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Speaker Dynamics | Leadership, Communication & Public Speaking

Speaker Dynamics | Leadership, Communication & Public Speaking

Hosted by Karin Reed | Communication Expert for Leaders

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Episodes

58

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Speaker Dynamics is a podcast about public speaking, leadership communication, and executive presence in the moments that matter most. It’s for leaders, founders, and professionals who want to communicate with clarity, confidence, and influence—whether they’re speaking in a boardroom, on a virtual stage, or on camera. Hosted by Karin Reed, an Emmy award-winning communication expert, the show explores how strong public speaking skills are developed - it’s not something you are born with! Each episode examines the real mechanics behind effective communication, including how to structure a message, speak with confidence, project executive presence, and communicate authentically without losing authority. Speaker Dynamics is designed for people who know their ideas are strong but want their communication to reflect that strength, so when they speak, their message lands, their presence is felt, and their influence grows. Listeners are invited into conversations about: Public speaking for leaders leadership communication, powerful presentations, virtual communication, speaking on camera, pitching ideas to investors or senior leaders, memorable messaging, effective communication for women, and navigating authenticity versus authority in high-stakes environments. You’ll also hear conversations about modern communication challenges, from leading virtual teams to using tools like GenAI to support presentations while maintaining a human voice. Popular guests include: Matt Abrahams Dorie Clark Guy Kawasaki JD Schramm Lisa McLeod More about Karin: Karin M. Reed is an Emmy award-winning journalist turned leadership communications expert. A four-time author, she has been quoted as a thought leader by a plethora of media outlets, including Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, CNN and Business Insider and was named an “Author Who Inspires Us” by McKinsey and Company. Karin and her team have been the chosen training partner for some of the world’s most recognized companies – from Lenovo to Eli Lilly. She regularly teaches at Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford.

Listen to episodes

59 recent
June 16, 2026Episode 8011 min

EP58: Speaker Tip Spotlight: Three Teleprompter Tips That Make You Sound Natural on Camera

Most people sound like a completely different person the moment a teleprompter turns on. It does not have to be that way.   As an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and communication expert, Karin Reed knows why even confident leaders can suddenly feel stiff, scripted, and disconnected on camera. In this episode of Speaker Dynamics: Own The Room - Speaker Tip Spotlight, Karin shares her top teleprompter tips for anyone who wants to show up on camera with the same ease they bring to a live conversation.   The core problem is not the technology. It is the gap between written language and spoken language. When leaders pour polished copy into a teleprompter script and expect it to sound natural, it rarely does. Closing that gap starts long before you hit record.   These teleprompter tips also go beyond the script itself. Karin gets into how your body language when presenting on camera either supports your message or undermines it. Holding yourself rigid does not just look stiff. It actually makes speaking harder. Video communication for leaders requires the same physical expressiveness you would bring to any room and the teleprompter should not take that away from you.   This episode gives anyone building on-camera confidence a clear place to start. Authentic leadership communication is not about flawless delivery. It is about staying recognizably yourself even when you are reading every word. Speaking on camera well is a learnable skill and this episode lays out exactly where to start.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why the Teleprompter Trips Up Even Confident Speakers 02:03 Three Teleprompter Tips for Speaking on Camera With Ease 04:19 Tip 1: Write the Way You Speak 06:39 Tip 2: Mark Up Your Script for Emphasis and Pausing 09:03 Tip 3: Use Your Body and Practice Your Skills on Camera   Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

June 2, 2026Episode 7829 min

EP57: Generational Differences in Communication: How Each Generation Defines Good Communication

