Best Virtual Pitching Academy Podcasts (2025)

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297: From McDonald’s to McKinsey Killer – Atif Rafiq on Reinventing How We Decide and Communicate 40:26

11d ago40:26

40:26

Meet the man who scaled Kindle and turned McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM into truly digital businesses. Atif Rafiq has helped reshape some of the world’s biggest brands by challenging how organizations make decisions and execute bold ideas. As the first Chief Digital Officer in the Fortune 500 and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Decision S…

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296: Stand Out to Get Ahead – How to Supercharge your Professional Presence. Lorraine K. Lee 37:15

18d ago37:15

37:15

What makes someone unforgettable in today’s noisy, distracted world? Oliver Aust sits down with Lorraine K. Lee – author of Unforgettable Presence, globally recognized keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor with over 300,000 followers, and former editor at LinkedIn – to explore the art and science of becoming someone people remember, trust, …

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295: How to Decode People: What Humans and AI Get Right – and Wrong. Blake Eastman, Founder of Nonverbal Group 45:18

25d ago45:18

45:18

What if machines could read us better than people can? Blake Eastman is on a mission to make that a reality – and to ensure it serves humanity, not replaces it. Blake is the founder of The Nonverbal Group, a former poker pro and psychology professor, and now a pioneering builder at the intersection of human behavior and AI. Blake pulls back the cur…

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294: Pitch Like a Pro: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience 44:44

1M ago44:44

44:44

Can you win every pitch? No, but The Pitch Guy’s blueprint gets you close. Danny Fontaine aka The Pitch Guy is the author of “Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience On The Planet” and host of the Pitch Masters podcast. Danny has redefined what it means to pitch an idea, product or business – not as a PowerPoint deck, but as an emotionall…

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How to Lead when AI is Smarter than You with Gerrit McGowan (Video Edit) 48:17

1M ago48:17

48:17

Oliver’s TEDx talk, “AI-Powered Leadership: Why Supercomputers Need Supercommunicators” just dropped. It sets the stage for a real talk on what AI means for leaders. Oliver and his bestie, serial founder Gerrit McGowan explore how emerging tech is reshaping communication, leadership, and trust, and how leaders can use AI without losing authenticity…

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293: How to Lead when AI is Smarter than You with Gerrit McGowan 50:06

1M ago50:06

50:06

Oliver’s TEDx talk, “AI-Powered Leadership: Why Supercomputers Need Supercommunicators” just dropped. It sets the stage for a real talk on what AI means for leaders. Oliver and his bestie, serial founder Gerrit McGowan explore how emerging tech is reshaping communication, leadership, and trust, and how leaders can use AI without losing authenticity…

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292: MOMENT with Seth Godin - The World’s Racing to the Bottom. Do This Instead. 8:03

2M ago8:03

8:03

What's the difference between a leader and a manager? Why should we avoid the industrial age-style race to the bottom? This week we are sharing a brief moment of Oliver’s conversation with Seth Godin, 21-time best-selling author and one of the leading business thinkers in the world. Check out episode 263 for the full conversation. Make sure you’re …

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291: How to Get to the Point with Joel Schwartzberg 44:45

2M ago44:45

44:45

If you don’t have a point, everything you say is pointless. Oliver speaks with Joel Schwartzberg, communication expert and author of “The Language of Leadership” and “Get to the Point” (updated edition out this month). Let’s face it, there is too much rambling and hot air in business. Joel shares concepts such as the “I Believe That” Test and the “…

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290: How to Speak Like a Top 1% Leader 33:47

2M ago33:47

33:47

This week Oliver is a guest on the Amplified Leadership podcast hosted by Oliver Degnan. They discuss what it truly means to "Speak like a CEO", how to make your story sticky, how to create a compelling vision, how to communicate better as a team, how to build trust, and much more. This is a value-packed half an hour with lots of actionable advice!…

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289: How to Run Virtual Meetings That Energize, Not Drain with Andrew Brodsky 40:35

