The Mindset of a Leadership Communication and Storytelling Expert with Richard Newman

Award-winning communication expert Richard Newman on the science of leadership storytelling—how to speak with clarity, credibility and impact under pressure.

In this episode, Paul Corke is joined by Richard Newman—award-winning expert in leadership communication and storytelling. Richard began his research in 1995 while living and teaching English at a Tibetan monastery in India, then trained as a professional actor in London before founding Body Talk in 2000. Since working with the McLaren Formula 1 Team in the early days, Richard and the Body Talk team have trained 100,000+ people across 46 countries, helping leaders communicate with confidence and impact.

We explore the mindset of a communicator: how to craft stories that move audiences, use body language that builds trust, and structure messages so people understand—and act. Richard shares practical tools backed by behavioural science that you can use in your next meeting, pitch or keynote.

You’ll hear:

• The story structure that wins attention and action (context → conflict → change → call-to-action)

• How to project credibility & warmth with voice, posture and presence

• Turning data into narratives people remember (and repeat)

• Message design for busy minds: headlines, signposts, summaries

• Reframing nerves into fuel—and rehearsing like a pro (feedback loops and micro-wins)

• How this links to Paul’s Mindset Equation (Aspiration, Belief, Drive/Motivation, EQ, Resilience, Learning Agility)

Try this (5-minute speak-up sprint):

1. Headline first: one sentence that states your point.

2. 3 beats: problem → insight → action (one line each).

3. Presence reset (60s): stand tall, breathe longer on the exhale, slower pace.

4. Close strong: one clear call-to-action + timeframe.

If you want your ideas to land—and lead—this conversation will level up how you tell your story.