The Toastmasters Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered how to handle stage fright before a speech, you’re in good company. Even experienced speakers feel the adrenaline spike before walking on stage, opening a Zoom room, or stepping up for table topics. The goal isn’t to eliminate nerves completely. It’s to keep them from taking over.


That matters because stage fright shows up in real ways: a dry mouth, shaky hands, a racing heart, a blank mind right when you need your first sentence. The good news is that these reactions are manageable. With the right preparation, you can turn that energy into focus instead of panic.


This guide is for speakers, Toastmasters members, workshop presenters, and anyone who wants a practical way to calm down and perform well. It’s not about pretending to be fearless. It’s about having a repeatable process you can use every time.



How to handle stage fright before a speech starts


Stage fright is usually strongest in the minutes before speaking, not during the speech itself. That means your best tools are the ones you use before you begin: preparation, breathing, body language, and a clear starting routine.


Think of stage fright like a fire alarm. It’s loud, but not always accurate. Your body is telling you that something important is happening. That energy can help you if you know how to direct it.



1. Prepare for a strong opening, not a perfect speech


A lot of speaking anxiety comes from trying to remember everything at once. A better approach is to make the beginning of your speech automatic.


Memorize the first 20 to 30 seconds. Know your opening line, your first transition, and the first point you want to make. If you can get through the start smoothly, your confidence usually rises quickly.


Here’s a simple prep checklist:




This is especially helpful in Toastmasters speech contests, meeting presentations, and client talks, where nerves tend to spike at the beginning.



2. Use a breathing pattern that slows the body down


When people ask how to handle stage fright before a speech, breathing is usually one of the first things mentioned, and for good reason. Your breathing tells your nervous system whether to stay on alert or settle down.


Try this before you speak:




The longer exhale is the key. It signals that you’re safe enough to relax. If you’re backstage or sitting in a meeting room, this can be done quietly and discreetly.


Another option is the “physiological sigh”: take one normal inhale, then a short second inhale on top of it, followed by a long exhale. Do that two or three times. It’s a quick reset when nerves are strong.



3. Loosen the body before the mind starts spiraling


Stage fright often shows up physically before it becomes a thought problem. Your shoulders rise. Your jaw tightens. Your hands feel awkward. If you don’t notice those signals, they can feed the fear.


A quick body scan can help:




This matters because speakers often try to solve anxiety by thinking harder. Sometimes the faster path is to change the body first. A calmer posture often leads to calmer thoughts.



4. Reframe the feeling instead of fighting it


One of the most useful mindset shifts is this: nerves are not proof that you are unprepared. They are proof that you care.


Before your speech, try replacing “I’m nervous” with something more useful, such as:




That may sound simple, but language shapes attention. The words you use before a speech can either calm you or intensify the spiral.



A practical pre-speech routine for nervous speakers


If you want a reliable answer to how to handle stage fright before a speech, create a routine you can repeat. A routine removes guesswork. It gives your brain a familiar sequence to follow when your adrenaline is high.


Here’s a 10-minute routine you can adapt:



10 minutes before speaking





2 minutes before speaking





At the moment you begin




That last point is important. Nervous speakers often speed up. A deliberate pause at the start creates control and gives the audience a moment to settle in.



Why practice under pressure helps more than rehearsal alone


It’s one thing to rehearse alone at home. It’s another to practice while feeling observed. Stage fright improves when you train under conditions that resemble the real event.


That’s why speaking clubs, peer feedback, and low-stakes practice matters. Toastmasters members often build confidence because they get repeated exposure to the very situation that causes nerves: standing up and speaking while others watch.


If you want to reduce stage fright, don’t only rehearse the content. Rehearse the conditions:




For speakers who like to learn from real examples, Toastmasters Podcast often features interviews with people who have dealt with fear, performed on bigger stages, and built confidence through repetition. Hearing how others manage their nerves can make your own process feel more normal.



What not to do when stage fright hits


Some advice sounds helpful but makes the problem worse. If you’re trying to figure out how to handle stage fright before a speech, avoid these common traps:




Instead, focus on controllables: breath, opening, posture, pace, and message.



How to handle stage fright before a speech in different settings


Not all speaking anxiety looks the same. The way you prepare may change depending on the setting.