2M ago40:35

40:35

Drowning in Zoom calls and Slack threads? No energy left at the end of the day? Zoom fatigue is real. So is information overload. To understand science-backed strategies that get better results from your virtual communication while preserving your energy, Oliver speaks to Andrew Brodsky. Andrew is a management professor at the University of Texas a…

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288: Inside Personalized Persuasion: How AI Shapes the Future of Influence with Dr. Sandra Matz 46:38

3M ago46:38

46:38

What if an algorithm could read your personality better than your best friend? In this eye-opening episode, Oliver sits down with Dr. Sandra Matz – Columbia Business School professor, computational psychologist, and author of Mindmasters – to explore how our digital footprints reveal far more than we think. Sandra unpacks how AI tools can accuratel…

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287: Funny Means Money - How to Use Humor as a Leadership Advantage. Andrew Tarvin 50:24

3M ago50:24

50:24

Leaders who use humor are seen as more confident, competent and get better results – if they do it the right way. Andrew Tarvin is the CEO of Humor That Works and author of the book by the same name. He shares how leaders can use humor as a serious tool for better results. But it’s not about being haha funny or being a slap-on-the-back kinda boss. …

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286: Pirates, Hostages & Cyber Attacks: What They Taught Me About Decisions with Top Kidnap-for-Ransom Negotiator Scott Walker 35:45

3M ago35:45

35:45

Scott Walker is a world-class kidnap-for-ransom negotiator who deals with hostage takers, pirates and cyber-attacks. Scott has successfully negotiated more than 300 such incidents using the principles he shares in his best-selling book ‘Order Out of Chaos’. The New York Times called it “a masterclass in communication excellence”. Now Scott is back …

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285: How to Get What You Want From the People in Charge. Melody Wilding 51:38

3M ago51:38

51:38

Success isn't just about what you know, but your ability to influence and persuade those in positions of power. On this episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust sits down with the brilliant Melody Wilding. Melody is an award-winning executive coach, speaker, and bestselling author. Drawing on her extensive experience and insights from her book, "Ma…

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284: How to Be Inspiring: Science-Backed Strategies from the World’s #1 Expert. Adam Galinsky 47:50

4M ago47:50

47:50

Forget the myth of the "naturally" inspiring leader. Adam Galinsky, author of "Inspire", reveals the science behind inspiration – and how you can cultivate it. Adam is the world’s #1 expert on inspirational leadership. He is a professor at Columbia Business School and has been studying the science of inspiration for over 20 years. His new book “Ins…

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283: How to Make Your Idea Maximally Contagious with Storytelling Guru John Yorke 42:05

4M ago42:05

42:05

Want your idea to spread like wildfire? Do you want to move your audience to action? There is a way to achieve this. This week, Oliver is joined by John Yorke, a world-renowned storytelling expert and former head of BBC Drama, to unravel the secrets of compelling narratives. John wrote the OG of storytelling books: "Into the Woods: How Stories Work…

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282: Talk Less, Lead More: The Secret Skill of Elite Communicators. Oscar Trimboli 38:58

4M ago38:58

38:58

Are you really listening? Or just waiting to talk? Most leaders overestimate their listening skills. To understand why and how you can become a 10 out of 10 listener, Oliver is joined by Oscar Trimboli. Oscar is a globally-recognized listening expert and the author of How to Listen who will shatter your assumptions about hearing and connection. Dis…

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281: The Burnout Trap: How to Reclaim Your Energy and Lead with Clarity. Dr Oliver Degnan 51:45

4M ago51:45

51:45

Oliver Aust speaks with Dr. Oliver Degnan about a critical issue: burnout. It's not just stress, it's much more dangerous. Dr. Degnan challenges common misconceptions about burnout and lays bare the self-inflicted wounds that lead to the brink. He explores the crucial difference between stress and burnout, how a breakdown in trust fuels it, why it …

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280: How to Disagree Without Falling Out With Harvard’s Julia Minson 30:07

5M ago30:07

30:07

Why is it so hard to disagree without falling out? And how can we get better at managing disagreements? To find out, Oliver speaks to Julia Minson, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. They explore the crucial skill of productive disagreement in life and at work. Discover why smart people struggle with disagreements, the …

