Our Hen House
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Blog

Because You’re Not Selling Toasters

by Jasmin April 20, 2010
written by Jasmin

Not to sound like a snob, but I can’t tell you how many times I have attended a workshop or seminar about animal rights, and left wondering if the presenter ever took one public speaking class in his or her life. Sure, the info they were relaying was educational and interesting. But if they had just said “um” a few (hundred) less times, or made eye contact with the audience once or twice, or slooooowed down, their presentation could have gone from mediocre to outstanding.

That’s where Toastmasters comes in. Toastmasters is a non-profit dedicated to helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. There are meetings all around the globe. Once you find one near you, you attend that meeting, and practice your skills in front of a group of supportive people. You evaluate each other, using their Competent Communication manual, a “series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a basic foundation in public speaking. Participants learn skills related to use of humor, gestures, eye contact, speech organization and overall delivery.”

A couple tips:

1. Not every meeting will be right for you. I know people who have tried to find a Toastmasters meeting, were turned off by one particular group, and never went back. Just like Alcoholics Anonymous or Weight Watchers, you might need to shop around before you find a group where you can benefit. And, chances are, you can benefit.

2. Even if you don’t think you need Toastmasters (or another public speaking course), videotape your next public speaking event. Will it be painful? Absolutely. Will it cause you to get rid of those ums, stop looking at the floor, and no longer play with your hair (that last one was mine)? Absolutely.

If public speaking is part of your activism, then you owe it to the animals to be nothing short of amazing at it.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddiedangerous/ / CC BY 2.0
Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Holy Ship! It’s the Sea Shepherd in NYC!
next post
Law and Order SVU Goes Inside the Slaughterhouse

You may also like

Saving the World, One Burger at a Time

To the Dog I Didn’t Adopt

Turn a Call for Papers (or a Poetry Contest) Into an Animal...

The Unfolding Narrative of THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE

Want Your “TOTE-ALLY VEGAN” Fix?

I Hate Fundraising

Flock Only: Today’s Scoop from the Coop

Job Week at Our Hen House: Day 5 — PETA, Anyone?

When Vegans Have Children

Animal Rights Conference 2014 – Three Perspectives

Search Episodes

Subscribe to our Shows

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherCastBoxPocketCasts
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • StitcherStitcher
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherCastBoxPocketCasts
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • StitcherStitcher
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts

Subscribe to OHH Emails

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

Instagram

Join us On Facebook

Join us On Facebook

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

@2021 - Our Hen House


Back To Top
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Our Hen House
Search Podcasts
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate

Subscribe

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcher
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • StitcherStitcher
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcher
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • StitcherStitcher
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts

OHH NEWSLETTER

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

 
Sign In

Keep me signed in until I sign out

Forgot your password?

Password Recovery

A new password will be emailed to you.

Have received a new password? Login here