How to WIN at Public Speaking | UK & Ireland Toastmasters Champion Aaron Day. What does it take to win a national public speaking competition, and then prepare for the world stage?In this episode, Chris sits down with Aaron Day, UK & Ireland Toastmasters International Public Speaking Champion, to unpack the mindset, discipline, and audience-first philosophy that took him from being heckled by a teenager in a school assembly to delivering one of the most emotionally powerful speeches on the national circuit.Aaron shares the deeply personal story behind his winning speech The Cushion. Thus was written to honour his mum Brenda's breast cancer diagnosis and the remarkable community that rallied around her. It's a masterclass in why the best speeches don't come from ego, they come from service.In this conversation you'll discover:• Why words are fragile but intentions are solid and how to use that when nerves strike• The "know your audience" lesson Aaron learned the hard way in front of 250 teenagers• How to find stories worth telling (even if your life feels ordinary)• What imposter syndrome really sounds like, and how to silence it• Why public speaking is a gift economy, not a performanceWhether you're preparing for your first talk or your hundredth, this episode will shift how you think about the moment before you open your mouth.🔗 Find Aaron at aaronday.co.uk🔗 Toastmasters International: toastmasters.org🔗 Jess Ekstrom's TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/MT2q1YKZQPE?si=dB9PWzlkt8G84jFE________________________________________#PublicSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #Toastmasters #SpeakAndServe #Storytelling #OvercomingFear #AuthenticSpeaking #LeadershipCommunication

✅How to Reduce Anxiety Fast: 5 Science-Backed Methods🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡🔷5 Proven ways to Reduce Anxiety. This episode explores five effective tactics to reduce anxiety, emphasizing practical, free methods like social connection, sleep, meditation, exercise, and therapy. You will get actionable tips and personal insights to help manage anxiety and improve mental well-being.🔷These are practical tactics pulled from psychology research, neuroscience conversations, therapy principles, and real-world experience coaching people in communication and confidence.🔷Inside the video:🔷 Why social connection matters more than most people realise🔷 The hidden relationship between sleep and anxiety🔷 A simple approach to meditation that actually feels achievable🔷 Why exercise changes your mental state faster than motivation🔷When therapy becomes the right next step🔷 The uncomfortable truth about alcohol and anxiety🔷How your internal language shapes confidence and emotional response🔷If you want to communicate more confidently, think more clearly under pressure, and stop feeling controlled by anxious thinking, this video will help.🔷Subscribe for weekly content on:Communication skillsPublic speakingConfidenceMindsetLeadershipInfluencePersonal growth🔷Chapters00:00: Understanding Anxiety and Its Impact02:22: Top Strategies for Reducing Anxiety04:46: The Role of Sleep in Anxiety Management07:00: Meditation and Mindfulness Techniques08:18: The Importance of Exercise🔷Links:• Zoe Podcast on Sleep 👉https://open.spotify.com/episode/5V3t23sxtcZFDtbYPUAsBP?si=dc070603f3a343b0• Toastmasters International 👉https://toastmasters.org/find-a-club

How to make Stage Fright your Superpower. In this engaging interview with Suzi Payton, she shares her journey as a neurodiversity advocate, her techniques for confident speaking, and how improv can enhance communication skills.

Suzi Payton is a speaker, author, comedian, and confidence coach on a mission to improve the world for neurodivergent folks.

She uses her passion, comedy skills, and lived experience as an AuDHDer to challenge outdated perceptions of neurodivergence and spark real change.

Suzi also lives with Tourette’s and OCD, and brings all of that into her work with honesty, humour, and heart.Discover practical tips for inclusive leadership, managing stage fright, and embracing neurodivergent strengths.

Sound Bites

"Be mindful of idioms and language.""

Small steps lead to big change."

"Joy is the purpose of life."

Chapters

02:45: Embracing Neurodiversity: Suzi's Mission

05:38: The Impact of Diagnosis on Self-Understanding

08:16: Transforming Challenges into Strengths

10:52: The Art of Speaking: Techniques and Tips

16:08: Finding Humour in Everyday Life

33:23: Improv Techniques for Presence and Engagement

45:23: The Three Golden Rules of Improv

48:52: Common Speaking Pitfalls to Avoid

52:53: Habits for a Healthy and Joyful Life

Her approach is playful, empowering, and rooted in the belief that confidence isn’t about changing who you are; it’s about trusting who you are.

