The Art of Connection: Practical Communication for First Responders with Ivan Wanis-Ruiz

Welcome back to The First Responder Playbook! In today’s episode, Brent sits down with Ivan Wanis-Ruiz—the Amazon bestselling author of “End Boring: A Tactical Approach to Communication,” a top-rated Coursera instructor, and a seasoned emcee for world-class events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. Ivan brings his trademark energy and candid insights to a conversation all about what actually works when it comes to real-world communication—for first responders, leaders, and anyone who’s ever sat through a mind-numbing PowerPoint.

From his early days leading workshops on racism and violence to his deep dive into what makes public speaking effective (and what doesn’t), Ivan shares why formal, information-heavy presentations fall flat, and how small, tactical changes can make your message not just heard—but remembered. You’ll hear about wrestling’s persuasion secrets, practical PowerPoint hacks to boost engagement, why mistakes are storytelling gold, and the science (and myths) behind lie detection.

If you’ve ever wondered how to break free from “death by PowerPoint,” keep people engaged, or become a communicator people actually want to listen to, this episode delivers. Ivan’s hands-on advice and memorable stories will inspire you to make every presentation—and every interaction—count.

Want to be a guest on The First Responder Playbook: Insights on Leadership and Training? Send Brent Colbert a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1748037097521814b71b1b454

Ivan's book: https://amzn.to/41mRP6r

Ivan's website: https://www.publicspeakinglab.com/