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Speaking With Confidence

Speaking With Confidence

By: Tim Newman
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Summary

 Are you ready to overcome imposter syndrome and become a powerful communicator? Whether you're preparing for a public presentation, sharpening your communication skills, or looking to elevate your personal and professional development, this podcast is your ultimate resource for powerful communication. The Speaking with Confidence podcast will help tackle the real challenges that hold you back, from conquering stage fright to crafting impactful storytelling and building effective communication habits. Every episode is designed to help you communicate effectively, strengthen your soft skills, and connect with any audience. With expert insights, practical strategies, and relatable examples, you’ll learn how to leave a lasting impression. Whether you're a professional preparing for a high-stakes presentation, a student navigating a public speaking class, or someone simply looking to enhance their interpersonal skills, this podcast has the tools to empower you, all with a bit of humor. Join us each week as we break down what it takes to inspire and influence through communication. It’s time to speak with confidence, captivate your audience, and make your voice heard! Want to be a guest on Speaking With Confidence? Send Tim Newman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/timnewman© 2026 Speaking With Confidence Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Winning Over High-Ego Minds: How to Pitch Ideas to Self-Proclaimed Geniuses

    Winning Over High-Ego Minds: How to Pitch Ideas to Self-Proclaimed Geniuses
    May 14 2026
    Do you ever feel like your best ideas get crushed before they have a chance, simply because you’re pitching to someone who’s already decided they’re the smartest person in the room? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I dive into how to pitch your ideas to high-ego individuals and actually get them on your side. As a recovering college professor and communication coach, I’ve seen far too many great ideas die on the vine, not due to lack of quality, but because of the way they're presented to those who crave authority and validation. There’s an art to getting buy-in from someone who measures every suggestion against their own expertise. And in today’s episode, I break down the strategy you need not just to survive these conversations, but to truly shine. Today, I’m sharing the “stealth collaboration” techniques I’ve developed over years of navigating tough rooms, whether with C-suite executives, dominant clients, or anyone who gets defensive at the hint of a challenge. We walk through what makes a standard pitch fail miserably when ego is at stake, the psychology behind high-ego reactions, and most importantly, how to flip that script. Here’s what I cover in detail: Why walking into a room trying to prove your intelligence is the wrong move when egos are on alert The two basic options a finished pitch gives someone with a need for control and why they’ll almost always choose to shoot it down A real story from my early career of watching a flawless presentation unravel because it threatened someone’s status The concept of “psychological reconnaissance” and why you need to listen like you’re wrong (even when you know you’re right) The Strategic Question Dump: how to schedule a low-pressure chat, ask open-ended questions, and mine for the true priorities and pain points driving their decisions Using their own words and priorities as the foundation for your proposal How the “IKEA effect” from Harvard research helps you craft an intentionally unfinished prototype that invites their edits, so they’ll value the idea more How to invite criticism up front, turning would-be critics into collaborators The importance of mirroring their language, anchoring your summary in their exact phrasing, and letting them feel like the architect of the solution The “eighth grade simplicity test” to make sure your final proposal is simple and clear enough that the high-ego individual can confidently champion it to others Why making your intelligence invisible is the secret to building long-term influence and trust I close with practical homework: ban yourself from saying “I” in your next project pitch, ask one targeted question based on their input, present a draft with intentional gaps, and then let them build it with you. Progress, not perfection, is the goal and your path to becoming a powerful, persuasive communicator starts here. For more resources and your free eBook, visit speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com. Remember, your voice has the power to change the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    12 mins
  • The Power of Emotional Intelligence: Leading With Confidence Through Life’s Challenges

