Author, Producer, Entrepreneur… Occasionally Entertaining.

I help companies create more engaging content, and business leaders to increase engagement in their talks using comedic copywriters tools, techniques and talents. I may have got carried away and started a company and conference on the former, and wrote a bestselling book on the latter. I know what you’re thinking: A book on public speaking…how exciting. I hear you.

ABOUT DAVID

David is the author of the best-selling book Do You Talk Funny? and the Founder of FunnyBizz Conference. His work has been featured in Inc., Lifehacker, The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Forbes, NPR, The Wall Street Journal,The Irish Independent, TV3, Newstalk, TED and The Irish Times.

“One of the best speaking coaches out there” according to Forbes.com, David’s program with over 34,000 students has been featured by Prezi as one of the best training courses for presenters. His book remains one of the highest rated in the world on the (usually not so wildly exciting) topic of public speaking and his content has been read by over one million people.

A sought after international business speaker, David also performs standup comedy and was the winner of the prestigious 43rd annual San Francisco International Comedy Competition. As a storyteller he finished runner up in NPR’s the Moth’s largest US story telling competition. As a lecturer he has taught at Stanford Graduate Business School, UC Berkeley, University of Oxford and University College Dublin.

A graduate of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School he calls San Francisco home when immigration officials permit, and was named on the Irish America 100 List, which recognizes the accomplishments of the best and the brightest Irish-American and Irish-born leaders.

A big fan of travel and languages David has lived and worked in 12 countries and visited 74 and counting.

AS FEATURED IN

A #1 BESTSELLER.

“THE BEST BOOK OF PUBLIC SPEAKING TECHNIQUES ON THE MARKET.”- BOOKS INC.

“THE BEST PUBLIC SPEAKING BOOK OF ALL TIME.” – BOOKAUTHORITY

In what doesn’t sound like the best plan ever, David decided to overcome his public speaking fears by pretending to be an accomplished comedian called “Irish Dave” for one full year, crashing as many comedy clubs, festivals and shows as possible. One part of the plan was at least logical; he was already Irish and already called Dave.

In one year, David went from being deathly afraid of public speaking to hosting business conferences, regularly performing stand-up comedy, and winning storytelling competitions in front of packed houses. And he did it by learning from some of the best public speakers in the world: standup comics. In Do You Talk Funny? you will learn the key principles of standup comedy and how they can be applied to your speaking engagements and presentations to make you funnier, more interesting, and better looking. (Or at least two of the three.)

Whether you are preparing for a business presentation, giving a wedding toast, defending your thesis, raising money from investors, or simply want to take on something you’re afraid of, this book will take you from sweaty to stage-ready.

10% of the author’s proceeds will go to Arash Bayatmakou via the Help Hope Live Foundation.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY

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"A fantastic resource that will help you get from “sweaty to stage-ready.”

by Dorie Clark | January 19, 2018

A fantastic resource that will help you get, as David so eloquently puts it, from “sweaty to stage-ready.” And that’s no exaggeration. In ‘Do You Talk Funny,’ he provides vital advice that is easy to apply in almost any public speaking situation. Very highly recommended!

"pretty much a first"

by glenng | May 27, 2017

Very Helpful! Very Practical! Got a lot out of this book and felt the author was sincere in his desire to help others succeed. Got a lot out of his personal stories. His writing was simple and to the point and he impressed me with his humbleness. Don’t usually get much out of these types of books but I read this one cover to cover…. pretty much a first. Thanks David

"Highly Recommended"

by Seriously | March 8, 2016

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. First, it’s well-edited and logically presented. As a technical writer and editor by trade and by nature, that really DOES matter to me. Nothing makes me question the validity of an advice book more than poor editing and awkward organization. I can’t relax and enjoy poorly presented writing of any kind.

Yes, the book really IS funny. But more than that, the author gives clear, actionable steps for crafting humorous presentations–extremely valuable for those of us who speak in public. I also appreciate that the author shared his own fears of public speaking. He isn’t one of those people who lives to stand in front of an audience. He started his public speaking journey just like the rest of us do–it came with a job. In his case, the job was a task he’d set for himself–helping a friend in need. I found it so easy to relate to his journey because all of the public speaking I’ve had to do has been job related.

