Toasty Talks

From Nervous Speakers to Confident Campus Leaders

Some students don’t just participate; they command the room. They speak up in class, lead projects, and turn small conversations into real opportunities. That kind of presence can look effortless from the outside, but we’ve learned it’s built through practice, feedback, and the courage to start before you feel ready. We sit down with two standout college Toastmasters, Nicholas Duarte and Victoria Smajlaj, to talk about what it actually takes to find your voice and use it to open doors. Nicholas shares how communication skills help him connect with professors, earn referrals, and place in a college-wide speech competition with a story-driven talk on the bystander effect. Victoria breaks down how she moved from fearing the camera to stepping into broadcast journalism, using Toastmasters to build confidence, cut filler words, and get comfortable with on-the-spot banter. Along the way, we dig into the Toastmasters meeting elements that matter most for real life, especially Table Topics for impromptu speaking, networking, and interviews. You’ll hear why “confidence is a skill” is more than a slogan, how to stop overthinking long enough to say hello, and what small habits can help students, young adults, and even parents support faster growth in communication, public speaking, and leadership. If you want practical public speaking tips, stronger networking skills, and a clearer path to sounding like yourself in any room, you’ll get it here. Subscribe to Toasty Talks, share this with a student who needs a boost, and leave a review with the one speaking situation you want to feel confident in next. Victoria Smajlaj: LinkedIn Page [https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-smajlaj-5a639827b/] | The GW Hatchet [https://gwhatchet.com/staff_name/victoria-smajlaj/] Nicholas Duarte: LinkedIn Page [https://www.linkedin.com/in/duarte-nicholas-1940-/] District 36 Conference:  Register Here [https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/district-36-2025-2026-spring-conference-may-15th-and-16th] Follow & Like Us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/toastmasters-d36] | X (Formerly Twitter) [https://x.com/District36Toast]| Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/District36.Toastmasters.Public] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIZpyYJYUNcu7j27DbJQ4Q] | EventBrite [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/district-36-toastmasters-114304744211] | MeetUp [https://www.meetup.com/district36-org/] | Podcast [https://district36.org/toastytalks/] Nurture - Take a TLI Course [https://district36.org/tli/] | Sign-Up for Workshops [https://district36.org/educational-series/] Grow  - Meet Your Community through Our Newsletter [https://district36.org/district-36-newsletter/] Inspire - Use Your Voice via Pathways [https://district36.org/pathways/]

From Club Member to Industry Leader!

You can deliver a killer speech and still never get booked, and Sylvia and Ty explain exactly why. We dig into the unglamorous truth about building a professional speaking business: the stage is only a fraction of the work, and the real engine is clarity, positioning, relationships, and consistent value long before you touch a microphone. Sylvia shares how Toastmasters helped her sharpen her message into a focused lane around emotional intelligence, communication, and relationships, plus what she learned competing among tens of thousands of speakers at the World Championship of Public Speaking. Ty walks us through his path from loving the spotlight to treating speaking like a real business, including how habit formation and behavior design shaped his brand as a habit strategist and how a single short video can lead to serious opportunities. We also get practical about modern public speaking: virtual presentations, Zoom engagement, YouTube Shorts and LinkedIn content, newsletters, and why “perfect” is often the enemy of progress. If you’re a Toastmaster wrestling with confidence, pricing, or where to start, you’ll leave with a simple Monday-morning move: define the problem you solve, name who you solve it for, and start speaking on it before you feel ready. If this helped, subscribe, share the episode with a fellow speaker, and leave a review so more Toastmasters can find it. Follow & Like Us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/toastmasters-d36] | X (Formerly Twitter) [https://x.com/District36Toast]| Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/District36.Toastmasters.Public] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIZpyYJYUNcu7j27DbJQ4Q] | EventBrite [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/district-36-toastmasters-114304744211] | MeetUp [https://www.meetup.com/district36-org/] | Podcast [https://district36.org/toastytalks/] Nurture - Take a TLI Course [https://district36.org/tli/] | Sign-Up for Workshops [https://district36.org/educational-series/] Grow  - Meet Your Community through Our Newsletter [https://district36.org/district-36-newsletter/] Inspire - Use Your Voice via Pathways [https://district36.org/pathways/]

Have You Tried Specialty Toastmasters Clubs?

