If you’re afraid of public speaking and looking to up your game, don’t worry — you’re not alone! 2 out of 3 people say they have glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. To help you overcome this fear, we’ve identified the top 6 public speaking classes in NYC. These classes span across different types of budgets and mediums, so you can start your speaking journey in a manner that fits your needs best!
1. Yoodli AI Speech Coach
Before you invest in a coach or a class, it may be helpful to understand where your skills stand. You can do this (and so much more!) by using Yoodli’s online AI speech coach — entirely for free! Start by recording a practice speech or playing one of the (super fun!) games, and Yoodli will give you instant AI-powered feedback. This feedback includes insight into your filler word usage, pacing, eye contact, body language, and many other relevant metrics. Yoodli can integrate with your life, giving you analytics anytime you speak, whether during a meeting, presentation, or even in a job interview!
Used by thousands of corporate professionals, including 300k+ Toastmasters across 160+ countries, Yoodli provides private, pressure-free practice and is a cost and time-effective way to get started on your public speaking journey.
An Overview of Yoodli!
2. New York City Toastmasters (District 46)
If you’re ready to take it a step further, one of the most proven ways to improve your public speaking skills is by joining Toastmasters! Toastmasters is a nonprofit organization to help individuals improve their public speaking and leadership skills. Each meeting, members practice their speaking in a safe and encouraging environment. They’ll give practice speeches, practice speaking off the cuff with table topics (impromptu speeches), and many other activities. To members, this environment quickly cultivates a community in which they are able to learn effectively, and build friends who can help them on their journey. To join a Toastmasters club in NYC, follow this link and reach out to any club that fits your schedule.
(P.S. Check out this great post on how Toastmaster Members competing in speaking competitions use Yoodli to win!)
3. Corporate Speech Solutions by Jayne Latz
If you’re looking for a more personal touch, consider working with one of the most highly rated speech coaches in New York City — Corporate Speech Solutions, by Jayne Latz. Per their website, Corporate Speech Solutions will work with you to ensure you develop strong communication skills. Not to mention, they have had a storied success working with thousands to transform their public speaking ability, making them one of the best public speaking classes in New York City.
4. TJ Walker’s 1-Hour Public Speaking Presentation Skills Class
If time is of the essence, a great place to get started is with TJ Walker’s 1-Hour Public Speaking Udemy Course! In this highly rated course, TJ goes over the basics of speaking, including elements such as how to look comfortable, confident, and relaxed in front of an audience, virtual presentations, selling with stories, and many other important facets of communication.
5. Speech Fox Coaching
Another great local NYC option is working with Melanie and her team at Speech Fox. Highly rated, Melanie is a graduate of Georgetown University, where she earned a Master’s in Linguistics. Speech Fox has a variety of speaking programs and has reviews from clients who share they achieved their “first public speaking gig without being nervous” with the help of Speech Fox!
6. Public Speaking Advantage with Paul Geiger
Training with Public Speaking Advantage will get you the confidence and the respect you deserve. Every Public Speaking Advantage training program is customized to each individual’s speaking priorities. Special areas of focus include Management Communications, Conflict Conversations, and Senior Level Visibility. Choose your method for commanding any room without fear, and take your career to the next level with Public Speaking Advantage! Learn more here.
While public speaking is a very daunting task, with the help of the above classes, you’ll be able to get started on your speaking journey and be communicating like a pro in no time! Happy speaking!
If you’re feeling nervous or anxious before speaking, take some deep breaths. This will help slow down your heart rate and calm your nerves. Taking a few deep breaths will also give you time to pause and collect your thoughts before saying something. When you’re ready to speak, take another deep breath, this time focusing on filling up your diaphragm with air. This will give you the strength and power behind your voice needed for louder speech.
Practice Speaking Out Loud
The best way to improve any language skill is to practice regularly. Previously, the best way to do this would be to find someone willing to listen and give you feedback. However, now, with Yoodli’s game-changing AI speech coach, you can record yourself speaking aloud and get immediate, private, AI-powered feedback so that you can not only hear what it sounds like from an outside perspective, but also dive deep into the speech analytics on how you spoke — a great way to identify areas for improvement.
Yoodli will provide you important metrics like filler words usage, pacing, and so much more.
Drills to Speak Loudly
The Yoodli team has put together a series of fun 1 minute drills to help you speak loudly and project your voice. Check out this free course by expert TEDx coach and former broadway actress, Carissa Karner!
How to Speak Loudly – vocal warmup course
Project Your Voice
Try not to mumble when speaking; instead, try projecting your voice by directing it towards the person or audience in front of you rather than looking down at the ground while talking. Use your hands or body language if necessary but keep focused on eye contact if possible. Pay attention to how loud your voice is—speak too loudly and people will find it annoying; speak too quietly and no one will be able to hear what you’re saying! Try practicing different tones until you find one that works best for you.
Learning how to speak loud enough so that people can understand what you are saying is an important part of mastering English communication skills. With practice and patience, anyone can learn how to project their voice better in order for their words to be heard clearly by others in a variety of settings such as casual conversations or formal presentations alike! Remember – practice makes perfect! By following the tips above, English students can become more confident speakers who know how to project their voices louder and clearer than ever before!