The other thing I appreciated about this book is how well the author shows that humorous public speaking requires actual WORK. No one will become funnier simply because of reading this book. However, anyone who follows the advice and exercises in the book will be able to better engage their audiences through artful use of humor.

"Brainwashed Toastmaster Likes the Book"

by Ephraim Natan (formerly known as Beit Hagafen) | February 23, 2016

This book takes the info on David’s blog (and his information out there in inter-verse) to a whole new level. I’ve read it once and plan on reading it again very soon. I was so engrossed that I would make up fictitious spills on my tablet screen so my co-workers didn’t know I was taking it into the lavatory to read during my water-closeting breaks. The tone is conversational, like a public-speaking mentor you go out for pints with (which might count for the bit of wordiness here and there). The examples and suggestions are realistic and easy to comprehend. This is not an academic treatise or a “philosophy of funny” thesis – it’s a good, basic, nuts and bolts guide to developing the skills necessary to grow as a humourous speaker. Maybe it is a bit basic for those of you who are naturally gifted and who pull gufffaws out of people like bonobos pick chits out of fur, but for those of us who stumble in that area (being funny, not chit-picking), – the book is a real value. I wish I’d read this book before I gave my Humourous Speech Contest bomb on the Cain and Abel story. I’ll be recommending it to a newbie Toastmaster I eventually get selected to mentor.

"Added bonuses in the back make this an entire class and community within a book!"

by Kati Gish | October 21, 2016

This book is hilarious, full of stories, and packed with useful information. I’d recommend this to anyone trying to get better at public speaking or just being funny in general.

The book is filled with stories that illustrate his points. Then when you get to the end, he gives you a link to a page full of video clips to help you see what he’s talking about in action. He also sums the book up for you in the end with his short 80 tips. (And here I was highlighting like a mad man.) Best of all, he invites all who buy this book into a private Facebook group where members can upload and help critique each other’s presentations. With all these added bonuses, this book is more than just a book, it’s an entire class! He could have charged $50-$100 or more and it still would have been a killer deal.

"A Review that's Not From His Family"

by Ryan A Bell | January 14, 2015

I feel a little dumb for putting 5 stars when EVERY damn body does. Maybe they all know David or they’re family or something. I’m not. I’ve seen him speak at his FunnyBiz event and that’s what got me hooked. I’m a very minor public figure and I’ve attained this status through blood, guts, paid advertising and bald faced lies. I also used some of the ideas in this book to balance out my business hilarity. Read this. Follow David. Think funnier. It doesn’t matter if you’re a cubicle dummy or an internet dummy or a sales dummy, this book will help you in your career.

I wanna end with a joke but whatever… I’m just gonna leave this all limp and hangy. Still you should buy it…. you shoulda seen me before this.

"A great read for anyone who talks to people - not just in front of people."

by K_MILL | July 10, 2017

This book was excellent! Big thanks to David for sharing his journey and wisdom with us. Thanks to him and his book, I gained new insights and direction for my own goals and standards when preparing for any public speaking opportunity. So much so, that I’m recommending the book to my friends in the public speaking realm and will also make my impromptu speaking student competitors read it when they return to school in August. His efforts and words have had a positive impact on me.

SPEAKING

To inquire about having David speak at your event, just drop us a line using the contact form!

Why have David speak or lead a workshop at your event? Energy, passion, knowledge, humour, and for those of you outside Ireland, a pretty cool accent.

“For impact, content and valuable takeaways David’s presentation to our Sales team was exceptional – a highly energised, engaging and yes funny (very, very funny) session. In fact, feedback from the team was that his presentation was the best they have had in thirteen years of the conference.”

