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Speaking & Connecting

The art of connecting, communicating, and convincing others through speech was very much alive even as long ago as 2300 years ago, when Aristotle was running his Academy in ancient Athens. It's an art with its own techniques and tricks of the trade, acquired from observation, study, and on-the-job training. In this section, you will discover elements of the art from aspiring and actual World Champions of Pubic Speaking, from everyday speakers to big name speakers. And from articles as well.

5 Favorite Big Stage Speeches #2

The easiest way to improve your speaking is to study those further ahead on Speech Mountain. And the easiest way to do that - free - is to visit YouTube...
An article by Brian Woolf (May 23, 2022)

Become A Better Contest Speaker

How to build and deliver a contest-worthy speech is covered in this 51-minute video to D58's (SC) Toastmasters Leadership Institute. It includes a simple way to understand the judging sheet; How to select a good topic; Ways to build a strong audience connection; Differentiation and other ways to help the audience remember you...
A speech by Brian Woolf (January 15, 2022)

5 Favorite Big Stage Speeches #1

The easiest way to improve your speaking is to study those further ahead on Speech Mountain. And the easiest way to do that - free - is to visit YouTube...
An article by Brian Woolf (January 14, 2022)

Hard Labour In New Zealand

Political speeches have always fascinated me because the best ones use creative, clever, and colorful words, humor that lampoon opponents, and are sprinkled with rhetorical devices, such as contrast and triples. All are seen here in this public address, reproduced with the speaker's permission...
A speech by David Seymour (November 20, 2021)

A Great Read

Winner, World Championship of Public Speaking, 2021. A truly remarkable, high-connection speech made more remarkable considering this contest was via Zoom with contestants delivering their speeches to an audience-free, blank screen.
A speech by Verity Price (www.iamverity.com) (August 28, 2021)

The Challenge

Semifinal Winning Speech, Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, 2021. Some speakers easily and effectively connect with audiences with a comfortable blend of their conversational and body languages. Verity Price is one of those gifted communicators... As you will see and read.
A speech by Verity Price (www.iamverity.com) (August 24, 2021)

Contrast = Better Speeches

Giving a speech? Want your message remembered? Your key points readily recalled? Then invite contrast to be one of your closest speech-crafting companions...
An article by Brian Woolf (November 29, 2020)

Make The TAPE Your MATE

4 Foolproof Ways to Salt your Speeches with Humor
An article by Brian Woolf (August 2, 2020)

Fifty Shades Of Grey

Semifinalist, World Championship of Public Speaking, 2018. If you view a lot of contests, you'll always find some speeches that don't win one of the top three trophies but do win a place in your memory. This is one of them because I both enjoyed it and learned from it. I hope you do, too...
A speech by John Zimmer (https://mannerofspeaking.org) (August 23, 2018)

The Haymaker

Winner, Semifinal Contest, World Championship of Public Speaking, 2018. With less than a year in Toastmasters a young man rises to win the semifinalist title which projected him onto the Big Stage (the Final 10.) How did this happen? By retelling and reliving his story on the stage of a scrawny kid in the ring and then hitting us with a haymaker.
A speech by Kevin Johnson (August 23, 2018)

My Red Lehenga

Toastmaster clubs are in over 140 countries which means a wide diversity of ideas - and humor. This is a witty, fun-laced speech with a serious message about a student from afar coming to study in the United States...
A speech by Sameera Khan (August 20, 2017)

Burn The Pink Candle

Winner, Toastmasters District 58 (South Carolina) Speech Contest. This speech is special to me. It's one of the most meaningful messages I've heard. Partly because the speaker was a fellow club-member, friend, and competitor. And partly because I know it was genuine and heartfelt. Geneva has since passed but she and her message are unforgettable...
A speech by Geneva Anderson (May 16, 2015)

Anatomy Of A Humorous Speech

An analysis by John Zimmer. This is a speech education zinger! After John Zimmer won Toastmasters 2009 District 59 (Continental Europe) Humorous Speech Contest he decided to analyze it and share his findings. I am delighted he did for it's an extremely helpful analysis of a humorous speech. John wrote...
An article by John Zimmer (www.mannerofspeaking.org) (November 29, 2009)

Jay - You Need To Get A Life

Winner, Toastmasters District 37 (North Carolina) Humorous Contest, 2008. This speech was special because Jay's uses exaggerated absurdity to talk of simple things surrounding him which he deftly threads together with the title phrase, "Jay - You need to get a life." Enjoy his humorship...
A speech by Jay Nodine (October 1, 2008)

The Golden Years - Yeah! Right!

