The Speaking Club: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

If you're using speaking to grow your business, at some point someone is going to ask for your speaker reel. And yet… most speaker reels completely miss the point. Many speakers think a reel is simply a montage of clips stitched together with dramatic music and audience shots. But event planners aren't just looking at footage. They're asking themselves: "Can I picture this person on my stage?" In this episode, I'm joined by Emmy-winning editor and speaker reel strategist Max Partain to unpack what actually makes a speaker reel work — and why some speakers instantly feel more credible, trustworthy and bookable on camera than others. We explore the psychology behind booking decisions, the subtle cues that shape perception, and the mistakes speakers make that quietly weaken their positioning before they've even stepped onto the stage. If you want to get booked more often, position yourself at a higher level, and stop cringing every time someone asks for your reel… this episode is packed with insight. Enjoy! What you'll discover: • Why Max calls himself a "speaker reel strategist" — not just an editor • The hidden questions event planners are asking while they watch your reel • Why clarity beats cleverness when it comes to getting booked • What winning an Emmy taught Max about storytelling, attention and trust • The subtle mistakes that make speakers look less credible on camera • Why polished footage alone won't make you feel bookable • The difference between speakers who command attention and those who simply "look professional" • The tiny visual and behavioural cues that make a speaker feel premium • How speaker reels help planners de-risk booking decisions • Why audience reaction shots are more important than most speakers realise • What editing hundreds of speakers taught Max about stage presence and connection • The first thing speakers should improve if they want to shift how they're perceived quickly Enjoy! If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here>> Guest Information: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxpartain/ Books & Resources*: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Speaking Resources: Stagecraft to Showreel, 2-day in-person event: https://livetraining.saraharcher.co.uk/stagecraft To share your thoughts: · leave a comment below. · Share this show on Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: · Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Why do so many change initiatives fail to create real buy-in… even when the strategy makes complete sense? In this episode, I'm unpacking something I call 'The Altitude Gap' — the psychological disconnect that often happens between leaders communicating change and the employees expected to live through it. Drawing on my experience in HR, leadership communication, direct marketing and storytelling, I explore why logic alone rarely moves people, how organisations accidentally create resistance, and why many change programmes struggle long before implementation even begins. I'll share: the communication mistake I see leaders make again and again why urgency without safety creates shutdown instead of movement how strategic storytelling helps people move from resistance to buy-in and the emotional sequence that makes change communication land If you lead people, communicate change, speak professionally or simply want to influence more effectively, this episode will help you understand why people don't always move when the logic seems obvious… and what to do about it. What you'll discover: • Why some change programmes start dying the moment the PowerPoint deck appears • The hidden communication gap that makes people quietly drag their feet • Why leaders are often talking about "the future"… while employees are worrying about Friday • The mistake most organisations make when trying to get people bought in • Why explaining things more clearly often doesn't solve the problem • What employees are usually thinking during change… but rarely say out loud • Why "we've tried this before" is often a symptom, not the real issue • The reason some change messages land like a wet firework • Why logic alone rarely gets human beings moving • The storytelling sequence that helps people stop resisting and start leaning in • How to create buy-in without sounding manipulative or corporate • Why people need to feel safe before they're willing to move • The difference between communicating the summit… and helping people survive the climb • How strategic storytelling can reduce fear, friction and pushback during change • Why the best leaders don't just communicate strategy — they communicate possibility Enjoy! If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here>> Books & Resources: The Altitude Gap Guide: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/altitude To share your thoughts: · leave a comment below. · Share this show on Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: · Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc. Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

