5/22/2026
Editors: Rebecca Morgan & Ken Braly
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From the Editors
Like many people approaching a milestone birthday or anniversary, as we approached our 30th anniversary, we reflected on what we’d accomplished, the wonderful connections we’d made, the fabulous tips from readers we’d implemented, and the experts who’d added value to our lives.
We also assessed what we envisioned for SNN going forward. We realized we both appreciated all that SNN has provided for each of us the last 30 years, but we felt it was time for the next chapter.
So we are seeking the next steward, publisher and owner of SNN. If you’d like to explore what that would look like for you, please contact us by May 15. We’ll share details with serious inquiries.
SNN Webcast Info
Tuesday, May 26
Panels That Don’t Suck (webcast)
with Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE
“Wow, that panel was fantastic!”
Words you’ve probably never heard. But words you could hear if you’re ever in charge of running a panel and you heed the advice of our expert for this program, Brian Walter.
Brian has done a number of SNN programs, and each time he brings his energy and creativity to the mission of having more entertaining, memorable, and powerful meetings. If you want to have a panel that engages and enthuses an audience, you won’t want to miss this program.
Read more about this session at the bottom of this newsletter, then register for the live program or pre-order the recording.
Note: Everyone who registers for the live webcast session or orders the recording will get a link to the recorded video of the online webcast, as well as the audio MP3 for convenient re-listening.
Technology Tips
Recent AI news — Julie Holmes
- Gemini just made switching tools easier — Google now lets you transfer chats and personal data from other AI tools directly into Gemini. Translation: less starting from scratch, more continuity.
- AI skills gap is widening — Anthropic’s latest report shows power users pulling ahead fast. This is exactly what I’m seeing in rooms right now. Small shifts in usage are creating big differences in capability.
- Alexa just got a significant AI upgrade — Amazon is making Alexa more conversational and capable. The assistant era is quietly leveling up again.
- OpenAI’s ad pilot is scaling fast — $100M ARR in under two months. AI is finding revenue models quickly.
Use a mishap to up-level your tech skills — Rebecca Morgan
I broke my left wrist last month and have only been able to use my right hand. I can’t type with my left. This has caused me to better utilize my technology. For example, I’ve always dictated some things, but now I dictate nearly everything.
I don’t wish you to have a similar mishap, but pretend you did. How would you get your work done? Then go about your work as if you had that limitation to figure out how to work more effectively.
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Get inspired and learn expert tips to greatly improve your slides in the “Scintillating Slides: Create Visuals as Fabulous as You Are” webshop with Rebecca Morgan, CSP, CMC, CVP, VMP. Register for half price before 5/31, and special 2-for-1 deal! |
Topic of the Month (TOTM) — Your Input Wanted
Our TOTM is from Makana Risser Chai: When you’ve had a hiccup (e.g., tech glitch, fire alarm, power outage) during your presentation, how have you handled it — or wish you had?
Send your brief, pithy responses *that are different from those previously mentioned* to editor@SpeakerNetNews.com. Please put “Topic of the Month” or “TOTM” in the subject line.
-- Makana Risser Chai (makana@makanachai.com)
- In my training classes, I often use video scenarios followed by small group discussions. When the video can’t be played, I never mention that usually I show a video. Instead, I tell the story in the video as if the people involved had come to me in real life when I worked in HR.
- For a luncheon program for 200 lawyers, I had asked for an extra mic and a person to run it to audience members to participate. But there was only one mic (because that’s all they could afford!) and it was corded. I persuaded the AV crew to give me the handheld instead and ran around the room myself to get their answers to the questions I asked. It actually made the session more engaging because I could look them in the eyes when they spoke and make a better connection.
- For a training class completely organized around a handout with quizzes and exercises, when the client didn’t copy the handout and didn’t want to do it at the last minute, I was able to quickly make slides with the information and worked with those.
SpeakerNet News Webcast Info
Tuesday, May 26
Panels That Don’t Suck (webcast)
with Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE
A panel experience that audiences actually rave about is as rare as a unicorn sighting. To craft a panel that doesn’t suck (variety, contrast, insights, diversity, surprise, interaction) professional speakers, trainers, facilitators, and managers need to know what you don’t want (repetition, sameness, platitudes, rambling, dearth of content audience members don’t already know) AND what you do want (panelists “spilling” in a compelling way).
In this program, Brian will share numerous formats for asking questions to panelists in unexpected ways, while also structuring how the panelists’ responses are delivered.
These formats will include:
- “Would You Rather” polling
- “Lightning Round”
- “Yes, No, Maybe”
- “One-breath wonders”
- “Next week, next month, next year tips”
- “Hot Seat” (make panelists squirm)
Three tangible ideas or takeaways:
- Discover how to jump-start a panel discussion (give audience members hope instead of despair)
- Create and sustain an exciting variety in questioning formats that generate truly insightful answers
- Transform audience members from information recipients to participants
Note: Everyone who registers for the live webcast session or orders the recording will get a link to the recorded video of the online webcast, as well as the audio MP3 for convenient re-listening.
Date: Tuesday, May 26
Time: 7:00 pm Eastern, 6 pm Central, 5 pm Mountain, 4 pm Pacific
(Enter your location here to get your local time)
Length: 60 minutes
Cost: $49 (webcast)
Special Limited-Time Offer:
If you would like more of Brian’s creative approach to memorable programs, we’re suggesting the recordings of several earlier programs to complement this program:
- “Extreme Polling: Really Engage Audiences by Showing What They Think” with Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE
- “How to Put Show Biz into Your Biz Onstage” with Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE
With your order of this live or recorded session, at checkout you will be offered these recordings.
About SpeakerNet News and the Editors/Publishers
- Publishers — Rebecca L. Morgan, CSP, CMC, CVP, VMP, and Ken Braly
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