Attention experienced corporate presenters, public speakers, professional speakers and pastors. Do you want to deliver a good, a great or an unforgettable presentation? Get insights from behind the scenes on some of the most unforgettable presentations ever delivered. √ What's the story behind the presentation? √ Where did the idea come from? √ How did they prepare it? √ How did they execute it? Join World Champions of Public Speaking, Mark Brown & Darren LaCroix. They have been world-class speaking coaches for over a decade and have trained presenters in over 14 countries. You'll love their chemistry and wisdom. What will you hear? Some episodes will be rock-solid content, some episodes will be interviews with presenters who delivered an unforgettable presentation.
"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 • Be purposeful and show your value in your profile • Your ABOUT section should not be a resume/CV • You are on stage on LinkedIn • Don't just be a cheerleader with 'likes' and 'congrats' • Ditch multiple hashtags; they fragment your message • Use 100-150 words to accompany videos, which should be 30 seconds or less • Saving posts is a value indicator • LinkedIn is your digital identity, it provides legitimacy Attend Richard and Darren's Workshop August 7-8, 2026 https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/workshops/linkedin-deep-dive-for-professional-speakers/ DISCOUNT CODE : POD25 Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
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 Keepers show what 'lands' • Allocate 2 or 3-minute periods to update throughout the day • Sharing their Keepers & Action Items is an engaging experience • Keepers & Action Items show ROI to managers • Inspire Action Items that are immediately implementable • Verbalizing Action Items is a public declaration of commitment Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
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 audience faces multiple distractions • It is our responsibility as experts to provide relevant content. • Practice and record your presentation • Watch as an audience member • Address potential distractions in your background • Master PACE ELEMENTS • Own your platform Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
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 goal • Look for relatable details that connect your audience to you • Find moments that help you to tell a better story • When we are too close to our story, we miss compelling moments • Uncover material that you may not use…yet • Unearth forgotten experiences • Find the gold inside you Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
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 • Don't forget emotional shifts • Clarify the hero's 'DE-WHY-RE'…their deeper WHY • Commit to digging deeper • Include dialogue infused with emotion • Decide when to use internal dialogue Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
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 your speech that needs improvement • Prioritize two or three areas to work on • The work is hard, push through • There's a difference between knowing what to do and how to implement it • You can experience mind-blowing transformation in three days • Implement the feedback from qualified coaches Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
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 light-years better • Helps you learn to discern • Trains your ear • Builds confidence in your material • Provides a 360° experience • Evokes conversational style • Gets you unstuck • Provides a great roadmap • Helps you live impactful moments • Gets you past your mess Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
Ep. 354 DO YOU HAVE IT? People crave the 'it factor'…presence, confidence, charisma, and eloquence. Today, Darren and Mark discuss another 'it' …courage. From their experience, they share the type of courage every speaker needs, to be unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Have the courage to be coached • Be courageous enough to get coached in public, in the company of strangers • Be vulnerable • Invest in your growth • Be bold enough to think differently • Commit to the process • Don't be afraid to push back on feedback • Be flexible and adapt • Look for different ways to improve • Be willing to break it so you can fix it Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
As presenters, we want to be our best on the platform. Many of us attend workshops and seminars, purchase and devour resources, and practice diligently. However, something might be missing. Today, Mark and Darren discuss specific actions that some speaker's won't take, the reasons for avoiding those actions, and the benefits of taking those actions…all if which can help any presenter to be unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Go beyond stage time • Record presentations • Watch and listen from the audience's perspective • Review old recordings, compare them with latest version, track your growth • Look for the 'WELL DONE' and the 'WORK ON' • Identify what resonated unexpectedly • Recordings help you become more audience-aware • Research and customize • Show your client that you're not delivering a 'back-pocket' speech • Apply a personal touch • Get qualified coaching • Solicit help in all aspects of the speaking business Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
"I'm a keynote speaker. I'm a solopreneur. I'm building MY brand. Won't collaboration dilute my brand?" This is a valid concern, and in this episode, Darren and Mark discuss the 'ups and downs' of collaboration. Sharing their experiences, they show the significant benefits of collaboration and offer advice on choosing the right collaborators for you. SNIPPETS: • Choose your collaborators carefully • Collaborate with partners with complementary skills and strengths • Combining strengths makes both collaborators stronger • Don't think selfishly • Think of the best way you can serve your audience • Find out what people need • Collaborate with the person best qualified to meet your clients' needs • Collaborate with people who go all-in • Consider who else you could serve whom you wouldn't serve well alone • Create a win-win-win • Seek compatible collaborations Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
Much has been said about having the right mindset before a presentation. Today, Mark and Darren discuss the right HEARTSET, and they share both how and why the right heartset can help to make you unforgettable. SNIPPETS: • Heartset heavily focuses on audience outcomes • Be in the moment • Hiccups happen, don't get flustered • Your heartset impacts your brand • Go all in • Bring your entire being to every presentation • Heartset shows up before your presentation • Heartset asks, "What's best for the EVENT?" • Heartset wants the audience to have fun • Heartset overrides technical issues • Heartset shows when things go wrong Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
