In today’s episode, I tell you how Toastmasters is helping me on my journey from pharmacist to voice actor.  Plus, I deliver my ice breaker speech!

Toastmasters International toastmasters.org

I delivered my ice breaker speech to my Toastmasters Club on July 10, 2020, from my computer via Zoom.  The title of the speech was “Good Timing.”  

What is Toastmasters International?  According to their website, Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs.  There are more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries, and there are more than 358,000 members.  The organization was founded in 1924, and their headquarters are located in Englewood, Colorado USA.  Toastmasters International helps people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.  Membership is affordable.

Toastmasters uses a structured curriculum to build skills, and an ice breaker speech is the first speech a member gives on their path through the curriculum.  This was an opportunity to tell my Toastmasters Club Members about me, why I joined Toastmasters, and my goals for being in the club.  The length is supposed to be 4 to 6 minutes.  There’s a helpful worksheet with suggestions for content and transitions on the member website.  Toastmasters makes it pretty easy to craft a speech.  My club assigned me a mentor, and she helped me get started. 

What does Toastmasters have to do with my journey from pharmacist to voice actor?  Here are 3 highlights.  

1.  Toastmasters is helping me become a better podcaster.  I use less filler words and avoid bad grammar because Toastmasters helped me with awareness about both. 

2.  Toastmasters gives me an opportunity to speak in public without preparation on topics I do not pick.  Extemporaneous speaking is another name for it. 

3.  I get to use my voice and get feedback before the meeting ends.  When I gave my ice breaker speech, I got feedback in less than an hour.  An experienced evaluator told me what I excelled at, what to work on, and how to challenge myself as I move forward in my Toastmasters journey.

Join me next Friday, July 31, for episode 29, an interview with Dr. Jerrica Dodd, a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and leader.  Then, join me for my next solo episode on Friday August 7.  I plan to talk about conferences – pharmacist conferences and voiceover conferences.