The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

Ever feel like your message gets lost in a sea of jargon?

Do you struggle to turn complex ideas into stories that actually land?

Or maybe you're great in a room full of people, but put a camera in front of you and suddenly you forget how to be yourself?

If any of that sounds familiar, you're in the right place!

In this episode, I'm chatting with Loreta Tarozaite.

Loreta is a former TV journalist turned executive presence and video storytelling coach. She's been behind the camera, on screen, and now spends her time helping leaders articulate their vision with clarity that builds trust and connects.

After moving to Silicon Valley from Lithuania, and navigating the exciting startup landscape, she identified a common challenge among tech executives: the struggle to communicate effectively and humanize their brands. This insight spurred her passion for helping leaders and organizations not just communicate, but connect and relate.

This episode is jam-packed with insights to help you own the stage, the boardroom, and the screen. If you're serious about showing up powerfully and making an impact, you don't want to miss it!

What you'll discover:

• The #1 mistake experts make when explaining what they do (and how to fix it fast!)
• How to cut through the noise and make your message stick—even if your topic is complex or technical
• Why great storytelling isn't just for movies—and how to use it to sell your ideas
• How to avoid the dreaded "robot presenter" syndrome and actually sound like YOU on stage and screen
• The key differences between executive presence and confidence (and how to develop both)
• The biggest mindset shift that will transform how you communicate as a leader
• Simple tweaks to look and sound great on video (even if you hate being on camera!)
• The essential ingredient that makes people want to listen to you—and no, it's not just a strong voice

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Loreta:

Website: https://www.loreta.today/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretatarozaite/

Books & Resources*:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My guest today is Heather Lillico. I was so inspired by an article I read from Heather on the Tiny Buddha website, where she outed herself as a nutritionist who out of the limelight was actually struggling with an eating disorder, that I was curious to find out more.

What I discovered is that her journey of managing and mastering anxiety is not only inspiring, but could really help those of you who are struggling to manage anxiety around speaking.

I know so many speakers and aspiring speakers struggle with this and it can really sabotage results, or worse get in the way of you getting started in the first place.

Heather is a Holistic Nutritionist, Yoga & Meditation Teacher, and Anxiety Warrior. She teaches anxious, people-pleasing perfectionists how to step into a more confident version of themselves with a natural & holistic approach.

She is the creator of the anxiety support app, Cultivating Calm, and believes we can all make mental space for what really matters.

Heather's been through the trenches and come out stronger, and in this episode, she's sharing the real, practical tools you need to stop letting fear run the show.

We dive into:

• Why anxiety is more than just a feeling—and what it's really trying to tell you
• The surprising link between what you eat and how confident you feel on stage
• A simple mindset shift that can turn anxiety into excitement
• A powerful technique to calm those pre-stage jitters in seconds
• The biggest mistake speakers make that actually fuels their fear (and what to do instead)
• Why waiting for 'confidence' before you act is a losing game

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Heather:

• Website: Heather's Website
• Instagram: @HeatherLillico
• Cultivating Calm App: Download Here
• Tiny Buddha Article

Books & Resources*:

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thích Nhất Hạnh, et al

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this quick tip episode, I'm tackling something that holds many speakers back —decision-making. Whether you're using speaking to market your business, win clients, or land paid gigs, hesitation can cost you big time. Every day you wait, someone else is taking the stage.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why making decisions feels so challenging.
• The results I've seen when speakers go all in.
• Practical ways to accelerate your decision-making process.

If you've been stuck in indecision, or not getting the results you want then listen up.

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club

(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)

Books:

Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch

Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker

Resources:

FREE NEW GUIDE - From Blank Page to Stage

https://www.saraharcher.co.uk

Jackie Brennan's Episode:

Why the Conventional Approach to Managing Mental Health is Flawed and What to Do Instead with Jackie Brennan - 215

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment below.
• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I saw Lee Warren speak at the Professional Speaking Association summit and he was one of the star turns of the event. The theme was standing out, and his talk was aimed at helping speakers to do exactly that, for the right reasons.

Lee was a magician by night and a sales director by day before he fell into professional speaking. That was 15 years ago and he has been speaking consistently since then using his background in sales, performance, and psychology to help audiences at global brands to become more compelling, confident and connected.

He is also the author of the award-winning book 'The Busy Person's Guide To Great Presenting', and is visiting faculty at The University of Oxford. If that wasn't enough he is also a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association, and a recipient of the UK's highest award for Professional Public Speaking - The Hall of Fame Professional Speaking Award of Excellence.

