#189. Finding Your Voice: Speak Confidently & Lead Authentically with Lauri Smith

In this rich, soulful conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Lauri Smith—speaker, author, coach, and host of the Untamed Leader Podcast—who helps wild-hearted leaders stop performing and start transforming the energy of the room when they speak. Drawing on decades in theater and coaching, Lauri's work is rooted in a simple but radical belief: the most charismatic, compelling version of you is the one you were born as, before the world told you to tone it down.Throughout the episode, Lauri explores why being heard isn't just about finding the right words, but about what your body is doing when you say them, how your breath is (or isn't) moving, and whether you're playing offense or defense before you've even opened your mouth. Her reframe: instead of trying not to do it wrong, set an intention for what you want the room to feel—and lead from there.Lauri also tackles the difference between assertive and aggressive, why "scarecitement" might be more honest than either fear or confidence. Her book, Your Voice Matters: A Guide to Speaking Soulfully When It Counts, is the quieter, introvert-friendly entry point for anyone who has a message but isn't quite ready to step into the room yet.If you've ever walked into a room and immediately made yourself smaller—pulled in your energy, chosen your words carefully—this conversation is for you. Lauri has a way of making you realize that the version of you that got quietly tamed over the years isn't gone. She's just waiting for permission to show up. And your voice? It's not just yours. It's a necessary part of the human orchestra—and the world actually needs to hear it.Bio:Lauri Smith is a speaker, author, coach, and host of the Untamed Leader Podcast. She treats leadership as a sacred art — one that raises consciousness and guides people home to their true selves.Theatre was Lauri's first spiritual home. At 7 years old, her mother found her in the backyard talking to herself and signed her up for acting class. Surrounded by deeply present creatives, it was the first place she felt fully alive. Years later, while juggling an office job by day and theatre by night, someone asked her to fax something — and a voice inside screamed, Don't you know I'm meant for greater things? She stopped hiding. She stopped performing. She crossed a threshold back into everything she'd been told she couldn't or shouldn't be her entire life: Wild. Emotional. Raw. Intuitive. Untamed. Radiant. She let go of who the world told her to be and remembered who she actually is.That moment reshaped how she leads, speaks, and lives. Today, Lauri helps wild-hearted leaders stop performing and start transforming the energy of the room when they speak — so they can ignite meaningful change.Connect with Lauri:Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTubeResources: The Speaker Alter Ego Quiz – Reveal the mask that dims your one-in-eight-billion radiance and step into speaking and leading from your untamed, soul-aligned voice.Books mentioned:Your Voice Matters: A Guide to Speaking Soulfully When It Counts – Bookshop | AmazonThe Soul-Sourced Entrepreneur by Christine Kane – Bookshop | AmazonThe Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – Bookshop | AmazonPodcasts mentioned: Untamed Leader Podcast with Lauri Smith | Everything is Energy with Cathy Heller | The Bridges and Beacons with Kelly Myerson━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review and share it with a friend. The more we educate, inspire, and empower each other, the further this conversation goes.Questions or just want to say hi? Find me at PocketsofKnowledge.com or on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services mentioned. Nothing here is medical advice—I'm not a doctor. Please consult a qualified health professional for any medical concerns.