Have you ever found yourself struggling to keep up with a conversation because you speak too slowly? Or perhaps you’ve been told that you need to talk faster in order to be more effective at public speaking or presentations.
Whatever the reason, learning how to talk faster can be a useful skill to have. Here are the top seven best ways tips to help you speed up your speech, talk faster, and improve your communication skills.
7 Easy Ways to Talk Faster
Learning to speak faster is a great goal, whether you’re a native speaker or you’re still trying to improve and practice your English. Regardless of your motive, these seven tips for talking faster will help you get there.
Tip 1: Practice speaking out loud regularly.
The more you practice speaking, the more comfortable you will become with the rhythms and sounds of language. This will help you feel more confident and natural when speaking in front of others.
Tip 2: Pay attention to your pacing.
Try speaking at a steady pace and avoid pausing too frequently or dragging out your words. It’s also helpful to use filler words like “um” and “ah” less often. A great way to work on this is by using Yoodli’s AI speech coach! Yoodli will provide a detailed analysis on how well you spoke, including pacing and a break down of your filler word usage.
Tip 3: Enunciate clearly.
While it’s important to speak at a faster pace, it’s also important to make sure that you are still speaking clearly and cohesively. Take care to pronounce your words correctly and enunciate clearly when working on talking faster.
Tip 4: Use emphasis and inflection.
Varying the pitch, volume, and emphasis of your voice can help to keep your listeners engaged and make your words more impactful.
Tip 5: Be concise.
Avoid rambling, monologuing, or going off on tangents. Stick to the point and try to be concise in your speech. This will help you talk faster and more efficiently.
Tip 6: Use shorter words and phrases.
Instead of using long, complex words, try to use shorter, simpler words whenever possible. This will help you talk faster and be more easily understood.
Tip 7: Take deep breaths and relax.
If you’re feeling nervous or tense, it can be difficult to speak quickly. Take a few deep breaths and try to relax before you start speaking. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident, which will allow you to speak more naturally and easily.
Why It’s Helpful to Talk Faster
For a great speaker, speed is first and foremost a tool. Speaking fast can show listeners excitement, passion, and intensity toward the subject matter being discussed. This effect can pull in the listeners and even cause a contagion capable of creating these very emotions in the listeners themselves. The same subject matter, however, when spoken too slowly can feel lackluster or even bore listeners.
That’s not to say that talking slowly doesn’t have a place in your tool belt – it certainly does. The combination of slower and faster speaking is called pacing. Check out the video below for a more in-depth explanation of how to best pace your speech.
Pacing is a critical part of learning how to speak faster.
It’s important to note that simply speaking your words as fast as possible does not guarantee good use of fast pace talking. The key to your pace is control, something you can develop best with time and practice.
A Few More Tips + Tricks for Speaking Faster
Whether you’re a slow talker looking to speed up your speaking or someone in need of a new strategy to bring more passion and emotion to your speech, these tips and tricks will help you to make it happen.
Here are the best ways to do that:
Record yourself using Yoodli. Recording yourself talking can give you a better sense of how fast or slow you are speaking. Play the recording back and take note of any areas where you can improve.
Don’t be afraid to pause in between sentences. When talking faster it is common to need a pause to allow your brain time to formulate its next thought. Check out Yoodli’s mini-series on the power of pauses here.
Speak slower at first. It might sound counterintuitive, but starting off at a slower pace can actually help you speak faster in the long run. By speaking slower, you’ll be able to focus on your pronunciation and enunciation, which will ultimately help you to speak faster.
Use vocal exercises to warm up your voice before a speech. Vocal warm-ups can improve your vocal clarity, range, and projection. Warm-ups can also help to calm nerves and improve overall confidence during the speech, all of which will give you better control of your speed. Check out Yoodli’s mini-series on vocal warm-ups here.
The Takeaway
In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to speak quickly and clearly can be a valuable asset. Whether you’re giving a presentation at work, speaking in a foreign language, or just trying to make a point in a conversation, speaking faster can help you get your message across more effectively.
Remember, speaking faster is not about speed for the sake of speed, but about being able to communicate your ideas effectively and efficiently. These tips and the Yoodli toolbox can help you to develop the skills you need to speak faster and with confidence. With time and practice, you’ll be able to speak faster and more effectively.
If you are looking for a simple overview of President John F. Kennedy’s “We choose to go to the Moon” speech, a summary, text, and analysis have been provided for you. JFK’s impact has affected perceptions of space expansion beyond its initial delivery at Rice University in 1962. His speech has continued to inspire Americans, leading to the eventual arrival of man on the moon.
“We choose to go to the Moon” Speech Summary
We ran JFK’s speech through Yoodli, the free AI-powered speech coaching platform. You can get started at http://www.yoodli.ai and view results for JFK here.
We meet in a time of change, hope, and fear, where knowledge and ignorance coexist.
In the span of 50 years, mankind has made enormous progress in terms of technology and science, yet new ills have been created as a result.
Mankind is determined to keep advancing despite the risks and challenges ahead.
The moon is chosen as a goal to organize and measure our best efforts and skills, and as a challenge that we are unwilling to postpone.
This journey is the most hazardous and dangerous adventure mankind has ever embarked on, and requires God’s blessing.
