Hola everybody!
Studies show that 99% or more of participants of MLM's lose money.
In this episode, I share a short (and kinda spooky) story about the time someone reached out for help refining their “motivational speech,” only for me to realize they were actually trying to pitch an MLM.
We’ll unpack what multi-level marketing really is, how these companies use public speaking to sell false hope, and why their “personal development” mindset is how they keep people stuck.
As a public speaking consultant, I’m all about helping people tell their story with impact and integrity. We'll chat about the red flags, the lessons learned, and how you can build your own authentic speaker brand while remaining ethical in your approach.
Other episodes mentioned in this episode:
Hola everybody! Have you ever been invited to speak at an event, only to find out they expect you to pay for the opportunity?
In this episode of Chats with Yvonne, I’m breaking down the truth about pay-to-speak scams, why they prey on speakers, and how to spot red flags before you waste your money.💡 We chat:
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How to Book Speaking Engagements: https://youtu.be/nYuIfQkkPrs
Latinas make up just 2% of tech roles in the U.S., despite being a powerful and growing part of the workforce. In this episode, we’re joined by Carrie Peralta, Founder of Peak State Coaching and former recruiter at companies like Verizon, Google, and Netflix. Her mission is to empower women and underrepresented individuals to not just survive, but thrive in tech.
Topics discussed:
Connect with Carrie:
✨ The Speaker Spotlight Series is giving a stage to the people with stories to share.
Want to be a speaker on the podcast? Learn more.
Hola everybody!
Stage fright can feel overwhelming, but you still run the show.
In this episode, I’m walking you through what to do before, during, and after a speaking moment to feel more grounded and confident. We’ll talk preparation tips (like mastering your content), how to manage nerves in the moment (grounding techniques and the power of a pause), and how to recover with kindness to self once it’s all done. Whether you’re new to speaking or a seasoned speaker who still get the jitters like me, this one’s for you.
🔔 I'd love for you to:
✔️Subscribe for more speaking tips & thought-provoking conversations on the art of public speaking.
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✔️ Speak your mind in the comments!
Hola everybody! Have you ever tried to hold back tears while speaking? How do you think it impacted your delivery?
I was thinking about the last time I cried and realized it was while I was on stage, sharing a story publicly for the first time. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the emotion, a little embarrassed to be crying, but also in a safe space to let it out.
As a public speaking consultant, one of the most common questions I get is: How do I stop myself from crying on stage? In this episode, I’ll share a story from an 8th-grade trip that transformed my relationship with crying. I’ll also talk about how to “practice” the emotion and study yourself as a speaker, plus some fun facts about crying to help normalize it as what it really is: a beautiful emotion.
🔔 I'd love for you to:
✔️Subscribe for more speaking tips & thought-provoking conversations on the art of public speaking.
✔️ Rate & review the podcast if you’re listening on Spotify or Apple.
✔️ Speak your mind in the comments!
Hola, everybody! Right before this speaking gig, I had a wave of self-doubt. I started to question whether the audience would even care about what I had to say.In this episode, I walk through what that moment felt like, the tools I used to shift my mindset in real time, and how I still showed up and did my thing on stage. If you’ve ever had that “Why me?” or "I can't do this" moment right before speaking, this one’s for you.🔔 I'd love for you to:
Why does it feel embarrassing to admit we don't know something?
In this episode, we chat about one particular barrier that might stop many of us from growing: fear of appearing incompetent. From the pressure to “already know” to the embarrassment of asking questions, we explore why learning out loud feels uncomfortable for many adults and where embarrassment comes from.
I share adult learning theories to make sense of audience insights, pose reflections to encourage us to face our ego in learning as adults, and ground us in our human experience to help normalize learning at every level, even when you're the expert in the room.
Mentioned in the episode:
🔔 I'd love for you to:
Hola everybody!
Speaking off the cuff can feel overwhelming. Not because we don’t know what to say, but maybe because we haven’t yet found a clear way to organize our thoughts in the moment.
In this episode, I’m sharing 3 simple frameworks to help you answer questions on the spot with clarity and confidence.
Mentioned in the episode:
Episode 47: Use Your Hobbies to Improve Your Public Speaking: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/chatswithyvonne/episodes/47--Use-Your-Hobbies-to-Improve-Your-Public-Speaking-e2hsn00/a-ab4li91
Frameworks:
🔔 I'd love for you to:
Hola everybody!
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the best techniques in public speaking: the pause.
I share how intentional pauses can help calm the nerves, help your message land, and create space for connection with your audience. I also provide real-life examples and tips on how to practice the pause and start using pauses effectively.
Hola everybody! What stories are "okay" to share and which ones do we stay silent about? In today's episode, we explore how our cultura influences the way we share our experiences. From "echale ganas" to the fear of being “too much,” we unpack some of the things that shape our storytelling. Join us for the Strorytelling Like Our Abuelitas mini retreat: https://www.chatswithyvonne.com/event-details/storytelling-like-our-abuelitas-a-storytelling-mini-retreatResources & Mentions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_journals/2018/rmrs_2018_flores_d003.pdfhttps://latinooutdoors.org/
Hola everybody!
In this episode of the Chats with Yvonne podcast, I am *Introverting hard af*. I share details about the back to back speaking engagements I had, how each one impacted my energy, & take some time to do what I do best: reflect & give myself time to deep think.
I pick random pages on books that I have on rotation & share reflections that are tied to our speaking journey.
