Speech Analysis,Quick Tips — 7/8/2026
One of the most frustrating things as a competitor in a speech and debate setup is getting ranks that are not as good as you hoped and then your feedback reads “great speech”. That’s it, no further explanation, no reasoning, nothing. But this problem goes far beyond competing. Whenever I teach pub...
Speech Analysis,Quick Tips — 3/31/2026
In competitive speaking, we are taught to fill every second with substance. Strong analysis, rapid transitions, crisp delivery. Silence is often treated as a mistake. But during a UIL **6A school tier** tournament in Texas, competing in **Persuasive Speaking**, silence became my strongest argumen...
Speech Analysis,Presentation — 3/23/2026
I find it quite interesting that one of the biggest fears people have with public speaking is the fear of their **mind going blank**. Being scared of forgetting what to say next is valid, even if you are relying on a perfectly memorized speech. But it’s ironic because that memorized speech IS the pr...
Quick Tips,Speech Analysis,Presentation — 3/22/2026
Thank you to everyone who attended the “Calm Under Pressure” Speaking workshop this weekend! It was wonderful to host Pen2Podium’s first in-person event. I’m very grateful to all the students and parents who showed interest in the event and participated through the drills and by asking such insightf...