In this show I wanted Lee to share the inside track on what it takes to get going, to stand out and stay at the top of your game as a professional speaker. He didn't disappoint. The tips and advice you get from Lee in this show are worth their weight in gold and I know that your speaking will level up if you put them into action.

What you'll discover:

• How Lee got into magic and how it's influenced his approach to speaking.
• How he got his first paid speaking gig.
• The big lesson from magic that separates the great speakers from the amateurs.
• How his content and delivery have evolved over his speaking career and why.
• The distinction between different types of speakers, trainers and workshop facilitators
• How Lee tailors his keynotes for different audiences across different industries without reinventing the wheel every time.
• Some of the mistakes that people make when transitioning from free to paid gigs and how to avoid them.
• Lee's tips for building a strong paid speaking pipeline.
• How the landscape of paid public speaking changed since Lee started in the industry and how speakers can make sure they stay relevant going forward.
• Why reading some of the great works of fiction can level up your speaking.

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here.

All things Lee:

Website: https://leewarrenspeaker.com

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/leewarrenspeaker/

Books & Resources*:

Selling to Big Companies by Jill Konrath

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many experts and authors that reach out to me are frustrated that they are struggling to build a following.

They often compare themselves to others and think they aren't connecting with people because of their persona, or their style, but that's not it.

There is a reason that others, often less qualified, are reaching and engaging more people and in this show, I'm going to share what that is with you.

In this show I'm covering:

• Why you aren't getting traction with your message.
• The secret to connecting with your audience.
• How to supercharge that connection.
• When 'you' come into the equation.
• Putting it all together to get more followers.

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club

(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)

Books:

Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch

Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker

Play Bigger by Al Ramadan

Resources:

FREE NEW GUIDE - From Blank Page to Stage

https://www.saraharcher.co.uk

Check out Michelle Minnikin here:

Good Girl Deprogramming (Amazon)

Good Girl Deprogramming (Audible)

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

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mminnikin/

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Leave a comment below.
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The road to making speaking a sustainable business is littered with people who quit because the journey was so much tougher than they ever anticipated.

There are lots of people dangling the golden carrot of gigs worth thousands, and becoming a six figure speaker … and it is absolutely possible, but those who make it are a fraction of those that start out.

One of those few, is my guest today, Arel Moodie.

Arel is a best-selling author and professional speaker who has spoken in 48 states and 5 countries to over 750,000 people.

He is also a member of an exclusive group within the National Speakers Association, of those who have generated over seven figures of speaking business.

Having started his speaking business whilst in college he has encountered the ups and downs of a speaking career, and he is here to share some 'home truths' about the industry, alongside giving you the strategies that have worked to get him where he is today.

Arel is also the co-founder of Talkadot.com, the number one tool helping professional speakers land spinoff business by capturing speaking leads, testimonials and measuring the impact of their presentations with data reports from every audience they speak to.

If you want to generate an income, or a more consistent income from speaking then listen up, because there is gold in this here interview!

What you'll discover:

• How Arel decided what to talk about when he first started speaking in colleges.
• What he did to get speaking gigs when he started out.
• Why he switched topics and how he knew it was time to make a change.
• The challenges Arel encountered with his speaking business and the different things he tried to increase the consistency in his gig pipeline.
• The epiphany that caused him to create 'talkadot'
• What challenges he encountered getting his software business off the ground.
• How a speaker can use talkadot to get more paid talks without overtly
• 'selling.
• The 'land and expand' strategy for getting more speaking gigs.
• The unfiltered truth most speakers don't face up to about a speaking business and what to do to have a sustainable speaking business.
• How Talkadot can help to create customers and clients from the audience.
• What other essentials you need to build a professional speaking career

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Arel:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/arelmoodie

https://www.facebook.com/arelmoodie/

https://www.instagram.com/arelmoodie/?hl=en

Talkadot

Books & Resources*:

The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Napoleon Hill

Kobe Bryant Motivation (on YouTube)

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

• To share your thoughts:
• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What should come first, your book or your talk?

That's one of the questions I posed to Azul Terronez, book coach to some of the best known thought leaders around.

Azul is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author and book coach who specializes in helping leaders write and publish books that elevate their brand. As the CEO of the six-figure company Authors Who Lead, he has enabled Wall Street CEOs and health and wellness gurus to sell tens of thousands of books. When he's not hosting his podcast, Authors Who Lead, he's working as a creativity coach with CEOs and Emmy Award-winning producers to build their confidence, improve their productivity and increase their visibility within their companies.

