The Presentation Whisperer Show

Rob Jolles
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Step inside the world of presentations with professional speaker and bestselling author Rob Jolles as he hosts The Presentation Whisperer. Through candid conversations with top professional speakers, seasoned trainers, and authors finding their voice, Rob uncovers the secrets behind powerful delivery. He’ll share trainer-tested techniques for holding a room’s attention for hours, or even days. And when a presentation isn’t hitting the mark, you’ll discover how to diagnose the problem and transform it into something that truly connects. With a mix of expert interviews, real-time coaching, and Rob’s own four decades of battle-tested experience on stages and in training rooms around the world, The Presentation Whisperer goes beyond the surface to reveal what really makes a presentation resonate. Whether you’re a keynote speaker, a trainer, or simply someone with a message to share, you’ll walk away with practical tools and inspiring ideas to elevate your delivery. Because every presentation matters.

  1. 3d ago

    How To Get More From Every Networking Meeting

    Networking meetings can feel productive and still leave you with absolutely nothing. You ask the right questions, listen carefully, and make a good impression... but what if you’re missing the one question that can actually move the conversation forward? In this quick, five-minute Whisper Shot, Rob reveals the simple question that can transform a networking conversation from polite small talk into genuine help. Once you learn how to ask for help directly, you may never look at a networking meeting quite the same way again. In this quick, five-minute Whisper Shot, you’ll learn: Why networking meetings can fall flat even when you prepare all the right questions. The critical piece most people forget when meeting someone who could help them find a job or opportunity. The simple question that removes the “800-pound gorilla” from the room and changes the direction of the conversation. Why people are often willing to help—but may be waiting for you to actually ask. To learn more about Rob and his work, visit www.ThePresentationWhisperer.com Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    How To Get More From Every Networking Meeting

  2. 5d ago

    Your Unique Brilliance

    What if the thing you’re trying hardest to hide as a speaker is actually the thing that could make you unforgettable? The most compelling presenters don’t simply deliver a message; they find the courage to communicate it in a way that is unmistakably their own. Author, performer, and professor Paul Gordon sits down with Rob to explore what it means to embrace your own “punk,” Paul’s word for the unique qualities that make you who you are. Drawing from an extraordinary career that includes performing for a worldwide audience of more than two billion people and seven years as a garbageman, Paul shares why getting out of your own way may be the key to saying what you truly mean, both on stage and in life. In this episode of The Presentation Whisperer Show, you'll learn: Why bringing theatrical skills into presentations can make speakers more effective, even if they don’t consider themselves performers.What gets in the way when speakers struggle to “get out of their own way.”Why traditional scripts can sometimes interfere with authentic communication.Whether communicating with greater authenticity is a learned skill or something you either naturally have or don’t.How Paul’s seven years as a garbageman shaped the performer, professor, and communicator he became.What to do when you feel yourself slipping into “speaker mode” instead of simply being yourself.How to discover what you really need to say—and find the courage to say it.An exercise that can help uncover more of your own unique brilliance before your next presentation.One powerful piece of advice Paul would give every speaker who wants to communicate more authentically.To learn more about this guest: paul@thepaulgordon.com www.thepaulgodon.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePaulGordon FB: https://www.facebook.com/the.paul.gordon/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepaulgordon/ Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    Your Unique Brilliance

  3. Oct 1

    It's What You Learn After You Know It All

    What’s more dangerous than not knowing enough? Thinking you already know it all. Sometimes the experience that makes you confident as a presenter can also be the very thing keeping you from getting better. In this quick Whisper Shot, Rob shares a lesson he learned from a basketball coaching workshop, and from legendary coach Don Nelson, that changed the way he coached both basketball and business. Because sometimes the most valuable lessons arrive when we’re least interested in learning them. In this Whisper Shot, you’ll learn: Why experience can sometimes become an obstacle to continued growth. The surprising lesson Rob learned from former Washington Bullets player Kevin Grevey about what great coaches focus on. Why telling people to “win” may be less effective than teaching them to focus on what they can actually control. What John Wooden meant when he said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all, that counts.” To learn more about Rob and his work, visit www.ThePresentationWhisperer.com Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    It's What You Learn After You Know It All

  4. Sep 29

    The Video Advantage: A Unique Way To Build Trust

    Landing a speaking engagement is hard. Getting invited back can be even harder. Actor, and key note speaker Zack Starr sits down with Rob to explore how speakers can use video to build trust long before they walk on stage… and long after they’ve left it. Drawing from his work helping leaders create dynamic human connections, Zack shares how speakers can use video to stand out, build credibility, strengthen client relationships, and turn a simple smartphone into a powerful business tool. In this Presentation Whisperer Show, you’ll learn: Why most speakers think of video primarily as a marketing tool—and why it can be so much more powerful than that.How video can help professional speakers stand out by building trust and connection, rather than simply looking more polished.How Zack’s SMILE system can turn a two-minute video into a powerful alternative to a much longer proposal.The most valuable videos a professional speaker should have beyond a traditional sizzle reel.How speakers can use video before an event to build credibility and excitement with attendees.How video after a presentation can increase the chances of repeat business and referrals.Three videos speakers can create with a smartphone, a decent microphone, and almost no budget.The biggest mistakes speakers make when they’re on camera—and how to avoid them.How speakers can use video creatively to win business and strengthen client relationships.The one change speakers can make in how they use video to have the greatest impact on landing engagements and getting invited back.To learn more about this guest: Website: www.zackstarr.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zack-starr-69a58617a Email: info@zackstarr.com Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    The Video Advantage: A Unique Way To Build Trust

