#289: Using AI as a Thinking Partner to Communicate with Clarity — Diane Windingland

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.

[33:33] What if AI could help you think more clearly, simplify complex ideas, and sharpen your message—without replacing your voice or creativity? In this episode of the Toastmasters Podcast, Greg Gazin welcomes back Diane Windingland, DTM, for a practical conversation on using AI as a thinking partner to improve clarity, strengthen messages, and communicate with greater impact.

Diane offers insights on AI that remain highly relevant today, building on her 2023 Toastmaster magazine article, Using AI to Clarify, Simplify, and Test Your Message. She explains how discovering AI reshaped her workflow—from drafting content and evaluating slides to helping coaching clients prepare for interviews, presentations, and everyday communication challenges. Diane also discusses how AI can reduce overwhelm, spark new ideas, and help speakers overcome “blank page paralysis,” while still requiring human judgment, personal stories, and emotional connection.

Listeners will hear Diane discuss:

• Why AI isn’t a shortcut and how iteration leads to stronger messages
• How effective prompting works, including audience, tone, purpose, and context
• Using AI to simplify complex or technical ideas for broader audiences
• Brainstorming metaphors, examples, and alternate explanations with AI
• How AI-assisted feedback can improve clarity, pacing, and structure
• Maintaining authenticity while using AI responsibly
• Common pitfalls, including hallucinations and accepting the first response

Diane also shares personal stories, from crafting a humorous Valentine’s poem for her husband to experimenting with AI while developing a humorous speech. She explains how she incorporates AI into her coaching practice and encourages clients to iterate for clarity rather than settle for first drafts. As the episode wraps up, Diane offers practical do’s and don’ts, reminding listeners to treat the first answer as a draft. Whether preparing a contest speech, designing a workshop, or writing a sensitive email, AI can help communicators think more clearly—one revision at a time.

About Diane Windingland

Diane Windingland, DTM, is a professional speaker, communication coach, and owner of Virtual Speech Coach. Originally trained as an engineer, she specializes in helping technical professionals and leaders communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. A Toastmaster since 2003, Diane is a Past District Director, a member of 2 clubs and a regular contributor to the Toastmaster magazine. Her book, The Clarity Code: How to Communicate Complex Ideas with Simplicity and Power, explores practical strategies for simplifying complex messages and strengthening communication through thoughtful revision and clarity-focused tools.

Diane lives in Spring, Texas and can be reached via LinkedIn and via her website: VirtualSpeechCoach.com, where you can also find her blog post, Using AI to Build a “Knowledge Bridge” (and Why the Prompt Matters).

Listen to our chat with Diane on episode #230: Small Talk, Big Results – Diane Windingland.

Another great read on AI is: 

How to Stand Out in an AI World: While artificial intelligence is here to stay, it’s an enhancement, not a replacement, by Victor David in the Dec 2024, Toastmaster Magazine. 

Photo Credit: Diane Windingland  - generated by AI.