For a Toastmasters speech


Use the opportunity to practice recovery as well as delivery. If you lose a word or sentence, pause, breathe, and continue. Audiences are more forgiving than speakers think, especially in a learning environment.



For a work presentation


Focus on structure. When content is organized clearly, your mind has fewer places to wander. A simple format such as problem, solution, next step often reduces stress.



For a speech contest


Expect nerves to be stronger than usual. Contests add pressure because the stakes feel higher. In that case, over-practice the opening and closing, and keep your routine consistent.



For online speaking


Camera anxiety is real. Look at the lens occasionally, not just the screen. Keep notes nearby, but avoid reading from them continuously. A clean environment also helps you feel more composed.



A simple mindset shift that changes everything


People often think confidence comes before action. In speaking, it usually comes after action. You build confidence by doing the thing while nervous and discovering that you can survive it.


That’s why the most effective answer to how to handle stage fright before a speech is not a single trick. It’s a small system:




Do that consistently and the fear usually becomes more manageable. Not gone, just smaller and less in charge.



Quick stage fright checklist


If you need a fast reminder before walking up to speak, use this:




If you can answer yes to most of those, you’re ready enough.



Final thoughts


Learning how to handle stage fright before a speech is less about becoming fearless and more about becoming prepared. Nerves may still show up, but they don’t have to dominate the moment. With a practiced opening, slower breathing, and a steady routine, you can step into the room with more control and less self-doubt.


And if you want more perspective from people who speak for a living, learn through coaching, or have turned nervous energy into confidence, Toastmasters Podcast is a useful place to hear real stories from the speaking world.


Start small. Rehearse the first minute. Use your breathing. Speak once. Then do it again.

[26:51] What happens when students are given a real stage and someone willing to guide them there? In this episode, Greg Gazin speaks with CeCe Espeut about helping students step onto South Florida’s TEDx Miramar stage and what unfolded along the way.
CeCe Espeut, a two-time TEDx speaker, five-time Distinguished Toastmaster, and creator of TEDx Miramar, brought together Toastmasters to mentor students preparing for their first talks. What began as a simple idea quickly became something more for the students, the mentors, and for CeCe herself.
Using a one-to-one mentoring approach, each student was paired with a Toastmaster. But it didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t just about coaching speeches. It was about learning how to listen, adapt, and meet each person where they are.
Listeners will hear…
How a one-to-one mentor model changed the dynamic for both students and coaches
Why “no crying allowed” forced mentors to rethink how they give feedback
The surprising difference between youth talks and adult TEDx ideas
How experienced speakers had to adapt—fast—to truly connect
What “accomplishment bonding” looks like—and why it matters
Some of the biggest shifts didn’t happen on stage. They happened in the way people communicated—with each other, and with themselves.
And in the end, it wasn’t just about the talks—it was about what it took to get there. Youth didn’t just find their voice. They helped others rediscover theirs.
CeCe is featured in the March 2026 Toastmaster Magazine article Youth Take the Stage: South Florida Toastmasters Help Young People Find Their Voice with TEDxMiramar Youth by Kate McClare.

About CeCe Espeut
CeCe Espeut is a two-time TEDx speaker, five-time Distinguished Toastmaster, and creator of TEDx Miramar. A former U.S. Marine, she is also an author and leadership mentor dedicated to helping others find and share their voice. She has been a Toastmaster since 2016, is a past Division Director, and a member of three clubs in District 47.
CeCe lives in Miramar, Florida and can be reached at: [email protected].

Additional Resources:
CeCe refers to Zone of Genius. You can also listen to Toastmasters Podcast Episode #285: Leading from Your Zone of Genius: Aligning Work with Passion, with Katie Stoddart.

[28:53] Across parts of Africa, Toastmasters has seen double- and even triple-digit growth over a 10-year period—at a time when global membership has slightly declined. So what changed—and why did it stick? Frank Tsuro shares his experience, what contributed to that growth, and what others can learn—while offering a closer look at Africa and Toastmasters across the continent.

