Overcoming Speaking Fear with Marjorie Saulson – PTC543

·50 min·5 clips

Eric reveals how Oprah and Rush Limbaugh rose to the top only when they started doing it their way.

The episode begins with Eric K. Johnson introducing the show's focus on turning podcast information into engaging entertainment. He argues that perspective, not content, separates influential voices, using examples like Oprah Winfrey and Rush Limbaugh who succeeded by being themselves. Eric shares a personal anecdote about his early radio days when a program director criticized him for not being authentic, leading him to embrace his quirky personality. He then introduces Marjorie Saulson, a communication confidence coach with accolades like Top Speaking Coach of the Year. Marjorie discusses her background, including being a shy child who didn't talk until age four and her career as a teacher and volunteer. She explains her transition to coaching after market research revealed people wanted confidence, not just speaking skills. Marjorie presents her three-legged stool metaphor: the what (message), how (visual and oral presentation), and allow (overcoming fear). She delves into the importance of pauses, citing comedians as masters of timing, and references the 7-38-55 communication study about words, tone, and body language. Marjorie addresses common fears of public speaking, such as criticism and rejection, and advises reframing nervous energy as excitement. She shares a client story about a statistician who overcame panic attacks with flashcards and rehearsal techniques. Practical tips include deep breathing, baby steps like joining Toastmasters, and avoiding verbal crutches. The conversation covers Marjorie's free guide on preparing for interviews, which involves reverse-engineering questions. Eric promotes his origin story masterclass throughout, emphasizing the importance of personal narrative. The episode ends with calls to action for both resources.

As heard by us

Marjorie Saulson's path from teaching and family responsibility into volunteer work and speaking training gives authority a lived, practical shape.

Authority under pressure lands here as a practical life story rather than a slogan. In conversation with Marjorie Saulson, Eric K. Johnson begins with the idea that influence depends less on the words themselves than on the person speaking them, then gives Saulson room to show…

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Want to feel steadier speaking when life has already changed your role?

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