A lot of speakers think their job starts when they walk on stage. But what if a huge chunk of your impact, and your future bookings, are being created long before that moment… and long after it ends? In this episode of The Speaking Club, I'm joined by former Disney leader and customer experience expert Vance Morris to explore what happens when speakers start thinking differently about customer experience. Because as a speaker, you have more "customers" than you think. They're: * The event organiser * The person booking you * The AV team * The audience members talking about you afterwards * And every person interacting with your brand before, during, and after the stage And every one of those touchpoints shapes whether you get remembered, referred, or rebooked. In this conversation, Vance shares what speakers can learn from Disney about creating memorable experiences, building loyalty, and turning one speaking gig into multiple opportunities. We explore how the experience starts before you arrive, continues through your delivery, and extends long after the applause. Because a great talk matters. But the experience around it? That's often what fills the pipeline. What you'll discover: • The unexpected lesson from Vance's journey — from Disney to bankruptcy — that still shapes how he runs his business today • What most speakers get wrong about customer experience (and what Disney does differently) • Where speakers are quietly "bleeding profit" — and why they don't even see it • How to turn one speaking gig into multiple opportunities (without chasing the next booking) • The things speakers do that they think build loyalty… but actually push clients away • How to create a "Disney-level" experience that people remember — without it feeling forced or gimmicky • Why combining direct-response marketing with customer experience changes everything • What actually moved the needle in building Vance's speaking business — and what turned out to be a waste of time Enjoy! If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here>> Guest Information: Website: https://vancemorris.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vancemorris/ Books & Resources*: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill The Ultimate Marketing System by Dan Kennedy 52 Ways to Wow Your Customer Speaking Resources: Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk: https://saraharcher.co.uk/newguide-tsc Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge To share your thoughts: · leave a comment below. · Share this show on Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: · Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

There are a lot of brilliant speakers out there. But not all of them get recognised booked. Not all of them get recognised. And not all of them get the opportunities they're capable of. So what's the difference? In this episode of The Speaking Club, I'm joined by Elliot Kay, organiser of the Speaker Awards, to take a look behind the scenes of the awards and at what's really going on in the speaking industry right now. Because Elliot doesn't just see one speaker… He sees hundreds. He sees the entries, the trends, the standards, and how they're evolving year on year. That gives him a unique perspective on what actually makes a speaker stand out in the industry - not just on stage, but professionally. This episode isn't just about entering awards. It's about understanding what the awards reveal about the industry… and how you can use that insight to raise your own game. Here's what we're talking about What you'll discover: • The importance of recognizing and elevating standards within the speaking industry • How awards can serve as a stamp of authority and recognition for speakers • The evolving perception of award entries among established and high-caliber speakers • What Elliot is seeing across the speaking industry right now — and how the standard is evolving • The patterns that separate standout speakers from those who blend in • What speakers assume matters… that actually doesn't • How to think about the awards strategically (even if you're not entering) • What successful speakers do after being shortlisted or winning — that others don't • The subtle things that make someone sit up and pay attention when reviewing entries • What to focus on right now if you want to seriously raise your chances of standing out • The lowdown on video do's and don'ts for your entry Enjoy! If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here>> Guest Information: Website: https://thespeakersawards.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kay/ Speaking Resources: Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk: https://saraharcher.co.uk/newguide-tsc Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge To share your thoughts: · leave a comment below. · Share this show on Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: · Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Most speakers don't have a pricing problem. They have a value communication problem. In this episode of The Speaking Club, I'm joined by pricing expert and speaker David Abbott, creator of the Platypus Pricing Process, to unpack why pricing feels so uncomfortable — and what to do about it. Because whether you're pitching a keynote, a workshop, or a programme… If your price isn't landing, it's rarely about the number. It's about how it's being framed, understood, and perceived. In this conversation, David shares practical insights to help you move beyond finger in the air fees, stop second-guessing your proposals, and start pricing in a way that reflects the value you actually bring. If you've ever hesitated when quoting your fee… or quietly adjusted it to "make it easier"… this one's for you. What you'll discover: • Why most pricing problems have nothing to do with numbers • The hidden reason your price feels "too high" to clients • What really happens when you discount (and why it's risky) • How to make your price feel safer — without lowering it • The mindset shift that changes how you approach pricing completely • What experienced professionals still get wrong about pricing • How to reposition yourself when you want to charge more • The difference between explaining your price… and justifying it Enjoy! If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here> Guest Information: Website: https://www.davidabbottspeaker.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diabbott Books & Resources*: Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Speaking Resources: Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk: https://saraharcher.co.uk/newguide-tsc Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge: https://www.saraharcher.co.uk/challenge To share your thoughts: · leave a comment below. · Share this show on Facebook or LinkedIn. To help the show out: · Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one. *(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)