—Aidan Cullen | Head of Marketing at Generali Worldwide

“David was engaging, enlightening and entertaining. Many of our attendees told me he was one of the best speakers we’ve ever had. ”

—Lloyed Lobo | Co-founder, Traction Conference Vancouver

“We had David work with our TEDxStanleyPark Conference speakers for two days to make their talks more engaging. His ideas were often strokes of genius. He delivered them eloquently and enthusiastically and totally engaged all our speakers who were extremely impressed by the depth and breadth of his knowledge around public speaking. He opened many eyes to the potential that can be realised by harnessing the power of a performers knowledge to elevate good talks into great talks. My coaches and speakers simply loved him. Highly recommended.”

—Roger Killen | Producer, TEDx StanleyPark Conference

“David was excellent – his unique presentation and speaking style was engaging, practical, and entertaining. The events were fully booked well in advance. From the moment he took the stage, his audience of 400+ was completely captivated. The feedback from our students, staff & faculty, and our entrepreneurs has been overwhelmingly positive. We would love to have him back!” ”

—Jonathan Thomson | Manager, Oxford Foundry, University of Oxford

“We loved David Nihill’s program and have been using many of the techniques he taught us. It was definitely one of the best presentations we have treated our extended management team to in a very long time. He ultimately went way beyond our expectations.”

—Susan Badger | COO, The Redwoods

“David’s class is always a big hit with our entrepreneurs. Here’s why. He’s engaging, entertaining and most of all, makes everyone feel like they can make whatever they have 100% better the moment they leave the room. He’s one of our most sought after trainers and consistently delivers quality and value.”

—Celena Aponte | Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center

“This was our 7th 3XE conference or 3rd year of 3XE and we’ve had some very very good speakers. David is one of the very best. He was a huge hit with our audience and we have already spoken to him about coming back!”

—Adrian Hopkins | Co-founder and Conference Director, 3XE Digital

“David delivered an engaging, practical, actionable, and entertaining workshop for us. Attendees went away energised and excited to try new public speaking tactics. Feedback included: “Highly entertaining yet practical and applicable”; “David’s talk gave me more confidence to do a better job at getting my story across”; “Great session – thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was inspiring!”. “Best guest speaker we’ve had. Haven’t stopped talking about it since.”

—Claire Meenehan | EMEA L&D Lead at HubSpot

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“David was a notch above a normal speaker. Not only was his content great for building up interest in our event, but it delivered on his promise of entertainment and learning. Add that to the fact that David participated fully in our conference – signing books, talking to attendees, participating in other talks and all the social media fun – and you end up with some very happy organisers who wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to David again.”

—David Hooker | Chief Evangelist, Prezi and Present Conference London

“We are a diverse company of Engineers, Producers, Marketers and Administrators and right off the bat David had us laughing, and listening. He was honest and authentic which allowed him to connect with each person in the room. Everyone walked away with techniques to improve our public speaking skills at all levels; large audiences, company meetings, or team presentations. Highly recommend!”

—Katie Katz | People Operations Manager, CreativeLive

“David is his own best example of why using humor helps to get a point across. Our audience laughed lots, and learned lots! His packed session was one of our most popular.”

—Loic Le Meur | Founder Leade.rs Conference and Co-founder of Le Web Conference Paris

“David’s class is a big hit and always ranks on the very high end of our evaluations. It’s a hands-on educational experience that is equally fun as it is practical.”

—Anya Vo | Education Programs Producer, General Assembly

“David shared his insights in our Humor: Serious Business class for the last three years, and he continues to be a huge hit with our students! His program is engaging, actionable, and (gasp) ridiculously entertaining. We can’t wait to have him back.”

—Jennifer Aaker | General Atlantic Professor of Marketing, Stanford Graduate School of Business

“David’s workshop made my staff think about things that don’t normally use to prepare and gave them a laundry list of tips to take with them into their next presentations. It was a fun way to think about delivering what can sometimes be very dry material.”

—Nellie Kurtzman | Vice President Marketing, HarperCollins Publishing

“David is a great find if you’re preparing for a presentation or working closely with speakers. We had the pleasure of hiring him for our meeting planners educational conference. His session was highly entertaining, educational, packed with valuable information and extremely popular with our audience. Rather than running for lunch, afterwards our attendees were clamouring to line up for one of David’s books! I’m sure he’ll be requested for future conferences and it would be an easy decision!”