“We choose to go to the Moon” Speech Text
The Yoodli AI-powered speech coach provides this text for “We choose to go to the Moon” speech:
We meet in an hour of change and challenge in a decade of hope and fear. In an age of both knowledge and ignorance, the greater our knowledge increases, the greater our ignorance unfolds. No man can fully grasp how far and how fast we have come, but condense, if you will, the 50,000 years of man’s recorded history in a time span of about a half a century stated in these terms. We know very little about the first 40 years except at the end of them, advanced man had learned to use the skins of animals to cover them.
Then about 10 years ago, under this standard man emerged from his caves to construct other kinds of shelter. Only five years ago, man learned to write and use a cot with wheels. Christianity began less than two years ago. The printing crest came this year, and then less than two months ago. During this whole 50 year span of human history, the steam engine provided a new source of power. Newton explored the meaning of gravity.
Last month, electric lights and telephones and automobiles and airplanes became available only. Last week, we developed penicillin and television and nuclear power. This is a breathtaking pace and such a pace cannot help but create new ills as it dispels old. So it is not surprising that some would have us stay where we are a little longer to rest, to wait. If this capsule history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that man in his quest for knowledge and progress is determined and cannot be deterred.
We shall send to the moon 240,000 miles away, a giant rocket, more than 300 feet tall on an untried mission to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth. But why? Some say the moon, why choose this is our goal, and they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why 35 years ago by the Atlantic, we choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon.
We choose to go to the moon in this decay and do the other things. Not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills because that challenge is one that we’re willing to accept. One, we are unwilling to postpone, and therefore, as we set sail, we ask God’s blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.
“We choose to go to the Moon” Speech Analysis
The general public and scholars alike have analyzed JFK’s “man on the moon” speech, yet the Yoodli AI-powered speech coach provides an accessible speech analysis. The tool provides feedback on various components of speech, including word choice and delivery. You can view the full results here.
Word Choice
President JFK received high rankings overall. The only significant improvement Yoodli suggests is the presence of the words “so” and “very”, which may weaken the content of his speech. Yet, JFK’s deliberate usage of these words likely emphasized his deliberation and overall encouragement of sending man to the moon.
Furthermore, JFK’s top keywords included “moon” and “man”, a perfect indication of the content of his speech.
Delivery
In the Delivery category, Yoodli provides scored feedback on both Pacing and Pauses. JFK’s speech scored well in each category, maintaining a conversational pace with minor suggestions for improvement. Overall, this reflects his successful speech delivery which remains a pivotal moment in time.
Wrapping Up
If you enjoyed this “We choose to go to the Moon” speech summary, text, and analysis, sign up for a free Yoodli account to receive the same feedback on any speech you upload or record. Continue to improve your public speaking skills and communication in any context or setting with Yoodli and you may one day have an impact paralleling JFK.
Presentations are business communication scenarios where you have the most control and the most time to prepare. They also carry the most responsibility and the highest expectations. You not only have the responsibility of setting the tone for the presentation, but you are also the subject matter expert. In an attempt to cover it all, your presentation can become flat and lack engagement. Recognize the challenges built into every presentation opportunity and develop the presentation skills that lead to effective and powerful presentations.
Heavy Lifting
The urge to overstuff a presentation is strong. After all, you have to prove that you’re the expert with top presentation skills, right? It can feel like the only way to validate your point of view is to reveal each step and show all of your work. You know you have a lot of information to get through. You expect that you will lose your listeners’ attention if you speak too slowly. So, you hit the ground running and never pause to breathe and give everyone a chance to process what you’ve said. The truth is that they do want to hear your perspective; they want to hear your opinion. There is no need to prove anything, just the need to deliver with clarity.
Three Ideas Limit
Start by knowing your three ideas limit. Getting clarity requires that you sum up the reason for your presentation in one short sentence or phrase. My clients are familiar with my term for this phrase – a bumper sticker. It is a sentence or phrase short enough to fit on the back of a car bumper. It is the 40,000-foot view that sums up your overall message. You don’t figure out your bumper sticker as much as you discover it, because it is already there. You probably have lots of great ideas and information about your topic. They all inform your understanding of your bumper sticker. Check out this video about how to use the rule of threes and up your presentation skills when you speak!
However, one of the most important steps to good preparation is to trim down your presentation to the three most important ideas that brought you to your overall bumper sticker. Three ideas in any one sitting are pretty much everyone’s limit. Don’t get lost in the light show of additional information. Your presentation is first and foremost about the clarity of spoken ideas. A concise message will project a sense of forwarding momentum which will allow your listeners to recognize that you are in charge. You can always elaborate upon request. Connecting ideas that might be missing for some listeners will certainly come up during the Q & A. That is when you have the opportunity to address them in dialogue form.
Rule of threes for business presentations
Precise Preparation
There is a discipline of precise preparation. One of my favorite music teachers was fond of saying, “Practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.” As with most blanket statements, there is a need for some qualifiers here. Perfect practice means preparing the right way. It does not mean that you should expect your presentation to be so perfect that it lacks any sense of spontaneity. Additionally, the goal of preparing perfectly should not keep you from being inspired by new ideas. Here’s a great example from Harvard University about how to up your presentation skills and continue practicing!
