August 10, 2025
Bill McGowan on How to Speak Memorably and Communicate with Clarity & Confidence
Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and LifeAbout this episode
Bill McGowan, author of Speak Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience , shares practical ways to make your ideas stick—on stage, on Zoom, and in any high-stakes moment. We get into dynamic delivery, smarter structure, and memorable language devices you can use immediately. In this conversation, we discuss: Dial it up (a bit): Why what feels “over the top” on video usually plays just right. Story over stats: Using Francis Ford Coppola’s “three best things” idea to craft stronger openings and closings. Primacy & recency: Designing beginnings and endings people actually remember (and skipping the dreaded agenda slide). Cliffhangers > previews: Start with something engaging—don’t promise you’ll be engaging later. Slow beats filler: How pacing reduces “uh/you know” and helps you choose better words. Slides with a point: Lead each slide with a clear statement of value; know your closing line before you advance. Be your own brutal editor: Cut 25% from emails and presentations to boost clarity and punch. Levity, not jokes: Use a light touch to build trust and retention; avoid risky stand-up and overdone self-deprecation. Seven memorable devices (highlights): Analogy/metaphor, “creative labels” (e.g., the “toothbrush test”), mirror pairs, original definitions, simple equations/ratios, and smart cliché twists (“survival of the quickest”). Links & resources: Book: Speak Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience — Bill McGowan Connect with Bill on LinkedIn Connect with Erik: LinkedIn Threads Facebook Bluesky This Podcast is Powered By: Descript Descript 101 Castmagic Ecamm Podpage Rodecaster Pro Top Productivity Books List Make sure to grab Shortcasts from Beyond The To-Do List by Blinkist . A Shortcast is a 7-10 min version of a podcast where you get the core takeaways. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .