Speaking and Communicating Podcast

Roberta Ndlela

The Speaking and Communicating Podcast with Roberta Ndlela helps professionals, leaders and global communicators master public speaking, business storytelling and soft skills for career success. Host Roberta Ndlela - Communications expert, Keynote Speaker and Executive Presence Coach, shares evidence-based strategies to build confidence, clarity and influence in the workplace and beyond. Each episode delivers practical insights on effective communication, cross-cultural leadership, overcoming public speaking anxiety and storytelling for impact. Whether you're pursuing your dream job, aiming for promotion or leading global teams - this podcast gives you actionable tools to stand out. New episodes every week featuring expert guests and real-world stories to help you communicate with clarity, authenticity and authority.

  1. 5d ago

    How To Redefine Success and Choose Courage with Grammy-Winning Kate Kayaian

    Are you feeling stuck in a career that looks successful on paper but no longer fulfills you? Meet Kay Kayaian! Kate is an Author, Speaker, Career Strategist, and Grammy Award-winning former Cellist. She shares her powerful journey of walking away from a high-profile classical music career to help others rethink their own definitions of success, identity, and "what's next." If you are struggling with career transitions, imposter syndrome, or the heavy guilt of letting down your mentors and family, this episode is your ultimate guide to turning the page and writing your next chapter. Key Takeaways: the internal guilt of quittingbattling imposter syndrome.chasing benchmarks without defining successturning points from listening to your bodyhow fear of failure holds us backwhy waiting for confidence is a trapovercoming the story of betrayal how to rewrite your excuses and reignite your goals...and so much more! Additional Resources Get Kate's Book: Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Reassess, Redefine, and Reignite Their CareersVisit Kate's Website: KateKayaian.com (For coaching, speaking inquiries, and her podcast Tales from the Lane)Connect on Instagram: @kkayaianListen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-redefine-success-and-choose-courage-with/id1614151066?i=1000777505300Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vLB3VQBjXfm3A1ujfpUKI?si=kVhqTTgGSTmm7hsLSk4pCQhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/4vLB3VQBjXfm3A1ujfpUKIYouTube: https://youtu.be/V_juzuOq_XE

    How To Redefine Success and Choose Courage with Grammy-Winning Kate Kayaian
  2. Jul 13

    How To Develop Soft Skills: Teaching The Next Generation w/ John Kwon

    How is the next generation supposed to learn soft skills? Meet John Kwon! John is a finance expert and investor currently based in South Korea. He has lived in 4 countries, mostly in the United States. During the course of his career, he managed a $23 billion equity fund, amongst other portfolios. On this episode, John focuses on soft skills development, particularly examining why young people struggle with social skills and how cultural differences impact communication styles. He also narrated his experience managing funds and dealing with sales pitches from Wall Street fund managers, highlighting how effective social engineering and soft skills can be in sales. Listen as John shares:- how children's soft skills are developed at home- cultural conditioning in how soft skills are perceived- what is missing in the school curriculum-  technology and social media's impact on children's personal interaction- the importance of teaching conflict resolution at a young age- generational differences in work values and career aspirations- how soft skills will never go out of style- the "real" definition of soft skills- how technology has changed the workplace learning hierachy ...and so much more! Connect with John:Email: jkwonwork10@gmail.com Listen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-develop-soft-skills-teaching-the-next/id1614151066?i=1000776536485Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NkYjBmQaG5FvulCIgYUPk?si=d8c0a85a344648a3https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NkYjBmQaG5FvulCIgYUPkYouTube: https://youtu.be/oaeqZSH63kY

    How To Develop Soft Skills: Teaching The Next Generation w/ John Kwon
  3. Jul 6

    How To Be A Presentation Rockstar w/ David Thomas

    Are your presentations inspiring your team, or are they putting them to sleep? Create Authority! Control the Room! Be a Rockstar! Meet David Thomas! In this episode, international keynote speaker and elite presentation coach David Thomas shares his expert strategies on how corporate leaders, politicians, and public speakers can break out of the "vanilla" presentation trap and become communication rockstars. From preparing clients for the intense environment of the UK Houses of Parliament to analyzing Barack Obama’s dramatic public speaking transformation, David breaks down the exact science of high-stakes communication. You'll learn how to master the first 60 seconds of any speech, inject humor without losing your professional edge, and use storytelling to drive emotional connection and real action. 📈 Key Takeaways & TimestampsPresenting in the Halls of Power: Why do leaders consistently deliver boring presentations even when they want to be engaging? Hooking Your Audience Emotionally: Facts tell, but emotions sell.  The Secret Weapon: Humor and Storytelling The 60-Second Rule & The "Lightning Rod Theme": Minimalist slides that maximize visual impact. The Barack Obama Transformation: Public speaking is a trained skill, not an innate talent. Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk: Used as a prime case study for embedding humor (roughly one-third of the presentation) into an educational speech.Barack Obama’s Early Speeches: The "before-and-after" video footage David uses to inspire confidence in his coaching clients.Toastmasters International: Recommended as an excellent baseline resource for developing public speaking habits.Connect with David:Website: https://www.creatingpresentationrockstars.com Listen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-be-a-presentation-rockstar-w-david-thomas/id1614151066?i=1000775602140Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qiGFJHTyMwUrIgxgdQOYd?si=ObD8saRoRXy1wHoag5KtRQYouTube: https://youtu.be/jtIOhGu4RGE

