Unforgettable Presentations

What has become most important to meeting planners  in the 2020s? What do speakers need to be successful? How can a speaker's bureau help?

After 31 years as the founder and CEO of Garrett Speakers International (GSI), Executive Coach Betty Garrett joins Mark and Darren for a frank discussion about working with a bureau, what works in today's speaking business…and what doesn't. Applying her insights will put you on the path to being unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Be trustworthy

• Invest time in building a relationship with a bureau

 <...

How does one achieve greatness in one career, then do the same in another? Today, Darren and Mark find out from best-selling author and Hall-Of-Fame speaker Don Yaeger, and his coach, Hall-Of-Fame speaker Patricia Fripp. They discuss Don's transition from professional writing to world-class public speaking and examine Patricia's role as his professional coach.

SNIPPETS:

• Greatness is an iterative process

• Feedback is the breakfast of champions and champions eat breakfast

• Anybody worth their salt hires a coach

• Conduct pre-calls with prospective coaches to find the...

The 2026 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking  was held in August, and this special episode was requested by many. Darren and Mark are joined by fellow World Champions David Brooks (1990), Ed Tate (2000), Lance Miler (2005), and Aaron Beverly (2019) as they offer their observations and share their thoughts on the 2026 Finals.

SNIPPETS:

• The WCPS should be the best speakers in their best setting.

• The WCPS should be a showcase event and a marketing tool

• Energy at contest time is critical

• Get audience perspectives on what work...

It's been said that great speeches aren't written; they're re-written. Today Darren and Mark learn the ins and outs of great writing from author/speaker/minister Vince Antonucci. His techniques are simple and practical, and when applied well, they will help you to become UNFORGETTABLE.

SNIPPETS:

• Be clear; clarity counts

• Simplicity and clarity are genius

• Avoid speaking in abstractions

• Never assume that your audience knows anything

• Avoid the curse of knowledge

• Be concrete instead of abstract

How do we find stories that change lives? In this episode, Mark & Darren get answers from award-winning filmmaker Stephen Kendrick of the Kendrick Brothers. They dive into story techniques and the mindset behind powerful storytelling. Stephen's tips will help you to become UNFORGETTABLE.

SNIPPETS:

• Use realistic context

• Lead with a teaser, create a hook, and keep them curious

• Help them understand, agree, commit and become ambassadors/advocates

• Edit wisely, sometimes rearranging scenes

• Shepherd the audience's emotions

• Land w...

Peer collaboration may be just what you need to get breakthroughs and insights. Reflecting on a recent CREATE YOUR UNFORGETTABLE KEYNOTE 3-Day workshop, Darren & Mark discuss the benefits of both having and being a brainstorm buddy. They also expound on the value of having brainstorm buddies from unexpected sources.

SNIPPETS:

• Gives a different perspective

• Has a heart to help

• Opens our thinking

• Have a Zoom coffee

• Draw from the expertise of others

• Look outside your industry

Most presenters serve a niche audience, but how should they navigate serving diverse audiences? Today Mark and Darren talk with Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot, from the Royal Family in Chennai, India. Asif shares the techniques and mindset that he applies to address a broad range of audience demographics…from kids to diplomats to United Nations audiences. His expertise and experience will help any presenter to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Read widely

• Be willing to share your knowledge

• Be eager to learn from young...

Darren often says: "We must connect before we can educate, inspire or persuade." Today, Darren and Mark talk with veteran late-night comedy writer and Human Humor Detector Chris McGuire about the importance of connecting quickly. Chris lays out a proven strategy that will help any presenter to connect early and effectively…especially when speaking to high-stakes audiences.
 

SNIPPETS:

• You must connect early

• Audiences immediately want to know what's in it for them

• Become a pain point detective

• Show that you see them and you get them<...

"LinkedIn is always changing! How do we stay current?" This question is on the minds of many, and today Mark and Darren get answers from LinkedIn Top Voice Richard Bliss. As they discuss critical changes to the platform, Richard shares the simple but necessary adjustments that will help us maximize our reach on LinkedIn.

SNIPPETS:

• LinkedIn is BUSINESS MEDIA, not a social media platform

• We must change our mindset about the platform

• It tracks and analyzes our behaviors

• It will warn users and s...

There is no guarantee that audiences will remember every nugget and act after a presentation. This is especially true when leading workshops and multi-day programs.
Darren and Mark expound on two tools that make this easier: KEEPERS and ACTION ITEMS. They explain how these tools help program attendees retain content and follow up on their own action plans more consistently.

