take the free Speaker Growth Diagnostic at strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com

Related episodes: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Simon Lancaster

Visit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

There are few skills that will make you as compelling and charismatic as the ability to tell great stories. Not just anecdotes -- but stories that land with precision, resonate emotionally, and stick long after the conversation ends.

Leon Conrad is a storytelling academic, researcher, and author of The Unknown Storyteller. He brings rare intellectual depth to a subject that most people treat superficially, and this conversation is as close to a masterclass in storytelling as you'll find in podcast form.

Whether you're a keynote speaker, trainer, coach, or leader, understanding how stories actually work -- structurally, psychologically, and culturally -- will transform how you communicate.

What you'll learn in this episode

How many types of story actually exist and why the answer matters, what makes a story like Cinderella work across every culture and era, why human beings are neurologically wired for narrative, the traditions of storytelling that professional speakers can draw on, how to become a more charismatic communicator through better storytelling, and practical steps to developing your storytelling craft regardless of your starting point.

About Leon Conrad

Leon Conrad is a storytelling researcher, academic, and author. His book The Unknown Storyteller explores the deeper structures that underpin all great narratives. Find out more and connect with Leon at leonconrad.com.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Simon Lancaster

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

What comes to your mind when you hear something like storytelling for business? Are you envisioning someone in professional attire reading bedtime fairy tales to C-suite executives dressed as babies being put down for their afternoon nap? Well... if you weren't, you probably are now. Of course, this is not what storytelling for business is about, as funny as that might be.

My guest on this episode is Sophie Wadsworth. Sophie is an executive coach who is teaching people the power and value of stories in their professional lives. Sophie shares how you can weave stories into your communication without being a professional storyteller. The power of this is it can help us to be more relatable, to drive change and to develop magnetic leadership.

In this episode:

• Why it's worth taking time to reflect
• How to find the stories you already have
• Knowing how much to reveal about yourself
• Why you should consider your challenges
• How to help an audience to go with you in a story
• How your stories make you more magnetic and charismatic

Sophie shares her book recommendation of Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo. Having read it myself, I think it is well worth checking out, even if you have no intention of ever taking to the stage with a TED talk. If you'd like to check it out too, here's the link: https://amzn.to/3vRriif

If you'd like to connect with Sophie, you can find her on LinkedIn and let her know that you heard her on Speaking Influence. linkedin.com/in/sophie-wadsworth-99368073

If you'd like to stay up to date with all that is going on with Speaking Influence and also read additional articles, get access to video content and invites to events for people looking to build professional authority and become powerfully persuasive communicators, you can subscribe to my Podfluencer Weekly newsletter on LinkedIn using this link https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/podfluencer-weekly-6882642444815519744/ and if you'd like to know my top 5 influence & persuasion books, you can get access to my FREE PDF here: https://bit.ly/3wbc3jh See you next time.

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show to your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using the link below.

Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

How many business owners are working hard, doing all the right things, and still not getting the traction they see others achieving? More than most would admit.

Chris Ducker has spent years helping entrepreneurs and experts cut through that frustration and build businesses around their personal brand and genuine authority. He's the author of Virtual Freedom and Rise of the YouPreneur, and one of the most respected voices on personal brand business in the world.

This conversation is essential listening if you're a speaker, coach, or expert who feels like you're spinning your wheels despite putting in the work.

What you'll learn in this episode

Chris's single biggest authority builder and why most people overlook it, why most entrepreneurs start in entirely the wrong place, how to level up your business without taking shortcuts that damage your reputation, why having something to sell is non-negotiable if you want to be taken seriously, why Chris started a podcast and what it did for his business, and the power of preparation as a foundation for everything else.

About Chris Ducker

Chris Ducker is an entrepreneur, author, and business mentor. His books Virtual Freedom and Rise of the YouPreneur are available from all major booksellers. Find out more about his coaching, incubator programme, and roundtable at chrisducker.com/coaching.

Books mentioned in this episode

See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar, Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk, and Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark Winters.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: How to Become a Masterful Storyteller with Leon Conrad

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

In podcasting, speaking, training, and edutainment, there's a group of people who just have something about them. A magnetism. A quality that makes them far more compelling to listen to than everyone else in the room.

