My blog posts and thoughts
I’m Taku Mbudzi, an inspirational speaker, comedian and writer. I blog about public speaking, writing books, creativity, business and life in Australia.
A couple of interesting links…
Public speaking and presenting: TED Talks https://www.ted.com/
Books and writing: Brain Pickings https://www.brainpickings.org/
Find me on Instagram for regular updates as they happen. I always have my camera handy and take a lot more photos than I write blog posts.
![](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Taku-Mbudzi-School-Holiday-Workshops-Arts-Centre-Melbourne-495x400.jpg)
Event: Writing Humorous Speeches for Teens — Arts Centre Melbourne 9 July 2024
Public Speaking Workshops — Melbourne School Holidays
Join…
![10 Branding Lessons Youth Marketing Australia Taku Mbudzi](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/10-Branding-Lessons-Youth-Marketing-Australia-Taku-Mbudzi.gif)
Episode 81 – 10 Branding Lessons from VICE, Junkee and Contiki at YMA 2018
Youth Marketing Australia was simply eye-opening!
I went to…
![Self-Doubt and Self-Publishing Taku Mbudzi Podcast](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Self-Doubt-and-Self-Publishing-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-495x400.jpg)
Episode 67 – Split-Second Self-Doubt and Spontaneous Park Recording after Book Publisher Meeting
Today's [confronting] two words: So What?
So what if I write…
![Gerard McCulloch Screenwriting Hard Quiz Writer AACTAs](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Gerard-McCulloch-Screenwriting-Hard-Quiz-Writer-AACTAs-495x400.jpg)
Episode 60.2 – Gerard McCulloch on Screenwriting, Satire and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering
Do you watch The Weekly and Hard Quiz?
This is the second…
![Gerard McCulloch Stand-up Comedy Writer](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Gerard-McCulloch-Stand-up-Comedy-Writer-478x400.jpg)
Episode 60.1 – Gerard McCulloch on Writing Stand-up Comedy, Sketches and Skits
Lawd have mercy - Gerard McCulloch is finally on my podcast!
He…
![The Moth Melbourne Merrillee McCoy Local Producer](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-Moth-Melbourne-Merrillee-McCoy-Local-Producer-495x400.jpg)
Episode 59 – Behind The Moth Melbourne with Local Producer Merrilee McCoy
OMG Merrilee McCoy is magic! She's the local producer of The…
![Tenda McFly ZiiMusic Band of Brothaz Rap Melbourne Spoken Word](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Tenda-McFly-Zii-Music-Band-of-Brothaz-Rap-Melbourne-Spoken-Word-495x400.jpg)
Episode 58 – Rap, Rhyme & Reason with Tenda McFly & ZIIMUSIC
What IS spoken word?
I interview Melbourne rapper/poets Tenda…
![Taku Mbudzi Podcast Develop Characters Radio TV](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Develop-Characters-Radio-TV-495x400.jpg)
Episode 57 – My Radio Play Cast is Developing My TV Characters
The cast of my JoYOLO radio play is changing my character(s).
Yes…
![Taku Mbudzi Launch Youth Conference Motivational](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Taku-Mbudzi-Launch-Youth-Conference-495x400.jpg)
Episode 55 – I hate being called a motivational speaker
Motivational vs inspirational speaker?
In this episode I explain…
![12. Self-publish a book Taku Mbudzi Podcast Australia Graphic design](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/12.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Australia-Graphic-design-495x400.jpg)
Episode 54 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #12 Graphic Design
If you don’t have “design eyes”, please seek professional…
![11. Self-publish a book Taku Mbudzi Podcast Australia Celebrate Small Milestones](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/11.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Australia-Celebrate-Small-Milestones-495x400.jpg)
Episode 53 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #11 Celebrate Small Milestones
You’ll be elated when you finally publish your book, but don’t…
![Being the underdog, instagram Taku Mbudzi podcast](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Being-the-underdog-instagram-Taku-Mbudzi-podcast-495x400.jpg)
Episode 51 – Being the Underdog, Instagram and Raising Happy Kids
Last year, I filmed my close friends for a fun little series…
![TEDxMelbourne Open Mic Night - Public Speaking](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/TEDxMelbourne-Open-Mic-Night-Public-Speaking-495x400.jpg)
Episode 49 – Lessons from MC’ing TEDxMelbourne’s Open Mic Night
When you really want a ticket to a sold-out event, volunteer…
![Beautiful machinery Google review Minuteman Press Abbotsford Keenan Archer Taku Podcast](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Beautiful-cutter-Minuteman-Press-Abbotsford-Keenan-Archer-Taku-Podcast-495x400.jpg)
Episode 46 – Google Review to Interview with My Local Printer Guru
Fact: I've never written a Google review.
This episode is…
![Still Learning about Forgiveness Taku Mbudzi Podcast](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Still-Learning-about-Forgiveness-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-495x400.jpg)
Episode 44 – What I’m Still Learning about Forgiveness
Today's one word is forgiveness.
