Say It Well: Speechwriting, Storytelling, and Leading with Your Words with Terry Szuplat

Welcome to the BRILLIANT podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Terry Szuplat, former Special Assistant to the President and senior speechwriter for Barack Obama. He’s the author of Say It Well, a masterclass on writing and speaking with precision, empathy, and impact.

 

Terry opens up about the behind-the-scenes process of presidential speechwriting, including how moments like the Boston Marathon bombing memorial were shaped by personal imagination and universal emotion. We talk about how to communicate like a leader, whether you’re writing a keynote, a social post, or simply trying to be more persuasive in meetings.

You’ll walk away with tools to structure your thoughts, tell better stories, and lead with your voice.

 

You’ll hear about:

• What Terry learned from writing for a president
• Why authenticity is a communication superpower
• The science of rhythm in effective speeches
• Mistakes most people make when giving talks
• How leaders can own the room with fewer words

 

Grab Terry’s book Say It Well here: https://amzn.to/4kIoqLi

 

Follow Terry on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terryszuplat/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-szuplat-456914137

Explore more of his work: https://www.sayitwell.com

 

This episode is for anyone who wants to stop rambling and start resonating.