The Speaking and Storytelling Podcast: for Christ-led Entrepreneurs + Leaders

In this episode, I’m sharing networking tips for business owners who want to build real connections without feeling awkward or "salesy". I break down 7 practical networking tips that have actually worked for me, including how to introduce yourself with confidence, start meaningful conversations, and follow up in a way that feels authentic.

I’m also sharing something personal in this episode: why I’m pausing the podcast for a season. I talk openly about what led to this decision, what’s next, and how taking intentional pauses can sometimes be the most aligned move you can make in business and life.

If you’re searching for networking tips, struggling with networking as an introvert, or looking for better ways to grow your business through relationships, this episode is for you.

Takeaways

• Practical networking tips for business owners
• How to network with confidence—even as an introvert
• How to introduce yourself and start better conversations
• Why quality connections matter more than quantity
• How to follow up without feeling awkward
• Why strategic pauses can support long-term growth

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

What if your voice—your simple, ordinary, God-given voice—could play a role in saving souls?  

In this final episode of the season, I interview my client, Kristine Bruce, founder of Praying for Our Prodigals, who shares the moment that launched her mission, the four pillars that guide her apostolate, and the miraculous ways God has moved in her own family. 

Kristine created www.PrayingForOurProdigals.com to be a place of hope and community for Catholics praying for their loved ones who have left the Church.

Through weekly reflections and resources, she helps families find strength in prayer, peace in God’s timing, and encouragement to keep moving forward with faith.

From this conversation, you'll hear why your personal stories matter—and how God can use them to touch other people’s lives even when you aren’t trying. 

➡️ Want to help your loved ones return to the faith without pushing them away?
Download Kristine’s free guide, “4 Tips to Convert Your Prodigals without Nagging,” at www.PrayingForOurProdigals.com

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

What if your nerves before speaking weren’t a problem to fix—but a sign that you care deeply about your message? 

In this episode, you’ll learn why nervousness isn’t the enemy and how to use it to bring more energy, presence, and power to your talks. 

I flip the script on fear and show you why your nerves might just be your greatest speaking asset. You’ll learn:

• Why nervousness and excitement feel almost the same, and how to shift between them
• How to stop letting your nerves control your delivery
• What your body is really trying to tell you when you feel anxious before speaking
• How to regulate your nervous system so you can stay grounded and present
• Why a bit of nervous energy actually helps you captivate your audience

You’ll have a completely new way to think about your nerves—and practical steps to turn them into energy, confidence, and connection when you speak.

GRAB THE SPEAKER'S WARM-UP CHECKLIST!

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

Do you ever wish speaking could feel easier, more natural, and less nerve-wracking? 

In this episode, discover the one simple thing that will transform how you sound, how you feel, and how you connect with your audience—before you ever say a word.  

I share the often-overlooked key to confident, captivating speaking. You’ll learn:

• Why skipping a warm-up leads to tension, nerves, and flat delivery
• The five essential areas to warm up
• Simple, practical exercises you can do in five minutes or less to sound natural and feel grounded
• How to tune into what your body and voice actually need before you speak
• The spiritual practice of preparing your heart as well as your voice

Whether you’re speaking at a conference, recording a podcast, or giving a presentation at work, this episode will help you turn speaking from something you “push through” into something you flow through—with peace, confidence, and presence.

GRAB THE SPEAKER'S WARM-UP CHECKLIST!

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

Do you dream of showing up on camera or on stage—but hold back because you don’t like how you look? 

In this episode, we’ll talk about how to stop letting your appearance keep you small and start showing up confidently, even when you don’t love what you see in the mirror.  

Tune in to hear me share my own struggles with body image and visibility—and what finally helped me feel comfortable being seen. You’ll learn:

• How to stop letting your appearance dictate your visibility and confidence
• Why loving your body isn’t a prerequisite to showing up powerfully
• The mindset and embodiment practices that help you feel safe being seen
• How to connect with your body as an instrument of communication, not a problem to fix
• Why presence—not perfection—is what truly captivates your audience

Through honesty, faith, and practical coaching insights, this episode will help you release the pressure to look “perfect” and embrace the truth that your body, voice, and story are already enough.

If fear of being seen has been holding you back from sharing your message, it’s time to change that. 

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

What if the next step in your calling isn’t about finding a new job—but uncovering who God designed you to be?  

In this episode, we hear from Sheri Miter, author of Discovering Your Calling, Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach™, and visionary strategist, to explore how understanding your natural strengths can help you discern your next step with clarity and confidence. 

After leaving a 25-year career at the top of her industry, Sheri now helps ambitious mid-career women uncover their purpose, reignite their passion, and create meaningful work they love.

