Episode Overview

Title: How to Engagify Anything: Anders Boulanger on Captivating Audiences and Commanding Attention
Podcast: The Amazing Authorities Podcast
Host: Mitch Carson
Guest: Anders Boulanger (Author, Magician, Founder of Engagify)
Date: December 4, 2025

Main Theme:
Mitch Carson interviews Anders Boulanger about the art and science of engagement—how to consistently captivate audiences, command attention, and elevate perceived authority, whether virtually, in-person, or at high-stakes events like trade shows.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of Engagement: Virtual vs. Live (01:06–04:04)

• Virtual Engagement: Requires thinking like a TV producer—using camera shifts, props, and on-screen changes to reset attention. Anders explains:

  "Any change that we detect creates new interest again, because all of a sudden your mind's going like, what's going on now?" (01:30)

• Physical Props as Captivation Devices: Both high-tech (digital visuals) and "low-tech, no tech" (rubber chickens, whiteboards) are effective.

  "Using a prop automatically does light up a part of the brain... just by the fact that you can merely hold it in your hand, it is connecting you to the person who is watching." (03:25)

• The Psychology Behind Props: Mirror neurons cause us to react viscerally to objects others hold.

2. Authority as an Engagement Driver (04:20–06:36)

• Claiming Authority Matters:

  "If we don't assign or attribute authority to someone, why should we listen, right?" (04:39)

• How Authority Is Conveyed: Through confidence (avoiding "uptalk" that sounds uncertain), attire, and position "on the stage."

• Perception of Status: Higher status (in entertainment, speaking, even how a diamond ring is presented) converts to higher perceived value.

• Notable Quote:

  "There's something psychologically wired for us... anything that fits in your hand, there's some mirror neurons that fire." (03:20)

3. The Hierarchy of Influence and Perceived Value (06:36–09:34)

• Entertainment’s Pecking Order: Discussion of how movie stars, TV personalities, comedians, magicians, and others are perceived differently—and how this affects earning power.

• Perception Shapes Value: Illustrative story about diamond rings and packaging (Tiffany box vs. local jeweler).

• Borrowed Authority: Standing (literally and figuratively) elevates status and attention.

• Memorable Quote:

  "Attention is the new currency. We've got to learn how to own it." (20:23)

4. The S.A.V.E.U. Framework for Engagement (09:34–14:28)

Anders introduces his signature "SAVE U" framework, practical and memorable for holding attention:

• S (Simple):
  Make everything easy to understand to avoid "cognitive backlog."

  "Our brain is 2% of our body weight, but consumes 20% of our energy. So when someone pays attention, they don't only spend time with you, but they pay in calories." (09:34)

• A (Authority):
  Project confidence, own your message, and manage perception through position and presentation.
• V (Vary the Senses):
  Engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic senses through props, vocal variety, and storytelling.

  "Varying the senses... out of NLP... when you're talking to a whole audience you have to shotgun approach this, because everyone's going to have different systems, if you will." (11:52)

• E (Emotion):
  People remember peak emotional experiences—use surprise, humor, and contrast.
• U (You-Focused):
  Audience wants to know "what’s in it for me"—appeal to self-interest, survival instincts, and avoid being ignored.

  "It's the carrot and the stick, it's the WIIFM: What's in it for me? Is it going to benefit me or harm me?... We want things that are good for us, and if it’s going to eat us, I want to be aware of that." (13:38)

5. Practical Results: Real-World Applications (14:28–16:50)

• Audience Stories: A podcast host who read Anders' book landed a better job and higher pay by adopting the book’s principles.

  "She said... reading your book helped me play bigger in my interview and I got more money because of playing bigger and representing myself." (15:14)

• Permission to Play Boldly: Most people need encouragement to be bolder and more dynamic—"boring to bold line;" only rarely do people overdo engagement.

  Exercise:
  Anders assigns "avatars" in training—presenters must redo their spiel as a "kindergarten teacher" to recalibrate what feels “too much” versus engaging.

  "To the person doing it, they think it's obnoxious. But... we need to reset our calibration for what we think we need to put out there. We get so conservative, we play it so safe that we end up more on that boring side of the scale." (17:57)

6. Business Model: Engagify (18:24–20:12)

• Company Mission: Engagify helps companies make events and teams more engaging—using infotainment (magic, customized presentations) for trade show lead generation and lasting impact.

  "We make your events more engaging or your teams more engaging... using my background as a magician, I do engaging presentations that inform the crowd about whatever solution we're talking about." (18:33)

• Trade Show Wizardry: Magic acts as a metaphor to move audiences from problem to solution, making messages memorable.
• Key Results: Increased attention, interaction, and, ultimately, sales for clients.

  "Everything we do... is a transformation mechanism, is a story... going from those places, and that makes it memorable." (19:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Engagement Tools:

  "Sometimes it's not about going high tech. Sometimes it's about going, you know, low tech, no tech." — Anders Boulanger (02:13)

• The Science of Props:

  "Anything that fits in your hand, there's some mirror neurons that fire... that is a bit of an engagement hack." — Anders Boulanger (03:17)

• On Playing Bold:

  "We need to kind of reset our calibration... We get so conservative, we play it so safe that we end up more on that boring side of the scale." — Anders Boulanger (17:57)

• Engagement’s Value:

  "Attention is the new currency. We've got to learn how to own it." — Anders Boulanger (20:23)

• On Authority and Perception:

  "If we don't assign or attribute authority to someone, why should we listen, right?" — Anders Boulanger (04:39)

• On the Power of Emotion:

  "Are you being memorable? Because the emotions are what, when we peak, have a peak experience... that's what's going to make us remember it after the fact." — Anders Boulanger (12:13)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06 | Virtual vs. in-person engagement tactics | | 03:25 | Using props as an engagement "hack" | | 04:39 | The importance of authority in engagement | | 09:34 | Introduction of the S.A.V.E.U. framework | | 14:55 | Real-world story: audience using Engagify principles | | 17:08 | “Avatar” exercise; recalibrating energy as a presenter | | 18:33 | Anders explains the Engagify business model | | 20:23 | "Attention is the new currency" — why engagement matters |

Resource Links & Contact

• Anders Boulanger on LinkedIn: Best platform for direct connection
• Website: Engagify.AI ("Not about artificial intelligence, but authentic interactions.") (21:14)
• Book: Engage: How to Hold Attention in a World of Distraction (Available on Amazon worldwide)

Summary Takeaways

• Engagement is both science and performance: Simple, sensory, and emotionally resonant tactics (including props and body language) create memorable and persuasive messaging.
• Authority and perception are everything: Borrowed status, packaging, and presentation all boost your "price tag" and impact.
• Bolder is (almost always) better: Most people underestimate how bold they need to be to resonate with audiences.
• “Attention is the new currency:” Without sustained attention, even the best message or product goes unnoticed—and unsold.

Anders’ actionable insights show that anyone—presenter, teacher, leader, or brand—can become “engagified,” capture attention, and move from invisible to influential.

For more, connect with Anders via LinkedIn or visit engagify.ai for resources and training.