What happens when communication coaches from different generations sit down and ask who actually gets to define what great communication looks like?   Host Karin Reed tackles generational differences in communication head-on in this episode of Speaker Dynamics Own The Room, joined by mother-daughter coaching duo Laurie Schloff, President of Partners in Communication, Inc., and Hava Horowitz, Senior Coaching Partner. Between them, they bring four decades of experience, two distinct methodologies, and perspectives that don't always agree.   Laurie built her practice on research-backed frameworks and structured best practices. Hava arrived at communication coaching through business storytelling, having learned as a startup founder that her ability to articulate her story was her most valuable asset. Together, they make a strong case that finding your communication style isn't about choosing between structure and personality, it's about using one to sharpen the other.   The authenticity vs authority debate runs through the entire conversation. Laurie pushes back on the idea that winging it counts as authentic communication and offers planned spontaneity as a smarter path forward. Hava works from the inside out, helping clients identify the qualities every professional in their role needs versus the ones that belong specifically to them.   AI and authentic communication also enter the conversation in a way that might surprise you. Hava, the youngest voice in the room, is also the most skeptical of AI’s role in the field. Her argument is that as polished AI-generated content becomes the norm, the rawness of real human thinking may become a competitive advantage rather than a liability.   The generational differences in communication don't just show up in theory here. They show up in how each coach works and what each one values. This is the kind of conversation that makes you rethink what you thought you already knew about showing up and speaking up.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Generational Differences in Communication with Laurie Schloff and Hava Horowitz 01:33 Meet Laurie Schloff and Hava Horowitz: A Mother-Daughter Coaching Duo 02:29 How Business Storytelling Led Hava to a Career in Communication Coaching 06:29 Two Coaching Philosophies: Structured Best Practices vs. the Inside-Out Approach 10:18 Navigating Generational Differences in Communication and Technology 12:22 AI and Authentic Communication: Why Imperfection May Be Your Greatest Asset 15:30 How the Definition of Great Communication Has Changed Over Time 16:29 Authenticity vs. Authority: What It Really Means to Communicate Authentically 23:02 The Zig and Zag Framework: Finding Your Unique Communication Style 24:50 Key Takeaways: How to Keep Growing as a Communicator and Leader Connect with Laurie and Hava: Visit the Partners In Communication website Connect with Laurie on LinkedIn Connect with Hava on LinkedIn   Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

May 19, 2026Episode 779 min

EP56: Speaker Tip Spotlight: The 3 Cs of Leadership Communication That Move Any Audience

The most powerful leadership communication doesn't come from a script. It comes from a speaker who means every word.   On Speaker Dynamics Own The Room - Speaker Tip Spotlight, host Karin Reed shares something that doesn't happen often in her line of work. She cried backstage at a conference. Not because something went wrong, but because a speaker she had spent months coaching delivered a keynote so good it stopped her cold. She'd heard it dozens of times in rehearsal. She knew exactly what was coming. And it still got her.   That story is the heart of this episode, and what Karin pulls from it is worth paying attention to if you've got a high-stakes presentation on the horizon.   She walks through three things that made the difference: commitment to preparation, collaboration with others, and conviction in delivery. None of it is revolutionary on the surface. But the way she connects these elements to real outcomes makes the framework feel less like a checklist and more like a standard worth holding yourself to: a room full of people visibly moved, a speaker walking out with genuine confidence, and a message that actually lands.   Great public speaking for leaders is rarely a solo effort. The speaker Karin describes spent months refining his material alongside trusted communications partners, people pushing the business storytelling further than he could alone. That collaboration, combined with serious preparation and the kind of authentic leadership communication that only comes from genuine conviction, is what separates a forgettable talk from one that moves a room to tears.    If you've ever wondered what it takes to make an audience feel something, this one's worth your time.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why a Speaking Coach Cried Backstage 01:05 The Keynote That Changed Everything 02:10 Commitment to Preparation: The First C 03:18 Confidence Is Communicated Before Content Is Processed 04:20 Collaboration: The Second C 05:39 Conviction in Delivery: The Third C 07:00 The Three Cs Framework for High-Stakes Presentations 08:01 How to Find the Keynote That Made Karin Reed Cry   Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

May 5, 2026Episode 7639 min

EP55: The Meeting Doctor and the On-Camera Coach: AI Notetakers and Engagement in Virtual and Hybrid Meetings