    How To Be A Presentation Rockstar w/ David Thomas
  4. Jun 29

    Health and Wellness For Professionals and Leaders w/ Dr Melanie Gray

    How can leaders create healthier workplace cultures for their teams? Meet Dr. Melanie Gray! Dr. Gray is a Registered Nurse of over 25 years and trauma-informed leadership expert from Wisconsin. She shares her transition from nursing to helping leaders create healthier workplace cultures. Dr. Gray's experience during COVID-19, particularly seeing the impact on younger nurses, led her to formalize her work supporting employees struggling with workplace trauma and burnout. Dr. Gray emphasized the need for creating a human-centered workplace culture during challenging times. Strategies for leaders including encouraging PTO use without punishment, limiting meeting schedules, and implementing regular one-on-ones are all part of a bigger wellness program. On this episode, Dr. Gray breaks down her "STOP" acronym for professionals experiencing burnout: Scan, Tell yourself the truth, Own your truth, and Prioritize yourself. Listen as Dr. Gray shares:- how leaders often miss recognizing introverted team members- how leaders can be trauma-informed in their communication- practical strategies for leaders to implement- creating a supportive culture for employee well-being- structuring boundaries around work hours and communication- lessons from European work-life balance cultures- advocating for workplace wellness- burnout from excessive change and poor communication- why wellness helps retain great talent ...and so much more! Connect with Dr. Gray:Website: https://drmelaniegray.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelaniegray/ Listen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-and-wellness-for-professionals-and-leaders-w/id1614151066?i=1000774703757Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3LkkDJ9YJQOWrr5ZU3w89F?si=qFfcUwXAQPG8V-3Hmjfnoghttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3LkkDJ9YJQOWrr5ZU3w89FYouTube: https://youtu.be/TdNAcn_-xDk?si=8wKpw24NutUKIHJQ

    Health and Wellness For Professionals and Leaders w/ Dr  Melanie Gray
  5. Jun 22

    How To Get What You Want: Persuasion 101 w. Joshua Bandoch

    How do you get what you want? Meet Joshua Bandoch! Joshua is a persuasion expert and TEDx speaker, an internationally recognized persuasion expert and keynote speaker. He has spent two decades mastering the art and science of persuasion.  On this episode, he discusses his book "How to Get What You Want: Mastering the Art and Science of Persuasion."He shares insights on effective persuasion techniques, emphasizing the importance of adopting a "persuader's mindset".   Joshua has spent over a decade uncovering the secrets of persuasion. He’s mined psychology, neuroscience, economics, public policy, and history for cutting-edge techniques that actually work—and he’s used them in speeches written for senior government officials, national leaders, business executives, and dozens of his own talks to audiences around the world.  Josh shared that he works for a public policy think tank focusing on anti-poverty and pro-opportunity initiatives, working with various elected officials regardless of party affiliation. He touched on political polarization in America, with Josh explaining that people have forgotten how to engage in constructive dialogue with those who don't share their views.  Listen as Joshua shares:- how to create win-win situations- effective persuasion techniques- how to adopt a "persuader's mindset"- persuading through storytelling rather than data- being "right" versus making a difference in negotiations- how non-verbal elements impact persuasion outcomes- the importance of listening and asking questions - understanding the other person's priorities and goals- identifying overlaps with one's own priorities- how clarity can be a superpower  ...and so much more! Connect with Joshua:Website: https://joshuabandoch.com/ Additional Resources:"How To Get What You Want" by Joshua Bandoch Listen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-get-what-you-want-persuasion-101-w-joshua-bandoch/id1614151066?i=1000773687193Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wzWP8Q7iLJRR672GToJF5?si=dBbnpeqvTIi0YwMQrANqhwhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7wzWP8Q7iLJRR672GToJF5YouTube: https://youtu.be/oj_-KxFhCmU?si=ODGX56ghrmJP0M9E

    How To Get What You Want: Persuasion 101 w. Joshua Bandoch
  6. Jun 21

    How to Change Careers w/ Ana Denis

    How do you make a career transition? Meet Ana Denis! Ana Dennis is a storytelling and communications expert from The Hague, Netherlands. On this episode, she narrates her career transitions and cross-cultural communication experiences. Ana shared her journey from starting as a translator in cybersecurity to moving through marketing and business development roles, eventually becoming an entrepreneur selling pre-loved designer handbags. Listen as Ana shares:- the importance of curiosity, self-awareness, and direct communication- navigating cultural differences in the workplace- adjustment challenges when moving countries and cultures- communications and storytelling- having a desire for growth- reinventing your career and identity- how to prevent the ego from decision-making- how to proactively communicate their expectations- clarification rather than making assumptions ...and so much more! In her book, "Reinvento", she shares tools with anyone reinventing their career or searching for their next chapter. Through stories from women whose careers span more than 20 countries — women who rebuilt their work, their identity, and their sense of self far from home — it reveals the emotional architecture of starting over: the disorientation, the grief, the unexpected joy, and the quiet courage it takes to reinvent yourself in midlife. Connect with Ana:Website: https://anadenis.com/superpowers Additional Resources:"Reinvento" by Ana Denis Listen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-careers-w-ana-denis/id1614151066?i=1000773601753Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7LvoKgTLxZWeXz20gt5lMU?si=khc9T6txQKyRydStm9s-bwhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7LvoKgTLxZWeXz20gt5lMU

    How to Change Careers w/ Ana Denis
5
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

The Speaking and Communicating Podcast with Roberta Ndlela helps professionals, leaders and global communicators master public speaking, business storytelling and soft skills for career success. Host Roberta Ndlela - Communications expert, Keynote Speaker and Executive Presence Coach, shares evidence-based strategies to build confidence, clarity and influence in the workplace and beyond. Each episode delivers practical insights on effective communication, cross-cultural leadership, overcoming public speaking anxiety and storytelling for impact. Whether you're pursuing your dream job, aiming for promotion or leading global teams - this podcast gives you actionable tools to stand out. New episodes every week featuring expert guests and real-world stories to help you communicate with clarity, authenticity and authority.