Part One of a Two-Part Series on Ridding your Speech of Clichés The debt ceiling debate has shed light on many problems, not the least of which is our penchant for speaking in clichés. After weeks of listening to politicians on both sides of the aisle sound like used...

Suddenly I am inundated with impersonators. This week I saw a Barbra Streisand drag queen, the movie, ‘The Trip’ and the attached YouTube video link sent from a friend. The drag queen was essentially a train wreck; (one we couldn’t stop watching until we escaped,...

Thirty minutes into a challenging indoor cycling class when I was “seeing Elvis,” the instructor said, “If you have anything left in the tank, turn the tension up one more time.”  At that moment I had an epiphany:  the human body is capable of much more than the mind...

Having taught undergrads at the college level, I believe that gives me license to critique the movie Larry Crowne.  Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are back together again, but in no way do they deserve your hard-earned money.  I went because I wanted to see what...

I know I am getting older. And not only because of the number of times I have circled the sun, but because I find myself enjoying new interests like bird watching, peony-growing, and reading non-fiction.  Jane Fonda’s book was a revelation. I admire and applaud her...

“Does anyone have any questions for my answers?” – Henry Kissinger Want a sure-fire way to speak extemporaneously without sounding like your brain and your mouth lost connection?  Here it is: Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather:  While you’re waiting for your brain to kick...

I slammed the back door and heard a resounding crash. The Irish plumber ran in from outside to see what caused such a loud racket.  We looked at 1,000 pieces of shattered glass. In a heavy brogue he said, “You know, it’s not seven years of bad luck if you weren’t in...

Would you pay $200 for a ticket to see a Broadway show if you knew that the actors never once rehearsed their lines?  Of course you wouldn’t.  And yet, most presenters stand and deliver without ever practicing their remarks out loud. The other day I was walking past a...

As a card carrying feminist, it’s hard to like Howard Stern. I can’t go so far as to call him a misogynist because I think he truly likes women, but the way he has objectified the female sex over the years makes it very hard to listen to his show for more than 10...

Why do we need and value feedback and coaching? Because it is nearly impossible to 1) clarify your thoughts, 2) organize them into a cohesive presentation and 3) deliver them effectively while at the same time observing your own distracting quirks, de-railers and...

Award shows offer dozens of do’s and don’ts for aspiring public speakers. Sunday night’s Tony Awards telecast was no exception. Here are just a few that I thought were especially instructive: 1. Every so often, change the pace of your presentation. To understand what...

"I'm very pleased to be hosting the Oscars again because fear and nausea always make me lose weight." – Steve Martin There's a theme emerging this month with my coaching clients: the battle of the public speaking butterflies. In a couple of cases, a more accurate...

Did your mother ever say to you, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it"? That may be true if you are trying to maintain harmony in your household, but it's bad advice for aspiring public speakers. How you say the words is just as important as the words you...