Speaking With Confidence

Have you ever walked out of a tough conversation and found yourself replaying it in your head for hours, unable to move on? If so, you’re not alone and today’s episode is here to help you finally break that cycle.

I’m Tim Newman, your host at Speaking with Confidence, and in this episode, we’re tackling the part of communication that no one talks about what to do after the conversation ends. As a recovering college professor turned communication coach, I’ve seen time and again that the real work and the biggest challenges often come in those quiet moments after the words are done.

Let’s face it: most of us think once the hard discussion is over, we’re supposed to instantly “move on.” But our bodies and minds rarely let us off that easily. Whether you just navigated a tense moment with your boss, had to deliver bad news, or disagreed with someone you care about, that post-conversation adrenaline can keep you stuck in rumination and anxiety long after the room goes silent.

In this episode, I’m sharing a practical 4-step reset that separates people who can let things go from those who end up dragging that baggage into every future conversation. You’ll learn not just what happens in the brain and body after a tough talk but what to actually do about it.

Here’s what we covered today:

Why your nervous system can’t tell the difference between a tense conversation and running from a bear, and why the adrenaline surge makes it so hard to think clearly after a difficult exchange.

The difference between rumination (unproductive replaying) and genuine reflection, plus a simple test to help you determine which one you’re doing.

Step 1: Stop. Why you have to give yourself at least 20 minutes for your body to clear out stress hormones before you analyze what happened, and how movement can help you reset.

The importance of giving yourself grace, not just to others, and how skipping this step can keep you stuck in yesterday’s tension.

Step 2: The reflection test is an actionable way to spot if you’re actually learning from the experience or just spinning your wheels.

Step 3: Writing out the conversation like a transcript, capturing what was actually said (not just what you felt or remember), and how this builds accuracy and empathy for yourself and for others.

Step 4: The follow-up decision is to determine if you need to reach out and close the loop with someone, or consciously let it go and move forward, so lingering tension doesn’t fester in your life or at work.

Why a deliberate decision to release a conversation is the key to sleeping well and not carrying unresolved stress with you.

A final challenge for you: what to do next time you leave a hard conversation, so you’re not trapped by it.

No guests today, just me, sharing what I’ve learned both in the classroom and as a coach about how to navigate the aftermath of tough conversations with clarity and confidence. If you’re ready to reclaim your peace of mind, build healthier relationships, and stop letting old arguments steal your energy, this episode is for you.

Remember, progress beats perfection. Be sure to check out the free resources and course information at speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com. Your voice and your ability to reset after the hard talks can change your world.
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What would you do if you were fired at 63, staring down the barrel of financial ruin with just two years before the money ran out? Today’s episode dives deep into this very question and the surprising answers that can only come when there's no plan B left.

Welcome back to Speaking with Confidence! I’m Tim Newman, and in this episode, we explore not just the journey from zero to a seven-figure portfolio, but the grit, resilience, and communication skills necessary to rewrite your story, no matter your age or starting point. This isn’t just about finances; it’s about the mental and emotional side of rebuilding when your confidence has been shattered, and the world has moved on without you.

Our guest is David Nassief, the author of The One-Page Wealth Compass, whose book became an Amazon #1 hot new release and topped charts in retirement, investing, and budgeting categories. David’s story isn’t a fairy tale it’s a gripping reality of facing a late-career layoff, family anxiety, rejection after rejection, and the massive psychological hurdles of feeling like you’re out of options. But it’s also a story of redemption, practical strategy, and finding true confidence on the other side.

In our conversation, David opens up about the emotional impact of losing his job after 18 years with the same company not just on his finances, but on his identity and his relationship with his wife. We discuss what it feels like to tell your spouse you might be broke in two years, and the quiet strength it takes to accept reassurance from someone who knows you can pull through even when you’re not so sure yourself. David shares about his lowest point in a grocery store aisle, feeling completely out of place and overwhelmed by shame and self-doubt, and how facing that moment became the catalyst for change.

