Contributed by Gabrielle Marino, Junior at UNC School of Media & Journalism, Chapel Hill Thanks to social media, I know a lot about my friends. I know Erin is “Facebook official” with a frat guy she has been seeing (that’s “Millennial” … Continue Reading
No, I didn’t “LikeSo” the Presidential debates. Honestly, I was too busy hiding my eyes behind my hands, gulping my wine, and following the Twitter feeds that somehow managed to make the consequential spectacle bearable. With the speech app, LikeSo, in … Continue Reading
It is the right of every teenager to find their parents exceedingly annoying and embarrassing. And, as parents, it is our duty to have a thick skin and to stay the course, giving them the assist, the emphatic push, the knowing … Continue Reading
Our Olympians blow me away. Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles. Forget about Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours of practice. These exquisite athletes must practice millions of hours to achieve their fitness level and athletic mastery. In the spirit of the … Continue Reading
Could it be that the “like, ya know syndrome” has gone viral and global? At my last Say it Like You Mean it! panel presentation, an audience member asked whether the American epidemic of peppering our speech with filler words was also … Continue Reading
Truth. I both loved and feared playing Truth or Dare. At sleepover parties, it seemed to be a secret but friendly truce written in invisible ink on the invitation. It was played when parents said their final good night, doors were … Continue Reading
I was thrilled to reunite with a friend from my Broadway theatre days when we were “younger than springtime,” “just starting to rise up,” and dared to “dream the impossible dream.” No, we were not performing on-stage, but the junior … Continue Reading
Do you care about popularity? Have you ever been cyberbullied? Do you sing in the shower? When I was growing up, I kept a diary – my own private place to let it all out, and work things out. Today, texting … Continue Reading
The toast: At wedding receptions, it’s the chance for a heartfelt, sometimes jocular, and sometimes spectacular, tribute. It’s the vital link between the formality of the wedding and the casual camaraderie among the guests. It’s a quieting down in the … Continue Reading
Professional speech coach Ita Olsen believes that our ability to communicate is the single pivotal skill that can get us what we need out of life. She has dedicated her career to help us all become powerful, influential and persuasive speakers. Ita is one … Continue Reading