Listen "Behind the Scenes with President von der Leyen’s Speechwriter – Crafting Impactful Political Speeches"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, Sevim Aktas chats with Elias Kuehn von Burgsdorff, speechwriter for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 🌍✨
Elias shares his journey from history and economics to crafting speeches for Europe’s top leader—plus tips on storytelling, clarity, and impact.
Key Takeaways:
👉🏽 Mastering Speechwriting Skills – Elias highlights storytelling, logical argument structure, and simplifying complex topics for diverse audiences.
👉🏽 Daily Workflow & Processes – Insights into managing deadlines, research strategies, and collaborating with stakeholders for high-impact speeches.
👉🏽 AI in Speechwriting – Practical uses of AI for efficiency while preserving human creativity and oversight in major speeches.
Chapters
00:01:06 Career Journey to Presidential Speechwriter
00:03:58 Essential Skills for Speechwriting
00:11:41 Daily Routine and Speech Creation Process
00:21:31 AI Integration in Speechwriting
00:23:18 Tips for Aspiring Writers
Guest Links:
🔗 ****LinkedIn: Elias Kuehn von Burgsdorff
🔗 Book recommendation from Elias: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
🔗 Newsletter tip: Adam Tooze's Chartbook
Engagement Links:
🌱 Follow us on Instagram
⭐️ Rate & review the podcast on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts
🎧 Share this episode with fellow sustainability advocates and young professionals!
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcasts are personal and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission.
This podcast was edited by Puck Wagemaker.
Elias shares his journey from history and economics to crafting speeches for Europe’s top leader—plus tips on storytelling, clarity, and impact.
Key Takeaways:
👉🏽 Mastering Speechwriting Skills – Elias highlights storytelling, logical argument structure, and simplifying complex topics for diverse audiences.
👉🏽 Daily Workflow & Processes – Insights into managing deadlines, research strategies, and collaborating with stakeholders for high-impact speeches.
👉🏽 AI in Speechwriting – Practical uses of AI for efficiency while preserving human creativity and oversight in major speeches.
Chapters
00:01:06 Career Journey to Presidential Speechwriter
00:03:58 Essential Skills for Speechwriting
00:11:41 Daily Routine and Speech Creation Process
00:21:31 AI Integration in Speechwriting
00:23:18 Tips for Aspiring Writers
Guest Links:
🔗 ****LinkedIn: Elias Kuehn von Burgsdorff
🔗 Book recommendation from Elias: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
🔗 Newsletter tip: Adam Tooze's Chartbook
Engagement Links:
🌱 Follow us on Instagram
⭐️ Rate & review the podcast on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts
🎧 Share this episode with fellow sustainability advocates and young professionals!
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcasts are personal and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission.
This podcast was edited by Puck Wagemaker.