SPEAK LIKE A CEO

Hosted by Oliver Aust, founder of Speak Like a CEO Academy

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370

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Speak Like a CEO is the podcast for ambitious leaders who want to become top 1% communicators - and scale themselves and their businesses by mastering the ultimate leadership skill: communication. Hosted by Oliver Aust - one of the world’s leading voices on leadership communication, bestselling author of Unignorable and Message Machine, and trusted advisor to Fortune 500 leaders, unicorn founders, and government leaders - this show pulls back the curtain on how the world’s most effective communicators think, speak, and lead.

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60 recent

October 21, 202635 min

What to Say (and Never Say) in Your First Week as a Leader

4 out of 10 executives don’t make it in a new role. What separates the ones that thrive comes down to how they communicate. Navid Nazemian, author of Mastering Executive Transitions, works with leaders as they step into bigger jobs. He’s seen the mistakes behind that number. In this episode, you’ll learn the phrases to avoid when you take over, the thing CEOs regret most, and how to build trust fast. ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:53) First Week Agenda (03:00) CEOs’ Biggest Regret (04:38) When To Start Taking Action (06:24) The Worst Things To Say (09:37) The Passive Language Trap (12:44) 3 Moves to Build Trust Fast (16:26) What Thrivers Do Differently (20:13) The Transition Gender Gap (24:58) Can You Lead Without AI? (27:46) Will AI Replace Executives? (31:06) Align With Your New Leader Explore Navid’s book, newsletter, and resources for leaders in transition: https://www.masteringexecutivetransitions.com/ Get the Presentation Planner Oliver uses with elite communicators: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/presentation-planner 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MjPtegbC6wSmLWG6Nqjvy • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navidnazemian/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

October 14, 202637 min

The 3 Secrets to Ultraproductive Communication

As a leader, most of your time should go to communicating. The problem starts when there’s no room left for the work that moves the needle. Dr. Christian Poensgen, co-author of Ultraproductive, has spent the last decade researching how to sustain peak performance without burning out. He shares three pillars of an ultraproductive life that help even the busiest leaders double their output without working more. You’ll learn how to get into deep focus, sleep better, and calm your nervous system in seconds. ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (00:58) The 3 Pillars (02:42) Balancing Focus and Communication (06:22) Focus Optimization (10:10) Why Flow Feels Lousy (13:48) Sleep Optimization (17:53) Stress Optimization (19:40) Good Stress vs. Bad Stress (21:48) Calm Your Nervous System (25:02) Why Downtime Feels Stressful (29:34) Double Your Productivity (31:15) Zoom Fatigue Ultraproductive: The 90-Minute Method to Optimize Focus, Sleep, and Stress Book: https://ultra-labs.com/book/ Get the Presentation Planner Oliver uses with elite communicators: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/presentation-planner 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianpoensgen/ Eric Partaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericpartaker/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

October 7, 202627 min

Why Hierarchies Go Wrong – And How to Fix Them

Bad bosses, toxic politics, people fighting for promotions. One in four employees works in a broken hierarchy, and the real number is probably higher. Nir Halevy, Stanford professor and author of Level Up, says that flattening the org chart isn't the answer. In this episode, he gives the three signs of a dysfunctional hierarchy, explains his CPR model for repairing it, and shares one thing you can start doing tomorrow. ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:52) Why Hierarchy Still Exists (03:07) Flattening the Org Chart (05:11) The Warning Signs (08:28) The Fix (10:50) Co-Leadership (12:31) Who Deserves to Rise (15:43) Humor and Connection (19:46) The Dangerous Precedent (21:49) AI vs. Middle Managers (25:58) Improve Your Hierarchy (27:08) The Truth About Silence Level Up Book: https://basic-venture.com/titles/nir-halevy/level-up/9781541705739/ 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MjPtegbC6wSmLWG6Nqjvy • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nir-halevy/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

September 30, 202613 min

How to Become an Elite Business Storyteller

Logic can make your case. A story makes people act. This episode breaks down why numbers, slides, and dashboards aren't what it takes to tell a story that does. You'll learn simple three-step structures Oliver has used with over 300 CEOs, and the mistakes many leaders make on the way to becoming storytellers. Download Oliver’s free 21 Storytelling Frameworks guide: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (00:51) Where Decisions Really Happen (04:14) What Makes a Story (05:18) Stories in Business (06:51) The Entertainment Trap (07:45) The One-Size-Fits-All Mistake (09:01) Problem, Solution, Benefit (10:23) Goal, Problem, Solution (10:54) Excite, Disturb, Assure (12:38) Become a Story Collector 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MjPtegbC6wSmLWG6Nqjvy • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

September 23, 20265 min

Why “Keeping Everyone Informed” Doesn’t Work

You have town halls, frequent Slack updates, and an annual survey. Your team is still disengaged. Oliver Aust has helped over 300 CEOs communicate with their teams, and found that disengagement usually traces back to systems, not people. In this episode, he shares the method that keeps teams engaged and aligned, whether you lead five people or a company of 100,000. The side effect: fewer meetings and more clarity for you and your team. Download Oliver’s guide to the Push-Pull Method, plus 99 more cheat sheets to become a top 1% communicator: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/100-cheat-sheets ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (00:38) The Illusion of Communication (01:26) The Fix: Push-Pull Exchange (01:53) Step One: Push (02:11) The 1-Minute Friday Video (03:04) Step Two: Pull (03:39) Step Three: Exchange (04:11) Who to Invite (05:08) The Impact 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MjPtegbC6wSmLWG6Nqjvy • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

