From the moment I thought up the Social Speech Podcast, David Eaves was at the top of my list of people I wanted to talk to. He's a good friend, and a provocative thinker and writer on some of the issues that matter to me most – like the open web and open government.

And he's a terrific speaker, travelling around the world to address audiences on five continents (Australia and Antarctica, that's your cue) about topics as diverse as negotiating, collaboration, conflict management, social media, open government and open data. As you'll hear in this episode, Dave has thought a great deal about what makes for a great, productive speech – one that doesn't just get a solid audience response, but also achieves a larger goal. And you'll hear about how his blog is a crucial resource for his speeches, and how yours can help you deliver a more powerful presentation the next time you're on stage.

Some links:

• Dave's blog (check it out to see what a mental gymnasium looks like!), Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, TripIt feed and speakers agency
• TripIt, Dave's travel lifeline (I've just started using it – phenomenally useful)