E104 – Public Speaking Tips featuring Matt Drinkhahn
I’d like to begin this episode by acknowledging the land that I am learning and living on is the traditional un-ceded, un-surrendered territory of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin People.
As a leader, you're going to have to talk. From boardroom presentations to team meetings, public speaking is an unavoidable reality of leadership—yet it's often the skill we're least prepared for when stepping into leadership roles.
The question becomes, "How can leaders prepare to step behind the podium and truly connecting with their audience?"
In this episode, Matt Drinkhahn, high-performance coach and host of The Eternal Optimist podcast, will explore the fundamental shift that turns average speakers into exceptional ones. Matt reveals his journey from focusing on himself (his appearance, his memorized script, his performance) to genuinely serving his audience - pivotally reorienting everything about his speaking effectiveness.
Drawing from his experience delivering over 175 speeches to audiences of up to 2,000 people, Matt shares practical frameworks for speech construction, including the "spider web" approach that liberates you from memorizing every word while maintaining focus on your central message. You'll hear candid stories about his biggest speaking disasters—from splitting his pants onstage to completely freezing mid-presentation—and how these moments became invaluable learning opportunities rather than career-ending catastrophes.
This episode offers actionable strategies for preparation, delivery, and recovery when things inevitably go sideways.
Learn how to read a room, pivot when necessary, leverage modern tools like AI for preparation, and collect meaningful feedback to continuously improve. Most importantly, discover how shifting your focus from impressing to serving creates an authentic connection that resonates with any audience.
Are you ready to step up to the microphone with confidence? Listen now and transform your approach to one of leadership's most essential skills.
Leadership Without Passion Limits the Depth of Your Vision.
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Matt’s Recommended Book/Movie/Podcast List:
Books:
a. Conversations worth Having by Stavros
b. Getting Naked by Lencioni
c. Ask by Mark Victor Hansen
d. The Road Less Stupid by Cunningham
e. Hard-Wired for Happiness by Kothari
f. Can’t Hurt Me by Goggins
g. The Pursuit of Happyness by Gardner
Podcasts:
a. Achieve Your Goals by Elrod
b. Joe Rogan Experience by Rogan
c. The Drive by Peter Attia
d. Huberman Lab by Huberman
e. The Life Shift Podcast by Gilhooly
f. Rebel and Create by Schaut
Video: TED Talk by Simon Sinek “Why Great Leaders Inspire Action”
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Cite this episode
Kardynal, S., E104 – Public speaking tips featuring matt drinkhahn. Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front. 2025.