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279: How to Become Indistractable in a World of Noise with Nir Eyal 43:18

5M ago43:18

43:18

Distractions are everywhere. But how do you regain focus and control in an age of constant interruptions? This week, Oliver speaks with Nir Eyal, the internationally acclaimed behavioral designer, bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable, and former Stanford Lecturer. He explains that distraction isn't just about external triggers but often …

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278: The Ritual Effect: Build Elite Teams and Create Meaning with Harvard’s Michael Norton 36:12

5M ago36:12

36:12

What if I told you there's a secret weapon that can transform your leadership, boost team morale, and create a culture of peak performance? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Professor Michael Norton, a renowned psychologist at HBS and author of The Ritual Effect: The Transformative Power of Our Everyday Actions. Professor Norton's researc…

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277: How to Become a Trusted Leader. Natalie Doyle Oldfield 33:50

5M ago33:50

33:50

No success without trust. But how do you build trust when trust in leadership is at an all-time low? Natalie Doyle Oldfield is a globally recognized expert on trust and author of Trusted: The Proven Path to Customer Loyalty and Business Growth. She explains how trust is often formed subconsciously as the first thing in an interaction between humans…

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276: Atomic Statements, Apes & Ants, and the New Science of Storytelling. Will Storr 42:16

6M ago42:16

42:16

What if everything we experience is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves? In this episode, Oliver sits down with one of his intellectual heroes. Will Storr, bestselling author of The Science of Storytelling, The Status Game and now A Story is a Deal to explore how stories define our reality, shape our decisions, and influence human behavior. Wil…

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275: How to Go Viral. Brendan Kane 42:13

6M ago42:13

42:13

Is going viral just luck, or is there a science behind it? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Brendan Kane, digital strategist, bestselling author, and the mastermind behind some of the biggest social media success stories. Brendan has helped global brands, top celebrities like Taylor Swift and Rihanna, and countless businesses achieve exp…

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274: How to Write so Busy People Respond. Todd Rogers 46:00

6M ago46:00

46:00

Is it possible to write so that even busy CEOs respond? Yes, it is. If you know how. On this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver sits down with Harvard professor Todd Rogers, co-author of Writing for Busy Readers, to uncover why most messages fail – and how to fix them. Todd is a behavioral scientist who has spent years studying how people r…

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273: The Human Side of Leadership: Burnout, Growth, and Purpose. Peter Sorgenfrei 50:01

6M ago50:01

50:01

Peter Sorgenfrei is the leadership coach you want to have at your side. As a six-time CEO and founder, he understands the challenges and the overwhelm experienced by anyone who is unapologetically ambitious. But he also learned the hard way that you have to listen to your body and mind to be successful and, more importantly, to keep your sanity. In…

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272: Mastering the Science of Conversations. Dr. Alison Wood Brooks 37:13

7M ago37:13

37:13

You build your life and career one conversation at a time. But how can we be authentic and impactful while connecting with others? To find out, Oliver sits down with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, celebrated behavioral scientist, Harvard professor, and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves. Together, they unpack the sc…

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271: Stories Sell: Storytelling Secrets for Leaders. Matthew Dicks 46:01

7M ago46:01

46:01

Matthew Dicks, bestselling author of Storyworthy and Stories Sell reveals how stories captivate, connect, and inspire. The key isn’t a list of events but a moment of transformation – without change, it’s just a report. Matthew’s journey to globally-recognized expert began with a surprise win at The Moth storytelling competition, but it wasn’t luck.…

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270: Moment – How to Negotiate with Pirates. Scott Walker 2:31

8M ago2:31

2:31

Scott Walker is one of the world’s foremost experts on negotiation. When hostage situations, kidnappings, or cyber attacks put lives and livelihoods at stake, Scott is the crisis negotiator called in to resolve the chaos. Having successfully negotiated over 300 high-stakes incidents, Scott shares the field-proven principles from his best-selling bo…

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269: The Art and Science of Speaking Like a Leader 46:13

8M ago46:13

46:13

What are the critical skills that define leadership today? With over 20 years of experience advising top global executives, Oliver explains why communication is the #1 skill for success, how to build an irresistible personal brand, and strategies for overcoming communication challenges in a world increasingly shaped by remote work and AI. Discover …

