305:How to Speak With Clarity and Confidence (Even When You’re Nervous) - Matt Abrahams

If you’ve ever felt your heart race before a presentation, struggled to find the right words in a high-stakes conversation, or worried you’re not being heard at work, this episode is for you.

My guest is Matt Abrahams, a world expert in communication, Stanford lecturer, and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. 

In this episode, he shares a powerful, practical approach to overcoming the most common challenges in public speaking and everyday communication.

We explore how to manage anxiety, stop over-relying on slides, and shift from performance mode to connection mode. Matt explains why memorizing a script often makes us more nervous and offers a better alternative: structure over script. 

He breaks down how to recover gracefully when your mind goes blank, eliminate filler words like “umm” and “you know,” and use storytelling to make your message more memorable and persuasive. 

We also dive into how to be seen and heard at work without sounding self-promotional, and how to build spontaneous speaking skills that make meetings and conversations feel less stressful and more natural.

Enjoy this masterclass in how to speak up – without freaking out.

0:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage

0:36 Presentation Mistakes & Audience-Centric Communication

2:34 The Power of Storytelling

6:53 Managing Nerves & Building Confidence

17:23 Standing Out at Work & Building Credibility

21:40 AI in Communication: Opportunities & Pitfalls

29:02 Evolving as a Communicator & Final Advice

31:21 Outro & Resources

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