Start your preparation by standing up and speaking out loud the reason why you are giving this presentation. The fact that the boss expects you to do it isn’t good enough. You need to dig a little deeper. Find the phrase that nails it for you. This phrase is your bumper sticker. Speaking these words out loud will help to connect you to your true perspective on the topic. This is the elusive “being right” part that many people miss. Your point of view is undeniable. Own it.
The next step is to determine the three ideas that best support your perspective. Allow yourself one sentence to describe each idea. Speak each sentence, one at a time, followed by your bumper sticker each time. You need to repeat this process a minimum of ten times until the memory of the connection between the ideas is no longer just in your head but in your body too. Don’t make the mistake of spending all of your time just thinking about what you are going to say; really say it! You will be giving yourself fundamental speaking training on how to prepare and deliver when the stakes are high and it matters the most.
Losing Your Train of Thought
Whether you’re giving a sales presentation, going live online, or updating employees with human resources or corporate training, the momentum of your presentation can stall when you lose your train of thought. Several factors can contribute to losing your way during your presentation.
One is suddenly becoming aware that everyone is staring at you and feeling judged. The second can be the belief that by speaking quicker, you will have a better chance of keeping your listeners’ attention. Another might be the feeling that you have to fill up all of the “dead air” with non-stop speaking. This rapid, repetitive rhythm is very difficult to maintain.
Any break in your pace can send you into recovery mode which puts you in a state of self-awareness. Another factor can be trying to act in a way that isn’t authentic; in other words, acting overly excited or friendly, or trying too hard to be funny. Any of these behaviors can draw your focus away from the primary intention of your presentation and cause you to fall off track.
Speaking Too Fast
All business communication is a form of public speaking and presentations are no exception. Many presenters find themselves in a situation where they’re speaking too quickly. They often mistakenly feel as if their minds can’t keep up with their mouths. Actually, the opposite is true.
In the time it takes you to speak one simple thought, your mind is probably thinking about six or seven other thoughts. So, how do you sync these two things up? Let’s use the imagery of two conveyor belts: one smaller, slower conveyor belt representing your speech – your articulation and one larger, faster-moving conveyor belt that presents your thoughts – your mind.
Although these two conveyor belts move at different speeds, they intersect each other often. Of course, trusting that they will intersect consistently and effectively requires allowing your mind to think freely while at the same time trusting your speech technique to move at a measured, predictable pace. Ideally, we are talking about having balance and trust. If you focus only on speech techniques, your ideas will come across as practiced, recited and “canned.” Focusing simply on the ideas that flow through your mind will cause you to overstuff your presentation, speak too quickly and often lose your train of thought.
Step one is becoming aware that this is the way your thinking and your speaking work together. Step two is to practice this technique by actually speaking the words when you prepare. You don’t want to be surprised by the sound of your voice when it comes time to present. Adopt a measured presentational pace. Take the time to notice and explore how much you really can think of separate thoughts while you are speaking. You will find that you have more time than you might expect to get yourself back on track.
Power of the Pause
Everyone occasionally needs a moment to regroup and even possibly retrace and revisit their ideas while presenting. Pausing is an extremely effective tool to utilize for many reasons. When executed in a deliberate and controlled manner, the break-in sound can have the effect of grabbing people’s attention as they anticipate what will come next. Whether they realize it or not, pausing allows your listeners to process what you have just said. Pausing gives you the room to integrate a new thought as it occurs to you. This practice seems to fly in the face of the common misconception that you should never stop or even slow down your pace for fear of losing your audience.
There are several things you can do to make pausing while you speak, look, and feel more natural. The first thing is to give your self permission to do it. Trust me when I tell you that it looks a lot better than it feels. Making it feel better requires that you accompany the pause with a deliberate breath or a sustained gesture. Either of these actions will give you the time you need to collect your thoughts. They also signal to your listeners that you are truly thinking about what you’re about to say or that they should pay attention to what you have just said.
Your Slides Listen to You!
How you handle your deck of slides is crucial to the success of your presentation and a critical presentation skill. Problems occur when you rely too heavily on the slides themselves to get your point across. Slides consistently steal focus from you. So, you will find yourself constantly having to reengage with your audience. In truth, visual aids like your slides and the rear projection are never as interesting as you are. They are simply the information that reinforces your perspective.
When you have decided that slides will be a part of your presentation, use them to the fullest. Create anticipation by speaking about either the challenge that the information on the next slide will magically solve or state a rhetorical question that your next slide will answer. Try to avoid overusing the phrase, “what we have on our next slide…”. This phrase sends the message that your presentation will be an exercise in looking at projected slides.
By building the anticipation, you are instructing your audience when to take a quick look at the slides as an overview. Now they are compelled to look back at you for the explanation or clarification of what they’re looking at and why it is important. You need to do this to allow your presentation to develop as a narrative. You are the storyteller; you lend the necessary perspective. The slides are just the facts of the story.
Control Focus
The first thing you need to consider regarding focusing your listeners’ attention is scale. I don’t simply mean the size of the projection screen but also the size of your audience and the space you are presenting in. Make sure your initial gesturing is appropriate for the amount of attention that is being focused on you. Don’t shrink away from it. Accept the responsibility of being more important to the presentation than your slides.
