Libsyn Directory

93. No Sweat Public Speaking: Fred E. Miller on Overcoming Fear and Mastering the Art of Communication

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

Release Date: 02/13/2025

120. Building Something That Holds: Loryn and Edo Nalic on Partnership, Perseverance, and Belonging from Balkan Treat Box

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s The Point?, I sit down with Loryn Nalic and Edo Nalic, partners in life and work and the force behind Balkan Treat Box, Telva, and the Ridge Room in St. Louis. Their story isn’t just about building award-winning restaurants. It’s about displacement, resilience, trust, and what happens when two people commit to solving problems together instead of letting adversity define them. Edo shares what it was like growing up in Bosnia during war, fleeing to Germany, living with uncertainty, and eventually coming to the United States alone. Loryn reflects on a very...

119. From Survival to Self-Respect: Jason Van Ruler on Healing Old Patterns

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I sit down with Jason Van Ruler for an honest conversation about healing, responsibility, and the quiet work of becoming someone you can respect. Jason shares parts of his story that began in instability—growing up in a chaotic environment, learning early how to survive, and internalizing beliefs about worth that followed him into adulthood. Like many of us, he found himself repeating familiar patterns, even when they no longer served him. We talk about the turning point that came when Jason realized that awareness alone wasn’t enough. Wanting change...

118. The Secure Leader: How Attachment Shapes Trust, Leadership, and Purpose with Dr. Jaime Goff

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, host Bill Ellis sits down with Dr. Jaime Goff, founder of The Empathic Leader, LLC and author of The Secure Leader, for a powerful conversation on how our earliest emotional experiences quietly shape the way we lead. Drawing from her background in psychology, higher education leadership, and executive coaching, Dr. Goff explains how attachment patterns formed in childhood influence trust, control, communication, and emotional regulation in adulthood—especially in leadership roles. She shares personal stories from her own journey, including growing up...

117. From Experiments to Empowering Creatives: Kacper Staniul on Purpose, Curiosity, and Building What Matters

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I talk with Kacper Staniul, founder and CEO of MyArchitectAI, about how purpose often reveals itself not through a single calling—but through curiosity, experimentation, and the discipline to keep building. Kacper’s journey began far from startups and artificial intelligence. As a university student in Poland studying materials science, he admits he had little sense of direction. What changed everything was exposure to the internet and the realization that learning wasn’t limited to formal education. That discovery sparked curiosity, and curiosity...

116. The Fight Within Us: Gavin Lance Topp on Purpose, Sobriety, and Becoming a Man

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I sit down with Gavin Lance Topp, a former professional boxer whose life has been shaped as much by the battles outside the ring as the ones inside it. Gavin’s story is a powerful exploration of purpose, identity, and the fight within us all. Growing up in Australia and moving often as a child, Gavin found structure and validation in boxing. What began as an outlet for rage and energy became a disciplined pursuit that carried him from amateur fights to becoming the Australian Junior Middleweight Champion and eventually earning a world ranking. But as...

115. From Struggle to Sustainability: How Purpose Takes Shape with Vanessa Thompson

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point?, I’m joined by Vanessa Thompson, whose story is a clear reminder that purpose doesn’t usually arrive fully formed. More often, it takes shape slowly—through struggle, uncertainty, and hard-earned clarity. Vanessa shares her journey through seasons of instability and questioning, moments where the path forward wasn’t obvious, and how those experiences ultimately reshaped how she thinks about work, success, and sustainability. We talk about how easy it is to chase outcomes without pausing to ask whether the life we’re building is actually...

114. Painting the World Our Children Will Inherit: Purpose, Art, and Community with Cbabi Bayoc

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point, I sit down with artist Cbabi Bayoc, a painter, muralist, illustrator, and author whose work is rooted in one powerful idea: painting the world he wants his children—and all of our children—to thrive in. Cbabi shares how his art has always been about people. Faces. Emotion. Community. From his early days studying at Grambling State University to drawing caricatures at Six Flags, he learned to observe humanity closely, to listen, and to let people teach him through their reactions. What could have been discouraging moments became lessons in humility,...