Suzi has created and regularly hosts an inclusive event called ADHD The Experience, which is by and for neurodivergent folks. This event seamlessly blends comedy with educational talks, offering a one-of-a-kind experience that has been well-received by the neurodivergent community.

Suzi has recently co-authored a book: Lost & Now Found: A guide to understanding and accepting yourself for late-discovered autistic adults with Kate Laine-Toner, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishing.

Links:

www.suzipayton.comhttps://

www.linkedin.com/in/suzi-payton-a9b68b25/https://

www.youtube.com/@suzipaytonhttps://

www.instagram.com/suzipayton_audhdspeaker.comedy/

🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡🔷This session dives into the world of improv comedy, where handling pressure is key to a successful improv show. We explore how quick decision making and adaptability contribute to personal development, much like in a motivational video. The discussion highlights the importance of embracing spontaneity, whether on stage or in life. What are your thoughts on navigating pressure?

How to create an AI friendly website for your Personal Brand. In this episode for communication and speaking with Jude Wharton, we answer a question many speakers, coaches, and business owners are asking right now.👉 I want to know how to build my personal brand, this is for you👉 You want more speaking gigs, leads, or clients, this is for you…👉 Or if you’ve been “meaning to sort your website out” for months…this conversation will challenge your thinking.🔍 What You’ll Learn:• Why a website is still critical for your personal brand in 2026 • The biggest mistakes people make (and how they cost you leads) • Why AI-built websites often fail to convert • The 3 must-haves every high-performing website needs • The real role of your website in a world of LinkedIn & AI search • How speakers should structure their site to get booked more often • Simple ways to turn your website into a lead-generating machine 🎤 For Speakers & Personal Brands:If your goal is to:• Get booked for speaking gigs • Build authority in your space • Turn attention into opportunity Your website isn’t just a “nice to have”… it’s your conversion engine.🔗 Resources Mentioned:• Ready Steady Websites: https://readysteadywebsites.com • Speaker Website Checklist https://readysteadywebsites.com/speakerchecklist/• The 11 Point Website Checklist: https://readysteadywebsites.com/websitechecklist/Sound Bites 🎤"Your website is never finished, it’s always evolving.""Don’t just tell your story, show what you do.""Content is king, but consistency is queen."Chapters00:00:The Relevance of Websites in 202606:17: Common Mistakes in Website Creation09:15: The Impact of AI on Website Design12:51: Essential Elements of a Successful Website16:59: Call to Action for Speakers18:27: Website Checklists for Improvement21:18: Providing Value Through Content22:58: Overcoming Perfectionism in Website Launches24:52: 2026 Marketing Strategies: Building Presence and Authority29:23: Content Creation: Efficiency and Repurposing Strategies32:36: The Debate: Outsourcing vs. Personal Branding35:40: Search Everywhere Optimization: Adapting to AI Trends40:03: DIY vs. Professional Websites: Making the Right Choice42:12: Upcoming Speaker Summit: Empowering Speakers46:25: Website Maintenance: Keeping Your Online Presence Fresh49:09: Life Balance: Key Takeaways for Well-being💬 Final Thought:You don’t need a perfect website.But you do need one that works.If this helped, subscribe for more on communication, influence, and building a personal brand that converts and join the Speak and Serve Community https://www.skool.com/speakandserve/about#PersonalBrand #PublicSpeaking #WebsiteDesign #LeadGeneration #CommunicationSkills #SpeakAndServe

Find Joy from Chaos, the late April fool!

🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡🔷Find Joy from Chaos🔷Someone got the April Fool memo a day late...🔷There's a phrase, when Life Gives you Lemons, make Lemonade.🔷And this was true yesterday, on my morning run route.🔷Normally, dodging cars as they rush up to the forest to walk their dogs.🔷But yesterday, calm, serene, solitude.🔷And boy, did I take advantage. 🏃‍♂️💨🔷There's been a lot going on in the last few weeks, and still some 💩 storms ahead.🔷This Easter, I hope you get an opportunity to make Lemonade.🔷Me, the plan is to walk the Gritstone Trail.🔷What's on your agenda?

