Orator Academy USA

Some episodes are fun to make. This one felt important to make.

Our new OATS UNCUT! episode with host and communication coach Vineeta Khanna is live now, and it's an honest Pride Month talk about identity, belonging, and why being able to show up as yourself is never a small thing.
Here's what you'll take from it:
- Where Pride really began, and why it was always meant to be loud
- An honest look at what LGBTQ+ young people face today
- A story of loss, and a family turning grief into a mission to make sure no one else feels that alone
- What it actually looks like to be an ally, in the room and in the moment

This is also why OATS UNCUT! exists. Communication is how silence becomes a conversation. When a family talks before a crisis, when an ally says "that's not okay," when a young person finally hears they aren't broken, those are all acts of communication, and they change lives. That's the role we hope this show keeps playing.

Listen now and share it with someone who needs it.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQmIE_fGirU
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WWi5YXSCb9SDCIleOsZTI?si=nB4ibBDyRf-BKLeqji1hmg

Shiv's Third Eye

Your Existence Is Not a Debate | A Pride Month Conversation - EP 101 OATS UNCUT! Orator Academy Talks…unscripted, unfiltered, uncut! · Episode

We all remember the first time we had to speak up and felt our voice shake a little. The truth is, confidence does not show up before you start. It shows up because you started. Nobody claps the first time you try, so you learn to clap for yourself, and slowly the room starts clapping too.

That is really what communication comes down to. Not perfect words, but honest ones said with care. When you speak that way, people trust you and lean in.

This is exactly what we work on at Orator Academy. For kids, it is about building that early confidence to raise their hand, speak their mind, and be proud of their own voice. For adults, it is about showing up in meetings, on stages, and in everyday conversations as your real, clear, compelling self. Whatever your age, your voice is worth growing into.

Swipe through, and if any of this lands with you, follow us for more.

It's here. Our 100th episode of OATS UNCUT! is live, and we couldn't have marked it any other way. Two years ago, the very first guest at this table was Shivangi, Vineeta's daughter. So when we asked all of you what to do for episode 100, the answer kept coming back the same: bring Shivangi back. So we did.

This one is a full-circle conversation between a mother and daughter who've both been building from scratch, her academy and podcast, Shivangi's startup, and learning out loud the whole way.

A few moments you'll want to catch:
- The "negative one to zero" reality of starting something before anyone believes in it yet
- Being your own harshest critic and your own best cheerleader, and why both can push you forward
- What it really takes to be a young woman founder in a room that doesn't look like you
- The karaoke story that proves joy is contagious

Watch or listen now:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nogC2jLELgY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/05fxCJEKwaU3y7QdiJuLGb?si=8GSNTA1HQlGRMr7l_GSNpA

Some months just fill your heart completely, and this one truly did.

On Mother’s Day, I showed up for class as usual, and sweet Elijah brought me roses. During Teacher Appreciation, a student handed me a notebook that read “teaching is a work of heart,” along with some chocolates.

May 29th -The Birthday!
My Students kicked off the celebrations as I walked into class to find my whiteboard covered in the sweetest handwritten messages from my students. Those words, and little messages are the kind of thing you photograph and keep forever. They got me a cake. One student gave me a handmade gel candle she crafts and sells through school Treps - a real entrepreneur with a generous heart. Another made me a card, tucked together with so much care.

That little moment said everything about why I love what I do.
Each gesture, big and small, reminded me that the bond between a teacher and student is something truly special.

To my wonderful students and their families, thank you. You make showing up easy. You make this work joyful. And you remind me every single day that the best part of teaching is the hearts you get to be a part of.

Grateful does not even begin to cover it. ❤️

With love,
Vineeta

Ever had your kid turn a simple "no" into a full-blown courtroom cross-examination? 😄 Then you're going to love this one.

Our new episode of OATS UNCUT! is LIVE NOW! Our host and communication coach Vineeta Khanna sits down with Eva, a bright young student of Orator Academy, who came ready to argue her case for the one thing she wants most — sleepovers. And let's just say… she did NOT come unprepared.

Here's a little of what's waiting for you:
- Eva's well-researched case for why parents should finally say yes.
- The hilarious, all-too-relatable "who's coming?" panic-cleaning moment.
- Her honest, no-filter take on parents being "kind of bossy".
- A direct plea to mom and dad everywhere: "Give me real reasons!"

What makes this conversation so special isn't just how funny and relatable it is — it's watching a 10-year-old find her voice. And that's exactly what OATS UNCUT! is all about. When kids learn to prepare their thoughts, speak with clarity, and stand their ground with respect, an everyday disagreement becomes something so much bigger: a lesson in confidence and being truly heard.

Go watch or listen now — and tell us, whose side are you on? 👇
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYk7HiHw0FY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6z7v9r0Fis9v18SRaHf6ba?si=d0F_PKz1RMSkrkJ7x7sliw

The best leaders, partners, parents, and friends we know all have one thing in common — they know how to communicate. 🤍
And here's what most people get wrong: they think communication is about speaking well. It's not.

It's about listening first. Staying humble. Making people feel heard — especially when you disagree. And showing up consistently, not just when you need something.

Swipe through for 5 small shifts that completely change the way people experience you. 👉

Follow .academy for more.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE LIVE — OATS UNCUT: Elevating Essex (Part 2)

In this candid and deeply engaging conversation, our host & communication coach Vineeta Khanna sits down with Essex County Commissioner-at-Large candidate Abdur R. Yasin and Deborah Engel for a conversation that goes beyond politics — into service, connection, communication, and community.

✨ In this episode, you'll hear:
- Why our 22 municipalities are quietly solving the same problems in 22 separate silos
- Bold ideas for affordability — shared services, healthcare consortiums, and where your tax dollars actually go
- A vision for moving Essex County away from car-centric culture toward bike lanes and better transit
- Why "Essex Strong, powered by you" rejects top-down leadership for something more human
- How labor negotiation experience shapes the way Abdur approaches governance and compromise
- Why listening — "respectfully and patiently" — is the legacy both candidates hope to leave
- A reusable bag ordinance that became a masterclass in stakeholder communication
- Why "democracy is on fire" — and what competitive elections mean for civic engagement

One thing we loved about this conversation?
The reminder that leadership is not just about having answers — it’s about showing up, listening, and building trust.

Please vote informed. Your vote is your voice.

🎧 Watch & listen now:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfGkiin9c78
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0u3J1uB9avgsZ4Nct3lJA5?si=96a79fa1284e462a

Abdur R. Yasin for Essex County Deb Engel for Essex