SNIPPETS:

• KEEPERS are 'ahas', ACTION ITEMS are to-dos

• Keepers can come from the presenter(s) and other attendees

• Invite attendees to share their Keepers and Action I...

Virtual presentations are here to stay and as presenters we must keep our audiences interested and engaged, sometimes for multi-day programs. 
Mark and Darren have conducted virtual programs for several years and today they are joined by Stage Time University faculty member Mike Davis as they share proven techniques for keeping virtual audiences engaged.

SNIPPETS:

• Have a co-host or co-presenter

• Be prepared for technical difficulties

• Dress professionally on camera

• Avoid eating/drinking on camera unless it is germane

• Be aware...

Stories well told can be inspiring, entertaining and enlightening. However, sometimes speakers inadvertently omit the most compelling elements of their stories.

Today Darren and Mark discuss the STORY DIG…a process for excavating the backstory, character motivation, and emotional depth that the speaker is too close to see themselves.

SNIPPETS:

• Get a qualified coach to ask the right questions

• Dig deeper

• There's a WHY behind every story

• Uncover the emotional component behind the story

• Find what goes beyond the...

Everyone appreciates a story, and the difference between a good story and an unforgettable story comes down to a few mistakes that many speakers make.

In this episode, Mark and Darren discuss common storytelling mistakes, offer ways to avoid them, and share techniques for making your stories unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Do a walkthrough with a proven process

• Learn what constitutes a 'well-told story'

• Avoid narration only

• Include a solid setup to provide context

• Identify 'COMPELLEMENTS' – compelling moments in each story

Darren LaCroix says, "The most important part of a presentation is the thought process in the listener's mind." As presenters, we have to be aware of this continually. In this episode, Darren and Mark explore ways that speakers send audiences on 'mental detours,' and dilute their messages…without realizing it.
Understanding and correcting these detours will provide greater clarity and help us to become unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Be clear about what you want your audience to think

• Beware the Cherry Tree Effect

• Avoid introducing...

Following up on last week's episode, Darren and Mark talk with Philip Riggs, A VIP client at their recent OWN THE STAGE 3-DAY presentation coaching workshop. Philip shares the lessons and insights that empowered him to transform his speech almost overnight and earned him a standing ovation on Day 3. He also explains ways that he changed as a result of the coaching process.

SNIPPETS:

• Be determined to learn

• Stretch yourself

• Be open to learning from others, even if they are strangers

• Make your conten...

Can coaching make a big difference, especially if you are fairly accomplished and experienced? 

In this episode, Mark and Darren get answers from four clients who participated in a recent OWN THE STAGE 3-DAY presentation coaching workshop. Bernadette, Glenn, Elaine, and Beth share their experiences, offer their perspective, and explain the benefits. They prove that qualified coaching can help any presenter to become unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Evokes your humanity

• Forces you to humble yourself

• Uncovers humor

• Provides AHAs

• Make...

Ep. 354  DO YOU HAVE IT?

People crave the 'it factor'…presence, confidence, charisma, and eloquence. 
Today, Darren and Mark discuss another 'it'…courage. From their experience, they share the type of courage every speaker needs, to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Have the courage to be coached

• Be courageous enough to get coached in public, in the company of strangers

• Be vulnerable

• Invest in your growth

• Be bold enough to think differently

• Commit to the process

...

As presenters, we want to be our best on the platform. Many of us attend workshops and seminars, purchase and devour resources, and practice diligently. However, something might be missing. Today, Mark and Darren discuss specific actions that some speaker's won't take, the reasons for avoiding those actions, and the benefits of taking those actions…all if which can help any presenter to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Go beyond stage time

• Record presentations

• Watch and listen from the audience's perspective

• Review old recordings, compare them...

"I'm a keynote speaker. I'm a solopreneur. I'm building MY brand. Won't collaboration dilute my brand?"
This is a valid concern, and in this episode, Darren and Mark discuss the 'ups and downs' of collaboration. Sharing their experiences, they show the significant benefits of collaboration and offer advice on choosing the right collaborators for you.

SNIPPETS:

• Choose your collaborators carefully

• Collaborate with partners with complementary skills and strengths

• Combining strengths makes both collaborators stronger

• Don't think selfishly

• Think of the b...

