Heather Hansen, a best-selling author and keynote speaker, brings a unique blend of expertise as a trial attorney, psychology degree holder, mediator, and former TV anchor. She combines these experiences to help her clients advocate for their ideas, their products, and services. 

In this podcast Heather shares her intriguing journey from a courtroom setup to an unexpected realization about the role of laughter in her profession. We'll explore the importance of building belief within ourselves and convincing others to believe in our abilities. Heather will walk us through her three C's – compassion, curiosity, and credibility – that are vital for winning over any jury, be it inner or outer. Get ready to unlock your potential and discover the transformative power of persuasion in this thought-provoking episode of the Delight in the Limelight Podcast!

Tammy Heermann is an award-winning leadership expert and author of Reframe Your Story. With over twenty years of experience, Tammy has helped thousands of people shift their mindsets around leadership and personal growth.performance. Listeners will gain insights into recognizing and overcoming Impostor Syndrome to cultivate confidence and success in their careers.
 
 

We discuss the ways we sabotage ourselves when it comes to putting ourselves out there, and tips for interrupting cycles of negative self-talk and limiting beliefs. You’ll hear how traditional corporate training programs fall short and what you can do instead to boost your professional development for confidence when you put yourself out there.
 
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Howard’s unique approach "nurtured heart approach." is being studied by four universities and has been adopted by school districts across the country and around the world. We discuss the implications this approach has on our speaking confidence. 

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Guest, Dr. Brian Hite, is not just an acclaimed sports psychologist but also an experienced stuntman, bringing a unique perspective on mental strength and readiness. His expertise spans across helping a diverse range of individuals, from athletes and musicians to dancers and even US Army personnel. Dr. Hite's approach combines the rigor of physical training with the subtlety of cognitive strategies, making him an exceptional voice in the field of performance psychology.

In this episode, Dr. Hite and host Linda Ugelow engage in a compelling discussion about the significance of mental imagery, the nature of performance anxiety, and the essential elements of building resilience. They explore how these concepts, rooted deeply in sports psychology, are remarkably applicable to public speaking and business presentations. Whether you're stepping onto a stage, leading a meeting, or presenting at a conference, the insights shared in this episode will provide you with the tools to approach these situations with increased confidence, focus, and control, transforming not just how you speak, but also how you perceive and handle the challenges of public performance.

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Maybe you hide or downplay a piece of your identity in order to fit in.

We all want to belong– not for who we aren’t, but for who we are!

Maybe you are a manager wanting to empower each member on your team.

Here to discuss this all with me is Tricia Montalvo Timm. Tricia is a board director, venture investor, speaker and author. She is a first-generation Latina whose law career spanned from working with some of the most well-known publicly traded multinational companies to stepping on as the first lawyer at several high-growth start-ups.

She rose through the ranks of Silicon Valley advising high-tech companies big and small, culminating in the sale of data analytics software company Looker to Google for $2.6 billion.

In new book, Embrace the Power of You,  she seeks to inspire those who have felt like an “other” in the workplace how to own your identity at work, show up as your authentic self, and how that leads to the real success you may be seeking.

- Build a "value vault" that elevates your excellence
- Give voice to the value of your work and character
- Stop people pleasing without stopping your care for others
- Get your groove back after a hard knock

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Why do so many of us feel uncomfortable speaking up about our own successes?

Join me on the Delight in the Limelight show as I sit down with Lisa Bragg, author of Bragging Rights: How to Talk about Your Work Using Purposeful Self-Promotion.

Together, we will explore:

- What bragging truly means and what it doesn't.
- The art of authentic self-promotion– what to include and what to avoid
- How to embrace a mindset of joy and celebration around other's success and self-promotion.

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Join me in conversation with Jennifer Hamady, a voice coach and therapist specializing in technical and emotional issues that interfere with self-expression.

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Join me for this live show with Stephen Shedletsky, author of the upcoming book Speak-Up Culture. You'll come away with the tools, mindset shifts, and strategies you need to transform your workplace with a feedback-rich culture of open communication.

