Engaging Audiences through Storytelling and Speaking with Michelle Dahlenburg

Authenticity and Confidence with Ashley Rowe

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2378110/fan_mail/new] Authenticity and Confidence with Ashley Rowe Host Chris McAuley introduces his podcast on how speaking shapes career, reputation, and opportunity, then interviews global speaker and New Leaf Collective founder/CEO Ashley Rowe, whom he first saw at Growth Day London. Rowe describes herself as multi-passionate—spanning marketing, speaking, personal training, and marathon running—and says her core focus is community and helping people feel seen. She shares how childhood public-speaking competitions led to loving the stage, and how she developed her keynote “Find Your Fire” to encourage non-linear paths and multiple callings. McAuley and Rowe discuss what “authentic” speaking means, closing the gap between performer mode and real conversation, and handling unexpected moments on stage. Rowe explains her framework-based talk structure, voice-note method for conversational stories, audience-specific tailoring, and engagement through flexibility and callbacks, plus her pre-speaking routine of grounding in simple personal habits. She notes she streams The Office, hopes to open a fitness studio someday, and can be booked at thenewleafcollective.ca. 00:00 Podcast Mission Intro 00:47 Meet Ashley Rowe 01:52 Ashley Background Highlights 03:51 Multi Passionate Origins 05:58 Finding Your Fire Talk 08:20 Authenticity Versus Performance 10:49 Closing The Gap Onstage 17:01 Handling Curveballs Live 18:56 Building Talks With Voice Notes 21:50 Framework Flexibility Jazz 24:29 Framework and Flexibility 25:19 Building a Modular Keynote 26:27 Audience Engagement Tools 30:05 Handling Unexpected Responses 32:59 Pre Speaking Routine 36:56 Nightstand and Reading Habits 37:55 Comfort Shows and Rewatches 39:09 Dream Job Fitness Studio 40:34 Community in Speaking and Running 42:32 Wrap Up and Where to Book 44:22 Final Sign Off

Speaking Success with Carol Kaemmerer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2378110/fan_mail/new] Host Chris McAuley welcomes executive branding and influence strategist Carol Kaemmerer, author of LinkedIn for the Savvy Executive, to discuss helping senior leaders align visibility, authority, and leadership narrative so they’re recognized at the level they operate. Kaemmerer shares her background translating complex medical-device expertise into clear messaging, her career pivot after an economic downturn, and why executives must shape their LinkedIn narrative before they need it. She explains finding the “red thread” through a career, focusing a brand on three things people want to be known for, and how minimal profiles can make leaders invisible in search. They also cover virtual presenting, tailoring talks to audience pain points, practical strategies for nerves (including focusing on three engaged audience members), and Kaemmerer’s resources and ways to connect. 00:00 Podcast Opening 00:47 Meet Carol Kemmerer 02:13 Virtual Speaking Today 05:01 Career Pivot Story 10:55 Finding Your Red Thread 17:32 Rule of Three Branding 20:30 LinkedIn Savvy Executive 24:15 Speaking to Scale Impact 25:42 Why Leaders Go Invisible 27:49 LinkedIn About Keywords 28:25 Keynote Prep Starts 29:10 Teach Not Perform 32:17 Break Speaking Rules 35:10 Audience Focus Trick 36:51 Nerves And Rituals 42:18 Rapid Fire Favorites 45:39 Writing And Creativity 47:37 Where To Find Carol 48:59 Final Thanks And Outro

The Power of Presence: Speaking with Confidence and Authenticity with Sara Westbrook

