In this special two-part edition of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn takes listeners behind the scenes at the 2025 District 70 Conference, held at Campbelltown Catholic Club. As a roaming reporter, she captured the energy, emotion, and excellence of the weekend through candid interviews with contestants and passionate members.

The conference featured all four major contests—Humorous, Table Topics, Evaluation, and International—with strong representation from StageTime Toastmasters, including multiple finalists. Listeners hear firsthand reflections from speakers like Oscar, Vicky, Daryl, Jule and Sri, who share both triumphs and challenges. The presence of Toastmasters International President Radhi Spear added excitement, along with inspiring keynotes and heartfelt moments of community spirit.

From humorous hiccups to evaluation excellence, from standing ovations to quiet moments of growth, Evelyn’s interviews reveal the human side of Toastmasters—courage, connection, and celebration. Whether you’re a longtime member or curious newcomer, this episode captures the magic of what it means to find your voice and share it with others.

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May. 12, 2025 @ 5PM
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To connect with Urmi -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/

https://www.instagram.com/wil_victoriachapter/

https://www.youtube.com/@urmihossain

Urmi's Book: Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth From Interracial Struggle – Available on Amazon

In this episode, I welcome Urmi Hossain, a passionate Toastmaster, now living in Montreal. Urmi joined Toastmasters in 2019, inspired by her love for TED Talks and a desire to one day deliver a TEDx talk. Initially hesitant, it took her eight months to deliver her first speech, an icebreaker creatively centered on the meaning of her name—Urmi, meaning “wave.” She used this metaphor to reflect her personality: calm like the ocean but powerful like a tsunami when provoked.

Born in Sicily to Bangladeshi parents, Urmi shares her journey of growing up as a “third culture kid,” navigating her identity across Italian, Bengali, British, and Canadian cultures. Though she once struggled to fit in, she has since embraced her multicultural heritage, calling herself "Italian-Bengali."

Urmi credits Toastmasters for building her confidence and leadership, especially during her roles as VP Education and President. It helped her professionally in finance, and personally through public speaking opportunities, panel hosting, and launching her own YouTube channel. She also serves as social media lead for the Victoria chapter of Women in Leadership Canada, where she hosts Instagram Lives with coaches and experts.

Urmi is also a writer and self-published her memoir, Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle, in 2022. She mentors women and students, believing deeply in the power of mentorship and community.

Her advice for new Toastmasters? Step up for Table Topics at your first meeting—it reveals your speaking style and shows you what to work on.

Frankie joined Toastmasters out of love—curious about her then-boyfriend’s eloquence and weekly meetings. Her first impression of Parramatta Breakfast Toastmasters was all the clapping, but she quickly saw the confidence it instilled. Though her early Toastmasters journey paused due to work, she rejoined in 2019 at Dural Toastmasters and has now been an active member for six years. Her involvement led to professional growth, including a transition into training and ultimately starting her own business, The Home Crew, which focuses on home organization and decluttering.

As a former VPE, Frankie values structure and clarity—traits reflected in both her business and her passion for speech evaluations. She shares how evaluation skills—keen observation, empathy, and structure—mirror the decluttering process. Whether organizing a pantry or offering speech feedback, her approach is thoughtful and constructive.

Frankie recently won the Division Evaluation Contest and discussed her process: dividing notes into commendations, recommendations, and standout moments. She emphasizes clarity, brevity, and compassion, believing evaluations should build confidence while prompting real improvement.

In her personal life, Toastmasters has helped Frankie become more confident, especially in networking and communication. With her teenage daughter, she fosters open, honest conversations, emphasizing that communication is about connection, not just exchange.

She encourages those considering Toastmasters to take the leap—it’s not just about public speaking but transforming how you engage with others. Frankie’s favorite resources include Atomic Habits by James Clear and podcasts like Diary of a CEO and Modern Wisdom. Her motto? “Reinvent yourself—every day.”

In this inspiring episode, Ramona Moodley shares her journey from shy child to confident communicator, blending personal transformation with professional growth.