- Set healthy boundaries and manage expectations to reduce pressure and anxiety around public speaking 
- Identify high achievement patterns that worsen speaking anxiety 
- Get over people pleasing and caring what others think

We also dissect the differences between type-A personalities, people pleasing, and perfectionism. 

- Learn how to bring forth the uniquely individual self-expression that draws your market toward you.

- How to distinguish what is truly you from everyone else so you can stop caring about what others think.

- How to shift into an ultimate energetic state that turns speaking into a peak experience.

- An introduction to a whole-brain creative journaling system you can utilize to unlock your brilliant ideas and inspirations.

This is a conversation for entrepreneurs, business leaders and speakers who want to unleash their full potential to communicate with freedom and lead their businesses with creativity, confidence, and joy.

Join me in this episode of Delight in the Limelight, where I speak to Henna Pryor - Workplace Performance Expert and author of Good Awkward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- What the spotlight effect is and why you shouldn’t trust it.

- Strategies for dealing with nervousness and a lack of audience engagement.

- Practical examples and benefits of using improv in your speaking.

My guest Elaine Lin Hering talks about the impact of silence on our relationships, and she shares practical advice on how to improve communication, assertiveness, and self-expression.

Listen in to learn:

- Why we stay silent and how our silence negatively impacts our self-worth and relationships

- Practical strategies for speaking up and asserting agency

- How to use AI to manage negativity and reframe communication

Get ready to unleash the full power of your voice!

Blake shares his journey from making his family laugh as a kid to becoming a seasoned entertainer. Together, we unpack the importance of laughter for human connection, share our funniest anecdotes, and explore practical tips for infusing humor into public speaking.

Listen in to learn:

- How to use self-deprecating humor to handle awkward on-stage moments

- How to find the funniest material in your everyday life

- The best place to try out and improve your jokes

This is a fun conversation for anyone looking to delight their audience using humor.

Join me in this conversation with branding photographer Raj Bandyopadhyay to tackle the fear of being in front of the camera. We talk about overcoming perfectionism, getting personal branding photos that show who you really are, and finding the balance between "looking good" and "being yourself.”

Listen in to learn:

- The true goal of branding photography (and it’s not to look good!)

- How to choose a photographer who will make you feel safe

- Strategies to make sure you feel comfortable during personal branding photoshoots

Tune in and let's help you shine in front of that lens! 

Listen in to learn:

- How embracing your unique traits could make you unstoppable

- How to reframe “negative” traits as superpowers

- How to handle the challenges of being authentic in a professional setting

If you know you’re not being your full, authentic, confident self, this episode is for you.

Tune in to explore:

- The main factors that contribute to team confidence
- Tactics you can use to foster a resilient and cohesive team culture
- The difficulties in balancing team output with team morale

This is an insightful conversation for leaders of all kinds who want to give their teams the best possible chance of success and fulfilment.  

Click here to check the full show notes.

I've found it more challenging than ever to discuss politics with those who hold different views, and perhaps you feel the same way.

That's why I'm inviting you to join me for a meaningful conversation with Liane Davey, author of The Good Fight, and Heather Hansen, author of Advocate to Win. Both are experts in effective communication and teamwork within the business world.

Together, we explore how the same principles that drive successful collaboration and handling conflict in teams can be applied to civil conversations.

My hope is that we can lessen the undercurrent of stress of these times. I'm convinced that creating a more inclusive and respectful atmosphere in our communities will help us heal these divides so that together, we can build the cohesion needed to tackle the big issues of our time.

Listen in to learn:

- Practical strategies for finding common ground
- How to handle misinformation
- How to know when a relationship is worth letting go

Join us for this enlightening conversation and be part of the movement toward a more connected, creative, and resilient society—where you feel safe to both listen and speak with confidence.

In this conversation, Julie Ellis, an executive coach to top corporate leaders and scaling entrepreneurs, shares practical insights and mindset shifts to help you embody the kind of leadership that attracts respect, loyalty, and results.

