Marc Williams’s Rules of Engagement: A New Era for Teaching Public Speaking

In this episode of the Innovating Education Podcast, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Marc Williams—global speaker, educator, and co‑founder of Speaker Skills Academy—about redesigning how public speaking is taught in schools and organizations. The conversation examines why traditional public speaking classes often reinforce fear and performance anxiety, and how Marc’s ten-part Rules of Engagement framework offers a more practical, learner-centered alternative.​​Key takeaways:An explanation of why conventional speech rubrics and one‑off presentations fail to build authentic communication skills.Specific approaches for using gamification, storytelling, and deliberate “communication drills” to help learners build confidence and presence over time.​Considerations for shifting from grading speeches to developing communicators, including how to foster classroom cultures where speaking feels safe and purposeful.Connect and resources:Speaker Skills Academy – communication training co‑founded by today’s guest, Marc Williams: https://www.speakerskillsacademy.com​LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-williams-speaks​