Tell me if you're even the least bit surprised by this: Study after study shows that a growing majority of Americans suffer from stress. ...Not even a little shocked, am I right? Do you ever feel like stress is your constant state of being? Like you've got resting stressed face?

Does the thought of public speaking make your heart leap — in terror? What happens next? Do you judge yourself for being nervous? Do you feel inadequate to play the role of “speaker”? Do you wish you could figure out how the heck to just get it over with?

As a public speaking coach, I get asked about A LOT of different topics. How do I make my topic more engaging? How do I speak to camera and not feel totally self-conscious? But, the number one topic that I get asked about - and the number one experience that my clients struggle with is…

Nerves can be so sneaky, can't they? They hijack your excitement and turn your brain into a scramble. It's no wonder why you would avoid speaking opportunities - even great ones - to avoid feeling nervous. Why would you go out of your way to suffer, am I right?!

Don't let anyone fool you into thinking some people just have that it factor. Most of the time, that unidentified quality in a great speaker, a phenomenal singer, or a captivating actor, is really just a reflection of one thing.

As a public speaking coach, I help people let go of filler words. And I show them unexpected ways to actually start enjoying public speaking.

Have you ever met someone who sounds unsure of even the most basic facts? “Hi, I’m Ben? I’m from Chicago? I’m in cancer research?” There’s a word for this kind of speech pattern – it’s called upspeak. Upspeak is very common, so if you find yourself relating to Ben, you are not alone!

If you've ever coached with me, you've probably heard me say that presenting is the art of being present. When you're in front of your team or a client or a room full of strangers, being present means…

Pausing gets a bad rap because people often want to speed through their presentations. But, pausing is actually an incredibly powerful tool - one that can enhance passionate moments, create suspense, and give space for an insight or hard truth to land.

It's clear that virtual meetings are here to stay. So…here are 5 ways to look your best on Zoom.💻 (…or on Teams, Meet, or whatever virtual platform you prefer!)

Years ago, as an actress, I figured that the more training I had, the less anxious I would feel before performances and auditions. But, somehow, the opposite was true. The more I worked on my craft, the higher my standards became to get things “right”. I wanted everything to be 100% emotionally truthful. But the pressure I put on myself to get them “right” undermined my ability to deliver.

When you are fully present in the room (or on Zoom), your audience is much more likely to stay present with you. The present moment is where you have the most power.

My client, Andrew, landed EXACTLY the opportunity he wanted…but his nerves were stealing his success.

Which comes first - your confidence or your presentation message? After supporting one-on-one clients to create presentations that feel alive, relevant, and relatable for over two decades, I have a strong opinion on this.

Public speaking isn't just appearing on stage in front of hundreds of people. In my years as a public speaking coach, I've helped my clients prepare for every type of scenario you can think of -and some that you may not event consider. To prevent you from being caught of guard in one of these situations, here are five public speaking scenarios that might surprise you.

There is a restaurant in San Diego that I am unlikely to ever visit. It's not because it has bad reviews. (People really love this place!) And I never got food poisoning there. It's because… …of its name.