Much has been said about having the right mindset before a presentation. Today, Mark and Darren discuss the right HEARTSET, and they share both how and why the right heartset can help to make you unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Heartset heavily focuses on audience outcomes

• Be in the moment

• Hiccups happen, don't get flustered

• Your heartset impacts your brand

• Go all in

• Bring your entire being to every presentation

• Heartset shows up before your presenta...

It's important to keep your audience engaged, and the key to doing so lies in a simple but powerful concept.
Today Darren and Mark define and discuss PACE ELEMENTS, sharing how they can help you to deliver an unforgettable presentation.

SNIPPETS:

• Engagement is important

• Keeping your audience engaged during a virtual presentation is critical

• Pace Elements engage the brain in different ways

• Change Pace Elements every 2-3 minutes

1. Talking Head (Back and forth with your co-presenter...

You're in the audience, listening the speaker before you, and you hear them make a point, tell an anecdote, or use language that makes you think, "I was gonna say that!" How do you respond? Can you avoid this? In today's episode, Mark and Darren answer these questions and more as they share recent experiences and offer solutions.

SNIPPETS:

• Don't panic

• Be unique

• Avoid 'stock' material from the Internet or AI

• Avoid plagiarism

• Research the previous speaker's material if possible

It's not unusual for presenters to 'move on' from past presentations. Toastmasters is a good example. Today, Darren and Mark encourage you to 'go back to the well' and revisit old presentations. They may hold new value today.

SNIPPETS:

• Maintain a story folder; an old story may have new significance

• Don't discard/delete 'old' material

• "Unearth the old, uncover the GOLD" – Mark Brown

• Revisit old presentations

• Look for new value in old presentations

• Review, revise, rework, rei...

Can you ever truly know the full impact of your presentations?
Today, Mark and Darren provide the answer by sharing anecdotes, experiences, and insight gained from their combined 60 years on the platform.

SNIPPETS:

• The vast majority of your audience will never tell us how we impacted them

• You get only one shot at that audience

• Seek to grow continually

• When competing, focus more on your message than on the trophy

• Dollars follow impact

• Go all-in on your...

Speakers must exude confidence to inform, inspire, and influence. However, EGO and SELF-DOUBT can have a significant impact on us and our audiences. Darren and Mark offer advice on how to effectively manage both and serve our audiences well.

SNIPPETS:

• Don't undervalue your experiences

• "You are uniquely qualified to serve the person you once were." - Rory Vaden

• "One man's mundane is another man's magnificent.' – Mark Brown

• Your life story can inspire and give hope

• Someone in...

Our messages must serve our audiences, and two words are most helpful in achieving that goal. Darren and Mark expound on the power and value of the words 'YOU' and 'YOUR,' as well as their unforgettable impact on our audiences.

SNIPPETS:

• 'YOU' and 'YOUR' are enormously powerful words

• Examine your 'I/YOU Ratio'

• These words draw audiences in

• Usage makes our content relatable and relevant

• They engage people's brains

• Put your audience in yo...

The concept of relationship selling is not uncommon, but today, Mark and Darren go beyond selling to explore the greater value of building relationships.

SNIPPETS:

• Build relationships beyond the booking

• Use relationships to recommend others

• Relationships provide opportunities to serve

• A relationship may not bear fruit immediately

• Seek to give before seeking to get

• Bring you and your personality to every assignment

• Ask yourself: What do others think of you

 ...

There's a story behind every booking. Today Mark and Darren examine how  our 'booking stories' can reveal what is necessary to get more bookings now.

SNIPPETS:

• Go back to the well

• Revisit the decisions that led to previous bookings

• Trace the full path of the booking

• Identify people who could help lead to your next booking

• Ask: "What was I doing back then, that I need to start doing again?"

• Recover abandoned tools, tips, and technique...

Feeling nervous before a presentation or feeling insecure when facing an intimidating audience can be positive. That may seem counterintuitive, but Mark and Darren clarify in today's episode. Drawing on their combined 60+ years of lessons learned, they provide advice and specific techniques for using nervousness to your advantage.

SNIPPETS:

• Being a little nervous can be a good thing

• Use nervous energy to fuel additional preparation

• Let no one out-prepare you

• Research: get more than you need, to give what they need

Stories can transform presentations, and when certain essentials are met, a story can be unforgettable. Today's episode is the second of a two-part conversation about five story essentials…tools which, when used effectively,  will make your story unforgettable. This is PART 2 of 2.

