In this episode of The Toastmasters Experience, I take you to the heart of London to visit City of London Toastmasters, a club that will be proudly celebrating its 30th Anniversary in November. 🎉

During my visit, I had the chance to sit down with passionate members, enthusiastic guests from other London clubs, and even a Toastmaster visiting from China 🌏. The evening was buzzing with energy as the club hosted its Table Topics and Humorous Speech Contest — a reminder that every great competition begins at the club level, where members take that brave first step to test their skills, share their stories, and stretch beyond their comfort zones. 💪✨

As Toastmasters, we know that contests aren’t just about winning — they’re about growth, connection, and celebrating the courage to stand and speak. And visiting clubs while travelling is one of the most enriching parts of our journey — a chance to see how others meet, learn, and lead in their own unique style.

If you ever find yourself in London, you can visit City of London Toastmasters at St Botolph’s Church, Aldgate High Street, EC3N 1AB — right next door to Aldgate Station or just a short walk from Liverpool Street Station. Meetings are held in person on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays of each month, and guests are always welcome. 🌟

Tune in for a lively celebration of learning, laughter, and the global spirit of Toastmasters! 🎤🇬🇧

https://www.cityoflondontoastmasters.org/

On The Toastmasters Experience, I love shining a light on one powerful question:
💡 “What books, podcasts, tools, or routines have shaped your self-development?”

In this special compilation, you’ll hear from eight inspiring voices—each with a unique perspective on where they turn for wisdom, confidence, and inspiration.

🎙️ Lana (Ep. 24) shares how following domestic politics and programs like Insiders and The Party Room sharpened her listening and speaking skills.
🎙️ Vicki (Ep. 26) turns to TED Talks and speech and drama lessons as resources that expand her speaking repertoire beyond the club room.
🎙️ Roger (Ep. 34) credits mentors like Craig Valentine, Simon Sinek, and Eric Thomas for fueling his energy and growth.

🎙️ Jody (Ep. 35) — Sparked by Brené Brown’s Power of Vulnerability, Jody stepped into deeper, more authentic storytelling. She also recommends William Whitecloud’s The Secrets of Natural Success, and finds ongoing inspiration in Lewis Howes, Brendon Burchard, Gabby Bernstein, and Gabor Maté.

🎙️ Frankie (Ep. 39) — A bedside staple: James Clear’s Atomic Habits—especially habit stacking and trigger design. For podcasts, Frankie rotates Diary of a CEO, Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom and Andrew Huberman for science-backed performance.

🎙️ Ramona (Ep. 44) — Two words: Nancy Levin. Her book Worthy reframed Ramona’s self-worth and pricing (a recommendation via Craig Valentine). A must-read for anyone who senses a gap between talent and income.

🎙️ Marc (Ep. 46) — A teacher at heart, Marc’s communication canon includes Carmine Gallo’s Talk Like TED, Nancy Duarte’s Resonate, James C. Humes’ Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln, and Chip Heath’s Made to Stick—practical blueprints for memorable messaging.

🎙️ Maria (Ep. 50) — Oprah & Dr. Bruce Perry’s What Happened to You? shifts the lens from “what’s wrong” to “what happened,” deepening empathy in education and in club culture. She also highlights Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership by Kirstin Ferguson, championing service-first leadership that empowers others.

🎧 If any of these spark curiosity, dive back into their full episodes for the complete stories and strategies.

Maria’s Toastmasters journey began in 2009 after a staff retreat conversation made her realise she had no hobbies outside of work and family life. Caring for her husband after a major accident and raising three children had left little time for herself. Remembering her love of speaking, she found Bosley Park Toastmasters — and has been active ever since, now belonging to four clubs, including one in Canada.

Her leadership path evolved naturally, serving as Club Growth Director, then Program Quality Director, and potentially District Director. For Maria, leadership is about giving back to an organisation that has provided her with national and international speaking opportunities, co-author credits, and professional growth.

She values Toastmasters’ role in preparing people — especially youth — for real-world communication, from job interviews to personal branding. She notes the decline of public speaking in schools and urges clubs to deliver consistent, high-quality meetings to retain new members.

Maria is also a seasoned competitor, achieving district-level success, and treasures speeches that inspire, such as her speech about her father about the power of touch. She believes everyone has a voice worth developing, shaped by life experiences — often linked to past discouragement.

