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ANYONE CAN BE GREAT AT SPEAKING!

3 DAYS IN PERSON, IN GOOD COMMUNITY & TOGETHER IN NEW YORK CITY!

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to level up your speaking skills in a great community and have an insider's scoop through our very own Coach Marc, Global Speaking Champion

& Coach Cathey - TEDxCoach!


Don't miss this event!

Want to become a better speaker & visit New York City this Fall?

THE DATES:

Sept 18
Arrive Thursday evening in Yonkers, get settled, then meet the group for a welcome happy hour followed by an optional trip to the Moth StorySLAM. Dinner provided.

Sept 19
Begin with fresh-bagel breakfast before diving into a full Speaker Skills workshop at Untermyer Gardens—storytelling drills, reflection walks, and live coaching in nature. Wrap up with an evening dinner and group reflection circle. Meals covered.

Sept 20
Early morning Hudson River walk and coffee for anyone up for it, then a closing debrief brunch to capture key takeaways and action steps. Depart by midday.



*All Creative Lab ticketing must be complete by Sept 1, 2025


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 

SAVE YOUR SEAT!

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?

Speaker Skills Academy Creative lab retreats are trully 1 of a kind!

    "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 2025 click here. 

    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.

    THE AFTER PARTY

    Prioritized access to Creative Lab 2025  workshops  and ongoing, in person programming  around the globe is included  with our  supportive  

    Speaker Skills Academy  Online  Community Platinum  Membership.



    When available, non-member tickets of $795 will include 

    14 days of complimentary access to  

    Speaker  Skills  Academy  Online  Community  Gold Membership.



    We prioritize tickets for these retreats, workshops and lab activations for our online community members. And  we love to  encourage more people to become better speakers at the Creative Lab 

    when seats are open. 


    As of June 21, 2025 we have just  20 open seats 

    for those who are not yet members of the online community.  

    And the party doesn't stop after the weekends retreat of programming! When you purchase your ticket, you will receive your link to the online community following the weekend's events.




    Get your ticket today!

    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.

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    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."

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