Winner, Toastmasters District 37 (North Carolina) Humorous Contest, 2007. This is one of the funniest humorous speeches heard in my 50 years of Toastmasters.
A speech by Jay Nodine (October 1, 2007)

Postcard

Winner, Semifinal Contest, World Championship of Public Speaking, 2007. This speech is special. The speaker talks to each of us, reminding us of what's really important as we go about our lives. I first heard this speech over a dozen years ago and I've never forgotten its image and its message. I suspect you won't either.
A speech by Vikas Jhingran (June 16, 2007)

Five Smooth Stones

Winner, Semifinal Contest, World Championship of Public Speaking: This is a speech that connects. The speaker talks to us, one-to-one, from beginning to end. He uses examples we understand. He builds clear pictures. And he shows us how, with careful thought, an hilarious, yet relevant, Twist can be designed and delivered, winning audiences hearts and judges scoresheets.
A speech by Jock Elliott (www.jockelliott.com.au) (August 1, 2006)

The Ultimate Question

Winner, World Championship of Public Speaking, 2005. This speech is aimed at each of us. It's a fun speech with a simple but important message which is artfully threaded throughout. Lance's conversational style, laced with rhyming and repetition, makes his journey of discovery an enjoyable experience...
A speech by Lance Miller (www.lancemillerspeaks.com) (August 20, 2005)

Lessons From Fatdad

Winner, World Championship of Public Speaking, 2004. I had the pleasure of seeing Randy deservedly win this trophy with his story about love -- the love in his family experienced while growing up and covered in a collection of vivid vignettes, energetically and enthusiastically relived on stage. Enjoy!
A speech by Randy J Harvey (www.randyjharvey.com) (August 24, 2004)

A Many-Splendored Thing

Winner, World Championship of Public Speaking, 1989. This is a Happy Speech - delightful but, alas, rare. You walk away from such speeches feeling good about the speaker, yourself, and the world, due to the speaker's positivity and to the commonality of the message. You will enjoy this!
A speech by Don Johnson (August 19, 1989)

Examples Change - Principles Remain

Principles don't change over time-only the examples, observed a friend recently after reading this speech from over thirty years ago. But decide for yourself: Are these business principles still relevant today? [And, while reading, feel free to mentally update the speech with your own recent examples.]
A speech by Brian Woolf (January 5, 1989)

The Pain Passes

Winner, Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, 1987. A speech with an unforgettable opening that immediately captures our curiosity-one of the great French painters caring for another. This unique insight draws us into a speech seamlessly tied together as it journeys to a flawless finale...
A speech by Harold G. Patterson (August 22, 1987)

I Warn You

This speech is reproduced with the permission of the speaker, Lord Kinnock. It was Kinnock's stump speech, delivered without notes, 3 weeks before the General Election at the Labor Party Conference in Wales.
A speech by Lord Neil Kinnock (May 15, 1987)

Leviathan

Third Place, Toastmasters District Speech Contest: This is a speech whose message challenges the audience while aiming at their hearts and minds. In a way, it's a book report - a powerful speech inspired by a book.
A speech by Jock Elliott (www.jockelliott.com.au) (July 1, 1979)

The Hollow Men

Third Place, ToastMasters Semi-Final Contest (Regional): Toastmasters contests can address any topic and must be delivered between 4:30 And 7:30 Minutes. Word length is typically 600-800 words. My first contest year and here I was at the World Championship Semifinals. My topic was one I cared about.
A speech by Brian Woolf (June 1, 1978)

Our Greatest Treasure

Winner, Toastmasters District 10, NE Ohio: This speech was my first serious effort at competing in Toastmasters so, as a relative newcomer to the US, I spoke of my admiration for the treasure that America protected on the world's behalf.
A speech by Brian Woolf (May 1, 1978)

The Whiskey Speech

Delivered to Mississippi State Legislators, this speech concerned a politically hot issue: The question of prohibition of alcoholic liquor, a law then in force in Mississippi.
A speech by Rep. Noah S. 'Soggy' Sweat, Jr (April 4, 1952)

 
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