We were inspired by a recent CBS 60 Minutes piece featuring The Ritchie Boys. They were a World War II German-Austrian unit, many of them Jewish, who had immigrated to the U.S. prior to WWII. Because of their knowledge of European languages and German culture,...
At the risk of sounding like The Sports Channel, we are breathlessly awaiting the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics. For us, there is no greater thrill than watching elite athletes compete on the world’s largest and oldest stage. The first Olympics took place in...
John Madden was a Hall of Fame NFL Coach who led the Oakland Raiders to 8 playoffs and their Super Bowl win in 1976. On December 28th he passed away.After he quit coaching, Madden was an unlikely choice for a sportscaster. He would frenetically gesture...
One thing the space missions of 2021 have reaffirmed is that anyone who travels beyond our planet and looks back is changed. They express wonder at the earth’s spectacular beauty and fragility. May we all appreciate the brief moment of time we have on this...
During this difficult year, two things have become startlingly clear—life is precious and evanescent. There is much to fear: COVID variants, politics, climate instability and more. Great challenges focus the mind, so why not direct your attention to what you have to be grateful for?...
This past week, David recorded a new book for Audible.* He noticed that his voice was tightening up, especially during longer, more expressive passages. Even with vocal exercises and warm tea, reading aloud for six hours is a sure recipe for wearing out the voice.David’s...
Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is real and pervasive. At least 80% suffer from this fear, so it’s natural to experience stress about being observed and judged when presenting in front of an audience.Speaking virtually exacerbates this condition. After all, Homo Sapiens historically observed others because...
Walker Hayes was a wannabe country singer/songwriter who recorded one hit song and then fizzled. With six kids to feed, Hayes began working the 4am shift at Costco. The strain brought him to a crossroads and he knew he had to put up or shut...
Every endeavor has a lexicon, a specific dictionary of terms recognizable in that field. Many are contractions or acronyms, devised for efficiency. However, lexica are a mine field for speakers, especially if you are addressing audiences without your particular knowledge or experience.Avoid the pitfall of...
There is a tidal wave today of people moving from job to job. Unless you win the lottery or can tolerate the vagaries of being in a startup, you’ll have to face someone across the table or virtual screen for a job interview. It’s not...