Speaker Slam® is North America's Largest Inspirational Speaking Competition bringing together the most talented speakers, reputable professional judges, and hundreds of passionate attendees who thrive on personal development, community, and connection.
Join us on April 25th live in Toronto at Lula Lounge for the return of Speaker Slam®, where 10 inspiring speakers will take the stage to share their stories of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. The theme for this event is "Against All Odds."
Life is full of obstacles, but what sets apart those who succeed from those who don't is their ability to fight through the challenges and keep pursuing their dreams. Decide what makes you happy, and fight for it with all your might, even against all odds.
Meet Your Judges for Against All Odds
Darius Bashar
Photographer and Creator of ArtistMorning.com
Darius is a celebrated portrait photographer who has worked with international celebrities, best-selling authors, and thought leaders such as Seth Godin, Liz Gilbert, Dr. Shafali, Jim Kwik, Danielle LaPorte, Lisa Nichols, and Masai Ujiri. Darius is also the creator and founder of Artist Morning, an online community providing space, support, and structure for anyone who wants to meditate and journal together.
Shannon Loftus
Senior Content Producer, Rogers Sports and Media, Breakfast Television/CityTV
Shannon's career began with a love for Radio and the entertainment world. She moved to Toronto in 2002 and began her education at Centennial College in the Radio and Television Broadcasting program. She won the best student for three years straight, and the CityTV scholarship. She started as a graphics operator for Cityline, then a field producer for 14 years, and now serves as a Senior Content Producer for Breakfast Television.
Priya Sam
Storytelling Expert, Keynote Speaker & Speaking Coach
Priya Sam is a former national news anchor and morning show host who now uses her storytelling expertise to help audiences, executives and founders discover the magic of sharing their personal stories. When she's not delivering impactful keynotes, Priya works 1:1 with her clients to craft memorable keynotes with her start-to-finish process. Priya is also the host of the Turning Point podcast.
Joze Piranian
5x TEDx Speaker, International Keynote & Stand-up Comedian
Joze Piranian is a lifelong stutterer turned Forbes and TED-featured International Keynote Speaker. Born and raised in Lebanon, Joze avoided speaking for more than 25 years out of fear of being judged for being different. He won the Inspirational Speaker of the Year at Speaker Slam in 2017, delivered 5 TEDx talks, and performed stand-up comedy on 3 continents and in 4 languages. He has delivered hundreds of engagements at the United Nations, Google, Tesla, Meta, Boeing, and TikTok.
The Prize Package
First Place
Speaker Slam® – $2,000 Cash Prize
Speaker Slam® – Invitation to the Grand Slam
Darius Bashar – HEARTshot Photography Session, a portrait photography session designed specifically for speakers, authors, and coaches. (Valued at $2,497)
Priya Sam – Strategic Storytelling Coaching: Three 45-minute personalized sessions to refine storytelling ability and ensure key stories are strategically placed. (Valued at $2,250)
Shannon Loftus – Two-Week PR Mentorship including messaging, media relations, social media, and branding strategy. (Valued at $2,497)
Joze Piranian – Access to the "Impact 2 Income" program, an 8-week coaching program teaching the professional speaker roadmap, including how to land a TEDx talk. (Valued at $5,000)
Second Place
Speaker Slam® – Invitation to the Grand Slam
Shannon Loftus – One-Hour 1-1 Virtual Coaching Session on PR strategy, messaging, and media relations. (Valued at $497)
Joze Piranian – A 60-minute 1:1 coaching session. (Valued at $500)
Third Place
Speaker Slam® – Entry to Wildcard Race
Shannon Loftus – One-Hour 1-1 Virtual Coaching Session on PR strategy, messaging, and media relations. (Valued at $497)
Joze Piranian – A 30-minute 1:1 coaching session. (Valued at $250)