Talks, Workshops and Other Engagements
“Learn, as I have, from John-Paul Flintoff. Highly recommend” – Terry Szuplat, speechwriter to US president Barack Obama”
This page is about my own events – upcoming first, then most recent.
If you would like me to speak at your event / company / conference / please click the blue button on this page to book a short conversation with me.
I’ve delivered talks and workshops at many events, festivals, companies and other organisations.
The work on this site is supported in part by paid memberships.
Current And Recent Past
2024
10 to 31 January 2025
Public Speaking | Adequate to Excellent In 30 Days
Fridays, 12pm UK on Zoom, with a private online group
20 November 2024
Public Speaking: Adequate To Excellent In One Day
In person session. NO MORE SPACES
13 November 2024
Public Speaking: Adequate To Excellent In One Day
In person session. NO MORE SPACES
October 2024
How to Enjoy Teaching Online | Arvon Online
A workshop for fellow authors, teaching online
14-21 September 2024
How To Make Your Writing More Delightful | Winchester, England
How to avoid complacency, without being harshly self-critical?
14-21 September 2024
The Idler Renaissance Retreat | Umbria, Italy
Shape ideas in writing, and as they emerge from your mouth
16 July 2024
Artist In Residence | Galley Beggar Press, Norwich
Small but mighty publisher of fiction
20 May to 18 June 2024
Five-Week Non-fiction Evening Course | Arvon, Online
Life writing: you know in your bones how much it matters
23 to 25 April 2024
One Percent Change | Sofia, Bulgaria
How To Change The World, ten years on
March 2024 Thursdays at 4pm UK
Interview Club | Zoom
What would the world be like without interviews?
6 March
Artist In Residence | Eland Books
Small but mighty publisher of classic travel books
21 February, 6pm-7pm UK
Spectrum of Publishing | Occasional series
Rachel Hazell, author of Bound, on the range of options for authors
16 February, 1pm UK
Classical Rhetoric, AI and You | LinkedIn miniseries
Use It Wisely
Earlier
This archive is incomplete. I aim to backfill the past with whatever is most interesting
2023
19-20 October
Impro for Speechwriters | London
With the European Speechwriters
8 November
Dreaming In Books 📚 | Online session
Even if you “can’t draw”, making pictures helps with storytelling
19-20 October
You, The Speaker | European Speechwriters Conference, The Hague
If you write speeches for others, learn what it’s like to deliver one
14-15 October
Sponsored Writing | virtual
24 hours to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support
9 October
Artist In Residence | The Redstone Press
Small but mighty publisher of the legendary Redstone Diary, and more
7-20 September
Show Yourself With One Great Video | Two-week course, online
Overcome nerves, master the tech, and tell stories with the right pictures
1 September
Artist In Residence | Sort Of Books
Small but mighty publisher of this year’s Booker Prize winner
21 August
Therapists | How To Make An Introductory Video
LinkedIn Live
4 August
One Track Minds | Wilderness Festival
A talk inspired by Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”
21 July-4 August
Show Yourself With One Great Video | two-week course, online
Overcome nerves, master the tech, and tell stories with the right pictures
11 June
Theatre Of You | EA Festival, Castle Hedingham
Taking stories from the audience and bringing them alive
1 and 2 May
Tough Talk Training | Hybrid (Brussels and online)
Public speaker training for activists across Europe and Africa
17 to 22 April
More Than Memoir | Arvon, residential course
Fiction and non-fiction. Co-tutor, with Alice Jolly
14 April
Adequate to Excellent | Soho, London
3-Hour Taster in Rhetoric + Impro.
13 April
Adequate to Excellent | Soho, London
All-Day Training in Rhetoric + Impro.
