Jonathan's coaching is by far the most effective public speaking coaching I've ever had, and I've…read morebeen through a lot over the years: Dale Carnegie, Toastmasters (3 different groups), Speaking Circles, and another private coach. Jonathan's program and coaching were dramatically more effective than any of the other training I had. I use the word "dramatically" intentionally, because that is what all the other programs miss out on, and what is really Jonathan's innovation: using theatrical training techniques for public speaking. I had barely thought of this before, but if you think about it, when you're giving a speech you are performing, and there's actually a whole world of theatrical training techniques that are tremendously useful, that most of us never hear about it, and that are almost completely ignored by all other training. I felt like I was getting lots of "insider" info. When I started with Jonathan, I told him my fear: "I'm afraid that I will go through this training and when the time comes for me to give my first big speech I will be right back where I am now and panic and freeze up." He said he often gets that comment. But here's what he said that was really important: "By the time you get to the speech you will know so much more about speaking you just simply will not be as nervous - because you will know what you are doing." After going through three months of coaching, culminating in my speech, I can testify he hit the nail on the head. In those three months I saw my anxiety consistently go down, including on the day of the speech. I actually knew what I was doing for the first time standing in front of an audience - I actually wanted to do it so I could try all my new skills and get my message across in the way I had always hoped.

Jonathan is a fabulous, intuitive coach. I came to him because I was doing some radio work and…read morewanted to make sure my voice was grounded and sounded professional. Jonathan exceeded all my expectations and made me feel completely at ease. He is a master at coaching the entire person; voice, body and spirit. Since our last session I've been featured on six radio shows in a two month period. He's helped me find my authentic voice with grace and ease! Thank you, Jonathan. Bethany St. Clair, Oakland, CA

I'm an English learner and actress, and I've been working with Alicia for three years so as I can…read moreAmericanize my accent. The lessons that I've learned from her have helped me immensely in my career, and, likewise, my communication skills has also improved a lot. Since English is my second language, she knows specifically what obstacles and difficulties I need to target for me to enunciate and pronounce well. With her professional training, she gave me some exercises, such as tongue twisters, and sentence rhythms to further improve my communication skills which has significantly improve how people understand me with ease as I speak. As a result, people who talk to me assume that I'm a native English speaker and are highly surprised when they find out that I am actually not native speaker. In the end, I'd refer them to Alicia if they would want improve their speech skills and achieve the same results as I did. Thank you Alicia.

Alicia is a wonderful voice and rehearsal coach!…read more I am an academic and regularly give research talks, but more importantly, I try out for academic jobs in which the fabled "job talk" or my performance during a research presentation will be the decisive part of my job interview. I would have the worst thought possible before those job talks, that is, I wish to disappear. Alicia grasped the painfulness of this experience immediately :"Actors love to act, but they HATE to audition!" Exactly! So I went to Alicia with the goal of being able to get through a low-stakes research presentation. But I came away with so much more, including a success story where I obtained the position after the job talk. Alicia was great at providing me all kinds of voice techniques to help me reconnect with my body when I feel under pressure. I found these tiny adjustments helped me during lectures in the teaching setting as well. Her rehearsal techniques are ideal because I can start using them even if I am still fine tuning the text of my presentation. She even has some that you can use on an airplane -- for those times you are really last minute with a presentation. When I go to give a talk now I have no fears about the tech suddenly failing me - I can count on my presentation being with me, in my body, and coming out of my diaphragm and voice in such a way that I am natural, confident, not monotonous but not overbearing either.

Anyone can read books about public speaking or watch hours of YouTube with experts sharing their…read moretips and tricks. The reason to sign up for a course like Mark's is to actually practice with a pro. But, it doesn't work unless that person creates a safe environment, and that's where Mark really excels. Our sessions were fun, focused, and productive. His feedback was always helpful, and the way he shared it always helped boost my confidence. Highly recommend!

Working with Mark Stanton has been a total game-changer for me. Mark broke down the art of public…read morespeaking into practical, actionable steps, and his supportive, insightful approach makes every session both productive and inspiring. Mark helped me refine my message, find my voice, and speak with clarity and impact. If you're looking to take your speaking skills to the next level, I couldn't recommend him more highly.

Years ago I took lessons from Richard, and it helps not only my doctoral defense tremendously, but…read morealso my lecturing in college-level classes in the long run. Thank you Richard!

I have been taking lessons from Richard for over a year, and during that time have seen a major…read moreimprovement in my singing. I love the way he structures my lessons; the first part includes exercises such as scales, work on vowel sounds, etc. Essential basic work. The second part involves a song or two that I'm working on, often a rock / pop song. What are the best ways to phrase a line? Where to take a breath? What's the emotional content of the song? How to keep the best tone happening all the time? To the best of my ability I pay attention and do what he tells me. I have to say, I can't tell you how many times I have stopped our lesson, saying "wow, I can't believe how good I'm sounding, my voice really shifted!" This is the truth. Richard has repeatedly shown me he understands how to GET RESULTS. Overall, I'd give Richard an A+. He's an easygoing guy who stays focused on making the lesson fun and productive. Plus, he gives you an mp3 of the lesson so you can review it at your leisure. This is quite valuable.

