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ANYONE CAN BE GREAT AT SPEAKING!
Want to become a better speaker & visit New York City this Fall?
DON'T MISS NYC CREATIVE LAB SEPT 18-21, 2025
Join Speaker Skills Academy Founders Marc Williams - Global Speaking Champion & Cathey Armillas - TED Coach this Fall at
NYC CREATIVE LAB 2025
NYC Creative Lab
Thursday Night Welcome Party & Moth Story Slam
Thursday Night Welcome Party & Moth Story Slam
Thursday Night Welcome Party & Moth Story Slam
Sept 18
📍 Happy Hour 5pm Meetup:
Location TBA
- Welcome at a cozy, intimate venue (maybe an artistic space or cultural hub) where we can enjoy appetizers and beverages.
- Icebreaker storytelling exercise: Each person shares a 3-minute introduction of their new best friend and a personal story most people have not heard from their new best friend.
- Moth Mainstage in New York at 7pm Venue: Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space https://themoth.org/events/the-moth-mainstage-in-nyc-september-2025
Hotel options:
NU Brooklyn Hotel / 85 Smith Street / approx. $165 per night
Friday Full Day..
Thursday Night Welcome Party & Moth Story Slam
Thursday Night Welcome Party & Moth Story Slam
Sept 19
📍 Morning:
Breakfast & Bridge Walk
- Breakfast at Junior’s
- Introduction to the weekend’s theme: How do we shape the future of speaking?
- Canterbury Tales Brooklyn Bridge Walk/Highline: Inspired by The Canterbury Tales, participants walk together across the Brooklyn Bridge, each sharing short personal tales as modern-day “pilgrims” on a creative journey. The walk becomes a metaphorical and literal crossing — from the known to the new, from silence to story.
📍 Afternoon:
Break, Reflect, & Improv
- Post-event discussion: What speaking techniques did we observe? What can we apply?
- "Improv & Spontaneity" Workshop: Led by an improv coach, helping us practice thinking on our feet, engaging with an audience, and responding authentically.
- Special guest speaker (NYC-based communication expert, comedian, or performer) to share insights on stage presence.
- Lunch: NYC Pizza Crawl
📍 Evening:
A Broadway or off-Broadway show or a night at a Comedy Club. (or Drunk Shakespeare - https://a.drunkshakespeare.com/about/
Saturday Full Day...
Thursday Night Welcome Party & Moth Story Slam
Saturday Full Day...
Sept 20
📍 Morning & Afternoon:
Speaker Skills + Reflection @ Untermyer Gardens (Yonkers)
- Breakfast Bagels
- A day immersed in nature for storytelling, skill-drilling, and deep connection.
📍 Evening:
Dinner & Closing Reflections
- Dinner at Rosa Mexicano
- Final reflections:
- Where is public speaking headed, and how do we shape that future?
- What’s one speaking skill you will take home and apply?
"It was a truly fun weekend... Like Coach Cathey says, 'Every great speaker is a great listener!' Thank you for listening to my story." -
Past creative Lab adventures
Friday April 25th Welcome Dinner
Saturday April 26th TEDxPortland
Saturday April 26th TEDxPortland
April 25
Arrive Friday morning/afternoon to settle into your selected lodging in Portland, Oregon.
We will reserve a room block for discounted rates near to the weekend's activities.
We suggest you fly into PDX airport or arrive to downtown Portland by Friday,mid-day.
Then join for our Team Dinner & Creative Night.
Dinner will be provided.
Saturday April 26th TEDxPortland
Saturday April 26th TEDxPortland
Saturday April 26th TEDxPortland
April 26
An action packed Saturday with a full day with our Speaker Skills Coaches, Community & Special Guests at TEDxPortland 2025.
As an attendee with Speaker Skills Academy you will enjoy both the TEDx experience and Speaker Skills Academy's Creative Lab guided by
Coach Cathey & Coach Marc.
For a full listing of
TEDxPortland tickets and meals not included this day.
Sunday April 27th Explore the Gorge
Saturday April 26th TEDxPortland
Sunday April 27th Explore the Gorge
April 27
Start your inspired Sunday at Portland's most beloved breakfast spot, Mother's.
Next up, our Creative Debrief to unpack all the lessons learned at Saturday's TEDxPortland event.
Then we set off on a Storytelling Adventure Experience hiking through one of the PNW's most picturesque and incredible areas, the Columbia River Gorge.
This unique experience is an active, outdoor, storytelling workshop that showcases a double waterfall.
skills drills, but make it live!
Speaker Skills Platinum Members love having first access to our exclusive & in person retreats, Impact Groups & Idea Talks all led by world-class TEDx communication and speaker coaches Cathey Armillas and Marc Williams.
Speaker Skills Academy is a fun, innovative community designed to transform your speaking abilities—without the need to write and deliver a speech.
Who Is This For?
Whether you're an aspiring TED Talker, a professional speaker, or someone looking to excel in small talk, the Speaker Skills Academy is for you if you want to:
- Practice storytelling and communication skills in a non-judgmental atmosphere that feels like "a game night with friends."
Speaker Skills Academy - Build confidence when meeting new people, during social events, meetings, conferences, or when presenting on stage.
- Enhance your speaking abilities to gain more opportunities and deliver impactful, memorable messages that engage your audience.
- Become a more compelling speaker when presenting to stakeholders, leading meetings, or mentoring, whether in person or on platforms like Zoom, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
Did you nod "yes" to any of the above? Then this community is 100% for you!
Why Choose Speaker Skills Academy?
At Speaker Skills Academy, we focus on doing, not just telling. Our sessions are centered on active Skills Drills where participants practice in real-time, making it a hands-on experience. We foster a community-first approach, with participants and coaches working together as a supportive group, lifting each other up and creating a positive dynamic.
Open Session
Once a quarter we offer an OPEN SESSION and have a sneak peek at Speaker Skills Academy—our digital community where we meet to drill skills, share speaker tools & resources. You can always upgrade to our Gold or Platinum Memberships for increased access. This is a unique opportunity to peek into our vault!
Our Guarantee
If this isn’t the most fun you’ve ever had speaking and you don’t feel more comfortable in social interactions, we’ll refund 100% of your money.
Plus, you’ll keep our bonuses.
What you get
- Weekly Live Practice Sessions: Engage in interactive, game-like drills that make practicing speaking skills enjoyable and effective.
- Expert Coaching: Receive guidance from professional speaker coaches Cathey Armillas and Marc Williams.
- Exclusive Techniques: Learn methods to enhance your storytelling and communication abilities.
- Supportive Community: Join a network of individuals striving to improve their speaking skills in a safe, encouraging environment.
More from Teresa.... "The caliber of the human beings in the Speaker Skills Academy is amazing. If you’re shy or introverted, this is a safe space to get comfortable before going out into a larger audience."
More from Trevor.... "The Speaker Skills Academy feels nice, comfortable, and like family. The personal interactions, even on Zoom, are amazing."