Individual and small group coaching on persuasion, presentations, and the art
of public speaking.
What I DO
Executive Director / TEDxPortland
Founder, former owner / Dialsmith
Creator / Behavioral Storytelling
Consultant / Clarity Call
Advisor / Coach
Speaker / Talks & Workshops
Writer / Behavioral Storytelling Blog
Photographer / dp.edc
Socializer / LinkedIn
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Decades of experience to help you with...
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Persuasion isn’t about pressure. It’s about creating enough clarity and trust that action feels like the natural next step.You can walk into an important conversation hoping the right words show up, or you can learn how to shape your message so people are more likely to listen, understand, and act.There’s a science to how people process information and make decisions. Once you understand it, you stop relying on instinct alone and start communicating with intention.In our work together we’ll clarify what you want to accomplish, identify what your audience needs to hear, and build the message that connects the two. You’ll learn what to say, how to say it, and why it works, so you can adapt in real time instead of memorizing a script.See what others have to say.
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Effective presentations are not one-way communication.Even when you’re the only one speaking, you want your audience actively thinking, questioning, connecting, and seeing themselves in your message.Great presentations don’t rely on slides to do the work. They use structure, story, and audience insight to make ideas clear, memorable, and compelling.In our work together we’ll clarify your true objective, uncover what your audience needs in order to care, and build a presentation that connects the two.You’ll learn how to organize your ideas, sharpen your message, and deliver it in a way that holds attention and drives decisive action.See what others have to say.
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Great public speaking starts before the first word is said. It begins with knowing how you want the audience to feel, think, and respond.You don’t need to become a different person on stage. You need to understand how to use your voice, body, pacing, and presence to create connection, hold attention, and give your words more weight.There is a craft to holding a room. The best speakers know when to build energy, when to pause, when to simplify, and when to let an idea breathe.In our work together you’ll learn how to manage nerves, strengthen your delivery, use your natural presence, and speak with the kind of clarity and confidence that earns attention, builds trust, and moves people to act.See what others have to say.
Most people know what they want to say. They just need help making it land. That’s what thirty years in communications has taught me.I founded this practice after years of helping organizations large and small build persuasive, strategic messaging, and most recently producing and coaching speakers for TEDxPortland, one of the largest TEDx events in the world.Along the way, I developed two frameworks that sit at the core of how I work.Behavioral Storytelling® is a communication model grounded in behavioral science and social psychology. The Empathetic Blueprint® is a method for reaching people through emotional connection and clear action.The work looks different depending on what you need. It may be a keynote, a pitch, a room you need to win over, a high-stakes conversation, or a message you need to sharpen. What doesn’t change is the starting point: your story, before we do anything else with it.On the personal side, I love “terrible-awesome” action movies, cooking, photography, and spending time and traveling with my family.Looking forward to connecting with you.
Most people know what they want to say. They just need help making it land. That’s what thirty years in communications has taught me.I founded this practice after years of helping organizations large and small build persuasive, strategic messaging, and most recently producing and coaching speakers for TEDxPortland, one of the largest TEDx events in the world.Along the way, I developed two frameworks that sit at the core of how I work.Behavioral Storytelling® is a communication model grounded in behavioral science and social psychology. The Empathetic Blueprint® is a method for reaching people through making an emotional connection and delivering clear action.The work looks different depending on what you need. It may be a keynote, a pitch, a room you need to win over, a high-stakes conversation, or a message you need to sharpen. What doesn’t change is the starting point: your story, before we do anything else with it.On the personal side, I love “terrible-awesome” action movies, cooking, photography, and spending time and traveling with my family.Looking forward to connecting with you.
What they say...
