The Caged Voice: Helen von Dadelszen on Nerves, Charisma and Courageous Action

In this episode I'm joined by Helen von Dadelszen, communications and vocal coach based near Geneva, Switzerland, and author of Courageous Action. Helen takes us from her theatre-filled childhood in New Zealand, through years working in the humanitarian sector, to a lightbulb moment watching brilliant HIV researchers fail to communicate their groundbreaking work on an international stage. That moment shaped everything she does now.We talk about why nerves aren't a red flag but a normal part of doing something that matters, what actually separates a confident communicator from an anxious one, and whether charisma can genuinely be taught. We also get into a properly thought-provoking discussion about why some of history's most dangerous communicators, and some of today's, are so effective, even when what they're saying isn't good, or true.We cover:Growing up in a theatre family, and why never questioning nerves shaped Helen's whole relationship with performingThe moment watching brilliant researchers fail to land their message on an international stage that changed the direction of her careerWhat "audience-centric" communication actually means, and why it matters even more in multicultural, multilingual settingsWhether charisma can be taught, and the specific, learnable habits behind itA frank conversation about why manipulative or dishonest communicators can still be deeply persuasive, and what that reveals about the power of delivery versus contentThe hardest conversation Helen ever had to have, and what she'd do differently with hindsightHer book, Courageous Action, and the one courageous step she'd encourage every listener to take this weekAbout Helen Helen von Dadelszen helps smart, thoughtful professionals get their brilliant ideas out of their heads and into the world with clarity, confidence and impact. She believes that confidence is built through action, not something we need to wait for before we speak, and that everyone has a unique way of communicating that can be strengthened, shaped and shared.As a communication and vocal coach, Helen supports people who are doing valuable work but need help expressing their message in a way that feels authentic to them and clear, compelling and useful to their audience.Helen is the founder of Present Potential Sàrl, where she provides practical training and coaching in public speaking, presentation skills, vocal presence and confident communication. She works with individuals, teams and organisations across technical, scientific, academic and humanitarian fields, helping them communicate complex, important ideas with greater clarity, authenticity and persuasive power.She is also the author of Courageous Action: Your Playbook for Communicating Confidently, One Small Step at a Time, a hands-on guide designed to help people grow their communication confidence through practical, achievable steps.Helen's work is strongly influenced by improvisational theatre. She uses improv principles to help clients become more present, responsive and comfortable with uncertainty, whether they are speaking on stage, contributing in meetings, answering questions or navigating high-pressure conversations.Theatre and performance have always been an essential part of Helen's life. She is an active member of her local Toastmasters club, has chaired and won several European speech contests, and regularly performs with a local improvisational theatre troupe.Originally from New Zealand and now based in Switzerland, Helen brings an international perspective to her work, along with a background in Human Resources, recruitment and large-scale event management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English Literature, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration endorsed in Human Resource Management, and a CELTA. Helen is also a Roger Love Method certified vocal coach and a facilitator of Collaborative Art team-building experiences.Connect with Helen: Book: courageousaction.ch Company website: academy.presentpotential.ch LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/helen-von-dadelszen YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCB_2NMosqJQBBiv5ux3mYHg Instagram: @present_potentialAbout Fran Fran Willoughby is an evidential medium, Reiki practitioner and intuitive facilitator, and the host of The Power of the Truth. Through Mojo Motivator she offers mediumship readings, oracle card readings, Reiki healing and coaching, helping people find clarity, connection and confidence through life's biggest transitions. Find out more or book a session at www.mojo-motivator.com.Send us Fan MailIf you have a story that you think would be good for the podcast, please do get in touch by emailing [email protected].