Nicola S. Morgan is a dynamic speaker, trainer, and author who helps individuals and organisations transform chaos into calm, and emotional strain into sustainable strength. With a background in education and behavioural change, she specialises in resilience, emotional wellbeing, and effective behaviour strategies—skills she’s delivered to thousands of professionals across schools, public services, and corporate teams.

Nicola’s powerful storytelling and practical frameworks have earned her accolades, including Best TEDx Talk 2024 at the Speaker Awards, where her talk resonated deeply with audiences navigating stress and uncertainty.

She’s not just a speaker—she’s walked the talk. From overcoming a fear of deep water to completing a swim across the English Channel, Nicola’s own journey fuels her message about courage, mindset, and unfinished business.

Whether she’s helping a school leader navigate conflict or guiding a speaker to handle stage pressure with grace, Nicola equips people with the tools to stay calm, connected, and effective—even under stress.

What You’ll Discover:

• What drove Nicola to swim the English Channel… despite a fear of deep water
• How “unfinished business” can become a secret weapon for confidence and growth
• The behind-the-scenes story of her award-winning TEDx talk—and whether that captain’s comment haunted or inspired her
• The surprising moment she realised she had a message the world needed to hear
• The resilience skill that works just as well in a school staffroom as it does in a high-stakes boardroom
• Why the strongest speakers aren’t the toughest—but the most flexible
• The personal ‘Nicola-ism’ she uses before taking the stage to stay grounded and in control
• The biggest mindset shift she had to make moving from teacher and writer to keynote speaker
• A simple behaviour shift that can instantly boost your speaker presence
• The #1 lie your brain tells you when you’re under pressure—and how to shut it down fast

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Nicola:

Email: hello@nicolasmorgan.com

Website: https://nicolasmorgan.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-s-morgan-479b9032/

Books & Resources*:

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

“Just breathe” is one of the most common pieces of advice given to speakers and performers who feel anxious about stepping onto the stage (be that online or in person) — but what if the way you’re breathing is actually making things worse?

Breathing might seem like an automatic function, but the truth is, most of us are doing it wrong… and it’s costing us calm, clarity, and confidence.

My guest, Manny Rodriguez, learned this the hard way.

After enlisting in the Army at 28, Manny suffered a back injury that led to years of heavy-duty prescription drugs, a near-death experience, and an 18-year journey to reclaim his health and peace of mind.

His key turning point? Breathing.

Manny’s recovery introduced him to tactical breathing — a practice originally used by special forces to stay calm under pressure — and he’s now teaching it to first responders, senior citizens, corporate leaders, and speakers who want to master their nervous system and show up with power and presence.

In this episode, Manny shares his extraordinary story, why breathwork is the real foundation of public speaking, and the practical tools he uses to help people go from panicked to present.

If you've ever felt like nerves are running the show when you speak — or you just want to feel more in control of your mind and body — this conversation is a must-listen.

What You’ll Discover:

• Why healing his nervous system was the real key to Manny finding his voice
• How trauma affects your breath — and why that matters for speakers
• What ‘tactical breathing’ is and how it helps you stay calm in chaos
• The surprising reason ‘box breathing’ might actually backfire, rather than help you and what you can do about it
• Manny’s AIRSPEND model to create a breathing foundation that supports speaking, performance, and calm
• How simply breathing through your nose can change your sleep, focus, and energy
• The link between posture, breath, and vocal power
• How reconnecting with your body improves your presence on stage
• The difference between reacting and responding — and how breathwork shifts the balance

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Manny:

Email: baselinebreathing@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manny-rodz-tactical-calm/

Books & Resources*:

Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.

• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

“Finding your voice” might sound like a personal development cliché, but for speakers and leaders, it’s the secret weapon that too many overlook.

As a speaker your voice is your most important tool and mastering how to use it to its fullest effect is one of the most impactful things you can do.

This isn’t just about sounding ‘nice’, your voice is also a signal to your audience about your confidence, clarity, and credibility (…or lack of!).

My guest, Bailey Massey, is a speech therapist turned voice and dialect coach who’s helped everyone from actors to execs find their vocal power — without losing their authenticity.

She's worked with clients who felt like their accent was holding them back, leaders struggling to be taken seriously, and speakers who were unintentionally sabotaging their message with vocal habits they didn’t even know they had.

Bailey brings a refreshing, practical approach to voice work, and in this conversation, she breaks down what makes a voice sound trustworthy, what you should do about fixing your accent, and why developing your voice might be the missing link between your expertise and the impact you want to have.

If you want to communicate the best version of yourself — whether on stage, in a meeting, or on video — listen up as there’s gems in this episode for you.

What You’ll Discover:

• Why all powerful communication starts with the breath
• The biggest myths around having an accent as a speaker
• How your voice affects how trustworthy, approachable, and confident you seem
• How to make the shift from monotone to engaging without sounding forced, or fake.
• Tips for vocal projection that protect your voice and energise your audience
• Why many voices sound flat on Zoom — and the mental trick that can help you overcome this.
• How to build vocal confidence
• Where to start if you would like to develop your voice
• Bailey’s favourite success stories from clients who found their voice and changed their life

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Bailey:

Website: https://baileymasseyglobal.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baileymassey/

Books & Resources*:

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
  
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)