The Toastmaster's Experience

• EP 51 - The Resource Round-Up: 8 Toastmasters Share Their Favorites

  On The Toastmasters Experience, I love shining a light on one powerful question: 💡 “What books, podcasts, tools, or routines have shaped your self-development?”In this special compilation, you’ll hear from eight inspiring voices—each with a unique perspective on where they turn for wisdom, confidence, and inspiration.🎙️ Lana (Ep. 24) shares how following domestic politics and programs like Insiders and The Party Room sharpened her listening and speaking skills. 🎙️ Vicki (Ep. 26) turns to TED Talks and speech and drama lessons as resources that expand her speaking repertoire beyond the club room. 🎙️ Roger (Ep. 34) credits mentors like Craig Valentine, Simon Sinek, and Eric Thomas for fueling his energy and growth.🎙️ Jody (Ep. 35) — Sparked by Brené Brown’s Power of Vulnerability, Jody stepped into deeper, more authentic storytelling. She also recommends William Whitecloud’s The Secrets of Natural Success, and finds ongoing inspiration in Lewis Howes, Brendon Burchard, Gabby Bernstein, and Gabor Maté.🎙️ Frankie (Ep. 39) — A bedside staple: James Clear’s Atomic Habits—especially habit stacking and trigger design. For podcasts, Frankie rotates Diary of a CEO, Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom and Andrew Huberman for science-backed performance.🎙️ Ramona (Ep. 44) — Two words: Nancy Levin. Her book Worthy reframed Ramona’s self-worth and pricing (a recommendation via Craig Valentine). A must-read for anyone who senses a gap between talent and income.🎙️ Marc (Ep. 46) — A teacher at heart, Marc’s communication canon includes Carmine Gallo’s Talk Like TED, Nancy Duarte’s Resonate, James C. Humes’ Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln, and Chip Heath’s Made to Stick—practical blueprints for memorable messaging.🎙️ Maria (Ep. 50) — Oprah & Dr. Bruce Perry’s What Happened to You? shifts the lens from “what’s wrong” to “what happened,” deepening empathy in education and in club culture. She also highlights Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership by Kirstin Ferguson, championing service-first leadership that empowers others.🎧 If any of these spark curiosity, dive back into their full episodes for the complete stories and strategies.

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• EP - 50 - Maria’s Message: Find Your Voice, Change Your Life

  Maria’s Toastmasters journey began in 2009 after a staff retreat conversation made her realise she had no hobbies outside of work and family life. Caring for her husband after a major accident and raising three children had left little time for herself. Remembering her love of speaking, she found Bosley Park Toastmasters — and has been active ever since, now belonging to four clubs, including one in Canada.Her leadership path evolved naturally, serving as Club Growth Director, then Program Quality Director, and potentially District Director. For Maria, leadership is about giving back to an organisation that has provided her with national and international speaking opportunities, co-author credits, and professional growth.She values Toastmasters’ role in preparing people — especially youth — for real-world communication, from job interviews to personal branding. She notes the decline of public speaking in schools and urges clubs to deliver consistent, high-quality meetings to retain new members.Maria is also a seasoned competitor, achieving district-level success, and treasures speeches that inspire, such as her speech about her father about the power of touch. She believes everyone has a voice worth developing, shaped by life experiences — often linked to past discouragement.Her advice: Join, persevere, and use Toastmasters as a safe space to grow confidence and connection. Speaking, she says, is not just a skill — it’s a lifeline to opportunity and belonging.

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• EP 49 - Top 28 Finalist: Remona’s Remarkable First Year in Toastmasters

  In this inspiring episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn welcomes back Remona Moodley—one of Toastmasters’ Top 28 semi-finalists in the 2025 World Championship of Public Speaking. Even more remarkable: it’s Remona’s first year in Toastmasters.Remona shares her thrilling and somewhat nerve-wracking journey of finding out she was selected. From obsessively refreshing the website to seeing her name on the list in the early hours of the morning, she describes a quiet moment of personal triumph. What followed was a flurry of congratulations, club celebrations—and the pressure to write a brand-new speech within a month.With a background in pageants and performance, Remona has been preparing her whole life for this moment, even if not formally within Toastmasters. To support her, she’s assembled an all-star team. She describes how each one brings a unique perspective, contributing to her growth with precision and care.Remona also speaks openly about the flood of feedback, balancing conflicting advice, and trusting her own instincts to remain authentic. She offers heartfelt advice to aspiring competitors: you don’t need to be ready to start—just start. The journey itself will transform you.As Remona prepares to take the international stage in Philadelphia, she shares her excitement, her lucky charm, and her family’s joy—including her two young children who are just as thrilled for the American adventure.We’ll all be cheering you on, Remona!

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• EP 48 - Katie YZ Joined Toastmasters and Found Comedy!

  In this lively episode of The Toastmasters Experience, I interview Sydney-based Toastmaster and stand-up comedian Katie YZ. Katie shares her unique motivation for joining Toastmasters back in 2019—not to win contests, but to save her marriage. Frustrated by poor communication with her husband, Katie found that Toastmasters offered a far more cost-effective solution than marriage counselling—and it worked. She learned the art of constructive feedback, transforming not only her marriage but also her confidence and communication style.Katie quickly embraced the stage, joining Reevesby Toastmasters before discovering her comedic side at Just for Laughs, a humor-focused club where she honed her funny bone. Inspired by a mentor’s nudge, she entered a humorous speech contest and discovered her talent for comedy. She’s since performed over 60 stand-up sets across Sydney and beyond while juggling a full-time university coordinator role and family life.Katie also founded a junior Gavel Club to support young speakers—including her daughter, who went on to international recognition. She reflects on leadership growth through her Area Director role and the deep friendships formed through Toastmasters. She encourages everyone to give Toastmasters a try, even for a short time, because “it changes everything.”This episode is packed with laughter, life lessons, and a reminder that communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about listening, taking risks, and connecting. Find Katie on Facebook @KatieYZ if you’d like her to MC your wedding, roast your birthday party, or entertain any event.

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• EP 47 - Zoom, Speeches & 143 Countries: Richard Peck’s Presidential Reign

  In this insightful episode of The Toastmasters Experience, I welcome Richard Peck, former International President of Toastmasters, who shares his extraordinary journey from reluctant speaker to global leader. Richard’s Toastmasters story began in 2006 after an encounter with legendary speaker Les Brown, who encouraged him to join. Within six months, Richard unexpectedly became Club President—after stepping out during officer elections!🎙️His leadership ascent continued rapidly, holding various district roles before being elected to the International Board. In a unique twist of history, Richard stepped into the role of International President during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than viewing it as a setback, he embraced it as an opportunity. His landmark initiative, the “International President’s World Tour,” saw him visit 149 clubs across 143 countries—all virtually. Not content to merely observe, Richard took on roles in each meeting, receiving global feedback on his speeches and deepening his understanding of communication across cultures.⭐️He reflects on the difference between speaking and truly communicating, emphasizing that Toastmasters helps bridge this gap. Richard also discusses the evolving nature of communication in the AI age and underscores the importance of cultural awareness and mentorship within clubs.🎧A race car driver in his spare time, Richard draws parallels between high-speed racing and effective leadership—both require a strong, trusted team. He closes with heartfelt advice: explore multiple clubs, get involved, and always remember—you’ll never be the same person you were when you first joined Toastmasters.🎙️ #thetoastmastersexperience #selfdevelopmentpodcast#getinspired #toastmasters #podcast #getinspiredbytheirinsights#spotifypodcast #applepodcast 

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