The Public Speaking Podcast

Think avoiding conflict keeps the peace? What if your attempt to preserve harmony is secretly killing your business? In this episode of The Public Speaking Podcast, we sit down with former marketing executive, systemic coach, and conflict resolution specialist Deirdre Messerli. Deirdre reveals how the toxic habit of suppressing hard truths to keep things pleasant, creates massive "elephants in the room" that drain corporate efficiency and destroy trust. From post-meeting office gossip to silent boardroom awkwardness, she outlines why ignoring minor friction inevitably leads to major workplace blowups, employee turnover, and lost revenue.For managers, executives, and public speakers, this episode breaks down actionable strategies for mastering psychological safety, leadership communication, and proactive conflict prevention. Deirdre shares why effective leadership isn't about giving polished speeches, but about preparing thoroughly for uncomfortable discussions and listening with authentic empathy. Learn how to ditch generic industry advice, own your unique message on stage, and step into any room with the courage to turn tension into growth.Deirdre’s SPEAKERx Signature Talk link: https://youtu.be/ETthb-4BatE?si=jFaOb9cKwth2Zf9q Connect with DeirdreWebsite: dierdremesserli.com  & https://www.step-on.ch/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dierdremesserli Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak

What if the traits making you successful are the exact same ones pushing you toward a physical and mental crash? In this episode of the Public Speaking Podcast, hosts Lucas Reuterstig and Alexander Grabner Jarlung sit down with Linda Berg, CliftonStrengths coach and founder of MindPartner AB, to discuss how stress secretly sabotages your voice.Linda shares her raw, personal journey of surviving severe burnout. She exposes the terrifying reality of workplace stress, including the shocking statistic that hundreds of people die each year from excessive workloads, and explains why relying on your employer or the healthcare system to save you is a losing battle.If you've ever felt too exhausted to prepare for a big meeting, this episode delivers your blueprint for sustainable success.Watch to the end to learn how to cultivate deep self-awareness and build mental resilience so you can step onto any stage with authentic confidence, without sacrificing your mental health.Connect with LindaWebsite: https://yourmindpartner.com/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-berg-b88b3b52 Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak

In this episode, Lucas and Alex sit down with crisis communications and media relations expert Jennie Zetterström to explore what really happens when the cameras turn on.She has spent more than 20 years helping leaders, organizations, and public figures communicate in high-pressure situations where a single sentence can change public perception.Together they unpack why so many media interviews go wrong, why business communication doesn't work in front of journalists, and how trust has become the most valuable skill in a world shaped by AI and constant information overload.Jennie also shares the surprising lessons she learned long before becoming a communications consultant, how working as a waitress taught her to read people, adapt to different audiences, and build genuine trust through communication.They talk about:Why smart leaders fail media interviewsThe difference between business logic and media logicWhy preparation matters more than perfect deliveryThe biggest mistakes executives make on cameraWhy trust is becoming the most important communication skillHow to adapt your message without losing authenticityThe communication lesson Jennie learned waiting tables that still shapes her coaching todayWhether you're preparing for a podcast, an interview, a keynote, or a difficult conversation, this episode offers practical lessons on communicating with clarity, confidence, and credibility when the stakes are highest.Connect with JennieWebsite: https://www.buzzmore.se/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-zetterstr%C3%B6m-4a447a75/ Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak

In this episode, Lucas and Alex sit down with Swedish stand-up comedian and content creator Tomas Kaminski to explore what comedians understand about communication that most public speakers never learn.Tomas shares how a career in teaching unexpectedly led him to the comedy stage, why making people laugh creates trust, and how bombing in front of a live audience became one of his greatest teachers.The conversation goes far beyond comedy. They unpack the psychology of attention, the importance of preparation, why likability matters before authority, and how building an audience is just as important as building a great presentation.Whether you're a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, coach, consultant, or simply someone who wants to communicate with more confidence, this episode offers practical lessons from one of the toughest stages in the world.They talk about:Why laughter instantly builds trustWhat public speakers can learn from stand-up comediansThe reality of bombing on stage (and why it makes you better)How comedians adapt when jokes don't landBuilding an audience before building a businessWhy preparation beats talentThe importance of finding your own voiceGrowing a personal brand through consistency instead of shortcutsIf you've ever wondered how comedians can hold a room full of strangers for an hour, this conversation reveals principles that apply to every presentation, keynote, pitch, and business conversation.Connect with TomasWebsite: https://www.instagram.com/tomas.kaminski/?hl=en Instagram: https://www.tomaskaminski.com/ Linkedin: https://se.linkedin.com/in/tomas-kaminski-80b91280 Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak

