@SXSW2021
It's here! We’re talking with people about the fun, the purpose, and the impact of their presence at this year's SXSW.
SXSW Speaker | Mary Cheyne, Transformational Public Speaking Trainer & Coacher
Hi, everybody. This is Taylor on the South By Southwest 2021 open Swell Cast and today I'm very excited and honored to be speaking with Mary Sheen this year at South By Southwest, Mary presented herself bypass your inner public speaking critic. Mary is known for her work as a transformational public speaking trainer and coach, a profession that has seen her train over 200 people in 30 cities internationally. And get this
Mary Cheyne
@mcheyne · 4:58
I used to be a very self conscious, socially awkward computer programmer when I first came out of College, and I myself had a lot of barriers in the way when I was in, let's say, sitting in a conference room, and I was one of those people who was so timid in wanting to speak up. So anytime that the room was having a conversation where they were talking about this system and that system. And I had no clue what everyone was talking about
I think because most people are afraid of speaking in public. But when I read a little bit more about it, I mean, it is the real deal and the amount of effort and work that goes into preparing for an event like this, it just blew me away. Really. Can you explain a little bit about that tournament about the process, how you got there? I'm really fascinated by what exactly you are required to do and the preparation that goes into something like that. Not
Mary Cheyne
@mcheyne · 4:39
How can I make it more impactful? Right. So it's the same thing. It's a process just like any other skills. For some reason, when it comes to speaking, people don't realize. Many people don't realize it's a skill like driving a car, like playing a musical instrument. Right. There is a process
Mary, such brilliantly, thoughtful answers. I so appreciate you being so insightful and for presenting all of your knowledge here for everybody to listen to. Now, I have to admit, I'm a huge group Bruce Lee fan myself. And so when I stumbled across your TEDx talk, which we've mentioned here a couple of times, I was thrilled because on top of it just being a brilliant way to spend 20 minutes, it was revolving around something that I care deeply about
Mary Cheyne
@mcheyne · 4:06
And so I felt like this was an idea worth spreading and which is really, as you know, the TEDx talk, the whole TEDx industry or the Ted Mantra motto is an idea worth spreading
Bruce Lee, what is your favorite Bruce Lee? I'm going to sort of wind this interview down with a nice, easy question. I grew up in a household of martial artists. My dad was a boxer, grew up in Iran. So Bruce Lee was a figure in my household that was ever present and hearing about you and seeing your TEDx talk and just listening to the way that you weave this beautiful narrative, I think is incredible
Mary Cheyne
@mcheyne · 4:37
He insisted those scenes be put in because now obviously why I chose that scene to talk about in the text talk and to draw from was because of that, he insisted, and he didn't say no to it because it was that important to him. Right?