Apparently, speaking in front of people is one of the most feared things in the world. Which… checks out. Especially if you’re listening to this.

This conversation made me want to use my voice more. Not in a performative, “be louder” way. More in a stop overthinking and just say the thing kind of way.

This week, I’m joined by Annelise McCarthy: Speaking coach and the voice behind You’re On Mute. She’s just wrapped a national tour across Australia, teaching thousands of women how to speak with confidence.

We talk about:

• Why you’re not actually “bad at speaking”
• The gap between what you think… and what you say out loud
• Thought-to-speech fluency (and how you can train it)
• Why confidence doesn’t come before you speak
• What “taking up space” actually looks like (and why it’s not about being louder)

We also get into the less visible side of it: the self-doubt, the inner work, and the routines Annelise relies on before she steps on stage.

If you’ve ever sat in a meeting, had the thought… and then kept it to yourself, this one’s for you.

Send it to someone who’s been told to “just speak up more.”

Or save it for the next time you’re about to go off mute.

Connect with Annelise: https://www.instagram.com/theannelisemccarthy/

Follow Awfully Quiet: https://www.instagram.com/awfullyquietpod/