Episodios
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Next Slide Please | It’s Not Just Storytelling. It’s Chemistry: Present to Succeed Sofia 2026
Episode runtime: ~45 minutes
Hosts: Emma Pritchard, Andy Bundock, PK Steffen, Mark Robson,
Episode Summary
Emma and Andy spent a day streaming Present to Succeed 2026 live from Sofia, Bulgaria, one of Europe's biggest presentation conferences. The theme was storytelling, but what they brought back was bigger than that. This episode unpacks three psychology-led takeaways from the day: 1. Story Chemistry - why story isn't a technique, it's a biological event; 2. The Curiosity Gap - how to engineer curiosity before you've said a word; 3. Constraint and clarity - why subtraction is the hardest, most powerful thing you can do to a presentation. Plus, a peek at what happens inside your head when you stand up to present, and the committee in your head that tries to stop you.
Want to watch the full Present to Succeed 2026 sessions? You can still get lifetime access to all the recordings with an online pass at Present to Succeed: https://www.presenttosucceed.bg/tickets
Timestamps
01:31 Deep dive into storytelling
04:25 The science of storytelling chemistry
11:34 Cultural perspectives on storytelling
14:45 The curiosity gap in storytelling
25:30 Constraint and clarity in presentations
39:47 Extras too good to leave in Sofia
Links & Resources
Present to Succeed: https://www.presenttosucceed.com/
George Lowenstein: https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/sds/people/faculty/george-loewenstein.html
Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/videos/ted-talk-the-power-of-vulnerability/
Andy Bounds: https://andybounds.com/
Daniel Kahneman: https://kahneman.scholar.princeton.edu/
Guy Kawasaki: https://guykawasaki.com
Got a presentation challenge, story, or question?
We'd love to hear it. Share your thoughts and ideas, and let us know what topics you'd like us to tackle in future episodes through our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nxtsldpls/
Follow your hosts
Emma Pritchard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-birdboxdesigns/
Andy Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybundock/
PK Steffen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pksteffen/
Mark Robson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sixmileshigh/
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Everyone's talking about Claude Design. But can it actually design?
Spoiler: it depends who's asking.
In this episode, we put Claude Design under the microscope and explore the reality behind the hype. All four hosts give their honest verdict. From blank page syndrome to brand drift, from token costs to data centres in the desert. Along the way, we discuss discuss design systems, tackle what AI is changing and how designers and everyday PowerPoint users can stay ahead as the rules keep shifting.
Timestamps
00:09 Introduction to Claude Design
02:24 Exploring Claude Design
04:27 The Speed vs. Quality Debate
07:08 Design Systems and Templates
10:00 The Role of AI in Presentation Design
12:45 Client Perspectives on AI-Generated Designs
16:24 The Cost of AI Tools and Subscriptions
30:55 The Environmental Impact of AI
34:52 Tools Within Tools: Enhancing Design Efficiency
Clips used in the making of this video:
07:45: 02ui - Idea to Product: Claude Design vs Lovable: One Prompt, Same Brief
22:00: UI Collective: Claude Design: The Complete Guide
Got a presentation challenge, story, or question?We'd love to hear it. Share your thoughts and ideas, and let us know what topics you'd like us to tackle in future episodes through our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nxtsldpls/
Follow your hosts
Andy Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybundock/
PK Steffen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pksteffen/
Mark Robson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sixmileshigh/
Emma Pritchard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-birdboxdesigns/
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¿Faltan episodios?
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This is where it all starts. In this first episode, we introduce the show, the hosts, and one unofficial team member called Dave. Four people who live and breathe presentations - a psychologist, a storyteller, a typography obsessive, and a designer with 20 years of slides under his belt - coming together to help non-designers up their presentation game and designers hate PowerPoint slightly less. Whether you're a presentation designer, a complete PowerPoint sceptic, or somewhere in the middle, this one's for you.
No fluff. No filler. Just the beginning of something good.Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Next Slide, Please
01:32 Meet the Hosts and Their Backgrounds
02:59 What to Expect from the Podcast
Got a presentation challenge, story, or question?We'd love to hear it. Share your thoughts and ideas, and let us know what topics you'd like us to tackle in future episodes through our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nxtsldpls/
Follow your hosts
Andy Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybundock/
PK Steffen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pksteffen/
Mark Robson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sixmileshigh/
Emma Pritchard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-birdboxdesigns/
