Heroic Public Speaking

Whether your audience is tech company leaders, franchisee owners, women in STEM, or anyone else—before you step onstage, you must decide who you want your audience to be. Why? To unlock real emotion. You see, the way you imagine your audience affects both how you act onstage—and how they receive your message. If you don’t specifically "cast" your audience beforehand, you’ll likely end up making a dangerous subconscious mistake—one that can sabotage your performance. In this final article in the series on Playing Actions, Michael Port shows you how to decide who your imagined audience is—and why it makes all the difference. #HEROIC #PlayingActions #StagePerformance #PublicSpeakingTips #SpeakerTraining #PerformanceMastery #EmotionalConnection #TransformationalSpeaking #AudienceEngagement #LeadershipCommunication #SpeakWithImpact #HEROICInsights #PresentationSkills #SpeakerMindset #GRADLife #HEROICSuccess #KeynoteSpeaker #AuthenticSpeaking #SpeakingConfidence #ThoughtLeadership

Behind every powerful performance… is a team that believes in the people on stage. ?? At HEROIC, the real magic isn’t just in the curriculum—it’s in the faculty, editors, producers, and behind-the-scenes minds who pour their time, energy, and expertise into every single student. We’re a team of high standards, open hearts, and zero fluff. We push. We support. We celebrate. And we show up every day because we believe in the power of transformation—and in the people brave enough to pursue it. To the students, the alumni, and this powerhouse team: thank you for continuing to build something extraordinary with us. #HEROIC #HEROICTeam #BehindTheScenes #SpeakerSupport #TransformationStartsHere #LeadershipDevelopment #HEROICSuccess #PurposeDrivenWork #SpeakingJourney

?? Who your audience is matters. But who you imagine them to be? That might matter even more. Whether you see them as skeptics or supporters, the role you assign your audience will shape how you speak... and how they respond. ?? Vote below—how do you tend to cast your audience? #PublicSpeaking #StagePresence #SpeakerMindset #PerformanceMastery #HEROICInsights #LeadershipDevelopment #HEROIC

We’re cheering on HEROIC alums Caroline TRUDEAU and Laura Queen, EdD as they bring Love-at-Work: The Leadership Conversations to the airwaves this spring. Their bold vision? To explore the science, emotions, and business of love… at work. Both of these powerhouse women honed their ideas, clarified their messages, and leveled up their leadership inside HEROIC—and now they’re sharing those conversations with the world. #HEROIC #HEROICAlumni #CarolineTrudeau #BigIdeaInAction #LeadershipVoices #LoveAtWork #WomenInLeadership #PodcastLaunch #SpeakerJourney #SpeakingWithImpact

The stakes were high. After a 25-year corporate career, tech sales leader Jon Giganti decided to branch out on his own. He felt the call. That pull to speak more—to share an inspirational message with the people who needed it most. Fortunately, Jon had already put in the work to craft a visionary speech. That made his transition much easier. You see, a visionary speech is key for corporate speakers who want to build their own speaking platform. Discover how to successfully transition from corporate to independent speaker in this week’s Insights article by Andrew Davis. #PublicSpeaking #KeynoteSpeaker #CorporateToStage #SpeakingBusiness #ThoughtLeadership #VisionarySpeaker #IndependentSpeaker #SpeakerGrowth #MotivationalSpeaking #LeadershipJourney #CareerTransition #SpeakingSuccess #SpeakerStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #HEROIC #BuildYourBrand #HeroicPublicSpeaking

? HEROIC Crew Spotlight: Eli Pauley ? Meet Eli Pauley, our Creative Director and Performance Faculty at HEROIC! Not only does she bring a wealth of experience to our stage, but she’s also a key member of our admissions team, helping to shape the future of HEROIC by selecting mission-driven individuals ready to level up their speaking skills. Eli’s approach blends play with technique, guiding speakers, actors, authors, and entrepreneurs toward captivating and dynamic performances. She has taught at National High School Institute (Cherubs) at Northwestern, Rutgers Summer Acting Conservatory, and many more. An alum of Interlochen Arts Academy and Rutgers/Mason Gross (BFA), Eli earned her MFA from Yale School of Drama and completed a postgraduate fellowship at Juilliard School in teaching and directing. Drop a ?? in the comments to celebrate Eli’s impact at HEROIC! #HEROIC #HeroicPublicSpeaking #CrewSpotlight #PublicSpeaking #StagePresence #CreativeDirector #PerformanceFaculty #HEROICTeam #HEROICCrew #TeamSpotlight #StaffHighlight

