On today’s show we welcome Shola kaye, a personal impact coach, keynote speaker, and author of How to be a D.I.V.A. at Public Speaking. She is known for using her training in cabaret, stand-up comedy, and TV-presenting to help people conquer their fears of public speaking and establish workplace empathy. 

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Topics include:

• How performing as an actor, comedian, and dancer can make you a more effective communicator.
• Why authenticity is driven by how you behave and interact in the moment.
• Learning how to understand your audience when public speaking and in the workplace. 
• Exercises for building confidence as a communicator. 
• What Shola is currently reading, watching, working on, and more.

Learn more about Shola on her website, follow her on Twitter, and watch her Tedx Talk.

Glossophobia is the cool and scientific name for the fear of public speaking. It is believed to affect up to 75% of the population, making it one of the most common phobias in the world. But what if we told you that this disorder may not, well, exist? What if we told you that you could speak in front of thousands of people with absolute confidence and not a drop of sweat? 

On this special episode of Figures of Speech, Tim and Tammy investigate their theory that for most of us, the fear of public speaking is not a true phobia—it is a learned behavior imposed by society, our upbringings, and false perceptions around speaking in public.

This episode features interviews with two special guests:

Dr. Theo Tsaousides

Dr. Theo Tsaousides is a neuropsychologist who has served as a clinician, researcher, educator, supervisor, and trainer. He provides services to individuals, groups, and organizations locally and internationally. As a “brain-training expert,” he has extensive clinical and research experience in cognitive rehabilitation, a set of interventions that aim to improve a person’s ability to perform cognitive tasks, so that they can increase their productivity and quality of life.  More specifically, the strategies he teaches target the executive functions of the brain, a set of mental skills involved in goal achievement. Through intensive training and practice, he helps his clients use their brains more efficiently for the pursuit of their own goals.

Learn more about Dr. Theo Tsaousides on his website and check out his latest book, Brainblocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success.

Dr. John Arden

Dr. Arden's work incorporates what is currently known about the brain and its capacities, including neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, with psychoneuroimmunology, epigenetics, psychotherapy research, mindfulness, nutritional neuroscience and social intelligence. His is the author of 15 books (translated into 20 languages), and has conducted seminars in all US States and 29 countries. Generally speaking, his work focuses on how we conceptualize mental health problems and their solutions. 

Learn more about Dr. John Arden on his website and check out his latest book, Mind-Brain-Gene: Towards Psychotherapy Integration.

On today’s show we welcome Arnaud Collery, a multifaceted coach, entertainer, emcee, comedian, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and innovator. As the world's first Chief Happiness Officer, he is known as a catalyst for personal and organizational change. 

Topics include:

• Arnaud’s journey to becoming the world’s first Chief Happiness Officer and how he helps companies achieve purpose, resilience, happiness, and joy.
• The difference between passion and purpose—and what you can do to find yours. 
• How Arnaud has observed generational differences in communication throughout his coaching career.
• The power of vulnerability and authenticity in the workplace. 
• How to become a better speaker by understanding the emotional anxiety around public speaking.

Learn more about Arnaud on his website or follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

On today’s show we welcome Lakshmi Balachandra, a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College and an International Diana Institute Research Fellow at Babson’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership. 

Topics include:

• Lakshmi’s early days as an associate VC and why she dedicated her career to studying the impact of trust, gender and other entrepreneurial characteristics in acquiring early-stage funding.
• Exploring Lakshmi’s research that suggests “it’s not women who have a harder time raising money from investors, it’s anyone who fits certain feminine stereotypes.”
• The Theranos scandal: how Elizabeth Holmes altered her behaviors to be more appealing to male investors.
• How women founders can benefit from having a clearer understanding of what the expectations are when they step into the pitch room and how they can present themselves most effectively.
• Are women founded venture capital firms a viable solution to Silicon Valley’s gender bias?
• The books Lakshmi is currently reading and more.

On today’s show we welcome Carmine Gallo, a business communication expert, internationally popular keynote speaker, and author of several bestselling business books like Talk Like TED, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, and his latest, Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great. 

Topics include:

• The origins of Carmine’s passion for communication and why he calls himself a “communications nerd.” 
• Carmine’s top tips for individuals who are trying to get better at public speaking.
• Exploring Carmine’s latest book, Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great.
• Carmine’s thoughts on “soft skills” and what he learned from a conversation with Guy Kawasaki.
• Finding a place for artificial intelligence in communication skills training.
• The books Carmine is currently reading and more.

About Carmine Gallo: 

Carmine Gallo is a three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author, internationally popular keynote speaker, Harvard instructor, and leadership advisor for the world’s most admired brands. A “communications guru,” according to Publishers Weekly, Gallo’s books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He delivers highly customized, engaging, inspiring, and actionable multimedia keynotes based on his international bestsellers: Talk Like TED, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, and The Storyteller’s Secret, and his latest book, Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great. 

Gallo’s books have been endorsed by billionaires such as Howard Schultz, Vinod Khosla and Marc Benioff, CEOs like Gino Blefari (Berkshire Hathaway Home Services of America) and Tony Hsieh (Zappos), and a wide range of experts from Tony Robbins to Adam Grant. Gallo is one of the most influential voices in communication, business and leadership and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Success Magazine as well as on MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, and ABC’s 20/20. Gallo has built a reputation for transforming leaders into powerful storytellers and communicators at the world’s largest and most admired brands including: Amazon Web Services, Accenture, Allstate, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Chevron, Coca-Cola, Google, HCA Health, Intel, LinkedIn, McKinsey, Medtronic, Merck, Microsoft, Walmart, and many others.  Carmine Gallo writes popular columns for Forbes.com and Inc.com, and the Harvard Business Review. 

Learn more about Carmine Gallo at www.carminegallo.com.