Empowering Speech
On March 26, 2014, the Vatican Insider published the story of Jersey Vargas. The little Mexican girl traveled from Los Angeles California to the Vatican in Rome to attend Pope Francis’ General Audience. At the end of the Audience, she hopped over one of the barriers and rushed to the front row, and met the Pope. Her purpose, was to speak out on behalf of her father Mario Vargas, currently being held in prison in the state of Tennesse …
View Michael Bay speaking at the Consume Electronics Show (CES 2014): “Michael Bay Speaks in Vegas” If I were given the opportunity to speak with Michael Bay I would ask him two questions. The first question would be, “Who owns the burden of success for your movies?” According to IMDb.com, Michael Bay has produced 37 movies, and directed 19. Michael Bay is most recognized for the Transformers series. Box Office Mojo.com, reports that Michael Bay is second only to Steven …
The King’s Speech II After I wrote my first speech in Fall of 1991, my speech coach Marty Tarras, after reading what I wrote — or “trying to read it,” I should say — looked at me, and with the harshest of terminology (see Practical Lessons From “The King’s Speech” I) questioned my mental ability. Thank you Lord for Marty! Marty knew that I had enough self esteem to bless me with the words I desperately needed to hear! I …
My dad (Gene Smith) is one of my biggest fans and helpers. He is always doing things for me, and offering help in all aspects of my life. Specifically for our purpose here, my father is always searching for, and passing to me articles from magazines and newspapers that have to do with public speaking. Recently my dad found a great article in Readers Digest. Discovered in the Work Digest section, dated May 2011 – the article is titled: “Master …
Practical Lessons From “The King’s Speech” Part 1 Read more »
“Overcome Your Fears and Speak Effectively,” was an article published in The Toronto Sun on June 23, 2010. The article quipped about how Jerry Seinfeld joked, “Most people would prefer to be in the coffin than giving the eulogy.” This is so true! I have had the privilege of teaching, coaching, and judging public speaking in the United States for the past 17 years. I have witnessed students vomit, start crying, pass out, and run out of the class. One …
In 1996-1997 while attending graduate school, and coaching with the California State University Los Angeles Forensics team I worked with two other coaches, Josh Miller (who I still work with today), and Dustin Lee Abraham. Before I go any further it is important to clarify that the forensics I am referring to is not dead bodies, but rather speech and debate – competitive public speaking! The three of us coached the CSLA speech team together, and prior to that each …