Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies17 Nov 2025

Using Stories and Humor to Engage (& Convert!) Your Audience: Live Signature Talks from Our Thought Leader Academy Clients

We all know that facts tell, but stories sell. And when you add a touch of humor, your audience doesn’t just listen… they lean in.

In this Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand LinkedIn Live, we’re joined by two recent clients of our Thought Leader Academy, Angela Gillis and Crystal Daye.

They each present a 10-minute version of their signature talk that they developed with us during their VIP Day and refined throughout the program.

You get to see how they weave together story, humor, and heart to connect with their audiences and how that connection builds trust and relatability, the key ingredients for turning a talk into leads (and leads into clients!).

You’ll learn:

How to choose and tell stories that make your audience feel seen and understood
Ways to naturally infuse humor without forcing it or losing credibility
The secret to transitioning from inspiration to invitation (a.k.a. your call to action)
Behind-the-scenes insights from our speakers on what they learned while crafting their talks

If you’ve ever wondered how to make your lead generation talks less “salesy” and more human, this is your chance to see exactly how it’s done.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/451/

Watch the video at https://youtube.com/live/GcZsw9UEWAA

Angela's website: https://www.sorticulturesystems.com/

Crystal’s website: https://crystaldaye.com/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/
Angela Gillis = https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-gillis/
Crystal Gaye = https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalsdaye/

Related Podcast Episodes:

Join us for our three-day speaking retreat, happening in February 2027, in Downtown Orlando, Florida.

You'll create and refine high-impact Signature Stage Segments - the kind that set you apart as a speaker; practice onstage multiple times with our expert coaching and feedback; and professionally film your dynamic segments in front of a warm, supportive audience so you have edited video and a speaker reel to show event organizers what you can do.

Our retreat is limited to 12 women, so get all the details and request your place at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/.

Early bird pricing is on for a limited time.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(517)

Making the Invisible Visible: Live Signature Talks from Our Thought Leader Academy Grads

How do you turn an overlooked pattern or experience into a thought leadership message that changes how your audience sees themselves and the world around them?One of the most powerful things a speaker...

21 Sep 1h

To Get Booked and Referred, You Need Signature Stage Segments

If you want more speaking invitations, it’s tempting to think the answer is more pitching, more social posts, and more cold outreach. But event organizers are receiving more speaker submissions than e...

14 Sep 18min

They Took the Stage at Our Speaking Retreat. What Happened Next?

What stays with you after a speaking retreat - once the filming is over, the notes are back in your hands, and you're home again?We could tell you what happens at one of our in-person speaking retreat...

7 Sep 49min

The Confidence Advice Women Get Backward About Public Speaking

If you've been telling yourself you'll pitch the conference, keynote, or TEDx talk once you feel more confident, I want you to reconsider the order. Public speaking isn't something you do after you be...

31 Aug 20min

Stop Creating Every Presentation from Scratch: Build One Talk You Can Adapt for Any Audience

If you’re exhausted by creating a brand-new presentation every time you’re invited to speak, I get it. You want the talk to fit the audience. But customizing your message is very different from reinve...

24 Aug 32min

Get Hired, Get Referred, Get Clients: The Relationship Side of Speaking with Nikki Rausch

What if the most important sales moments connected to your speaking engagement happen before you step on stage and in the first few minutes after you step off?My guest, sales strategist Nikki Rausch, ...

17 Aug 48min

Executive Presence Starts with Clarity, Not Confidence with Mary E. Maloney

When you hear “executive presence,” do you picture someone walking into a boardroom looking polished, confident, and completely certain of what to say?My guest, Mary E. Maloney, sees it differently. E...

10 Aug 32min

How an I.D.E.A., Not a Topic, Makes You Easier to Refer, Pitch, and Book

When someone asks what you speak about, do you give them one clear answer - or a list that includes a bunch of keywords like leadership, communication, resilience, confidence, and change?I understand ...

3 Aug 20min