The 5 Stories That Shape You

In this episode, story strategist Amanda Baker shares how leaders and creatives can shape meaningful stories using her 5 Stories method. We explore why personal stories matter, how to overcome fear, and how to build real connection through storytelling. What makes a story powerful? Why do so many business leaders struggle to tell their own? In this episode of the Ideas on Stage Podcast, Amanda Baker, story strategist and creator of the 5 Stories method, shares how leaders can reconnect with themselves, communicate with meaning and shape stories that create real connection.
Continue ReadingWhat Writing 3,477 Speeches Taught Obama’s Speechwriter

In this special event, Terry Szuplat – former White House speechwriter for President Barack Obama and author of Say It Well – shared practical lessons on how to prepare, structure and deliver speeches that connect. From focusing on one core idea to owning your words, his insights showed how any leader can speak with more clarity and impact. At our recent special event, we had the chance to hear directly from Terry Szuplat, one of President Barack Obama’s longest-serving speechwriters and the author of Say It Well. More than 250 people registered to join the live conversation, where Terry shared stories from his time at the White House and practical lessons on how anyone can speak with greater clarity and impact.
Continue ReadingWhy Kindness Works at Work

In this episode, Graham Allcott shares how kindness can drive performance, build trust and shape strong workplace cultures. We explore the difference between kindness and niceness, the ROI of empathy and practical ways leaders can embed kindness into how they lead. In this episode of the Ideas on Stage Podcast, productivity expert and author Graham Allcott shares how kindness – often dismissed or misunderstood – can be a powerful force in leadership, culture and performance.
Continue ReadingThe Power of Nonviolent Communication in Business

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage Podcast, Mary Mackenzie shares how Nonviolent Communication (NVC) helps leaders and professionals build stronger relationships, give feedback without defensiveness, and align their actions with their values. Learn practical strategies to communicate with empathy, clarity and impact. In this episode of the Ideas on Stage Podcast, Mary Mackenzie, Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and CEO of the NVC Academy, joined us to explore the power of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in leadership, business and everyday life.
Continue ReadingWhat Comedians Know That Business Leaders Should Learn

Discover how humour can transform your business communication. In this episode of the Ideas on Stage Podcast, Beth Sherman – Emmy-winning comedy writer and speaker – shares practical strategies to connect with audiences, build trust and add just the right dose of humour to any message. In this episode of the Ideas on Stage Podcast, Emmy Award-winning comedy writer Beth Sherman shares practical ways business leaders can use humour to build trust, connect with audiences and communicate more effectively.
Continue ReadingHow Listening Transforms Your Speaking

In this special masterclass, Julian Treasure – international speaker and TED Talk legend – explores how listening shapes the way we speak. He shares practical tools to help leaders and professionals become better listeners, stronger communicators and more impactful speakers. On July 2, we hosted a special live session with Julian Treasure, one of the world’s leading experts on communication. Julian is known for his TED Talk “How to speak so that people want to listen,” which has been viewed over 60 million times. But in this session, he focused on a skill many overlook: listening.
Continue ReadingHow to Be the Speaker Everyone Wants to Book

Mark Denton knows what it means to lead in uncertain conditions. Twenty-five years ago, he led a team of non-professionals in one of the world’s toughest yacht races, sailing against the spin of the earth, facing harsh weather, fatigue and the constant need to adapt. The experience taught him lessons about leadership, teamwork and resilience – lessons he has since shared with business leaders and professional audiences around the world.
Continue ReadingWhat Improv Can Teach You About Speaking Under Pressure: Lessons from Patricia Ryan Madson

When people think about improvisation, they often imagine actors on a stage making things up on the spot. But Patricia Ryan Madson, author of Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up, has spent decades showing that improvisation is much more than a performance tool – it’s a way of thinking that can transform the way we communicate. In our conversation on the Ideas on Stage Podcast, Patricia shared how improv principles can help anyone become a better speaker, presenter and communicator. She has taught at Stanford University, worked with some of the world’s top companies, and distilled her wisdom into 13 maxims that encourage people to embrace spontaneity, handle uncertainty and trust themselves.
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