Destination 101
District 101
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Take a ride with us on Highway 101, and discover Toastmasters clubs from Silicon to Surf, clustering along Highway 101 in California. Find out about District 101 news, tips and events, and hear from members and clubs. Your host is Birgit Starmanns, DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster - twice over!), District 101's Public Relations Manager Nov 2020-June 2021. Explore our Season One of this podcast that features District 101 leaders and members.
Available episodes
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Feb 28, 2022
Destination 101 - Season 2, Episode 07, Pitstop Edition: Should I Sit . . . or Stand?
This “pitstop edition” focuses on techniques for audience participation, and to involve your audience in your presentations. Join host Birgit Starmanns to hear about tips you can use for both live and online audience interactions!
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Jan 24, 2022
Destination 101 - Season 2, Episode 06, Pitstop Edition: Audience Participation
This "pitstop edition" focuses on techniques for audience participation, and to involve your audience in your presentations. Join host Birgit Starmanns to hear about tips you can use for both live and online audience interactions!
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Dec 20, 2021
Destination 101 - Season 2, Episode 05, Pitstop Edition: Tips for Toasting
This “pitstop edition” focuses on tips for toasting! Yes, Toastmasters can help you with tips on how to toast your friends and colleagues, especially now that we are in the holiday season. Join host Birgit Starmanns to find out!
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Nov 18, 2021
Destination 101 - Season 2, Episode 04, Pitstop Edition: Hybrid Meeting Considerations
This “pitstop edition” focuses on things to think about as you prepare to move from an exclusively virtual meeting environment to taking the next step to being in-person again – through hybrid meetings. Should you stay virtual? Should you go hybrid? And what should you consider and investigate before going hybrid? Join host Birgit Starmanns to find out!
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Oct 19, 2021
Destination 101 - Season 2, Episode 03, Pitstop Edition: Zoom Backgrounds
Continuing our new short format, this "pitstop edition" focuses on quick tips and tricks for Toastmasters and non-Toastmasters alike; listen in as host Birgit Starmanns discusses Zoom backgrounds, from the real to the virtual, and some creative ways in which Zoom backgrounds can be used.
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Aug 29, 2021
Destination 101 - Season 2, Episode 02, Pitstop Edition: Eye Contact in Zoom
In a new short format, the "pitstop editions" of Destination 101 will focus on quick tips and tricks for Toastmasters and non-Toastmasters alike. Listen in as host Birgit Starmanns, DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) discusses ways in which you can improve your eye contact in Zoom meetings, and ways to practice and self-evaluate.
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Aug 9, 2021
Destination 101 - Season 2, Episode 01 - Be a 101% Toastmaster
Birgit Starmanns, DTM, producer and host, welcomes Ashley Gonzales, who is part of the Club Growth Team in Toastmasters District 101. We discuss why members may want to start a new club and the benefits they can gain by doing so. Ashley also introduces the new 101% Toastmaster program that will provide members with assistance in creating new clubs. #District101 #Toastmasters #District101Toastmasters #Destination101 #Destination101podcast #podcast #D101ToastmastersPodcast #ToastmastersInternational #ClubGrowthToastmasters #NewToastmastersClubs #101PercentToastmasters
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Jun 21, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 11 with the Presidents of Two Bi-Lingual and Foreign Language Clubs
Birgit Starmanns, DTM, D101 Public Relations Manager, welcomes two guests from bi-lingual and foreign language clubs: Brian Dugay from Silicon Valley JETS (Japanese-English) Toastmasters, and Ashok Handigol from Vakpatugalu. They are joined by Yifang Xu, D101 Club Growth Director. Hear about how they started their clubs, structure their meetings, interact with the home countries of those languages, plans for post-pandemic meetings - and even hear all participants speak a message in their native tongues!
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May 30, 2021
Destination 101 Episode 10 - with Special Guest TI President, Richard E. Peck, DTM
Birgit Starmanns, DTM, D101 Public Relations Manager, welcomes our special guest, Toastmasters International President Richard E. Peck, DTM, and is joined by District Director Vaibhav Singh, DTM. We discuss Richard's Zoom-setting as he visits clubs globally and hear several anecdotes; the effects of the pandemic and what we learned; to the recovery and its impact on how Toastmasters meetings may take place in the future. Richard also shares how passions of drag racing motorsport and nature photography relate to Toastmasters.