This morning I wrote a list…
![8. Self-publish a book Taku Mbudzi Podcast Australia Know Your Reader](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/8.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Australia-Know-Your-Reader-495x400.jpg)
Episode 43 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #8 Know Your Reader
I wrote ‘Multicultural Me’, a children’s book about friendship,…
![7. Self-publish a book Taku Mbudzi Podcast Australia Read More](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/7.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Australia-Read-More-495x400.jpg)
Episode 42 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #7 Read and Write More
Support your fellow writers – buy their books and read their…
![S-Town Serial The Messenger Podcast Reviews Australia](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/S-Town-Serial-The-Messenger-Podcast-Reviews-Australia-495x400.jpg)
Episode 36 – Podcasts I Love: S-Town, Serial, The Moth and More
S-Town creator Brian Reed is coming to Melbourne.
OMG! I can't…
![6. Self-publish a book Taku Mbudzi Podcast Australia Motivation](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Australia-Motivation-495x400.jpg)
Episode 35 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #6 Motivation
Making money shouldn’t be your main motivation. So why do you…
![5. Self-publish a book Taku Mbudzi Podcast Australia Story](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/5.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Australia-Story-495x400.jpg)
Episode 34 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #5 Story
So you want to publish a book? But hold on...what’s the story…
![Taku Podcast Online Dating Profile Poem](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Taku-Podcast-Online-Dating-Profile-Poem-495x400.jpg)
Episode 32 – My Online Dating Profile is a Poem
How I really feel about online dating.
Listen to the unexpected…
![4. Self-publish a book Taku Podcast Australia Crowdfunding](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/4.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Podcast-Australia-Crowdfunding-495x400.jpg)
Episode 31 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #4 Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a great way to raise funds.
I do, however, recommend…
![3. Self-publish a book Taku Podcast Australia Research](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/3.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Podcast-Australia-Research-495x400.jpg)
Episode 30 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #3 Research
Research is everything.
You need do your homework before you…
![Don't conform Taku Mbudzi Podcast Creative People](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Dont-conform-Taku-Mbudzi-Podcast-Creative-People-495x400.png)
Episode 27 – Don’t Conform: My Two Words for Young and Creative People
Don’t Conform, Teach Others and Please Don’t be Boring.
My…
![2. Self-publish a book Taku Podcast Australia Funding](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Podcast-Australia-Funding-495x400.jpg)
Episode 26 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #2 Funding and Finances
Finding funding ain't funny.
Don’t quit your job…yet! Self-publishing…
![1. Self-publish a book Taku Podcast Australia Reality Check](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1.-Self-publish-a-book-Taku-Podcast-Australia-Reality-Check-495x400.jpg)
Episode 25 – Self-Publishing a Book: Tip #1 Reality Check
Self-publishing a book is not for the faint-hearted.
It takes…
![Magic Word Cloud Taku Podcast Australia](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Magic-Word-Cloud-Taku-Podcast-Australia-495x400.png)
Episode 20 Pit Stop – Magic, Mushrooms, Mountains and Miracles
The magic of starting a podcast.
Here's an update on my stand-up…
![Kerry Cue Books Getting Published Podcast Interview](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Kerry-Cue-Books-Getting-Published-Podcast-Interview-495x400.jpg)
Episode 19 – Getting Published in Australia with Author and Maths Blogger Kerry Cue
Getting published is so hard! I'm in my local library with author…
![Fake News Interview Journalist Kerry Cue Australia](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Fake-News-Interview-Journalist-Kerry-Cue-Australia-495x400.jpg)
Episode 18 – Writing [Fake] News Articles with Journalist and Author Kerry Cue
I discuss fake news, writing for the papers and being stereotyped…
![Self-publishing books australia Taku Podcast](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Self-publishing-books-australia-Taku-Podcast-495x400.jpg)
Episode 17 – My Second Book and Second Thoughts about Self-Publishing
14,251 words and counting. I'm not sure self-publishing my second…
![Podcast Interview Melanie Joosten Berlin Syndrome Palace Cinema](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Podcast-Interview-Melanie-Joosten-Berlin-Syndrome-Palace-Cinema-495x400.jpg)
Episode 14 – Two Words with Melanie Joosten, Author of Berlin Syndrome
I sat in my local cinema discussing the new movie Berlin Syndrome…
![Taku Podcast Book Review Austin Kleon](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Taku-Podcast-Book-Review-Austin-Kleon-495x391.jpg)
Episode 11 – Book Review – ‘Show Your Work’ by Austin Kleon
One of my favourites! I give a more-technical-than-planned book…
![Two Words Taku Comedy Writing](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Two-Words-Taku-Comedy-Writing-495x400.jpg)
Episode 10 – OMG! My First Open Mic in Melbourne…and Singapore
I've got two days to prepare for my first open mic event in…
![Two Words with Taku Podcast](https://taku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Two-Words-with-Taku-Podcast-495x400.jpg)
Episode 1 – 2017’s Two Words
2017's two words: Go Deep. I have finally started a podcast…