Ep. 322 WHAT COMEDIANS KNOW THAT SPEAKERS DON’T WITH CHRIS MCGUIRE
Release Date: 10/23/2025
Ep. 331 FIVE WAYS TO EMBODY A CHARACTER PHYSICALLY
Unforgettable Presentations
Our stories are more vivid when we embody the characters, and today, Mark and Darren explore simple yet effective ways to embody characters physically. With these techniques, characters are easily identifiable without a word. SNIPPETS: • Use their gait and walk as the character would walk • Identify and portray mannerisms • Observe family members to show character quirks – ‘QUIRKOLOGY’ • Suspend quirky movements to show emotional change • Look for your own mannerisms by recording and watching yourself on video ...
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Ep. 330 YOUR PERSONAL PAIN POINTS
Unforgettable Presentations
It’s always helpful to know your audience’s pain points. However, your pain points can be an avenue to building a relationship with them. Today, Darren and Mark share how to do just that, with ideas that can help you be unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Explore your pain points • Pain points are connectors • Give your audience the gift of your story • Capture your pain points and the lessons learned • Find common pain points in travel stories • Uncover the joy in your pain • Your pain can change their perspective...
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Ep. 329 ARE THEY LISTENING
Unforgettable Presentations
Once in a while, an audience is less emotive than most, leaving a speaker to wonder, “Are they listening?” Mark and Darren discuss that question today while providing perspective, context, and solid suggestions for presenting well in those circumstances. SNIPPETS: • Always be present • Bring your ‘A GAME’ • Don’t let a stoic audience affect your mission • External factors may affect audience response • Not every audience emotes • Create an environment that is conducive to listening • Be aware of the...
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Ep. 328 "I JUST NEED..."
Unforgettable Presentations
“I just need…” is a phrase that eager speakers often use when asking for advice. Oftentimes it’s followed by “a few tweaks,” “a punch-up,” “to add humor,” “a little polish,” or something similar. Today, Darren and Mark analyze this simple phrase and offer a perspective that will inspire you to examine it more closely. This episode will help you identify what you REALLY need, to be unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • You don’t know what you don’t know • Don’t just add a little humor; uncover it • Your NEED could only be a WANT...
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Ep. 327 ASK!
Unforgettable Presentations
There is a popular adage that says, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘No’.” In this episode, Mark and Darren talk about the benefits of asking for guidance, and how to respond, regardless of the answer. Asking can be your game-changer. SNIPPETS: • The answer is in the asking • When you ask, you can become a mentor magnet • Ask humbly, sincerely, honestly, and respectfully • Learn all you can during your client pre-event call • Ask more than one person/expert • Be coachable and take their advice • Respect...
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Ep. 326 CUSTOMIZING YOUR PRESENTATION
Unforgettable Presentations
One way to increase audience buy-in is to customize your presentation. Today, Darren and Mark dive into the why and how of customization. Applying these ideas will help any presenter to be unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Customizing isn’t just using the company’s logo and name on your slides • Do some homework and conduct research on your client • Get permission to speak with 10 significant audience members beforehand • Learn all you can during your client pre-event call • Two weeks in advance, find out what’s top-of-mind for your...
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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…”...
info_outlineSpeakers 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…”
• Establish Commonality through Incongruity
• Uncover the Gold Mines like the humble surroundings
• Address the elephants in the room
• Talk about what you have in common with the audience
• Respect and connect
• Your audience should feel that you wrote your speech just for them
• Use callbacks
• Sharpen your Humor Detector
Work with Mark and Darren:
https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/
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