Libsyn Directory

424: Evolving Your Brand is a Must: How to Align Who You Are, Even the Messy Parts

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Release Date: 02/03/2025

Behind the Scenes of My AI-Powered Business: Real-World Use Cases

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Ever wish you had an extra set of hands - or better yet, an AI assistant - to take care of all those repetitive tasks in your business? In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes to share the exact AI-powered workflows I’ve built and now rely on every week at Speaking Your Brand. From automating my podcast production (yes, even these show notes!) to cloning my voice for a brand-new companion podcast, you’ll get a sense at what’s possible - and what's already working. I walk you through real-world examples of how I’m using AI to: Save time with automated content workflows ...

AI Is Already Impacting Your Business – Here are 4 Innovative Ways to Leverage It

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

AI isn’t just on the horizon - it’s already here, reshaping how we work, connect, and show up in our businesses, no matter what industry you’re in. In this episode, I share how AI has fundamentally changed how I run Speaking Your Brand, well beyond using tools like ChatGPT (though I use that too!). I walk you through 4 powerful questions, originally posed by Wharton professor Ethan Mollick, that I’ve been reflecting on deeply and that can help you rethink your own services, content, and visibility. You’ll hear: What I used to do in my business that AI now does better (and...

Why Your Tech Presentations Aren’t Landing - and How to Fix Them

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

You’ve packed your presentation with data, insights, and value — but your audience isn’t responding the way you hoped. If you’ve ever looked out and seen glazed-over eyes… or walked off stage and didn’t get the results you wanted, this episode is for you. As a former software developer and technology strategist who has presented at countless conferences and meetups, I’ve learned what works — and what doesn’t — when it comes to making technical or detail-heavy presentations land with impact. If you’re in a technical field — technology, software, AI, science, healthcare,...

What Giving a TED-Style Talk Revealed About Us as Speakers

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to create, practice for, and deliver a powerful TED-style talk - especially one that’s only 8 minutes long? In this episode, I’m joined by Diane Diaz, our lead speaking coach at Speaking Your Brand, as we take you behind the scenes of our recent TED-style speaking experience. We were invited to be part of a live event called ElleX, hosted by a women’s entrepreneurship group at a local college. We had only one week to prepare our full talks for the audition! Diane and I share: How we came up with our topics and aligned them with the...

What Most Speakers Miss: 3 Secrets to Insightful and Inspirational Presentations

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Have you ever walked away from a presentation thinking, “That was… fine,” but not truly moved, inspired, or motivated? Here’s the truth: Most presenters mean well - they want to share valuable information - but they miss what truly makes a talk stick with the audience. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a recent presentation I gave at a local AI meetup that got amazing feedback - not because I taught all the things, but because I did these 3 key things instead. You’ll learn: What made this AI-focused talk both insightful and inspiring to a room full of people at all...

From Expert to Thought Leader: 3 Key Strategies You Need Now in the AI Age

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

If I take a look at your slide deck or presentation outline and I can’t tell that the content is yours (vs. another speaker on your topic), you’re in danger of being a commodity speaker. Commodity speakers are undifferentiated and interchangeable. It will be harder for you to attract higher-profile speaking engagements, raise your speaking fees, and generate quality leads at your presentations. What you want instead is for your content to position you as a thought leader. You will have a much bigger impact on your audiences and your speaking will be an effective marketing channel and...

The Heart of Your Message: Why Emotion is Your Secret Speaking Superpower

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

As speakers and entrepreneurs, we often focus on the facts, data, and tactics we want to share – but what about the emotional connection? In this episode, I talk about the power of finding the emotional heart of your message and why it’s essential for creating talks that resonate deeply with your audience and leave a lasting impact. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the emotional heart of your message is critical for building trust and connection How mirror neurons make our brains wired for empathy and why that matters in storytelling Examples from popular culture, including Hamilton...