—Kim Stoermer | CMP, ACE Education Co-Chair, MPINCC/Senior Meeting Partner, Genentech

“David was an excellent presenter and kept the audience engaged throughout his whole talk with laughter and actionable information that could be implemented immediately. He showed an expert understanding of the art and the science of humorous storytelling that helped everyone to be better storytellers that same weekend. We were extremely happy to have had him speak at our conference.”

—Pablo Rosario | Program Director, The Society International- A Group by seven-time New York Times bestselling author Neil Strauss

“Humanizing business? David is your guy. He shows you how to bring humor to your business presentation in a way that really connects. Instead of proving he’s smarter than us, he leaves you saying: ‘I want to do that, I need do that, and I can do that.’ A true gem of a human and teacher”

—Michael Margolis | Founder and CEO, Get Storied

“David Nihill put a new arrow in our quiver of consulting skills and was a huge hit with our group. He showed us how we can quickly become better public speakers and 10x engagement in our presentations. We highly recommend David as a speaker, trainer and inspiration! Can we only give 5 stars?”

—Lisa LaMagna | Chairwoman, Bay Area Consultants Network

“We were delighted to have David Nihill as part of the festival line-up at the Irish Writers’ Festival in Los Gatos in both 2016 and 2017. Not only is David downright funny, but he is super sharp, smart and engaging and kept the audience rapt and entertained without pause. He was such a big hit we want him back again in 2018!”

—Catherine Barry | Director Irish Arts & Writers Festival

“The most fun I had all day was listening to David Nihill. My goodness this man was funny. He is of course absolutely right. Injecting a little humour into what can be quite dry content is more enjoyable for you and your consumer. He certainly made an impact in the room. I am very surprised I hadn’t heard of him before…”

—Irish Tech News

CLIENTS AND PARTNERS

HAVE DAVID SPEAK

AUDIENCE REACTION TO DAVID’S TALKS AND WORKSHOPS:

HACKING PUBLIC SPEAKING 

Join over 34,000 alumni who’ve hacked public speaking in the most entertaining way possible and help rid the world of boring presentations with this online program. 

Steven Moran

“I do a lot of online learning some way more expensive than this. This is hands down the best, most fun, and most practical of any of the courses I have taken. Already I have used the techniques to rewrite the open story sequence for my keynote speech. ”

Steven Moran
October 21, 2020

Robert Bostick

“Hacking Public Speaking is as thorough a course as you are going to find to improve your public speaking. The bonus is it gives you the secret to the ‘Humor Advantage’ that no other public speaking course does. Enjoy this clear career advantage opportunity. Career advantages can be hard to develop. Being a strong speaker is one of the first ones on the list.”

Robert Bostick
October 19, 2020

Misako Yoke

“He is genuine, likeable, and provided an enjoyable session. Wow! 4 hours passed so quickly; there are so many great tips, points, and things that are attainable. Highly recommend it! Thanks, David and team!”

Misako Yoke
October 18, 2020

Karen Tilstra

“Engaging, downright real & totally rocked!!!! Loved it! David gave tons of very helpful tips. His presentation passion was clear! Very endearing guy!!”

Karen Tilstra
October 15, 2020

David Lyndon

“An enlightening and highly enjoyable course full of practical techniques for enhancing all forms of spoken communication. Well structured with a wealth of very entertaining examples. I will come back to it time and time again – an excellent investment.”

