Connecting with an audience isn't always easy, especially when you can neither see nor hear them. One way to do this is by making the right connections in their thoughts and that is where the magic begins.

My guest today is making a welcome return as a friend of the show to help us connect more. In fact, he's going to teach us how we can inspire, influence and energise anyone, anywhere, anytime. Are you ready to learn a new superpower?

I first encountered Simon Lancaster watching his TEDx Verona talk on YouTube where I was introduced to the world and art of rhetoric. As someone with a keen interest in influence and persuasion, it was like being given the keys to enter a magical land that I had never known existed before. I find rhetoric just as exciting today as I did then and one of the people I have learned the most from in this subject is my guest on this episode.

During the lockdowns, many of us were desperate for connection with our fellow humans and Simon felt that need very acutely too finding new ways to connect, keeping his speechwriting skills sharp and discovering a new platform as well as a new passionate hobby.

The show was a live launch for Simon's book Connect which has taken somewhat longer than anticipated to publish as a podcast episode but I think it is a great way to close off 2022 and welcome 2023. Simon's book recommendations in this episode were Sense by Russell Jones and How Confidence Works by Ian Robertson. I added both to my own personal reading list.

Make sure you learn Simon's 6 powerful speechmaking tools near the end of the episode and join us again in the new year when we will continue our series on the 7 Deadly Sins of Podcasting that you need to avoid and overcome to be a successful guest.

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