#260: Luisa Montalvo — 2024 World Champion of Public Speaking

The Toastmasters Podcast with Greg Gazin with Ryan Levesque and Bo Bennett

The Toastmasters Podcast is a talkshow designed to amplify the Toastmaster magazine content, featuring interviews with Toastmasters, contributors and those connected with the articles of this monthly publication. ALL 250+ Episodes can be found at ToastmastersPodcast.com.

[29:15] On the Toastmasters Podcast, it’s our annual tradition—and a true pleasure—to interview the newest World Champion of Public Speaking. This year, we’re thrilled to feature Luisa Montalvo, who claimed the 2024 title this past August at Toastmasters International's 100th Anniversary Convention in Anaheim, California, with her speech titled “37 Strangers.”

At 65, Luisa is a retiree and passionate dog rescue volunteer from San Juan, Texas, USA. She rose to the top, competing against seven other finalists after several elimination rounds that began earlier this year, with about 30,000 participants from 150 countries. However, she almost didn’t make it to the stage—last-minute uncertainty nearly held her back from competing. But in true champion form, she overcame those doubts and delivered a powerful performance.

In this episode, Luisa shares her journey to victory, reflecting on her runner-up finish in 2019 and how it paved the way for her success. We also dive into her winning speech, inspired by a life-threatening accident, and she offers valuable advice for aspiring speakers—including her unique use of props. As the first Hispanic and possibly the oldest champion to earn this prestigious title, Luisa's story is truly inspiring.

Luisa has been a Toastmaster for 13 years and is a proud member of Hub City Toastmasters. 

Her dog rescue foundation is called Foxtrot and Finn Foundation,

You can find Luisa on Facebook and LinkedIN as well as by email.  

Watch her award winning speech on YouTube but also keep your eyes open for an upcoming profile in the November 2024 Toastmaster Magazine.