AI can summarize your meeting, but it cannot replace the judgment, presence, or leadership communication that actually moves people.   On this episode of Speaker Dynamics – Own the Room, Karin Reed sits down with her longtime co-author and collaborator Dr. Joe Allen, known as "The Meeting Doctor" and Director of the Center for Meeting Effectiveness, for a conversation about where meetings, AI, and virtual communication skills are all colliding right now. The two have written three books together on virtual and hybrid meetings, and this episode feels like exactly what it is, two respected experts thinking honestly about a landscape that is changing faster than the research can follow.   Dr. Allen acknowledges that AI note-takers can produce summaries that rival or outperform human minute-takers on basic accuracy. But accuracy is not the whole job. Sarcasm, humor, nuance, the meaning that lives between the words rather than in them. AI simply misses it. Karin shares a story that illustrates this perfectly, and it will make you think twice before letting a bot loose on your next meeting.   What concerns both of them more is what AI tools may be quietly doing to engagement. Tools built to improve meeting facilitation skills are becoming an exit ramp for people who want to half-attend and catch up on the summary later. For leaders focused on leading virtual teams, that is a real problem. Presence is not optional when your influence depends on it.   The data Dr. Allen shares is worth paying attention to. Meetings today are roughly split between in-person, virtual, and hybrid. That meeting reality is not going away, and leaders who treat in-person and on-camera presence as the same skill set are leaving influence on the table. Eye contact on zoom, how you frame yourself, how you hold attention through a screen. These are learnable skills, and they matter more as AI tools for speakers become more common, not less.   The sharpest insight in this episode is something Karin is seeing with her own director-level clients. They are actively pushing back on AI-assisted coaching. They want human expertise, personalized feedback, and real leadership communication development. That tells you something important about where genuine competitive advantage lives right now.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 AI Tools in Virtual Meetings: What the Research Actually Shows 07:21 When AI Gets It Wrong: The Limits of Machine Interpretation 11:29 Meeting Participation in the Age of AI Bots 15:50 Building Real Connection Across Virtual and Hybrid Teams 24:51 Are We Finally Having Fewer Meetings? 26:40 Virtual vs In-Person vs Hybrid: Where Meetings Stand Today 29:50 Why Senior Leaders Are Pushing Back on AI Coaching 32:15 The Case for Human-First Leadership Communication Skills 35:02 One Big Takeaway: How to Make Your Meetings Matter   Connect with Dr. Joe Allen: Visit Joe's website  Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

April 21, 2026Episode 5410 min

EP54: Speaking with Confidence on Stage

Even experienced speakers can lose their footing when they stop trusting the way they communicate best.   In this Speaker Tip Spotlight episode of Speaker Dynamics – Own the Room, Karin Reed pulls back the curtain on a keynote that tested her own speaking with confidence and offers a useful reminder for anyone who wants to show up with more authority in high-stakes moments. She shares what happens when preparation is solid but a last-minute shift throws off your rhythm, and why the real risk is often abandoning the approach that already works for you. That insight gives this conversation real value for leaders, founders, and experts who need effective presentations that feel clear, steady, and real.   Karin’s honesty makes this conversation stand out. She does not position confidence as something fixed or automatic. She talks openly about imposter syndrome and communication, especially when the pressure to inspire feels bigger than the comfort of teaching. Her story makes the case that people connect with a speaker who sounds grounded and believable. They do not need polish for its own sake. They need a message that feels human and earned.   There is also a strong practical thread here for anyone working on presentation skills. Karin gets into the hidden choices that shape how a message lands, from whether to rely on notes to how body language when presenting is affected by clothing, movement, and comfort on stage. Those details matter because they shape presence long before a single big line is delivered.   This episode is a smart listen for professionals who want to trust their own voice, hold the room without forcing it, and build speaking with confidence from experience instead of performance. Your message gets stronger when your delivery sounds like you.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Stepping Into the Spotlight for a High-Stakes Keynote 01:35 Why Changing Your Presentation Game Plan Hurts Speaker Confidence 03:55 How Speaker Notes Can Disrupt Effective Presentations 05:20 Imposter Syndrome and Finding Your Authentic Voice on Stage 07:35 Why Relatable Stories Make Public Speaking More Powerful 08:35 Stage Presence, Body Language, and Wardrobe Tips for Speakers 10:05 Final Lessons for Speaking With Confidence Under Pressure   Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

April 7, 2026Episode 7532 min

EP53: Why Effective Team Communication Starts With Getting People in the Right Role with Mark Murphy

