PODCAST · education
The Toastmasters Podcast
by Greg Gazin
The official Toastmasters podcast featuring conversations on communication, confidence, leadership, and personal growth.
Episodes
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#310: Turning a Foster Care Past Into Purpose and Advocacy - Dr. Sherri Raftery
[32:22] What does it take to turn a difficult past into an opportunity to help others? Dr. Sherri Raftery, a college professor, six-time Distinguished Toastmaster and former foster youth, joins host Greg Gazin to share how her experiences shaped her passion for education, mentorship and…
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#309: Dirceu "Didi" da Silva - Meet the 2026 World Champion of Public Speaking
[43:04] Dirceu “Didi” da Silva is the 2026 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking. The Rotterdam, Netherlands, speaker rose above seven other finalists after a months-long competition that began with thousands of Toastmasters from more than 100 countries. In this episode, Didi takes us...
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#308 Bonus: Vancouver 2026: Let's Hear From Toastmasters International Convention Attendees
[39:18] Forty plus Voices from around the world. And one question at the heart of it all: What was it like to experience the 2026 Toastmasters International Convention in Vancouver, Canada? In this bonus episode and Part 2 of our convention coverage, Toastmasters Podcast host Greg and fellow...
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#307: Vancouver 2026: Our Highlights & Takeaways From the International Convention
[34:30] The 2026 Toastmasters International Convention brought 1,137 attendees, including 392 first-timers, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in August for four days of learning, inspiration and connection under the theme Wide Open Communication. For this special episode, we're doing things…
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#306 Doesn't Sit Still - Introducing 2026-27 International President Stefano McGhee, DTM
[33:03] Meet Distinguished Toastmaster Stefano S. McGhee, the 2026–2027 Toastmasters International President from Weymouth, Massachusetts. A senior IT executive and Toastmaster since 2005, Stefano is also an aviation enthusiast, motorcyclist, and yacht club leader who readily admits that becoming...
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#305: Beyond First Impressions: Making Your First 30 Seconds Count – Lauren Parsons
[34:44] We've all heard the old cliché about first impressions. But what if the biggest lesson isn't about making a better first impression at all? In this episode, Accredited Speaker Lauren Parsons challenges us to think differently about those first 30 seconds, explaining why they're really…
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#304: How Toastmasters Changed a Teen's Life & Inspired Young Voices - Runfeng Bruce Yu
[29:10] Sometimes all it takes is one invitation. In this episode, Greg Gazin talks with 16-year-old Runfeng Bruce Yu, whose first Toastmasters experience inspired him to help other young people discover the confidence and encouragement that changed his own life. What began with a single club…
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#303: What Can Finding Nemo Teach Us About Growing a Toastmasters Club? | Suneet Singh
[28:45] Some of life's best lessons come from the most unexpected places, even an animated fish. In this episode, Suneet Singh shares how an unlikely source of inspiration, Pixar's Finding Nemo, helped transform his club's approach to growth. Together, we explore the story behind the journey, the...
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#302: Your Club’s Secret Ingredient – The Immediate Past President
[31:52] What happens after the gavel changes hands? In this episode Greg Gazin speaks with Distinguished Toastmaster António Mendes about one of Toastmasters’ most overlooked leadership roles: the Immediate Past President (IPP). Drawing on his experience serving as club president and Immediate…
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#301: Meet the 2026 Int'l Convention, Vancouver Canada Co-Chairs - Carole Murphy & Tom Jones
[18:39] The countdown is on for the 2026 Toastmasters International Convention taking place August 19 to 22, 2026, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In this annual convention preview episode, Greg Gazin speaks with Convention Host Co-Chairs Carole Murphy and Tom Jones for an early look at...
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#300: Reflecting Back on 300 Episodes and the Power of Conversation – Greg Gazin
[47:36] What happens when 20 years and hundreds of conversations change the way you communicate, listen, and tell stories? In this special milestone episode, guest host Ryan Levesque turns the microphone around on Greg Gazin to reflect on the journey behind The Toastmasters Podcast, ToastCaster,...