On GRADuation day, we ask students to reflect on their HEROIC experience—what challenged them, what transformed them, and what they'll carry forward in their speaking careers. For many, it’s not just about improving their delivery—it’s about discovering a deeper level of clarity, presence, and power on stage. It’s about mastering the art of persuasion, storytelling, and audience connection in a way that sticks. But beyond the skills, there’s something even more powerful: finding a community of like-minded speakers who push you to grow. At HEROIC, you're not just learning how to speak—you’re stepping into a supportive network of ambitious speakers, thought leaders, and performers who believe in the power of communication to create change. The relationships built here extend far beyond the program—because great speakers don’t just grow alone; they grow together. Our GRAD | Speech & Performance Mastery program isn’t just about learning to speak—it’s about owning the stage, commanding attention, and crafting a message that moves people to action. HEROIC gives you the tools, coaching, and confidence to show up at your best—whether you're delivering a keynote, presenting to stakeholders, or stepping into the spotlight for the first time. If you're ready to elevate your speaking, find your people, and step into a new level of performance, visit our website or talk to an advisor today. Your stage is waiting. #HeroicPublicSpeaking #HEROIC #MasterTheStage #SpeakingWithConfidence #PublicSpeakingTraining #FindYourPeople #CommandTheStage #ThoughtLeaders #Speakers #ProfessionalSpeaker Featured: Katie Sandoe, D.Ed. - The Sparkologist? ?

HEROIC Alumni Spotlight: Celebrating Melody Wilding, LMSW Book Launch! ???? A huge congratulations to HEROIC alum Melody Wilding on the release of her new book, Managing Up! Hitting shelves on March 4, 2025, this book is already making an impact—helping professionals take control of their careers and create the opportunities they deserve. Melody’s journey to this moment was years in the making, filled with rewrites, breakthroughs, and hard-earned lessons. From her first conversation with an agent in 2021 to refining the title in 2024, every step shaped Managing Up into something truly powerful. And now, the world is taking notice. ?? Managing Up was selected for the Next Big Idea Club, putting it in the hands of top thought leaders. Melody has been sharing her expertise across dozens of podcasts and speaking engagements, reaching professionals everywhere who are ready to level up their careers. We couldn’t be prouder of Melody and all she’s accomplishing. Drop a ?? in the comments to celebrate her incredible achievement! #HEROIC #ManagingUp #CareerSuccess #Leadership #AuthorLife #NextBigIdeaClub #SpeakingSuccess

If your story doesn’t have this one essential element, that means it’s actually not a story at all—it’s an anecdote. Now, anecdotes are not any less important than stories—a great speech has both. And masterful storytellers know how to craft both remarkable stories and compelling anecdotes. Knowing the difference between the two can help you make sure your onstage storytelling is really working. And when you know the optimal structure for anecdotes, you’ll be able to craft ones that really pack a punch. Discover a simple formula for an effective anecdote in this week’s article by Michael Port. #HEROIC #PublicSpeaking #StorytellingTips #MasterTheStage #SpeakWithImpact #StorytellingSkills #PresentationSkills #EffectiveCommunication #ProfessionalSpeaking #SpeakerTraining #HEROICPublicSpeaking

This week, CORE students experienced major breakthroughs in their speaking journey. They: ? Worked on their core message – Gaining clarity on the idea that defines their voice. ? Explored new ways to structure a compelling talk – Turning ideas into clear, impactful messaging. ? Started developing stage presence & delivery skills – Learning how to engage and connect with an audience. ? Gained invaluable feedback & iteration skills – Understanding how to refine and strengthen their message. Each session, each piece of feedback, and each moment on stage brought new insights and growth. And while this week was full of learning, it’s only the beginning. The journey continues from here. What was your biggest breakthrough at CORE | The Breakthrough Experience? Drop it in the comments! ?? #HEROIC #PublicSpeaking #CORE #SpeakerSuccess #BreakthroughMoments #NextLevel #ProfessionalSpeaking #ProfessionalSpeaker #KeynoteSpeaker #ThoughtLeaders