If you want to have a laugh whilst learning how to increase your confidence and public speaking skills, for personal or business growth, then you have come to the right place. Discover tips, tricks and strategies on how to speak and pitch using humour and performance. Find out how to better connect with people's pain points in a way that they will want to talk about and share, and get the low down on powering up your mind set. Sarah Archer, is a stand-up comedian, playwright, speaker and business woman. She is also author of 'Cracking Speech Mate! – How to use humour to make you an amazing speaker', and 'Straight to the Top – How to create and deliver a killer elevator pitch'. Communicating with authenticity and power, influencing through copy, spoken word and body language, managing negative thoughts and anxiety, building authority and trust, story-telling and comedy secrets...oh and we'll also cover focus and time management 'cause Sarah has a mind like a butterfly! Join her for fun and aha moments.
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In a world where everyone is "networking", why do some people effortlessly build powerful relationships while others struggle to be seen or remembered? My guest today, Lirone Glikman, has spent more than a decade studying and teaching the art of global relationship-building. She's worked across 28 countries, advises leaders and organisations worldwide, and is the bestselling author of The Super Connector's Playbook. Lirone believes the most successful people in business aren't the loudest or the...
Most speakers start their talks by explaining what they're going to say. Unfortunately, that's exactly why audiences stop listening. In this quick tip episode of The Speaking Club, Sarah Archer shares why the obvious opening weakens your talk and how creating curiosity from the first sentence can dramatically increase audience engagement. You'll learn why unanswered questions create attention, how to avoid the most common opening mistake, and how a small shift in your first line can make audienc...
Navigating a world where change is happening at break neck speed and uncertainty is the new norm, finding clarity, calm and purpose in the chaos can seem like a daunting task. But my guest, Carlo Mahfouz, is here to guide us through that landscape with his insights from his book, "Reality Check." As an engineer turned thought leader, Carlo's journey highlights the powerful combination of analytical thinking and emotional awareness. We discuss how his own relationship with ambiguity shifted, lead...
In this Quick Tip episode, I'm exploring something that can either elevate your speaking game or trip you up - speaker archetypes. Here's some of the ones you might have come across... Storyteller. Teacher. Provocateur. Authority. But if you've ever found yourself feeling slightly "off" on stage, even when your content is good, this episode might explain why. In this episode, I'm exploring the pressure, (often at the heart of some speaking coaching systems), to pick and swap styles as you move t...
In this episode, award-winning publisher Sue Richardson discusses the transformative power of writing a book for business professionals and speakers. She explains the distinct advantages and disadvantages of traditional, self-, and hybrid publishing models, guiding listeners on how to "publish well" by focusing on purpose, mission, and audience. Sue also reveals the symbiotic relationship between speaking and authoring, emphasizing that a well-crafted book acts as a powerful ambassador for one's brand and message.
Sarah Fox is a lawyer transforming the way people do business. After decades dealing with huge deals in the construction sector, she realised that long, complex and bad contracts were costing time, money, deals and relationships. Sarah advocates for short, simple contracts starting with just 500 words. She inspires people across industries to streamline deals and enhance customer relations with contracts that represent their values, embed trust, and keep everyone protected. In this show Sarah wi...
In this quick tip episode, I'm letting you in on one of the most overlooked — but totally game-changing — parts of any talk: the segue. It's that moment between a killer story and your next point where everything suddenly feels… awkward. Where the energy drops, the audience blinks, and you find yourself muttering: "Anyway… moving on." 😬 Yeah. That bit. Whether you're telling a personal story, landing a teaching point, or sliding into your call-to-action — how you move between moments can make o...
Chris Voss was the FBI's lead international hostage negotiator… but these days, he's helping CEOs, speakers, and sales pros negotiate million-pound deals, win high-stakes conversations, and get results — without pushing, pitching, or people-pleasing. In this episode of The Speaking Club, I'm joined by the author of Never Split the Difference to explore how you can use his real-world-tested negotiation techniques to build trust fast, shift resistant clients into action, and speak with more power ...
I first came across Adele Bates when I was judging the Storytelling category at the Speaker Awards—and her talk really stood out and grabbed my attention. It was powerful, authentic, challenging and captivating. She didn't just tell the story. She performed it. Her talk built drama and connected emotionally to the audience, leading you to see a new perspective. Based on that performance and the fact that she went on to win the award for best storyteller, I knew I had to get her on the show. Not ...