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#299 Championing Workplace Well-Being: Meet the 2026 Golden Gavel Recipient - Jennifer Moss
[37:05] The Toastmasters International Golden Gavel is the prestigious annual award presented to an individual distinguished in the fields of leadership and communication. In this insightful and thought-provoking episode, Greg Gazin speaks with Jennifer Moss, award-winning author, workplace…
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#298: Spotting & Resolving Generative AI Pitfalls for Communicators - Joel Schwartzberg
[31:42] Generative AI can help you work faster and sharpen your message, but only if you stay in control. In this episode, Greg Gazin speaks with Joel Schwartzberg about how to spot and resolve common AI pitfalls so your communication remains clear, credible, and authentic. Joel approaches AI as…
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#297: What Happens When Toastmasters Give Youth Voices a TEDx Stage – CeCe Espeut
[26:51] What happens when students are given a real stage and someone willing to guide them there? In this episode, Greg Gazin speaks with CeCe Espeut about helping students step onto South Florida’s TEDx Miramar stage and what unfolded along the way. CeCe Espeut, a two-time TEDx speaker…
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#296: Africa’s Ascent: What Drove Toastmasters Growth – Frank Tsuro
[28:53] Across parts of Africa, Toastmasters has seen double- and even triple-digit growth over a 10-year period—at a time when global membership has slightly declined. So what changed—and why did it stick? Frank Tsuro shares his experience, what contributed to that growth, and what others can...
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#295: Taking Speaking Skills to TV’s Shark Tank — Ari Siegel
[25:38] Imagine preparing for a presentation so intensely that you create life-size cutouts of your audience just to practice answering their toughest questions. That’s exactly what one entrepreneur and longtime Toastmaster did before pitching his business TV’s Shark Tank. In this episode host…
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#294: Beyond 500 Lunches with Strangers: Lessons on Achieving Anything – Nick Bendel
[36:05] What would happen if you committed to having lunch with 500 strangers? In this episode, host Greg Gazin reconnects with Nick Bendel (Episode #250), who not only reached that goal, he surpassed it. What began as a business experiment to improve social skills became something much deeper, a...
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#293: Personal Experience: Toastmasters, Rotary & the Alliance – Stephanie Steckel
With more than 30 years in Rotary, Stephanie was deeply engaged in community service long before Toastmasters entered the picture. When she later discovered Toastmasters through Rotary, she found a safe environment to practice speaking, calm presentation anxiety, and strengthen skills she could...
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#292: Untangling Cultural Knots to Create Mutual Connection – Maria Garaitonandia
[32:03] Cross-cultural moments aren’t rare anymore—they’re woven into our daily conversations. In this episode, Greg speaks with leadership communication strategist Maria Garaitonandia about why well-meaning communication can miss the mark and how greater cultural awareness helps speakers…
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#291: Using a Personal Energy Audit to Pause, Reflect, and Reset — Ambeka Khadse
[25:52] When managing your time isn’t enough, it may be time to look at where your energy is actually going. In this episode, host Greg Gazin speaks with Ambeka Khadse, a talent development leader and Toastmasters contributor, about how a personal energy audit helps speakers and leaders move from...
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#290: Mental Workouts make for a Better Mindset & Stronger Speaking — Sarah Centrella
[32:40] Many of us learn early on how to train our bodies, and later, how to prepare a speech through practice and repetition. But when it comes to training the mind—especially under the pressure of a live audience—most speakers are left to figure it out on their own. In this episode, Sarah...
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#289: Using AI as a Thinking Partner to Communicate with Clarity — Diane Windingland
[33:33] What if AI could help you think more clearly, simplify complex ideas, and sharpen your message—without replacing your voice or creativity? In this episode of the Toastmasters Podcast, Greg Gazin welcomes back Diane Windingland, DTM, for a practical conversation on using AI as a thinking...
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#288: Reflections on 11 Years of Writing for the Toastmaster Magazine – Bill Brown
[27:20] In this episode Greg Gazin welcomes back longtime contributor and speech delivery coach Bill Brown for a conversation that reflects back and shares lessons learned from more than a decade of writing for the Toastmaster magazine. A Toastmaster for nearly 20 years Bill has become a familiar...
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#287: Corporate Club Success: Gaining Executive Support is a Key – Lance Kotler
[31:36] What does it take to build a thriving Corporate Toastmasters club within a business—and turn it into a catalyst for professional growth and company culture? In this episode, Greg Gazin chats with Lance Kotler, a Vice President at BNY Mellon and Vice President of Membership for the BNY...
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#286: Sabyasachi (Saby) Sengupta — Meet the 2025 World Champion of Public Speaking
Saby, a behavioral change expert based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, rose above seven other finalists after several elimination rounds that began earlier in the year with thousands of participants from more than 100 countries. A two-time TEDx speaker and host of the Method and Madness podcast, he...
