The SpeakerPath®
The SpeakerPath®
Podcast Description
Discover the art and business of professional speaking. Your host is Brian Miller, a former magician turned international keynote speaker and award winning speechwriter, who now runs Clarity Up, a message design firm that teaches experts how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us. Joining Brian is his team of world class consultants, including Francisco Mahfuz, a storytelling specialist, and Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, a presence and performance coach. Together, they'll explore the vast and nebulous world of professional speaking, both on and off stage.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of storytelling, verbal communication, and effective messaging, with episodes discussing essential storytelling techniques and the relevance of speaking skills in an AI-driven world. Specific focuses include the impact of narrative on audience engagement and techniques for enhancing verbal communication in professional settings.
Discover the art and business of professional speaking. Your host is Brian Miller, a former magician turned international keynote speaker and award winning speechwriter, who now runs Clarity Up, a message design firm that teaches experts how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us. Joining Brian is his team of world class consultants, including Francisco Mahfuz, a storytelling specialist, and Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, a presence and performance coach. Together, they’ll explore the vast and nebulous world of professional speaking, both on and off stage.
In this year-end episode of The Speaker Path, Brian Miller, Ioana (Jo) Jongsma, and Francisco Mahfuz unpack the most important industry trends shaping the speaking world in 2026, and what they mean for professional speakers.
Drawing on recent reports from AAE Speakers Bureau, Freeman, and Skift Meetings, the conversation reveals a striking disconnect between what event planners believe creates peak moments and what attendees actually remember.
Key Takeaways:
1. The “peak moment” gap
- ~78% of event planners believe attendees experience a peak moment
- Only ~40% of attendees report actually having one
Planners believe peak moments come from:
- Keynote speeches
- Opening and closing galas / celebrations
- Surprise or “wow” elements tied to theme or location
Attendees report peak moments coming from:
- Relationship-building with vendors and peers
- Real conversations and networking
2. AI content is becoming an “authenticity red flag”
- Audiences disapprove of AI-written content in live settings
- “AI-free” is emerging as an authenticity marker (similar to organic or handcrafted)
3. Event planners are younger, newer, and overwhelmed
- Many planners are early-career or newly assigned
- Speakers who are easy to work with and proactive gain an advantage
4. Budget pressure is reshaping speaker selection
- Rising event costs (venues, production, services) are pushing organizers away from expensive “big name” speakers and toward proven value, flexibility, and multi-format usefulness.
5. Micro-events are exploding
- Smaller, curated events (≈10-100 people) are increasing, and changing the speaker’s role.
- These require facilitation,real time interaction, and intentional experience design.
Read the industry reports here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tuMFmJ3a87GV6NHMWCCI_iZWRy0x7lrX?usp=drive_link
Watch the Episode 15: https://youtu.be/d1HPKu6lH-Y
The Speaker Path® Podcast is produced by Clarity Up LLC, a boutique message design firm that teaches smart people how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us.
Connect with our experts:
- Brian Miller ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmillerspeaks/ )
- Ioana (Jo) Jongsma ( linkedin.com/in/ioana-jongsma/ )
- Francisco Mahfuz ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmahfuz/ )
🔗 Links
Work with Us: https://www.clarityupconsulting.com/
Join The SpeakerPath Community: https://thespeakerpath.com/
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