The document discusses strategies for engaging an audience effectively during a talk, emphasizing the significance of understanding the audience's needs and motivations. It highlights the importance of storytelling, using analogies, and incorporating visual aids to enhance communication. Additionally, it mentions ongoing research on sleep apnea in rats, shifting focus from physiological to molecular pathways for better understanding and treatment of the condition.

1. Exciting an Audience
to Your Vision
Matt Vassar
June 27, 2024
COM 88: High-Impact Tech Talk
Stanford Continuing Studies Program

6. “Nothing in biology makes sense
except in the light of evolution.”

7. “Nothing in biology makes sense
except in the light of evolution.”

8. “Nothing in _____ makes sense
except in the light of ________.”

9. Image credit: NASA Goddard [link]

10. Image credit: NASA Goddard [link]
A nd
B ut
T herefore

12. An empire has enslaved the galaxy
AND it is building the ultimate weapon
BUT the rebels steal the weapon’s plans
THEREFORE there is hope for the galaxy

13. Hey, I just met you
AND this is crazy
BUT here’s my number
SO [THEREFORE] call me, maybe?
Image credit: Andy Witchger [link]

14. Hey, I just met you
AND this is crazy
BUT here’s my number
So [THEREFORE] call me, maybe?
Image credit: Andy Witchger [link]

16. In my lab we model moderate sleep apnea in rats
with a chronic intermittent hypoxia protocol
AND we’ve investigated the physiological
mechanisms of sustained diurnal blood pressure,
BUT we have realized the importance of molecular
pathways within the central nervous system
contributing towards blood pressure control,
THEREFORE we have begun exploring novel
molecular pathways that develop as a result of our
sleep apnea model.
Informational ABT

17. Conversational ABT
We were looking at one method
BUT realized there’s another method
THEREFORE we’re looking at that method.

18. Consider Your
Audience

19. Keeper ABT
30 million people suddenly stop breathing at night
because of a dangerous condition known as
sleep apnea.
[AND] We are hoping to solve this by studying
sleep apnea in rats. We previously focused on
physiological mechanisms.
BUT we realized the real controls might be at a
molecular level,
so [THEREFORE] we’ve begun exploring novel
molecular pathways.

20. Consider Your
Audience

21. Moving Your
Audience to Action

22. Pull Your Audience Toward You
Rider Elephant
You

23. You
Energizing the Elephant
Delivery

24. Posture
Gestures
Eye Contact
Voice

25. You
Energizing the Elephant
Delivery
Look to the one

26. Image credit:1930585 Soni [link]
Look to
the One

27. Image credit: Scott Schrantz [link]
Look to
the One

28. You
Energizing the Elephant
Delivery
Look to the one
Benefits vs. Features

29. 15
Mbps

31. You
Energizing the Elephant
Delivery
Look to the one
Benefits vs. Features
Background

32. Build a
mystery

33. You
Energizing the Elephant
Delivery
Look to the one
Benefits vs. Features
Background
Bring them on the journey

34. Image credit: WikiEditingProfile2021 [link]

35. You
Rousing the Rider
Organization

36. Organizational Structure
Body
Introduction
Conclusion
Thesis
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
Preview
Review
Hook
Finale
Organic
Transitions

37. You
Organization
Visual Aids
Rousing the Rider

39. You
Organization
Visual Aids
Break Down Components
Rousing the Rider

40. Head Body

41. You
Organization
Visual Aids
Break Down Components
Materials
Rousing the Rider

43. You
Organization
Visual Aids
Break Down Components
Materials
Concreteness
Rousing the Rider

45. Image credit: Scott Schrantz [link]
Look to
the One

46. You
Organization
Visual Aids
Break Down Components
Materials
Concreteness
Analogies/Comparisons
Rousing the Rider

47. Head Body

48. Head
Body
Tunnel

49. Rider Elephant
You
Pull Your Audience Towards You