113. Grit, Grace, and Becoming: How Tracy Spears Found Strength Through Truth, Belonging & Leadership

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

When you sit down with someone who has lived a big life, you can feel it instantly. That’s exactly what happened in today’s conversation with Tracy Spears—author, speaker, leadership coach, and co-founder of the Exceptional Leaders Lab. Her story is one of grit earned the hard way, grace discovered over time, and the lifelong work of becoming who we actually are. Tracy’s journey begins in a trailer park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where early messages about work ethic, worthiness, and performing for belonging shaped her worldview. She openly shares how one sentence from her father in third...

112. Healing Our Relationship With Nature: Purpose, Restoration, and Hope with Tim Christophersen

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point, I sit down with Tim Christophersen, one of the world’s leading voices in nature restoration and conservation, to explore what really drives us as humans and how we find meaning in our relationship with the natural world. Tim’s journey is a powerful human story of growth, purpose, and responsibility — and it’s bigger than politics, bigger than hot-button climate debates, and deeper than soundbites. Tim shares how his love of nature began as a young boy walking through forests in Germany with his grandfather, quietly building the foundation for a...

111. Finding Meaning Through Resilience and Kindness with Noemi Beres

What's The Point? - Discover Your Purpose

In this episode of What’s the Point, I sit down with Noemi Beres, a woman whose life story is a powerful reflection of resilience, kindness, and purpose. From growing up in Hungary in a modest but deeply loving family, to becoming an entrepreneur, connector, and creative force, Noemi shares what keeps her going and how she discovered what truly matters. Noemi opens up about her childhood, shaped by hardworking parents and the strong values of Eastern Europe. She shares how her family’s history — stories of survival, perseverance, and hope — gave her the foundation to keep going, even...

More Episodes

The Power of Public Speaking
In this episode of What’s the Point?, Bill Ellis sits down with Fred E. Miller, an internationally recognized speaker, best-selling author, and public speaking coach. Fred has spent years helping people overcome their fear of speaking, improve their networking skills, and deliver presentations with confidence. His books, NO SWEAT Public Speaking! and NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!, have guided countless professionals toward becoming stronger communicators. If you've ever struggled with public speaking—or want to take your presentation skills to the next level—this episode is packed with invaluable insights.

Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways:

Why Public Speaking Matters: How speaking opportunities translate into business, career, and leadership growth.
Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking: Why the fear of failure holds people back and how to push past it.
Lessons from Toastmasters: How joining Toastmasters transformed Fred’s approach to communication.
The Power of Storytelling: Why people remember stories and how they create lasting connections.
Career Shifts and Taking Risks: Fred’s leap from corporate life at Procter & Gamble to becoming a business owner.
The Secret to a Great Elevator Speech: Crafting a concise, clear, and compelling introduction that opens doors.
Presentation Best Practices: The importance of using slides correctly, practicing effectively, and engaging your audience.
Why Everyone Needs a Coach: How professional coaching accelerates growth and helps identify blind spots.
Travel and Communication: How traveling the world reinforces the importance of connection and effective communication.

Fred E. Miller reminds us that public speaking is a skill that can open doors to new opportunities. Whether you’re in business, leadership, or just looking to communicate more effectively, mastering the art of speaking can make all the difference. His message is clear: never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.

Don’t miss an episode of What’s the Point?! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with someone who wants to improve their public speaking skills. Confidence starts with taking the first step—so why not start today?

Connect with Bill:

Links for This Episode:

Name: Fred Elliott Miller
Email: Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
Phone: 314-517-8772
Website(s) https://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com

SOCIAL MEDIA INFO:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredemiller
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fredelliottmiller
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredelliottmiller

Quick Episode Summary:

0:00 Bill introduces Fred E. Miller and his expertise in public speaking.
1:17 Fred shares his journey into public speaking and the impact of Toastmasters.
5:00 The connection between fear, failure, and public speaking.
10:00 How Fred transitioned from corporate life to entrepreneurship.
15:00 The critical role of storytelling in making an impact as a speaker.
22:00 Why professional coaching matters in public speaking and personal growth.
28:00 The essential elements of an effective elevator speech.
35:00 The importance of practice, preparation, and continuous learning.
41:00 Final thoughts: Fred’s powerful message on lifelong learning.

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