Have you ever been captivated by a great speaker and wondered how they make it look so effortless? Trust me, while it may look effortless, it likely took a lot of effort to get there. How do I know? Because I’ve helped thousands of coaching clients take their speaking skills from bland to “bravo!”, and I’m ready to help you too.
In this twice monthly podcast, I’ll teach you how to deliver a message with impact – whether you are pitching an idea to investors, charging up your team at sales kickoff, or seeking to influence a decision by your board. In 30 minutes or less, you’ll hear actionable tips from me and my expert guests on how to close that deal, inspire your team to excellence, and own any room.
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Have you ever been captivated by a great speaker and wondered how they make it look so effortless? Trust me, while it may look effortless, it likely took a lot of effort to get there. How do I know? Because I’ve helped thousands of coaching clients take their speaking skills from bland to “bravo!”, and I’m ready to help you too.
In this twice monthly podcast, I’ll teach you how to deliver a message with impact – whether you are pitching an idea to investors, charging up your team at sales kickoff, or seeking to influence a decision by your board. In 30 minutes or less, you’ll hear actionable tips from me and my expert guests on how to close that deal, inspire your team to excellence, and own any room.
Can you learn how to pitch an idea by reading a novel? Author and venture capitalist Ben Wiener believes you can. His new book Fever Pitch explores how a fictional startup thriller can reveal the real narrative patterns that make investors lean in.
During this episode, Karin Reed sits down with Ben to talk about the experiences that shaped his approach and explains why storytelling gives founders an advantage when they need investors to understand the heart of their idea. His HEART framework grows out of that belief and invites founders to think about belief, stakes, alternatives, differentiation, and team strength in a more intentional way. They also touch on the emotional side of pitching and how a shift in mindset can help founders speak from conviction instead of pressure.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introducing “Fever Pitch” and Startup Storytelling
00:58 Ben Wiener’s Journey from VC to Author
03:02 Why Fiction Can Teach Startup Strategy
06:27 Storytelling as the Foundation of a Strong Pitch
07:34 Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule and Pitch Lessons
12:01 Why Most Startup Pitch Decks Fail
14:03 The HEART Framework Explained
19:51 What Investors Really Want to Hear First
26:18 Reframing Pitching as Partnership, Not Persuasion
32:07 The Business Power of Paying It Forward
33:38 Closing and Bonus Content Invitation
Connect with Ben Wiener:
Learn more about Ben Wiener’s book: Fever Pitch
Visit Ben Wiener’s website
Connect with Karin Reed:
Visit Speaker Dynamics
Explore Speaker Dynamics University
Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram
Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Speaker Dynamics - Own The Room
Have you ever been captivated by a great speaker and wondered how they make it look so effortless? Trust me, while it may look effortless, it likely took a lot of effort to get there. How do I know? Because I’ve helped thousands of coaching clients take their speaking skills from bland to “bravo!”, and I’m ready to help you too.
In this twice monthly podcast, I’ll teach you how to deliver a message with impact – whether you are pitching an idea to investors, charging up your team at sales kickoff, or seeking to influence a decision by your board. In 30 minutes or less, you’ll hear actionable tips from me and my expert guests on how to close that deal, inspire your team to excellence, and own any room.