Frank puts the growth into perspective, explaining that it was years in the making—built on long-term thinking, leadership continuity, and a willingness to expand beyond familiar territory.
He also points to a shift in how growth was approached—moving beyond simply adding clubs to thinking more strategically about how they support each other. That helped address one of the key challenges he describes: isolation, where single clubs struggled to sustain momentum on their own.
At the same time, Toastmasters met a real need. In many parts of Africa, people conduct business in English or French—even when those aren’t their first languages. It provided an accessible way to build communication skills, connect across cultures, and invest in personal growth—while opening the door for more people to step into leadership.
You can read Paul Sterman’s article, Africa’s Ascent: The continent has soared in Toastmasters growth, visibility, and performance, in the April 2026 issue of the Toastmaster magazine. You can also check out Family Ties and Toastmasters: Joining a Club Together Strengthens Bonds and Boosts Communication in the December 2025 issue.
Listeners will hear…
What drove double- and triple-digit Toastmasters growth across parts of Africa
Why a multi-year plan created momentum that carried across leadership teams
How one leadership visit helped shift the trajectory of an entire region
Why growing areas—not just individual clubs—leads to more sustainable success
How isolation can impact clubs—and what helps them stay strong
How younger leaders contributed to the growth and energy across the continent
Frank’s perspective reminds us that meaningful growth comes from consistency, shared vision, and people willing to step forward.
Along the way, it also offers a deeper appreciation for the diversity and potential across Africa—and the role Toastmasters can play.

About Frank Tsuro
Frank Tsuro works with first-generation leaders—individuals who have risen through talent and determination but were never handed the traditional leadership playbook. He has been a Toastmaster since 2012, is a Past International Director, and is a dual member of the Entrepreneurs Club and L’Avenir Toastmasters in Johannesburg. He lives between Harare, Zimbabwe, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Frank Tsuro lives between Harare, Zimbabwe, and Johannesburg, South Africa, and can be reached via Facebook and LinkedIn or email: [email protected]

[25:38] Imagine preparing for a presentation so intensely that you create life-size cutouts of your audience just to practice answering their toughest questions. That’s exactly what one entrepreneur and longtime Toastmaster did before pitching his business TV’s Shark Tank. In this episode host Greg Gazin speaks with Ari Siegel, founder of History By Mail, about how Toastmasters helped him prepare for one of the most high-pressure speaking moments imaginable—presenting his idea on national television in front of five investors and millions of viewers.
Ari explains that months of preparation allowed him to walk into the studio feeling excited rather than nervous. Ari studied past episodes, anticipated the kinds of questions investors might ask, and practiced his responses repeatedly. By the time he stepped into the tank, the pitch felt less like a risky moment and more like a well-rehearsed presentation.
One of Ari’s most interesting insights is how closely the format of the show resembles a Toastmasters meeting. Ari also shares how storytelling plays a central role in his business. His company, History By Mail, sends subscribers replicas of historical documents along with guides that explain the stories behind them. That same ability to bring history to life helped him communicate his idea clearly to the investors—and even led to an unexpected interaction with legendary magician David Copperfield.
Ari shares more about this experience in the Toastmasters Magazine article “Taking My Speaking Skills to TV: How Toastmasters Prepared Me for Shark Tank,” published in the March 2026 issue.

Listeners will hear…
• Why Ari says Shark Tank is surprisingly similar to a Toastmasters meeting—
• The unusual preparation method Ari used before appearing on the show:
• How Table Topics experience helped him respond to rapid-fire questions from multiple investors
• Why body language, posture, and eye contact play an important role in building credibility with an audience
• How storytelling helped Ari clearly explain the idea behind History By Mail
• What happened after the episode aired and the powerful “Shark Tank effect” that followed
• How Ari’s passion for historical storytelling eventually led to an unexpected interaction with magician David Copperfield
About Ari Siegel
Ari Siegel is the founder of History By Mail, a subscription service that delivers replicas of historical documents along with the stories behind them. A longtime Toastmaster, Ari credits the organization with helping him develop the communication skills that prepared him to pitch his business on national television on Shark Tank.
Ari Siegel lives in Chicago, Illinois and can be reached at: https://historybymail.com
You can also watch Ari's Shark Tank Pitch as well as his follow up appearance on YouTube.

[36:05] What would happen if you committed to having lunch with 500 strangers? In this episode, host Greg Gazin reconnects with Nick Bendel (Episode #250), who not only reached that goal, he surpassed it. What began as a business experiment to improve social skills became something much deeper, a lesson in confidence, curiosity and personal growth. This episode isn’t really about lunch. It’s about what happens when you choose discomfort long enough to grow.