In this episode, I sit down with Dayna Gowan — founder of Improvly Speaking, Distinguished Toastmaster, workshop facilitator, and host of the Improvly Speaking podcast. Dayna's story starts in a bathroom, crying after a disastrous presentation, and ends with her building an entire career around the very thing that terrified her most.

We talk about how improv — yes, the kind you see on a comedy stage — is one of the most underrated tools for communication, confidence, and mental health. Dayna breaks down what "Yes, and…" really means beyond the stage, how improv helped her through the pandemic, and why letting go of perfection might be the most productive thing you can do.

We also get into the messy middle: imposter syndrome, analysis paralysis, the "more than zero" mindset, and what it actually takes to sustain a creative project when self-doubt is loud. Plus, Dayna shares what new motherhood taught her about uncertainty — and why she now calls it her friend.

If you've ever held back because you didn't feel ready, qualified, or confident enough, this one's for you.

Connect with Dayna: Website: improvlyspeaking.com Podcast: Improvly Speaking Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

What happens when the life you built no longer fits?

Pete Cataldo spent years reinventing himself — sports anchor, PR, voiceover artist, fitness coach — and still hit a wall. In this episode, we talk about what burnout actually feels like from the inside, why energy management matters more than time management, and what it really means to bet on yourself when the safe options are gone.

If you're in your 40s questioning everything, quietly wondering if you made the wrong call, or just tired of grinding without a clear direction — this one's for you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

In this conversation, I sit down with Sam William from InsightSamuel to talk about clarity, attention, self-improvement, and intentional living in a world built to distract us.

We explore why overthinking creates paralysis, why “locking in” doesn’t work, how distractions hide deeper problems, and why clarity comes from action — not endless thinking.

If you’ve ever felt mentally scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck between too many directions, this conversation is for you.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

In this episode, I sit down with event planner Rachel Marie to unpack what really happens behind the scenes when organizers choose speakers — what they’re optimizing for, how they define “fit,” and why capable speakers still get passed over.

This isn’t about speaking tactics or how to impress a stage.

It’s about understanding the system you’re stepping into.

Because when you see how decisions are actually made, you stop taking outcomes personally and start focusing on what you can actually control.

If you’ve ever questioned your value after a rejection, this conversation will change how you see the process entirely.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

In this episode, I sit down with Liane Davey, Canadian organizational psychologist and author of Thoughtload, to unpack why so many high performers feel busy all day… yet strangely unproductive.

We talk about the hidden cost of cognitive and emotional overload — what Liane calls thoughtload — and why burnout and workload don’t fully explain what’s happening in today’s workplaces. From multitasking in real corporate environments to the social pain of unresolved team tension, this conversation goes beyond productivity hacks and into the psychology of how work actually drains (or fuels) us.

We also explore ambition, boundaries, leadership blind spots, and the quiet ways hustle culture increases mental strain without improving results.

If you’ve ever felt productive on paper but depleted in reality, this episode will challenge how you think about energy, focus, and what real productivity should feel like.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

In this episode, I sit down with Jake Bushman, host of The Human Adventure Podcast (formerly Journey with Jake), for a reflective conversation on growth, adventure, and the quiet emotional cost of creating something meaningful.

We talk about why the podcast began, how it evolved over hundreds of conversations, and what Jake has learned about fulfillment, stillness, and success after listening to so many life stories. We also explore the unseen pressures of consistency, creator guilt, and how hearing so many different timelines reshapes the way you view your own life.

This is a conversation about adventure beyond travel and what remains when the noise around productivity, momentum, and growth finally fades.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

What happens when a life that once made sense… no longer fits?

Ryan Hennessey spent a decade as a teacher before walking away from stability to build a life rooted in purpose, freedom, and intention. In this conversation, we explore what led to that decision, the internal tension he carried for years before quitting, and the unexpected relief that followed.

We talk about autopilot living, the fear that keeps people stuck in careers they’ve outgrown, and how to distinguish between settling and choosing. Ryan shares how becoming a father sharpened his awareness of time, what “enough” looks like in this season of his life, and why building something meaningful often feels unsteady by design.

This episode isn’t about chasing passion or burning everything down. It’s about clarity, alignment, maintenance, and learning how to live deliberately, without constantly searching for the next thing to fix you.

If you’re questioning your work, your pace, or the story you’ve been telling yourself about success, this conversation offers a quieter, more honest perspective.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

Send us a text

What does it really cost you to stay quiet?

In this episode of Beyond the Speech, I sit down with Colette Feir, author of The Cost of Quiet, to talk about the invisible price we pay for not speaking up — in our relationships, our careers, and our sense of self.

Many of us learned early that being “easy,” “nice,” and “low-maintenance” kept us safe. But that silence slowly turns into resentment, burnout, and a feeling that we’re living someone else’s life.

Colette breaks down:

• Why people-pleasing feels safer than telling the truth
• How staying quiet erodes confidence and self-respect
• The emotional and psychological cost of not using your voice
• What it actually takes to start speaking up — without becoming someone you’re not

This isn’t about being louder.

It’s about being honest.

If you’ve ever swallowed your feelings, avoided conflict, or stayed quiet to keep the peace — this conversation will hit close to home.

Follow me on different platforms

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagarsoni_1991/

If you like to watch the video version of it
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@Sagar-Soni

Substack: https://beyondthespeech.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

Send us a text

Most of life isn’t dramatic.

It’s made up of ordinary days, small moments, and the quiet pressure to keep moving.

In this solo episode of Beyond the Speech, I reflect on rushing through life without knowing why—how it becomes normal, how it drains us, and what happens when we stop trying to outrun moments that don’t require speed.

This podcast isn’t about hacks or motivation.

It’s about slowing down just enough to notice what actually matters.

Follow me on different platforms

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagarsoni_1991/

If you like to watch the video version of it
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@Sagar-Soni

Substack: https://beyondthespeech.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com

Send us a text

It’s been one year of podcasting, and this episode is a reflection on what that journey actually felt like — the doubts that never really went away, learning to be bad before getting better, the books I read along the way, and how I’m thinking about the year ahead.

Follow me on different platforms

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagarsoni_1991/

If you like to watch the video version of it
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@Sagar-Soni

Substack: https://beyondthespeech.substack.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beyondthespeech.substack.com