That quality is charisma -- and it's far more learnable than most people think.

Daniel Tolson is a coach, speaker, podcaster, and personal development trainer who has failed in business more times than most people would even attempt. Despite that, he has persevered to build a successful coaching and training business and developed a clear framework for what separates the truly magnetic communicator from the merely competent one.

What you'll learn in this episode

What charisma actually consists of and why wit and charm alone aren't enough, the missing element most people overlook that makes all the difference, why getting in your own way is the most common barrier to genuine presence, the achievement mindset and how to develop it, how to come back from repeated failure without losing your drive, and what coaching at 40,000 feet taught Daniel about human behaviour.

About Daniel Tolson

Daniel Tolson is a coach, speaker, and trainer based in Taiwan. Find out more at danieltolson.com.

Books mentioned in this episode

Maximum Achievement by Brian Tracy, available on Amazon.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Simon Lancaster

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

Is hypnosis real? Is NLP a scam? And are there elements of influence and persuasion that simply cannot be taught?

Duncan Stevens has spent his career at the intersection of mentalism, psychology, and professional speaking -- and he has answers to all three questions that might surprise you.

Duncan is a professional mentalist, keynote speaker, and author of Effective Influence, one of the most practical books on influence and persuasion available. He's also the CEO and founder of the Influence Association in the UK, an organisation that helps businesses understand and apply the psychology of influence to stand out in their markets.

In this conversation Duncan pulls back the curtain on the secret world of the mentalist -- and explains what professional speakers can learn from it.

What you'll learn in this episode

What mentalism actually is and why it's fundamentally different from magic, whether hypnosis is real and how stage hypnosis actually works, the truth about NLP and whether it delivers what it promises, why humans are far more predictable than we like to think, whether manipulation is always unethical or whether context changes everything, the one tool of influence that cannot be taught, and what Duncan discovers when he attempts several influence techniques live in the conversation.

About Duncan Stevens

Duncan Stevens is a professional mentalist, keynote speaker, and the founder and CEO of the Influence Association in the UK. His book Effective Influence is available on Amazon, and for Kindle Unlimited subscribers it's included in the subscription at no extra cost.

Find out more at duncanstevens.com and influenceassociation.com.

If this episode resonated with you

Understanding how influence actually works -- psychologically, not theoretically -- is one of the most underrated skills a professional speaker can develop. If you want to find out what's blocking your growth as a speaker, take the free Speaker Growth Diagnostic at strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com

Related episodes: How to Connect With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Simon Lancaster

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

If you want to become a recognised voice in your industry, attract more speaking opportunities, and generate consistent leads, podcasting remains one of the most powerful tools available -- when it's done right.

Adam Adams is the host of The Podcast on Podcasting and the founder of Grow Your Show, where he and his team help professionals successfully launch podcasts and build real audiences. He knows what separates the shows that grow from the ones that quietly disappear after twelve episodes.

This conversation is essential listening for any speaker, coach, or expert who is either thinking about starting a podcast or wondering why their existing show isn't gaining traction.

What you'll learn in this episode

The right way to start a podcast and why most people get it badly wrong, why ready-fire-aim kills shows before they have a chance to find an audience, what a proper podcast launch plan actually looks like, how to get more listeners without sacrificing quality, whether you should start as a guest or a host, the single best call to action you can use on a podcast, and how podcasting can become a genuine lead generation engine for your business.

About Adam Adams

Adam Adams is the founder of Grow Your Show and host of The Podcast on Podcasting. Find out more and book a free discovery call at growyourshow.com.

Books mentioned in this episode

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, and Beyond Religion by the Dalai Lama.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

Mark Asquith is one of the founders of Captivate FM and one of the most recognised voices in UK podcasting -- regularly invited to speak around the world on the subject. As co-founder of Rebel Base Media and host of the Podcast Accelerator, he has helped thousands of professionals build shows that actually work for their business.

This conversation covers the real questions professional speakers, coaches, and experts should be asking before they start -- or continue -- a podcast.