Easy Way to Speak Effectively | 4-Step Proven Framework

🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡🔷Easy Way to Speak Effectively | 4-Step Proven Framework. Want to feel more confident speaking on camera… without scripts, pressure, or overthinking?🔷In this video, I walk you through a proven simple 4-step weekly framework to improve your public speaking, communication skills, and on-camera confidence... using just your phone, 10 questions, and around 9 minutes per week.🔷This isn’t about becoming “perfect” on camera. It’s about becoming clearer, more natural, and more intentional every time you speak.🔷Because when you improve how you communicate… you improve how people understand, trust, and respond to you.🔷What You’ll Learn:• How to practice impromptu speaking without scripts• A simple method to improve confidence on camera• How to use AI (ChatGPT / Claude) to analyse your speaking• The 4-step system to refine your tone, pace, clarity, and delivery• How to remove filler words and speak more concisely and confidently🔷The Framework (Simple + Repeatable):1. Ask yourself 10 open questions and speak freely2. Review your transcript for clarity and patterns3. Analyse your audio (tone, pace, emotion)4. Review your visual delivery + get external feedbackRepeat weekly… and track one improvement at a time.🔷Small shifts.Consistent practice.Real progress.🔷A Thought to Leave You With:It’s rarely just about the words you say.It’s about how you make people feel when you say them.🔷If you want to improve your communication, presentations, or client conversations — this is a practical place to start. Improve with others in the Speak and Serve Skool Community, join here, for free: https://www.skool.com/speakandserve🔷What’s one thing you’d like to improve about your speaking?🔷public speaking tipshow to speak confidently on cameraimprove communication skillsimpromptu speaking practicepresentation skills traininghow to stop saying um and ahcamera confidence tipshow to speak clearly and confidentlycommunication skills for professionalson camera speaking tipshow to improve speaking skills fastconfidence speaking practiceAI for public speakingChatGPT public speaking training

✅7 stories to use when Speaking for Impact🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡🔷Top Seven stories to use when Speaking. In this conversation, Chris Wilson explores the art of storytelling in presentations, emphasizing the importance of emotional connection and engagement with the audience.🔷We outline seven of the best types of stories, including Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, flashbacks, personal vulnerability, analogies, dialogue, and scene setting. Each type serves a unique purpose in enhancing communication and influencing the audience's perception. Find out how to choose the right story for the moment to effectively convey a message and foster connection.🔷Takeaways: Stories are essential for connecting with your audience.You are the guide in the hero's transformation story.Transformation stories earn attention more than achievements.Starting in the middle creates curiosity and engagement.Flashbacks provide context and meaning to the present.Personal vulnerability builds trust and connection.Analogies simplify complex ideas for better understanding.Dialogue in stories fosters empathy and connection.Setting the scene immerses the audience in the narrative.Choosing the right story is crucial for effective communication.🔷Chapters00:00: The Power of Storytelling02:03: The Middle Moment: Capturing Attention04:34: Vulnerability: Building Connection Through Personal Stories07:03: Dialogue: Creating Conversations in Storytelling08:15: Scene Setting: Painting Vivid Pictures10:06: Choosing the Right Story for the Moment

🔷Simple 3 Step J.O.G. End-of-Day Routine. How you end your day quietly shapes how you think, sleep, and show up tomorrow.🔷In this short video, I share my simple end-of-day journaling framework called J.O.G It is a practical routine I use to slow the mind, reduce rumination, and finish the day with clarity and calm.🔷This isn’t about productivity hacks or perfection.It’s about creating mental space before sleep.📝 The J.O.G. Framework explained:J – Journaling: O – Opportunities: G – Gratitude:🔷This routine helps:🔷Reduce overthinking before bed🔷Improve sleep quality🔷Increase self-awareness🔷Build emotional regulation🔷Create a calmer start to the next day🔷You don’t need special tools.🔷You just need a few intentional minutes.🔷If you’re someone who:🔷Replays the day in your head at night🔷Struggles to switch off🔷Wants a calmer transition into rest🔷Is focused on growth, leadership, or wellbeing🔷this simple framework may help.👇 Question for you:How do you end your day — and does it help or hinder your sleep?