It's important to keep your audience engaged, and the key to doing so lies in a simple but powerful concept. Today Darren and Mark define and discuss PACE ELEMENTS, sharing how they can help you to deliver an unforgettable presentation. SNIPPETS: • Engagement is important • Keeping your audience engaged during a virtual presentation is critical • Pace Elements engage the brain in different ways • Change Pace Elements every 2-3 minutes 1. Talking Head (Back and forth with your co-presenter) 2. Well-told stories (About you, your clients or case studies) 3. Slide shares (Keynote slides, PowerPoint slides, screen shots) 4. Short & meaningful video clips 5. Audio clips (Recorded phone message, podcast clip, or sound effects) 6. "Type in…" (Chat prompted by your question) 7. "Raise your hand if…" 8. Polls (Before hand or on the fly) 9. Custom captivating visuals (Including branded infographics) 10.Hot seats (VIPs or promote to panelist) 11.Breakout rooms 12.A shared experience (Done individually by simultaneous) 13.Check in (Leave no attendee behind!) 14.Ed-ergizer (Brief, but designed to get the blood pumping) 15.Q & A done right! 16.Whiteboard (Physical or virtual) 17.Illustrations 18.Phone share (Holding phone up to camera) 19.Live screen share web search 20. 'B' button (Blank out screen) 21.Keepers (A powerful way to recap, get engagement & see what sticks) Which will you use? Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
You're in the audience, listening the speaker before you, and you hear them make a point, tell an anecdote, or use language that makes you think, "I was gonna say that!" How do you respond? Can you avoid this? In today's episode, Mark and Darren answer these questions and more as they share recent experiences and offer solutions. SNIPPETS: • Don't panic • Be unique • Avoid 'stock' material from the Internet or AI • Avoid plagiarism • Research the previous speaker's material if possible • Collaborate with the previous speaker if possible • Share your own perspective • Be flexible and adapt • Use improv techniques • Call back to the reference if necessary • Edify the previous speaker Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
It's not unusual for presenters to 'move on' from past presentations. Toastmasters is a good example. Today, Darren and Mark encourage you to 'go back to the well' and revisit old presentations. They may hold new value today. SNIPPETS: • Maintain a story folder; an old story may have new significance • Don't discard/delete 'old' material • "Unearth the old, uncover the GOLD" – Mark Brown • Revisit old presentations • Look for new value in old presentations • Review, revise, rework, reinvent • Enlist your list to learn what has resonated over time • New experiences can enhance old material • Apply newly gained wisdom, insight, and perspective to older presentations Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
Can you ever truly know the full impact of your presentations? Today, Mark and Darren provide the answer by sharing anecdotes, experiences, and insight gained from their combined 60 years on the platform. SNIPPETS: • The vast majority of your audience will never tell us how we impacted them • You get only one shot at that audience • Seek to grow continually • When competing, focus more on your message than on the trophy • Dollars follow impact • Go all-in on your message • Strive for more • Have a meaningful 'heartset;' focus on serving your audience • Think about how your audience will apply your message • When you're told you had impact, ask HOW • If helpful, revise your presentation based on the impact Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
Speakers must exude confidence to inform, inspire, and influence. However , EGO and SELF-DOUBT can have a significant impact on us and our audiences. Darren and Mark offer advice on how to effectively manage both and serve our audiences well. SNIPPETS: • Don't undervalue your experiences • "You are uniquely qualified to serve the person you once were." - Rory Vaden • "One man's mundane is another man's magnificent.' – Mark Brown • Your life story can inspire and give hope • Someone in your audience will relate to your emotions and experience • Check your ego at the door • Be coachable • Crave qualified feedback • Don't let ego hinder future opportunities • Look for value in every evaluation Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
Our messages must serve our audiences, and two words are most helpful in achieving that goal. Darren and Mark expound on the power and value of the words 'YOU' and 'YOUR,' as well as their unforgettable impact on our audiences. SNIPPETS: • 'YOU' and 'YOUR' are enormously powerful words • Examine your 'I/YOU Ratio' • These words draw audiences in • Usage makes our content relatable and relevant • They engage people's brains • Put your audience in your story • Change 'I' to 'YOU' in stories with "IMAGINE:" • Replace 'I' with 'YOU' with "PICTURE THIS:" • Avoid "You guys" • Replace "How many of you have…" with "Have you…"
The concept of relationship selling is not uncommon, but today , Mark and Darren go beyond selling to explore the greater value of building relationships. SNIPPETS: • Build relationships beyond the booking • Use relationships to recommend others • Relationships provide opportunities to serve • A relationship may not bear fruit immediately • Seek to give before seeking to get • Bring you and your personality to every assignment • Ask yourself: What do others think of you • A 'no' can be beneficial when you maintain a relationship • Be the client's favorite • Show genuine interest in your client beyond the business relationship • Analyze your 'failures;' a lack of success may have led to success
There's a story behind every booking. Today Mark and Darren examine how our 'booking stories' can reveal what is necessary to get more bookings now. SNIPPETS: • Go back to the well • Revisit the decisions that led to previous bookings • Trace the full path of the booking • Identify people who could help lead to your next booking • Ask: "What was I doing back then, that I need to start doing again?" • Recover abandoned tools, tips, and techniques • Apply new technology to 'old school' principles • Go back to the principle of relationship-building • Reconnect with prospects who said 'No' • A 'No' could be a 'Not now" • Analyze your 'failures;' a lack of success may have led to success Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
Feeling nervous before a presentation or feeling insecure when facing an intimidating audience can be positive. That may seem counterintuitive, but Mark and Darren clarify in today's episode. Drawing on their combined 60+ years of lessons learned, they provide advice and specific techniques for using nervousness to your advantage. SNIPPETS: • Being a little nervous can be a good thing • Use nervous energy to fuel additional preparation • Let no one out-prepare you • Research: get more than you need, to give what they need • Get over yourself, and into your audience • "Skillset without mindset leaves your audience upset" – Craig Valentine • Before each presentation ask FOUR QUESTIONS: • WHAT IS MY INTENT • AM I PRESENT ("Don't be perfect; be PRESENT" – Darren) • WILL I HAVE FUN • HOW WOULD I GIVE THIS PRESENTATION IF I KNEW IT WAS MY LAST • If the character doesn't change, there is no story Work with Mark and Darren: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/ Check Out Stage Time University: https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com