SNIPPETS:

• Identify a GUIDE/GURU, a source of wisdom, insight, guidance, and help

• The guide need not be a human

• Letters, pets, or inanimate objects could be guides

• The guide may say very little but still be very effective<...

Everyone enjoys a good story, and unforgettable stories contain certain essentials. 
In this episode, Mark and Darren expound upon three of their five story essentials, showing not only how they work, but why. This is PART 1 of 2.

SNIPPETS:

• STORY is a FORCE MULTIPLIER

• Define the HERO/protagonist/main character

• Help your audience to SEE the character

• Give the audience a reason to identify with the character

• Give one physical and one emotional characteristic

How are writing and producing films connected to delivering presentations and storytelling? Mark and Darren get answers from award-winning filmmaker/director/producer/actress Susie Singer Carter as she shares her perspective on telling powerful stories. Her insight provides tools for telling memorable stories that resonate with any audience.

SNIPPETS:

• Avoid being preachy

• You can confront and entertain in a seamless manner

• Balance your message without being too heavy

• Resonate with as many people as possible

• Let yo...

Every once in a while, speakers encounter circumstances that they didn't see coming. How can you handle them and make the best use of them in the future?

Today, Darren and Mark share their experiences and offer meaningful suggestions for handling situations that you don't see coming.

SNIPPETS:

• Situations occur that will keep you in check

• You never know when your misfortune can serve others

• Anticipate the unanticipated

• Ask: What can go wrong

• Cover...

Emerging presenters and professional speakers want to know best practices and proven processes for running a successful speaking business. You would be hard-pressed to find a more reliable source than business growth innovator and Hall of Fame speaker, Ford Saeks, co-founder of the Million Dollar Speakers Group. In today's conversation with co-hosts Mark and Darren, he reveals five insider secrets that will help you build an unforgettable speaking business.

SNIPPETS:

• Be great on stage, on screen, and on demand

• Hit your audience's key targets

What does it take to create maximum impact while serving your audience?
To find out, Mark and Darren chat with business growth innovator and Hall of Fame speaker, Ford Saeks. Ford clearly lays out principles, practices, and perspectives that presenters must embrace to create maximum impact and become unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Your impact depends on your intent and your audience's reception

• Always provide high value

• Your keynote is judged by its description

• Your description and bio should be benefit-dri...

Anyone can give a presentation, but what does it take to truly OWN the stage?
Calling back to a recent OWN THE STAGE 3-day workshop, Darren and Mark provide some key insights and principles that will help any presenter to own the stage and deliver an unforgettable presentation.

SNIPPETS:

• Care more about being world class that delivering one good presentation

• Structure is important; the order matters

• Great speeches aren't written; they are re-written

• Be willing to experiment

...

To meet customer demand, organizations take inventory, then replenish and upgrade their offerings. As a presenter, it's wise to take inventory of your speech…and everything that surrounds it.

Today, Mark and Darren focus on your Speech Skills Inventory and offer suggestions for upgrading your speech over the next 12 months

SNIPPETS:

• Upgrade your speech

• Decide how you want to improve each facet of your speech in 12 months

• Your speech title is your unique identifier

• Craft an unforgettable...

Audience members can have different experiences depending on where they sit in a meeting venue. Darren and Mark explain and give some sage advice on how the meeting space can maximize your audience's experience.

SNIPPETS:

• Arrive at the venue at least a day early if possible

• Sit in the four 'worst' seats in the house

• See what the audience sees

• If necessary, reset the angle of large screens in conference rooms

• Be aware of distracting sounds from neig...

Last week Darren and Mark shared effective ways to embody characters physically. Today, they share the impact that we can have when we do the same with vocal techniques.

SNIPPETS:

• Selectively use dialogue instead of narration

• Vary your vocal volume

• Volume variances depict emotion

• Energy and intensity do not have to be loud

• Modify vocal pitch appropriately

• Different speaking rates can show demeanor and state of mind

• Use congruent facial e...

Our stories are more vivid when we embody the characters, and today, Mark and Darren explore simple yet effective ways to embody characters physically. With these techniques, characters are easily identifiable without a word. 

SNIPPETS:

• Use their gait and walk as the character would walk

• Identify and portray mannerisms

• Observe family members to show character quirks – 'QUIRKOLOGY'

• Suspend quirky movements to show emotional change

• Look for your own mannerisms by recording and watching yourself on video