Nicola S. Morgan is a dynamic speaker, trainer, and author who helps individuals and organisations transform chaos into calm, and emotional strain into sustainable strength. With a background in education and behavioural change, she specialises in resilience, emotional wellbeing, and effective behaviour strategies—skills she's delivered to thousands of professionals across schools, public services, and corporate teams. Nicola's powerful storytelling and practical frameworks have earned her accol...
"Just breathe" is one of the most common pieces of advice given to speakers and performers who feel anxious about stepping onto the stage (be that online or in person) — but what if the way you're breathing is actually making things worse? Breathing might seem like an automatic function, but the truth is, most of us are doing it wrong… and it's costing us calm, clarity, and confidence. My guest, Manny Rodriguez, learned this the hard way. After enlisting in the Army at 28, Manny suffered a back ...
"Finding your voice" might sound like a personal development cliché, but for speakers and leaders, it's the secret weapon that too many overlook. As a speaker your voice is your most important tool and mastering how to use it to its fullest effect is one of the most impactful things you can do. This isn't just about sounding 'nice', your voice is also a signal to your audience about your confidence, clarity, and credibility (…or lack of!). My guest, Bailey Massey, is a speech therapist turned vo...
Host Sarah Archer shares her insights from judging 55 speaker award entries, revealing what made the top talks stand out and common pitfalls to avoid. She delves into the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of public speaking, offering practical advice on characterization, storytelling, stage presence, and delivery. This episode is packed with tips to help speakers enhance their talks and achieve greater impact.
The business world is changing fast. AI is reshaping how customers search, buy, and connect — but most companies are still stuck in old habits, missing the human magic that actually builds loyalty. At the same time, too many businesses are confusing efficiency with excellence. They're chasing five-star reviews that may not mean what they think they do, and ticking boxes while their customers quietly drift away. My guest today, Steven Van Belleghem, has spent over a decade helping companies level...
Let's be honest — most speakers spend a lot of time crafting their talk, but when it comes to what they wear on stage? That's often a rushed afterthought… or a full-blown panic. Are you second-guessing whether your outfit actually helps or hinders your message? Ever watched back your talk and thought, "What was I thinking with that jacket?" Or maybe you've stuck to the same 'safe' outfit for years, even though it doesn't really feel like you anymore? Well, this episode is for you. Because how yo...
I see so many business authors and experts set out to use speaking to have more impact, step firmly into the thought leadership space, and monetise their message, only to get frustrated when they struggle to get the results that they want. Some struggle just getting their talk together, unable to work out which bits of their book 'baby' to put in and leave out. Others manage to create a talk, only for it to fall flat when they share it on stage. What's often the cause of these issues - and how d...
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 ...
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 st...
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 t...
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 b...
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 con...
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 cou...
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...
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...
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 ...
"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, ...
I'm going to be real here. When I look back at my life from my death bed, I am not going to say … "if only I'd spent more time on Linked In". Most of the people I speak to would be happy to spend less time on social media and free themselves from the guilty feeling that they should be doing 'more'! But the truth of it is that social media is important in a number of ways to building and growing your speaking career. Here's the thing though, there is a way to do social media on your terms. And th...
"I've been approached to speak at an event, but they have no budget for speaker fees, should I do it?" … is a question I get asked a lot. So, I say … "Firstly, that's not a question I can answer for you … but here's some ideas for how you can assess the value of an opportunity for you and your message, and how you can make low fee or free gigs pay." And those ideas are what I want to share with you today. In this show I'm covering: The problems arising from doing the wrong free gigs Criteria for...
Trigger Warning - this show briefly discusses difficult topics including self-harm and suicide. Gethin Jones is a survivor, but what few people would have believed, (including Gethin), was that he would also become an international speaker and thought leader. Growing up in the care system, he spent a total of 8 years in prison, battled intravenous heroin addiction, and was trapped in destructive patterns that seemed destined to lead him to more prison time or an early death. He found the will to...
Business Book publisher and business author Alison Jones said "for business book writers a signature talk changes the game." Arel Moodie, Professional Speaker, Disney Show Host and Founder of Talkadot said: "If you feel like you are not getting booked enough. You need a signature talk. If you feel like you are constantly chasing clients and they aren't chasing you. You need a signature talk. If you feel like you just need to be given a chance but keep feeling like the best-kept secret in your ni...