In this episode, Lucas and Alex sit down with entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker, and leadership consultant Jim Koetting.Jim shares lessons from decades of building businesses, leading teams, speaking on stage, and helping organizations improve performance through better communication and stronger leadership.They explore why leadership problems are often communication problems, how AI is changing the workplace, and why technology can amplify both great leaders and bad ones.Jim also discusses the ideas behind his book Hijacked, explaining how screens, dopamine, and constant distraction are changing the way people think, communicate, and connect with others.They talk about:Why AI makes you more of what you already areThe communication skill every leader needsWhy relationships matter more than talentHow distraction is affecting modern workplacesWhy listening is one of the most powerful leadership skillsBuilding authority through public speakingIf you're interested in leadership, communication, public speaking, AI, productivity, or building stronger relationships, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.Connect with Jim Website: https://www.jimkoetting.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkoetting1/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimkoetting Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak

Are you losing people during presentations?Is it the topic? Is it the speaker? Or is it something deeper?In this episode we sit down and explore why some speakers can make the most boring topic sound fascinating while others can make skydiving sound boring. Lucas and Alex break down the real reasons you might be losing an audience, the mistakes that kill attention and why trying to sound "professional" often has the opposite effect.They talk about:• The real reason audiences lose interest• Why filler words can destroy credibility• The fastest way to kill a room in the first minute• Storytelling vs. audience interaction• Why people remember stories but forget information• The danger of following presentation templates• How to make even "boring" topics engaging• Why being human beats being professionalIf you've ever wondered why some presentations captivate a room while others make people reach for their phones, this episode will change the way you think about public speaking.Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speakConnect with AlexInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarlung/Linkedin: https://se.linkedin.com/in/alexander-grabner-jarlungConnect with LucasInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr_reuterstig/Linkedin: https://se.linkedin.com/in/reuterstig 

In this SPEAKERx edition of The Public Speaking Podcast, we sit down with Jonas Frydal, leadership expert and bestselling author.He shares why leadership it's about creating environments where people feel safe enough to speak up, contribute ideas, make mistakes, and grow.The conversation explores the difference between management and leadership, why human connection matters more than ever in the age of AI, and how leaders can build stronger teams by focusing on people instead of processes.Jonas also takes us behind the scenes of his SPEAKERx Signature Talk, where he explores an unexpected idea: the opposite of tyranny is play.They also talk about:• How to build psychological safety inside teams• The challenge of turning years of leadership experience into a 10-minute Signature Talk• The role of self-leadership in personal and professional growth• What most leaders get wrong about influence and authorityIf you've ever managed a team, worked under a difficult leader, or wondered how great leaders create trust, this episode offers a fresh perspective on leadership, communication, and human connection.Do you want to watch Jonas’ full Signature Talk? Here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/Oc2n1SCWeD0?si=FwEHuPC6HTQ5WwE8Website: frydal.seLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/jonasfrydalNewsletter: nyhetsbrev.frydal.seFollow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak

In this SPEAKERx edition of The Public Speaking Podcast, we sit down with Tamara Christmann Olofsson, entrepreneur and speaker focused on personal development and leadership.For nearly two decades, her work building adventure parks Tamara has seen people all the time standing up in the trees on the heights and  has helped them face something most of us try to avoid: fear.Tamara shares the childhood dream that eventually became her business, the lessons she learned from helping people step outside their comfort zones, and how SPEAKERx helped her discover that her personal story was actually the foundation of her message.They talk about:Why courage is not the absence of fearThe difference between listening to fear and obeying itFinding your unique voice as a speakerTurning life experiences into a signature talkEmotions are the most powerful topic in our stories.The belief that keeps people stuck waitingIf you've ever felt like you need more confidence before taking action, this conversation might change the way you think about fear, courage, and being ready.Do you want to watch Tamara’s full Signature Talk? Here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/VmpfwU0MhiI Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaraupzone Webpage: https://upzone.se/ Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak

In this episode, Lucas and Alex sit down with Ben Sherry, speaking coach, live-event strategist, and founder of The Live Event Studio, to talk about the gap between having ideas and actually putting them into the world.The conversation explores why public speaking is becoming more valuable in the AI era, how live events create trust faster than online content, and why so many smart people stay invisible simply because they never share their ideas out loud.They also announce the launch of SKOOLx, a public speaking competition designed to help people build and deliver their own signature talk in front of a real audience.They talk about:Why speaking opportunities matter more than endless preparationThe difference between practicing speaking and truly connectingHow live events build trust faster than contentWhy AI makes human communication even more valuableBen’s journey from teacher to live-event strategistThe emotional side of learning to speak publiclyThe launch of SKOOLx and the chance to win a full SPEAKERx experienceIf you’ve ever struggled to put your ideas into words, felt invisible online, or wanted to become more confident speaking in front of people, this episode will push you to finally stop hiding what you have to say.Here’s the link to the biggest public speaking competition: https://headgain.com/skoolx Connect with Ben SherryLinkedin: https://tw.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-sherry1 Follow us on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/headgain.co/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublicspeakingchannelWebsite: https://headgain.com/Join our communityFree skool community: https://www.skool.com/beginnerPaid skool community: https://www.skool.com/speak