2022
5 and 6 December, Central London
Effective Writing for Journalists Short Course | UAL
Sharpen your writing ability
MONDAYS at 4pm UK, 21 November to 12 December, online
How To Start A One-Page Book | Live webinar
Make something small that may become big
7 to 12 November
Starting To Write | Arvon, residential course
Fiction and non-fiction. Co-tutor, with Elise Valmorbida
July to August
Bring Your Story To Life | Arvon, online
On writing non-fiction. Co-tutor, with Melanie McGrath
July – Speaker
Impro for Writers | Idler Festival, London
Using theatrical exercises to shape better stories
June – Speaker
How To Change The World | Venice, Italy
On better collaboration
April – Speaker
On Friendship | One Track Minds
“Your story was so wonderful – and delivered with such charm and warmth. I don’t know if you could see from the stage, but the whole of the front row were in floods of tears by the end. It was an incredibly moving thing to witness” – Kristian Brodie, OTM
February – Speaker
Creative Change Makers | Creative Conscience
A talk about creativity, and staying sane
January – Speaker
Barabadabada | One Track Minds
A talk about my former teacher, Ivor Cutler
2021
September – Speaker
The Art Of Writing | Hampstead, London
A recipe for writers
June – Speaker
How To Write And Deliver Unforgettable Speeches | How To Academy, online
Giving a great talk
May – Speaker
How To Write | The Idler Academy, ongoing online course
Set aside worries about being “any good”, and get on with finding your voice
May – Speaker
Little Challenges, online
On the relationship between creativity and mental health
May – Speaker
Forton Group, online
Public speaking, for coaches
April – Host
Desktop Pilgrimage | Walking and Talking on Google Streetview, online
For the second year of pandemic, a month-long virtual pilgrimage, storytelling with guests
April – Speaker
Examined Life, online
Public speaking, for therapists
April – Speaker
The Art of Hooking a Reader | Arvon Masterclass, online
On cliffhangers, and Just Generally Being Interesting
April – Speaker
What Makes An Adequate Speech? | European Speechwriters Network, online
A talk with the pros
February – Speaker
Book Launch, with Q&A | The Union Club, Soho, online
Exactly what it sounds like
2020
November – Teacher
Better Speaker In 30 Days, online
A month-long course, developing ideas in my book
Various – Speaker
Drawsilience | A Workshop, online
Collaborative illustration, to cope in pandemic
May – Tutor
How To Write A Memoir | Arvon Foundation
Arvon’s first-ever week-long “residential” writing course to take place entirely online. With Elise Valmorbida
May – Speaker
From High Flyer To Rock Bottom, online
An illustrated talk, for Mental Health Awareness, delivered to a variety of organisations
April – Virtual Illustrator in Residence
Be Drawn | The Union Club, Soho
In which I drew a portrait of an Oscar winner, and 35 others
February – Illustrator in Residence
Be Drawn, Be Seen | Hampstead Parish Church
In which I drew 36 portraits of parishioners and clergy, for display in the church
2019
Various – speaker, illustrator
High Flyer to Rock Bottom, in person
Talks at Linklaters, Freshfields, Birketts, Clyde & Co, Macfarlanes and Mishcon de Reya. See this for details.
June – Host
Walk and Talk for Mental and Physical Health | Talk for Health
A storytelling “pilgrimage” around Hampstead Heath
March – Tutor
How To Write A Memoir | Arvon Foundation
Week-long residential writing course in Devon
2018
December – Tutor
How To Write A Memoir | Arvon Foundation
Week-long residential writing course in Shropshire
October – Speaker, illustrator
High Flyer to Rock Bottom | Slaughter and May, in person
An illustrated talk, with drawings from my time in psychiatric hospital, earlier this year
May – MC
One-Day MBA | The Guardian Masterclass
Host for a day of business-themed talks by leading business professors
2017
November – Tutor
How To Write A Memoir | Arvon Foundation
Week-long residential writing course in Yorkshire, with Alice Jolly
May – MC
One-Day MBA | The Guardian Masterclass
Host for a day of business-themed talks by leading business professors
7 March
A Cup Of Tea To Change Your Life | 5×15, Bristol
On heartfelt but brief conversations
Various – Trainer
Be Yourself In Any Language
Better communication, when you don’t have the “right” words
2016
May – MC
One-Day MBA | The Guardian Masterclass
Host for a day of business-themed talks by leading business professors
November – Tutor
How To Write A Memoir | Arvon Foundation
Week-long residential writing course in Devon, with Alice Jolly
2015
Various – Speaker, trainer
Together Project | Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
A series of workshops to build community across Belfast
April – Host
The Family Project | Guardian Masterclass
In which I ran a masterclass with my wife, co-author of The Family Project
2014
Various – speaker
How To Change The World | International
Speaking engagements in countries including Mexico and South Korea
April – Speaker
What If Everybody Was Interesting And Attractive? | TEDx Hackney
Lessons from improvisational theatre
2013
April – Speaker
Conversations That Change Everything | TEDx Stormont
Some of the biggest things in life start with conversations
February – Speaker
How To Change The World | TEDx Athens
My book, in 18 mins, at the largest TEDx outside the US
2012
Various – Speaker
Authors On The Road | The School of Life
Book tour with authors of the first six TSOL books: Philippa Perry, Roman Krznaric, Alain de Botton, Tom Chatfield, John Armstrong
Various – teacher
How To Be More Creative | The School of Life
Loved doing this one
2011
Various – teacher
How To Have Better Conversations | The School of Life
Regular class, tended to get very noisy
Various – teacher
How To Make A Difference | The School of Life
Regular class, led directly to me writing How To Change The World
2010
May – Speaker
Sew Your Own | The School of Life
First event at TSOL, which led to seven years of assorted events
John-Paul Flintoff is author of seven books, in 16 languages, including How To Change The World and A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech. He worked for 15 years as writer and associate editor on the Financial Times, the Sunday Times and other papers and magazines.