Her advice: Join, persevere, and use Toastmasters as a safe space to grow confidence and connection. Speaking, she says, is not just a skill — it’s a lifeline to opportunity and belonging.

In this inspiring episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn welcomes back Remona Moodley—one of Toastmasters’ Top 28 semi-finalists in the 2025 World Championship of Public Speaking. Even more remarkable: it’s Remona’s first year in Toastmasters.

Remona shares her thrilling and somewhat nerve-wracking journey of finding out she was selected. From obsessively refreshing the website to seeing her name on the list in the early hours of the morning, she describes a quiet moment of personal triumph. What followed was a flurry of congratulations, club celebrations—and the pressure to write a brand-new speech within a month.

With a background in pageants and performance, Remona has been preparing her whole life for this moment, even if not formally within Toastmasters. To support her, she’s assembled an all-star team. She describes how each one brings a unique perspective, contributing to her growth with precision and care.

Remona also speaks openly about the flood of feedback, balancing conflicting advice, and trusting her own instincts to remain authentic. She offers heartfelt advice to aspiring competitors: you don’t need to be ready to start—just start. The journey itself will transform you.

As Remona prepares to take the international stage in Philadelphia, she shares her excitement, her lucky charm, and her family’s joy—including her two young children who are just as thrilled for the American adventure.

We’ll all be cheering you on, Remona!

In this lively episode of The Toastmasters Experience, I interview Sydney-based Toastmaster and stand-up comedian Katie YZ. 

Katie shares her unique motivation for joining Toastmasters back in 2019—not to win contests, but to save her marriage. Frustrated by poor communication with her husband, Katie found that Toastmasters offered a far more cost-effective solution than marriage counselling—and it worked. She learned the art of constructive feedback, transforming not only her marriage but also her confidence and communication style.

Katie quickly embraced the stage, joining Reevesby Toastmasters before discovering her comedic side at Just for Laughs, a humor-focused club where she honed her funny bone. Inspired by a mentor’s nudge, she entered a humorous speech contest and discovered her talent for comedy. She’s since performed over 60 stand-up sets across Sydney and beyond while juggling a full-time university coordinator role and family life.

Katie also founded a junior Gavel Club to support young speakers—including her daughter, who went on to international recognition. She reflects on leadership growth through her Area Director role and the deep friendships formed through Toastmasters. She encourages everyone to give Toastmasters a try, even for a short time, because “it changes everything.”

This episode is packed with laughter, life lessons, and a reminder that communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about listening, taking risks, and connecting. 

Find Katie on Facebook @KatieYZ if you’d like her to MC your wedding, roast your birthday party, or entertain any event.

In this insightful episode of The Toastmasters Experience, I welcome Richard Peck, former International President of Toastmasters, who shares his extraordinary journey from reluctant speaker to global leader. Richard’s Toastmasters story began in 2006 after an encounter with legendary speaker Les Brown, who encouraged him to join. Within six months, Richard unexpectedly became Club President—after stepping out during officer elections!

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His leadership ascent continued rapidly, holding various district roles before being elected to the International Board. In a unique twist of history, Richard stepped into the role of International President during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than viewing it as a setback, he embraced it as an opportunity. His landmark initiative, the “International President’s World Tour,” saw him visit 149 clubs across 143 countries—all virtually. Not content to merely observe, Richard took on roles in each meeting, receiving global feedback on his speeches and deepening his understanding of communication across cultures.

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He reflects on the difference between speaking and truly communicating, emphasizing that Toastmasters helps bridge this gap. Richard also discusses the evolving nature of communication in the AI age and underscores the importance of cultural awareness and mentorship within clubs.

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A race car driver in his spare time, Richard draws parallels between high-speed racing and effective leadership—both require a strong, trusted team. He closes with heartfelt advice: explore multiple clubs, get involved, and always remember—you’ll never be the same person you were when you first joined Toastmasters.

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In this inspiring episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Marc Williams—educator, speaker, and three-time Toastmasters International Speech Contest finalist—shares his 14-year journey with Toastmasters, starting with a simple DVD recommendation that sparked a life-changing pursuit. From his first hesitant visit to LIU Brooklyn Toastmasters to standing on the world stage multiple times, Marc’s path is one of purpose, passion, and personal growth.

