In this episode of the Be Moved series, host Sally Koering Zimney (Speaker B) introduces a raw, unscripted monologue from Speaker A, who records from a car while still in pajamas. The speaker reflects on the recent attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol, describing it as both shocking and predictable because of the harmful words that preceded it. Throughout the talk, the speaker argues that words are never neutral; they can marry people, end marriages, shape beliefs, uplift, soothe, or incite violence. The central claim is that the power of language hinges on the courage of the speaker—courage to speak truth and promote justice, love, and light, versus cowardice that allows hateful, bigoted rhetoric to spread. The speaker urges creators, speakers, and “movers” to harness their words deliberately, using them to move audiences toward good, justice, and hope, especially as they step into a challenging 2021. The episode ends with a heartfelt call to create talks that move the world for good, sending love and encouragement to listeners.
Today on the show, we are going to talk about the power of our words and why we need more courage. And, uh, yep, I'm still wearing my jammies.
Hey movers, it's Sally Koering Zimney with Be Moved. Let's go create some talks that will move this world. We're going to talk with amazing speakers, share tips, tricks, resources. And we are going to be moved so that our audience can be moved. This moved me. What is moving you?
Hey everybody, I am just showing up raw today because I just don't have much in me. So hi, hi everybody. I have been putting this off, I'm not gonna lie. Here I am in my car car currently, not an ideal place to record a podcast or video, but this is where it's happening. I will admit I am digging deep right now to show up and to say what I think needs to be said. This wasn't the plan this week. I had a different plan for the week, but This week there was an attempted coup on the Capitol, which is still crazy to say. It's just been a really disturbing time, and I know I'm not alone in thinking that. And I have to keep reminding myself that this is not a movie. Like, it— watching it on CNN, you're kind of like, is this happening? Is this real? Is this happening in my country right now? Who are these people? What is happening? What is happening? It is shocking. It is unbelievable. And it is utterly predictable, my friends, because of the words. The words that have been said. The words that were lies.— and the words that were believed, the words that were carelessly said, the words that are not being said, the words that people have said too little too late. The words, my friends, the words. Words have power. And as speakers, and as someone whose core purpose and my mission is to empower people to use their words, their voices, their stories to move their audiences, well, I feel like I need to talk for a minute about words and power. My belief is that words can move the world. I, and to be really clear, I do not mean this as a neutral idea. I want more good in the world through our words. I want more justice and love and light. I want less cruelty, less bigotry, uh, less hatred. These are not really highfalutin ideas, right? We want more good in the world, but we have seen people deploy words in a way that is not for the good of the world. This concept of moving the world with your words is unfortunately a neutral idea. I don't want it to be neutral, but it is. It can be used and has been, and I'm sure will be again, used for ill. Duh, clearly. But our words are not neutral. They are not neutral. Our words can do things, powerful things, right there in the words. People get married right there in the words. People get divorced right there in the words. People hear things that settle into their brain for years and takes a long time to undo them. Words, of course, can uplift, they can soothe, they can change what you think and how you feel and where you're coming from. They're incredibly powerful. I'm a words person. I believe in the power of the words. And yes, words can incite And the thing that makes words for good versus for ill is courage. And what happened this past week and these past 4 years, uh, it's made hateful, bigoted words okay in a way that I just cannot stomach. It's not courage. It's cowardice is what it is. So for you, my movers, being political is not the point here, but understanding and recognizing that our words are not neutral. They are doing things. They have the power to do powerful things. Let's use this powerful tool for good, so that every day you are showing up and loving up your audience, bringing your voice and your story to life for more good in this world. I'm sending all of my love to each of you as we step into a brave new 2021. This poor year, it holds more hope than it can possibly make good on, but even just saying these words out loud to you helps. So thank you. Let's go create some talks that will move this world for good. Love you.