Tune in to hear:

- Practical strategies for transitioning into a leadership role

- How to decide when to lead from the front, work alongside your team, or support from behind

- Ideas for ways to give team members opportunities for growth

This conversation is full of practical advice, relatable stories, and valuable insights into what it takes to be a successful leader.

I talk to speaker, networking coach, and business development strategist, Julie Brown, about the art of meaningful networking. Julie shares her insights on building genuine, human-centric relationships that go beyond the exchanges of business cards.

Listen to our conversation to learn:

- Why you need to expand the “surface area” of your connections

- Some surprising statistics on adult friendships

- How to ask dopamine-inducing questions

If you're looking to expand your network and connect on a deeper level, this episode is a must-listen! 

In this episode, I chat to the hosts of The Opposite of Small Talk Podcast, Danielle McCombs and Kristy Olinger, about the art of meaningful conversation.

Listen to our conversation to learn:

- When to share personal stories (and when not to)

- How to strike a balance between talking and listening

- The difference between genuine small talk and disingenuous small talk

- How to transition from small talk into more meaningful conversations

This episode is packed with practical advice to help you turn everyday conversations into moments of genuine connection, whether that’s in a professional or a social setting.

Listen to my conversation with Lisa Gillette - a former senior vice president and now an executive coach - who shares her insights from over 25 years in the corporate world.

You’ll learn:

- Practical strategies for pitching your ideas

- How to effectively communicate your expertise

- Techniques for building and maintaining authority

If you want to successfully navigate corporate dynamics while staying true to yourself, this is the episode for you.

Click here to check the full show notes.

On this episode of the Delight in the Limelight podcast, I sit down with Dr. Iain Lampert, a public speaking competition expert and four-time national champion, to uncover the most valuable lessons from the world of competitive speaking and how they translate into real-world communication for entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders.

Topics we cover include:

- What Iain loves about competing
-Lessons from competitive public speaking that professionals can apply
-Presenting to a small team meeting versus delivering a keynote
- Choosing the right speech structures
- Daily exercises professionals can do to improve their public speaking skills
- The mindsets you need for competition and high-stakes situations

If you want to level up your speaking skills, you’ll want to catch this one!

Click here to check the full show notes.

Though she’s right at home behind the microphone, being on stage stirs up something different. Julie may look confident, but inside, she’s anxious — silently struggling.

Together, we trace her nerves back to early experiences that shaped her identity, including a pivotal moment when her father, with the best intentions, publicly praised her in a way that became a role she felt expected to play — even at the expense of her own truth.

We also talk about how to feel more grounded, expand your stage presence, and create a sense of belonging in front of an audience.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, misrepresented, or not fully yourself in the spotlight, this conversation will speak to you.

On this episode of Delight in the Limelight, I’m joined by speechwriter and story consultant Susan Lovett, who studied storytelling at Disney University and worked with clients ranging from NASA to Nordstrom, National Geographic to PBS, and the US Army to Woman’s Day.

Listen to this episode to learn:

- The key elements of a great story

- The different formats for stories—through speech, writing, and visuals

- The biggest storytelling mistakes—and how to avoid them

If you want to make your brand, presentations, or business communications more engaging, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

I talk to Lorie-Ann Murabito, shy gal turned professional speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Be In Demand podcast. Lorie-Ann shares her framework for giving talks that attract clients, without pitching. 

Listen in to learn:

- The seven blocks of a compelling speech

- How to talk about your products and services without seeming “salesy”

- Strategies for turning speaking gigs into a steady stream of clients or book sales

If you want to connect with your audience and grow your business in an authentic way, you won’t want to miss this episode!

In our coaching session, we unpacked the root beliefs behind Gabe’s anxiety. 

The result? At his next conference in Bucharest, he was able to converse with some of the most influential podcast hosts in Europe, including Steven Bartlett - the host of Diary of a CEO.

Before our session, this kind of situation would have triggered a panic in Gabe, but this time, it all felt smooth and natural.

Listen to our coaching call to hear what we did and how it relates to your own speaking anxiety.

Click here to check the full show notes.