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268: 10 Steps to Build a Thriving Community. Daisy Morris 43:38

9M ago43:38

43:38

Want to build a thriving community but not sure where to start? Daisy Morris, founder of The Selfhood and author of Community Is Your Currency developed the framework for you. Oliver and Daisy dive into the essential difference between an audience and a community, and what both individuals and companies often get wrong about community building. Dai…

1
267: John Strelecky on Leadership, “Soft Skills”, and the Big 5 for Life 48:28

9M ago48:28

48:28

With more than 10m books sold, John Strelecky is one of the most successful and inspirational authors of our time. His first book, "The Café on the Edge of the World," gained international acclaim and has been translated into over 40 languages, selling millions of copies. John has written extensively about leadership and is the creator of the "Big …

1
266: Throw Out The Rulebook. Gigi Danzinger 25:35

9M ago25:35

25:35

What if we challenged traditional notions of success and leadership? In this episode, Oliver Aust sits down with Gigi Danzinger, a philanthropist and social entrepreneur who, at 60, changed her name to reflect a bold new chapter. Gigi shares her unique approach to social impact, focusing on empowering communities through initiatives in Hudson, New …

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265: The Culture Expert: Crafting a Culture of Transparency, Innovation, and Empowerment. Chris Dyer 41:02

9M ago41:02

41:02

Culture is destiny. How we treat each other at work has a huge impact on business success and personal fulfillment. But how can leaders navigate the complexities of remote and hybrid work while cultivating an environment that attracts top talent and drives innovation? Oliver Aust sits down with company culture expert Chris Dyer, author of "The Powe…

1
264: Stop Drowning in Work and Get Your Hours Back. Nick Sonnenberg 40:44

9M ago40:44

40:44

Do you ever feel like you're drowning in work? Constantly battling a never-ending swarm of emails, Slack messages, and meeting invites? Wondering how you can use automation and new tools to make your life easier? We all know the feeling all too well. In this week's episode, Oliver Aust speaks with Nick Sonnenberg. Nick is a serial entrepreneur, a g…

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263: Seth Godin: All Leadership Is, Is Communication 32:34

10M ago32:34

32:34

This week’s guest is none other than Seth Godin – the world’s most famous marketer, a highly successful entrepreneur, and the author of 21 best-selling books. Seth just released his brand-new book This is Strategy, a groundbreaking guide to creating meaningful change in a complex world. In addition to strategy – which is a compass and not a map – w…

1
262: Radical Candor CEO: Don’t Avoid The Tough Conversations. Jason Rosoff 43:42

10M ago43:42

43:42

Positive feedback is easy. But if you are like most, you have probably struggled with having tough conversations at work. To find out how to give honest feedback without destroying relationships, Oliver Aust is joined by Jason Rosoff, CEO of Radical Candor, the company he co-founded with Kim Scott, the author of the bestselling book with the same n…

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261: The Transformation Expert: Change Your Team Can Believe In. Tamsen Webster 42:08

10M ago42:08

42:08

Change is inevitable, yet 70% of change processes fail. This has become a major issue for many organizations, whose very survival depends on adapting to changing times. To find a way forward for both leaders and teams, Oliver Aust is joined by Tamsen Webster, a world-renowned expert in change communication and author of the brand-new book Say What …

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260: The 5 Principles of Presentations That Create Change. Kris Flegg 45:46

10M ago45:46

45:46

Most presentations are instantly forgotten. Or worse, people don’t even pay attention in the first place. What makes a presentation stand out? To find out, Oliver Aust talks with Kris Flegg, founder of Presentation Design Co. and author of The Presentation Playbook about the art of capturing audience attention. Kris, who transitioned from a “below-…

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259: Master Nonverbal Leadership with Insights from the Poker Table. Blake Eastman 48:25

11M ago48:25

48:25

Do you realize how much your body language influences the way others perceive you as a leader? In this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust sits down with Blake Eastman, founder of The Nonverbal Group and School of Cards. As a former professional poker player, Blake mastered reading body language and high-stakes decision-making at the po…