Most teams do not fall apart because people lack talent. They fall apart because the wrong voices shape the conversation and nobody notices until the damage is done.   This episode on leadership communication shows why talented teams still make weak decisions and what leaders can do to change that. Drawing from the book Team Players: The Five Critical Roles You Need to Build a Winning Team, Karin Reed talks with author Mark Murphy about the five roles every strong team needs. They also explore how strong leadership communication helps bring out the right voices, reduces groupthink, and leads to better decisions. For anyone focused on executive communication, meeting facilitation skills, or virtual communication skills, this conversation offers a practical framework with real workplace value.   You will hear why the loudest person is often not the most useful voice, how speaking order can shift outcomes, and what it takes to communicate with influence in higher-stakes conversations. The ideas are especially useful for leaders who are leading virtual teams, running hybrid meetings, or trying to strengthen leadership communication across different personalities and working styles.   If you want sharper leadership communication, better buy-in, and meetings that lead to stronger decisions, this episode will give you a clear way to think about team dynamics and lead with more intention.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why High-Performing Teams Still Fail 03:35 The Teamwork Mistake That Hurts Business Results 08:12 The Five Critical Roles of a Winning Team 14:01 Leadership Communication and the Wrong Voices in the Room 17:44 How Speaking Order Shapes Team Decisions 20:32 How Leaders Prevent Groupthink in Meetings 22:42 Meeting Facilitation Skills for Virtual and Hybrid Teams 26:19 How to Identify What Your Team Is Missing Connect with Mark Murphy: Visit the Leadership IQ website Get your copy of TEAM PLAYERS: The Five Critical Roles You Need to Build a Winning Team   Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

March 24, 2026Episode 7410 min

EP52: Speaker Tip Spotlight: Speaking with Confidence When Every Other Camera Is Off

Speaking with confidence in virtual meetings often begins with a simple decision: do you turn your camera on when no one else does? In this Speaker Tip Spotlight, Karin Reed discusses how speaking with confidence shows up in virtual communication. If you want stronger on-camera communication and a more intentional virtual presence, this episode explains how being seen influences how others receive your ideas.   Many professionals focus only on what they say. Yet speaking on camera changes how a message lands. Karin explains that speaking with confidence also depends on visual signals. Facial expression, posture, and eye contact on Zoom help reinforce clarity and trust in ways audio alone cannot.   The episode also outlines three factors that guide camera decisions in virtual meetings. Meeting size, familiarity among participants, and the complexity of the topic all influence whether video strengthens communication. In smaller meetings and leadership discussions, executive presence on video often helps messages land with greater clarity.   If you want to improve speaking with confidence in virtual meetings, this Speaker Tip Spotlight shows how thoughtful camera choices strengthen credibility, engagement, and influence in professional conversations.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Should Your Camera Be On in Virtual Meetings 00:46 Why Being Seen Builds Virtual Presence and Credibility 02:05 Factor #1 Meeting Size and When Camera Off Makes Sense 03:14 Factor #2 Team Relationships and Virtual Communication Dynamics 04:36 Factor #3 Complex or Emotional Topics Require Video Communication 06:04 Speaking on Camera When You Lead or Present in Meetings 07:01 Research on Camera Use and Leadership Perception in Virtual Meetings Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

