Sarah Fox is a lawyer transforming the way people do business. After decades dealing with huge deals in the construction sector, she realised that long, complex and bad contracts were costing time, money, deals and relationships.

Sarah advocates for short, simple contracts starting with just 500 words.

She inspires people across industries to streamline deals and enhance customer relations with contracts that represent their values, embed trust, and keep everyone protected.

In this show Sarah will be sharing how speakers can create simpler contracts that can build bigger speaking businesses.

What you'll discover:
• The real cost of bloated contracts (and who they're really protecting)
• What actually counts as a "contract" (yes, even that email thread!
• How to price and protect your work, your recordings, and your energy
• Why your contract should sound like you — not your solicitor's scary cousin
• What red flags to watch for in pre-gig conversations
• How your contract can actually accelerate your business (yes, really!)
• How Sarah's TEDx moment and Happy Fee rule changed how she does business
• The 3 C's every speaker contract should cover — and what to say when someone says "That's a bit pricey, isn't it?"

Enjoy!

If you've ever said "I'll just send them a quick email" instead of a proper agreement… this episode is for you.

It's time to simplify, protect, and sound more like you in every part of your speaking business — including the small print.

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here>>

Guest Information:
Website: https://500words.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjvfox/

Books & Resources*:
Play Big by Tara Mohr
Stepping Up as a Motivational Speaker with Joy Marsden - The Speaking Club 055

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 X, 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)

In this quick tip episode, I'm letting you in on one of the most overlooked — but totally game-changing — parts of any talk: the segue.

It's that moment between a killer story and your next point where everything suddenly feels… awkward.

Where the energy drops, the audience blinks, and you find yourself muttering:
"Anyway… moving on." 😬

Yeah. That bit.

Whether you're telling a personal story, landing a teaching point, or sliding into your call-to-action — how you move between moments can make or break your talk.

Inside my weekly Skills Lab, my clients have been working this — and in this episode, I'm sharing the best bits to help you turn your transitions from clunky to captivating.

What you'll discover:
• Why bad segues make your talk feel like a school play (and how to fix it)
• How to stop saying "anyway…" and start sounding like a pro
• The "bridge words" that glue your talk together seamlessly
• How to move from story to insight (and insight to CTA) without killing the vibe
• The CTA mistake that makes you sound like a sales bot — and what to do instead
• Real-life lab exercises that helped speakers go from stiff to slick in less than 60 minutes

Whether you're prepping for a keynote, pitching your programme from stage, or just want your talk to flow like Netflix, this episode will give you the tools to speak smoother, sell smarter, and sound like a total pro.

Enjoy — and try not to say "anyway" after this. 😉

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here>>

Books & Resources:
Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch: https://standoutpitch.com/

Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker: https://crackingspeechmate.com/

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 X, 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)

Chris Voss was the FBI's lead international hostage negotiator… but these days, he's helping CEOs, speakers, and sales pros negotiate million-pound deals, win high-stakes conversations, and get results — without pushing, pitching, or people-pleasing.

In this episode of The Speaking Club, I'm joined by the author of Never Split the Difference to explore how you can use his real-world-tested negotiation techniques to build trust fast, shift resistant clients into action, and speak with more power and presence.

And yes — I even used one of his own tactics to get him to say "yes" to coming on the show!
Whether you're trying to book more speaking gigs, close better clients, or simply influence with integrity — this one's packed with actionable diamonds!

What you'll discover:

• How Chris Voss went from SWAT and undercover ops to suicide hotlines and high-stakes hostage negotiation — and why it made him one of the world's top communication experts.
• What compelled Chris to share his FBI-developed negotiation system with the world instead of retiring into the sunset — and how that decision shaped Never Split the Difference.
• The one negotiation tactic that sounds great on paper… but can actually backfire, and what to do instead.
• Chris's ride-or-die technique — the one negotiation move he'd keep if all others were off the table.
• The common "influence" move that actually kills deals faster than anything — and what to replace it with.
• How Chris would handle a client who's stalling on a deadline or payment — and the exact question he'd use to move them into action.
• The subtle ways Chris reads and influences a room when he's speaking — and how his FBI experience shapes his delivery and timing.
• Why "labelling the room" during a talk can deepen audience connection — and how to read silent resistance and adjust in the moment.
• What the concept of the "Black Swan" means for public speaking — and how spotting the right insight can completely change your impact.
• How to make your audience feel in control (even if you're the one guiding them) — and why that's the secret to ethical influence and increased action.
• Why "Yes is nothing without how" — and how to use this principle in your calls to action so that people actually follow through after your talk.

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here>>

Guest Information:
Website: https://www.blackswanltd.com/chris-voss
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophervoss

Books & Resources*:

Start with No by Jim Camp

The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler

Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

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 X, 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)