Never read the information on the slide word for word. This could be perceived as being disrespectful. We can all read! It defeats the purpose of sharing your personal perspective. Even though you may have put all of the slides together, and they reflect your work and perspective, your listeners need to hear the concepts directly from you to allow for the best comprehension. Feel free to step in front of the screen at times as a means of regaining focus and making your delivery more personal. When working with a team of presenters, make sure your roles are clearly defined. Audiences don’t mind changing their focus from one presenter to another but they need to know why they are being asked to do it.
Train for Success
If you truly want to become a master presenter, attend a presentation skills training seminar, a communication skills training program, or work one-on-one with an experienced presentation skills coach. A great coach, program, or seminar will use proven methodology, qualified feedback, and consistent, supportive repetition to help you achieve your presentation goals.
Public speaking is an important skill to have in the modern world. Whether you’re giving a presentation at work or delivering a speech for your college commencement, having strong public speaking skills can make all the difference. To help you hone your public speaking abilities, here are 18 common terms related to public speaking that you should know. From active listening to vocal variety and more, these terms will equip you with the knowledge needed to become an effective speaker!
How you can practice all 18 public speaking terms
Consider signing up for Yoodli, an AI powered speech coach where you can practice each of these terms without the pressure of an audience. Yoodli is free of cost and being rolled out to 300k+ Toastmasters members globally.
Active Listening
This refers to the practice of listening carefully and deliberately to the speaker without interruption or judgment. It’s an important skill to have in any public speaking setting as it allows you to better understand the message being communicated.
Audience Analysis (the most important public speaking term)
Before crafting a speech, it’s essential to understand the audience. Audience analysis helps identify factors such as age, gender, beliefs and interests that can inform your message.
Nonverbals
Nonverbal cues such as gestures, posture and facial expressions are important in public speaking as they can help convey your message more effectively than words alone.
Chunking
This refers to the practice of breaking down a speech into small, manageable segments (it’s a public speaking term used with debate students as well). Doing this helps reduce the cognitive load and make it easier for your audience to comprehend and remember your message.
Enthusiasm (our favorite public speaking term!)
Enthusiasm is key in public speaking as it allows you to engage with your audience more effectively. When presenting, try to be passionate and energetic about your topic.
Eye Contact
Establishing eye contact is a key aspect of public speaking as it helps build a connection with the audience and shows that you are confident in your message.
Filler Words
Filler words such as “uh”, “um” and “like” are common in public speaking but should be avoided as they can make it difficult to understand your message.
Filler words explainer video
Humor
Incorporating humor into a speech can help break the ice and make your topic more relatable and memorable to the audience. Just make sure that it’s appropriate for the context.
Impromptu Speech
Speech that has been prepared in advance but does not have to follow a specific structure or outline. It can be used for practice and improvisation for future public speaking engagements.
Inflection
Using vocal inflections like rising and falling tones can help emphasize certain points in your speech, making it easier for your audience to follow what you’re saying.
Nonverbal Cues
These are gestures and facial expressions used to communicate with your audience. Examples include smiling, nodding, leaning forward and more.
Pauses
Pausing briefly throughout a speech allows the audience time to process what you’ve said and emphasizes important points. Just don’t pause for too long as it can be distracting to the audience.
Q&A
In addition, questions and answers (Q&A) is a common feature of public speaking events in which the audience can ask questions about the speech or topic being presented.
Rhetorical Questions
Asking the audience questions can help engage them in your presentation and make it more interesting. However, only use rhetorical questions to keep your speech flowing.
Signposting
This is a technique used to emphasize key points throughout a speech by using words or phrases that “signal” to the audience that an important point is coming up.
Storytelling
Next, telling stories can be a powerful way to connect with your audience and make your message more memorable. Ensure they’re short, relevant and appropriate for the context.
Vocal Variety
Varying your pitch, volume, speed and intonation. This help keep your audience engaged and make it easier for them to follow your message.
Visual Aids
Using visual aids such as slides, videos or props can help reinforce your points and make them more memorable for the audience – public speaking term here is to use them strategically. Just don’t overuse them as they can be distracting.
Public speaking terms – how to improve
In addition, Practice, practice, practice. Either record yourself on camera or try in front of a mirror. If you’d like, consider practicing on Yoodli’s judgement free AI speech coach. By following these public speaking terms and tips, you can ensure that your next public speaking engagement will be a success! Good luck and happy presenting!
If you’re looking for some motivation, entertainment, rich history, mind-blowing facts, and innovative concepts, TED talks have got you covered.
TED talks are so diverse and wide-reaching, touching on a plethora of topics aimed to educate, inspire, and inform.
In less than 18 minutes, speakers from all over the world are given a global platform to share their take on any subject they like, so long as it can embody the “spirit” of TED. In other words, the speech must be “multidisciplinary, focused on the power of ideas to change lives and, ultimately, the world.”
With the spirit of TED in mind, here are our picks for the top 10 best TED talks of all time.
Social psychologist Amy Cuddy discusses the power of body language and how you can leverage it to your advantage.
In her speech, Cuddy talks about the existing research on body language, such as hand gestures, and how that affects how others perceive us. However, body language also affects the person exhibiting the gestures, posture, eye contact, and other means of visual language. You can use your body language to feel more confident and more powerful, for example.
If you’re interested in checking out the full talk, you can find the TED talk below:
Amy Cuddy discusses body language and how it affects human perception.
