Monthly Archives: October 2026

New Podcast Episode, #256, AND A Reusable Framework for PowerPoint Interactive Slides

New episode of The Presentation Podcast now available! Microsoft’s new Interactive Slides feature brings dashboards, simulations, and app-like experiences directly into PowerPoint – all on a single slide. For episode 256, Troy Chollar of TLC Creative Services talks about what he found impressive and limiting. Listen to his review unfold into the conclusion that Interactive Slides aren’t any easy fit in traditional presentations, but they are a new tool for audience interaction, or standalone kiosk environments. Listen on your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site here.

Here is the 5-sentence reusable framework Troy uses to build PowerPoint Interactive Slides. In PowerPoint, with a Copilot Premium license, click INSERT > INTERACTIVE SLIDE:

  1. Create a new interactive slide based on [source].
  2. Audience: [audience]. Purpose: [decision, explanation, exploration, training, comparison].
  3. Allow the user to [filter, click, expand, drill down, adjust, reveal].
  4. Include [KPIs, charts, filters, tabs, tooltips, reset button].
  5. Match the presentation theme, preserve the source slide, and make the initial state useful as a static image.

Click Here to Download (.pptx, 250K) and experiment with this Interactive slide created from this prompt:

“Create a new interactive slide based on this slide’s template. Audience: podcast listeners learning about PowerPoint interactive slides. Purpose: is to showcase interactive slide functionality and design. Allow the user to click buttons to pick their favorite host (Troy, Nolan, Sandra), and use a slider to emphasize their favorite podcast conversation type (PowerPoint design skills, the business of presentation, speaker skills, guest episodes). Include the Presentation Podcast logo (attached), charts, filters, tooltips, and a reset button. Make the initial state useful as a static image.

After opening the presentation, read the Presenter Notes and click, drag the slider, experience an interactive slide!

– Troy @ TLC

By |2026-10-20T09:03:42-07:00October 20th, 2026|PowerPoint, Resource/Misc|

New Podcast Episode Available! “The Ask vs The Offer”

In this episode, Troy, Nolan, Sandy, and former design recruiter Stephanie Hogan review real Presentation Designer job postings and break down the details. They compare qualifications, responsibilities, salary ranges, and the fine print behind the listings. Along the way, they found job postings for everything from a part-time freelance 5–20 hours a week gig, to full-time corporate positions. Plus they explore how AI resume filters are eliminating qualified candidates from ever reaching hiring managers.

Listen in for an honest look at today’s presentation design job market, from your favorite podcast app, or at The Presentation Podcast site.

By |2026-10-04T08:20:58-07:00October 6th, 2026|Resource/Misc|

Brightslide’s Selection Pane Hide & Show All

Brightslide has some great features. Many already exist in PowerPoint, but now are faster to use. As example, a faster way to use PowerPoint’s Selection Pane features of hiding objects and showing all objects.

Here are the 2 webpages for Brightslide. The first is where you can download the installer, and the second is an info page that covers almost 80 of the features.

Troy @ TLC

By |2026-09-30T16:18:10-07:00October 1st, 2026|Software/Add-Ins|
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