The SpeakerPath®

Episode 17: Are You Making These 4 Storytelling Mistakes?

In this episode of The SpeakerPath® Podcast, Jo Jongsma sits down with storytelling expert Francisco Mahfuz to double click on 4 frequent storytelling mistakes almost all speakers make. Spoiler: most “stories” are not even stories at all! Watch this episode to understand why so many keynotes and presentations fall flat, and how just a few simple shifts can make your stories much more effective. The 4 most common mistakes Francisco highlights are: 1. Trying to tell a story about a whole period of your life instead of one moment 2. Sharing only the external problem, not the emotional stakes 3. Using either too many or too few details 4. Ending with “That’s why you should…” (a guaranteed way to lose the audience) You will also learn: 1. Why “Let me tell you a story…” instantly kills impact 2. How to avoid the “story weirdo” voice 3. The difference between storytelling on stage vs. in conversation 4. Why business speakers over-explain context to prove credibility (and how to fix it) 5. The power of dialogue to express emotion without naming the emotion The Speaker Path® Podcast is produced by Clarity Up LLC, a boutique message design firm that teaches smart people how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us. Connect with our experts: • Ioana (Jo) Jongsma ( linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/ ) • Francisco Mahfuz ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmahfuz/ ) 🔗 Links Watch Full Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zwyC5phGPC0 Work with Us: https://www.clarityupconsulting.com/ Join The SpeakerPath Community: https://thespeakerpath.com/ Explore the podcast: https://thespeakerpathpodcast.com/

Episode 16: 5 Stress Management Secrets Pro Speakers Know

We think stress management is something speakers do only once they step on stage. But pros start dealing with it weeks, if not months before their keynote. In this solo episode of The SpeakerPath® Podcast, our Presence and Performance specialist, Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, explores one of the most practical behavioral tools for reducing public-speaking stress: David Rock’s SCARF model. Originally designed for workplace leadership, SCARF turns out to be a powerful framework for communication and speaking. It highlights the five universal social needs that shape how safe or threatened we feel in any social interaction. In this episode, you’ll learn: 1. The 5 psychological needs all humans share: Status - our need to feel important and valued Certainty - our need to know what is going to happen Autonomy - our need to feel in control of what is happening Relatedness - our need to feel familiar with what is happening Fairness - our need for a just exchange 1. The behaviors that professional speakers engage in days, weeks and months in advance, to ensure their SCARF needs are met. The Speaker Path® Podcast is produced by Clarity Up LLC, a boutique message design firm that teaches smart people how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us. Connect with Jo: • Ioana (Jo) Jongsma ( linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/ [http://linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/] ) 🔗 Links Work with Us: https://www.clarityupconsulting.com/ Join The SpeakerPath Community: https://thespeakerpath.com/ Explore the podcast: https://thespeakerpathpodcast.com/

