In Episode 176 of the "This Moved Me" podcast, host Sally Koering Zimney introduces and re‑brands the concept of the "unspeaker" – people who speak, lead change, and move audiences without identifying as professional speakers. She defines an unspeaker as a changemaker driven by authenticity, connection, and courage, contrasting this with conventional speakers who may chase perfection, profit, or performance. Sally critiques the common speaking myths that prioritize polished delivery over genuine impact, warning that such approaches cause audiences to disengage. She shares brief anecdotes of a president delivering a powerful unspeaking moment and of overly rehearsed youth talks that fell flat, illustrating the difference. Throughout, she invites listeners to own the unspeaker label, join a community of "movers," and transform their own approach to speaking so they can more effectively move the world. The episode ends with an enthusiastic call‑to‑action encouraging the audience to identify as unspeakers and engage with the movement.
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Hey everybody, and welcome to This Moved Me, a podcast about creating talks that move the world. Episode 176: Dear Unspeaker. Wait, what? That's right, unspeaker. With me, your host, Sally Koering Zimney. Together with some fabulous guests, we will have a casual conversation about 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. She's waiting for everybody to figure out the alphabet. A little note to you, my Unspeakers. So to start, an un-speaker, what is that? An un-speaker is someone who might not define themselves as a speaker, and yet you speak. You are a changemaker, idea-driven, audience-focused. You battle with wondering whether or not you're doing it right. You want to make an impact and understand that to be transformational You must also transform yourself at some level. You speak without being one of those speakers: a bore, a chore, a perfectly perfect snore. A speaker who breaks the mold, who rejects the myths of what speaking is or what we think it should be. An unspeaker is going for, above all, authenticity, connection, and courage. If that's you, then guess what? You are an unspeaker. And I think it's time we define it a bit more. Own it. Because there's a particular memorable power in the unspeaker. I mean, let's be honest, many of us don't own the title of speaker. I mean, speakers are getting paid big bucks. Speakers wear fancy suits and travel first class. Speakers have a book they're Sally Koering Zimney. I mean, side note, I do believe we all have a book inside us, just like I think we all have a TEDx Talk inside us. But there are plenty of us who speak but don't think of ourselves as speakers. But I know for some of you, you are a speaker or consider yourself one. And to you I say congratulations, because Truly, making a living speaking is harder than it looks, and I am cheering on your determination and success. But speakers, hear me for a moment. A word of warning: if you are not grounded in the process of improvement or focused on the present moment, if you are doing a shtick because it's easy or lucrative, if you are focused on perfection rather than connection. If you are doing any of those things, then you are probably not having the impact you think you're having. Too much of your audience is walking away as you just slip right from their mind like water. But let me be clear, I Unspeaking has nothing to do with experience level or expertise or professionalism, right? I've seen the president, not this one, have a real connected, courageous, authentic moment. It was unspeaking and it was amazing. I've seen kids speak with too much perfection and canned panache and I felt nothing. It was speaking in its most common form. Unspeaking is simply about moving our audience. And there are plenty of speakers who need to undo their thinking and transform their approach and focus instead on being un-speakers. I've been calling you movers for nearly 3 years, nearly 200 episodes, but I'm switching it up. Starting today, you are my unspeakers, my dear unspeakers, and I love you. I really do, because I am just amazed at what we as unspeakers can do in this world. And I am so grateful for you being here with me on this journey, for jumping in, sharing your passions and ideas. The movements that you are creating, and for you digging deep to transform your approach to speaking so you can move your audience. Unspeakers, I am cheering you on. Hugs, Sally Koering Zimney. P.S. I might still call you my movers sometimes because you're also that. You are also a mover, but I think we need to own this unspeaker thing. Let's do this. Let's own it. Are you with me? Are you an unspeaker? Let me know. Woop woop! Hey yo, hey yo! Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm.
