Archive - Speakola newsletter

'Our people have broken the chains which have fettered them for nearly a century'

It's 79 years ago today that President Ho Chi Minh delivered Vietnam's Proclamation of Independence in Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi.

Sep 2 •

August 2024

It's 'I have a dream' day - REPOST

It's the 28th of August, which means it's the 61st anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr's 'I have a Dream', regularly voted the greatest speech of…

Aug 28 •

'The woods are lovely dark and deep'

It's sixty years ago today that Robert F. Kennedy spoke at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, and was greeted by a 22 minute standing ovation.

Aug 27 •

'Robin Williams, what a concept'

It's ten years today since Billy Crystal's note perfect Emmy's tribute to Robin Williams. It has my favourite last line in a eulogy.

Aug 23 •

It's about time Speakola used one of those upside down exclamation marks. It was on this day in 1936 that union leader and anti fascist Dolores Ibárruri…

Aug 19 •

'Long ago we made a tryst with destiny'

Jawaharlal Nehru's jewel encrusted first eight words to Tryst with Destiny, one of the greatest speeches of all time. Indian independence was achieved…

Aug 14 •

Starting tonight, Speakola favourite Rob Carlton is doing a Storytelling show in Melbourne and then on to Sydney. He's brilliant.

Aug 8 •

July 2024

‘Here, kings and dictators do not rule’

President Biden’s speech will become one of the most famous of this century, whatever the outcome of the election.

Jul 26 •

Vale Phineas Meere

Friend of Speakola Phineas Meere died suddenly this week aged 43. He was a speech spotter extraordinaire, with the eye of a hawk.

Jul 16 •

June 2024

'I know I'm not a young man'

Biden delivered something resembling a presidential speech after the disaster of the debate. Some people do better with an audience.

Jun 30 •

'That’s how you’re going to make my child’s death worthwhile'

Susan Bro is the mother of Heather Heyer, the young protestor run down in Charlottesville by a neo Nazi. This is the eulogy she delivered for her…

Jun 28 •

Speeches and swears

After Dane Swan's funny, expletive-filled Hall of Fame speech, Sammy J sent me on the lookout for sweary speeches for the radio segment. Read on for…

Jun 20 •

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