David’s intellectual curiosity, calm presence, and collaborative tenacity make him a wonderful speaker coach and mentor. From the moment we met on a virtual call, through numerous brainstorming sessions, coaching, complex logistics and planning, right through to the big day of my presentation, David was by my side helping pave the way.I felt supported, respected and trusted, even as my talk grew in scope and complexity. David was focused on helping me create the presentation I envisioned, all while balancing the needs of the event, its audience, and run of show. He was an inspiration to watch, and I’m honored to recommend him to anyone looking for a trusted partner, mentor, and collaborator.- Brian McLean, Director of Rapid Prototype at LAIKA
David was my TEDx speaker coach. My talk consisted of a very graphic and intense emotional content, and I had never spoken before in front of an audience, let alone to 2,800 people. David helped develop and mentor me to be stage-ready four short months.He excelled in preparing my words, body language, and most importantly giving me the confidence I needed. David was firm, fair, and compassionate. He taught me the impact of specific words, and how to evoking feelings and creating empathy for the audience. David just wasn't a coach or mentor. He became a genuine friend that who always be a part of my life.- Trevor Beaman, author and Master Sergent, U.S. Army Special Forces / Green Beret (Retired)
David is a rare kind of coach. In a world built around clicks and likes, he focuses on real connection, the kind that moves people to act. At a crucial point in my TEDxPortland preparation, he stepped in with clarity, generosity, and quiet expertise.He helped me refine my message, connect with my audience, and deliver with grace and gravitas. Whether you’re a speaker trying to reach a room or a business leader trying to reach your clients, David helps you find the message that engages, motivates, and lands.- Amy Saltzman, MD, and Founder of A Still Quiet Place
I know my topic and what I wanted to say, but David helped me sort through way too much information, and detail, to find the thread that would most resonate with the audience. And he did it with a light touch, helping me to create the story I wanted, at my own pace.- Jonathan Hurst, Professor of Robotics, and Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Agility Robotics
As someone who has always been nervous about public speaking, I had serious reservations when I was asked to speak as part of the keynote general session at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Despite my hesitance, I agreed because I wanted the opportunity to work with the TEDxPortland team to refine my public speaking skills.The experience I had with David was incredible. He helped me home in on exactly what I wanted to say and guided me on how to say it engagingly. Throughout the process, he was supportive, encouraging, and available. I took the stage feeling fully prepared and confident, and I am still getting compliments on my talk several months later. His support helped me discover an ability that I didn’t even know I had. I will continue to benefit from the coaching I received for the rest of my career.- Andrew Moore, Visitor Experience Manager at Travel Portland
David’s behavioral science talk was both engaging and enlightening. It was perfectly practical and gave our 1,500+ attendees great insight into how to better shape the stories they’re telling.”- Harris III, Curator of the STORY Conference
I've met few people in my life as passionate about storytelling as David. He not only brings this passion to his business; he helps others, myself included, tell better stories with their lives. David has become a treasured mentor and friend, and I highly recommend him for anyone looking to tell a better story with their product, service, leadership, or life.- Brittany Anderson, author, Founder of Renala
David is a natural born listener, the kind you can't teach, you can just tell he cares about everything you tell him. His calm, intuitive demeanor always sets you at ease. Like a friend you've known for years but just met. David doesn't give advice, as much as he reflects what is already there, he just affirms and naturally makes clear simple answers to complex questions.- Gerald von Stoddard, Founder of GVS Digital Marketing
David taught us how to use storytelling in everything from website copy to proposals. His group exercises were fun and engaging and somehow involved penguin psychologists and body swapping!.”- Aryn Korpalski, Senior Vice President at Fieldwork
I love that David’s presentations are so inclusive. Everyone participates! So many good practical insights for us content marketers. His frameworks are eye-opening really and David is just so cool. That is all.- Priscilla McKinney, author, Founder of Little Bird Marketing, fractional CMO
David's workshop was engaging, practical, and inclusive. We learned how to communicate with confidence and clarity through hands-on exercises and expert coaching. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone looking to strengthen their presentation and leadership skills.- Elizabeth Garvin, Senior Vice President at Certified Languages International
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SPEAKER PACKET
