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.
Site
RSS
Apple
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Retaining your power in virtual communication means building a presence that resonates and holds influence, even from behind a screen. So, how do we adjust our approach to make sure our impact truly connects in virtual settings?
In this episode, Karin Reed unpacks what it takes to communicate powerfully online. Reflecting on a colleague’s observation that 80% of people appear significantly more powerful in person than online, Karin explains how small adjustments can elevate virtual presence. True influence in the digital space is created by intentionally shaping how you show up.
Karin shares five practices for retaining power online—from staying visible and speaking up to creating a warm, engaging atmosphere with small talk. Do you find it easy to connect through a screen, or does it feel like a barrier? Karin suggests that everything—your position on camera, lighting, sound, even background—impacts your digital impression.
Treating the camera as a direct link to others can transform virtual interactions and create a sense of connection and trust that feels almost face-to-face. Focusing energy through the lens is more than a technical adjustment; it can powerfully build genuine connections. For anyone aiming to leave a lasting impression in the virtual room, Karin’s insights offer a fresh perspective on communicating with strength and authenticity online.
Quotes
“In order to be powerful in the medium that you have available to you, you have to understand that there’s nuance and things that you have to change in order to ensure that you can have as much presence as possible in the room as that room allows you.” (02:20 | Karin Reed)
“Recognize if your goal is to be powerful in that room. So if your goal is to have influence and impact over the decisions that are being made or to inspire people to take action, having the video on is a critical component of that.” (03:16 | Karin Reed)
“Your digital impression might be the only impression that people have of you. So you owe it to them to make sure it’s a good one. You want them to be able to communicate with you as easily as possible without distraction, but you owe it to yourself because you want what is appearing on the screen here to be a good reflection of your personal leadership brand, a personal leadership brand that you want to be powerful as.” (14:11 | Karin Reed)
“Focus on connecting with your conversation partners—not just spouting information at them, but connecting with them by injecting humanity into the way you interact and encouraging conversation and dialogue. Be as authentic as you possibly can be… The camera does change everything, but it should not change you.” (21:56 | Karin Reed)
EP22: How to Build Executive Presence by Strengthening Your Personal Power
Episode 33
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 • Duration 30:37
Why do some people command a room instantly while others struggle to be heard? Executive presence is often treated like a mystery trait, yet Chris Lipp argues it is rooted in something far more practical and trainable. It begins with personal power.
In this conversation, you will rethink executive presence from the inside out. Chris explains why titles and authority do not create real influence and how leadership communication starts with the belief that you can create impact. If you want more influence when speaking, especially when presenting to senior leaders, this episode will challenge how you show up and how you speak with confidence.
Chris breaks down the subtle habits that quietly erode executive presence, including blame, reactivity, over proving, and seeking approval. These patterns may feel safe in the moment, but they chip away at your credibility and authority. Through research and real stories, from Bob Iger taking responsibility early in his career to a teacher who diffused a violent threat through calm control, you will see how power is communicated long before you try to persuade anyone.
You will also hear how body language when presenting connects to mindset, and why non reactivity can instantly shift power dynamics in meetings. If you have ever felt small in a high stakes conversation, this discussion offers practical ways to reclaim control without becoming aggressive or performative.
Executive presence is not about dominating the room. It is about owning your responses, your words, and your internal state. When you strengthen executive presence, people listen differently and leadership communication becomes far more effective.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Formal Power Versus Personal Power in Leadership
03:07 Accountability and Executive Presence at Work
07:12 Why Proving Yourself Reduces Influence When Speaking
EP13: Playing the Long Game with Dorie Clark
Season 1 · Episode 19
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 • Duration 31:03
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asks Karin Reed. She argues this question is just as relevant for adults as it is for children, leading to a discussion about balancing immediate productivity with strategic, long-term goals. In this episode, Karin talks with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Dorie Clark about the critical practice of long-term thinking in a society fixated on immediate results.
Dorie, known for her work in the Harvard Business Review and Forbes, shares insights from her book, “The Long Game.” She highlights the struggle of finding time for strategic thinking in our busy lives and emphasizes the importance of structural changes for sustained success.
Dorie provides practical advice for leaders to foster a long-term mindset despite short-term pressures and introduces the concept of “optimizing for interesting”—pursuing meaningful activities that lead to fulfillment and success. Her personal anecdotes illustrate how small, consistent steps yield significant outcomes. She also discusses how to effectively communicate strategic visions, balancing humility with necessary self-promotion. Her straightforward approach helps listeners share achievements without boasting.
