You Were Born A Great Speaker: Reclaiming Your Authentic Voice With Eric Edmeades

In this episode of Impact Through Voice, I sit down with world‑class speaker, trainer, and entrepreneur Eric Edmeades to dismantle some of the biggest myths about public speaking, confidence and authenticity. Eric has shared stages with Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, Bill Clinton, and is one of Mindvalley's most highly‑rated speakers and trainers. But he wasn't always confident on stage – in fact, he stayed terrified of public speaking well into his thirties. Together, we dive into how you can reclaim the powerful voice you were born with, and use it to grow your career, business and influence – whether you're an aspiring speaker, a coach, or a corporate executive. 🔑 In this episode, you'll discover: What truly makes a great speaker (and why "polish" isn't the answer) How school, parenting and corporate culture condition you to play small and conform Why saying "I'm so nervous" is often a subtle way of seeking sympathy – and how it undermines your authority The difference between fear and excitement, and how to reframe what you feel before you speak How to handle it when you blank out on stage – including a simple line that brings the audience onto your team Why public speaking is the #1 career superpower for executives and leaders Storytelling vs. fact‑telling: why audiences remember stories and forget data Eric's "Rembrandts in the Attic" approach to finding powerful stories in your own life How to build a story journal you can draw from for talks, presentations and content How AI can help you map your stories and build talks faster – without losing authenticity The key idea: "If you want the audience to feel, you have to feel." Whether you want to command a boardroom, deliver a TEDx talk, or become a highly‑paid professional speaker, this conversation will help you see your voice – and your potential – in a whole new way. 🎁 Free Gift from Eric: Discover Your Impact Profile Eric has created a powerful free assessment to help you understand your impact profile – the way you naturally create influence and value as a speaker, leader or coach. 👉 Take the free test here: https://impactdynamics.net You'll learn: Your natural impact style Your strengths, shadows and blind spots How to structure your business, content and team around your unique way of creating impact ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:56 – Intro – You were born a great speaker 01:45 – What actually makes a great speaker? (It's not what you think) 02:41 – How school and family teach us to shrink our voice 11:23 – The "I'm so nervous" sympathy trap and why it's NOT authentic 21:10 – Fear, excitement and what your body is really doing on stage 26:52 – What to do when you forget what you were going to say 31:38 – Corporate speaking: why conformity is killing your influence 34:10 – Public speaking as the ultimate career accelerant for executives 39:20 – Stories vs facts: why audiences remember stories 34:31 – The oxygen mask story and how to use stories in corporate talks 45:04 – "Rembrandts in the Attic": how to find your most powerful stories 49:23 – Using AI and a story journal to build your speaking library 57:43 – How to make your audience feel (and why that changes everything) 58:39 – Eric's impact profile test and final words on using your voice 🔗 Connect with Eric Edmeades Impact Profile Test: https://impactdynamics.net Instagram: @ericedmeades 🔗 Connect with Lisa Hugo I'm Lisa Hugo, a professional performer turned voice and communication coach, obsessed with helping you find your voice so you can be seen as an authority, grow your business, and build a life on your terms. Instagram: Lisa Hugo Official Facebook: Lisa Hugo Official Coaching & programs: https://lisahugo.com ❤️ Enjoying the podcast? If you've reached the end of this episode, it means you're enjoying the show – and that means the world to me. Follow / Subscribe to Impact Through Voice so you never miss an episode Leave a rating and review – it truly helps us reach more people and change more lives through voice Screenshot this episode, share it on Instagram or Facebook, and tag me at @lisahugoofficial so I can say a personal thank you and reshare your post Keep using your voice to create impact – in your own life, and in the lives of others.