In this solo segment of the "This Moved Me" podcast, host Sally Koering Zimney introduces the concept of the "unspeaker" as a counter‑point to traditional ideas of what makes a speaker. She confesses that many of her favorite coaching clients are people who don’t see themselves as speakers, yet they have valuable voices to share. Sally argues that a speaker does not need a polished stage presence, a bestseller, or a dramatic life story; instead, the core of speaking is authentic connection. She defines an unspeaker as someone who prioritises real‑time connection, authenticity, and the present moment over perfection or legacy. To illustrate, she recounts a talk by a man who could not speak vocally and used a computer‑generated voice while seated in a wheelchair; his eyes, facial expression, and intention moved her profoundly, showing that influence can arise without conventional speaking skills. Sally then invites listeners to reflect on their relationship to the label "speaker," consider whether the unspeaker identity resonates, and recall a talk that unexpectedly moved them. The episode ends with a call to embrace one’s voice, emphasizing that anyone can "unspeak" their way into impact.
Chapters
Hey everybody, and welcome to This Moved Me, a podcast about creating talks that move the world. With me, your host, Sally Koering Zimney. Together with some fabulous guests, we will have a casual conversation about the art of public speaking. Because a good talk can move the world. And it'll be fun. Yeah, I would think making alien cows meaningful. That's not a small task. I love your giggle. Wow. Oh my gosh, so waiting for everybody to figure out the alphabet. Hey movers, it is speaking truths number 3. I gotta start with a confession because why not? That sounds juicy. Alright, confessions of a speaking coach. My favorite clients are the ones who aren't sure they're really speakers. Hmm. Because of course they are. They just haven't fully embraced it yet. They consider themselves maybe accidental speakers, speaker with a small s, someone who just happens to be speaking. But they're not a speaker. Well, we do not have to love the stage or even love speaking to be a capital S Speaker. We don't have to be professional or to have written a book or to have gone through some big life turmoil. We don't have to be confident or beautiful or smart. We don't have to be eloquent or polished or wearing just the right thing. No, there is no exact right formula for being a speaker. Which is exactly why I love it. The idea of what a speaker is and isn't has been messing us up generally and keeping us from bringing our particular voice out into the world. And man, the world needs our voice. So if you are not sure if you're a speaker, fine. I'm cool with that. You can be an unspeaker. Yeah! The unspeaker. All right? And I think we should all be going for being an unspeaker. An unspeaker is more concerned about connection than perfection, more concerned about this moment than this concept of legacy. They're more concerned about being real than being the best. I saw a talk recently from a man who couldn't speak using his voice, so he spoke, quote unquote, via a computer. His mouth didn't move, he didn't move from his wheelchair, but his eyes, his face, his intention and feeling was so clear, and it moved me in a profound way. And I'm guessing that is not your idea of a speaker. Either. And yet he speaks, he influences, and he moved me. So let's be un-speakers. Let us throw out whatever the ideas are that are getting in the way of you from embracing your voice and the power that you have and that you can have. All right, so some questions for you to think about. Do you— how do you feel about this title of speaker? Do you call yourself a speaker? Or does this idea of being an unspeaker, does that resonate a little more and make you feel a little bit better? And who is someone whose talk has moved you in a surprising way? I would love to hear about it. I love, love those talks because it opens up our ideas of what a speaker is. Is and isn't. All right, that is it for Speaking Truth Number 3. Next time, next up, Speaking Truth Number 4: Stories are the pathway to empathy. Mmm, that's true. Speaking truth. All right, that's it for me. Unspeak your way. My friends, you got this! Check you later! Wow. Okay. I'm so focused.