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#285: Leading from Your Zone of Genius – Aligning Work with Passion — Katie Stoddart
Drawing from both personal experience and the concepts introduced in Gay Hendricks’ book The Big Leap, Katie explores the four zones of work—incompetence, competence, excellence, and genius—and explains why so many people get stuck in the “zone of excellence,” where they’re skilled but not truly...
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#284: Singing: A Secret Weapon for Confident Communication – Jillian Mitchell
[39:37] What do singing and public speaking have in common? According to Jillian Mitchell, more than you might think. In this fun and hands on episode, host Greg Gazin chats with Jill about why singing isn’t just for performers—it’s a secret weapon for confident communication. A professional...
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#283: Storytelling & Presentation Tips through Audio Book Narration – Karen Merritt
Drawing on her background in theater and years of voice acting, Karen shares the secrets of audiobook narration—from mastering vocal variety to creating authentic character voices. She reveals how narrators use pitch, pace, tone, and even body language to transport listeners into a story. You’ll...
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#282: Inviting Opportunity: Meet 2025-2026 International President Aletta Rochat, DTM
[30:44] Meet Distinguished Toastmaster Aletta Rochat, the 2025–2026 Toastmasters International President from Cape Town, South Africa. Aletta is an inner life skills wisdom partner and certified coach, an accomplished author and global speaker who has delivered training in 21 countries. She also...
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#281: Hummingbirds, Helicopters & an Underwater Guinness World Record – Eric Pittman
Eric Pittman’s life reads like an adventure novel. He began his career as a helicopter bush pilot in the wilds of Saskatchewan and British Columbia, building his first aircraft from wreckage to earn his wings. He later launched a glass recycling foundry, created choreographed light shows for...
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#280: Communicating With Teens—How Talking & Listening Help You Both – Alice Shikina
Drawing on her two decades of experience in theatre and conflict resolution, Alice offers eye-opening insights for fostering connection over control, using negotiation to build life skills, and showing up with curiosity instead of judgment. From funny anecdotes about coconut popsicles to powerful...
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#279: The Power and Practice of True Collaboration – Monique Levesque-Pharoah
In this insightful, heartfelt and light-hearted conversation, Monique Levesque-Pharoah shares how Toastmasters shaped her approach to collaboration—not just as a leadership skill, but as a lifelong mindset. Through her experience serving on many committees including Toastmasters International...
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#278: How to Take Great Photos: The Do’s, Don’ts & Tips – Bambi Cash & Blake Carver
[36:06] Ever wish you could retake that one photo—the one where someone blinked, the lighting was off, or the moment passed before you were ready? In this photo-themed episode, Toastmasters International’s visual media pros Bambi Cash and Blake Carver, the creative forces behind the stunning…
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#277: Envision Y(OUR) Next Move: 2025 International Convention – Dilip Abayasekara
[33:30] Hosting a Toastmasters International Convention is no small feat—but when it’s the first convention of the organization’s second century and held in historic Philadelphia, the energy and symbolism are unmatched. In this episode, we chat with Dilip Abayasekara, DTM, AS, Past International...
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#276: Better Conversations – One Question at a Time (Part 2) – Dr. Alison Wood Brooks
[19:50] This episode is Part 2 of our conversation on The Toastmasters Podcast, in which host Greg Gazin continues his discussion with Harvard Business School professor and behavioral scientist Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, author of TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves....
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#275: Better Conversations – One Question at a Time (Part 1) – Dr. Alison Wood Brooks
[32:16] In this enlightening episode (Part 1 of 2) of The Toastmasters Podcast, host Greg Gazin sits down with Harvard Business School professor and behavioral scientist Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, author of TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves. Together, they dive deep…
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#274: Think Fast, Talk Smart: Meet the 2025 Golden Gavel Recipient – Matt Abrahams
[31:15] The Toastmasters International Golden Gavel is the prestigious annual award bestowed upon an individual distinguished in the fields of leadership and communication. In this lively and insightful episode, Greg Gazin and guest co-host Ryan Levesque reconnect with Matt Abrahams, celebrated...
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#273: Dance Into the Future: 2025 Int'l Convention Keynote Speaker – Anne Bonney
[33:14] In this episode, we speak with the dynamic and energizing Anne Bonney, who will light up the stage with her opening keynote, Ignite Your Next Move: Courageously Dancing into the Future, at the upcoming Toastmasters International Convention, to be held in the "City of Brotherly Love" —...
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#272: Cleared for Takeoff: A Pilot Trainer's Insights in Communication- Phil Wilkes
[31:37] We rarely consider how skills from one profession apply to another—especially aviation. Beyond flying and landing a plane, what can pilot training teach us? You might be surprised! Today, our guest, Phil Wilkes shares how lessons from the flight deck benefit anyone, anywhere. Phil shares...