Here’s what we covered in this episode:

The emotional and psychological impact of late-career job loss

Talking to your spouse about financial crisis and building a support system

Overcoming rejection, rebuilding confidence, and why grit matters

The difference between making money and building lasting wealth

How small investment fees can quietly destroy your financial future

Turning past failures into powerful lessons for success

The transformative value of communication, public speaking, and cold calling

The importance of humor and authenticity in difficult times

Practical steps from the One-Page Wealth Compass for simplifying wealth-building

The urgent case for financial literacy in schools and how to think critically about financial advice

Letting go of shame, embracing your personal story, and finding confidence on your own terms

Whether you’re facing a career setback, trying to get your finances in order, or looking to strengthen your confidence in any area of life, this episode is packed with real talk, actionable tips, and a lot of heart. As always, thanks for listening to Speaking with Confidence. Remember, your voice, your story, and your resilience matter more than you think.

Connect with David:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/111549991

Website: https://onepagewealthcompass.com

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

Book: https://www.amazon.com/One-Page-Wealth-Compass-Nearly-Millionaire-ebook/dp/B0G5JPX17R

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Have you ever wondered why your team keeps hitting the same roadblocks during tough conversations, even after attending communication training? In this episode, I get to the heart of why knowing what not to do isn’t enough and share the system that finally gives your team the words and tools to handle conflict before it explodes.

I’m Tim Newman, and today on Speaking with Confidence, I’m diving into what it really takes to flip those negative habits that sabotage hard conversations into positive ones that drive real collaboration. There’s no guest today, just an honest breakdown of practical tools you can start using right away.

Last week, we named the five habits that hijack difficult conversations: win at all costs, react instead of respond, only my opinion matters, never ask questions, and get even. If you missed it, definitely go back and listen, because today’s episode builds on those ideas and moves us forward.

Here’s the tough truth: knowing what’s wrong doesn’t automatically mean we know how to get it right. You can recognize bad habits all day long and still have no idea how to turn things around in the heat of the moment. That’s why today, I show you how to build the five habits that make conflict your team’s best tool rather than its biggest threat. We talk through my three-step system for making sure these new habits aren’t just words in a workbook, but living, breathing patterns your team uses every day.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through:

Why avoiding hard conversations doesn’t make your team more peaceful, it makes things more dangerous, as small disagreements silently snowball into major problems.

The first step: naming the enemy together and recognizing that negative patterns are shared challenges, not personal flaws. I show you how to help your team see conflict as a pattern they can all recognize and change, using real-life examples from your own workplace.

The second step: flipping it together. We dig into what the five positive RIGHT habits are: respect before rebuttal, investigate with curiosity, grace, here to understand, and think together. I show you how to map real team conflicts from “wrong” to “right,” making the fixes obvious and practical.

The danger of weaponizing the framework, and why progress is more important than perfection plus why making the language simple enough for anyone to explain is key.

The third step: anchoring these habits with a team cue a shared phrase or code word that prompts everyone to pause and reset before things spiral out of control. I explain why the cue only works if your team truly “owns” it and how modeling it as a leader is the secret to making it stick.

The honest reality is that even great conflict training only reduces, not eliminates, conflict and that’s not a failure, but a sign your team is learning to handle disagreements with trust and confidence.

I end by challenging you to take just one step this week whether it’s naming a wrong, mapping a real conflict to right, or introducing your team’s cue in a low-stakes setting. Remember, real progress comes from using these tools in actual conversations, not just understanding them in theory.

If you’re ready to transform the way your team handles tough conversations, this episode is for you. Be sure to visit speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com for your free public speaking ebook and to register for my Formula for Public Speaking course. As always, your voice has the power to change the world. Let’s build the habits that unlock it.

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What does it really take to be heard across generational lines, and how can we bridge the communication gap between Gen Z and other generations? That’s the big question we tackle in this episode of Speaking with Confidence.

I’m Tim Newman, and today we dive into the evolving landscape of communication far beyond polished speeches and proper grammar. It’s about making people feel seen, heard, and understood. This episode features an eye-opening conversation with Raquel Borras, creator of “Rock the Boat,” founder of Rock Vision, brand strategist, podcast host, and filmmaker. Raquel is on a mission to help us stop talking about Gen Z and start listening to them, taking the bold step of traveling cross-country in an RV to connect with Gen Zers face-to-face and create her new documentary, “I Hear You, Gen Z.”

