Watch & Learn
Video content from Mark's workshops, keynotes, and conversations about communication and connection.
The 3 C's of presentation
Want to nail any speech, any pitch, any tricky conversation? There's only three things you actually need. The three C's — a framework I picked up from Peter Novak. Number one — comfortable. Not comfortable like nothing bothers you. Comfortable with your discomfort. And that only comes one way — rehearsing. You practice your way into calm. Number two — conversational. Drop the “presentation voice.” Nobody trusts that tone. Breathe. Pause. Let it sound like you talking to a person, not reading at a room. And here's the thing — that only shows up once you're comfortable. Here's what most people get wrong about conversational: they think it means winging it. It doesn't. Conversational is a tool — and you can't use a tool you haven't practiced. You want to take the audience with you. That takes rehearsal. Sounding natural is not the same as being unprepared. Number three — confidence. When you know what you're doing, it shows. You walk in backing yourself, and people feel that before you've said a word. Comfortable. Conversational. Confident. Get those three stacked in order, and you'll nail it. Every time.
Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail!
Here's a paradox: the best "off the cuff" moments are never actually off the cuff. Failing to plan is planning to fail. The better prepared you are, the more you can deviate from the plan and riff — because you've actually got something to riff from. No plan, nothing to bend. You're just making it up. I've used this everywhere — radio, council, funerals, the stage, the classroom. And every time I've fallen flat on my face, it's come down to the same thing: not being prepared, thinking I was better than I am. The more prepared I am, the more spontaneous I get to be.
August 2026Shine My Light
There’s one question that squashes the fear of public speaking for good — and it has nothing to do with you. Ask yourself: where am I shining my light? When we speak, our biggest fear is all about us. How do I look? What do they think of me? Is my voice squeaking? That’s you, shining the light straight back on yourself. But turn that light around — shine it on your audience — and the worry changes completely. Now you’re only asking the questions that matter: are they taking in what I’m putting out? Are they picking up what I’m putting down? Are they feeling it? Think of a spotlight. Pointed at you, you’re blinded — you can’t see a thing. Pointed at them, everything changes. And the fear has nowhere left to live.
July 2026Wavelengths
Right now, your brain is trying to sync up with someone else's — but thanks to scrolling, you've got about half a second to make it happen. That's not a metaphor. Scientists have found that when two people are truly in flow together, their brainwaves rise and fall in sync. Even their pupils dilate together. And here's why it matters more than ever: the U.S. Surgeon General has declared loneliness a public health epidemic, with health impacts comparable to smoking up to fifteen cigarettes a day. We're more "connected" than any generation in history — and lonelier than ever. The Dalai Lama's take cuts through the noise: we're not built to go it alone. We're pack animals. We survive because of the tribe, not despite it. So the real skill isn't charisma. It's getting onto someone else's wavelength, fast, on purpose. That's what this week is about. Facebook Ever notice how some conversations just click — and others feel like you're speaking two different languages? 🎧 Turns out that's not just a feeling. When two people are truly connected, their brainwaves actually start moving in sync. Even their pupils dilate together. But here's the catch: thanks to scrolling, we've all got a much smaller window to make that happen than we used to.
July 2026A Speech is Only Three Things
Here’s the one thing almost everyone gets wrong about public speaking. We think giving a great speech is some terrifying, rare gift — you’ve either got it or you haven’t. Rubbish. A great, engaging speech is just three simple things: 1. Killer content — something genuinely worth saying 2. Stunning delivery — the way you bring it to life 3. A likeable personality — someone the room actually wants to listen to That’s it. That’s the whole game. And when you see it as just three boxes to tick, it stops being scary and starts being the easiest thing in the world.
July 2026Glossophobia
Scared of public speaking? Good. That means you’re human. A hundred people staring at you normally means you’re in strife — so of course your body panics. But here’s the reframe I give everyone I coach: The moment you walk on stage, you’re not 6 foot — you’re 12. Add a microphone? Loudest war cry in the room. Throw you up on the big screen? Your head’s 15 feet high. The odds just flipped. And those 100 people aren’t there to fight you — they’re there to HEAR you. This week I’m giving away everything I know about standing up and absolutely nailing it. Because beating that fear is one of the greatest joys you can have with your clothes on.
July 2026Sound Bites
If You're writing a speech - never fear the cheese!
March 2026