I Have Something to Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection

Veteran journalist John Bowe, after learning about his cousin Bill’s successful transformation from shyness and isolation to a happily married man through Toastmasters, became intrigued by the potential of speech training for psychological well-being.

Bowe delved into the history of speech training, discovering that it was prevalent in ancient Greece and Europe until two centuries ago. Today, despite the average American speaking 16,000 to 20,000 words daily, 74% suffer from speech anxiety. As he joins Toastmasters and learns to overcome his own anxiety, Bowe contemplates the impact of this skill on our society, which is grappling with loneliness, social isolation, and political divisions.

Bowe emphasizes that learning to speak in public goes beyond delivering a decent speech without nerves. It fosters a sense of freedom, power, and belonging.

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