March 10, 2026Episode 7320 min

EP51: Speaking With Confidence: Why Pep Talks Backfire and What to Say Instead

Speaking with confidence can become harder after a well-intentioned pep talk. What feels encouraging in the moment often turns into pressure that undermines trust and performance. In this episode, Karin Reed sits down with Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions, to examine why common praise patterns make speaking with confidence more difficult over time, both for children and for employees.   Their conversation bridges parenting and leadership communication in a powerful way. Amy explains how generic praise such as “You’re so smart” or “You’re amazing” creates dependence on external validation. Over time, that dependence shows up as anxiety, people-pleasing, and professionals who constantly seek reassurance before speaking up. The result is less ownership, less resilience, and less confidence in high-stakes moments.   Instead of hype, Amy offers specific language that strengthens internal motivation. By highlighting preparation, effort, improvement, and repeatable behaviors, leaders can reinforce what actually leads to success. This shift builds trust, improves executive presence, and makes speaking with confidence a consistent outcome rather than a temporary boost.   You will also hear how these principles apply in the workplace when inspiring teams, delivering feedback, and getting buy-in on ideas. Specific, repeatable feedback sharpens virtual communication skills and strengthens leadership communication because people understand exactly what behaviors to continue.   If you want speaking with confidence to be rooted in ownership instead of applause, this episode provides a practical framework for feedback that builds real trust, deeper accountability, and lasting influence.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Pep Talks Can Backfire in Parenting and Leadership Communication 03:26 The Hidden Cost of Overpraise and External Validation 07:46 What to Say Instead: Link Effort to Outcomes to Build Real Confidence 10:50 From Praise-Dependent Kids to High-Maintenance Employees 12:15 Specific and Repeatable Feedback That Strengthens Executive Presence 18:17 The Takeaway: Recognize Effort and Progress to Inspire Lasting Motivation Connect with Amy McCready: Visit the Positive Parenting Solutions website Amy’s All-In-One Parenting Success System   Books: The “Me, Me, Me” Epidemic: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Capable, Grateful Kids in an Over-Entitled World  If I Have to Tell You One More Time...The Revolutionary Program That Gets Your Kids To Listen Without Nagging, Reminding, or Yelling   Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

February 24, 2026Episode 7211 min

EP50: Busy PowerPoint Slides? Here’s How to Present Them Clearly

Presenting slides filled with dense data and rigid corporate templates can feel like you are fighting your own materials. You know the slide is too busy. You know it could be cleaner. Yet you are required to show every number. So how do you keep the room with you instead of losing them to a wall of figures?   In this Speaker Tip Spotlight episode of Speaker Dynamics, Karin Reed offers practical, real-world guidance for presenting slides that do not follow best practices. She walks through how to guide executive attention to the numbers that actually matter, how to use clear verbal direction so people know exactly where to look, and how to manage data-heavy visuals without shrinking your presence. These are strategies you can use the very next time you present financials, dashboards, or standardized templates.   If you have ever felt overshadowed by a crowded deck or boxed in by a template you cannot change, this episode will feel both validating and useful. You may not control the slide design. You absolutely control how you show up and how your message lands.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 The Real Challenge of Presenting Busy Slides 01:20 Why Slide Design Best Practices Clash With Company Templates 02:15 Presenting Data-Heavy Slides Without Losing Executive Attention 03:00 Using Call-Outs to Improve Clarity When Presenting Slides 05:10 Visual and Verbal Cues for Presenting Slides Clearly 06:00 Why Laser Pointers Can Hurt Your PowerPoint Presentation 08:18 When to Remove a Slide and Strengthen Executive Presence 09:35 Three Proven Strategies for Presenting Slides With Confidence 10:34 Slide Design Best Practices and PowerPoint Tips Resource Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

February 10, 2026Episode 7134 min

EP49: AI Tools For Speakers - How Leaders Use GenAI To Improve Communication

What if ChatGPT could help you think more clearly before you speak instead of just helping you sound polished? Karin Reed sits down with Michael Shehane, founder of InStride Leadership, to explore how leaders are using ai tools for speakers like ChatGPT or Claude to sharpen clarity, strengthen judgment, and communicate with more intention under pressure. Drawing from his work with AI leaders in Silicon Valley, Michael explains why traditional preparation habits no longer match the pace of modern leadership and what actually helps now. This episode explains that when we use AI tools for speakers, we should consider them a thinking partner rather than a replacement for human judgment. It shows how AI tools for speakers like ChatGPT or Claude can support better decisions, more confident communication, and more honest self-reflection without stripping away presence or authenticity. For leaders who want to communicate authentically at work, this conversation offers a practical and timely perspective on modern communication skills for leaders.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Leadership Communication and GenAI Explained 04:20 Why Traditional Presentation Preparation Is Failing Leaders 06:40 Using ChatGPT to Prepare and Clarify Your Message 16:05 Using ChatGPT During Meetings to Improve Communication 20:00 How Leaders Use AI to Review and Improve Communication 26:45 What AI Cannot Replace in Leadership Communication 29:20 Key Takeaway for Leaders Using ChatGPT   Connect with Michael Shehane: Connect with Michael on LinkedIn  Visit the InStride Leadership website  Follow InStride Leadership on Instagram    Connect with Karin Reed: Visit Speaker Dynamics Explore Speaker Dynamics University Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn   Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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