    The Power of Emotional Intelligence: Leading With Confidence Through Life’s Challenges
    May 11 2026
    What does it really mean to be emotionally intelligent, and how can mastering this skill transform not just your communication, but your entire experience of work and life? On this episode of Speaking with Confidence, we dive deep into emotional intelligence beyond the buzzwords and the surface-level definitions, exploring what it looks like in the real world, how we grow it, and why it matters more than ever in today's evolving workplace. I'm Tim Newman, and in this episode, I had the privilege of welcoming Camilla Calberg to the show. Camilla is a business mentor, career coach, and a leader who has spent over 20 years driving transformation at places like BP, Shell, and IBM. Today, she’s on a mission to help women (and all professionals) who feel unseen, stuck, or overwhelmed, finally find inner peace and become trusted, emotionally intelligent advisors in their organizations. And she’s changing the way we think about leadership moving beyond the old KPIs-and-box-ticking mentality to a more soul-led, sustainable approach that truly supports people. In our conversation, Camilla and I jumped right into the realities of personal growth at work, especially the tough parts of those moments when things aren’t going according to plan and it feels like the storms are never ending. We discussed the huge difference between knowing about emotional intelligence in theory versus actually living it day-to-day: feeling those waves of emotion, noticing when your body is sending you nervous signals, and making real choices about how to show up in the moment. Here’s what we covered in this episode: The true, lived definition of emotional intelligence and how it shows up in real work situations Camilla’s personal journey from masking emotions to finding inner peace and the pivotal moments that changed her approach The problem with equating years or credentials with real growth and how to embody your learning How stress and emotional overload manifest in work conversations, and phrases to listen for Leadership and the art of saying “no” why boundaries are crucial for effectiveness and health The disconnect between Gen Z and business leaders, and actionable ways to bridge the gap using emotional intelligence Practical, immediately usable mindset shifts and conversational strategies for dealing with tough work situations and negative environments The importance of choosing your "tribe" and surrounding yourself with people who lift you up Whether you’re early in your career, leading teams, or navigating big life transitions, this episode will challenge you to rethink what confidence, emotional intelligence, and real leadership look like from the inside out. Plus, Camilla shares more resources for those who want to go deeper. Tune in to discover how being more intelligent with your emotions and less attached to your “mask” can transform not just your presence at work, but your overall sense of peace and purpose. Connect with Camilla: Website: https://www.camillacalberg.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillacalberg/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@camillacalberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Speak Without Fear: The ACEs Checklist for Calm, Clear Answers

    Speak Without Fear: The ACEs Checklist for Calm, Clear Answers
    May 7 2026
    Have you ever been put on the spot in a meeting when your boss turns to you and asks, “What’s your take on this?” and your mind just goes blank? If you’ve ever struggled with this kind of pressure, you’re definitely not alone. In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I tackle the uncomfortable but all-too-common experience of freezing up when you’re unexpectedly called upon, and I reveal a practical way to break through that mental block, fast. I open the show by getting real about what’s actually happening in those high-stakes moments. Freezing up isn’t a sign that you’re not smart, or that you don’t know your stuff, it's the result of cognitive overload. Suddenly, your brain’s juggling a hundred possibilities at once, and without a clear filter or system in place, panic sets in and clarity goes out the window. That’s why today I’m sharing a tool that’s been a game-changer for me and my clients: the ACES method. It’s a mental checklist that helps you cut through the noise and respond with confidence even when your heart’s pounding and your thoughts are scrambling for an exit. I’ll walk you through the ACES framework. We’ll dig into the real reasons smart people freeze, why the usual “just be confident” advice falls flat, and how using a simple, four-step mental scan can help you deliver sharp, focused answers in any conversation. Here’s what we cover in this episode: Why freezing doesn’t mean you’re unprepared and what’s actually going on in your brain when you’re put on the spot. The critical importance of filtering your response through “audience” focusing on who’s asking the question and what they actually need from you. The “one thing rule” for content zeroing in on the single most important piece of information instead of dumping everything you know. How to spot and align with hidden expectations behind the question, so you answer what’s really being asked. The power of having a go-to “script” structure point, reason, example, and action that helps your thoughts flow into a clear, compelling answer. Practical, low-pressure ways to practice ACES, so the process becomes automatic (even when you’re under pressure). A simple challenge to try the ACES method in your next everyday conversation to start building unstoppable communication muscle. If you’re ready to replace panic with process and show up in high-stakes moments with real clarity, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to visit speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com to grab your free eBook, The Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers and How to Overcome Them, and check out the Forming for Public Speaking course. Let’s keep moving towards progress, not perfection. Your voice really can change the world! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    15 mins
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