Speak Arizona

About Speak Arizona

Welcome to Speak Arizona, the ultimate podcast for professionals looking to elevate their speaking skills in the workplace, meetings, and beyond. Whether you’re aiming to captivate an audience, lead a successful meeting, or enhance your professional presence, this podcast is your go-to resource for actionable tips, expert insights, and inspiring stories. Join us as we delve into the art of effective communication, share proven strategies, and interview top speakers and coaches who have mastered the craft. Tune in to Speak Arizona and unlock your potential to speak with confidence, influence, and impact. Powered by District 3 Toastmasters. Subscribe now and take the first step towards becoming the speaker you’ve always wanted to be!

Publisher

District 3 Toastmasters

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 May 2019

Latest episode

27 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

105 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Oct 2026

   6 Steps to Tell Better Stories and Build Influence as a Leader | Damon Bates

   Technical expertise might get you promoted, but is it enough to make you an influential leader? In this episode of Speak Arizona, host Rupesh Parbhoo sits down with Damon Bates to explore how storytelling can transform executive presence, build trust, and inspire others to take action. Damon shares a practical six-step storytelling framework and demonstrates it through a gripping personal scuba diving experience. Together, they explore why great leaders need more than technical knowledge, how vulnerability creates stronger connections, and why the most effective stories aren't really about the storyteller. You'll also discover how to find meaningful stories in everyday experiences and turn them into powerful leadership tools. Perfect for technical professionals, aspiring executives, and experienced leaders who want to communicate with greater authenticity, build influence, and inspire action. Key Takeaways - Technical expertise gets you noticed, but executive presence helps you engage, align, and inspire others. How people perceive your behavior matters as much as what you accomplish. - Learn Damon's six-step storytelling framework: (1) Setup, (2) Buildup, (3) Scene, (4) Resolution, (5) Personal Lesson, and (6) Audience Theme. The final two steps turn an entertaining story into a leadership tool. - Vulnerability builds trust. Effective leaders don't need to be the heroes of their stories. Sharing mistakes, challenges, and lessons learned can create stronger connections. - Keep your stories audience-focused and concise. Damon recommends a three-minute storytelling approach that emphasizes the details your audience needs rather than everything that happened. - Build your own "story kit." Capture meaningful experiences as they happen, then develop them into stories that can help you communicate, influence, and lead. Chapters 00:00 - When Technical Expertise Is No Longer Enough03:51 - A Scuba Diving Story With a Leadership Lesson08:55 - What Is Executive Presence, and Can You Measure It?15:59 - Why Storytelling Matters for Leadership21:57 - The Six-Step Storytelling Framework27:12 - Common Storytelling Mistakes and the Power of Vulnerability32:43 - Breaking Down a Story Using All Six Steps36:29 - Finding Your Stories and Building a Story Kit39:54 - Practical Ways to Strengthen Executive Presence44:28 - Great Leadership Communication Is About Your Audience46:40 - Public Speaking Pet Peeves and the Importance of Practice52:16 - Final Advice, Connect With Damon, and Closing About the Guest Damon Bates is an executive photographer and executive presence coach with 35 years of sales and marketing leadership experience. He works with senior leaders to strengthen their executive presence, communication, and ability to influence others. Connect With Damon Bates LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonbates/ Website: https://www.damonbatesphotography.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damonbates/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DamonBatesPhotography Email: damon@damonbatesphotography.com

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   From Career Setback to Speaking Success: How Small Steps Compound | Serban Mare

   Serban Mare once left his corporate role to pursue paid public speaking, then returned when bookings were not coming fast enough. In this follow-up to his earlier Speak Arizona conversation, he reflects on what happened next: how the outreach, practice, relationships, and visibility he built began to compound, and why progress rarely follows the timeline we set. Host Rupesh Parbhoo and Serban discuss setbacks, shame, resilience, consistency, finding meaning in the work, and learning to enjoy the climb instead of focusing only on the next peak. Serban also shares practical advice for new speakers, including how to make every speech valuable to the audience. Perfect for aspiring speakers and professionals who want to keep growing through an uncertain career journey. Key takeaways- A setback or a return to corporate work does not erase the effort and relationships built along the way.- Progress may take longer than expected, so treat difficult experiences as opportunities to learn and adjust.- Consistent effort and useful systems can build momentum better than occasional sprints.- A paid speaking career includes preparation, practice, networking, and sales behind the hour on stage.- Start with what the audience can take away, and define success in a way that matters to you. Chapters00:00 - The leap into paid speaking and the slow start01:52 - Serban revisits his speaking journey03:55 - From fear of public speaking to finding a purpose06:54 - Building opportunities through practice, podcasts, and persistence11:42 - When the bookings did not support the leap20:45 - Reframing setbacks and learning from the experience28:24 - Staying consistent through the highs and lows35:54 - The work behind a paid speaking career39:52 - Enjoying the climb and ordinary moments42:25 - Table topics: practical advice for speakers48:20 - Where to connect with Serban About the guestSerban Mare is a PMP-certified technical program manager with 20 years of experience leading complex semiconductor projects from concept to mass production. He is also a corporate speaker specializing in stress resilience, energy management, and workplace well-being. Connect- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serban-morea-pmp/- Website: https://serbanmare.com/

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Stop Apologizing for Your Amazing Presence | Jennifer Emperador

   What does it take to share a deeply personal story on a public stage without losing yourself in the process? Jennifer Emperador joins Rupesh Parbhoo to explore vulnerability, presence, self-worth, and the power of becoming more embodied. Jennifer shares her experience preparing for DEBx, how her Toastmasters skills helped her step into a larger speaking opportunity, and the meaning behind "Stop Apologizing for Your Amazing Presence." The conversation goes beyond public speaking to explore how we can feel difficult emotions, reconnect with the body, and show up more fully. Perfect for speakers and leaders who want to communicate with greater authenticity, courage, and presence.Content noteThis episode includes discussion of childhood trauma and sexual assault.Key takeaways- Vulnerability on stage can become a source of connection when a personal story is shaped with the audience in mind.- Toastmasters can provide foundational speaking skills that help prepare speakers for larger and more demanding opportunities.- Powerful speaking does not require eliminating emotion. It can mean learning to feel it, breathe, and continue.- Embodiment is about reconnecting with the body and showing up with greater presence, power, and self-worth.- "Stop apologizing for your amazing presence" is an invitation to stop shrinking yourself and recognize the value of being fully present.Chapters00:00 - Episode preview and content note02:13 - Welcome to Speak Arizona04:24 - Meet Jennifer Emperador07:33 - Embodiment, identity, and finding your voice09:20 - Jennifer's journey with Toastmasters12:09 - From Toastmasters to the DEBx stage16:30 - Vulnerability, emotion, and connecting with an audience18:47 - Preparing and rehearsing a deeply personal story27:00 - Embodiment and showing up more fully33:36 - Rapid-fire questions34:16 - Stop apologizing for your amazing presence36:28 - Connecting to your deeper "why"39:25 - Where to connect with Jennifer40:16 - ClosingAbout the guestJennifer Emperador is a Holistic Embodiment Coach who helps people feel powerful and worthy.Connect- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-emperador/- Website: https://soldiscovery.com/- Instagram (SOL Discovery): https://www.instagram.com/soldiscovery/- Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/healwithzenjen/ DEBx - https://www.youtube.com/live/5GxXizkF3Cw?si=p_umxzuo83niloLc&t=2580

Who has been a guest on Speak Arizona

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kelly Soifer
• Crystal Vasquez
• Hugo Vasquez
• Dave Zegan
• Tatum O’Kennedy

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

35

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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