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258: Obama’s Speechwriter: Working in the West Wing, Speeches that Make History, and Becoming a Confident Speaker. Terry Szuplat 39:30

11M ago39:30

39:30

In today’s episode, one of Barack Obama’s longest-serving speechwriters reveals the public speaking lessons that will help you become a more confident and compelling communicator and leader. For 8 years, Terry Szuplat worked on hundreds of speeches for President Obama. He served as a special assistant to the president, and from 2013 to 2017 he was …

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257: The Laws of Connection That Will Transform Your Life. David Robson 55:59

11M ago55:59

55:59

Have you ever left a conversation doubting whether the other person liked you? You’re not alone—it’s called the Liking Gap. This week on Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust is joined by David Robson, author of the global bestsellers The Laws of Connection, The Expectation Effect, and The Intelligence Trap, and journalist and science writer for the BBC. D…

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256: From Resistance to Results: The Secret Ingredient to Win Over Your Team. Frank Wolf 38:23

11M ago38:23

38:23

When you manage change within a company, the pressure is on. The future of the business may be at stake. So what do you do when your company’s change programs fall flat? This week, Oliver Aust is joined by Frank Wolf to discuss the best approaches to leading organizational change and building a strong narrative. Frank Wolf is the co-founder of Staf…

1
255: How to Become a Creative Leader. Josef Brunner 51:05

12M ago51:05

51:05

Our world is changing fast. So how do we create something unique that will stand the test of time? This week, Oliver Aust is joined by Josef Brunner on Speak Like a CEO to discuss what it takes to lead creatively. As the founder and CEO of NutriUnited and a seasoned entrepreneur with two nine-figure exits, Josef shares why authenticity is so import…

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254: How to 10X Your Story. Michael Margolis 1:09:41

12M ago1:09:41

1:09:41

Why is it so hard for disruptive technologies to be accepted? This week, Oliver is joined by Michael Margolis, author of “Story 10X”, a leading advisor to many of the world’s largest tech companies and one of the world’s preeminent experts in storytelling, to discuss the science of change and the power of narrative. Change can often feel like an as…

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253: Moment - The Four Foundations of Powerful Speaking. Julian Treasure 9:45

12M ago9:45

9:45

Julian Treasure’s TED Talk “How to speak so that people want to listen” has been viewed over 100 million times and is the 6th most popular TED talk of all time. He shares the four foundations of powerful speaking – easy to memorize thanks to the acronym HAIL – as well as The 7 Deadly Sins of Speaking. This short clip gives you the do’s and don’t of…

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252: Speak Like a Scientist 20:34

1y ago20:34

20:34

If you are a scientist, engineer or deal with technical topics, this one's for you. This week Oliver is a guest on Mark Bayer’s When Science Speaks podcast to give you the strategies to create clarity out of complexity. Mark is one of the world’s preeminent experts on science communication who has helped hundreds of scientists to communicate with i…

1
251: The 3 Roles of a Leader 38:10

1y ago38:10

38:10

Many leaders spend their time on the wrong tasks and therefore don’t achieve their goals. Oliver Aust explains on the Besser Gründen podcast which leadership skills are essential for a company's success. In this episode (in German), expect to learn: The 3 most essential skills for entrepreneurs and leaders How you can develop and improve these skil…

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250: How to Solve a PR Crisis 30:42

1y ago30:42

30:42

How do you handle a PR crisis that could jeopardize your business? This week, Oliver Aust joins Gloria Chou in this episode of “Small Business PR,” to discuss strategies for dealing with PR crises and creating buzz on a budget. Oliver shares his extensive experience in crisis communication and creative PR campaigns. He provides actionable tips for …

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249: From Complex to Clear: How to Turn Tech Topics into Captivating Communications. Mark Bayer 43:10

1y ago43:10

43:10

How many times has your technical presentation fallen flat? Or perhaps you have been in the audience and have not understood the subject matter. This week, Oliver is joined by Mark Bayer who shares his expertise on the art of making complex subjects understandable and engaging. Mark is one of the leading experts in the world on how to translate sci…

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