What you'll learn in this episode

Whether podcasting should be part of your professional ecosystem and in what form, why better content consistently beats more content, why you should stop taking advice about marketing from podcasters, whether motivation is actually the answer to consistency, why SEO matters more than most podcasters think, what Apple has actually said about ratings and reviews and what it means for your show, whether outsourcing your own show is a good idea, and whether a full-time career in professional podcasting is realistic.

About Mark Asquith

Mark Asquith is co-founder of Captivate FM and Rebel Base Media, and host of the Podcast Accelerator. Find out more at markasquith.com. If you'd like to try Captivate FM free for seven days, visit captivate.fm.

Books mentioned in this episode

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini, Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini, The One Thing by Gary Keller, and Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email [email protected] or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.

Related episodes: How to Build Professional Credibility Through Podcasting with Adam Adams

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

Most of us like to think we're rational. We're not -- and Rolf Dobelli's The Art of Thinking Clearly makes that uncomfortably clear.

This episode is a review of one of the most accessible and practically useful books on cognitive bias and critical thinking available. Unlike academic treatments of the same subject, Dobelli's book is readable, applicable, and genuinely eye-opening -- which is exactly why it ended up on John's reading list and eventually on the show.

We all fall prey to logical fallacies and cognitive biases more often than we realise. The good news is that awareness is where change begins, and this book is one of the best tools available for developing that awareness.

What this episode covers

What cognitive biases and logical fallacies actually are and why they matter for communicators, the specific biases Dobelli identifies that are most relevant to speakers, leaders, and coaches, why our unexamined beliefs distort our thinking in ways we rarely notice, how improving your critical thinking makes you a more credible and trustworthy communicator, and why this book stands apart from other critical thinking titles on the market.

About the book

The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli is a guide to the most common errors in human reasoning -- written not for academics but for anyone who wants to think more clearly and make better decisions. It covers over 90 cognitive biases and logical fallacies with real-world examples that make each one immediately recognisable.

You can get a copy of the book on Amazon here: The Art of Thinking Clearly

Why this matters for professional speakers

The best speakers don't just deliver information -- they help audiences think more clearly. Understanding cognitive bias gives you a significant advantage in how you frame arguments, anticipate objections, and build genuinely persuasive cases. It also makes you a more honest communicator, which is increasingly rare and valuable.

If you want to find out what's blocking your growth as a speaker, take the free Speaker Growth Diagnostic at strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com

Related episodes: Mind Control, Mentalism and Manipulation with Duncan Stevens

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.

The powers of music and movement have inspired and empowered us since the earliest days of humanity and so I have wanted to explore more of this side of the arts for a while now and took the opportunity of my 50th birthday celebration to share with you a fun and light-hearted episode of Speaking Influence with some powerful thoughts.

My guest is dancer and dance teacher Joseph Corella. Joseph made a big professional pivot during the pandemic to set up virtual dance classes but not any old dance classes, he wanted to make something fun for him and other adults to safely explore creativity, get or stay healthy and have fun dancing to show tunes. He started up 567Broadway.com so that anyone could start to feel like a Broadway star in the comfort of their own home. You can try out a live or downloaded online class with Joseph and find out for yourself how much fun it is.

In this episode:

• Dance as a means of channelling expression and emotion
• The power of dance to create presence
• Personal state management with dance and music
• The power of Babs
• How many times has Joseph watched Beaches with Bette Midler?
• The influence & inspiration of Rita Moreno (West Side Story)

and more besides.

This was a fun conversation and a lighter take on influence and persuasion. I hope you will enjoy it and check out some more recent episodes.

If you are serious about connecting your message with the right audience, find out what our sponsor Brand Face can do for you. Visit LearnAboutBrandFace.com and get your hands on some helpful resources.

Thanks for tuning in and see you next time.

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show to your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using the link below.

Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you want to join the Known, Booked & Paid Blueprint September Case Study group?

This September I'll be working with a group of 5 speakers who are already speaking but not getting the level of bookings and speaker fees that they really want. We'll work on the 3 key areas that will allow your speaking business to flourish. Since it's the founding group, there's an extra special deal on the price for joining that will never be repeated. Go to https://presentinfluence.com/kbpb for full details.