Pete Tingstrom on Forgetting to Thank the Important Person and Celebrating Life

The Public Speaking Horror Show

Host Laura Reid welcomes Army retiree and former Green Beret Pete Tingstrom to the show to talk about his scariest speech moment and current business, Aloha Oahu Weddings. Pete tells Laura about the frequent speeches he gives for military and veteran organizations and how a scary speech moment still caught up with him. He reveals profound thoughts on celebration and care, why he needs that speech outline, and re-thinks that opening hook with Laura.

Pete Tingstrom has a wedding and event business called Aloha Oahu Weddings and it brings him great joy to share the beautiful location with people celebrating all manner of moments. Last October he organized a private cruise for a global gathering of Green Berets so they could all share some special moments together. In a pivotal speech to that gathering, Pete seemed to make eye contact with his wife while thanking someone else for their help. And then forgot to thank his wife. Laura and Pete discuss the horror of that moment, where to put thank yous in a speech to make sure they’re noted, and how to recover from a moment like that.

About Pete Tingstrom:

Pete is a 30-year Army retiree who served in the Infantry, Special Forces (Green Berets) and Aviation branches. Currently he owns a wedding and event venue in Kaneohe on the Island of Oahu with incredible ocean and mountain views. He has recently added a party bus and photo booth options for all events on his lush venue.

Pete spends a lot of time leading and working with many non-profit veteran service benevolent organizations, and a global peace movement called Live and Let Live.

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Contact Pete Tingstrom:

• Website: AlohaOahuWeddings.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Yelp
• Google

Contact Laura Reid | The Speech Slayer:

• Website: TheSpeechSlayer.com
• Facebook: TheSpeechSlayer
• Instagram: @Laura_InWonderland
• Linkedin: Laura Reid
• Book: “The Public Speaking Horror Show: 7 Secrets to Kill It as a Speaker” by Laura Reid

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Transcript

Laura Reid: [00:00:00] Welcome back to The Public Speaking Horror Show, the podcast where we dig up the scariest, most cringe-worthy, downright disastrous moments speakers have faced on the stage so you don't have to. If you've ever had a presentation and it felt like a slow motion car crash, you're in the right place. And if you haven't, oh, just wait. Your time will come. But before we dive in, make sure that you hit the like and subscribe button so you never miss an episode. Because the only thing scarier than public speaking is a podcast with no ratings. So today's guest is the incredible Pete Tingstrom. Pete has this amazing badass background, I'm not going to do it justice, but just know he's like jumped from airplanes on missions as a Green Beret. He's a 30 year Army retiree, served in the infantry, the aviation branches. So yeah, I want to hear a little bit about that from him. But today he owns a wedding and event venue on the beautiful island of Oahu. I have been on his boat, takes people out to the sandbar out there, it's just absolutely amazing. He is just living this beautiful life in paradise these days. And I think he earned it. So, but today before, we're not really here to, like, talk about just his wins. Oh no. Like, we are here to unearth his story and maybe some things that he kind of wished were kept buried. So, Pete, welcome to the show.

Pete Tingstrom: [00:01:42] Thank you, Laura, for having me. This is quite an honor to be on your show.

Laura Reid: [00:01:47] Thank you. So thrilled to have you. So before we dive in to the good, the bad and the oh, my God, did that just happen, let's break the ice with our killer 13. These are 13 rapid fire questions, Pete. Don't overthink it. Are you ready?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:07] I'm ready.

Laura Reid: [00:02:08] Okay. Number one, what's scarier? A silent audience or a heckler?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:16] A silent audience.

Laura Reid: [00:02:18] Yeah, I agree. You just jumped out of a plane. Your parachute doesn't open. What's your first thought?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:26] This is going to be one hell of a ride.

Laura Reid: [00:02:29] I love it. Hell of a landing, too.

Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:32] Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that part.

Laura Reid: [00:02:36] What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:40] Probably crickets.

Laura Reid: [00:02:43] Crickets. I had crickets, too. In Zimbabwe, you fry them with some salt. Not too bad.

Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:48] Good with chocolate covered too.

Laura Reid: [00:02:49] Oh, good. Were they cooked and, like, covered in chocolate? Not just like a raw?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:02:54] Yeah, they were cooked and covered in chocolate, but I've had them raw as well for survival.

Laura Reid: [00:02:57] You have? Oh, I would think the ink could be a problem, but yeah.

Pete Tingstrom: [00:03:02] No, they're not. I don't like it.

Laura Reid: [00:03:05] Number four, would you rather get stuck in a haunted house overnight or give a surprise Ted talk with zero prep?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:03:14] I'd rather do a surprise Ted talk.

Laura Reid: [00:03:17] You would?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:03:18] Yes.

Laura Reid: [00:03:18] With no prep?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:03:19] Yeah, with no prep.

Laura Reid: [00:03:20] That's terrifying.

Pete Tingstrom: [00:03:21] That would, I actually, I love tap dancing when I'm speaking and and giving a oh, like these questions. These, I didn't expect any of these at all. And you could probably answer them pretty quickly.

Laura Reid: [00:03:34] Yeah. Awesome. Okay, I want to say that Ted talk for sure. All right. What song instantly gets you pumped up?

Pete Tingstrom: [00:03:43] Rocky!

Laura Reid: [00:03:44] Oh, the theme song from Rocky. Absolutely. Dun dun dun dun dun dun. Okay, awesome. Cue the song. All right, what's your biggest speaking pet peeve?