Send us Fan Mail Could a simple Toastmasters club visit turn into an adventure filled with cultural exchange, networking and serendipitous discoveries? Join me in Episode 28, as I recount my recent holiday, that began with planned visits to the Malacca and Summit Toastmasters Clubs but unfolded into an unexpected immersion in the Malaysian District 102 conference - my second District conference in as many weeks! I discuss the physical and online club experience, the similarities and differences ...
Jun 09, 2024•19 min•Ep. 28
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever craved genuine feedback that slices through the usual "good job" commentary? Toastmaster Steve Bates certainly did. Join us as Steve, an 11-year member of Toastmasters, and winner of the District 69 Table Topics Contest, recounts his unique foray into the world of Toastmasters. His quest for constructive criticism propelled him from firefighting to the pinnacle of public speaking competitions. With mentors like Marilyn Freeman and Mark Hunter guiding his path, Stev...
Jun 02, 2024•40 min•Ep. 27
Send us Fan Mail In this Episode, I recap the District 69 Toastmasters conference, held on the first weekend of May in Caloundra, South East Queensland. As a first time District Conference attendee, member of the organising committee and contest participant, I delve into the agenda of the theme that encouraged us to "Grow By Design". From the stirring keynote on the 'Inner Game of Growth' to the various educational breakouts, the sessions were brimming with insights on honing our unique communic...
May 26, 2024•23 min•Ep. 26
Send us Fan Mail This week, we explore the 12-month Toastmasters journey of Junyan Tan - a Toastmasters enthusiast, recently appointed Secretary of the Mount Gravatt Toastmasters Club - and one of my mentees. Junyan (who usually goes by the name of Brodie), shares his seven-year journey to the podium. Listen as we uncover the layers of personal and professional growth that come from facing fears, embracing leadership roles, and engaging in the Toastmasters' Pathways learning experience. Toastmas...
May 19, 2024•49 min•Ep. 25
Send us Fan Mail As we celebrate The Talkative Toastmaster Podcast's journey through 23 episodes, I recap highlights of each episode to date - not only to surface some of the earlier content for new visitors to the podcast, but also to reflect on some of the inspiring personal stories that my guests have shared. Revisit our early guidance for Toastmasters newbies, the strategies to tackle the jitters of public speaking, and hear many examples of how committing to the practice of improving public...
May 12, 2024•23 min•Ep. 24
Send us Fan Mail Embark on a unique journey with Sue Pinker, a beacon in the Toastmasters community, as she recounts her remarkable transformation from a shy and nervous woman to a charismatic leader and speaker. As we navigate Sue's personal anecdotes and her current role as District 69's historian, we uncover the impact of Toastmasters on her life - an influence that extends far beyond the podium to touch on every aspect of personal growth. Her story serves as a powerful example of the confide...
May 05, 2024•46 min•Ep. 23
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we unlock the treasure trove of conferences and training opportunities that await Toastmasters who choose to take advantage of a packed annual program! I walk through the various area and division gatherings, where fellow Toastmasters compete and learn through educational sessions. But that's just the appetiser! The main course is the illustrious district level conferences, a blend of contests and educational programs designed to perfect your leadership and comm...
Apr 28, 2024•18 min•Ep. 22
Send us Fan Mail When Leonard Scuderi steps onto the stage, he brings with him a treasure trove of experiences from three decades as a Toastmaster. His journey, which began with a nudge from his father and a personal quest to enhance his communication as an engineer, has taken him through clubs across the globe - each anecdote shedding light on the diverse and enriching world of Toastmasters. This episode offers a tapestry of stories, from the inspirational moments at a Staten Island club to the...
Apr 21, 2024•39 min•Ep. 21
Send us Fan Mail This week, we navigate through the competitive landscape of Toastmasters contests! From intimate club-level contests to the pinnacle of the World Championship of Public Speaking, I'll walk you through the stages where the art of public speaking is not only honed and celebrated, but judged. Peer behind the curtain of the evaluation, table topics, humorous, and international speech contests, and discover their unique formats and the judging that keeps everyone on their toes. Revel...
