Speaking With Confidence

What if the secret to real confidence in communication isn’t about having all the right answers, but about asking better questions?

Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence! I’m Tim Newman, your host and a recovering college professor turned communication coach. In this episode, we dig deep into the misconception that confidence means certainty and flip the script to show how the best communicators are defined not by what they know, but by how curious they are.

Joining me today is Michael Ashford, a dynamic communication and leadership coach, longtime marketing executive, and two-time TEDx speaker. Michael Ashford is passionate about empowering people to communicate in ways that traditional education rarely touches, helping us inspire change, drive action, and resolve conflict more effectively in our lives.

Together, we explore Michael Ashford’s journey from nearly failing out of college as an engineering major to finding his true path in journalism, a shift that taught him the importance of aligning passion, curiosity, and personal fulfillment. He shares how letting go of other people’s expectations and finding his own voice became foundational to his confidence and success.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:


The false belief that confidence requires always being right and what true confidence really looks like


Michael Ashford's honest story of personal and academic failure, and how curiosity led him to a career aligned with his values


The pivotal role of communication skills in every aspect of life and leadership


Why the education system fails us by prioritizing certainty over curiosity and the ability to ask better questions


How to break out of the sunk cost fallacy in careers, relationships, and heated debates


The impact of information overload and social media on our ability to trust, listen, and connect


The practical power of curiosity how asking more questions shifts conversations, builds trust, fosters empathy, and increases genuine confidence


Tips for anyone wanting to be a better communicator today: ask more questions, get curious about your own motivations, and embrace the “power of the pause” before responding


How true introspection and questioning our own beliefs lays the foundation for alignment, fulfillment, and lasting confidence

This episode is packed with real talk, actionable strategies, and stories you can relate to whether you want to communicate better at work, defuse conflicts at home, or just find your own unique voice. Dive in, and discover how you can become the curious, confident communicator you’re meant to be.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever sat through a meeting and wondered why the loudest voice in the room seems to dominate yet rarely drives any real influence? In this episode of Speaking With Confidence, I’ll answer a question that impacts every professional gathering: If it’s not the loudest voice that wins the room, what actually does?

I’m Tim Newman, a recovering college professor turned communication coach, and today I’m pulling back the curtain on what really makes someone the most influential person in the room. Spoiler: It’s not volume, and it’s not vocabulary. After years in boardrooms, classrooms, and meetings of every kind, I’ve seen firsthand and struggled through myself the pitfalls of overcomplicating messages, hiding behind jargon, and talking just to fill the silence. The result? You risk becoming background noise, no matter how many slides or big words you pack in.

Today’s episode is all about becoming the person who can say the one thing everyone is thinking but can’t quite put into words. I’ll walk you through research-backed truths on attention spans, the brutal math of memory retention, and the real cost of poor communication in the workplace. We’ll talk about why clarity is the most valuable currency you can bring to a group, and how being a clarifier trumps being the show-off or the non-stop talker every single time. I’m sharing the three habits that will make you the clarifier in any room, and you’ll walk away with tools you can use in your very next meeting.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:


Why the loudest person is rarely the most influential and what actually creates influence


The attention span cliff: what happens at minute 15 and why 18 minutes is a magic number


The science of memory retention and why going long costs you credibility


The “8th grade rule” for simplifying your message


The staggering cost of poor communication in organizations


Three habits to make you the architect of any conversation: the two second pause, the one sentence summary, and the clarifying question


Practical examples and questions you can use to shift from noise-maker to problem-solver instantly

If you’ve ever left a meeting frustrated because you didn’t feel heard or wondered why your great idea didn’t seem to stick, this episode is for you. Join me to learn how being a clarifier, not a commentator, will make you the most influential person in every room you enter. And remember: You don’t need a new personality, just a handful of simple tactical switches to start commanding attention and guiding conversations with confidence.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s really holding you back from being a confident, impactful communicator could it be less about your words and more about truly understanding yourself?

Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence! I’m Tim Newman, and in this episode, we dig deep into the heart of communication not just the techniques and the tips, but the self-awareness that’s at the foundation of how you show up and connect with others. Today, I’m joined by Sandy Gerber, a powerhouse communication coach, emotional intelligence trainer, TEDx speaker, and the award-winning author of Emotional Magnetism. Sandy’s journey from outward business success to a reckoning with personal fulfillment will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt their “on paper” life didn’t match up with how things felt inside.

We kicked things off by asking the big question: is it really your communication skills that need fixing, or could it be a lack of self-awareness that’s clouding your conversations with others? Sandy shares a pivotal moment in her life, when, despite all the trappings of success, she felt like a fraud because her personal relationships weren’t thriving. That realization kicked off a decade-long exploration into what makes relationships at home and at work genuinely successful.

We talk about how so many of us are “winging it” when it comes to communication, borrowing strategies from family or the workplace without understanding our own internal dialogue. Sandy opens up about learning from her failures, seeking out wisdom from luminaries like John Maxwell and Wayne Dyer, and ultimately developing her framework of emotional magnetism, the idea that we’re each driven by core emotional needs that shape our decisions and interactions.

