Free Intro Session: How to Become a Better Communicator September 2
The first time is free, and not in the “limited-time offer, act now” kind of way. More like, this is actually what we think community should look like. If you want to know what SSA is before you commit to anything, the door is open. Come see.
The next one is Wednesday, September 2, 3:00–4:30pm PT, live and online. No membership required, no experience needed, and not even a particularly good reason to be there beyond curiosity.
You can come because a friend sent you the link at 11pm and something in you said, okay, fine. We will take it. That’s honestly how some of the best people find us.
What Actually Happens in 90 Minutes
Here’s what surprises most first-timers: it’s not a webinar. Nobody reads from slides. There’s no keynote. The Open Session is live practice, which means you will be asked to speak. Out loud. In front of people. More than once.
The session pulls from SSA’s core formats:
Skills Drills™ — Short, focused reps with immediate coaching feedback. The kind of drill that changes a habit in one session if you’re paying attention. You get the note, you try it again, and you feel the difference before the hour is up.
Power Drills™ — Bigger challenges, more pressure, more stakes. For the moments in the room when you want to see what you’re actually made of.
Show & Tell™ — Bring the real thing. A pitch, a talk, a presentation you’re working on. The room works on it with you. Real feedback, not polite feedback.
By the time it’s over, you will have spoken, gotten a real read on how it landed, and probably laughed more than you expected. That last part is not an accident. It’s what happens when a room is genuinely in it together.
RSVP and You Get Two Free Passes
When you RSVP for the Open Session, we hand you two complimentary guest passes to use on any SSA session that same month.
That means Skills Drills, Power Drills, or Show & Tell — your call. Two passes. One RSVP. Think of it as: the first room leads to more rooms.
No membership required to use them. No obligation to come back. Though most people do.
What People Are Saying
“I came in planning to just observe. I did not even have my camera on at first. By minute twenty-something I was in the drill and genuinely forgot to be scared. That session is why I signed up for a membership.”
Anne R. — SSA Member, Atlanta
“I have been terrified of public speaking since I can remember. I signed up for the Open Session mostly as a dare to myself. Used one of my passes for Skills Drills that same month. Now I am a member. The people here actually want you to get better. It shows.”
Michael T. — SSA Member, Chicago
“I have led teams for years. My team was the one who suggested this. I thought I did not need it. The Open Session showed me exactly what I had been skipping. The bonus passes let me test a couple more sessions before I committed. Wish I had found SSA sooner.”
Evan M. — SSA Member, Seattle
Who Shows Up
Every kind of person you would not expect to find in the same room at the same time.
First-time speakers who have never touched a mic. Senior leaders who have given hundreds of presentations and realized something was still off. People prepping for a hard conversation, not a stage. Teachers, founders, coaches, parents, job-seekers, people who just want to be better at the thing that actually connects them to other people.
The room has one thing in common: everyone is there to actually do the work. Not to watch it happen to someone else.
The Extra Stuff Lands on Substack
After every Open Session, the SSA Substack is where the bonus content shows up. The tip that came out of someone’s really honest moment in the room. The drill that surprised everyone. The quick hit you can use before your next meeting.
Subscribers get the distilled replay. Members get the full thing: complete on-demand replays of every weekly session, including Skills Drills, Power Drills, Show & Tell, and the Open Session itself. Start wherever feels right. The Substack is free. The Open Session is free. Neither one requires you to be ready first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SSA Open Session?
A free 90-minute live online practice session hosted every month by Speaker Skills Academy. It’s open to everyone — no membership, no experience level required. The next one is Wednesday, September 2, 3:00–4:30pm PT.
Who runs the Open Session?
The session is led by SSA’s coaches and community leaders. This is not a passive webinar — it’s live, interactive, and structured around actual speaking drills with real-time coaching feedback.
What do I need to participate?
A device with audio and video. Willingness to try. That’s the full list. You do not need a topic prepared, a presentation ready, or any prior speaking experience.
What are the two free guest passes?
When you RSVP for the Open Session, SSA gives you two complimentary passes to attend any of SSA’s weekly programming that same month — Skills Drills, Power Drills, or Show & Tell. No purchase required.
Do I have to turn my camera on?
No. You can ease in. Most people who come in with their camera off end up turning it on before the session is over. But there’s no requirement, no pressure, and no judgment either way.
How often does the Open Session happen?
Once a month. Sign up at the link below to get notified when the next one is scheduled.
What is Speaker Skills Academy?
SSA is an online community for people who want to become better communicators — in high-stakes moments, in everyday conversations, and everywhere in between. Members attend weekly live sessions, get real coaching, and practice with a room full of people who are doing the same. Membership is available for those who want the full experience. The Open Session is for anyone who wants to see what SSA is about before committing to anything.
The door is open September 2nd. It costs nothing to walk through it.
RSVP for September 2 — It’s Free