Ramona joined Toastmasters in August 2024, seeking to move from knowing what makes a good speaker to truly embodying it. She calls Toastmasters her “bicycle” — a place to practice, fall, and improve through doing. She's now a member of three clubs, driven by a love of learning and growth in high-pressure environments.

Her speaking journey began at age five with her mom’s homemade coaching. As a painfully shy child, she noticed how confident kids got ahead. That realization stayed with her. Later, she entered beauty pageants from age 12 to 22 — not for fame, but to build confidence. Watching and mimicking winners under pressure gave her essential life and speaking skills.

After earning her engineering degree, Ramona was hired by McKinsey and later completed an MBA at Berkeley. Her consulting work emphasized clear, purposeful communication, reinforcing that great messaging starts long before the final presentation. After moving to Australia in late 2023, she turned to Toastmasters to continue developing as a communicator and to find a new community.

She also started a YouTube channel but found herself nervous in front of the camera — even when alone. Toastmasters helped her shift focus from herself to the message, reducing her nerves and increasing her impact.

Now preparing for a district speech competition, she works with coaches and aims to create speeches that connect deeply with any audience. She also runs Master the Toolkit, a company teaching communication and problem-solving skills.

Her parting advice:
“What are you waiting for? Please join. We’re waiting to welcome you.”

In this inspiring episode of The Toastmasters Experience, I interview 2021 World Champion of Public Speaking, Verity Price.

Verity shares her Toastmasters journey, beginning in 2011 when she joined out of curiosity after seeing the impact it had on her sister. Despite being a professional speaker, she discovered profound growth through Toastmasters, particularly in leadership.

She recounts earning her Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) during pregnancy and how intense preparation—including 25 speeches in seven months—helped her grow.

Verity speaks candidly about setbacks, being humbled by her sister’s early contest success, and eventually winning the World Championship thanks to relentless effort, coaching from Lance Miller, and practicing with 42 Toastmasters clubs in 16 countries.

She now coaches aspiring champions, emphasizing authenticity, clarity, and connection. Verity also discusses her passion for helping others shine, the challenges of bias in contests, and her new online course, Conquering Contests. She encourages anyone considering Toastmasters to join and embrace the transformative journey.

This special episode of The Toastmasters Experience compiles powerful advice from 10 seasoned Toastmasters, including award-winning speakers, coaches, and leaders with over 100 years of combined experience. Each offers heartfelt encouragement for those considering joining Toastmasters.

Their key messages? Just take the first step. Don’t let fear or perfectionism stop you—growth happens through consistent effort, mistakes, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Find a club that fits you, be patient with your progress, and challenge yourself to grow. The benefits go beyond public speaking:

Toastmasters builds confidence, connection, and leadership skills that impact every area of life. You're not just joining for yourself—you’re joining a supportive community where you can thrive and eventually give back. Whether you're nervous, curious, or looking to be heard, Toastmasters is a transformative space.

Attend a meeting, give it a try, and you may just find yourself on a lifelong journey of growth.

To connect with Jody –

https://www.jodydontje.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jodydontjecoaching/?hl=en

In this vibrant and heartfelt interview, Jody Dontje shares her inspiring journey as a speaker, coach, and changemaker.

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She reflects on how Toastmasters shaped her identity as a public speaker after years of speaking for charity in Nepal and for women's empowerment in London. Joining Toastmasters in 2018, Jody quickly excelled, winning district contests in Table Topics and Evaluations, and twice reaching the Semifinalists on the World Stage of Public Speaking. She attributes her success to the unwavering support of her Toastmasters club and mentors, as well as her own inner growth and alignment with purpose.

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Jody now lives in Bali, where she’s building a new chapter following a major life transition. She’s growing her movement, Alchemy Queen, supporting women to step into their authentic voice and transform their lives through coaching and holistic alchemy practices.

⭐️

With a background in teaching and deep passion for emotional authenticity, Jody blends ancient wisdom with modern tools to empower clients worldwide—both online and increasingly in-person through Bali-based events.

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Her advice to aspiring Toastmasters? Be brave, stay present, and allow yourself to grow. She embodies the spirit of connection, courage, and transformation, reminding us all of the power of storytelling and the magic of speaking from the heart.

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