The Toastmaster's Experience
The Toastmaster's Experience
Evelyn Calaunan
"The Toastmaster's Experience," a podcast packed with valuable knowledge and motivation from real Toastmasters members. Each episode explores the transformative journeys of individuals who have used Toastmasters to overcome fears, enhance speaking abilities, and achieve personal growth. Discover actionable tips and techniques to improve your speaking and leadership skills.—PLEASE subscribe to "The Toastmaster's Experience" and start your journey toward becoming a more confident communicator and effective leader."The Toastmaster’s Experience" - Get inspired by their insights.Please follow me on instagram   the_toastmasters_experiencehttps://www.instagram.com/the_toastmasters_experience/New episodes are posted each Tuesday, always looking for current, past, newer, and long-term Toastmasters who would love to share their stories.🎙️Interviews can be recorded in my studio (only of course if you live near the Blue Mountains, NSW Australia 🇦🇺) , on Zoom or via my nifty portable H5 Zoom recorder. 😊🎧If interested in being interviewed please contact me 📧 [email protected]🎙️
EP 66 - Anu Vijayan: Winning District 90 & Taking Speechcraft to Vancouver
In this episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn sits down with Anu Vijayan, a member of Parramatta Toastmasters for 11 years and the recent District 90 winner of both the Humorous and International Speech Contests. Anu shares how joining Toastmasters after moving to Australia helped her find her “flock,” build friendships and develop confidence in a new country. What began with a chance encounter with a Toastmasters poster at her local library eventually became an extraordinary journey...
Aug 12
28 min
EP 65 - 🏆 Vicki Sheehan Wins District Evaluation  | Evaluation Tips Every Toastmaster Needs
In May 2026, Vicki Sheehan, won the District 70 Evaluation Contest, she joins The Toastmasters Experience to share the journey behind her first district evaluation title after more than a decade in Toastmasters. A teacher by profession, Vicki explains how years of providing constructive feedback in the classroom naturally complement the Toastmasters evaluation process, while Toastmasters has also strengthened the way she encourages and develops her students. Throughout the conversation, Vic...
Jul 23
32 min
EP 64 - Maria Pedavoli: Leading the Newly Aligned District 70
Interview conducted on the 12th June 2026 As District 70 prepares for a new chapter, Maria Pedavoli shares her inspiring journey from joining Toastmasters in 2009 to becoming the inaugural District Director of the newly aligned District 70. Throughout the conversation, Maria reflects on how personal loss reshaped her Toastmasters journey, leading her away from competition and towards a life of servant leadership. Rather than viewing leadership as recognition, Maria sees it as an opportunity t...
Jun 30
39 min
EP 63 - 🎙️ Dale Anne Clark: Confidence, Connection and the Business of Speaking
CONTACT DALE - https://www.linkedin.com/in/speakerdaleanneclark/ TO BOOK LifeBoat Debate https://allevents.in/dural/dural-lbd-2026-rms-majestic-roaring-20s-party/200030109080619 TO BOOK ChatterCamp - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/chattercamp-2027-tickets-1988262858733 🎧 In this episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn welcomes back professional speaker and Accredited Speaker Dale Anne Clark to discuss her speaking journey, the evolving role of AI in communication, and several projec...
Jun 20
35 min
EP 62 - 🏆 From Boardroom Setback to District 70 Table Topics Champion | John Hughson
https://ardillhouse.weebly.com In this engaging episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn sits down with John Huhgson, an accomplished Toastmaster whose journey demonstrates that it's never too late to discover new passions, build confidence, and give back to others. John reflects on his 17-year Toastmasters journey, which began in 2009 after a disastrous business presentation shook his confidence and left him searching for a way to rebuild his communication skills. 🎙️ ...
Jun 13
36 min
EP 61 - 🏆 Christina Rajkumar: From Speaker Mum to District Champion
In this inspiring episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn sits down with Christina Rajkumar, the District 70 International Speech Contest Champion, to explore her Toastmasters journey, competition success, and passion for communication. 🎙️ Christina shares how her introduction to public speaking began long before Toastmasters. Growing up in Sri Lanka as the daughter of a church pastor, she gained early experience speaking in front of groups. Later, while coaching her two daughter...
May 29
36 min
EP 60 - Sean Sadimoen: From Gavel Club to District Stage
Follow Sean on https://www.instagram.com/seanyboycomedy/ In this engaging episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn interviews longtime Toastmaster and stand-up comedian Sean Sadimoen, whose Toastmasters journey began at just 13 years old through a Gavel Club at Killarney Heights High School. Over the past 21 years, Sean has developed into an accomplished speaker, evaluator, competitor and performer, using Toastmasters to build confidence, leadership skills and professional communi...
May 20
32 min
EP 59 - Shaun Premnath: Leading the New Ironbark Division
uIn this inspiring episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn sits down with Toastmaster Shaun Premnath to explore a remarkable journey of growth, leadership, resilience and self-discovery. Shaun shares how he first joined Toastmasters at just 21 years old — reluctantly at the encouragement of his mother. What began as a reluctant visit to a Toastmasters meeting soon became a transformational journey that would shape both his personal and professional future. Through Toastmast...
May 11
42 min
EP 58 - Vulnerability Over Perfection: Dean’s Story
In this inspiring episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn interviews Dean, a relatively new Toastmaster from Quakers Hill Toastmasters Club, who has been a member for just eight months. Despite his short time in the organization, Dean has already made a strong impression, winning first place in Table Topics and second place in Evaluation at the Western Division competition. Dean shares a deeply personal story about his long struggle with anxiety and fear of speaking. While working in t...
Apr 20
37 min
EP 57 - Behind the Scenes Brilliance: The Sergeant at Arms Role
In this episode of The Toastmasters Experience, Evelyn is joined by Charmaine Tully from Blue Mountains Toastmasters to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked yet vital role of the Sergeant at Arms. Drawing on their shared experience as Toastmasters and celebrants, they explore how thoughtful room setup can dramatically influence the energy, flow, and success of a meeting or event. Charmaine shares that stepping into the Sergeant at Arms role as a new member gave her a sense of contributio...
Apr 12
25 min
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