September 16, 20267 min

The 5-Step System For a Speech Nobody Forgets

“Ich bin ein Berliner." Four words. 450,000 people. The most memorable speech ever given – and a 5-step system you can steal for your own signature talk. Get Oliver’s 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver Kennedy had Ted Sorensen, the best speechwriter of his generation. You don't have a speechwriting team, and after this video you won't need one. Oliver breaks down exactly what made JFK's 1963 Berlin speech land the way it did – and how to apply the same moves to your business or career in about 15 minutes. What you'll learn: The single message every great speech is built around How to structure a talk as emotional architecture, not a list of points The hook technique JFK and MLK both used to make words stick Why every powerful story needs an enemy, and how to pick yours The small, human moves that connect you with any audience (yes, including the doughnut myth)

September 9, 202610 min

Steal the Guide I've Given 300+ CEOs

Does your team know the best channel to reach you? What time you'll actually respond? What you need to make a decision? In this episode, Oliver Aust walks through the seven points of his How to Work With Me Guide that's helped over 300 CEOs take the guesswork out of their teams. It takes just five minutes to make, and will give everyone hours back every week. Download Oliver’s How to Work With Me Guide, plus 99 more that help you become a top 1% communicator: ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (00:59) Who Needs the Guide (01:38) Timing (02:13) Channels (03:18) Format (04:18) Meetings (04:58) Style (05:46) Decisions (06:28) Feedback (07:08) The Three Cs (07:38) Quirks (08:42) Make It Happen 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MjPtegbC6wSmLWG6Nqjvy • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

September 7, 202612 min

The Fastest Way to Create a Great Presentation

Your presentations are high stakes moments. You spend days on them, but most of the time, everything is forgotten by tomorrow. Oliver shows you how you can create a presentation in minutes while doubling your impact. He reveals why most presentations are boring and forgettable, and the simple trick that allows you to present so that people take notes and you get what you want out of your talk. Get the Perfect Presentation Planner Oliver uses to coach executives from boring fact-tellers to magnetic speakers: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/presentation-planner ⏰ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:43 The 3 biggest mistakes 02:26 The 3 levels of speaking 03:17 Start with these questions 04:04 Create your presentation in minutes 07:39 Fill it with life 10:48 Science of slides 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDLepEQ9smw • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhs6fvtiJig • 308: Confidence on Command https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGFTCE2zWms 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ 📩Newsletter: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com

August 26, 202611 min

How Top CEOs Get 10X More Done

Micromanage and you lose your time. Step back and you lose the quality. Delegate correctly and you keep both. Oliver Aust has helped over 300 CEOs become master communicators, and delegation is often one of the first things they tackle. In this episode, he walks through his four-step delegation system designed to fix the handover boomerang, help you and your team get 10x more done, and give you your time and headspace back. Download Oliver’s four-step CEO delegation system, plus 99 more that help you become a top 1% communicator: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/100-cheat-sheets ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (00:53) Step 1: Filter (02:33) Step 2: Match The Level (04:19) Step 3: Brief (06:24) Step 4: Own (06:53) 10-80-10 Rule (08:41) Send It Back (10:25) The Delegation Trap 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MjPtegbC6wSmLWG6Nqjvy • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique

August 19, 202611 min

Keep Your Audience Hooked With These 10 Moves

Attention isn't something you win once. You have to earn it back every two minutes. This episode explains the three reasons audiences drift, even when the topic is good and the speaker is better, and 10 moves that reset the room. Oliver has helped over 300 CEOs become master communicators, and these are the hooks he gives them to re-engage an audience. Download all 10 hooks as a cheat sheet, plus 99 more that help you become a top 1% communicator: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/100-cheat-sheets ⏰Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:13) Why Audiences Tune Out (03:14) Ask The Unanswered Question (03:45) Say Something Surprising (04:27) Make Them Imagine (05:13) Ask One Person (05:35) Force A Decision (06:15) Tell A Story (06:55) Use Humor (07:24) Show, Don't Tell (08:06) Power Of The Pause (08:57) Change Your Voice 🎧More Episodes Like This • 316: Surrounded by Idiots w/ Thomas Erikson https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YFSr9PbPZlFQJAUpebogU • 315: Nir Eyal NYT Best Seller https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MjPtegbC6wSmLWG6Nqjvy • 308: Confidence on Command https://open.spotify.com/episode/1tTFZKF5RA1gWDZvJzSpl9 🔗LinkedIn Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-aust/ 📩Newsletter Host: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile 📚Resources • 21 Storytelling Frameworks: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver • Become a Presentation Genius (Free Course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJloFeNwBg • Speak Like a CEO Academy: https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ 📧 Email: info@eoipsocommunications.com 🙌 This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique