Speaking With Confidence

Why You Hate Your Voice and How to Fix It | Tim Newman Speaks


Listen Later

Send us a text

Have you ever listened to a recording of your own voice and thought, “Who is that?” If you’ve ever cringed at the sound of your voice on tape, you’re not alone. In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I dive into why our own voice sounds so strange to us on a recording—and more importantly, what you can do about it.

I’m Tim Newman, your host and a recovering college professor turned communication coach. Today’s episode is all about bridging the gap between the voice you think you have and the one the world actually hears. I’ll show you why you don’t need to “fix” your voice, but understand what’s happening behind the scenes—both physically and psychologically—so you can finally build confidence in how you sound for your presentations, meetings, and important conversations.

There’s no guest this week; it's just me, sharing techniques and insights straight from my own coaching experience. If you’ve ever felt hesitant to speak up because you’re self-conscious about your voice, or you want to project more authority and command in your professional life, this episode is for you.

Here’s what I cover:

  • Why your voice sounds so different—and often “worse”—when you hear it recorded, thanks to the physics of bone conduction versus air conduction.
  • The phenomenon I call “imposter voice syndrome” and why it fuels self-doubt and anxiety.
  • How exposure therapy can help you get comfortable with the sound of your recorded voice and shift from self-judgment to self-acceptance.
  • Practical, immediately actionable techniques to power up your voice, including diaphragmatic breathing for resonance and steadiness, finding your optimal pitch with safe and easy exercises, and the strategic use of pauses to add authority and presence.
  • Tips for using volume and articulation to ensure your message lands—so you never mumble or fade out at a crucial moment.
  • How the way you use your voice transforms your leadership presence and credibility.
  • Tactics for handling high-pressure situations, reading the room, and dynamically adjusting your delivery for maximum impact.
  • Developing a simple, five-minute pre-speaking vocal warmup routine to make confidence a habit instead of a hope.
  • The mindset shift from self-consciousness to audience focus so you stop apologizing for your sound and start using your voice as a strategic communication asset.
  • By the end of the episode, you’ll realize that your voice is not something to hide or “fix”—it’s your unique communication signature. With some deliberate practice and self-kindness, you’ll be on your way to speaking with authentic confidence, no matter the situation. If you take away only one thing today, let it be this: your voice has the power to change the world, starting with how you think and feel about it.

    For more resources, remember to grab your free eBook and check out the Formula for Public Speaking rules at speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com. Until next time, embrace your voice and keep building that confidence!

    Support the show

    Want to be a guest on Speaking With Confidence? Send Tim Newman a message on PodMatch
    Speaking With Confidence
    Formula for Public Speaking
    Facebook

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Speaking With ConfidenceBy Tim Newman

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    56 ratings


    More shows like Speaking With Confidence

    View all
    The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    229,655 Listeners

    Planet Money by NPR

    Planet Money

    30,719 Listeners

    The Mindset Mentor by Rob Dial

    The Mindset Mentor

    13,678 Listeners

    The Daily by The New York Times

    The Daily

    113,095 Listeners

    Up First from NPR by NPR

    Up First from NPR

    56,827 Listeners

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

    8,791 Listeners

    The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

    The Indicator from Planet Money

    9,560 Listeners

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

    96 Listeners

    Life Kit by NPR

    Life Kit

    4,855 Listeners

    Morning Brew Daily by Morning Brew

    Morning Brew Daily

    3,047 Listeners

    Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson: communication coaching for humble leaders by Cat Matson

    Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson: communication coaching for humble leaders

    0 Listeners

    The Colin Cowherd Podcast by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

    The Colin Cowherd Podcast

    1,172 Listeners

    The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

    The Mel Robbins Podcast

    20,649 Listeners

    She Speaks To Inspire: Public Speaking Growth For Introverted Women by Julia Kraft

    She Speaks To Inspire: Public Speaking Growth For Introverted Women

    24 Listeners

    The Jefferson Fisher Podcast by Civility Media

    The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

    8,480 Listeners