Ep. 325 THE POWER AND PURPOSE OF PAIN POINTS
Unforgettable Presentations
To truly win your audience, you must identify and address their pain points. In this episode, Mark and Darren discuss the importance of understanding them and offer suggestions for uncovering them. SNIPPETS: • Pain points are triggers • Learn your audience’s pet peeves, pain points, and frustrations • Identify what’s top-of-mind to your audience • Our responsibility is to connect our content to their pain • Understanding pain points shows that you care • To connect, you must first understand • Understanding pain...
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Ep. 324 ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?
Unforgettable Presentations
The business of speaking can bring myriad complications and stressors. But in the midst of all that, Darren and Mark offer a reminder to enjoy the privilege of the speaking experience. Remaining joyful despite all that comes our way, will help those around us to see us as unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Choose to find the fun…and the funny • Remember your WHY • Accept the challenges that come in the industry • Relax. Breathe. Focus • Use your frustrations as speech material • Never lose perspective • Don’t forget the...
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Ep. 323 IT’S NOT THE SPEECH YOU GIVE...
Unforgettable Presentations
It’s easy to present principles, practices, and procedures, but the value is diminished when the speaker lacks experience. Today, Mark and Darren talk about the significance of bringing the lessons learned from your own successes and failure…the lessons that give you credibility and help make you unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Bring YOU to every presentation • No one pays for regurgitated wisdom • Transfer value from your own experience • Share lessons from the life you live • Credibility has an impact on your reputation • Get...
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Ep. 322 WHAT COMEDIANS KNOW THAT SPEAKERS DON’T WITH CHRIS MCGUIRE
Unforgettable Presentations
Speakers often open a speech with a greeting, a story, a strong statement, or a question. However, comedians use a technique that many speakers haven’t mastered. Humorist, Hollywood producer, and Stage Time faculty member Chris McGuire sits down with Darren and Mark to expand on this technique and shows how any presenter can find gold mines that can make you unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Do what comedians do • It’s all about connecting first • Use a ‘warm open’; don’t jump right in or use small talk. • “Before we get started…”...
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Ep. 320 “WORTH THE RISK” WITH TAYLOR CANDELLA
Unforgettable Presentations
Would you be willing to face an international audience of thousands with a clear message about personal faith? Today, Mark and Darren talk with a man who did just that in the 2025 World Championship of Public Speaking. Taylor Candella shares his path to the final and the conviction that drove him to take a significant risk. Taking a risk can make you unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Don’t listen to negative voices • Commit to your promise • Take a risk • Push yourself to compete • Select your test audience • Feel the room in advance...
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Ep. 321 SOUL ON FIRE MOVIE WITH JOHN O’LEARY
Unforgettable Presentations
Imagine a life-threatening tragedy, a miraculous fight for recovery, later speaking to more than 2,700 global audiences, and then the international release of a major motion picture about your life. That’s the story of today’s guest as Mark and Darren have a heart-to-heart chat with John O’Leary, subject of the 2025 film SOUL ON FIRE. John shares his journey and offers firm yet loving advice on professional speaking. He also dispenses wisdom and encouragement on living a meaningful life, from a perspective that will help any presenter to become unforgettable. SNIPPETS:...
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Ep. 319 “EXCUSE MY SLIDE, BUT…”
Unforgettable Presentations
Perhaps you’ve heard a speaker say something like, “Excuse my slide!” Today Darren and Mark talk frankly about why speakers make excuses for poor slides and offer firm suggestions for preparing and presenting effective, professional slides. SNIPPETS: • One slide, one point • If you have a lot of detail, put it in a handout • You must be able to defend your slides • Think of what the audience sees • What does the audience need to know? • Simplify your slides • Use fewer words on the slide, then explain as you present...
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Ep. 318 LAST STORY STANDING WINNER MICHELLE HUTCHINGS-MEDINA
Unforgettable Presentations
What does it take to win the National Speakers Association’s LAST STORY STANDING competition? Today, Mark and Darren get answers from the 2025 winner, Michelle Hutchings-Medina. She shares her journey, her process, and the lessons she learned along the way. Her wisdom will help any presenter on their path to delivering an unforgettable presentation. SNIPPETS: • Rethink how you use your voice • Marry your creativity to your desire to have an impactful message • Spend an hour every day working on your speaking • Do your best around your...
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Ep. 317 AI AND YOUR SPEECH WRITING?
Unforgettable Presentations
The use of AI has become prevalent, but how much should you use AI to develop and present your speech? Today, Mark and Darren are joined by their fellow World Champion and Certified Speaking Professional, Ed Tate, as they discuss ways to ethically use AI as you create your unforgettable presentation. SNIPPETS: • AI can be relied on too heavily • There always has to be a human in the middle • Be committed to YOUR content • Be connected to YOUR content • Use AI as an intern • Let AI help, but don’t rely on it •...
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Ep. 316 “BUT I SPEAK FROM THE HEART…”
Unforgettable Presentations
Darren freely admits that early in his career, he resisted writing out his presentations because he always spoke from the heart. In this brief episode, he and Mark discuss the value of speaking from the heart, and the additional benefit of doing so with the right preparation and structure. SNIPPETS: • Speaking from the heart is good, but passion doesn’t equal effectiveness • The heart isn’t the best editor • You can’t edit what isn’t written • What’s in your mind doesn’t always come out of your mouth • Speak in a way that the...
info_outlineOver the years Darren and Mark have made…and seen…several mistakes. Today they’re joined by Stage Time University faculty member Mike Davis as they discuss the mistakes they see most often…even after 30+ years of coaching. This episode feature mistakes #10 through #6 in the countdown. Avoiding these will help you to be unforgettable on the platform.
SNIPPETS:
• Avoid ending on Q & A or with a ‘THANK YOU’ slide
• Circle back to your opening and end with impact
• Can your audience see themselves in your story
• Do research and homework to relate more closely with your audience
• Use present tense and phrases like “let me take you back…”
• End with punchy, concrete words
• Show the consequences of actions NOT taken
• Be clear on what is at stake
• Avoid continuous narration
• Use dialogue, body language and facial expression for depiction
6. Too Much “Tell,” Not Enough “Show”
Why it matters: Narrating facts and feelings doesn't activate the audience’s imagination. The brain craves visuals, dialogue, and motion.
✅ Fix: Include short bursts of scene-based storytelling. Show reactions. Use dialogue. Let us see and feel it.
7. Unclear If-Then Stakes
Why it matters: Without an IF-THEN, there’s no urgency. No reason to act. No consequence for staying the same.
✅ Fix: Highlight the risk: “If I stayed silent, we would have lost the client. If I spoke up, I might get fired.”
8. Repetitive Sentence Structures or Passive Voice
Why it matters: Flat rhythms, present participles, or soft endings weaken emotional impact and energy.
✅ Fix: Use nouns and verbs up front. End sentences with punchy, concrete words. Vary rhythm.
9. No Audience Relevance or Personalization
Why it matters: Some stories sound good but don’t connect. If the audience can’t see themselves in it, they tune out.
✅ Fix: Ask the reflective question during the story: “Have you ever felt like that?” or “What would you have done in that moment?”
10. Ending With a Fizzle, Not a Frame
Why it matters: If the ending feels rushed, abstract, or purely emotional, the story won’t stick.
✅ Fix: Reframe the opening or image in a new way. Bring the story full circle. Land with clarity and resonance.
Work with Mark and Darren:
https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/
Check Out Stage Time University:
https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com