What if your Toastmasters experience could be shaped around the things you’re most passionate about? In this episode, we explore the world of specialty Toastmasters clubs—clubs built around a shared focus, community, or purpose. From bilingual clubs to debate clubs and spaces designed to uplift specific communities, these clubs show that there’s more than one way to grow in Toastmasters. Join us as we hear from leaders of three unique clubs in District 36 who share what makes their clubs different and the impact they’re having on their members. ✨ This is another thoughtful discussion designed to help you grow, inspire, and lead.   If you are interested in chartering a new specialty club or visiting one, please get in touch with cgd@district36.org.  She Speaks, She Leads: https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club/07038189-she-leads-she-speaks KCS Bilingual Toastmasters (English and Malayalam) https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club/07895684-kcs-bilingual-toastmasters-english-and-malayalam Advanced Debate Club https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club/28675444-advanced-debate-club Follow & Like Us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/toastmasters-d36] | X (Formerly Twitter) [https://x.com/District36Toast]| Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/District36.Toastmasters.Public] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIZpyYJYUNcu7j27DbJQ4Q] | EventBrite [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/district-36-toastmasters-114304744211] | MeetUp [https://www.meetup.com/district36-org/] | Podcast [https://district36.org/toastytalks/] Nurture - Take a TLI Course [https://district36.org/tli/] | Sign-Up for Workshops [https://district36.org/educational-series/] Grow  - Meet Your Community through Our Newsletter [https://district36.org/district-36-newsletter/] Inspire - Use Your Voice via Pathways [https://district36.org/pathways/]

Mentorship

Mentorship isn’t a title—it’s a relationship that changes how people learn, lead, and stay. We sit down with District 36 leaders Sandra Coles-Bell and Scott Meyer to draw a clear line between coaching and mentoring, then follow the ripple effects from a single pairing to a club that runs on trust, clarity, and momentum.  If you’ve ever wondered why some meetings feel smooth and energizing while others stumble, you’ll hear how intentional mentoring shapes agendas, roles, and evaluations so growth feels natural and guests feel welcome.   Sandra and Scott share vivid stories of mentors who spoke truth with love, the kind that softens sharp edges and builds confidence over the years.  They unpack the difference between one-on-one intimacy and group mentoring “encounters,” showing when each works best and how they often complement each other.  Along the way, you’ll learn practical habits any member can use:  set expectations early, pair evaluators thoughtfully, ask better questions than you give answers, and build feedback around what the speaker truly wants to improve.   We zoom out to the systems level—new club mentors, club coaches, and the Pathways mentoring modules—highlighting how a culture of guidance boosts retention and develops future leaders.  From first speeches to district roles, the mentoring mindset scales:  listen first, guide lightly, and help others solve problems their way.  Unsure where to start?  Talk to your vice president education about your club’s mentoring program, or connect with your program quality director or club growth director to support new or struggling clubs.   This conversation offers clear takeaways for Toastmasters and leaders everywhere:  mentorship accelerates learning, strengthens community, and sustains growth.  If you value better meetings, stronger speakers, and a dependable leadership pipeline, these insights will meet you where you are and move you forward.  Enjoy the episode, share it with a friend who mentors, and if it helped, subscribe and leave a quick review so others can find the show.   Follow & Like Us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/toastmasters-d36] | X (Formerly Twitter) [https://x.com/District36Toast]| Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/District36.Toastmasters.Public] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIZpyYJYUNcu7j27DbJQ4Q] | EventBrite [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/district-36-toastmasters-114304744211] | MeetUp [https://www.meetup.com/district36-org/] | Podcast [https://district36.org/toastytalks/] Nurture - Take a TLI Course [https://district36.org/tli/] | Sign-Up for Workshops [https://district36.org/educational-series/] Grow  - Meet Your Community through Our Newsletter [https://district36.org/district-36-newsletter/] Inspire - Use Your Voice via Pathways [https://district36.org/pathways/]

Welcome

What better way to celebrate the Grow Season than with a surprise drop? 🌱🎙️ Surprise drop!  🚨 This month gets a special bonus episode–because we couldn’t wait to share it. Toasty Talks welcomes Toastmasters Latoya Skeine and Melissa Artavia Caravaca for a warm, high-energy welcome episode filled with culture, connection, and communication growth – 🇯🇲 “Wah gwaan?” 🇨🇷 “Pura vida!” In this conversation, we explore the synergy between Toastmasters development and professional impact – how practicing in the club translates into real-world confidence, credibility, and opportunities.  You’ll hear reflections on applying feedback, showing up stronger at work, and how one Toastmasters skill can open the door to something bigger–like being asked to moderate a panel.   Featuring Toasties currently working these Toastmasters Pathways paths: ✅ Presentation Mastery ✅ Persuasive Influence ✅ Effective Coaching Plus–a sneak peek at an upcoming co-host’s communication style, what’s changing in future episodes, and a thoughtful conversation about accents and communication. 📣 Want to help shape what’s next?  We have one final episode that hasn’t been set yet–choose what YOUR podcast should broadcast: https://forms.gle/yAbbf9uiPuU9VriK7 Follow & Like Us:  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/toastmasters-d36] | X (Formerly Twitter) [https://x.com/District36Toast]| Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/District36.Toastmasters.Public] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIZpyYJYUNcu7j27DbJQ4Q] | EventBrite [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/district-36-toastmasters-114304744211] | MeetUp [https://www.meetup.com/district36-org/] | Podcast [https://district36.org/toastytalks/] Nurture - Take a TLI Course [https://district36.org/tli/] | Sign-Up for Workshops [https://district36.org/educational-series/] Grow  - Meet Your Community through Our Newsletter [https://district36.org/district-36-newsletter/] Inspire - Use Your Voice via Pathways [https://district36.org/pathways/]