As speakers and entrepreneurs, we often focus on the facts, data, and tactics we want to share – but what about the emotional connection? In this episode, I talk about the power of finding the emotional heart of your message and why it’s essential for creating talks that resonate deeply with your audience and leave a lasting impact. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the emotional heart of your message is critical for building trust and connection How mirror neurons make our brains wired for empathy and why that matters in storytelling Examples from popular culture, including Hamilton and Taylor Swift, that demonstrate the power of emotional storytelling How to uncover your own emotional heart by tapping into experiences of loss, struggle, or transformation A personal story about facing resistance in my purpose – and the lessons I learned from it Practical steps to include the emotional heart in your next talk or presentation Think about a story or experience that’s deeply meaningful to you – one that still tugs at your heart. How can you weave that into your next presentation to create a lasting impact on your audience? (This episode originally aired as episode 263 on February 8, 2022.) Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/263/ Download our FREE workbook on how to position yourself as a thought leader: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/guide/. Apply for our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Attend our 1-day in-person speaking workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/workshop-speaking/ Schedule a consult call with us to talk about creating your signature talk and thought leadership platform: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/contact. Connect on LinkedIn = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You Episode 197: What We Can Learn as Speakers from 'Hamilton' with Carol Cox Episode 244: Behind the Scenes of My Recent Keynote with Carol Cox Episode 262: The Four Layers of Thought Leadership with Carol Cox 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.