Record a video of yourself speaking (or upload an existing recording) and explore the instant feedback you’ll receive. Yoodli will analyze your body language, including your facial expressions and eye contact, and give you suggestions for how you can improve.
After being inspired by the best TED talks around, try working on your own public speaking skills.
You’ll also get other free insights into your speaking patterns, like:
Your pacing
Filler word usage
Word choice
Among other analytics
Yoodli can target specific areas for improvement when you upload or record a video.
Tim Urban uses his natural comedic tone to engage the audience during this TED talk. It’s an extremely relatable topic that affects us all in some way: procrastination.
Even though Urban says he’s aware procrastinating isn’t the way to go, it’s a “bad” habit that he still deals with. From getting lost in the immense world of Wikipedia to binge watching YouTube videos, his relatable TED talk emphasizes the importance of considering what we choose to procrastinate on and why.
Still, life is short, and Urban urges us to keep this in mind as we each deal with our own procrastination and what he refers to as our “instant gratification monkey” — the part of us that wants to push past the item at hand and seek instant gratification through procrastination.
Watch Urban’s talk below:
Tim Urban talks all things procrastination in his TED talk.
Bill Gates delivered his TED talk, “The Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready,” seven years ago — years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his speech, Gates revisits the 2014 Ebola scare, during which we narrowly avoided a global outbreak. Although he credits the healthcare workers that work tirelessly, he also adds that luck plays a large role.
However, speaking out about our lack of preparedness in the healthcare sphere isn’t enough; Gates emphasizes that the world needs to invest in things like training for healthcare workers and research for vaccines. Otherwise, come the next pandemic, the world could find itself in trouble. And it’s not a question of “if,” but “when.”
If you’ve never heard this TED talk before, listening to it post-COVID-19 pandemic is truly an experience:
Bill Gates discusses the importance of public health and global health strategy.
4. Camelia Bui: Inclusive Language
This TEDxYouth talk by Camelia Bui is a must-watch. She leverages her experience and knowledge of the LGBTQ community to call out the need for more inclusive language.
Inclusive language, as explained by Bui, is an incredibly simple way to encourage change and advocate for a world that’s more inclusive. She points out that, although LGBTQ rights have come a long way, homophobia is still ingrained in our society. As such, inclusive language is needed now more than ever, and is a very powerful tool for shifting perspectives.
Best of all, Bui gives the audience some easy tips to make sure you’re inclusive of everyone, especially when it comes to gender:
Camelia Bui talks about inclusive language, especially with regard to the LGBTQ community and acceptance.
Yoodli can also flag non-inclusive language in your speech, in a completely judgment-free space. By uploading a video of yourself speaking, you’ll be able to know whether or not the language you’re using is inclusive.
If you’d like to know more about inclusive language, check out our crash course:
Yoodli co-founder Varun Puri discusses non-inclusive language on Yoodli.
Regardless of if you like history or not, David Christian’s 18-minute history lesson will completely transform how you see the world.
Complexity is the name of the game here. From the Big Bang to the emergence of the internet and the World Wide Web, Christian takes the audience on a 13-billion-year journey in less than 20 minutes. He showcases the complex nuances of the universe and humanity itself.
In this cosmic discussion, Christian lays out existence as clearly as possible. He also speaks on humanity’s collective learning, and the power within it. In fact, the nature of human fragility and complexity is perfectly demonstrated through collective learning, even when we’re faced with terrible dangers and crises.
Check out Christian’s TED talk below:
David Christian covers billions of years of history, all in 18 minutes.
6. Meredith Keppel: 5 Mushrooms to Make You Love Fungi
High school student Meredith Keppel introduced us to the terrifying (but innovative and intriguing) concept of cordyceps before the latest zombie apocalypse show, “The Last of Us.”
In her TED talk, Keppel speaks on five different types of mushrooms — oysters, turkey tail, cordyceps, reishi, and lion’s mane — to demonstrate the sheer power and innovative promise fungi hold.
Although these fruiting bodies are often seen as simplistic in nature, that assumption proves false. The aforementioned mushroom species all feature a host of impressive benefits, from treating cancer to breaking down plastics and slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
After all, mushrooms are more than just a pizza topping — as Keppel sees it, they’re the future.
Learn more about these five kinds of mushrooms directly from Keppel in her TEDx talk:
Learn about five types of mushrooms from TEDx speaker Meredith Keppel.
Celeste Headlee worked for decades as a radio host, and as such, she’s experienced in having great conversations with people.
However, Headlee points out in her TED talk that the majority of people don’t know how to hold a good conversation. In this presentation, she cites the secrets to unlocking better conversations, from clarity to brevity and honesty, and of course, active listening.
Channing Gerard Joseph, a TED fellow and an LGBTQ culture historian, speaks on Black queer culture’s undeniable shaping of history in this TED talk.
The faces behind emancipation and the civil rights movement include Frances Thompson and Bayard Rustin, but their names aren’t widely recognized. To shed light on some of these all but forgotten names, Joseph highlights revolutionary, Black, queer figures and their achievements.
Through his TED talk, Joseph paints a picture of Black, queer America to educate listeners on the history of LGBTQ and trans activism, pride, and resistance. From the beginnings of drag culture in the late 19th century to LGBTQ community and culture today, Joseph expertly tells the stories of icons worth remembering and celebrating.
