Ten YouTube speeches every presenter should watch
After sending out my list of favourite books that aren’t technically about presenting (but are great for presenters), several people asked: got any good clips or speeches I should watch?
So here’s my answer – ten YouTube speeches, clips and moments that have stayed with me, many of which I’ve shown in my programmes. They’re not “how-to” videos on public speaking, but they’re all masterclasses in presence, storytelling, authenticity, vulnerability and connection.
Some will move you. Some will make you laugh. Some might even shift the way you think about communication and leadership altogether.
1. Sir Ken Robinson – “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” (TED)
Still the most-viewed TED talk of all time. Robinson is witty, warm and quietly radical. This is a masterclass in storytelling and a lesson in relaxed, authentic delivery.
2. Brené Brown – “The Power of Vulnerability” (TEDx)
The talk that launched a movement. Brené’s honesty and humour on stage are what make her unforgettable. Watch this if you ever feel like you need to “get it perfect” before you speak.
3. Julia Gillard – “Misogyny Speech” (Australian Parliament)
A political thunderbolt, and one that only gets better with age. Gillard’s famous takedown of sexism is fierce, focused and flawlessly delivered. The pace. The structure. The rising tension. A reminder that clarity and courage are powerful.
4. Susan Cain – “The Power of Introverts” (TED)
Cain changed how we think about quiet people. Her message is compelling, but her delivery – thoughtful, contained, deeply present – is a brilliant example of using stillness and sincerity to hold a room.
5. Tim Minchin – “Occasional Address: 9 Life Lessons” (UWA)
Funny, philosophical, irreverent and wise. Minchin shows how comedic timing and personal truth can coexist beautifully. One of the most entertaining (and sneakily profound) commencement addresses I’ve seen.
6. Margaret Heffernan – “Forget the Pecking Order at Work” (TED)
A clear-eyed look at how organisations thrive – through trust, empathy and collaboration. Heffernan’s talk is all signal, no noise. It’s also a quiet lesson in presence, pace and purpose.
7. David Lange – Oxford Union Debate, “I can smell the uranium…” (1985)
A Kiwi classic. Lange’s quick wit and rhetorical flair in this legendary anti-nuclear debate were bold, brilliant and unapologetically confident. Proof that intellectual agility and moral conviction make for electric speaking.
8. Michelle Obama – “When They Go Low, We Go High” (DNC speech)
One of the great political speeches of recent decades. Poised, powerful, deeply personal – and pitch perfect in delivery. Watch this to see how gravitas and heart can work hand in hand.
9. Patsy Rodenburg – “The Second Circle” (masterclass clip)
This is just a short clip, but it says everything. Rodenburg’s concept of the “Second Circle” transformed the way I think about presence. It’s the zone where authentic, human connection happens.
10. Dame Judi Dench – Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 on Graham Norton
It’s less than a minute long. No flashy gestures. Just Dame Judi, reciting a sonnet on a chat-show couch and absolutely commanding the room. Beautiful delivery: present, and deeply connected to the language.
These aren’t just speeches – they’re reminders of what happens when a person brings their full self to the room (or the screen). That’s what great presenting is, in the end. Real connection.
Which one resonated with you most? If you’d like to build that kind of presence in your own team, tell us about your team or explore our presentation and public speaking programmes.
Russell Pickering – founder of The Pickering Group, author of Step into the Spotlight.