In this deeply authentic conversation, Dan Ballard reveals how he transformed from living in a "mental prison" of anxiety and self-doubt to becoming a globally recognized mentor who helps others find their authentic voice. But this isn't your typical success story - Dan shares the profound personal journey that led him to the TEDx stage and how that experience became a hallmark moment that changed everything about his approach to communication and influence. What makes Dan's approach revolutionary? While most communication coaches focus on what you say, Dan teaches the four layers of communication that create true influence - revealing why your words matter least and your presence matters most. His methodology goes beyond performance to authenticity, helping people overcome self-sabotage and self-doubt to own their voice completely. Discover why he believes most people get stuck on the wrong layer of communication, how his spiritual background informs his mentorship approach, and why being more human in an AI world will become our greatest advantage. We explore the dangers of transhumanism, the importance of knowing who you are before outsourcing yourself to technology, and why trauma might be essential for men to step into their most confident, authentic selves. 04:15 - How TEDx changed everything about his confidence and composure 08:32 - The journey from wanting validation to finding authentic voice 12:16 - Why he became a TEDx curator and speaker coach 21:01 - The four layers of communication that create real influence 25:15 - Why authenticity isn't a performance you can fake 29:03 - How to find your voice in professional services without losing clients 41:19 - Why being more human beats AI and transhumanism concerns 44:03 - His theory on controlling anxiety vs. excitement 49:31 - Why trauma is essential for men's authentic development Follow Dan Ballard: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danballard Follow Mark Kentwell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_kentwell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_kentwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkentwell1 Mark's Businesses: Presence Real Estate: https://presence.realestate/Nexr: https://nexr.com.au/