Podcasts
#294: Beyond 500 Lunches with Strangers: Lessons on Achieving Anything – Nick Bendel
Nick Bendel visits the podcast again now that he has surpassed his goal of having lunch with 500 strangers. Now at 516 lunches and counting, Bendel reflects on what has changed in his network, in himself, and in the ordinary people with extraordinary stories he’s met along the way.
To learn more about Bendel’s quest, read "500 More Lunches?" in the Toastmaster magazine.
#293: Personal Experience: Toastmasters, Rotary, and the Alliance – Stephanie Steckel
What happens when two century-old organizations dedicated to leadership and service intersect in one person’s life? In this episode, Greg Gazin, DTM, speaks with Stephanie Steckel, a longtime Rotarian and newer Toastmaster, who enlightens us about the benefits of each organization and how the Rotary/Toastmasters alliance shows up in real, practical ways—far beyond a formal agreement.
Subscribe to The Toastmasters Podcast.
Archive
292: Untangling Cultural Knots to Create Mutual Connection – Maria Garaitonandia
February 01, 2026
Cross-cultural moments are woven into our daily conversations. In this episode, leadership communication strategist Maria Garaitonandia explains why well-meaning communication can miss the mark and how greater cultural awareness helps speakers, leaders, and teams avoid misunderstanding before it hardens into judgment.
Learn more about turning misunderstandings into bridges in Garaitonandia’s Toastmaster magazine article.
#291: Using a Personal Energy Audit to Pause, Reflect, and Reset – Ambeka Khadse
January 15, 2026
When managing your time isn’t enough, it may be time to look at where your energy is actually going. In this episode, host Greg Gazin, DTM, speaks with Ambeka Khadse, a talent development leader, about how a personal energy audit helps speakers and leaders move from feeling busy to working with greater focus, clarity, and intention—without adding more hours to the day.
Discover more tips for managing your energy and calendar in Khadse’s article, “Where Does Your Time Go?”
#290: Mental Workouts Make for a Better Mindset and Stronger Speaking – Sarah Centrella
January 01, 2026
Drawing from her experience coaching athletes, executives, and Toastmasters, Sarah Centrella connects mental training directly to speech preparation. Centrella dives in to how speakers can train their minds, just as many train their bodies to perform well and with confidence.
For more on how to strengthen your mindset with mental fitness, read her article "Mental Workout for Speakers" in the January 2026 issue of the Toastmaster magazine.
#289: Using AI as a Thinking Partner – Diane Windingland, DTM
December 15, 2025
What if artificial intelligence (AI) could help you think more clearly, simplify complex ideas, and sharpen your message without replacing your voice or creativity? Diane Windingland, DTM, explains how to use AI as a thinking partner to improve clarity, strengthen messages, and communicate with greater impact.
#288: Reflections on 11 Years of Writing for the Toastmaster Magazine – Bill Brown, DTM
December 01, 2025
Greg Gazin, DTM, welcomes back longtime Toastmaster and speech delivery coach Bill Brown, DTM, for a reflection on lessons learned from more than a decade of writing for the Toastmaster magazine. Since 2014, Brown has written articles and columns for the magazine including Toastmasters Toolbox and The Answer Man.
Don’t miss Brown’s final Answer Man column in the December 2025 issue.
#287: Corporate Club Success: Gaining Executive Support is a Key – Lance Kotler
November 15, 2025
What does it take to build a thriving corporate Toastmasters club within a business and turn it into a catalyst for professional growth and company culture? In this episode, Greg Gazin, DTM, chats with Lance Kotler, a vice president at BNY Mellon and Vice President Membership for the BNY Mellon Toastmasters Club in New York City.
Kotler, one of five members featured in an October 2025 Toastmaster magazine article, shares how gaining executive awareness and sponsorship can transform a club’s visibility and impact. He also discusses how Toastmasters continues to bring people together across all levels of an organization.