E7: Peter Rau "Face-To-Face Matters; Get Up and Fail"

The Apex Toastmasters Podcast

Send us a text

We talk with Peter Rau about how practice, presence, and a strong club culture turn anxiety into real growth. From officiating weddings to participating in speaking contests, we weigh the limits of online formats and the power of in-person connection, improv, and well-run meetings.
• early experiences in speech and debate
• officiating weddings and preparing with intention
• safe practice vs high-stakes speaking environments
• in-person presence, movement, and eye contact
• drawbacks of online contests and virtual delivery
• balancing demand for remote skills with live mastery
• crafting speeches, rehearsal depth, and flexibility
• what makes a club exceptional and reliable
• podcast ideas for live speeches and feedback
• navigating Pathways, icebreakers, and creativity
• improv as resilience training and fear reduction
Also mentioned: Vinh Giang expert public speaker.
Apex Toastmasters is a President's distinguished club founded in 1996 and located in Apex, North Carolina, USA.

We meet every Thursday night at 7:00 pm at the Apex Baptist Church and online. See club website for details.

Apex Toastmasters Club Website: https://www.apextoastmasters.org/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=apex%20toastmasters

If you enjoyed what you heard, please take a moment to like, share, rate, or review this podcast.

فصول

1. Meet Peter Rao (00:00:00)

2. Early Speaking Roots And Milestones (00:01:55)

3. Officiating Weddings And Preparation (00:03:20)

4. Safe Practice Vs High-Stakes Moments (00:05:15)

5. The Case For In-Person Speaking (00:07:31)

6. Online Contests And What’s Lost (00:10:05)

7. Balancing Demand For Virtual Skills (00:12:40)

8. Craft, Rehearsal, And Stage Presence (00:15:25)

9. Eye Contact And Speaking To Individuals (00:18:00)

10. Technique, Rehearsal, And Flexibility (00:20:10)

11. What Makes A Club Exceptional (00:23:05)

12. Podcast As Speech Lab And Format Ideas (00:26:05)

13. Audience, Purpose, And Broader Guests (00:28:10)

14. Pathways, Icebreakers, And Creativity (00:30:05)

15. Improv, Failure, And Confidence (00:33:00)