Dorie’s advice emphasizes the power of small, consistent steps and pursuing meaningful activities to achieve long-term success. Tune in to gain invaluable insights from Dorie Clark and learn how to develop a strategic mindset and optimize your path to fulfillment and achievement!
Quotes
“I’m always interested in questions about how people make meaning in their lives. And it seems like in our modern society, there’s really kind of two pat answers that, in the discourse, are often viewed as diametrically opposed… You optimize for money or for meaning. And I actually think that there’s a useful third way that we can be thinking about, which is optimizing for interesting. (08:29 | Dorie Clark)
“If you’re optimizing for money, a lot of times, we know, culturally, people can be quite unhappy. Money gets you to a certain place, but it doesn’t get you to the finish line. It is necessary but not sufficient. But if you’re optimizing for interesting, you’re choosing things that are genuinely meaningful and cool to you.” (09:18 | Dorie Clark)
EP12: Five Lessons Learned from My Time in TV News
Season 1 · Episode 18
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 • Duration 18:20
What we say and how we say it matters, whether we are speaking over the airwaves or in front of the boardroom. In this episode, Karin Reed shares how the lessons she learned as an award-winning broadcast journalist shape her approach to her work today in the business world—lessons that you can apply in your role as well. Whether she is pointing out potential pitfalls or highlighting how you can communicate to inspire, this episode offers a series of lightbulb moments that you can put into practice.
Karin’s top five lessons are:
Technology is fickle. Always have a backup plan when dealing with technology.
Butterflies can be a good thing. Nervous energy can enhance performance.
People move people. Focus on personal stories to create strong emotional connections.
There can be unexpected blessings. Embrace the unexpected rewards that come from your work.
There can be unexpected consequences. Deliver news with empathy, understanding its impact on others.
By applying these lessons, listeners can become more empathetic leaders and communicators, adept at creating meaningful connections in every interaction. Let’s take these lessons to heart, recognizing the influence our words can have in shaping our relationships and environments.
Quotes
“There can be unexpected consequences of your message. I share this with you because I think it was valuable for me to learn it in my career as a reporter, and perhaps it’ll be valuable for all of you who are listening in your sphere of influence.” (12:19 | Karin Reed)
“That was a hugely impactful day for me as a reporter because I realized these aren’t just stories. These aren’t just messages that we are delivering in a vacuum. All of the things that we say, whether you’re a reporter, whether you’re a leader delivering a tough message to your team, that has a direct impact on the people you’re delivering it to. And it made me a much more empathetic reporter after that day.” (13:33 | Karin Reed)
EP11: Think Remarkable with Guy Kawasaki
Season 1 · Episode 16
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 • Duration 36:46
“If you want to be remarkable, you seek to make a difference,” says renowned author and chief evangelist Guy Kawasaki. In this episode, Karin Reed sits down with one of her professional heroes to delve into the essence of his latest book, “Think Remarkable.”
Kawasaki shares his innovative approach to writing, using AI tools like ChatGPT and Quillbot to enhance his process without compromising quality. His reflections on concise communication and authenticity in leadership offer valuable takeaways for engaging today’s audiences, particularly Gen Z.
The discussion also touches on his time at Apple and the inspiration behind the book’s title, a nod to the iconic “Think Different” campaign. Through themes of growth, grit, and grace, Kawasaki draws from interviews with over 200 remarkable individuals, sharing profound insights and memorable anecdotes from figures like Jane Goodall and Margaret Atwood.
Kawasaki’s career advice emphasizes the importance of reliability and embracing often overlooked tasks to become indispensable. Tune in to gain invaluable insights from Guy Kawasaki and learn how to transform your life and make the world a little (or a lot) better!
Quotes
“Some writers are suspicious or maybe they are jealous or maybe they are hostile to AI. That’s not the case for me at all. I believe my responsibility to the reader is to produce the best book I can. And whether that means using LLMs or not, is not the point. The point is to get the best book.” (05:59 | Guy Kawasaki)
“My concept is that if you want to be remarkable, the way you do that is you make a difference. You make the world a better place… When you make a difference, then the natural outcome is people will think you are remarkable.” (17:48 | Guy Kawasaki)
“You don’t catch 100% of the waves that you don’t turn and paddle for. So at some point, if you want to make a difference, you just have to turn and burn. In other words, you have to turn and start paddling and you have to actually do something as opposed to thinking about doing something (25:59 | Guy Kawasaki)
EP10: What Do I Do with My Hands?