Prior to starting a career in coaching, Azul spent over two decades as a teacher, a principal and a founding faculty member of High Tech High Graduate School of Education. He has been a keynote speaker at international conferences and his TEDx talk, "What Makes a Good Teacher Great", has been viewed over 4.1 million times. Azul has appeared on Smart Passive Income, The Will To Change, Addicted2Success and The Good Men Project.

In this show you are going to get real insight into how to succeed in your book writing journey, some golden tips that will accelerate your speaking journey and a masterclass in storytelling.

Enjoy!

What you'll discover:

• Why being diagnosed as dyslexic after failing English at college motivated Azul.
• How and why Azul helped his high school students become published authors.
• How Azul wrote a best-selling book in 30 days.
• The promotion strategy he used for his first book.
• Why Azul left teaching to become a book coach and publisher
• The blessing of naivete and how it is a catalyst for your success.
• The three biggest reasons you think leaders should write a book.
• Where Azul's business fits into your book publishing journey.
• Azul's advice for neuro-diverse people wanting to write a book.
• How Azul prepared for his TEDx talk and why he thinks it went viral.
• What should come first, your talk or your book.
• How speaking fits into Azul's business.

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Azul:

Website: https://authorswholead.com/

Instagram: @azulterronez

Twitter: @azulterronez

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azul-terronez/

TikTok @azulterronez

Books & Resources*:

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I want to share something that I know will get you more speaking gigs and ramp up your confidence for outreach.

It's relevant for live events, podcasts and any other type of

It's very simple yet so many people struggle to execute on it, but hopefully this episode will give you inspiration and some concrete steps to take to implement this in 2025.

In this show I'm covering:

• The secret ingredient for getting you more gigs.
• The curse of assumptions.
• The antidote quote to taking uncomfortable action.
• What you should aim for with your initial outreach.
• Something female speakers should pay attention to.
• An underused action that gets you powerful results.
• A software tool that will give you the edge in your outreach.
• The possibilities available using this secret ingredient.
• Why you should BAMFAM your speaking leads.

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club

(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)

Books:

Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch

Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker

Resources:

FREE RESOURCE - The 5 Levels of Pain

FREE NEW GUIDE - From Blank Page to Stage

Take the Snackable Story Challenge

https://www.saraharcher.co.uk

https://www.lusha.com/

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• leave a comment below.
• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One of the questions I get asked most is how do I get booked consistently for paid speaking gigs. I have my views on this from a speaker and speaking coach perspective, but I wanted to get a view from someone with another angle.

That's why I invited Seth Dechtman onto the show. Seth works with event planners for some of the biggest organisations and conferences. He knows exactly what they are looking for, and he has a network of some of the highest paid speakers in the world. He offers the gold standard in service to make sure that events go as smoothly as possible and the organisers look like rockstars!

He is here to share the inside track on what organisers are looking for in a keynote speaker, why he chooses to work with some speakers over others and what you can do to maximise your chances of getting booked and paid to speak.

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

What you'll discover:

• How Seth got into curating speakers.
• The consistent themes that come up in an event brief.
• Seth's advice on the number of keynotes to offer.
• What to consider when positioning your expertise around a hot topic.
• Why Seth chooses to work with some speakers over others.
• The difference between the top speakers and the rest.
• The non-negotiable assets that speakers need to get booked.
• The three most important steps new speakers should take if they want to get booked and paid to speak.
• How often clients request the same speaker.
• Why you should consider offering additional products or services beyond the keynote.
• Whether Seth has ambition to get on stage.

All things Seth:

Website: www.thekeynotecurators.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-dechtman/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKeynoteCurators

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethdechtman/

Books & Resources*:

Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.

• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"I've been booked to do a fireside chat at a conference, have you got any tips?"

This is a question I got a few weeks ago from one of my Green Room clients, and she actually had the event this week.

In response I shared with her some tactics she could use before and during the event to ensure she influenced the direction of the conversation to where she could share her message effectively and make the most of the opportunity.

This is something that you need to consider for any interview format, whether it's with the media, or a podcast interview and that's why I'm sharing some with you too.

In this show I'm covering:

• The mistakes I see made when people are speaking in an interview format.
• The possibilities available if you get your approach right.
• How you can influence the direction of the conversation.
• Some great question responses that allow you to bring in your talking points in a natural and engaging way.
• Why you shouldn't just regurgitate your talk in an interview.
• A simple tip for building rapport with the host and their audience.
• What to do after the interview to make the most of it.

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here.

Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club

(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at [email protected] and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)

Books:

Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch

Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker

Resources:

FREE RESOURCE - The 5 Levels of Pain

FREE NEW GUIDE - From Blank Page to Stage

Take the Snackable Story Challenge

https://www.saraharcher.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.