Ep 030: Why Even Top Leaders Fear Public Speaking—and What Devin Sarno Teaches to Fix It

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What do a teenage debate champion, a C-suite executive, and a karaoke-dodging jazz singer all have in common? Yep—public speaking anxiety.

In this episode of She Takes The Lead, I sit down with the fantastic and fun Devin Sarno—founder of Parlay Communicators, keynote speaker, and public speaking coach—to unpack why so many of us freeze up when it’s time to speak in front of others... even if we’re literally pros.

Devin shares how her theater background and coaching competitive speech and debate for teens shaped her unique, empathy-first approach to helping people use their voice without fear (or fake pep talks). From awkward boardroom requests to "just sing something" conference room horror stories, we talk about why even the most seasoned professionals can feel like total frauds with a mic in hand.

You’ll learn:

• Why imposter syndrome and stage fright are basically evil twins
• How to build trust when you only have 60 seconds and a shaky voice
• The key to sounding like a leader—even when you’re internally screaming
• What to do when a performance becomes about proving people wrong (hint: don’t do it)
• How introverts can connect authentically without oversharing or trauma-dumping (yep, we said it)

Whether you’re pitching, presenting, or just trying to talk to another parent at the school bake sale without breaking into a flop sweat—this one’s for you.

Listen now and learn how to stop white-knuckling your way through every conversation. Your voice deserves to be heard—without the panic.

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