She shares a framework she created to help women uncover their calling in a fraction of the time it took her. You’ll learn:

• How to identify and apply your CliftonStrengths to your God-given purpose
• The difference between talents and strengths—and how to grow them intentionally
• How to recognize the “little nudges” that signal it’s time for change
• Why rest, reflection, and listening to your body are key parts of discernment
• How to overcome fear and self-doubt when stepping into your next chapter

You’ll walk away with practical tools and spiritual insight to help you align your work with your divine design—and finally step into the purpose you were created for.

👉 Sheri's Gifts to You:

• Website: https://www.sherimiterco.com/ 
• Is It Time to Create Your Portfolio Career? Take this quick assessment to discover whether you’re ready to design a flexible, freedom-filled career that’s as unique as you are. https://www.discoveringyourcalling.com/quiz
• Get a free sneak peek of Discovering Your Calling. Download the full introduction + Chapter One and discover the first steps to creating a fulfilling, purpose-driven career and life. https://sherimiterco.myflodesk.com/freechapters 

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

You’ve practiced your talk, perfected your notes, and memorized every line—so why do you still feel nervous, small, or unsure when you speak?  

So many smart, capable leaders and entrepreneurs think the missing piece is better notes or more practice—but the truth is, self-doubt isn’t a content problem. It’s a connection problem.  

In this episode, I reveal the deeper reasons behind self-doubt and how to finally move past it. 

You’ll learn:

• Why real confidence starts in your body, not your brain
• How to feel safe, grounded, and at ease when you’re seen and heard
• The secret power of your voice—and how to connect with your audience
• How to shift the focus from yourself to your audience for more authentic impact
• What “embodied speaking” looks like and how to start practicing it today

Through mindset shifts, practical voice work, and faith-filled encouragement, you’ll discover how to stop performing confidence and start becoming it.

Your message matters—don’t let self-doubt keep it quiet.  

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

Have you been working on a talk, a message, or a project that you know God has placed on your heart—but everything seems to get in the way? 

There’s a reason it feels hard to speak truth and share light in the world. The enemy knows the power your voice holds. And if he can’t destroy your calling, he’ll do everything he can to distract, discourage, or silence you.  

Using the story of The Little Mermaid as a powerful metaphor, I share why the enemy targets your voice—and how to discern whether what you’re facing is simply mindset and skill-building or true spiritual warfare. 

You’ll learn:

• How to recognize when your resistance may be spiritual in nature
• Practical and spiritual ways to protect and strengthen your voice
• Why prayer, discernment, and obedience are your greatest defenses
• The truth about what God asks of those He calls to speak

This conversation will remind you that your voice matters, your message is sacred, and you are never fighting alone.

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

Feeling stuck on how to write your talk—or overwhelmed by where to start?

Many entrepreneurs, coaches, and ministry leaders feel paralyzed at this stage—especially when they love a lot of different topics and don’t know where to focus. 

The good news? Writing a talk doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need a clear, repeatable structure that helps your story and message flow naturally.

In this episode, you'll learn a simple, step-by-step formula for crafting a powerful, captivating talk that engages your audience from the first word to the last, without stress or confusion. 

If you need to find your stories, listen to these episodes first: 

• S1E7. Concise Storytelling 101 
• S2E3. Which Stories Make the Most Impact
• S2E5. 3 Story Finding Tips
• S6E3. How to Seamlessly Infuse Stories Into Any Speech

And definitely grab The Story Course! 

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.

Do you cringe when you hear a recording of your voice? 

Maybe you worry that your tone sounds flat, your delivery feels forced, or your voice just doesn’t match the confident person you want to be. 

The good news? You can absolutely change that—without faking it or putting on a “performance voice.”

In this episode, you’ll learn five powerful ways to start loving your voice—so you can speak with confidence, connect more deeply, and sound as magnetic as you were created to be.

You’ll have a clear path to overcoming self-doubt, refining your sound, and showing up as the confident, captivating communicator God created you to be.

If you’re ready to love your voice and take your speaking presence to the next level, book a Voice Consult today and discover how to unlock your most powerful, authentic sound.

Now I'd love to hear from you! What's one thing you learned and how will you take action today? 

Let me know by:

• leaving the show a review. 
• or sending me an email at [email protected]

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

💃It's time to ditch the stress and stand out in 30 seconds 👉🏻 Grab your free "Unforgettable ELEVATOR PITCH Template" 

🎤Go ALL IN on your voice and 10x your impact, visibility, and speaking skills by claiming your free 20-minute VOICE CONSULT today!

📝Find, craft, and write your impactful story. 👉🏻Grab THE STORY COURSE

🎙Master the skills to become a captivating speaker online, on stages, and in the boardroom 👉🏻Join the CAPTIVATING SPEAKERS' ACADEMY

⭐️ Join the free Speaking + Storytelling Facebook community for access to live trainings, workshops, and exclusive coaching opportunities.