Category Archives: Public Speaking
Matthew Arnold Stern ♦ May 13, 2018 ♦ Comments Off on My first speech
My first public speech was at my bar mitzvah. I was decked out in my new green suit and tie (remember, this was the 1970s) with my talit and a kipah my mom embroidered for me. Although I was shy, I felt comfortable standing on the bimah in front of family and friends. I had …
Read more »
Matthew Arnold Stern ♦ August 29, 2015 ♦ Comments Off on What Shark Tank can teach you about public speaking
Shark Tank is a popular TV show where entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to a panel of successful investors (called the Sharks) to encourage them to invest their money in exchange for a share of equity. The entrepreneurs give a brief presentation and must then endure a tough Q & A session with the Sharks as they determine if their business …
Read more »
Matthew Arnold Stern ♦ August 5, 2015 ♦ Comments Off on Body language, vocal variety, and The Great Dictator
You’ll find it on YouTube as “The Greatest Speech Ever Made.” Technically, it is the greatest fictional speech ever made. Regardless of how you look at it, Charlie Chaplin’s final speech in The Great Dictator is powerful for its message and how it turned the evil rhetoric of the movie’s target, Adolf Hitler, on its head to …
Read more »
Matthew Arnold Stern ♦ July 26, 2015 ♦ Comments Off on What Donald Trump can teach you about communication (updated)
Previously, I posted an article about what we can learn about communication from Donald Trump. After he voiced his belief about a long-discredited link between vaccines and autism and refused to confront false statements about the president and racist statements against Muslims — on top of all the other horrible things he said about Hispanics, woman, and …
Read more »
Matthew Arnold Stern ♦ July 19, 2013 ♦ Comments Off on Why speakers need eye contact from listeners
As a speaker, you need to give the appropriate amount of eye contact to your listeners. But you also need to get eye contact from your audience. Their eye contact provides valuable information that can help you give your speech.
