The Toastmasters Podcast

[32:22] What does it take to turn a difficult past into an opportunity to help others? Dr. Sherri Raftery, a college professor, six-time Distinguished Toastmaster and former foster youth, joins host Greg Gazin to share how her experiences shaped her passion for education, mentorship and advocating for young people in foster care.
Growing up in foster care, Sherri attended 15 different schools. Despite those challenges, she pursued higher education, eventually earning a doctorate. Along the way, she found herself asking a powerful question: “Where's the other 99% of us?” That question helped inspire her research into mentorship programs for foster youth pursuing higher education.
Sherri also shares how Toastmasters, which she joined in 2005, helped her grow as a communicator and leader, giving her greater confidence to share her experiences and strengthen her advocacy.
Listeners will also hear:
Why Sherri chose to embrace her foster care experiences rather than leave them behind.
How mentors, education and perseverance helped shape her journey.
How Shirley Temple, theatre and stand-up comedy influenced her development.
How Toastmasters helped her share difficult personal experiences without letting emotion overwhelm her message.
What it meant to be honoured by The Home for Little Wanderers before an audience of approximately 900 people.
How her involvement with Toastmasters prison clubs connects with her advocacy work.
Why earning her sixth Distinguished Toastmaster designation was especially meaningful.
Her advice for overcoming difficult experiences, finding mentors and making a difference in others' lives.
Sherri's journey reminds us that our past doesn't have to define our limits. Sometimes, the experiences that challenge us most can become the foundation for helping others build a better future.
Related article: Using Her Past to Impact Others’ Futures by Stephanie Darling, Toastmaster magazine, September 2026.
About Dr. Sherri Raftery
Dr. Sherri Raftery is a college professor and public speaker, teaching communication and speech at two Massachusetts colleges. She's also a court-appointed advocate and nonprofit volunteer for foster youth and speaks to community and child-welfare audiences about the challenges they face.
She holds an EDD in Higher Education Leadership and an M.Ed. in Arts & Learning from Endicott College, and a B.S. in Theater, Performance & Communications from Emerson College.
She is also a performer, artist, published poet, mother and grandmother.
A Toastmaster since 2005, Sherri has served a term as District 31 Governor and earned numerous speaking and leadership honours, including being a six Distinguished Toastmaster, Area Governor of the Year and Toastmaster of the Year. She also placed second in the District 31 International Speech Contest in 2022.
A fun fact about Sherri: she's ambidextrous and crochets blankets for foster babies in her spare time.
Sherri lives near Boston, Massachusetts and can be reached at sherri.raftery01@gmail.com or Google her to find her on socials.

[43:04] Dirceu “Didi” da Silva is the 2026 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking. The Rotterdam, Netherlands, speaker rose above seven other finalists after a months-long competition that began with thousands of Toastmasters from more than 100 countries. In this episode, Didi takes us behind his winning speech, Best Decision Ever!, his long road to the championship, and the lessons he learned along the way.
Didi's championship speech begins with a basketball game, a ticking clock and a decision to make. It also ends with a question he deliberately refuses to answer. He explains why he took the risk of leaving his audience hanging, how a version of the speech dates back more than a decade, and why the outcome of that basketball shot isn't really the point.
Didi also shares how family, friendship and coaching became part of his championship journey, with different people providing the support, perspective and expertise he needed along the way.
Listeners will also hear:
Why Didi once thought his life wasn't extraordinary enough to produce championship-worthy stories, and what changed his mind.
How a road trip and shared dream connected Didi and 2025 World Champion Sabyasachi “Saby” Sengupta long before either became a World Champion.
Why the right feedback matters, and how Didi learned to decide which advice to take and which to leave behind.
What Toastmasters taught him about giving back, even after becoming an accomplished speaker.
The camaraderie he witnessed among competitors at the World Championship.
What his next chapter looks like now that he can no longer compete for the Toastmasters world title.
A simple exercise for discovering stories in your own life and why Didi believes inspiration can be found in the mundane....and more!
You can read Didi's profile by Laura Mishkind in the October 2026 issue of Toastmaster magazine.
Watch Didi's World Championship-winning speech, Best Decision Ever!.
You can also listen to our interview with 2025 World Champion Sabyasachi “Saby” Sengupta in Episode #286.
You can also watch Didi's semifinal speech, What's the Worst That Can Happen? and find out who George is, by subscribing to the 2026 International Convention On-Demand.
About Dirceu “Didi” da Silva
Dirceu “Didi” da Silva is a consultant, speaker and trainer who helps people speak with clarity, confidence and impact. With more than 25 years of experience, he has worked across business, education and social innovation, coaching professionals, leaders and TEDx speakers. He has hosted and spoken at multiple TEDx events across Europe, and his work focuses on communication, leadership and personal growth.
Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Didi has been a member of Sprekershaven Toastmasters since 2014 and was also a dual member of Rotterdam Toastmasters for five years. Offstage, he is a father of four and a passionate amateur photographer.
You can reach Didi at: https://dirceudasilva.com/

[39:18] Forty plus Voices from around the world. And one question at the heart of it all: What was it like to experience the 2026 Toastmasters International Convention in Vancouver, Canada? In this bonus episode and Part 2 of our convention coverage, Toastmasters Podcast host Greg and fellow podcaster & Toastmaster Michael Dugan turn the microphone over to the people who were there, including many experiencing their first International Convention.
You'll hear attendees share...
· What brought them to Vancouver and what surprised them once they arrived.
· Their takeaways from the educational sessions and World Championship of Public Speaking.
· The people and moments that inspired them.
· What first-time attendees thought of the convention experience.
· Why meeting friends, mentors and Toastmasters from around the world meant so much.
· What they hope to take back to their clubs, districts and communities.
Through all those different voices and experiences, one theme comes through again and again: Connection. Sometimes the most memorable convention moment wasn't a presentation at all. It was simply meeting another person.

