Near zero visibility
Record breaking warmth
Post-secondary review delay
Upset with return to office
Heartbreaking testimony
5 things 2 countries share
RFK Jr. testimony concerns
Royal Epstein contacts
U.S., Iran prepare to meet
Stellantis selling plant stake 
Unemployment at 6.5% 
Generational mentorship
Owls win opening thriller
Setbacks for Team Canada
Woes continue for Vipers
West will 'always be family'
Hawk talks Epstein files
Kindness is a free currency
The Art of Speaking
Five public speaking predictions for 2026
How will the art of public speaking change in 2026? Since this is my first column of the New Year, I figured it would be fun to share my five bold public...
Speaking lessons from a world champion
To start his speech, Sabyasachi Sengupta knelt down on the stage at the 2025 Toastmasters International World Championship in Philadelphia, and said, “I...
Lessons from Simon Sinek’s TED Talk
Simon Sinek’s speech—“How great leaders inspire action”—is widely regarded as one of the greatest TED Talks of all time. It has...
The downside of ChatGPT-written emails
Have you ever received an e-mail you could instantly tell was written by ChatGPT? How did that make you feel? Perhaps it didn’t bother you at all or,...
What is your communication style?
Do you change the way you communicate, depending on who you are speaking with? About five years ago, there were two leaders within the organization I worked for...
The international impact of Toastmasters’ International
One of my favourite things to do when travelling to a new country is visit a local Toastmasters club. I’ve been a member of Kelowna AM Toastmasters for...
A ‘handy’ way to memorize your next speech
I was recently asked what the best way to memorize a speech is. My previous approach was to build a speech into bullet points and then practice relentlessly...
How 'sonder' can make you a better communicator?
You are the main character of your life. Each day, you likely go past hundreds — perhaps thousands — of people. You’ll never communicate with...
Don’t speak into a microphone like this? when giving a speech
The next time you’re at a wedding, pay close attention to the speech portion of the reception. I bet at least one of the speakers will begin his or her...
Speaking to large and small audiences
When it comes to public speaking, some might assume the bigger the audience, the scarier the experience. But that isn’t always the case. Some of the most...
Advice from a professional keynote speaker?
What does it feel like 24 hours before delivering a closing keynote speech at a conference with more than 1,000 people in attendance? When I launched the Keys...
Seven-day guide to giving a properly prepared speech
Imagine , you’re asked to give a presentation on a subject you are passionate about. You’re honoured and excited but there’s one problem, the...
Keep your audience’s attention with ‘Pecha Kucha’
Have you ever sat through a presentation that went on and on with no end in sight? In 2003, two Tokyo-based architects—Astrid Klein and Mark...
What I wish I had known about Toastmasters from the start?
I’ve been a member of Kelowna AM Toastmasters Club for the past decade. I’ve learned a lot during that 10-year period, but if I could go back to day...
A private way to practice public speaking
Do you want to become a better public speaker without leaving the comfort of your own home? Here are three ways you can practice public speaking on a regular...
Mistakes to avoid when making a presentation
Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to listen to hundreds of speeches. In this month’s column, I break down the most common speaking...
Practice makes perfect when it comes to public speaking
You could go back through Castanet’s database and read every column I’ve ever written on public speaking, but at the end of the day, if you...
Tips to help a novice public speaker sound like a veteran at the podium
I recently asked ChatGPT what the No. 1 personal fear in the world is. My AI friend responded with, “public speaking.” Like many things in life,...
The pros and cons of Toastmasters
If you’ve read any of my columns, you know I’m an advocate of Toastmasters International and the several amazing clubs we have locally here in...
Public speaking is more than just words?
I recently attended a Toastmasters meeting where everyone spoke Portuguese. My original intention wasn’t to attend a non-English meeting. My wife and I...
