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Present Influence: The Professional Speaking Show

Present Influence: The Professional Speaking Show

By: John Ball
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About this listen

Present Influence is the podcast for professional speakers, coaches, and leaders who want to master ethical persuasion, magnetic communication, and stage presence that drives action. Hosted by keynote coach and influence expert John Ball, each weekly episode delivers powerful insights, expert interviews, and practical tools to help you get more bookings, boost your re-bookings, and scale your speaking business. Whether you're leading from the stage or the boardroom, you'll learn how to inspire trust, influence decisions, and leave a lasting impact, without manipulation. Subscribe now and start commanding attention with confidence. Each week, John shares insights through solo episodes, interviews with influential guests, and in-depth book reviews. Whether you're looking to sharpen your presentation skills, master the art of persuasion, or enhance your leadership presence, Present Influence provides practical strategies and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and authenticity. Tune in and discover how to communicate your ideas in a way that resonates, persuades, and inspires lasting change.© 2022 Present Influence Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • How to Be Funny on Purpose: Joel Morris on the Craft of Comedy
    Jul 30 2025

    Unlocking the Secrets of Comedy with Joel Morris

    Summary

    In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball delves into the intricacies of comedy with Joel Morris, the prolific comedy writer behind beloved characters like Paddington Bear and Philomena Cunk.

    Joel discusses his book, 'Be Funny or Die,' shedding light on the rhythm of humour, the similarities between jokes and music, and the universal nature of comedy. They explore how jokes are constructed, the importance of setup and timing, and the challenges of creating comedy in today's diverse media landscape.

    Whether you're a professional speaker or simply someone who loves a good laugh, this episode offers invaluable insights into the craft of comedy.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Joel Morris and His Comedy Craft

    01:20 Discussing 'Be Funny or Die'

    01:44 The Mechanics and Philosophy of Comedy

    02:54 Comedy as a Universal Language

    06:16 The Journey of a Comedy Writer

    11:53 The Role of Persona in Comedy

    17:16 Writing Process and Inspirations

    23:02 Mocking Doc and Shakespeare

    23:36 Philomena Cunk's Interviewing Skills

    23:40 Favourite Person to Write For

    25:33 Comedy at the BBC

    32:14 The Craft of Comedy Writing

    36:03 Advice for Adding Humour

    40:44 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

    Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

    For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    43 mins
  • Podcast Guesting For Professional Speakers, Coaches & Experts
    Jul 23 2025

    Mastering Podcast Guesting: Strategies for Speakers, Coaches, and Experts

    Summary

    In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball, an award-winning keynote and presentation skills coach, reveals the secrets of being a strategic podcast guest. He discusses the pitfalls of relying on agencies, the importance of finding the right shows, and the essential practices for turning podcast appearances into client leads. John also shares insights on how to be an engaging and prepared guest, how to leverage relationships with hosts, and the significance of having a media strategy. Packed with practical advice and tips, this episode is a comprehensive guide for speakers, coaches, and experts looking to grow their influence through podcast guesting.

    Get the free podcast guesting strategy guide at presentinfluence.com/podcastguest

    Try out PodMatch as part of your guesting strategy: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/presentinfluence

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Podcast Guesting

    00:48 The Pitfalls of Podcast Agencies

    06:32 Strategic Podcast Guesting

    09:03 Preparing for Podcast Appearances

    16:55 Finding the Right Podcasts

    22:27 Building Relationships and Following Up

    28:24 Conclusion and Resources

    Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

    For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

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    31 mins
  • Unity: A Speaker's Gift for Ethical Influence
    Jul 9 2025

    Harnessing Unity for Impactful Public Speaking: Insights from Robert Cialdini

    In this episode, the concept of 'unity' as an influential principle from Robert Cialdini's revised book 'Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion' is explored. The host discusses the emotional power of unity in connecting with audiences and emphasizes that unity is about finding shared values and experiences rather than pretending to be the same. Examples and stories are provided, including techniques for creating a sense of belonging and ethical connection in public speaking. The episode also considers the potential misuse of unity and advises speakers to use it as a means of fostering inclusive and meaningful connections.


    00:00 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

    00:20 Introducing Cialdini's Principle of Unity

    00:43 Understanding Unity and Shared Identity

    01:24 Creating Unity as a Speaker

    02:30 Real-Life Examples of Unity

    03:24 Ethical Use of Unity in Speaking

    04:05 Practical Tips for Building Unity

    05:59 The Power and Danger of Unity

    07:01 Conclusion and Next Steps

    Go to presentinfluence.com to take the Speaker StrengthsFinder Quiz and discover your greatest strengths as a speaker as well as where to focus for growth. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

    You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

    Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
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