  5. Sep 24

    Why Your Audience Needs a Destination

    In this Whisper Shot, you’ll learn: o Why the “big picture” is essential in any presentation or conversation. o How audiences become confused when they receive information without context. o The danger of giving turn-by-turn information without a destination. o Why people disengage when they can’t see where a message is going. o How virtual communication amplifies attention challenges. o The difference between topic-by-topic and big-picture framing. o Why a simple opening statement can transform clarity and engagement. o How small shifts in language improve audience understanding. o Ways to apply the big picture principle in business conversations. o Why helping people see the destination keeps them mentally present.   To learn more about Rob and his work, visit www.ThePresentationWhisperer.com Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    Why Your Audience Needs a Destination

  6. Sep 22

    The Secret To First Time Deliveries

    Ever notice how the most confident presenters rarely sound rehearsed? That’s because confidence doesn’t come from memorizing every word; it comes from knowing your material so well that you can focus on the audience, not what comes next. Performance coach David Starbuck Smith sits down with Rob to explore what it really means to master a presentation, from managing nerves and pressure to preparing for unexpected questions. Drawing on more than 25 years of helping leaders, athletes, and teams perform at their best, David shares how deep knowledge, not memorization, is what allows presenters to adapt, tell better stories, recover when things go sideways, and make their message look effortless. In this Presentation Whisperer Show you will learn: How The Alignment Advantage™ came to life and what it can teach presenters about preparation and performance. How leaders and elite performers approach preparation differently—and what the average presenter can learn from them. What it really means to know your topic “front to back and back to front.” Why deep knowledge is more powerful than simply memorizing a presentation. How mastering your subject can make you a better storyteller, not just a better-informed speaker. What audiences pick up on when presenters rely too heavily on a script. How to recover confidently when you lose your place, get interrupted, or face the unexpected. How to prepare for questions that nobody could have anticipated. A practical way to move from simply knowing your slides to truly owning your material before an important keynote. An exercise presenters can use to deepen their command of a topic before stepping on stage. How to manage nerves and pressure when your stomach begins to churn before going onstage. The one preparation lesson David believes every presenter should remember before their next presentation. To learn more about this guest: https://davidstarbucksmith.com/ davidstarbucksmith@gmail.com insta: @davidstarbucksmith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-starbuck-smith-09174b5/ Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    The Secret To First Time Deliveries

  7. Sep 17

    Presenting Without Your "A" Game

    In this Whisper Shot, you’ll learn: o The difference between being “in the zone” and being in a grind. o Why performance is often inconsistent, even for high achievers. o How golfers use the concept of “grinding” to survive tough rounds. o Why grinding is a mindset, not a measure of effort. o How to stay productive when your A-game is missing. o The importance of fighting negative self-talk during setbacks. o Why patience plays a critical role in performance recovery. o How to evaluate your systems and processes when results slip. o Why support networks matter when you're struggling. o How to keep moving forward even when success feels out of reach.   To learn more about Rob and his work, visit www.ThePresentationWhisperer.com Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    Presenting Without Your "A" Game

  8. Sep 15

    What Presenters Can Learn From Salespeople

    The best presenters have something in common with the best salespeople: they don’t simply deliver information. They create the energy, awareness, and belief that can move people to action. Enterprise Sales Leader, TEDx Speaker, author, and entrepreneur Steven Dossou sits down with Rob to explore what great salespeople understand about people that presenters can learn from. Drawing on his experience working with professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives around the world, Steven shares how presence, awareness, persuasion, and energy can transform a presentation from something people hear into something that actually moves them. In this episode of The Presentation Whisperer Show, you'll learn: The difference between an audience that enjoys a presentation and one that actually takes action because of it. What presenters can learn from the energy and presence great salespeople bring to a conversation. How to lead an audience toward action without making them feel like they’re being pushed. Why awareness is so important in sales—and how presenters can use it to help audiences recognize a problem or opportunity for themselves. Why great selling is often less about convincing people and more about understanding where they are and helping them see where they could go. Some of the biggest mistakes presenters make when trying to persuade an audience. How Steven’s experience as an Enterprise Sales Leader has influenced the way he approaches the stage. What presenters with great content but limited energy or engagement can do to create more movement in the room. One sales principle every presenter can immediately apply to their next presentation. To learn more about this guest: steven@stevendossou.com www.stevendossou.com/speaking-engagement/   www.stevendossou.com Hosted by Rob Jolles; professional speaker, bestselling author, and four-decade veteran of the stage and training room. Learn more about Rob’s books, coaching, training programs, and keynote work at ThePresentationWhisperer.com, or Jolles.com. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn or follow Rob’s LinkedIn Newsletter, When Every Word Matters

    What Presenters Can Learn From Salespeople
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About

Step inside the world of presentations with professional speaker and bestselling author Rob Jolles as he hosts The Presentation Whisperer. Through candid conversations with top professional speakers, seasoned trainers, and authors finding their voice, Rob uncovers the secrets behind powerful delivery. He’ll share trainer-tested techniques for holding a room’s attention for hours, or even days. And when a presentation isn’t hitting the mark, you’ll discover how to diagnose the problem and transform it into something that truly connects. With a mix of expert interviews, real-time coaching, and Rob’s own four decades of battle-tested experience on stages and in training rooms around the world, The Presentation Whisperer goes beyond the surface to reveal what really makes a presentation resonate. Whether you’re a keynote speaker, a trainer, or simply someone with a message to share, you’ll walk away with practical tools and inspiring ideas to elevate your delivery. Because every presentation matters.

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