Speaking & Communication Episodes

Send us a Text Message. Join us in this engaging episode of the Make Time For Success podcast, where Dr. Christine Li welcomes back the multi-talented Nick Demos, an award-winning filmmaker, producer, author, podcaster, and speaker. Together, they delve into the art of impactful storytelling and public speaking. Nick shares his personal journey from overcoming his struggles as a public speaker to becoming a mentor who helps others shine on stage. They discuss the power of vulnerability, the impo...

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to Episode 186 of the Make Time for Success podcast, where we delve deep into the art of communication with the incredible Heather Sager! Heather, the dynamic host of the "Hint of Hustle" podcast, joins Dr. Christine Li to uncover the secrets behind using our voices more effectively. With over 23 years of professional speaking experience, Heather shares her journey from struggling with stage presence to mastering the art of storytelling and creating meaningful imp...

In this episode, I invited my friend and colleague Dayna Abraham to the show to celebrate and discuss her new book called Calm The Chaos: A Fail Proof Roadmap for Parenting Even the Most Challenging Kids. Dayna is a fantastic author, mentor, coach and guide to millions of people around the world, especially in the area of parenting. Listen in as we talk about raising neurodiverse children, the science of behavior, communication, relationships and how curiosity will allow you to find solutions an...

If you are curious about what it will take to help calm your mind or your tongue before you speak in public, you will learn a lot in this episode from our special guest, TV host and media expert, Rich Bontrager. Listen in as Rich shares how he learned how to overcome his own anxieties around speaking so he could fulfill his childhood dream of being a public speaker who made a great impact in the world. Rich “Trigger” Bontrager is the creator and host of How To Rock the Stage Show, airing live e...

Would you like to speak with authority and intention to influence and connect with your peers or your audience? In this episode, my special guest, Katherine Beck, shares usable tips for anyone who is feeling like they're not using their voice to its full potential and how to overcome any fears of speaking so they can connect with other people to make their opinions known and to be known in the world. Tune in to hear Katherine share different stories about her own life and background and how her ...

In today’s hybrid work world where we are sometimes working via Zoom, sometimes from work, and sometimes from our home basement, it is imperative that we are on top of our communication game so we can represent ourselves well, enhance our presence, and resonate with any audience we might be in front of. My special guest, Jane Hanson has spent over 30 years using the lessons she has learned in her broadcast journalism career to help people communicate better. You will learn lots of communicati...

Conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion seem to be a more frequent and familiar part of both our business and general culture. But how are actual changes and improvements in individual and group behavior going to be made? My special guest, Christina Blacken has made a career for herself of looking at this very important question and chose a tool to do her work that is called Narrative Intelligence. In the episode, Christina teaches us all about Narrative Intelligence, her own chil...

The past couple of years, inside the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused us to reflect on the topics of death and dying. But they've also forced us to review how we're spending our time and leading our lives. In this episode, we have the reflections of Dr. Kathy Zhang, Palliative Medicine Physician, Author, and Podcast Host to help us think and feel our way through these difficult topics together. Dr. Luyi Kathy Zhang, is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at NYU, and the host of the Purp...

What are your most important values and beliefs? Are you creating your work around your mission, values and beliefs so that you work generates as much impact and reach as possible? My special guest Pamela Slim joins me on the show today to discuss these matters as well as her brand new book, The Widest Net. We talk about many topics, including Pam’s background as a coach who helps people create small businesses and side hustles that really work, the pain and glory involved in writing a book, and...

So many of us suffer from people-pleasing. Why do we do this? Why do we allow the needs of others come before our own? My thoughts on the subject are covered in this podcast episode. From conditioning as children to do things we really don't like or want to do to receive praise, attention and appreciation to not respecting ourselves and our own time enough as adults, the act of people-pleasing can be a difficult cycle to break. Overbooked, overcommitted, and stressed out? It’s time to find...

Relationships can be so complicated, right? The relationship between a new parent and their own parents can be one of the most beautiful, successful, and useful bonds when it comes to the strengthening of a family -- but it can also be a fraught and confusing relationship to get right. My special guest, Donne Davis, has spent the past 18 years exploring the joys (and tricky parts) of being a grandma while also helping thousands of other grandmas do the same for themselves. In this episode, Do...

