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Ep. 365 YOUR BRAINSTORM BUDDY?

Unforgettable Presentations

Release Date: 08/20/2026

Ep. 365 YOUR BRAINSTORM BUDDY? show art Ep. 365 YOUR BRAINSTORM BUDDY?

Unforgettable Presentations

Peer collaboration may be just what you need to get breakthroughs and insights. Reflecting on a recent CREATE YOUR UNFORGETTABLE KEYNOTE 3-Day workshop, Darren & Mark discuss the benefits of both having and being a brainstorm buddy. They also expound on the value of having brainstorm buddies from unexpected sources.   SNIPPETS: • Gives a different perspective • Has a heart to help   • Opens our thinking   • Have a Zoom coffee   • Draw from the expertise of others   • Look outside your industry   • Consider neighbors, teens, and others in your...

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Ep. 364 SPEAKING TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES – ASIF ALI, DEWAN TO PRINCE OF ARCOT show art Ep. 364 SPEAKING TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES – ASIF ALI, DEWAN TO PRINCE OF ARCOT

Unforgettable Presentations

Most presenters serve a niche audience, but how should they navigate serving diverse audiences? Today Mark and Darren talk with Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot, from the Royal Family in Chennai, India. Asif shares the techniques and mindset that he applies to address a broad range of audience demographics…from kids to diplomats to United Nations audiences. His expertise and experience will help any presenter to be unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • Read widely • Be willing to share your knowledge   • Be eager to learn from young and more mature alike...

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Ep. 363 CONNECT QUICKLY WITH HIGH-STAKES AUDIENCES show art Ep. 363 CONNECT QUICKLY WITH HIGH-STAKES AUDIENCES

Unforgettable Presentations

Darren often says: “We must connect before we can educate, inspire or persuade.” Today, Darren and Mark talk with veteran late-night comedy writer and Human Humor Detector Chris McGuire about the importance of connecting quickly. Chris lays out a proven strategy that will help any presenter to connect early and effectively…especially when speaking to high-stakes audiences.   SNIPPETS: • You must connect early • Audiences immediately want to know what’s in it for them   • Become a pain point detective   • Show that you see them and you get them   • Use...

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Ep. 362 BE UNFORGETTABLE ON LINKEDIN WITH RICHARD BLISS show art Ep. 362 BE UNFORGETTABLE ON LINKEDIN WITH RICHARD BLISS

Unforgettable Presentations

“LinkedIn is always changing! How do we stay current?” This question is on the minds of many, and today Mark and Darren get answers from LinkedIn Top Voice Richard Bliss. As they discuss critical changes to the platform, Richard shares the simple but necessary adjustments that will help us maximize our reach on LinkedIn.   SNIPPETS: • LinkedIn is BUSINESS MEDIA, not a social media platform • We must change our mindset about the platform   • It tracks and analyzes our behaviors   • It will warn users and suspend them if necessary   • Beware LinkedIn jail...

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Ep. 361 KEEPERS AND ACTION ITEMS? show art Ep. 361 KEEPERS AND ACTION ITEMS?

Unforgettable Presentations

There is no guarantee that audiences will remember every nugget and act after a presentation. This is especially true when leading workshops and multi-day programs. Darren and Mark expound on two tools that make this easier: KEEPERS and ACTION ITEMS. They explain how these tools help program attendees retain content and follow up on their own action plans more consistently.   SNIPPETS: • KEEPERS are ‘ahas’, ACTION ITEMS are to-dos • Keepers can come from the presenter(s) and other attendees   • Invite attendees to share their Keepers and Action Items   • Common...

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Ep. 360 VIRTUALLY ENGAGING? show art Ep. 360 VIRTUALLY ENGAGING?

Unforgettable Presentations

Virtual presentations are here to stay and as presenters we must keep our audiences interested and engaged, sometimes for multi-day programs.  Mark and Darren have conducted virtual programs for several years and today they are joined by Stage Time University faculty member Mike Davis as they share proven techniques for keeping virtual audiences engaged.   SNIPPETS: • Have a co-host or co-presenter • Be prepared for technical difficulties   • Dress professionally on camera   • Avoid eating/drinking on camera unless it is germane   • Be aware that your...

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Ep. 359  WHAT’S A STORY DIG? show art Ep. 359  WHAT’S A STORY DIG?

Unforgettable Presentations

Stories well told can be inspiring, entertaining and enlightening. However, sometimes speakers inadvertently omit the most compelling elements of their stories. Today Darren and Mark discuss the STORY DIG…a process for excavating the backstory, character motivation, and emotional depth that the speaker is too close to see themselves.   SNIPPETS: • Get a qualified coach to ask the right questions • Dig deeper   • There’s a WHY behind every story   • Uncover the emotional component behind the story   • Find what goes beyond the hero’s apparent primary...

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Ep. 358  STORYTELLING MISTAKES? show art Ep. 358 STORYTELLING MISTAKES?

Unforgettable Presentations

Everyone appreciates a story, and the difference between a good story and an unforgettable story comes down to a few mistakes that many speakers make. In this episode, Mark and Darren discuss common storytelling mistakes, offer ways to avoid them, and share techniques for making your stories unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • Do a walkthrough with a proven process • Learn what constitutes a ‘well-told story’   • Avoid narration only   • Include a solid setup to provide context   • Identify ‘COMPELLEMENTS’ – compelling moments in each story   •...

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Ep. 356  HOW COACHING TRANSFORMS show art Ep. 356  HOW COACHING TRANSFORMS

Unforgettable Presentations

Following up on last week’s episode, Darren and Mark talk with Philip Riggs, A VIP client at their recent OWN THE STAGE 3-DAY presentation coaching workshop. Philip shares the lessons and insights that empowered him to transform his speech almost overnight and earned him a standing ovation on Day 3. He also explains ways that he changed as a result of the coaching process.   SNIPPETS: • Be determined to learn • Stretch yourself   • Be open to learning from others, even if they are strangers   • Make your content ‘YOU-focused’   • Look for every area of...

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Ep. 355  HOW COACHING MAKES A DIFFERENCE show art Ep. 355  HOW COACHING MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Unforgettable Presentations

Can coaching make a big difference, especially if you are fairly accomplished and experienced?  In this episode, Mark and Darren get answers from four clients who participated in a recent OWN THE STAGE 3-DAY presentation coaching workshop. Bernadette, Glenn, Elaine, and Beth share their experiences, offer their perspective, and explain the benefits. They prove that qualified coaching can help any presenter to become unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • Evokes your humanity • Forces you to humble yourself   • Uncovers humor   • Provides AHAs   • Makes speeches...

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More Episodes

Peer collaboration may be just what you need to get breakthroughs and insights. Reflecting on a recent CREATE YOUR UNFORGETTABLE KEYNOTE 3-Day workshop, Darren & Mark discuss the benefits of both having and being a brainstorm buddy. They also expound on the value of having brainstorm buddies from unexpected sources.

 

SNIPPETS:

• Gives a different perspective


• Has a heart to help

 

• Opens our thinking

 

• Have a Zoom coffee

 

• Draw from the expertise of others

 

• Look outside your industry

 

• Consider neighbors, teens, and others in your social circle

 

• Tap into a brain unlike yours

 

• They help you to be more creative in less time

 

• They can help you test new material

 

• AI helps, but cannot replace human interaction

 

Work with Mark and Darren:

https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/

 

Check Out Stage Time University:

https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com