Apr 14, 2024•23 min•Ep. 20
Send us Fan Mail In our latest episode, Kate Norris, a Toastmaster with 14 years experience, joins us to recount her transformative story. From the depths of personal challenge to the heights of district-level leadership roles, she shares how the community within Toastmasters not only honed her public speaking skills but also led her to develop lasting friendships and a stronger sense of confidence. As Kate reminisces about her evolution through Toastmasters, from organising small events to orch...
Apr 07, 2024•41 min•Ep. 19
Send us Fan Mail Discover the transformative power of leadership roles in Toastmasters, and how they forge skills you can apply in every facet of your life. In this episode, I take you behind the gavel to reveal how taking on a leadership role at Toastmasters can provide invaluable experience. From the skill of decision-making to the finesse of meeting facilitation in a volunteer organisation, I'll share aspects of the journey of personal growth I've encountered so far in the President's chair. ...
Mar 31, 2024•25 min•Ep. 18
Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how a decade of transforming fear into finesse through public speaking feels? Let Toastmaster Mat Eyles take you on his captivating journey in the latest episode of the Talkative Toastmaster podcast. You’ll hear how Mat's initial reservations about joining Toastmasters melted away as he found the perfect club. His story isn’t just about speaking; it’s a deeper dive into the often missed art of active listening and conversation architecture. Matt’s journey with dysl...
Mar 24, 2024•31 min•Ep. 17
Send us Fan Mail Unlock the transformational power of mentorship, as we navigate the inner workings of Toastmasters' mentoring program to catapult your communication and leadership skills to new heights. In this episode, I delve into how the mentoring program fosters the art of crafting successful mentoring relationships, discussing the process of pairing mentors with mentees, the importance of establishing clear objectives, and the dynamic of consistent meetings and feedback. Learn how the pers...
Mar 17, 2024•15 min•Ep. 16
Send us Fan Mail Embark on a Toastmasters odyssey as my guest, Graham Cairns, shares experiences from six of his current Toastmasters clubs and the completion of some 15 Pathways. From the first anxious steps at a local community club to the polished podiums of advanced groups, Graham has navigated the seas of public speaking and leadership, each wave offering new challenges and opportunities. Featuring mentorship tales that shaped his path, this episode will leave you inspired to chart your own...
Mar 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 15
Send us Fan Mail In this Episode, we explore the Toastmasters meeting agenda in detail, to provide you with an outline of the unique speaking opportunities at each meeting. I’ll touch on what each role is, what’s required and how you may be able to apply this to other areas of your life. Picture yourself as the Toastmaster, a conductor ensuring each speaker's voice harmonises with the meeting's rhythm, or as the Grammarian, sculpting the finesse of our language. With each role unpacked, from the...
Mar 03, 2024•23 min•Ep. 14
Send us Fan Mail Picture this: you're in a room full of people, your heart is pounding, palms are sweaty and it's your turn to speak. Daunting, right? Our guest for this week's episode, Geoff Roberts, shows us that it doesn't have to be! A long-standing member of Mad Chatter's Toastmasters, and current Area 26 Director, Geoff shares his transformational journey from a timid speaker to a confident leader, thanks to Toastmasters. We're not just talking about public speaking either! Our conversatio...
Feb 25, 2024•40 min•Ep. 13
Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how seasoned speakers turn every critique into a stepping stone for success? Unlock this mystery with me as we dissect the transformative power of speech evaluations in the world of Toastmasters. Episode 12 provides insights on the subtle art of constructive feedback, which can help you to elevate your public speaking prowess and embrace personal and professional advancement. I'll outline how Toastmasters can help you to use evaluations to sharpen your communicatio...
Feb 18, 2024•18 min•Ep. 12
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, we pull up for a chat with Thomas Krafft, who at age 18, embarked on a jam-packed Toastmasters journey that led him to achieve a Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM) by age 25. Listen as Thomas outlines his Toastmasters experience, his role in steering five clubs as President and being an Area Director three times, and more. He also shares why he chose to join a second club, and how that expanded his network and diversified his exposure to different speaking...
Feb 11, 2024•35 min•Ep. 11
Send us Fan Mail Ever find yourself tongue-tied when the spotlight unexpectedly turns your way? Let me share with you, how Toastmasters can be instrumental in helping you to improve your impromptu speaking skills. In this episode, I discuss the many opportunities Toastmasters provides for anyone eager to elevate their spontaneous speech skills, whether it's during a nerve-wracking job interview or while mingling at a networking event. I share how the Toastmasters program could help you to weave ...