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May 4, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 09 Chat with John Bates, Keynote Speaker at the D101 Spring Conference
Episode 09 features Birgit Starmanns, DTM, D101 PRM, speaking with the District 101 Spring Conference keynote speaker, John Bates. John speaks about his Toastmasters experience, and how he found his niche in his journey to become a speaker and executive speech coach. He also provides insight into what it takes to be a TED speaker. He also provides a quick insight into his keynote sessions and workshop that he will present at the conference. They are joined by Shyamala Sista, DTM, PQD, and Kari Lyne Morgan, District Conference Digital Moderator.
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May 1, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 08 features the Spring Conference Theme of Unmute Yourself!
Episode 08 features Birgit Starmanns, DTM, D101 PRM (Public Relations Manager), in a conversation with several or the organizers of the District 101 Spring Conference, including Shyamala Sista, DTM, PQD (Program Quality Director); Anna Garcia, DTM, Conference Chair; and Diane Bair, DTM, Contest Chair. The theme of the Toastmasters District 101 Spring Conference is Unmute Yourself! Listen in on how the theme came about and the many ways in which you can unmute yourself. Our guests also talk about their experiences with the Virtual Hug Line when receiving their DTMs. And hear about the exciting details about the conference taking place May 15-16, 2021. Plus, plan to join our Bingo game to win cool prizes!
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Mar 22, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 07 with District Director Vaibhav Singh on the State of District 101
This episode features Birgit Starmanns, DTM, who is District 101’s PR Manager, in a conversation with the District Director, Vaibhav Singh, who makes his second appearance in this podcast. Listen in on the discussion of the "State of District 101," as Vaibhav shares stories about the improving engagement of new clubs and members as we move into our "fourth quarter" of the Toastmasters year, and highlights the current speech contest season. He also discusses his thoughts on continuous learning in communication and in leadership roles, and overcoming a resistance to the Toastmasters Pathways educational program.
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Feb 22, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 06 with Presidents of Two Newly Chartered Clubs
This episode features Birgit Starmanns, DTM, who is District 101's PR Manager, in a conversation with the Presidents of two newly chartered Toastmasters clubs. Katrina Brock is the President of Toastmasters @ Sunbasket, and Erica Tamburo is the President of WIP Toastmasters (which stands for Women in Products). Hear about their experiences and what they consider to be the "personality" of their clubs. Plus there's a little flashback to a Comcast Newsmakers episode where Birgit discussed - the personalities of Toastmasters clubs.
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Feb 7, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 05 with Mythili Prabhu, Past District Director
This episode features Birgit Starmanns, DTM, who is District 101's PR Manager, having a conversation with Mythili Prabhu, DTM, and District 101's very first District Director. Our conversation includes Mythili's personal stories through her 10+ years with Toastmasters, and what she continues to gain from her membership. And since Episode 5 debuted on February 5, our trivia takes a cruise through various "special holidays" that no one has heard of, in search of a District 101 Toastmasters day.
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Jan 24, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 04 with Yifang Xu, Club Growth Director
On this episode, Birgit Starmanns (District 101's PR Manager) hosts Yifang Xu (District 101's Club Growth Director), to discuss the importance of membership for Toastmasters clubs, skills that members can gain, plus Yifang shares the current District 101 membership incentive programs. We also ruminate on the New Year, and setting goals any time and not just on January 1. And see if you can spot all of the fun quotes about the New Year, ranging from a song, a poem, a movie, and several writers.
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Jan 8, 2021
Destination 101 - Episode 03 featuring a chat between Rita Barber and Birgit Starmanns
This podcast differs from our standard format, where an interview turned into a conversation. Hear about the personal stories of Birgit Starmanns, DTM, Public Relations Manager, and Rita Barber, DTM, Past District Governor, focused on families - the real families, the chosen families, and the Toastmasters family.
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Dec 18, 2020
Destination 101 - Episode 02 with Program Quality Director Shyamala Sista
Birgit Starmanns (PR Manager) hosts our second-ever guest, Shyamala Sista (Program Growth Director) to talk about education and mentorship for Toastmasters and District 101 special programs. We answer a few member questions, and give you a little "holiday break" entitled "The 12 Random Days of Toastmasters."
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Dec 4, 2020
Destination 101 - Episode 01 with District Director Vaibhav Singh
Take a ride with us on Highway 101, and discover Toastmasters clubs from Silicon to Surf, clustering along Highway 101 in California. Find out about District 101 news, tips and events, and hear from members and clubs. For this inaugural episode, join host Birgit Starmanns, the PR Manager for District 101 Toastmasters, as she interviews District Director, Vaibhav Singh. We'll hear why Vaibhav is optimistic about Toastmasters in general, and District 101 in particular, and you'll even be treated to a bit of trivia about how District 101 was named.
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