Experiencing betrayal is one of the most complex interpersonal, personal, psychological, and emotional experiences we can undergo. My special guest, Dr. Debi Silber, describes how her personal experience with the trauma of betrayal became the starting point for her personal growth and professional expertise in the area of betrayal. In this jam-packed episode, you will hear how Dr. Silber’s research into the stresses and symptoms suffered by people who have been betrayed showed her how betraya...

Why does showing up online cause many of us to feel afraid? Why does “showing up” seem so scary? It's vulnerability. It’s the fear of letting people see the real you. It’s that fear that keeps you from growing and transforming more fully. It’s also the fear that makes you feel like you’re getting nothing done. In this episode, I’m going to introduce you to Kate Dramis, a copywriter and messaging coach who is obsessed with helping entrepreneurs find their voice, share their voice, and own thei...

Imposter syndrome is an experience many of us feel whether it’s at work, home, or elsewhere. Not feeling “good enough” creeps in when we feel like we need to do better or be better, especially when we begin to compare our experiences to those of others. In this episode, you’ll hear tips and reminders that we need to tell ourselves to take control of that inner voice and the stories we tell ourselves that hold us back. In this episode, I’m introducing you to Sonya Reece. She’ll be telling the ...

Our words have power; the way we speak and act are tools for getting the things we want and creating impact. But why do so many of us hold our thoughts and ideas back? How do we get past those roadblocks to get the things we truly want? In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Ellie Parvin, a Communication Expert & Educator, (University Professor, Speaker, Author, Coach and course creator), who uses her skills and techniques to show others how to improve their lives for optimum success and to ge...

When you begin to accept who you truly are, you begin to expand and grow. I’m not referring to the things others think you are, but you, the real you -- the you that you believe is your truest self. It’s when we begin to listen to ourselves, not others, where we begin to see the change and start understanding that we hold so much power when we stop worrying about what others think or say about us. Wondering or assuming what others want, need, and think creates a limit to who we can become as we ...

Sometimes being a people-pleaser is just NOT fun. Sure, we may get excited at the chance to help someone or work really hard to get the satisfaction of a job well done, but at what cost? We’ve all had that dreaded feeling, having to decide between saying “yes” or saying “no” to something or someone. You might be asking yourself, is saying “yes” really a “bad” thing? If you think about it, always saying “yes” all the time can hurt us because it can get in the way of what we really want to do, s...

Figuring out who you really are and being able to be and act as the truest version of yourself can be so powerful in any and all areas of your life. When Carrie Hamm figured out living and breathing the corporate scene for over 20 years wasn’t for her anymore, she considered what she wanted to do next. As she had worked in a heavily male-dominated industry, it wasn’t until she discovered a women-only co-working space that she began to thrive. She started to notice the stark differences between w...

Imagine what your life would be like if you only greenlit your ideas. No red lights, no one telling you what you “should” do. What do you think would happen? Shelby Stanger is no stranger to fueling her wildest ideas. A seasoned journalist and top-ranked podcaster, Shelby Stanger’s work and podcasts have been featured everywhere from The New York Times and The San Diego Union Tribune to Outside Magazine, ESPN and the cover of Apple Podcasts. Curious about her subjects and willing to go to gre...

Our identity consists of who we are, the type of people we surround ourselves with, the things we enjoy, our values and beliefs, and sometimes...the things people say about us. The pressure and weight of what others think of you can be strong opponents in the process of finding your true identity. Self-doubt can creep in and stunt us further. So, how do we stop these thoughts and find our true selves? What beliefs and stories are you telling yourself that prevent you from being you and arriving ...

How can I use my voice to feel successful and achieve success? “Nice girls can’t be loud.” “Women must be professional in the workplace.” “People won’t like you if you speak up.” Sound familiar? For some time, I didn’t realize the true power a voice could have. Your voice is a precious thing, it’s almost a form of identity; it can captivate an audience, or impact whether you get a job. It can even determine whether others want to listen to what you have to say. There are a variety of facto...