All Of It – "What's Your Favorite Commencement Speech?"

Host: Kusha Navadar (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Riley Roberts (Professional speechwriter)
Date: June 25, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode of "All Of It" explores the culture and craft of commencement speeches. With graduation season in full swing, host Kusha Navadar—who is about to give a commencement address at his own high school alma mater—talks with professional speechwriter Riley Roberts about what makes a memorable speech. The conversation dives into the art of inspiration, storytelling, and authenticity, with plenty of listener interaction reflecting on favorite (and less favorite) commencement moments. The episode offers practical speechwriting advice, insights into the evolution of commencement addresses, and a rich collection of examples from cultural memory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Universal Experience of Commencement Speeches

• Relatability: Roberts notes commencement speeches are accessible because "we've all experienced one, whether it's good or bad. We've either been inspired or we've been bored to tears." (04:14)
• The Lasting Effect: Both Navadar and Roberts agree the speech's words often fade, but its emotional impact endures:

  "They may remember how you make them feel. And that's, that's really powerful." — Riley Roberts (04:24)

Essential Building Blocks of a Great Commencement Speech

1. Brevity is Key

   • Roberts advises to "keep it short," referencing the "sitcom rule" that people's attention spans cap out around 22 minutes (05:10).
   • Ideally, speeches should be even shorter, acknowledging the audience’s eagerness for the celebrations to come.

2. Authentic Connection

   • The speech should rely on the speaker's unique relationship with the audience.
   • Roberts:

     "Unpacking what can you and only you say to this crowd... is just a great test to apply." (06:54)

3. Practice and Preparation

   • For first-time speakers, practice is vital.

     "Don't think that you can get up there and improvise... you need to sit down and write your remarks and just let it pour out of you, your authentic self, and then edit from there." — Riley Roberts (07:51)

   • Practice aloud to develop "muscle memory."

Listener Call-Ins & Texts: Favorite Speeches and Advice

• Notable examples mentioned:

  • Chuck Schumer’s overlong speech (an hour and a half!)
  • Mary Schmich's "Wear Sunscreen" (popularly made into a song by Baz Luhrmann)
  • David Foster Wallace’s "This Is Water" at Kenyon College, 2005 (see [11:22] for an excerpt)
  • Conan O’Brien’s Harvard and Dartmouth commencement addresses
  • Jasmine Ward’s Tulane speech (2018) and Nora Ephron’s Wellesley speech (1996)

• Tips for Reaching Young Audiences:
  Eve from Westchester emphasizes speaking to attention spans:

  "Cut it down to 15 and then have them do something during it. Meet your audience where you are." (09:48)

Anatomy of a Memorable Speech – David Foster Wallace Example

• Clip played ([11:22]):

  “There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way... The most obvious important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about... in the day to day trenches of adult existence, banal platitudes can have a life or death importance.”

• Roberts’ Analysis:
  Wallace “dispenses with what we call throat clearing... He gets right to the story, right to the didactic little parable.” This subverts expectations and seizes attention. (12:38)

What to Include in a Commencement Speech

1. Connect & Relate:
   Thank people, acknowledge the institution, highlight connections.

2. Storytelling:
   Progression—“some kind of a progression from A to B to C that shows wisdom unfolding” (14:31)

3. End with 'Altitude':
   Finish on "an inspiring note, give it some altitude... you empower them with whatever insights you've shared to walk out into the world." (15:29)

On Humor & Anecdotes

• Humor:
  "Tell inclusive inside jokes," but "be very careful about the target... self-deprecating is a great way to go." Don’t punch down. (19:17)

• Personal Anecdotes & Ethics:
  Good anecdotes are "relatable" and "touch the audience’s experience." Show vulnerability—“Show yourself when... you’re struggling and human... That allows them to see themselves in you." (16:25)

• Embellishment? "Relate to the audience, and... be human and authentic." Avoid painting yourself only as the hero.

Changing Trends in Commencement Speeches

• More expected now to show "authenticity" and "grit," not heroics:

  "People just respond to authenticity. Especially with AI generated content... If you're going to command that attention for a few minutes, then, man, it had better be original, it had better be authentic." (17:52)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Brevity being the soul of wit."
• "Keep it short. 22 minutes is way too long even for a commencement speech. The shorter the better." (05:10)
• "Show some grit. Show yourself when... you're struggling and human." (16:25)
• "If you're going to command that attention for a few minutes, then, man, it had better be original, it had better be authentic." (17:52)

Final Advice to Graduates

When asked how he’d address high school seniors:

"I really hope that you experience hard times so that you know the value of, of the good ones. Life is, is a mess... but there is so much beauty and joy to be had... whatever your path." – Riley Roberts (20:56)

Notable Timestamps

• 03:12 – Introduction of Riley Roberts
• 05:10 – “Sitcom rule” and importance of brevity
• 06:54 – Building genuine connection with the audience
• 07:51 – Advice for inexperienced public speakers
• 11:22 – Clip: David Foster Wallace "This Is Water"
• 13:26 – Analysis of Wallace’s intro and subverting expectations
• 14:31 – Key points every commencement speech should cover
• 15:29 – The meaning of "altitude" in speechwriting
• 16:25 – Personal anecdotes, relatability, authenticity
• 17:52 – How commencement speeches are changing
• 19:17 – Role of humor in graduation speeches
• 20:56 – Riley’s closing advice for high school seniors

Conclusion

This episode is a warm, insightful, and highly practical guide to understanding (and writing) great commencement speeches. With real-world listener examples, storytelling wisdom, and a focus on authenticity and brevity, it distills the art form to its essentials—leaving listeners inspired, whether venturing onto a commencement stage or simply seeking to connect through words.