Here’s what we covered:

The difference between communication problems and self-awareness problems

Sandy’s journey from outward success to confronting personal dissatisfaction

Why “looking successful” isn’t the same as “feeling successful”
The role of emotional magnetism in shaping our choices and relationships

How to identify and honor your and others’ core emotional motivators

The pitfalls of labeling others (and yourself) by behavior rather than by motivations

Why authentic connection and empathy are built on understanding “why”

Tools for regulating your emotions in high-stress moments (the EQ Switch)

The neuroscience behind naming your emotions and calming your nervous system

Recognizing and addressing emotional disengagement (“quiet cracking”) in the workplace

The fundamental importance of intentional pausing and reflection as a communicator

Actionable body language tips to look more confident and approachable (“the E trick”)

The life-changing impact of choosing your first and last thoughts each day

Why doing the work on yourself is non-negotiable for genuine leadership and influence

This episode is all about moving from surface-level techniques to deep transformation so you can communicate, connect, and lead with real confidence.

Connect with Sandy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgerber/    

Website: https://sandygerber.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandy_gerber_official/  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ConnectedConversationsSG   

Magnetic Communication podcast: https://sandygerber.com/podcast/

Podcast Award Voting: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/magnetic-communication

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered how some people seem effortlessly articulate, making every word count, while others struggle to get their point across? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I break down exactly what it takes to become that person the one others listen to, respect, and remember by following a simple 21-day system.

I'm Tim Newman, a recovering college professor turned communication coach, and I'm on a mission to help you discover the three foundational habits that can transform your speaking skills with no charisma required. Today, I’ll walk you through my step-by-step approach to building articulation as a skill, not a talent. Forget what you think you know about natural-born communicators. Together we’ll prove that anyone can learn to command a room and get results.

We start by facing the real costs of poor communication, not just the $2 trillion it costs US businesses each year, but the quiet daily losses: fumbled meetings, muddled emails, and missed chances to show your worth. Then, I’ll guide you through each week of the system, designed so you can practice, record your progress, and see tangible clarity, confidence, and control develop day by day.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:


Why articulation isn’t a talent, but a trainable, measurable skill if you use a structured approach


The silent tax of poor communication in your professional life, and how it shows up in lost opportunities


Week 1: Building clarity through “visual nouns” learning to paint pictures instead of offering empty abstractions


Week 2: Leading with impact by putting your bottom line up front (BLUF), so your audience hears your message first, not buried in context


Week 3: Commanding the room through staccato phrasing and confidence-boosting pauses, so you sound thoughtful, not rushed


Practical, daily exercises for each habit, including rewriting emails, reframing project descriptions, and practicing presence in meetings


Why recording yourself at the beginning and end of this journey is proof of progress, not perfection


The ultimate takeaway: how to reach for concrete words, serve your conclusion before your context, and master the power of the pause

Whether you want to stand out in meetings, make your emails count, or simply stop feeling like you’re speaking “in clouds,” this episode delivers the tools and the mindset you need to level up starting today. Don’t wait to feel ready. Press record, follow the system, and watch your communication transform in just 21 days. And remember: talk like you’re correct, listen like you’re wrong.

For more resources, grab your free eBook “Top 21 Challenges for Public Speakers and How to Overcome Them” at speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com and check out my Formula for Public Speaking course. Your voice truly can change the world. Let's make sure it gets heard.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the way you sound matters just as much if not more than the words you say? We often believe that effective communication starts and ends with content, but in today’s episode, we dig beneath the surface: how can aligning your voice with your authentic self change the way you connect with others?

I’m Tim Newman, and this week on Speaking with Confidence, I invited Wolfe Lanier to join me for a truly eye-opening conversation. Wolfe is a Somatic Voice practitioner and researcher, currently completing his MFA in Voice Studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. His journey has taken him from the mountains of Appalachia, through New York’s corporate coaching world, into deep somatic practice all fueled by a central, fascinating question: why is there often a gap between who we are and how we come across?

Wolfe shared his own story of performance anxiety, stage fright, and that all-too-relatable feeling of disconnect between inner worth and outward expression. We explored how self-talk, ego, and even physical tension in the body shape the sound of our voice and how often, what’s holding us back in communication is much deeper than we realize.

Here’s what we covered in this episode:


Why your voice often reveals more than your words


Wolfe’s personal journey from stage fright to vocal research


The connection between self-talk, inner worth, and how you sound


The science and experience of “vocal congruence”


How culture, accent, and history influence voice and acceptance


The role of somatic practice and releasing physical tension


Why most people are their own worst critics and how to break the cycle


The interplay between ego, perfectionism, and authentic communication


Generational shifts in communication styles and expectations


Step-by-step advice for building confidence and congruence in your voice

If you’ve ever wished your voice could reflect your real confidence, or you’ve struggled to feel truly comfortable speaking up, this episode will give you a fresh perspective and practical steps to start bridging the gap between who you are and how you come across.

Connect with Wolfe:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfe-lanier-1186a61b/

Website: https://www.wolfelanier.com  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfe.lanier/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices