From stutter to storytelling master

Boxers & Briefs Podcast #31: Mastering your voice: Creating connection through storytelling with John Maybury

Most people think speaking well is about having perfect delivery and flawless content. But what if the secret to memorable presentations lies in something completely different? John Maybury, a speaking coach who helps business owners become compelling speakers, knows this better than most. His own journey from a stuttering nine-year-old to a confident broadcaster reveals the real power behind impactful storytelling.

The unexpected path to speaking mastery

Growing up on Auckland’s North Shore, John was surrounded by radio announcers, actors, and performers who loved life and wanted to have fun. As a six-year-old, this world seemed pretty brilliant. Following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps into radio broadcasting felt natural.

Then everything changed at age nine when John developed a stutter.

“I remember lining up at the tuck shop surrounded by all these boys,” John recalls. “I’d plan out what I’d say, get to the front of the queue, and go…” The complete loss of power when opening his mouth to speak was devastating for someone dreaming of a broadcasting career.

His mother gently suggested that perhaps broadcasting wasn’t meant to be. But John was determined.

Two people changed his trajectory. Carol, a theatre director, put him on stage doing plays, giving him confidence in front of audiences. Even when he forgot his words during a performance of Oliver Twist, playing Fagin, John pulled his cap down, looked at the pianist, and started again. Most kids would have run off stage in tears, but John delivered what he considers the best performance of his life.

Meredith, a speech teacher, taught him about his voice as an instrument. Through techniques that focused on pitch and tonality, John learned to give his voice variance and discovered how to use this tool effectively.

By age 21, the stutter was gone. John went on to work at News Talk ZB and ZM for ten years as a broadcaster, continuing his family’s radio legacy by starting the first commercial father-and-son radio show.

The marketing revelation

John’s next chapter took him to Australia, where he worked in advertising and marketing agencies. This experience shifted his perspective completely. Instead of focusing on himself, he learned to help clients tell brand stories for major companies like Suncorp and McDonald’s through experiential marketing.

“I unlearned everything I thought was important,” John explains. “It was no longer about me being important. Everything else became important.”

This realisation would prove crucial when he started his own business at 50. Combining his marketing knowledge with presentation skills, John found his niche helping founders tell stories when they speak. His approach centres on one core belief: taking imperfect action will get you results, even if they’re not the results you initially expected.

Why stories work in business

For small and medium business owners who can’t afford the massive budgets of corporate experiential marketing campaigns, John has a simple solution. You are the experience.

Speaking at events creates business opportunities. When you get outside your comfort zone and share your message with the right people who have the right problems, doors open. John’s proposition is straightforward: craft your message, present it impactfully and memorably to a smaller audience of people you don’t know, and sell from the stage.

His formula breaks down into three parts: your story, a piece of value, and a call to action.

Stories unlock connection because we’ve been hardwired by our parents reading to us since childhood. John teaches a story structure based on the hero’s journey that every Hollywood movie follows. The first seven steps of his own story use this same structure.

Different stories for different purposes

John works with clients on various story types that influence audiences differently. The introduction story works brilliantly at networking events, replacing the typical ‘I’m an accountant’ conversation killer.

Instead of the standard approach, John might say: “You know when you see your accountant at the end of the financial year and they launch into details, and after three minutes you start thinking about dinner? I help coach those clients to tell stories so their audience goes ‘wow, I didn’t know where I needed to put my time and resources.’”

This approach transforms networking from awkward small talk into engaging conversation.

Client success stories work well in prospect conversations and on landing pages. John demonstrates with an impromptu example about a content marketing agency owner in her early thirties who wanted to start a podcast but didn’t know where to begin. After working with John, she completed 35 consecutive episodes and became a ‘podcast queen.’

Common speaking mistakes that kill engagement

The biggest mistake speakers make is saying too much. People add more context and words thinking it helps audiences understand, but they lose them down rabbit holes instead.

John emphasises preparation, particularly practising scripts out loud. “There’s no point reading in your mind thinking it’ll be perfect. When you try to say it, you find letters and words you suddenly trip over.”

He often stands in his living room practising: “Hello there, lovely to see you today. I’m on the Boxes and Briefs podcast.” The mirror doesn’t lie, and this preparation isn’t about getting it right but getting comfortable with whatever happens.

The third mistake involves not understanding your voice as an instrument. Just like learning scales on a musical instrument helps you explore range, vocal warm-ups help speakers discover their capabilities and vary their pitch effectively.

Creating memorable moments

At conferences with multiple speakers, standing out requires relatable stories built specifically for your audience. John’s approach focuses on one key question: What’s the one thing you want the audience to remember?

Most speakers pack in too much information, data, and detail, losing their audience and becoming forgettable. John often finishes presentations early, having people thank him afterwards for not waffling.

His opening for leadership talks involves a personal health story from 25 years ago. Initially hesitant about sharing something so personal on LinkedIn, John found the connection between his story and business value. The impact was unexpected, with calls from the UK and the United States from people whose lives were touched by his willingness to be vulnerable.

Handling the unexpected

The scariest moment for many speakers comes during question time when there’s no script or preparation. John’s advice is refreshingly simple: be honest when you don’t know something.

“We’re not expected to know everything,” he says. “Sorry, I don’t know the answer to that question, but let me find out and get back to you” is perfectly acceptable.

The modern authentic communicator has emerged, different from traditional public speaking approaches. Integration of relatable stories into presentations creates connection, and sometimes the best response to difficult questions is simply acknowledging them without needing to come back with a clever answer.

John’s journey from stuttering child to confident speaker proves that imperfect action leads to results. His story demonstrates that the most compelling speakers aren’t those with flawless delivery but those brave enough to share authentic experiences that resonate with their audience.

For business owners looking to make their mark, the message is clear: your story, told well, is your greatest marketing tool.

This article and podcast is proudly brought to you by Gilligan Sheppard, the problem solvers in business who believe in thinking differently.