The number one fear in the world isn’t spiders or heights or death. It’s public speaking.
In this episode I sit down with Annelise McCarthy, founder of Her Speaking Coach and communication expert. She trains people out of that fear for a living, which is not the obvious path for someone who grew up with a speech impediment and was terrified of putting her hand up in class.
We talk about why using your voice isn’t the stage and the microphone and the crowd. It’s setting a boundary, asking for a raise, sending the food back when they got your order wrong. She also makes a distinction I hadn’t heard before, that getting good at a skill and feeling good doing it are two completely different things. She had the skill for years before she had the self-worth to go with it.
We get into what it costs you to build an identity around being good at things, radical responsibility and the reframe from “everything is on me” as a weight to “everything is on me” as freedom, and why the language you use with yourself matters more than your vocabulary or your delivery.
Your voice is the thing that changes what’s possible for you. This one is for anyone who has been sitting on theirs.
About Annelise:
Annelise is an international speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice, and communication expert who’s coached professionals, leaders and founders from CEOs to Olympians.
Known for her zesty energy and real-talk delivery, Annelise is on a mission to rewrite how women show up, speak up, and lead. Challenging traditional speaking methods with a fresh, no-BS approach, Annelise empowers women to find their voice and unmute themselves - once and for all.
With over 75% of people experiencing a fear of public speaking, it remains one of the biggest barriers to growth and leadership worldwide.
Through her high-energy events, immersive workshops, and practical coaching programs, Annelise has helped thousands of professionals transform how they communicate, so they can lead with conviction and be remembered for all the right reasons.
With more than 15 years of experience, she blends deep expertise with an infectious, relatable presence that captivates audiences worldwide. A trained educator, Annelise has spent over a decade mastering Public Speaking and since acquired a Diploma in Teaching Public Speaking and a double Bachelor in Law and Mandarin.
Annelise has worked with thousands of professionals across 20+ industries and 15 countries. Today, she’s recognised as a leading voice in communication, with an engaged community of over 300,000 followers who connect with her unapologetically modern approach to voice and self-confidence.
LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/in/annelise-mccarthy-b31533142
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theannelisemccarthy
Website - https://www.herspeakingcoach.com/