Public Speaking Blogs: The Definitive List

The public speaking blogosphere: a large and varied space with fuzzy edges spanning many disciplines. There are public speaking blogs which focus on speech delivery, visual presentation design, speechwriting, humor, personal development, and interpersonal communication.

Public Speaking Bloggers: A Diverse Group

One is a world champion speaker; some speak professionally; others chronicle their first speaking steps. Many are authors – some more than once. Many are Toastmasters. Or were Toastmasters. Or recommend joining Toastmasters. Women and men. Young and old.

The only unanimous traits are (1) a passion for giving so that others may be educated and entertained, and (2) a way to subscribe to their articles with an easy subscription.

Learn from the Public Speaking Blogosphere

I compiled this snapshot of the public speaking blogosphere with three primary aims:

• To aid readers in the discovery of excellent public speaking blogs;
• To build ties within the community of bloggers;
• To provide encouragement to current and future public speaking bloggers.

For each blog below, sample articles are linked to give a flavor of the blogger’s style.

Twitter List

You can find a comprehensive Twitter List containing all of the known Twitter accounts for these bloggers here: @6minutes/public-speaking-bloggers .

Help Keep This List Updated

If you know of a blog that should be added, or if one of the blogs listed below is no longer available, or if you have any other ideas for updating the list, please contact Six Minutes.

Legend

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118 Public Speaking Blogs

1

Andrew Dlugan: Six Minutes
Twitter: @6minutes
This blog, focused on public speaking and presentation skills.
Regular features include speech critiques, book reviews, and weekly reviews of all blogs on this list.

Example Articles

• 25 Skills Every Public Speaker Should Have
• Speech Preparation Series
• Toastmasters Speech Series

2

Lisa Braithwaite: Speak Schmeak
Twitter: @LisaBraithwaite
Lisa posts articles nearly every day, and she spreads words of encouragement through the public speaking blogosphere in article comments.

Example Articles

• Public speaking: talent or skill?
• The truth about 7% - 38% - 55%
• Six ways to improve the training environment

3

Bert Decker: Decker Blog
Twitter: @BertDecker
Bert is a well-respected communications coach and author. His blog regularly features communications commentary on political and current events.

Example Articles

• Top Ten Best (and Worst) Communicators of 2008
• Why Caroline Kennedy Needs Speaking Game
• The Five Biggest Mistakes CEO's Make in Speaking

4

Garr Reynolds: Presentation Zen
Twitter: @presentationzen
Presentation Zen may be the most well-known presentation skills blog thanks, in part, to the book of the same name (reviewed here). His articles tend to link presentation skills for speakers to design fundamentals in art, music, and other disciplines.

Example Articles

• Make your next presentation naked
• "Slideuments" and the catch-22 for conference speakers
• Benjamin Zander at Pop!Tech 2008: How Fascinating!

5

Olivia Mitchell: Speaking About Presenting
Twitter: @OliviaMitchell
Consistently high quality. This is one of my favorite blogs.

Example Articles

• PowerPoint Design in 2009: Does Design Matter?
• 9 ways to use space in your presentation
• Conversational Presenting

6

Denise Graveline: The Eloquent Woman
Twitter: @dontgetcaught

Example Articles

• Do you overprepare for speeches?
• Take Charge of Your Introduction
• Engage Your Audience with New Media

7

Nancy Duarte: Slide:ology
Twitter: @nancyduarte
Companion to the bestselling Slide:ology book (reviewed here). Nancy Duarte and other members of the Duarte Design team contribute regularly.

Example Articles

• 10 Commandments of Storytelling
• Tips for Remote Presenters
• The Trouble with Transitions

8

Jan Schultink: Slides that Stick
Twitter: @JanSchultink

Example Articles

• Visual communication in schools - when is it too early?
• How to create a McKinsey-style waterfall chart
• Best of my little-known yet useful PowerPoint how tos

9

Ian Griffin: Professionally Speaking
Twitter: @cheshirelad
Ian's blog regularly features interviews with professional speakers as well as insights from his experiences with the National Speaking Association.

Example Articles

• 29 Search tools for Savvy Speechwriters
• Telling it like it is - 10 tips for involving an audience
• The Medieval Speechwriter

10

Laura Bergells: More than PowerPoint
Twitter: @maniactive

Example Articles

• PowerPoint, Propaganda, and You
• Now Entering the Post-Template PowerPoint Design Era...
• Kitsch and Camp: The PowerPoint Twins

11

Geetesh Bajaj: Indezine
Twitter: @geetesh
The most comprehensive blog for PowerPoint-specific news.

Example Articles

• Puzzle Pictures in PowerPoint
• Interview with the PowerPoint Content Publishing Team
• PowerPoint Design Shift: Conversation with Julie Terberg

12

Cliff Atkinson: Beyond Bullet Points
Twitter: @cliffatkinson

Example Articles

• Make Your Ideas Concrete by Using a Prop in Your PowerPoint
• How to Create Custom Graphics Free and Fast
• How to Design a Slide for a Story

13

Brent Dykes: PowerPoint Ninja
Twitter: @pptninja

Example Articles

• Background Basics for Effective Corporate Templates
• PowerPoint Design Principle #1: Consistency
• 8 Tips for Effective Team PowerPoint Presentations

14

Jim Anderson: The Accidental Communicator
Twitter: @drjimanderson

Example Articles

• Do You Look Presentable During Your Presentation?
• 7 Secrets To Getting Your Adult Audience To Learn From Your Presentation
• Why Don't You Act Like A Presenter During Your Presentation?

15

Kathy Reiffenstein: Professionally Speaking...
Twitter: @KathyReiff

Example Articles

• Web 2.0 Philosophy for your Presentations
• One Small Step to Presentation Excellence
• Handling Tough Questions

16

Mike Pulsifer: My Thoughts on Presenting and Design
Twitter: @MikePulsifer

Example Articles

• Improve Your Slide's Charts
• DIY Stock Photography
• Cross-platform PowerPoint

17

Lisa Marshall: Quick and Dirty Tips for Improving Your Communication Skills
Twitter: @lisabmarshall

Example Articles

• How To Breathe Properly
• Common Eye Contact Mistakes
• How to Be Persuasive (and Save Gas)!

18

Vivek Singh: All About Presentations
Twitter: @poza

Example Articles

• What is the ideal font size for a presentation?
• Role of Images in Your Presentation
• What Print Ads can teach us about Slide Design?

19

Nick R Thomas: A Public Speaker's Blog
Twitter: @NickRThomas
Nick's blog features real-life anecdotes taken from his professional speaking assignments, and every one includes at least one public speaking tip.

Example Articles

• Mr Watson made it look elementary!
• A fee, some tea - and advertising for free!