How to Land a TEDx Talk: From Idea to Application

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Have you ever imagined standing on a TEDx stage, spotlight on you, sharing a bold, transformative idea that resonates deeply with your audience? TEDx talks are powerful platforms, not just for delivering information, but for sparking new perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring change. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it takes to land a TEDx talk, based on my experience selecting speakers for TEDx events and coaching clients to develop their big ideas. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just starting to find your voice, I’ll guide you through what you...

What a Signature Talk Really Is - and What It Should Be Doing for You

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Have you ever wondered what truly makes a “signature talk”… well, signature? In this solo episode, I’m breaking down what a signature talk actually is (and what it isn’t), why most presentations fall flat, and how you can create a talk that not only connects with your audience — but also works for you as a speaker and thought leader. This episode is especially for you if you’ve ever felt stuck in what I call “the expert trap” - where you think you have to cram in as much information and training as possible in order to provide value. (Spoiler alert: that’s not how...

Want to Feel More Confident on Stage? Start Here.

Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

I’ve been there. Heart pounding, mouth dry, butterflies swirling - even after years of speaking on stages and on live TV. In this episode, I share some of my hardest speaking moments (including my worst ever speaking experience) and the surprising reasons we feel nervous before we speak, even when we know our stuff inside and out. You’ll learn: The 3 big reasons we get nervous (it’s not just about being unprepared!) How our physiology plays a bigger role than we realize — and how to work with it, not against it What to do in advance to reduce anxiety and boost confidence ...

More Episodes

We hear all the time that we should “reinvent” ourselves to stay relevant.

Or that we should ignore or dismiss aspects of our careers that no longer seem to “fit” with what we’re doing now.

I’m not sure we can truly “reinvent” ourselves, nor should we.

Instead, we should embrace how we evolve over time - and actually seek out ways to challenge ourselves to evolve!

In this episode, Diane Diaz, our lead speaking coach, joins me for a lively and insightful conversation about the difference between reinvention and evolution.

We explore why embracing your full self - quirks, career twists, and even those moments that feel “messy” - is essential for authenticity and personal branding.

Diane shares how her Ironman journey continues to influence her life, even years later, and I reflect on bringing my tech background into Speaking Your Brand’s evolution.

You’ll learn:

Why “reinvention” might not be the right word (and why evolution feels more authentic)
The importance of challenging yourself - even when it feels uncomfortable
How to embrace all aspects of your past, from childhood passions to career pivots, to shape your personal brand
What saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities (hello, comedy sets!) can do for your growth

This episode is full of personal stories and actionable takeaways to help you think about what’s next for you. Whether it’s launching a podcast, tackling public speaking, delivering a TEDx talk, or simply trying something new, it’s never too late to evolve.

This episode was filmed in one of the beautiful studios on the campus of Full Sail University, where Diane and I have been teaching business and marketing classes since 2009.

Watch the video episode (you’ll love it, including some behind the scenes!) at https://youtu.be/718HGeeKr20

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction: Reinvention vs. Evolution – Are You Challenging Yourself?
[00:25] Behind the Scenes: Filming at Full Sail University
[01:15] Why Evolution is More Authentic Than Reinvention
[02:33] Embracing Your Full Self in Your Personal Brand
[04:19] Diane’s Ironman Journey: Lessons That Still Resonate
[06:48] Carol’s Career Evolution: From Tech to Speaking Your Brand
[08:46] The Role of Adaptability in Personal and Professional Growth
[10:36] Saying Yes to Unexpected Opportunities (Diane’s Comedy Set!)
[12:21] The Importance of Enjoying the Process Over Perfection
[13:02] Closing Thoughts: What’s Your Next Challenge?

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/424/

Watch the video of this episode at https://youtu.be/718HGeeKr20

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Join us at our B.O.L.D. Brand Intensive Retreat in London in Summer 2025: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/london/

Connect on LinkedIn:

Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/
Dr. Nicole Rochester = https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-rochester-md/

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