Three Communication Experts Share Six Strategies to Master Public Speaking!

Join three communication experts—Ruth Milligan, Acacia Duncan, Blythe Coons, co-authors of The Motivated Speaker—to learn how to master the mindsets and practices of the world’s best public speakers. The threshold concepts of great speaking are brought to life through dozens of stories of the authors’ fifteen years of coaching speakers. The program will be moderated by Kimberlee Kiehl, Executive Director of the Ohioana Library.

You can pre-purchase The Motivated Speaker during registration, and it will also be available at the event.

BEXLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY and OHIOANA LIBRARY are Gramercy’s Community Partners for this program.

A team of veteran communication and speaking coaches delivers a groundbreaking new framework to becoming a great communicator. Thanks to the authors' decades of experience, the book lays out six essential threshold concepts needed to give talks like the best TED speakers and Fortune 500 leaders.

Milligan, Duncan, and Coons provide practical and accessible strategies to establish powerful habits in one’s speaking practice. The book uncovers what prevents speakers from being influential and persuasive, as it builds a new foundation toward being highly effective communicators. This trailblazing book goes beyond cliches like "overcome your fear" and obvious advice like "don't read your speech." It dives deep into the transformative, integrative, and challenging ideas that will enable anyone to level up his or her speaking.

The book includes deep explanations of what it takes to become an effective communicator; insights into the dispositions, behaviors, and skills that great speakers consistently demonstrate and how to develop them; expert guidance on how to use the latest technologies to augment public speaking.

A comprehensive framework for learning public speaking, The Motivated Speaker is the perfect resource for working professionals and leaders who want to learn to speak persuasively, confidently, clearly, and compellingly.

Ruth Milligan is the founder of Articulation, a communications training and coaching firm. In her over 35 years of wide-ranging experience, she also founded and curated TEDxColumbus, one of the longest running TEDx programs in the world. She is a proud mom, quilter, and pickleball player.

Acacia Duncan has coached thousands of speakers to captivate their audiences with purpose, precision, and passion. She is a theatre director, writer, and actor; an avid hiker and baker; and a life-long Trekkie.

Blythe Coons is a communications coach who uses her experience as a business leader and professional actor to help clients uncover their powerful stories. She loves running, baking, and supporting the arts.

Dr. Kimberlee Kiehl, who joined Ohioana Library as their Executive Director in May 2024, is an experienced leader in the nonprofit, museum, and university sectors. She’s held upper leadership roles at the Ohio High School Athletic Association, Center of Science and Industry (COSI), and the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. She was also an Associate Professor in the College of Human Ecology at The Ohio State University. Kim earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Penn State University.