In this episode of Maine Farmcast, Dr. Colt W. Knight sits down with author, professional speaker, educator, former college lacrosse coach and custom hatter John Brubaker, better known to many as Coach Brew, for a conversation about communication, leadership, youth development and the value of simply being yourself.

John shares how a chance encounter with Maine agricultural youth led him to the Northeast Livestock Expo, where he helped young people strengthen their public speaking and presentation skills. Colt and John discuss why agricultural youth often develop responsibility, work ethic and interpersonal skills through working with livestock, and how those experiences can translate into leadership later in life. They also explore the importance of eye contact, first impressions, practice, making real human connections and learning to speak without sounding overly rehearsed.

Along the way, John tells the story of his transition from college professor and lacrosse coach to professional speaker and author. Colt and John trade stories about podcasting, traveling for speaking engagements, learning from mistakes and resisting the pressure to make everything perfect. And, naturally, no conversation with John would be complete without talking about custom hats.

Whether you are a parent, educator, FFA member, 4-H member, agricultural professional or simply someone who wants to communicate with more confidence, this episode is a reminder that authenticity, practice and a willingness to make a few mistakes can take you a long way.

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