#288: Reflections on 11 Years of Writing for the Toastmaster Magazine – Bill Brown

The Toastmasters Podcast with Greg Gazin

The Toastmasters Podcast is like a radio talk show featuring interviews with Toastmasters usually featured in the Toastmaster magazine. The purpose of the podcast is to amplify the magazine - to dig deeper or to put a voice to a face or written wordBut unlike a radio show, a podcast is on the Internet, and available, for free, to anyone in the world with an Internet connection, and a connected device capable of playing audio. 260+ episodes are at ToastmastersPodcast.comThe Toastmasters Podcast is co-produced by Toastmasters International and Archieboy Holdings, LLC, for our global audience of Toastmasters and those interested in public speaking and leadership.

[27:20] In this episode Greg Gazin welcomes back longtime contributor and speech delivery coach Bill Brown for a conversation that reflects  back and shares lessons learned from more than a decade of writing for the Toastmaster magazine. A Toastmaster for nearly 20 years Bill has become a familiar name to readers through The Toastmasters Toolbox, The Answer Man, and dozens of feature articles written since 2014.

This episode coincides with Bill’s final Answer Man column and his reflective December 2025 article, “Lessons from the Toastmaster: Discover What I Have Learned as a Writer for the Magazine.” Bill describes how a simple hallway chat with former magazine editor Jennie Harris unexpectedly launched what would become a plethora of articles—including nine years of monthly columns.

Greg revisits Bill’s earlier podcast appearances as well, including Episode #206, “Receiving Feedback: A Valuable Skill You Can Improve On,” (June 2022) where Bill explored the under-discussed art of accepting and applying feedback. That theme re-emerges here as Bill talks about how editorial guidance helped him adapt his writing for a global audience—learning to “think like a listener” and write more universally.

Listeners will hear Bill discuss:

• How writing strengthened his speaking, helping him craft tighter messages with clearer cadence.

• Why rhythm and flow matter—including a brief, powerful recitation from Douglas MacArthur’s “Duty, Honor, Country.”

• Challenges in early Pathways navigation, and how one article unexpectedly helped rural clubs get their footing.

• His passion for speech delivery, especially vocal variety and cadence as core elements of listener engagement.

• Surprising moments of feedback, including responses from Toastmasters in remote or underserved areas.

• Why memorizing a speech frees you to deliver with authenticity and connection rather than anxiety.

The episode also revisits one of Bill’s popular humor pieces, “Make Your Speeches Something to Laugh At”(December 2020), as he and Greg unpack the “alternate meaning” technique, pun-based humor, and how to recover when the wrong meaning lands unintentionally.

As he transitions from column writing, Bill shares what’s ahead: new delivery-training programs, books in development, fresh articles, and continued contributions to Toastmasters International. As he says, Toastmasters HQ has already made it clear—“they’re not done with me yet.”

To read his December 2025 article and enjoy his final Answer Man column, visit the Toastmaster magazine.

Other articles mentioned:  Memorize Your Speech to Avoid Interruptions, (Nov 2025) and Help! Our Club Needs Members: Discover where to find members in your community. (March 2024.)

Greg's humorous speech: Much Ado About Gadgets. Video, Audio- Podcast.

About Bill Brown

Bill Brown, DTM, is a speech delivery coach and long-time contributor to the Toastmaster magazine and is a member of Energy Capital Toastmasters in Gillette, Wyoming. Bill helps speakers elevate their delivery, strengthen their presence, and communicate with clarity and impact. You can reach him at BillBrownSpeechCoach.com.