Today we’re talking about how to handle when things go wrong or unexpected or when you can’t plan every last thing. The more you speak, something will go wrong or something will happen that you didn’t plan for. The A/V doesn’t work, so you have no slides to show. You get asked a question by an audience member during Q&A that stumps you. You’re on a panel and you feel like your responses just aren’t that great. We want to help you to not panic, not overthink, and to enjoy your speaking engagement no matter what happens that you may not have planned for. In this episode, you’ll hear: Our stories of when things went wrong Tips for making sure your slides and A/V work What to respond if someone asks you a question you don’t know the answer to What to do when someone hijacks the conversation with their “question” Your role as the leader in the room How to be a great panelist and a great panel moderator Why you should say ‘yes’ to being on a panel This episode is part of our podcast series called “Level Up Your Speaking.” Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/372/ Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Attend our in-person Client Retreat Speaking Intensive in February in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/retreat/ Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.