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#271: The Unexpected Power of Mentorship in Toastmasters – Marty Dickinson
[34:13] Mentorship is more than just guiding someone — it’s about building lasting relationships that empower both the mentor and the mentee to grow. For our guest today, veteran Toastmaster Marty Dickinson, mentorship has been a cornerstone of personal development, club growth, and lasting...
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#270: Celebrating Women in Leadership and Toastmasters' Impact – Morag Mathieson
[26:58] Toastmasters International was founded in 1924, but women weren’t admitted as members until 1973. Since then, they’ve made a lasting impact on the organization’s leadership. In 2025, four of the five Executive Committee members are women—and none were born in North America. In today’s...
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#269: A Toastmaster's Golden Experience: Seeking Love on Reality TV – Bill Hernandez
[26:31] It’s not every day that Bill Hernandez gets a golden opportunity to put his communication skills to the test on network television—let alone bare his soul while searching for love in front of millions of viewers on an American dating reality TV series for 55+. But that’s exactly what...
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#268: Stop Talking, Start Connecting: The Cure for Overspeaking - Joel Schwartzberg
[33:58] Overspeaking—a term heard less often than overthinking or overanalyzing—is more than simply talking too much. Yet, like the other two, it can negatively impact effective communication. Our guest today, communication coach and author Joel Schwartzberg, an expert in helping individuals...
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#267: Meet Maureen Zappala, Toastmasters' 2024 Newest Accredited Speaker (2nd of 2)
[30:33] Maureen Zappala is one of two members who successfully completed the final step of the Accredited Speaker (AS) application process at the 2024 Toastmasters International convention in Anaheim, California. She was subsequently awarded the prestigious Accredited Speaker designation joining…
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#266: Meet Lauren Parsons, Toastmasters' 2024 Newest Accredited Speaker (1st of 2)
[33:59] Lauren Parsons is one of two members who successfully completed the final step of the Accredited Speaker (AS) application process at the 2024 Toastmasters International convention in Anaheim, California. She was subsequently awarded the prestigious Accredited Speaker designation joining…
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#265: Holiday Harmony: Tips for Multicultural Workplace Celebrations – Dean Foster
Dean shares invaluable tips and strategies to make workplace holiday celebrations a success while embracing cultural diversity. He explains how companies can learn about various holidays by actively engaging their teams and celebrating without overstepping personal or religious boundaries. Dean...
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#264: Winning Wisdom: Speech Contest Secrets, Insights and Tips – Dilip Abayasekara
[28:38] Speech competitions are an excellent way to elevate your speaking skills. Our guest today, Dilip Abayasekara, DTM, AS, and Past International President, has had an extraordinary speaking career, extensive experience, and a wealth of knowledge. His achievements include five district-level...
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#263: Dr. Ralph C. Smedley’s Legacy: Hidden Stories and Rare Finds – Bob Palmer
[28:26] In this episode, we speak with Bob Palmer, a retired elementary school teacher and Toastmaster with a passion for historical research, who helps us uncover some lesser-known facts and hidden mysteries about the father of Toastmasters International, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, and the early days...
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#262: Toastmasters: Celebrating 100 Years of History - Part 2 – Daniel Rex, CEO
[24:16] In Part 2 of Toastmasters 100, Chief Executive Officer Daniel Rex returns as our special guest. This time, Dan joins us to discuss the organization's centennial celebrations and how World Headquarters has compiled a variety of resources and action items to help you explore, celebrate, and...
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#261: Toastmasters: Celebrating 100 Years of History - Part 1 – Daniel Rex, CEO
In the first episode, CEO Dan Rex enlightens us with stories and a bit of background and history about Toastmasters, Dr. Ralph Smedley’s vision, and the organization's progression and growth. Dan will also share insights on the education program—past, present, and future—plus a few personal...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The official Toastmasters podcast featuring conversations on communication, confidence, leadership, and personal growth.
HOSTED BY
Greg Gazin
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Toastmasters Podcast have?
The Toastmasters Podcast currently has 311 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Toastmasters Podcast about?
The official Toastmasters podcast featuring conversations on communication, confidence, leadership, and personal growth.
How often does The Toastmasters Podcast release new episodes?
The Toastmasters Podcast publishes regularly with 311 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Toastmasters Podcast?
You can listen to The Toastmasters Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Toastmasters Podcast?
The Toastmasters Podcast is created and hosted by Greg Gazin.
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