In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, global speaker and former TEDx Perth coach Shil Shanghavi shares his extraordinary journey - from being punched in a schoolyard because he had a stutter to becoming a sought-after professional speaker. Shil opens up about managing stuttering, mastering the craft of storytelling, and handling on-stage disasters. He also drops golden tips for public speaking confidence, building internal resilience, and navigating imposter syndrome with grace. This episode is a masterclass in mindset, language, and reinvention

TIME STAMPS

[3:45] The moment that changed everything - the school bully

[7:25] Mentally mapping words like Tetris blocks

[11:55] The worst (and best) advice ever received

[17:40] Why some speakers seek sympathy - and why your story needs a point

[19:30] What do you do when you’re 10 minutes in and need to switch keynotes?

[22:10] The wet chinos story

[32:10] Why Shil visualises everything going wrong - not everything going right - before speaking

[36:10] The 52-second pause that moved an audience

[40:20] Coaching TEDx speakers: The real work isn’t content - it’s delivery, presence, and dismantling ego

[43:45] Imposter syndrome before this podcast

[50:00] 3 actionable tips for building confidence

CONNECT WITH SHIL

Connect with Shil on LinkedIn

Check out Shil's website

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Connect with Jordana Borensztajn:

Check out my course '21 Days to Become an Incredible Public Speaker'

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