Episode 15: What You Need To Know To Be A Successful Keynote Speaker In 2026

In this year-end episode of The Speaker Path, Brian Miller, Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, and Francisco Mahfuz unpack the most important industry trends shaping the speaking world in 2026, and what they mean for professional speakers. Drawing on recent reports from AAE Speakers Bureau, Freeman, and Skift Meetings, the conversation reveals a striking disconnect between what event planners believe creates peak moments and what attendees actually remember. KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1. The “peak moment” gap 1. ~78% of event planners believe attendees experience a peak moment 2. Only ~40% of attendees report actually having one Planners believe peak moments come from: 1. Keynote speeches 2. Opening and closing galas / celebrations 3. Surprise or “wow” elements tied to theme or location Attendees report peak moments coming from: 1. Relationship-building with vendors and peers 2. Real conversations and networking 2. AI content is becoming an “authenticity red flag” 1. Audiences disapprove of AI-written content in live settings 2. “AI-free” is emerging as an authenticity marker (similar to organic or handcrafted) 3. Event planners are younger, newer, and overwhelmed 1. Many planners are early-career or newly assigned 2. Speakers who are easy to work with and proactive gain an advantage 4. Budget pressure is reshaping speaker selection 1. Rising event costs (venues, production, services) are pushing organizers away from expensive “big name” speakers and toward proven value, flexibility, and multi-format usefulness. 5. Micro-events are exploding 1. Smaller, curated events (≈10-100 people) are increasing, and changing the speaker’s role. 2. These require facilitation,real time interaction, and intentional experience design. Read the industry reports here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tuMFmJ3a87GV6NHMWCCI_iZWRy0x7lrX?usp=drive_link [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tuMFmJ3a87GV6NHMWCCI_iZWRy0x7lrX?usp=drive_link] Watch the Episode 15: https://youtu.be/d1HPKu6lH-Y [https://youtu.be/d1HPKu6lH-Y] The Speaker Path® Podcast is produced by Clarity Up LLC, a boutique message design firm that teaches smart people how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us. Connect with our experts: 1. Brian Miller ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmillerspeaks/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmillerspeaks/] ) 2. Ioana (Jo) Jongsma ( linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/ [http://linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/] ) 3. Francisco Mahfuz ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmahfuz/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmahfuz/] ) 🔗 Links Work with Us: https://www.clarityupconsulting.com/ [https://www.clarityupconsulting.com/] Join The SpeakerPath Community: https://thespeakerpath.com/ [https://thespeakerpath.com/]

Episode 14: How To Create Real Change From The Stage

Most speakers try to change their audience by offering tips, tricks, hacks, and tactics. But tactics rarely create lasting change.  Paradigm shifts do. In this episode, Brian Miller shares the single biggest insight that transformed his 15-year speaking career: a lesson he received from Seth Godin.  This approach applies to every expert, speaker, and leader who wants to have real impact on a stage. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN: * Why solutions-focused speaking often fails to create meaningful change * How one sentence from Seth Godin completely reframed Brian’s approach to business and speaking * The difference between keynote speeches and workshops (and why mixing them kills your impact) * What a paradigm shift sounds like and how to craft one * How cross-disciplinary insights (like Brian’s from magic) make your ideas stick * Why the size of the paradigm shift often determines the size of a speaker’s paycheck 🔗 Links Work with Us: https://www.clarityupconsulting.com/  Join The SpeakerPath Community: https://thespeakerpath.com/  YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/LfH_p5bB8Rw

Episode 13: How To Tell (And Find!) Great Stories

The real storytelling problem most speakers have is not “how do I tell a story?” but “where do I find one?”  In this episode of The Speaker Path® Podcast, Jo Jongsma invites story expert Francisco Mahfuz to break down what a story actually is (hint: not a string of events!), why “tell me a story” instantly freezes your brain, and how to use simple prompts like first / last / worst / best to surface stories you already have but don’t recognise as stories.  We look at why everyday frustrations, small imperfections, and throwaway kid quotes are often better material than dramatic Everest-style adventures – and how to start capturing those moments so you always have the right story for your next talk, pitch or TEDx-style talk. You’ll learn: * What a story really is in a professional context: a real-life example that makes a point. * Why “tell me a story” creates instant performance anxiety, and what to ask yourself instead. * The biggest obstacle most speakers face: not telling stories, but finding them. * How to use the “First, Last, Worst, Best” method to uncover powerful origin stories and client stories. * Why the best speaking stories are usually pebbles in the shoe, not Mount Everest – small, relatable moments from everyday life. * How to turn annoyances, awkward interactions, and imperfections into highly relatable material. * The simple checklist for crafting a story that works * Why you must “find the story first” before worrying about structure, frameworks, or delivery. * A simple daily habit to build your story bank. The Speaker Path® Podcast is produced by Clarity Up LLC, a boutique message design firm that teaches smart people how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us. Connect with our experts:   •  Ioana (Jo) Jongsma ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/  )   •  Francisco Mahfuz ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmahfuz/  ) 🔗 Links Work with Us: https://www.clarityupconsulting.com/ Join The SpeakerPath Community: https://thespeakerpath.com/