What if confidence isn’t the thing that makes great speakers great? In this episode, I sit down with former Obama speechwriter Terry Szuplat to unpack the hidden mechanics of powerful communication - including the moment Barack Obama froze mid-speech early in his career.

We talk about:

• Why public speaking is an experience, not information transfer

• How leaders build real connection instead of sounding polished but forgettable

• The biggest mistake executives make when they try to “just be authentic”

• Why most corporate presentations fail before they even begin

• How AI can support speakers - without replacing their voice

This isn’t about tricks, hacks, or stage personas. It’s about conviction, clarity, and learning to say what only you can say.

If you want to speak to influence - in meetings, on stages, or behind a mic - this episode is for you.

👉 Get Terry's book Say It Well:

https://www.terryszuplat.com/buy-the-book

👉 Connect with Terry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-szuplat-456914137/

👉 Get my free course on Learning to Speak Fearlessly:

https://www.speaking.coach/free-course/

Pat Flynn is the founder and host of Smart Passive Income podcast with 50 million downloads. He has created a massive community of online business owners and built SPI over the last 14 years. His YouTube channel has almost half a million followers.

In this episode, we’ll talk about how to build your brand, gain visibility and influence to grow your business. You will learn directly from the OG himself on:

• How to gain trust from your audience online

I’m your host - Nausheen I. Chen - 3-time TEDx speaker and public speaking coach for the C-suite and founders + public speaking professor at Central European University.

Enjoyed this episode? Give us a 5-star review - it’ll help others find out about us. Grazie!

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Speak as a Leader bootcamp:

⁠https://www.speaking.coach/bootcamp-join-now/⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔥 Get in touch with Pat Flynn

https://patflynn.com/

When Kim Rittberg launched the video unit at Us Weekly, she had no idea it would sell for $100 million. This shows the richness of her 20 years of experience as a creative producer at Netflix, PEOPLE Magazine, and in TV News. She turns CEOs into thought leaders and her video content has been viewed 500 million times.

I’m your host - Nausheen I. Chen - 3-time TEDx speaker and public speaking coach for the C-suite and founders + public speaking professor at CEU.

Enjoyed this episode? Give us a 5-star review - it’ll help others find out about us. Grazie!

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Speak as a Leader bootcamp:

https://www.speaking.coach/bootcamp-join-now/

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔥 Get in touch with Kim Rittberg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimrittberg/

In this re-released episode, I chatted with Katie Stoddart, host of the Focus Bee podcast, to share strategies and insights on how to get rid of your anxiety before speaking in public. I share actionable tips to boost your confidence and take control of your nerves!

I’m your host, Nausheen I. Chen. I’m a leadership communications coach. I’ve helped 500+ leaders speak confidently on stage, on camera and in person.

If you enjoy this episode, please take 5 seconds to give us 5 stars.

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/⁠⁠⁠

Join the Speak as a Leader community:

⁠⁠⁠www.speakasaleader.com⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🔥 Get in touch with Katie Stoddart

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestoddart/

Alan Stein has interviewed more than 2000 people, hired hundreds and fired a handful. He's worked at director-level roles at Facebook, Salesforce and Google.

In this episode, we talk about how to nail the toughest interviews in the world- and Alan tells us how he aced his Amazon interview and got a job offer that he didn't even want. You’ll get insights into what interviewers and hiring managers are actually looking for in candidates who get 6-and 7-figure job offers.

And of course - super actionable tips on how to ace your next interview.

I’m your host, Nausheen I. Chen. I’m a leadership communications coach. I’ve helped 500+ leaders speak confidently on stage, on camera and in person.

If you enjoy this episode, please take 5 seconds to give us 5 stars.

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/⁠⁠⁠

Join the Speak as a Leader community:

⁠⁠⁠www.speakasaleader.com⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

🔥 Get in touch with Alan Stein

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjstein/

Meet Jahmaal Marshall, a mental health advocate, CEO and host of Listen Then Speak. Join us as we talk about his journey from going through depression and burnout to being a counsellor and top podcaster. In this episode, we share actionable strategies to overcome nerves and how he has built thought leadership in the somewhat saturated field of mental health.

I’m your host, Nausheen I. Chen. I’m a leadership communications coach. I’ve helped 500+ leaders speak confidently on stage, on camera and in person.

If you enjoy this episode, please take 5 seconds to give us 5 stars.

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/⁠⁠

Join the Speak as a Leader community:

⁠⁠www.speakasaleader.com⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

🔥 Get in touch with Jahmaal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahmaalmarshall/

I talk to Jay Clouse, Founder of Creator Science. Jay shares his journey of building his business through speaking versus writing, showing up as an introvert, and connecting with his audience. . Discover why being authentic doesn’t always mean being yourself and get tips on how to get started in building your business as a creator.

I’m your host, Nausheen I. Chen. I’m a leadership communications coach. I’ve helped 500+ leaders speak confidently on stage, on camera and in person.

If you enjoy this episode, please take 5 seconds to give us 5 stars.

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/⁠

Join the Speak as a Leader community:

⁠www.speakasaleader.com⁠

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

🔥 Get in touch with Jay

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayclouse/

Join us on this empowering episode of "Speak as a Leader" as we talk about overcoming judgment and authentically expressing yourself. I chat with LinkedIn’s #1 Female Creator, Lara Acosta and we share simple, practical tips on overcoming criticism, finding your unique voice, and making a strong impact in the field of communication and personal branding.

I’m your host, Nausheen I. Chen. I’m a leadership communications coach. I’ve helped 300+ leaders speak confidently on stage, on camera and in person.

If you enjoy this episode, please take 5 seconds to give us 5 stars.

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/

Join the Speak as a Leader community:

www.speakasaleader.com

Email: [email protected]

🔥 Get in touch with Lara

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laraacostar/

I’m your host, Nausheen I. Chen. I’m a leadership communications coach. I’ve helped 300+ leaders speak confidently on stage, on camera and in person.

If you enjoy this episode, please take 5 seconds to give us 5 stars.

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/

Join the Speak as a Leader community:

www.speakasaleader.com

Email: [email protected]

🔥 Get in touch with Richard Moore

linkedin.com/in/richardjamesmoore

Can public speaking help LinkedIn entrepreneurs become more visible?

Ryan Musselman rose to the top 10% of LinkedIn creators within a year. Now he’s built an entire business on his LinkedIn presence. We talk about everything from using LinkedIn to making awesome content and how speaking can influence the credibility of your brand.

I’m your host, Nausheen I. Chen. I’m a leadership communications coach. I’ve helped 300+ leaders speak confidently on stage, on camera and in person.

If you enjoy this episode, please take 5 seconds to give us 5 stars.

🔥 Connect with me (Nausheen I. Chen):

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nausheenichen/

Join the Speak as a Leader community: www.speakasaleader.com

Email: [email protected]

🔥 Get in touch with Ryan Musselman

linkedin.com/in/rmuss