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2378110/fan_mail/new] The Power of Presence: Speaking with Confidence and Authenticity with Sara Westbrook Host Chris McAuley introduces his podcast on professional communication and interviews keynote speaker and singer-songwriter Sara Westbrook, whom he saw at Growth Day London. Westbrook recounts beginning public speaking in grade six, combining performance and talks after being invited to speak at schools at 19, and focusing on emotional resilience and confidence. They discuss the “performing” shift on stage, reframing nerves as excitement, building courage through repetition, visualizing success and potential mishaps, and using mistakes to create authenticity and audience connection. Westbrook emphasizes not relying on external validation, using a five-minute reflection rule to avoid obsession, and remembering you may be “planting a seed” rather than harvesting immediate feedback. She outlines keynote preparation by understanding the audience, distinguishing keynotes from workshops, and keeping engagement through stories, strategy, movement, and vocal variety. Westbrook recommends The Four Agreements and shares where to contact her. 00:00 Podcast Opening 00:47 Meet Sarah Westbrook 01:52 Origins of a Speaker 03:45 Performance Mode Shift 05:21 Nerves Into Excitement 07:49 Visualize and Prepare 09:56 When It Doesn’t Land 13:15 Humor and Audience Vibes 17:28 Validation and Self Trust 21:45 Building a Keynote 26:00 Engagement Tools 28:52 Rhythm Slides and Flow 31:29 Mental Load of Speaking 32:11 Networking Takes Practice 34:08 Write Then Bullet Outline 35:23 Recovering From Mistakes 38:35 Five Minute Reflection Rule 39:38 Audience Misses Most Errors 43:12 Planting Seeds With Messages 46:55 Rapid Fire Questions 51:15 Where to Find Sara 52:24 Final Thanks and Sign Off

Kevin Bulmer: The Art of Communicating With Impact

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2378110/fan_mail/new] Host and speaking coach Chris McAuley interviews keynote speaker, facilitator, and coach Kevin Bulmer, creator of the Little Engines small business community and Little Engines Live event series. Bulmer shares his career path from radio to auto racing talk radio, track announcer, and eventually sales/marketing director and general manager of Delaware Speedway, then event management and radio sales supporting small and mid-sized businesses. After a major life reset around 2011–2012, he left radio in 2017 to pursue speaking, later founding NSM Brand Media during COVID and growing Little Engines into its fourth year. He discusses preparing for keynotes by researching audiences, rehearsing out loud while moving, respecting time limits, and connecting emotionally through vulnerability, humor, and sincerity. Bulmer also describes his formats (keynotes, half-day team sessions, breakout workshops, emceeing/moderation), recommends the book “Fans First,” and shares how to find him at realsuccessnavigator.com and wethinkyoucan.com. 00:00 Podcast Opening 00:43 Meet Kevin Bulmer 02:20 From Radio to Racetrack 03:43 Rebuilding After Divorce 05:20 Going Solo and COVID Pivot 07:48 Speaker Calling Moment 11:39 First Keynote Experiment 13:45 Keynotes Workshops and Emceeing 16:41 Inside Little Engines Live 20:45 How Kevin Prepares Talks 23:59 Rehearsal and Earning Attention 26:17 Hobby Horse Entrance 26:50 Stage Blocking Basics 28:38 Finish Early Rule 29:16 Less Words More Feeling 30:55 Vulnerability And Sincerity 33:55 Handling Nerves And Unknowns 37:22 Performance Mindset 41:08 Creative Risks On Stage 43:19 Rapid Fire Questions 48:09 Where To Find Kevin 49:12 Final Sign Off

Speak with Presence: Insights from Sonnet Simmons

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2378110/fan_mail/new] Speak with Presence: Insights from Sonnet Simmons  Host and speaking coach Chris McAuley introduces his podcast on how confident communication shapes career, reputation, and opportunity, then interviews keynote speaker and vocal presence coach Sonnet Simmons. Simmons shares her background as a singer-songwriter with music licensed for ads and media, her work helping independent artists navigate music licensing, and how client demand led her into leadership communication and “true voice” coaching. She and McAuley discuss authenticity, speaking from the heart, building trust through vocal sound, and handling high-stakes spontaneous communication with structure and practice. Simmons outlines her keynote prep process (outline, recording, slides, video rehearsal), emphasizes audience connection, and recommends vocal warmups. They explore nerves as manageable through breath, the value of stories, and identifying protective vocal patterns (breathiness, vocal fry, uptalk) through awareness and recording.   00:00 Podcast Opening 00:47 Meet Sonnet Simmons 02:37 Music Career Origins 05:51 Finding True Voice 07:57 Authenticity From Heart 11:46 Sound of Trust Keynote 13:07 Handling High Stakes Moments 17:45 Preparation And Practice 25:13 Owning The Material 27:08 Speaking From The Heart 27:22 Storytelling That Connects 29:13 Managing Nerves With Breath 30:38 Breath Training And Performance 32:07 Breath Before You Speak 34:01 Finding Your True Voice 35:57 Vocal Patterns To Notice 37:55 Record Yourself For Feedback 40:58 Rapid Fire Favorites 43:53 Travel Dreams And Wrap Up