The Marketing Millennials: “9 Public Speaking Lessons You Didn’t Learn in School”

Bathroom Break #71 🚽 | September 1, 2025
Host: Daniel Murray
Guest: Jay Schwedelson

Episode Overview

In this quick-hit “Bathroom Break” episode, Daniel Murray and guest Jay Schwedelson (bestselling author, marketing speaker, and host of “Do This, Not That”) swap actionable, candid, and sometimes hilarious insights on public speaking for marketers. Fresh off the heels of prepping for the massive Inbound conference, they unpack the must-dos and critical don’ts they wish someone had taught them before stepping on stage (or even entering the conference room or Zoom call). This episode is a goldmine for marketers aiming to connect, educate, and leave audiences wanting more—whether you’re on a giant stage or leading a meeting of five.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Practicing Your Talk: Real World vs. Ideal World

• Daniel’s Approach: Always do a full practice run the morning of your talk—not the night before. “Once you have that mental block that you completed that day, I feel it’s much easier to get on stage.” (02:17)
• Jay’s Addition: Practice in real-world conditions—background noise, distractions—since actual live environments (from boardrooms to conference stages) are never perfectly quiet.
  • Quote: “When you ultimately do speak...it’s not going to be a perfect setup. People are going to be on their phones, there’s going to be noise. So you want to have an environment that’s a little more similar to reality.” (02:54)

2. Ditch Full Memorization—Embrace Word Cues

• Daniel: Avoid memorizing scripts—use word cues on slides or notes. This prevents panic if you forget a line and allows for a natural, conversational flow.
  • Quote: “You’re probably going to say a different speech 20 different times. But if you at least practice and have some word cues, it helps you have a flow, helps you not get stuck.” (03:39)
• Jay: Memorization wrecks both the delivery (makes it robotic) and your confidence if you get tripped up. Relatability and presence matter more.

3. Never Start With a Boring List

• Jay’s Cardinal Sin: The classic “Here are the 7 things I’ll cover” slide puts the audience to sleep and signals boredom ahead.
  • Quote: “Don’t show them the list of the crap that you’re going to say because that is when you lose everybody.” (04:53)

4. Less is More – Condense Down Your Tips

• Daniel: Err on the side of fewer talking points. You’ll always have less time than you think, and rushing at the end wrecks impact.
  • Quote: “It’s better to finish early...always try to concise your talk into smaller chunks.” (06:03)
• Jay: Relates, half-jokingly, about his 101-slide session: “It’s going to be like I’m going to be on 12 Celsius.” (06:51)

5. Cater to the Least Informed Person in the Room

• Jay: Spell out every acronym and concept—never assume prior knowledge. It’s about inclusion, not dumbing down.
  • Quote: “You make people feel stupid even though they’re not stupid. Never make somebody feel stupid in the audience. You want everyone to feel as comfortable as they can.” (07:23)
• Daniel: Applies the same principle in marketing copy—always clarify terms to maximize understanding.
  • Quote: “The way to become an expert is to teach it simply...even if it says like call to action like CTA, I always have to say call to action CTA.” (08:06)

6. Pre-talk Rituals—Managing Nerves

• Jay: Connects with at least one audience member before starting; humanizes the talk and eases nerves.
  • Quote: “The second that you can humanize whoever it is that you’re about to speak to, it puts you at ease...This is not that complicated.” (09:43)
• Daniel: Humorously confesses to pre-talk anxiety: “I try to not have a panic attack...I’m like, this close to being like, I’m out before I get on stage.” (09:07)
• Jay: Reassures, “Everybody is nervous. If they say they’re not, they are full of it.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Once you have that mental block that you completed it that day, I feel it’s much easier to get on stage.”
  — Daniel Murray (02:17)

• “Practice it with the TV on, with people in the room...because when you do actually speak, it’s never a perfect setup.”
  — Jay Schwedelson (02:54)

• “Don’t tell people it’s going to be boring. Don’t show them the list of the crap that you’re going to say.”
  — Jay Schwedelson (04:53)

• “The way to become an expert is to teach it simply.”
  — Daniel Murray (08:06)

• “Everybody is nervous. If they say they’re not, they are full of it.”
  — Jay Schwedelson (09:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:35 – Daniel and Jay discuss Jay’s new book and the weirdness of imposter syndrome
• 01:45 – What not to do when prepping a public speaking gig
• 02:17 – Daniel’s day-of practice method
• 02:54 – Jay’s advice on realistic practice environments
• 03:39 – Avoid memorization, use cues instead
• 04:53 – Why boring lists kill your talk
• 06:03 – Pare down your material for pacing
• 06:51 – Jay’s 101-slide slide deck dilemma
• 07:23 – How to avoid making people feel stupid (explain acronyms, clarify terms)
• 08:06 – Daniel’s take on simplifying communication
• 09:07 – Handling nerves before you speak
• 09:43 – Connecting with your audience, humanizing the moment

Final Takeaway

This episode is a pragmatic, fast-paced masterclass in public speaking for marketers, blending no-BS honesty, empathy, and actionable hacks. Daniel and Jay’s chemistry and humor make the lessons stick—whether you’re sweating bullets pre-presentation or just trying to make your next meeting less miserable. If you want a no-fluff guide to being more effective and less nervous as a marketing speaker, this “Bathroom Break” is worth every minute.