Today’s episode of the Transformational Pathways features two fellow Toastmasters Somesh Chablani and Jahnavi Utukri. Both are also members of the Toastmasters District 46 and are the organizers of the Youth Leadership Program, an initiative to help young people develop their public speaking as well as leadership skills.

Somesh and Jahnavi brought with them a few special guests of their own, and we got to hear of their experiences in the program, as well as a glimpse of who our future leaders could be.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Angelika Kerzakova. Angelika is the Immediate Past President of the Gray Bar Toastmasters, one of New York City’s oldest Toastmasters clubs. Angelika describes her upbringing from a small town in Russia, to learning English and eventually moving to the United States.

Angelika joined a Toastmasters meeting only as a way to fill some idle time, but quickly grew to appreciate the culture of improvement and strong sense of community. While others joined Toastmasters to improve their public speaking skills, Angelika found that she enjoyed the aspect of speechwriting and self-discovery more.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is executive communications coach, keynote speaker, and educator Marc Williams. Marc talks about his story as a professional public speaker, and how his experiences in Toastmasters have also informed his approach to teaching and life in general.

Marc emphasizes the importance of checking your ego and understanding that there’s always more to learn. Whether in teaching or public speaking, your skills in public speaking should serve the message and the people you’re trying to reach, not yourself.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Robert Goodman, an experienced real estate broker in New York City who also spent many years on Wall Street. Besides his professional occupation in real estate, Robert also spends a lot of his time working with philanthropic associations, primarily the Special Olympics of New York City and the YMCA.

Robert talks about the critical life lessons he learned from being a member of Toastmasters. He mentions that Toastmasters is not only about public speaking, but about communication in general. He said being a better communicator allows you to inspire and motivate others to achieve greater things, which is above and beyond the initial concept of just being a good public speaker.

Robert also talks about the time he got sick with COVID-19 in September this year, and how he managed to find some positive things to learn despite his predicament.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Verity Price, professional public speaker and singer. She took the top spot in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking, and is also taking the rest of the world by storm in TEDx talks.

With her slew of accomplishments, one could be forgiven for thinking that speaking to a large audience came to Verity as a natural gift. However, she reveals that she had to go through an arduous process to overcome her stage fright and find her voice. Verity also talks about lateral thinking, and how out-of-the-box thinking can help unleash creativity.

Wanting to honor the memory of her late father, Verity sought out coaching and professional training with Toastmasters to learn the tricks of the trade, and tell her story to the world. She invites us to do the same.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Natsuyo Lipschutz, an award-winning speaker, 5-time Toastmaster district 46 finalist, world-class speaking certified coach strategy consultant and TEDx speaker known for incorporating dance into speech.

Natsuyo talks about her upbringing in Japan, and how the cultural differences, especially the language barrier, posed some challenges for her when she began working in the US. Despite the challenges, Natsuyo earnestly sought for improvement by joining Toastmasters and found that improving her English-speaking capabilities not only improved her capability for public speaking, but also allowed her to grow herself emotionally.

In 2017, Natsuyo found out that she had breast cancer. She shares how going through that particularly difficult time in her life and sharing that to the audience has allowed her to become a more authentic speaker and stronger person at the same time. Indeed, speaking is healing.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Seth Greenwald, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and owner of the Creative Warrior Group, an organization that helps leaders climb to the peak of public speaking excellence.

Seth takes us back to his official trade as engineer and shares how, as an introvert, he naturally liked being alone. But after decades of this, he realized he wanted to break out of his shell and Toastmasters helped him do it.

He shares the wonders of communication and drives home that simply talking is not communication. Listening and building from there is what makes the back and forth of communication authentic.

Seth also goes deeper and explains that the ego, which drives many of us, can be the blocker to connection. By switching it off and going from mego to wego, then effective collaboration can happen.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Jasmin Pemberton, a private elementary school tutor who works with students throughout Bronx and Westchester County. Jasmin shares how the evaluative process in Toastmasters helps her in her careers, especially in her previous work in HR.

Toastmasters not only helps in increasing public speaking skills, it also helps you become a better listener because there are times when you will be the one evaluating others. Jasmin also shares that the skills she learned in Toastmasters are applicable in practically every field and anyone can find value in joining.

In her experience, learning how to communicate effectively and presenting yourself as someone who wants others to do well too is an essential skill to have, no matter your career. Being in a family of Toastmasters also provides her great satisfaction to keep learning alongside her parents and sisters.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Matthew Fay, a Paid Search Specialist at Reprise Digital, Standup Comedian, Writer, and Performer at the Peoples Improv Theater, and an all-around great guy.

Finding out he was funny at a young age, Matthew shares how he was able to develop the skill of talking in front of an audience and eventually doing comedy professionally. He talks of his growth in producing a deeper yet comedic feel to his content.

Matthew discovered Toastmasters as a recommendation by a friend of his and is now part of the Roosevelt line Toastmasters club. He is loving every minute of it, especially the diverse company he shares from all walks of life.

The lessons Matthew touches on are both eye-opening and informative to someone who wants to view their life in a much lighter tone. He also talks about his transformational pathway and his life moving forward.

Today's guest on the Transformational Pathways Podcast is Adam Cole, Customer Success Manager at Slipstream IT, a member of the Royal Australian Air Force for 22 years, and a Competent Toastmaster.

Adam is one of the most genuine people you'll ever get to hear and hopefully meet. Early on in his life, he had the opportunity to join Toastmasters from his own country, Australia.

From sleeping in the presidential palace of Saddam Hussein during the Iraq war to meeting the woman of his dreams during that time. To eventually follow her all the way to New York to start a new life there.

Adam then discovered a new Toastmasters club in the Bronx which was 25 minutes away from where he lived regardless of there being a number of clubs closer to him, to be the president of that club during the pandemic.

The lessons provided by Adam's life story is heart-warming, to say the least, and can give you not only a reason to love Toastmasters more but the kindness of a human being towards others because of his own transformational pathway.