Check out Joseph’s talk on Black LGBTQ icons in history below:
Channing Gerard Joseph, an expert on Black queer culture, discusses the history of Black LGBTQ activists in this TED talk.
In her TED talk, Julieanna L. Richardson details Black history — the foundation of America — and its lasting, often buried, legacy.
Richardson is the founder of The HistoryMakers, the biggest archive in the nation of African American video-oral history. As such, she leverages her extensive knowledge of Black history and speaks on an untold past.
She highlights these unsung heroes and their stories for the audience in her talk. All the while, Richardson emphasizes that both the documentation and preservation of the legacy of Black America should be a priority — not only for past generations, but for future generations, especially.
Listen to Richardson’s TED talk below:
Julieanna L. Richardson discusses the importance of documenting and preserving Black history for generations to come.
One of the most popular TED talks of all time — listed in the official top talks by TED itself — is Mary Roach’s “10 Things You Didn’t Know about Orgasm.”
Mary Roach, the author of “Bonk,” takes a deep dive into the existing available research concerning sex, specifically orgasms. In her talk, all while staying on subject, she discusses everything from bad breath to cadavers to hiccups and pig farmers. It’s a truly wide-reaching discussion, making it no surprise that TED officially listed it in its most popular list.
Roach makes 10 incredible claims that are sure to surprise you. Check them out below:
Learn 10 surprising and shocking facts about orgasms from TED speaker Mary Roach.
I’m Fred Vornbrock, a long-time member of Toastmasters and the 2023 (District 13). I’ve seen hundreds of Toastmasters speech contests over the years – however, the landscape of public speaking coaching is changing before our eyes.
One of the most exciting recent developments in the public speaking arena is the introduction of the Yoodli speech app. Toastmasters International recently announced a partnership to rollout Yoodli to all ~300k+ members globally.
How? By providing immediate feedback on our speeches, presentations, and Table Topics (impromptu speaking). By providing coaching/feedback on our word choice and delivery and by providing high-quality tutorials on speaking.
I currently mentor 20 Toastmasters members from countries across the globe and have challenged them with the “5 in 6” challenge. That is, they are to use Yoodli.ai five minutes a day, every day, for six weeks, and watch the results. Some use Yoodli’s Table Topics while others use the games: the “No Filler” game is especially popular! Several of them are now in Week 4 of this challenge.
Results? Some who used too many filler words (“um, so, like,” etc.) have cut their usage by half. Others who were stumped on what to say when asked an impromptu question now say they feel less stressed and more at ease when called on. One of the biggest “aha” moments is when a Toastmaster discovered that her tone of voice was not as warm and pleasant as she had thought. It was a wake-up call for her.
Now that we are in the thick of Toastmasters speech contests, more and more of our contestants are discovering they have a competitive edge with Yoodli. They are creating their own “5 in 6” schedule. They realize that Yoodli gives them the tools they can use daily in their contest preparations. They also recognize that their competition may also be using Yoodli.
Speechcrafters (those taking the Toastmasters crash course on Public Speaking) give their speech a second time after our sessions to see and hear how they come across when speaking. Yoodli flags their filler words, tells them how fast or slow they are going, and offers suggestions for improvement. They absolutely love this feedback! They can work at their own pace on the areas they want to improve. They also see how using Yoodli will make them better speakers. As one Speechcrafter said, “Through Yoodli, I can see my future.”
As for me, one of my Yoodli discoveries is that I sometimes mumble: my “going to” comes across as “gonna,” and my “want to” sounds like “wanna.” Even seasoned speakers are benefitting from the unvarnished feedback we receive from Yoodli.
Create your own “5 in 6” challenge and witness for yourself how your public speaking landscape smooths out….
If you’re wondering how to strengthen your next presentation, try presenting with visual aids.
Visual aids only add to your presentation and can turn a potentially dull topic into an engaging subject worthy of discussion. Check out our thorough guide on how to present with visual aids, including what exactly they are, useful examples, and most importantly, how to use them successfully. Let’s dig in.
What Are Visual Aids?
Visual aids are additions you can add to your presentation that your audience can use to inform their understanding of your topic.
Visual aids are a very versatile tool and you can use them in a number of ways, including to:
Emphasize important points in your presentation
Make your presentation more credible
Illustrate or even simplify complex talking points so your audience can understand easier
Take some of the burden off yourself in terms of speaking
Make a stronger impact on the audience
Help your audience remember an important point
Keep your audience engaged
Show examples of a talking point
Summarize information in a simple, easy-to-understand manner
What Are Examples of Visual Aids?
Because visual aids are so versatile in nature, there’s a plethora of helpful visual aids you can use in your next presentation.
The following are some examples of visual aids, and when to use them.
PowerPoints. These are useful in almost any situation when you’re presenting. As long as you have access to a computer, you should be good to go.
Handouts. Handouts are usually sheets of paper that you can then hand out to your audience. They should have useful, relevant information regarding your presentation topic. These are best used when you have a smaller audience.
Whiteboards. Although they might seem a bit old-fashioned, you shouldn’t sleep on whiteboards. They can be very useful when presenting and can be used when you’re taking suggestions or questions from the audience, brainstorming, or creating diagrams.