If you haven't already, we recommend listening first to Episode #307: Vancouver 2026: Our Highlights & Takeaways From the International Convention for Greg and Michael's highlights and takeaways from Vancouver.

[33:03] Meet Distinguished Toastmaster Stefano S. McGhee, the 2026–2027 Toastmasters International President from Weymouth, Massachusetts. A senior IT executive and Toastmaster since 2005, Stefano is also an aviation enthusiast, motorcyclist, and yacht club leader who readily admits that becoming International President was never part of his original plan.
On today's episode, we explore Stefano's journey from reluctant guest to International President and the experiences that shaped his approach to communication and leadership. He shares how tagging along to his wife's club eventually led him to join, although one fellow member apparently predicted where he was headed long before he did. He also reflects on the confidence he gained through Toastmasters and why continually asking "why" has become central to how he leads.
He also talks about the impact we can have when we see potential in others before they see it themselves, and why giving someone our time and confidence can be one of the most valuable gifts we offer.
Listeners will also hear...
His approach to making complex, data-heavy information understandable and relatable.
Why asking "why" can be such a powerful leadership tool.
How helping someone move from "I can't" to "I can" can change a life.
Why he believes the future of Toastmasters rests in its clubs.
His challenge to clubs to support every member in achieving excellence.
Laura Amann's profile, "Meet Stefano McGhee, DTM, 2026–2027 International President: Doesn't Sit Still," can be found in the September 2026 issue of Toastmaster magazine.
About Stefano McGhee
Stefano S. McGhee, DTM, has been a Toastmaster since 2005. His home club is Network Voice Toastmasters in Weymouth, Massachusetts. A senior IT executive, he holds a master's degree in Military Operational Arts and Sciences. He is also a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a yacht club leader, and an avid motorcycle enthusiast.
Born in Italy, Stefano lives in Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA with his wife, Jennifer. They have a son, Tucker who attends the University of New Hampshire, and a beagle named Trevor.
Stefano can be reached at smcghee@toastmasters.org.

[34:44] We've all heard the old cliché about first impressions. But what if the biggest lesson isn't about making a better first impression at all? In this episode, Accredited Speaker Lauren Parsons challenges us to think differently about those first 30 seconds, explaining why they're really about building trust, creating connection, and focusing on your audience rather than yourself.
Drawing on her years of professional speaking and presentation experience, Lauren shares practical strategies for preparing with purpose while remaining authentic in the moment. Greg also explores what goes through a speaker's mind during those opening moments, leading to an honest discussion about self-consciousness, nerves, and why shifting our attention from ourselves to the audience changes everything.
Lauren also shares why audiences are generally far more supportive than we often imagine when things go awry. Whether you're delivering a speech, leading a meeting, interviewing for a job, or simply introducing yourself, you'll come away with practical ideas to help you connect more authentically when those first moments matter most.
Listeners will also hear...
Why the first 30 seconds actually begin before you speak.
What many speakers are thinking during those opening moments, and how to shift that mindset.
Lauren's TEDx experience and what it taught her about authentic presence.
How to prepare thoroughly without sounding rehearsed.
Practical techniques for calming nerves before stepping on stage.
What to do when technology or unexpected challenges threaten your presentation.
Why audiences are usually cheering for you, not judging you.
Lauren's four-question framework for preparing presentations that connect.
How these same principles apply to meetings, job interviews, networking, and everyday conversations.
Lauren Parsons' article, "Make the First 30 Seconds Count: First Impressions Matter... Be Sure You're Making a Positive One," can be found in the July 2026 issue of the Toastmaster magazine.
About the Guest
Lauren Parsons, DTM, became an Accredited Speaker in 2024 and has been a Toastmaster since 2014. She is a speaker and wellbeing specialist with more than 20 years of experience and was named New Zealand Keynote Speaker of the Year. Lauren is also a Certified Speaking Professional, TEDx speaker, author, and host of the Thrive TV Show & Podcast. She is passionate about helping people thrive while inspiring leaders to create healthier, more resilient workplaces.
Lauren lives near on her lifestyle farm just north of Wellington, New Zealand, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, and a menagerie of animals and can be reached through LinkedIn, or through her website, Lauren Parsons Wellbeing.com, where you can find hundreds of articles and her podcast, The Thrive TV Show.
Other Resources Mentioned
Toastmasters Podcast #266: Meet Lauren Parsons, Toastmasters' 2024 Newest Accredited Speaker
Lauren’s, Ted Talk,
Toastmasters Podcast: #250 Nick Bendel - 500 Lunches with Strangers,
Toastmasters Podcast: #294 Nick Bendel – Beyond 500 Lunches - Lessons on Achieving Anything. .