What does it take to be successful in one speaking market, then to radically change lanes and become equally successful in a completely different market? Darren and Mark get the answers from Emmy-winning Hall-Of-Fame Speaker Mark Scharenbroich, as he dispenses almost 40 years of wisdom and experience in this humorous heart-to-heart. Learn how awareness of your audience and their needs…no matter the demographic…will help you to be UNFORGETTABLE!

So you want to give a TED or TEDx talk. What do event organizers and TEDs coaches look for? What are the DOs and DON’Ts of a successful talk? Darren and Mark chat with experienced TEDx coaches Cathey Armillas and Mike Davis as they pull back the curtain and give the answers to those questions and more. They will guide you to your spot on the red dot, and show you how to make your talk UNFORGETTABLE!

Be honest. You’ve seen them. PowerPoint slides with images taken from a Google search. Clip-art that has been on the Internet for years. Stock photography that looks very familiar. Now be REALLY honest. Perhaps you’ve USED a few. Here’s the harsh truth: Clip-art is to your slides what knock-knock jokes are to your presentation. In this episode, Darren and Mark offer insight into the PURPOSE and POWER of customized images. They reveal how, when used well, YOUR customized images can be an effective the tool in making your presentation UNFORGETTABLE!

Special Edition Episode for Speech Contestants: You were SURE that you won the contest. You were set to ‘WOW’ your audience. You were confident that you would ‘ace’ your presentation. But you lost. You forgot your lines. Your speech fell flat. How do you pick yourself up? Mark & Darren get answers from fellow World Champions of Public Speaking Jim Key, who finished 2nd in the World Championship 2 years in a row before winning in 2003, and Ed Tate, who went TOTALLY BLANK before an audience of over 2,000 during his opening keynote at the 2016 Toastmasters International Convention. Jim and Ed share their experiences and offer sage advice on this touchy topic, proving that anyone can recover…and deliver UNFORGETTABLE presentations!

During his journey ‘from pothead to pastor’ as he put it, Manley Miller discovered the power of AUDIENCE CONNECTION, and has been committed to becoming a master connector. “I’m always exploring – how do I connect?”, he says during this frank, in-depth conversation with Darren and Mark. He also reveals his meticulous process of writing, wordsmithing, editing, and constant-self-evaluation…the process which helps him keep hundreds of people engaged in person and online during his weekly church services. If you want to master the art of connected communication, don’t miss this episode. These nuggets of wisdom, properly applied, can make your presentations UNFORGETTABLE!

The need for virtual presentations has skyrocketed in recent weeks, and as presenters, none of us wants to be BORING. But how can we keep our audiences engaged…especially when they’re bombarded by children, pets, spouses/significant others, TVs, phones, package deliveries, alerts, alarms and more?

Darren and Mark reveal 11 PACE ELEMENTS (the changes of pace in a presentation) that can override obstacles, defeat distractions, and elevate engagement…regardless of the length of your presentation. Unleash the power of these pace elements, and make your presentations UNFORGETTABLE!

Picture this: All your life you feel awkward, and out of place. You make the commitment to develop your speaking skills. You decide to become an expert communicator. You determine to be an influencer. You are only 10 years old. What? How does those decisions even cross your mind at such a young age? This is but one of the many questions that Hall-Of-Fame speaker and best-selling author Mark Sanborn answers in today’s episode. During a sit-down with Mark and Darren, Sanborn dispenses wisdom born of 30+ years of influencing leaders…and changing minds. A must-listen for anyone who wants to be influential…and UNFORGETTABLE!

Conflict makes a story interesting and suspenseful. It also engages the audience, especially if they identify with the conflicted character. But how can you use conflict effectively? Darren and Mark discuss the role of conflict, and they offer 3 keys to using conflict successfully. In this episode, find out how well-managed conflict can help to make your presentation UNFORGETTABLE.

From 14-year-old sports commentator, to movie reviewer, to being hired by Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak at the White House, Scott McKain has had a distinctive career. What steps did he take? What did he learn? How does he continue to be distinctive? Mark and Darren have a heart-to-heart with Scott, gleaning nuggets about crafting unforgettable stories, understanding and serving audiences, building confidence, and much more. Listen in, and discover how you can be distinctive…and UNFORGETTABLE! 

One of the strengths of every presentation is the MAIN CHARACTER in a story. But how do you get the audience to SEE, FEEL & HEAR them? And how important is the ‘supporting cast’? How pivotal can THEY be if they are portrayed well? Darren and Mark take a in-depth look at techniques for ‘becoming’ the characters, and how to make them relatable to your audience. They also explain the integral part that seemingly minor characters can play in your UNFORGETTABLE presentation.