free, and it stays free

Free practice.

Everything I use to practise, so you can do it too. If a video sent you here, its practice is under "From the videos".

read these before anything else

The delivery marks

In every practice line I write how to say it, not just what to say. Five marks, that's all.

all five in one line

Before a big decision, / ask yourself / ONE question. // Will this matter ↗ / in a year? ↘

one per format

Exercise sheets

Each one matches a kind of video I post. Do them out loud, ideally with your phone recording.

1 minute

The Pause

For when you rush through the word that matters.

Do this

  1. Say the line with no pause at all.
  2. Say it again with a one second pause at the slash.
  3. Record both and play them back to back.

Say it

The answer is / no.

What changed everything was / one question.

I'll be there at / six.

2 minutes

Two Takes

For filler words: um, so, like, basically.

Do this

  1. Pick a topic below and talk about it for 30 seconds while you record.
  2. Play it back and count your filler words.
  3. Do it again. When you feel one coming, pause instead.
  4. Count again. Write both numbers down.

Topics

How you make your favourite breakfast.

The last film you watched.

What you did last Saturday.

2 minutes

One Dial

For speed. Too fast loses people, too slow bores them.

Do this

  1. Say the line much too slowly.
  2. Say it much too fast.
  3. Now in the middle: normal speed, but slow down on the words in capitals.

Say it

If you remember / ONE thing / from today, // make it this. ↘

We have / TWO weeks, / not two months. ↘

5 minutes

Measured

For learning from a speaker you like.

Do this

  1. Pick ten seconds of a speech or talk you like.
  2. Listen three times: once for the pauses, once for the stressed words, once for where the voice goes up or down.
  3. Write the line down and add the marks.
  4. Say it with the marks, record it, and compare with the original.

1 minute

Say It With Me

For getting the feel of a line by repeating it.

Do this

  1. Read the line once in your head.
  2. Say it out loud with the marks.
  3. Say it again, a little slower, and look away from the screen.

Say it

I'm not nervous. / I'm READY. ↘

Let me / think about that // for a second.

Here's / what I'd do. ↘

2 minutes

60 Seconds, Your Topic

For thinking on your feet without rambling.

Do this

  1. Pick a topic below. Take five seconds to find ONE point.
  2. Talk for 60 seconds: the point, one example, the point again.
  3. Land the last line low, then stop. No "so yeah".

Topics

Your favourite room in your home.

A skill everyone should learn.

The best advice you ever got.

1 minute

The One Line

For the awkward moments, with one sentence ready.

Do this

  1. Pick the moment that happens to you most.
  2. Say its line slowly, with the pauses.
  3. Repeat it until it feels boring. Boring means it'll come out on its own.

Say it

Sorry, / can you say that again? / I want to get it right.

I don't know yet. // Let me find out / and come back to you. ↘

Can I finish this thought? // Then I'm all yours.

1 minute, then one day

How I Fixed It

For the one filler word you say the most. Mine was "so": 15 times in my first long video.

Do this

  1. Record yourself talking for one minute about anything.
  2. Count each filler word. Circle the one you say most.
  3. For one whole day, every time you catch it, pause instead.
  4. Record another minute and count again.

the practice from each video

From the videos

Nothing here yet. When a video has its own practice, it shows up here with the video's name, and the link in the description jumps straight to it.

free, by email

The 30-day pause challenge

One tiny exercise a day, straight to your inbox, a minute or two each. You start with one pause before one word. By day 30 you're using silence on purpose.

I'll email you a link to confirm first. Your address is only used for Pep Talk, never shared or sold. How your email is kept.

early access

Unmumble

A free speaking app I'm building for iPhone. Short daily lessons for your pace, your pauses and your "um"s. You speak, the phone measures, and you get real numbers back. Your voice never leaves your phone.

It isn't out yet. Leave your email on its page and you get the beta invite.

Get early access