Season 1 · Episode 15
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 • Duration 18:01
“Body language can be tricky when you are presenting. Sometimes, you just don't know what to do with yourself, but your body is always speaking,” says Karin Reed. “How do you ensure that your body is saying what you want it to?” she asks. In this episode, Karin explains the critical role of body language during presentations. She opens with a common dilemma faced by speakers—what to do with their hands—and shares insights from her coaching experiences. She challenges the advice of keeping hands at one’s sides, advocating instead for natural gestures that complement and reinforce the speaker’s message.
Karin emphasizes the importance of not overthinking gestures, noting that focusing on the presentation content will naturally lead to appropriate hand movements. She discusses how forced or unnatural gestures can distract the audience and detract from the message.
Discussing the use of space, Karin provides actionable advice on adapting gestures for different settings—from virtual presentations, where the camera frames the speaker, to larger, in-person stages. She explains how strategic movement can be used effectively to transition between topics, while recommending that speakers remain still during the delivery of critical points to emphasize their importance.
Karin also addresses how to interact with presentation slides effectively. She advises against the distracting use of laser pointers and suggests ways to integrate slides seamlessly into a presentation, ensuring they support rather than overshadow the spoken content.
Quotes
“You should not be thinking about what you’re doing with your hands. You should be thinking about what you’re saying because if you are thinking about your message, guess what? Your body is going to respond the way it's supposed to do in a supportive sort of way. Your gestures should be natural. They should not be contrived. They should not be planned out.” (02:16 | Karin Reed)
“Allow yourself to be loose enough to gesture, to allow yourself to be supportive in your body language of what is coming out of your mouth. If you hold yourself stiff, it’s going to have an all over detrimental impact on the way you communicate because we communicate not just with our voice, not just with our words, we communicate with our entire bodies. And if you try to muzzle any aspect of that, it’s going to make you overall a less authentic communicator and then a less effective communicator as a whole.” (04:48 | Karin Reed)
EP09: Telling the Data Story
Season 1 · Episode 13
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 • Duration 28:07
“Storytelling with statistics is not difficult, but it is demanding,” says JD Schramm. The distinguished speaker, author, and educator, who has taught at top institutions like Stanford and Columbia, sits down with Karin Reed to tackle a critical challenge in leadership: presenting complex data without succumbing to the dreaded “Death by PowerPoint.”
Leaders often fall into common pitfalls when presenting data, such as focusing too much on the message they want to deliver rather than what the audience needs to hear. JD points out the importance of simplifying presentations and avoiding last-minute changes that can overwhelm the speaker. He advocates for using storytelling to make data more relatable and engaging, emphasizing the need to understand the data thoroughly before crafting a narrative around it.
Karin and JD explore various techniques to improve slide design, such as reducing unnecessary complexity and using clear, concise headlines. JD offers practical tips on making data visually appealing and easy to understand, such as preferring bar charts over pie charts for clearer comparisons. He also addresses the strategic use of animations and the importance of visually guiding the audience through the data.
This episode provides advice on how leaders can identify and craft their stories, beginning with understanding the audience’s needs and the desired outcomes of the presentation. JD stresses the significance of thorough preparation, likening the process to an iceberg where much of the work remains unseen but is crucial for a successful presentation.
Quotes
“One of the most persuasive elements is authenticity. If a leader can authentically represent their passion, their proposal, their vision, or their ideas, that oftentimes can be as effective or more effective than polished presentation skills. And that’s why I believe it is something that’s available to everyone.” (02:12 | JD Schramm)
“What gets in the way of many leaders in their own mind is they’re so focused on the message they want to deliver that they don’t slow down to think about what’s the message this group needs to hear.” (03:46 | JD Schramm)
EP08: Structure Sets You Free
Season 1 · Episode 12
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 • Duration 28:47
"Being a fantastic speaker doesn't necessarily mean your audience will remember what you say," Karin Reed explains as she emphasizes the importance of structured communication to ensure the audience not only enjoys the presentation but also retains the key messages.
Karin shares an anecdote from a conference where a renowned, technically proficient keynote speaker delivered a polished but ultimately forgettable presentation. This serves to underline her primary point: the necessity of creating content that truly resonates and provides tangible value.
To help speakers enhance message retention, Karin introduces her “content framework” based on the “rule of three.” This method builds on the concept that people best understand and remember information when it is presented in simple, patterned groups of three. Given that audiences generally remember only a fraction of what they hear, distilling and organizing key messages using this structure is vital.
Listeners will discover how to apply the rule of three by formulating a core message and supporting it with three distinct points. Karin provides variations of this framework for different contexts, such as pitching an idea or navigating change, and she encourages listeners to adapt these techniques to their personal speaking style.
