Want to Feel More Confident on Stage? Start Here.

I’ve been there. Heart pounding, mouth dry, butterflies swirling - even after years of speaking on stages and on live TV.

In this episode, I share some of my hardest speaking moments (including my worst ever speaking experience) and the surprising reasons we feel nervous before we speak, even when we know our stuff inside and out.

You’ll learn:

• The 3 big reasons we get nervous (it’s not just about being unprepared!)

• How our physiology plays a bigger role than we realize — and how to work with it, not against it

• What to do in advance to reduce anxiety and boost confidence

• The truth behind one of my biggest speaking flops — and why it was a turning point for me

• Tips for right before you step on stage so you can channel your energy and connect with your audience

I also share what helped me go from being terrified on live TV with a congressman (yes, really) to becoming a go-to political analyst for election night coverage.

Putting in the speaking reps matters. So does mindset.

Whether you’re prepping for a keynote, panel, podcast interview, webinar, or media apperance, these tips will help you step up and speak up with more confidence.

This episode originally aired as episode 370 on January 15, 2024.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/370/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Attend our 1-day in-person speaking & messaging workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/workshop-speaking/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 347: The Power of REAL Practice to Transform Yourself as a Speaker

• Episode 348: Confidence Unleashed: Owning the Stage with Authentic Presence

• Episode 92: Deconstructing My TEDx Talk: Why We’re Uncomfortable with Women in Power

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable