The Presentation Podcast

Wait! Clients Are Using AI for Their Slides Already!?

Let's face it: the Future of Presentation Design is going to involve AI. The world of presentation design is undergoing a seismic shift. In episode 251 of the Presentation Podcast, Troy Chollar and Lori Chollar of TLC Creative Services pull back the curtain on how they see AI is transforming the way presentations are created, delivered, and managed, especially for corporate clients. Drawing from their recent experience supporting the presentation design for a large sales conference, they offer insights into their observations on the real-world impact of AI on presentation design workflows happening now. Listen now!   Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e251   Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com   Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq   New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e250 - Here's An Interesting AI-Presentation Use Case

Episode 250 of the Presentation Podcast brings together industry experts Troy Chollar, Sandy Johnson, Nolan Hames for a deep dive into how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the workflow of professional presentation design. Drawing from a real-world case study Lori Chollar of TLC Creative Services talks about a real-world success story that is literally at the intersection of AI and presentation design. Lori shares how an end client leveraged AI to develop a reference presentation before engaging the presentation design team. Listen now!   Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e250   Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com   Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq   New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e249 - Exploring the Balance Between AI Assistance and Human Expertise in Modern Presentation Design

Episode #249, In this podcast episode, Troy, Nolan, and Sandy explore how AI is reshaping presentation design today. The conversation revolves around the two key spaces where AI operates: thinking (e.g. outlining, structuring) and design (e.g. visuals, layouts). While all three agree AI enhances efficiency, they also agree AI is not set to replace human storytelling, editorial judgment, and contextual understanding in professional presentation design. Ultimately, as AI produces "good enough" results, which makes human expertise more critical in creating authentic, memorable presentations that stand out. Listen now!   Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e249   Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com   Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq   New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e248 - Nashville, Vectors, and Paper Puzzles: Nolan Haims Prepares for CreativePro Week

Episode #248, As the world of graphic design continues to expand, the boundaries between traditional design disciplines and presentation design are blurring. And Creative Pro Week, a premier design conference brings together designers, creatives, and presentation experts. This episode Troy has a behind-the-scenes conversation with Nolan Haims hearing about his upcoming CreativePro Week talks, the process, and his expectations for the event. They also talk about the growing importance of presentation design, and actionable strategies for leveraging PowerPoint as a true design tool. Listen now! Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e248 Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

PowerPoint is Amanda Dalton's Swiss Army Design Tool - and CreativePro Week 2026!

Episode 247: Unlock the power of PowerPoint in ways you may not have imagined. In this episode, Troy, Sandy, and Nolan are joined by Amanda Dalton, a seasoned graphic designer turned presentation and instructional design expert, to explore how PowerPoint can be a central tool for presentation design, video creation, and instructional storytelling.   In today's ever-evolving world of digital communication, few tools are as versatile, or as underestimated, as PowerPoint. Amanda shares her professional journey and offers insights into how she leverages PowerPoint alongside other tools to create impactful stories, engaging training content, and dynamic visual experiences.   Plus, CreativePro Week 2026 is just weeks away! Amanda is one of the presenter at this year's conference, and we are fortunate to have David Blatner, Director of CreativePro, preview what to expect at this year's Nashville event. Listen now!   Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e247   Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com   Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq   New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

Are PowerPoint Templates In Our Future?

Episode #246 - New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available! In this episode, Troy, Sandy, and Nolan discuss the value and challenges of PowerPoint templates. They agree that well-built templates save time, make brand consistency easier, and improve efficiency. But everyone also agrees PowerPoint templates are frequently misused, broken, or ignored. While AI tools can generate content and slides, that is not the same as creating slides with the backend formatting and presets of template. And observations from testing multiple AI systems, all currently lack the ability to build or maintain proper template structures. Join The Presentation Podcast hosts for a great conversation centered around PowerPoint templates. Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e246 Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e245 - Inside the Creative Process: Designing a Partnership Pitch Deck

In episode 245 of The Presentation Podcast, Troy and Lori Chollar of TLC Creative Services give us access to their team's design process by pulling back the curtain of a completed partnership pitch deck project. This project got them thinking about how we all approach presentation design. Everything starts before a single slide is designed with understanding and defining the purpose and type of presentation this is, which then influences the visual design and on-slide messaging. Their candid conversation is a great listen full of strategies and ideas for crafting visually rich, purpose-driven presentations. Listen now! Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e245 Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e244 - When Bullet Points Go So Bad They Are Not Needed

In Episode 244 of the Presentation Podcast, hosts Troy, Sandy, and Nolan use a real client slide as a case study to discuss when bullet points hurt rather than help a slide. Join the conversation as they explore how unnecessary bullets clutter slides, disrupt narrative flow, and actually reduce audience retention. Get into design alternatives, and if bullet points are needed in numbered lists, icon layouts, diagrams, timelines and visual hierarchies.   Oh, and they also catch up on recent travels and share industry news! That part of the discussion includes Microsoft's new AI image tool, practical travel tips on Global Entry, a new podcast tracking site... and plant pest control!   Listen at The Presentation Podcast website, or just click play and listen now!   Full Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e244   Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com   Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq   New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e243, 100+ Hours for an Eight-Minute Presentation with John Chen

In episode 243 of the Presentation Podcast, Troy Chollar of TLC Creative Services, has a conversation with certified speaking professional John Chen. They discuss the immense amount of unseen effort behind every presentation. The conversation focuses on John's eight-minute keynote at a Canadian Association of Professional Speakers event, and the 100+ hours of preparation, collaboration with coaches, technical stagecraft, that preceded the actual presentation delivery.   Listen in to hear about the challenges of crafting concise, impactful presentations, the value of rehearsal, and innovative techniques as both an in-person and remote presenter. In this high energy conversation, John shares many personal stories and expert insights, and we get to feel John's dedication and artistry for professional presenting. Listen now!   Episode Show Notes https://thepresentationpodcast.com/2026/e243 Show Suggestions? Questions for your Hosts? Email us at: info@thepresentationpodcast.com Listen and review on iTunes. Thanks! http://apple.co/1ROGCUq New Episodes 1st and 3rd Tuesday Every Month

e242 - Is Your Content a Presentation or a Document?