In our conversation, Raquel shares what drove her to leave her corporate job, fund her filmmaking adventure with her own savings, and the life-changing experiences that unfolded along the way. We discuss the importance of not burning bridges, as Raquel recounts her ongoing positive relationship with her former company illustrating how supportive networks are crucial, no matter where your path leads.

Raquel gives us an inside look at the journey of making “I Hear You, Gen Z,” sharing the surprises and lessons learned as she met young people across the country. What stood out most was Gen Z's reliability and willingness to show up and engage, challenging so many tired stereotypes about this generation’s work ethic and priorities. We talk about the often-overlooked impact of the pandemic on Gen Z’s communication skills and how, instead of blaming them, we need to recognize the responsibility of older generations for shaping the current social and technological environment.

In this episode, we cover:

Why making others feel heard is the ultimate communication skill

Raquel's leap from corporate to purpose-driven storytelling

The real-life lessons from traveling the country for “I Hear You, Gen Z”

Busting myths about Gen Z’s work ethic, reliability, and motivations

The impact of the pandemic and social shifts on Gen Z communication

How adults are responsible for many of the systemic challenges facing youth

Reverse mentoring and breaking down generational silos in the workplace

Evolving approaches to parenting, boundaries, and building trust

How technology both enables and complicates real connection

Finding and valuing every story: why every voice matters

Inspiring stories of Gen Zers making a difference and how we can all learn from them

Ultimately, if you want to build real confidence in communication at home, at work, or in society this conversation is for you. We can change the narrative, embrace empathy, and start seeing every generation, including Gen Z, as teachers, leaders, and partners in progress.

Connect with Raquel:

Website: https://raq.vision

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-borras/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raquel.borras/

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

I Hear You Gen Z Documentary: https://my.linkpod.site/IHearYouGenZ

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Have you ever wondered why even your best arguments leave people tuning out or avoiding you entirely? In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I tackle the hidden habits that quietly wreck our conversations often without us realizing it. If you’ve ever felt like you keep “winning” at work or in your personal life, but walking away with damaged relationships or unresolved issues, you’re not alone. Today, I’ll help you diagnose exactly what’s going wrong under the surface, so you can start making positive changes.

We often assume that because we talk a lot, we’re skilled communicators. But as I share in this episode, talking isn’t the same as communicating and somewhere along the way, we started treating conversations like competition instead of collaboration. Whether it’s the Monday morning meeting, a heated text exchange, or a hasty email you regret sending later, the patterns are the same. I’ll break down my OWN diagnostic framework, WRONG, five habits that sneak into our conversations and leave us disconnected from the very people we most want—or need to reach.

This time, it’s just me, Tim Newman, your host and a recovering college professor turned communication coach. I’m passionate about helping you build not just your public speaking skills or storytelling chops, but the soft skills that drive real results in every conversation that counts.

Here’s what I cover in this episode:

Why “winning” every argument can actually lose you the room and sabotage trust

The WRONG framework: five habits that quietly wreck even our most important conversations

W: Why “Win at all costs” poisons your effectiveness and relationships

R: How “React instead of respond” turns your emotions into your worst enemy (and what biology has to do with it)

O: Why believing “Only my opinion matters” is confirmation bias in disguise and locks out new ideas

N: The power lost when you “Never ask questions” and how questions turn conversations into connection and discovery

G: How “Get even” turns honest disagreements into score-settling and why this is the most damaging habit of all

Real-world examples of these habits in action, from the workplace to your personal life

The science and research behind why we fall into these traps and what it costs us in productivity and trust

A practical weekly challenge to help you recognize and change just one of these self-sabotaging habits

If you recognize yourself in a couple (or even all) of these habits, don’t worry that’s exactly where growth begins. Next episode, I’ll share the right way to build civil, effective conversations that genuinely move things forward. For now, tune in and take the first step by naming what’s actually wrong then watch your communication start to change.

Don’t forget, you can grab your free ebook on the top 21 challenges for public speakers at speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com and register for my upcoming public speaking course as well. Your voice has the power to change the world. Let's make sure you’re using it to connect, not just compete.
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