The SpeakerPath®
Discover the art and business of professional speaking. Host Brian Miller, a former magician turned international keynote speaker and award-winning speechwriter, runs Clarity Up, a message design firm. He is joined by storytelling specialist Francisco Mahfuz and presence and performance coach Ioana Jongsma. Together, they explore the vast world of professional speaking, both on and off stage.
Episodes
Episode 17: Are You Making These 4 Storytelling Mistakes?
In this episode of The SpeakerPath® Podcast, Jo Jongsma sits down with storytelling expert Francisco Mahfuz to double click on 4 frequent storytelling mistakes almost all speakers make.Spoiler: most “stories” are not even stories at all!Watch this episode to understand why so many keynotes and presentations fall flat, and how just a few simple shifts can make your stories much more effective.The 4
Episode 16: 5 Stress Management Secrets Pro Speakers Know
We think stress management is something speakers do only once they step on stage. But pros start dealing with it weeks, if not months before their keynote.In this solo episode of The SpeakerPath® Podcast, our Presence and Performance specialist, Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, explores one of the most practical behavioral tools for reducing public-speaking stress: David Rock’s SCARF model.Originally designed
Episode 15: What You Need To Know To Be A Successful Keynote Speaker In 2026
In this year-end episode of The Speaker Path, Brian Miller, Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, and Francisco Mahfuz unpack the most important industry trends shaping the speaking world in 2026, and what they mean for professional speakers.Drawing on recent reports from AAE Speakers Bureau, Freeman, and Skift Meetings, the conversation reveals a striking disconnect between what event planners believe creates peak
Episode 14: How To Create Real Change From The Stage
Most speakers try to change their audience by offering tips, tricks, hacks, and tactics. But tactics rarely create lasting change. Paradigm shifts do.In this episode, Brian Miller shares the single biggest insight that transformed his 15-year speaking career: a lesson he received from Seth Godin. This approach applies to every expert, speaker, and leader who wants to have real impact on
Episode 13: How To Tell (And Find!) Great Stories
The real storytelling problem most speakers have is not “how do I tell a story?” but “where do I find one?” In this episode of The Speaker Path® Podcast, Jo Jongsma invites story expert Francisco Mahfuz to break down what a story actually is (hint: not a string of events!), why “tell me a story” instantly freezes your brain, and how to use simple prompts like first / last / worst / best to su
Episode 12: Speaker Coaches React: Esther Perel, Robert Waldinger, and Marilyn York
Why do some viral TED/TEDx stories hook us instantly while others stall in the first minute?In this episode, speaker coaches Ioana (Jo) Jongsma and Francisco Mahfuz react to three viral TED/TEDx talks—Esther Perel, Robert Waldinger, and Marilyn York—showing what hooks, what drags, and how to fix it. You’ll get practical moves to open strong (or set the premise first), tighten pacing, and turn rese
Episode 11: How We Survived Our Biggest Speaking Flops
Failure happens on stage and off.In this roundtable, Brian Miller, Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, and Francisco Mahfuz share their most painful speaking fails from a joke that died in the opening line, to a mass walk-out mid-talk, to offending a client with a poorly framed stat, and the exact fixes they use today. You’ll get practical tools to prevent repeats, recover in the moment, and turn misses into mate
Episode 10: Speaker Coaches React: Joe Risser, Jess Ekstrom, and Valorie Kondos Field
What makes a killer opening line and why do even great speakers lose us in the first minute?In this episode of The SpeakerPath Podcast, Brian Miller and Jo Jongsma react to three real TED and TEDx openings. From a dramatic “plank” intro to a story about ice cream, to a world-class coach redefining success, they break down what works, what doesn’t, and why your very first sentence might decide whet
Episode 9: Speaker Coaches React: Scott Galloway, Josh Radnor, Codie Sanchez
What can you learn from watching famous speakers even if you don’t like their style?In Episode 9 of The SpeakerPath Podcast, Brian Miller and Jo Jongsma sit down to watch and react to clips from Josh Radnor, Codie Sanchez, and Scott Galloway. From polished actors to business leaders, they unpack the choices each speaker makes in front of an audience, the strengths, the flaws, and the lessons that
Episode 8: How Speakers Can Prepare For Panels and Fireside Chats
Winging it doesn’t work.Panels and fireside chats may feel like casual conversations, but when you’re on stage with a mic, the audience deserves more than whatever comes to mind.In Episode 8 of The SpeakerPath Podcast, Brian Miller and Jo Jongsma break down how to prepare for these formats using core messaging. They explain why “speaking from the heart” only works if you’ve rehearsed your message,
Episode 7: Why "Just Be Yourself" Is The Worst Communication Advice
Before a big talk or presentation, you’ve probably heard someone say: “Don’t worry. Just be yourself.” It sounds comforting but it’s terrible advice.In Episode 7 of The SpeakerPath Podcast, Ioana Jo Jongsma, presence and performance specialist at Clarity Up, explains why “just be yourself” is vague and impossible to apply when the pressure is high. Instead, she shares a practical, values-based app
Episode 6: How Speakers Should Handle Trauma Stories
What do you do when your story involves trauma?Whether it’s your own or someone else’s, telling a trauma story on stage can connect deeply or cause harm. The difference is all in how you relate to it.In this episode of The SpeakerPath® Podcast, Brian, Jo, and Francisco share how professional speakers can decide if, when, and how to use stories that deal with trauma, grief, or deeply personal strug
Episode 5: 5 Magician Secrets Every Speaker Should Steal
Have you ever felt like you’re just not entertaining enough to hold an audience? Here’s the truth: you don’t have to be an entertainer to be entertaining. In this solo episode, Brian Miller shares 5 lessons he learned as a professional magician that will change the way you think about speaking. These are strategies that work whether you’re on stage, in a boardroom, or leading a workshop.What you’l
Episode 4: Why Great Speakers Don’t Obsess Over Hand Gestures
Why do so many speaker coaches focus on hand gestures, vocal tone, and how you stand on stage?In this episode, Brian, Jo, and Francisco talk about what makes someone a great speaker and what doesn’t. They get into the real stuff: stress habits, audience trust, and why obsessing over polish can pull you away from your message.This one’s for anyone who’s tired of sounding “correct” and not connectin
Episode 3: How Real Speakers Adapt When the Room Isn’t What They Hoped
What do you do when 100 seats are set and only 6 people show up? In this episode, Brian and Jo talk about showing up anyway, how real speakers adapt, stay present, and still make it count when the room isn’t what they hoped.We discussed:What do you do when only six people show up?Why younger speakers panic (and how to stop)How to adjust when the plan breaksThe gap between good speakers and paid on
Episode 2: Everyone Says “Tell Stories.” So Why Aren’t We Hearing Them?
If storytelling is so essential, why does nobody actually do it?Brian, Jo, and Francisco break down what a real story actually is, why most people avoid them, and how to use stories without sounding like you’re performing.We discussed:What actually counts as a storyWhy facts fade but examples stickWhy “let me tell you a story” kills the energyThe power of specifics Case studies vs. real stories🎙️
Episode 1: Outsmarting AI: Why Verbal Communication Still Wins
If AI can write your emails, your proposals, even your wedding vows, what’s left for humans to do? Brian, Francisco, and Jo discuss verbal speaking skills as the primary differentiator in an increasingly AI and automated world.We discussed: The value of verbal speaking skills in an AI worldOur nervous systems make us humanWhy 'talent' is overrated in professional speakingSam Harris's style o
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