Feb 04, 2024•18 min•Ep. 10
Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, we hear highlights of the inspirational 35-year journey of Kevin Ryan, who went from an electronics company rep to a professional speaker, with the help of Toastmasters. Our conversation pulls back the curtain on the art of public speaking and the powerful life lessons that come from leading and growing within this global community. Kevin discusses key milestones in his journey, revealing how the encouraging culture of Toastmasters was instrumental in gui...
Jan 28, 2024•45 min•Ep. 9
Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secrets of powerful speechmaking, as we delve into the art of capturing hearts and minds through words. This episode is your golden ticket to understanding why the ability to craft and deliver a meaningful speech is more than just a skill—it's a bridge connecting people, ideas, and action. With a nod to icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Steve Jobs, we dissect how their eloquence has shaped our world and how you too, can echo their impact. As we walk through the in...
Jan 21, 2024•17 min•Ep. 8
Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how to refine your communication skills to command a room? Join us as we catch up with John Coorey, a five-year veteran of Toastmasters, who shares his journey of learning the art of public speaking. John opens up about his early days, from grappling with vocal variety and speech structure, to standing confidently on stage, delivering engaging speeches. He shares his experience of joining Toastmasters and his baptism by fire – delivering his first "icebreaker speec...
Jan 14, 2024•34 min•Ep. 7
Send us Fan Mail Join us in Episode 6, as we navigate through the Toastmasters Pathways program, where the art of communication and leadership is fine-tuned to meet the demands of our ever-evolving world. Offering the opportunity to hone over 300 competencies across 11 learning paths, the program is like your own, bespoke degree, designed to sculpt your public speaking and leadership skills from the foundational icebreaker speech to advanced elective projects. It was this very platform that spar...
Jan 07, 2024•21 min•Ep. 6
Send us Fan Mail Hear the first-hand account of the impact of Toastmasters with our very first guest, Melissa Chong. An experienced member of the Mount Gravatt Toastmasters Club, Melissa shares her inspiring journey of self-development over the past ten years. Her dedication to improving her public speaking skills for her research work may even inspire you to take a step towards your own personal and professional development this year. Imagine finding a diverse community where personal developme...
Dec 31, 2023•34 min•Ep. 5
Send us Fan Mail Unlock the key to conquering Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, and learn how to step confidently into leadership roles with the guidance of Toastmasters International. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of this global not-for-profit organisation, that has been fostering effective communication and leadership skills since 1924. I'll share how clubs are organised, was happens at club meetings, and how the Pathways education program and other aspects of this inc...
Dec 31, 2023•16 min•Ep. 4
Send us Fan Mail Embark with me on a brief review of the 35 years of my life interlaced with Toastmasters. In today's episode, I unfold the chapters of my journey, from a hesitant 17-year-old in a high school Speechcraft program to a far more confident speaker, who has held senior marketing roles in global companies, led online communities, led Toastmasters clubs and competed in Division level speech contests. I'll share details of my personal evolution, and how Toastmasters has provided a stead...
Dec 31, 2023•19 min•Ep. 3
Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly climb the career ladder while others struggle? The secret might just lie in their ability to communicate effectively. This episode of The Talkative Toastmaster podcast is all about the transformative power of confident public speaking. We're not just talking about giving speeches, we're exploring the far-reaching impact, from career advancement to deeper personal relationships. Discover how strong communication skills can fast-t...
Dec 31, 2023•15 min•Ep. 2
Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to conquer one of humanity's most common fears? It's time to face the terror of public speaking head-on! We're dissecting this widespread fear from every angle, exploring its deep-seated roots from evolutionary instincts to the crushing dread of judgement. Dive into the world of glossophobia and find out how it not only disconnects you from your audience, but can also dent your professional credibility and hinder your career growth. You'll learn why not controlling...
Dec 31, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1
Send us Fan Mail Public speaking remains one of the most prevalent fears of individuals globally, often surpassing fears of heights, spiders, and even death. Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, affects an estimated 75% of the population, leading to symptoms ranging from mild anxiety to severe panic attacks. This fear can be debilitating, and, can hinder your personal and professional growth. But fear not! Because in the Talkative Toastmaster Podcast, we're going to unravel why this fear h...
Nov 11, 2023•2 min