Flip charts. Also considered “old-fashioned” by some, flip charts might be a good option if you don’t want to bother with technology, or if you’re looking for a low-budget option.
Props. Props can describe many things based on your presentation subject, but generally they’re an object or item. For example, if you’re giving a presentation about a product you’ve designed and created, it might be useful to bring that product with you to show during your presentation.
Graphs or charts. These are helpful when you’re talking about subjects that involve numbers, as they can illustrate things like growth. Graphs and charts can easily be embedded in a PowerPoint, or on a whiteboard or flip chart. This type of visual aid can include:
Pie charts
Organizational charts
Line graphs
Flow charts
Bar graphs
Images. Pictures can also be pasted directly in a PowerPoint presentation or on whiteboards or flip charts. These are best used when you need to show the audience something that you couldn’t otherwise, such as a picture of a specific location.
Videos. Like images and graphs, you can embed video clips directly in your presentation. These are best used in a PowerPoint, since you can include videos in more traditional presentation types, like whiteboards or flip charts.
For example, John and Hank Green — two entrepreneurs and activists who run the Youtube channel vlogbrothers — are experts in using visual aids for presentations. Check out the below video they did as a reference.
Hank Green explains what happened during the 1986 nuclear accident at Chernobyl using visual aids.
As Hank explains what actually happened at the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, pay attention to what visual aids he uses. You’ll see images and illustrations breaking down complex nuclear reactions: a great example of how to present with visual aids.
How to Present with Visual Aids
The key to how to present with visual aids successfully is actually practice. Once you’ve selected the appropriate visual aids you want to use, practice your entire presentation, including the visual aids.
This is especially important if you’re presenting via a PowerPoint. Technology sometimes fails us, so you’ll have to be prepared for an aspect of your presentation to not work. As you practice, click through each slide to ensure the visual aids are all working. A great example is video embeds: Those can be tricky sometimes, so make sure you’ve got an understanding before you present.
Before you present, consider practicing with a speech coach like Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-powered communication coach that allows you to see critical insights into your speech patterns.
Here’s how it works:
1. Upload or record a video of you practicing your presentation (with the visual aids) to Yoodli.
To learn how to easily upload a video to Yoodli, check out our quick how-to tutorial below:
Learn how to easily upload a recording to Yoodli through this quick tutorial.
2. Once you’ve finished, you’ll see all the personalized feedback and analytics, such as your pacing, your filler word usage, body language, and word choice, among other important factors.
3. Use these insights to improve your presentation. For example, do you use lots of filler words? If so, consider using less by implementing strategic pauses or simply slowing your pace.
Yoodli can give you specific, personalized insights into your speech patterns when you upload a recording of yourself practicing your presentation.
Once you’ve practiced enough that you’re comfortable and confident, you should be ready to go!
They enhance your presentation by giving your listeners something to look at that, in turn, informs the way they view whatever your presentation topic is.
Visual aids can make or break your presentation, so always be sure that the aids you use make sense in terms of your presentation.
Inappropriate videos, memes, and the like shouldn’t even be considered. You’ll also want to make sure the visual aids used are relevant to your subject. You know your presentation best of all — just give it some thought when you’re selecting visuals.
The Bottom Line
Visual aids are an excellent opportunity to catch your listener’s eye and give them something to think about. Learning how to present with visual aids is a great skill that you can use in virtually any presentation.
Next time you present, give visual aids a chance — just don’t forget to practice beforehand!
Far too often, we get asked where the name Yoodli came from! Why is your public speaking coach called Yoodli out of all things? What does Yoodli mean? Read on to find out more:
What does the Yoodli name mean?
Yoodli is a play on the word “yodel” which is a type of voice exercise. For those of you who’ve watched the Sound of Music movie, you probably remember the song titled “The Lonely Goatherd.” Professional actors and singers yodel all the time to keep their muscles warm and open out their lungs. We made up the word Yoodli around the word Yodel to pay homage to our speech coaching roots!
Why did you name a public speaking company Yoodli?
Great question! We think its unfair that two out of three people are afraid of public speaking. We all speak all the time! How can we make speaking, something that’s deeply human, fun and light and playful? By reflecting that in our brand! Try saying Yoodli out loud three times quickly. You’ll end up smiling 🙂
Plus, Yoodli has the two Os and the L making us right at home with other companies you’ve probably thought of (Erm, what does Google mean?!). If you want to see how important a name is, check out what the Silicon Valley show had to say about the importance of a name.
What’s the right pronunciation of the name Yoodli?
We’ve seen all kinds of spellings of Yoodli! Anything from Udli to Yodli to Yooodli. The best way to say Yoodli is to emphasize the Os, and say the word quickly in a high pitched voice (You – ooooo – dli!). Check out the video below by expert coach Carissa Karner explaining how you can say Yoodli (and use it to improve your communication skills!)
Check out the fun ways in which you can pronounce Yoodli
What can Yoodli do for me?
Yoodli is a private, personalized, and judgement free speech coach. Yoodli provides you artificial intelligence powered analytics on the way you speak – you’ll get data on your filler words, pacing, eye contact, body language, non inclusive language, hand gestures, and much else. Get started for free at www.yoodli.ai. Yoodli is also partnering with Toastmasters International to bring public speaking coaching to members across the world!