Joie is an incredibly coach. She is awesome. When you first meet with her, she has this brightness…read moreabout her. She immediately eases you. She has a great depth of knowledge and experience in what she does. She has great intuition. Her wisdom and clarity -she can zoom in what the issues are and works on them with you. She has so many tools and resources up her sleeve. My meetings with Joie were important in figuring out the root of my problems. Her experience with emotional intelligence, something I knew nothing about, is/was invaluable. Since I have met with her, I, still to this day, utilize the tools and insight she has given me. Thank you for always having a smile when we meet. Your kindness, your support and understanding - I appreciate you. You have made a difference in my path to healing.

She is a marvelous speech coach. She is my "go to" person when I have to prepare for a major…read morespeech, officiate a wedding or a funeral. She is soooo good at what she does. She has the ability to provide a stellar analysis of my speeches and offer of ways to improve them in remarkable ways. Her masterful advice and guidance calms me down which in turn enables me to make meaningful and powerful presentations. She even shows me how to modulate my breathing to make more impassioned and empowered speeches. A session with her is a gift that I give myself when I need to do a fabulous job!

Joya is simply one of the best improvisation instructors around. If you are stuck in your head when…read moreonstage and find yourself limited in your capacity to trust your instincts, Joya can help you get past the inner critic that is getting in your way. In my years of studying the craft I have never worked with anyone who has had such a profound impact on me and who contributed as much to my success as a performer. I can not recommend her enough. -Dwayne McDaniel, Improvisor & Producer in SF

Joya Cory' Full Spectrum Improv offers wonderful classes. A few of the reasons EXPERIENCE= Joya…read morehas been doing this for decades. COHORT =Her classes have students of all ages, men and women, different life stories. ARTISTRY= There is great theater-based creativity and aesthetic, HUMANITY= as well as emotional deepening in the work that goes beyond just entertainment. as a boomer--aged Latina woman I love the discoveries challenges nourishment play and laughter that happen in her classes.

Sandra helped me a lot redirecting me to books and sources that would be good for me. She is…read moredefinitely focused on her client needs and not on making money ou of them like some people in this industry.

From the owner: Sandra McKnight, offers a free speech consultation and private training in accent reduction, voice…read moreand speech for executives & business professionals. She is internationally known for her keynote speeches, seminars and workshops on "Your Voice Is Power in Business" "Speak with Confidence". "Change Your Voice, Change Your Life". Speaking with a confident, articulate and persuasive voice is essential in today's global economy. During your free voice Consultation your vocal issues are determined and you receive a customized program to permanently overcome your issues and Speak for Success Sandra McKnight. owner of Voice Power Studios is a renown international Speech and Voice Coach with 26 years of experience in the field and the author of "Your Voice Is Power in Business " training program. She had been heard speaking on "Your Voice Is Power", Speak Confidently", "Charisma is Made not Born" by hundreds of audiences and her client list includes many Fortune 500.

Piera is an incredible SLP, parent educator and human being. Her office is inviting to all parents…read moreand children, and as a colleague I wholeheartedly recommend her.

I cannot recommend Spirited Play Labs highly enough! We have been bringing our two daughters here…read morefor almost a year now, and it has truly become their favorite place to be. It is rare to find a space where children don't just play, but truly thrive. The facility is top-notch and equipped with every amenity the kids could possibly need to stay engaged and happy. It is also one of the few places where I can actually feel relaxed as a parent, knowing they are in a safe, thoughtfully designed environment. What really makes this place special, however, is the incredible staff. They are so caring, patient, and genuinely passionate about helping kids. A special shout-out to Jorga, who manages the place! Her leadership and dedication are evident in every detail, and she goes above and beyond to ensure every family feels welcome and supported. If you are looking for a professional, warm, and high-quality community for your children, this is it. We are so grateful to have found them

A magical place! My 6-year-old son is autistic and it was such a relief to be welcomed by a team…read morethat just gets it. The space is super clean and feels like a kid's dream. There's so much to do, climbing, building, exploring, getting wiggles out, and even a quiet room to chill. You can tell the folks behind it really thought through everything. The vibe, the décor, even the website feel so neurodiverse-affirming. They have tech to help build community around members too. We live in Novato so the distance makes a membership tough right now, but I'm hoping we can join in the summer when school isn't in the way. I'd love to see Spirited Play Labs expand to more places as this is the future IMO (please come to Novato, I'll help!). For families like ours, where typical play spaces can feel stressful or isolating, this place is a true gem, welcoming, thoughtful, and hopeful for the future. Thank you!!!

David has been a phenomenal resource as I have embarked on building an Executive Coaching business…read more Lots of very positive energy, helpful suggestions and strategic framing on business development and marketing. I highly recommend David for support in framing out a new business idea and ensuring that you are focusing on the right things at the start. Five stars all the way!

I called David today, after going through a rough patch yesterday when my small business was…read moretemporarily banned from Mailchimp. I realized it was time for some outside assistance. I can't rely 100% on my own limited experience. David Mitroff (the man in the picture) was extremely generous with his time over the phone. I told him abt a potentially risky sales contract I was considering. He took at least 20 minutes to go over with me how I can mitigate that risk and what I should do to prepare for negotiation. He did not have to do that. But he wanted to make sure I didn't get scr3w3d over. He didn't want to see me fail. For that reason, Piedmont Avenue will be the first place I come to once I'm ready for a deeper strategic conversation and more hands-on assistance. Will update once I have more to say. Thanks David!