The episode also covers effective strategies for starting and ending talks. Karin suggests beginning with an “unexpected open” to captivate the audience immediately and concluding with an "emotional close" that leaves a strong, lasting impression and motivates action. Practical tips for implementing these techniques are provided throughout the discussion.
Quotes
“Your job is to deliver a message that's valuable and ensure that it is understood by your audience. You want to focus on the audience and their needs, not on how much you are entertaining them.” (04:44 | Karin Reed)
“Are they understanding what you're saying? Are they getting it? Are you leaving them with something that is valuable?” (05:17 | Karin Reed)
EP07: Leadership Communication: A View from the C-Suite
Season 1 · Episode 10
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 • Duration 25:54
Jenn Chase, CMO at SAS, trades the ice rink for the boardroom as she opens up to Karin Reed on the Speaker Dynamics podcast about her unique path to leadership. Their discussion dives into the critical connection between leadership and communication, shedding light on how a leader’s message resonates within the confines of their team and echoes throughout the broader business landscape.
Jenn talks about SAS's leading role in data and AI, stressing the key role communication plays in linking the company's past achievements with its current projects and future goals. She discusses her twin responsibilities: boosting morale among her team and defining the company's image to the outside world.
Reflecting on her time as a competitive figure skater, Jenn explains how lessons in performance, practice, and handling feedback have shaped her approach to communication. She highlights that thorough preparation for presentations is her strategy against feeling like an imposter.
In their conversation, Karin and Jenn touch on the challenge of breaking down complex ideas for diverse audiences and ensuring messages are accessible and engaging across different cultures. Jenn talks about the importance of feedback in creating an environment where honest critique is valued and used to improve communication skills.
The episode is particularly insightful for leaders who are reluctant to step into the spotlight. Jenn encourages them to see speaking opportunities as chances to share their unique insights and stories. She points out that being well-prepared is key to speaking confidently and effectively, offering practical advice for anyone looking to leave a mark through their communication.
Quotes
"Preparation is an antidote to imposter syndrome." (06:28 | Jenn Chase)
"To lead is to communicate. You can't take those two things apart. If you're going to be a leader, you have to be prepared to communicate." (08:33 | Jenn Chase)
EP06: Be Present - Avoiding the Verbal Gaffe
Season 1 · Episode 9
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 • Duration 22:36
In crucial conversations, we often become our own worst critics, caught between the voice that speaks out loud and another that judges us internally. This internal conflict can derail us in how we communicate. However, effective strategies exist to manage it. Emmy-winning broadcast journalist and communication thought leader Karin Reed highlights the critical role of being fully present during communication, especially in high-stakes situations. She discusses the complexities of internal and external distractions that can lead to what she calls “brain cramps.”
Citing Rick Perry's unforgettable debate lapse and Michael Bay's stage mishap at CES as examples, Karin explains how an overpowering inner critic can disrupt our flow of thoughts. A solution to this is a twofold approach: thorough preparation and the clever use of “presentation helpers” to maintain focus. Beyond the mechanics of speech, she advocates for the power of active listening. She introduces listeners to author Robert Bolton's concept of listening skills clusters–a method that enhances our engagement with the speaker and solidifies our presence, turning communication into a bridge rather than a barrier.
Listeners are invited to participate in a challenge Karin calls “Be Present Bingo,” a fun and meaningful exercise aimed to help you improve your ability to stay present, available for download here.
If you're looking to elevate your communication skills, tune in to this episode of Speaker Dynamics: Own The Room that offers actionable strategies to help you practice active listening and to stay present in every interaction.