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Hola everybody! In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my audition experience—what led me to apply, how I prepared, and what really happens when you pitch your idea to the producers.We cover: - Why I decided to audition for Shark Tank- What the audition process was like- How public speaking played a key role in my pitch- The biggest takeaways from the experience🔔 Subscribe & Review!If you found this helpful, subscribe to Chats with Yvonne and leave a review—it helps more speakers find us!
Hola everybody!
In this episode ofChats with Yvonne: Public Speaking con Cultura, I share how to find and build community as a speaker, what our cultura can teach us about belonging, and why having the right people around you makes all the difference. I'll also leave you with reflection prompts to intentionally think about the role of community in your speaker journey, as well as your role as an individual in your community.
We cover:
Article mentioned in the episode: Black Women Cultivate Community
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If you found this helpful, subscribe to Chats with Yvonne and leave a review—it helps more speakers find us!
Hola everybody!
In this episode ofChats with Yvonne: Public Speaking con Cultura, we're diving into a topic that too many of us shy away from—money. Specifically, how much speakers should charge and why having a speaker rate card is essential.
We cover:
In honor of Black History month, our closing segment "Con Cultura", where we explore cultura-driven themes, current events, historical happenings, dope people, to deepen our connection to the art of public speaking, will highlight Black voices. This week: we're highlighting one of my favorite people ever, Keke "Keep a Job" Palmer!
If you’ve ever wondered,“How much should I charge?”This episode is for you.
Hola everybody!
In this episode, I break down my tips to help you get started in your speaking journey, centering your truest essence. From understanding your nerves to crafting your first speech, to getting paid, I give you practical tips and thoughts to encourage you in your speaking journey.
Links mentioned in the episode:
GoFund Me for families affected by the LA Wildfires: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZFiSn0MWJY3DltwK4VPD-rdyLkCF4ien5GNSQtl7oOA/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Cumbia Sonideras: https://www.passionweiss.com/2023/05/02/cumbia-mexicana-a-brief-history/
Public Speaking con Cultura Practice Cards: https://www.chatswithyvonne.com/shop-our-cards
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:43 Helping Folks Affected by the LA Wildfires
02:32 Practice Prompt
05:10 Realizing I Had a Fear of Being Seen
08:24 Redefining Public Speaking
14:13 Where Do Our Nerves Come From?
17:15 Connection Over Perfection
20:03: Start Small
21:35 Understand What You Need, to Feel Prepared
22:52 How to Prepare For a Speech
25:17 Say It Out Loud26:39 Record Yourself Speaking
29:19 Give & Receive Feedback
30:13 Embrace Simple Visuals
31:56 Reciting Lines in Your Head to Focus on Gestures
32:59 Try Improv
34:24 Getting Paid to Speak
41:42 Cultura: Cumbias Sonideras
48:15 Gracias
Hola everybody!
In this episode, we’re chatting all about public speaking hacks to help you feel more prepared, confident, and authentic in 2025.
What AI tools can you leverage? How do you decide what story to tell? How do you go beyond the Q&A and poll features on Zoom to deeply engage your audience, virtually? 2025 is the year for our collective growth as speakers & presence on stage.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction 03:08 Practice Prompt 07:38 Hack 1 for Storytelling 13:05 Hack 2 on Virtual Audience Engagement 16:39 Hack 3 Short Form Speaking 17:25 Hack 4 Leveraging AI & Technology 19:24 Hack 5 How to Embrace Your Natural Style: Signs of Inauthenticity 23:35 Hack 6 Leveraging Social Media 25:04 Hack 7 How to Practice 26:48 Cultura & Public Speaking Connection: Bad Bunny & Authenticity 29:47 Thank you
Hola, everybody!
In this episode of Chats with Yvonne, I get real about my introversion—sharing how I’ve learned to lead with it and how it intersects with the deep-rooted costumbres of our culturas.
I explore how cultural expectations have shaped my journey as an introvert and how they might be influencing yours too.
I also invite us to redefine how we think about introversion, offering strategies for managing our energy and openly expressing who we are, without feeling the need to fit a mold.
Plus, I’m excited to introduce a new segment! Each episode, I’ll highlight an artist, performer, activist, public speaker, storyteller, or dicho from our comunidad whose work inspires me.
Thank you so much for being here!
As speakers, our words mean something when they’re shared on the stage. This new series “Words Matter” within the podcast will explore common phrases or words that are used in community spaces and in our communities to unpack what they really mean and how they’re impacting our message and actions. Are we creating spaces where difference thrives, through our words? Are we inspiring innovative thinking? Have certain words lost their meaning? Have they evolved to adapt? Are we saying what we actually mean?
In this episode I talk about the term "like-minded" and its increasing use in community settings, networking events, and social gatherings. I explore why it’s commonly used, what it implies, and whether it truly fosters meaningful connections. Are there any downfalls to saying “like-minded” out loud? Is it being diluted to a simple buzzword?
In today's episode I share why I no longer believe in imposter syndrome.
I share moments where I have felt that sense of "imposter syndrome" and dissect them to get to the root of it. And maybe, you’ll also be able to reflect as those moments come up for you and like me, stop believing in imposter syndrome.
Thank you for tuning in!
In this episode, I’m diving into how impromptu speaking can help you conquer the fear of public speaking. As an overthinker myself, I know how easy it is to let nerves and overthinking hold you back from speaking up. But here’s the thing—those spontaneous moments where you’re asked to speak on the spot can be the key to building your confidence in the art of public speaking.
I’ll share some tips on how to embrace these impromptu opportunities, a simple framework to organize your thoughts, and questions to help you reflect and grow after each experience. Whether it’s in a meeting, at a social event, or just hanging out with friends, I want to encourage you to jump in and start speaking when the opportunity comes up.
Thank you for tuning in!
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