David Lyndon
October 15, 2020

Paul Moriarty

“Extremely valuable and entertaining! David Nihill is incredibly talented as a comedian, speaker, and coach! Through “Hacking Public Speaking,” he generously shares a wealth of information delivered in a valuable, engaging, and astonishing easy-to-understand format. The content he shares will serve as a go-to reference guide well into the future, and I would highly recommend this course to anyone willing to put in the effort to improve their public speaking skills.”>

Paul Moriarty
October 18, 2020

MORE INFO

FUNNYBIZZ CONFERENCE

This is no ordinary conference—Forbes

FunnyBizz is the only conference of its kind where cutting-edge marketers and creatives come to get their funny on! We bring leading thinkers from the seemingly disparate worlds of comedy and business together to help the world stop synergizing its valueadds and learn to find its funny. The goal? To use humor to make an impact, add value and connect with customers on a level that not only inspires loyalty, but causes coffee to shoot out their noses.

LEARN MORE

THE REAL IRISH COMEDY TOUR AND FESTIVAL

REAL IRISH.REAL FUNNY.

The Real Irish Comedy Tour and Festival showcases the best blend of comedic talent in the US. Accents included. Our mission is to promote and advance Irish comedians in the US by fostering partnerships, growing audiences, and entertaining attendees with Ireland’s unique wit and storytelling talents. 

LEARN MORE

UPPING HUMOR & ENGAGEMENT IN YOUR NEXT TALK

FunnyBizz Influencer is a high level public speaking coaching and ghostwriting service that puts a whole team of business savvy comedic copywriters and accomplished performers at your disposal.

We have worked with and written for CEO’s, Presidential candidates, Saturday Night Live, Family Guy and a host of top TV shows.

We have written award winning speeches, won comedy awards, and provided the best bits of many a TED talk.

We include bestselling authors, award winning comedy writers and storytellers, TED speakers, viral content sensations and Ivy League graduates.

We are on stage way more than traditional public speaking coaches and we live or die by engagment.

We are Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour true masters of public speaking and we can make your talk better.

A lot better.

LEARN MORE

UPCOMING EVENTS

04/23/18

HUMOR: SERIOUS BUSINESS

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

CA

04/27/18

BAY AREA CONSULTANTS NETWORK

MCINNIS PARK

SAN RAFAEL

05/03/18

CONTENT MARKETING CONFERENCE

WESTIN WATERFRONT

BOSTON

06/01/18

LISTOWEL WRITERS WEEK

CHRISTY'S

KERRY

06/13/18

BELFAST BOOK FESTIVAL

TBC

BELFAST

06/14/18

HUBSPOT PRIVATE EVENT

HUBSPOT

DUBLIN

06/15/18

GOOGLE AUTHOR TALK

GOOGLE

DUBLIN

06/15/18

DALKEY BOOK FESTIVAL

SECRET GARDEN

DUBLIN

06/16/18

DALKEY BOOK FESTIVAL

MASONIC LODGE

DUBLIN

06/21/18

PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP

HUCKLETREE

DUBLIN

06/22/18

HINTERLAND FESTIVAL

KELLS

MEATH

07/02/18

AIB PRIVATE EVENT

AIB

DUBLIN

PAST EVENTS

Stanford Graduate Business School 2017,2018,2019
Summit, Powder Mountain
Collision Conference, New Orleans, 2016, 2017
The LeanStartup Conference, San Francisco
Leade.rs Conference, SF (2016) and Paris (2017)
Web Summit 2015,2016,2017,2018)
Prezi’s Present Conference, London
Traction Conference, Vancouver
3XE Digital Marketing Conference, Dublin
UC Berkeley
The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
Samsung 837
The International Society for Humor Studies Conference
Google Experts GDE Conference 2019
Social Media Marketing World
University of Oxford 2019 & 2020

Techstars Summit Europe
Founder Institute Dublin
Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business
University College Dublin
Talks at Google 2016 and 2018
Content Marketing Conference, 2018,2019
HUG 2018 Disruptive Marketing San Diego
Dalkey Book Festival 2018
Hinterland Book Festival 2018
Belfast Book Festival 2018
Listowel Writers Festival 2018
Los Gatos Writers Festival 2016 and 2017
MPI Northern California Anual Conference 2018
B2B Ignite Conference 2020
Social Media Live Dublin
On24 Webinar World
TEDx Manchester 2019

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Disclaimer: I’m weak on social but strong in person and I wear a tie but only to bungee jump.

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