Quotes
"We start judging everything that we are saying and doing in ways that may not even be apparent to our audience, but it could put us potentially at risk for a brain cramp. So a brain cramp is where you forget your train of thought, you forget something that you can't imagine ever forgetting. And it's because we have these two voices in our heads, and we're in a high-stakes situation, and we want to do well." (02:04 | Karin Reed)
10:43 The Four Behaviors That Weaken Executive Presence
16:22 Handling an Office Bully Without Losing Power
18:52 How to Gain Status and Influence in Meetings
22:28 Personal Power Under Pressure in a Crisis Situation
28:44 Strengthening Executive Presence From the Inside Out
“It’s important to remind people: It’s not that whenever you were pursuing whatever goal it was, or career it was, you weren’t just sitting eating bonbons. You actually did things. You met people, you made connections, you learned skills. And many of those skills and many of those connections are probably transferable. It also means that you see the world in a slightly different way, which sometimes can be extremely helpful.” (25:13 | Dorie Clark)
“One thing that I want to encourage people to think about—and this is a concept that I share in the long game—is that, ultimately, if we’re all sort of suffering under the yoke of being pulled in too many directions, having too many things to do, we have to recognize that, inevitably, there are going to be times and there are going to be moments when that is necessary. About short term results, sometimes you gotta just make it happen. But it’s also true that if we want to be smart about long-term thinking, we can’t always be doing that.” (27:44 | Dorie Clark)
“If you are hearing this message, and you are a leader, and you are charged with delivering some difficult news, always keep in mind that what you say impacts people. And you want to keep that in mind so whenever you deliver it, you can deliver it with empathy and you can be that empathetic leader. So, I wanted to share these lessons with you because hopefully you will find that they resonate in your world in some way.” (14:13 | Karin Reed)
“The key to gesturing whenever you are presenting, whether it be on camera or off, is to allow yourself to do it. Allow yourself to gesture the way you would naturally, and that’s going to come across best for you and also be supportive of your verbal.” (05:29 | Karin Reed)
“Once you understand the data, then you have to take that data and make it understandable to the rest of us in a very short amount of time. And that's where the storytelling adds huge value.” (05:48 | JD Schramm)
“If we think of the analogy of the iceberg, 90% of it is underwater and only 10% shows up above the water surface. Well, when we think of preparing for a major presentation that’s going to have data stories inside of it, it’s going to have slides inside of it. The work that you do to get ready for the slides that you do show, that’s all below the surface. Those are the slides that are in the appendix. Those are the jokes I didn’t tell. Those are the elements that just didn’t fit in when they said your 10 minutes is now 5 minutes. But the iceberg that shows up above the surface, that’s what the audience sees. That’s what they ideally hear, see, and remember, and they take action on.” (13:40 | JD Schramm)
“Storytelling with statistics is not difficult, but it is demanding. So what you ultimately will come up with may have taken you several meetings with your team or several rehearsals with your coach. And when you finally get it, you go, ‘That's all they need?’ But it’s the journey you need to go on to get that data story in a way that’s accessible to your team, to your audience, and actionable by them. So it’s not difficult, but it is demanding because you have to keep thinking, what’s the question under the question? What’s the action I want to see them take?” (25:34 | JD Schramm)
“It's really important that you simplify your message. Why? Because people are terrible listeners. All of us are really bad listeners. In fact, research indicates that right after we've had a conversation with somebody, right afterwards, we remember only half of what was said to us. We want them to remember the key takeaways.” (06:29 | Karin Reed)
“If your goal is to have them take action, ask yourself, ‘What can I say to them that will make them say yes?’ Sometimes that means pulling the right emotional trigger—the thing that's going to motivate them to agree with what you are wanting them to do. Think about your audience, think about what they care about, and then make sure that your final words are playing to that emotional trigger. Make it relevant to them. Perhaps even consider using a ‘what's in it for me’ statement, because they'll certainly care about that. And then plan it out in advance because you want to finish strong. You don't want to finish with a whimper. (24:55 | Karin Reed)
"The higher up you get, the more information is curated before it gets to you. And people might be afraid to give you feedback. And so I have worked really hard to cultivate an environment where people are comfortable giving me feedback." (18:18 | Jenn Chase)
"You have to remember as a leader, whether you're a leader today or aspiring to be a leader, you have a perspective and people want to hear it. So you can make a difference by communicating and sharing your perspective." (23:10 | Jenn Chase)
"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet, and you can create both of those. And you have to prepare." (24:34 | Jenn Chase)
"Force yourself to stay in the moment, because if you start dividing your attention between what you think might be happening and what is happening in the moment, then you really are at risk of not doing a great job in how you're communicating, how you're presenting, how you're performing." (05:59 | Karin Reed)
"Not being present for the entire question being asked can be a problem. Because first, you may not answer the actual question. Maybe your answer is the one that relates to the first half of the question, but doesn't relate to the second half of the question. Or you may miss out on uncovering a potential issue that was suggested in the second half of the question that you didn't hear because you were too busy thinking about how you were going to respond to the first half." (12:27 | Karin Reed)
"One of my favorite things that I like to ask people to do whenever they are hearing a question is to actively listen. And active listening is an intentional skill. That's not something that most of us do innately. We hear things, which is a passive act, but actively listening, I guess passive act doesn't make sense, but we're passively hearing what is being said to us. Active listening is where you're really working to understand the meaning of what is being said, the message that is being said to you." (13:07 | Karin Reed)
"Active listening does take work, and it certainly takes intention, but it can make all the difference in your interactions, both personally and professionally. It forces you to stay present and potentially avoid some verbal gaffes.” (19:56 | Karin Reed)
Discover shows related to Speaker Dynamics | Leadership, Communication & Public Speaking, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