Marc reveals that his entry into Toastmasters wasn’t just about public speaking—it was about discovering a supportive community that became like family. While professional development was an unexpected bonus, the deepest impact came from relationships formed along the way. He highlights the importance of competing, describing it as a fast track to growth. Despite not working with one formal coach, Marc credits a circle of mentors—fellow Toastmasters and seasoned champions—who helped him shape and refine his voice.

Beyond Toastmasters, Marc discusses founding Speaker Skills Academy, a virtual community co-led with friend and fellow coach Cathey, where members develop micro-skills through engaging, gym-like sessions. His message to listeners: Toastmasters is more than a place to reduce filler words or perfect delivery—it’s a space to find your voice, your people, and potentially, your calling.

Whether you’re new to public speaking or a seasoned pro, this episode is a reminder of the life-changing power of showing up, saying “hello,” and daring to share your story.

Mark, a seasoned Toastmaster of 20 years, joined in 2005 to sharpen his presentation skills for his medical career. A psychiatrist by profession, Mark has since embraced both the communication and leadership aspects of Toastmasters. He is a dedicated member of multiple clubs, including Glenbrook, Enhanced, Penrith CBD, and the online Koala Communicators Club.

Mark has held significant leadership roles over the years, including Area Director, Western Division Governor, and twice District Director for District 90. One of his proudest achievements was leading the district to Distinguished status—an accolade awarded at the international conference in Anaheim in 2024. His Toastmasters experience has empowered him to confidently chair hospital board meetings, emcee large conferences, and support the growth of clubs across regions.

Passionate about mentoring, Mark actively encourages young professionals, including junior doctors, to improve their public speaking through speechcraft programs. He believes Toastmasters offers critical life skills, especially amid today’s challenges with digital communication and mental health pressures.

Mark’s personal growth includes developing confidence, embracing inspirational speaking, and gaining flexibility under pressure (a skill he displayed as emcee at the recent District 90 Conference). Though stepping back from high-level leadership roles, Mark continues to support clubs and serve as a valuable resource.

His final advice for anyone considering joining? “Just walk through the door. It’s a safe place to grow, try things, and discover how far you can go.” A powerful reminder of Toastmasters’ life-changing potential.

What a delight interviewing, Ramona J. Smith, 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking. 

Motivated by a love of public speaking, she joined Toastmasters in 2010 to polish her communication skills—encouraged by her sister. She now belongs to Post Oak Toastmasters in Houston and strongly advocates for in-person meetings for their immersive energy.

Her performance roots trace back to a vibrant childhood filled with dance, drama, and music, where presence and expression were second nature. Although she studied public relations, her passion for the stage remained constant. 

She began competing in 2014, reached the district level in 2015, and won the World Championship in 2018, guided by mentor Larry Sapansky. Ramona credits much of her success to staying authentic and understanding the audience—"your speech, but their message."

Now a sought-after coach, her advice to competitors is to focus on fun, learning, and growth—not just the trophy. 

Ramona is active on social media Instagram and Facebook @RamonaJSmith1 and hosts a podcast, I Dream of Speaking on PodBean.  

 Her closing advice to anyone considering Toastmasters: “You should’ve joined yesterday.”

Colin Williams, a seasoned Toastmaster and former speech competitor, shares how joining Toastmasters a decade ago became a turning point in his life. Initially drawn in by a newspaper ad and finally walking into Redlands Toastmasters after 20 years of procrastination, Colin instantly felt he had “found his people.” He went on to compete in speech contests, winning both the International and Humorous contests at District level and earning a spot as a semifinalist on the world stage in Los Angeles.

Though now retired from competition, Colin continues to give back as a mentor and is set to become an area director in the near future.  

 He encourages others to say “yes” to new opportunities and figure it out later—a mindset that has led him into slam poetry, stand-up comedy, and  taking him aboard cruise ships as a resident historian and naturalist, roles he embraced with enthusiasm and study.

Colin is also the author of Now That I Have Your Attention: How You Can Stand Out as a Speaker or Presenter, a guide filled with practical tips for connecting authentically with audiences. The book is ideal for corporate professionals, students, and anyone looking to elevate their communication skills. It can be purchased via Amazon, though Colin recommends ordering directly through him at [email protected] for the best deal.

His key advice? Join Toastmasters—and once you do, throw yourself into it fully.