131- How to Speak with Confidence on Camera, Podcasts, and Stage

Most people want to show up on podcasts, speak on stages, or create video content—but they hesitate because they’re worried about how they sound, how they look, or whether they’ll mess up.

In this episode, I chat with radio veteran and communication coach Royce Blake about what actually makes someone compelling on camera, on stage, or behind a microphone. Instead of focusing on gear or production, they break down the real skill: learning how to communicate with confidence by getting comfortable with yourself. 

Takeaways
🔹Why fear of speaking is really fear of judgment
🔹How recording yourself builds confidence faster than anything else
🔹Common mistakes (filler words, overthinking, chasing perfection)
🔹Using pauses, pacing, and presence to sound more confident
🔹How to prepare for podcasts or speaking without over-preparing
🔹Simple techniques to manage nerves and adrenaline
🔹Why connection matters more than getting every point “right”
🔹How to push through imposter syndrome 

CHAPTERS

 02:55 Why Interviewing Is an Overlooked Skill
 04:16 The Real Reason People Fear Speaking
 05:30 Behind the Scenes of Radio and Live Performance
 07:09 Live vs. Recorded Content: What’s Changed
 09:40 Why Public Speaking Feels So Intimidating
 10:04 Getting Comfortable with Your Own Voice
 12:26 The 5-Minute Recording Exercise
 13:37 Identifying Filler Words and Habits
 15:12 Improving Delivery: Tone, Pace, and Pauses
 16:23 Short-Form Video vs. Long-Form Speaking
 18:49 How to Prepare for Podcasts and Speaking
 20:16 Managing Nerves and Adrenaline
 20:39 Strong Openings, Closings, and Storytelling
 21:04 Why Perfection Doesn’t Matter
 23:12 How to Connect with an Audience
 24:13 Structuring Your Message Clearly
 24:44 Eye Contact and Presence Techniques
 26:03 Overthinking and Catastrophizing
 26:35 Where to Find Royce
 27:46 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
 29:04 Progress Over Perfection

🔷If you're listening to this podcast, video feels way harder than it should.  If you're ready to make video a priority, and not spend hours making a 60-sec video visit BlackDogMarketingStrategies.com

 Join me in The Lab on Substack, my space to test, tweak, and share smart ideas worth chasing, especially around video, content strategy, and showing up online without burning out (or wasting your weekends) Click Here

📌 When you’re ready to make creating engaging social media videos a priority, I offer 1:1 coaching and done-with-you video services. 😉 Click Here

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➡️ Need more? Check out the 300+ videos on my YouTube channel Click here for my YouTube channel 

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For additional insights, connect with Annette Richmond and Black Dog Marketing Strategies on social media.
Substack: https://substack.com/@annetterichmond
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annetterichmond/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com...

Transcript

[00:00:01.28] - Annette

Hi, I'm Annette Richmond. Thanks so much for joining me today. In this episode, I am talking to an amazing coach with a background in radio, and he's going to give us some tips and tricks on how to be better on an interview, on camera, on radio, on a podcast, and all kinds of other good things. So again, Royce, thanks so much for joining me today. We met through our mutual friend Brenda Miller, um, a while ago, and I know you were on her podcast and she said, Royce is so amazing, you've got to have him on yours. And so thank you so much for joining.

[00:00:45.04] - Royce

That's a lot to live up to, Annette, but it's so great to be with you. Thank you for having me.

[00:00:50.01] - Annette

Well, I, I am excited to, um, have you here to teach our listeners, and also I get to learn from you as well. So I'd like to just start off For people who don't know you, please tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do.

[00:01:04.19] - Royce

Sure. Well, I'll give you the edited version. I was on the radio for a long time and mostly morning shows. That's kind of like prime time for radio. And, you know, by the way, Annette, getting up at 3:30 isn't the hard part. Being funny at 5 AM is the hard part.

[00:01:23.29] - Annette

I bet. So.

[00:01:25.15] - Royce

'Cause nobody cares that you had a bad day, you know? Shut up and play the hits, okay? It's that kind of mentality. But you know, when you're done at, let's say, 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM, after a quick nap, of course, you realize it's noon. And I'm like, wow, I have a whole day left for, you know, normal people. So I got this book, I don't even think it's available anymore, but it was called "How to Make Money in Your Underwear." And I thought, that's for me. So that's what introduced me to copywriting. And I've been doing that for a long time. I've written for 17 unique industries, everything from commercial dumpsters to the roller derby to— right now I have a jewelry store client. So Excellent Jewelers, don't ask me, I'm such a goofball. I don't know why they've stuck with me, but I've been— they've been with me for, gosh, almost 12 years now. So after all this copywriting and marketing stuff, I also became a licensed certified marketing coach because I saw all these business people just doing, let's face it, stupid things in their business that was costing them money. And lately, let's say in the last 2 years or so, I guess a couple of people way more successful than I am kicked me in the butt and said, why aren't you doing more with your radio skills?

[00:02:55.28] - Royce

And I tried to correlate to prospects that, hey, look, if I had to be live on the air and be creative every day, imagine what I could do with your ad if I had 2 weeks to work on it. That just didn't correlate. Nobody really got it. And so I thought, well, gosh, what do I know that can translate into, you know, marketing in general? And it hit me that now for podcasters, almost everything you see about podcasters is either about tech, right? What kind of equipment to buy or how to make great thumbnails and things like that, which are important. But no one was talking about interviewing skills. And that is an art in itself. And I've interviewed well over 250, mainly celebrities live on the air. and I learned how to get a guest to shut up, how to get a guest to open up. So, you know, these are skills that took a long time to master and obviously get burned a few times. And, and so I, you know, I put out a short book about that. And so that's kind of where I'm headed now. I've had business leaders lately reach out to me because everyone wants vocal confidence.

[00:04:16.03] - Royce

They want to, they want to get rid of stage fright. They don't want to be judged. So that's the direction I'm heading in now, is helping people communicate with confidence. So that's, that's my, my new thing.

[00:04:30.20] - Annette

Well, you know, that sounds great. And I love the part about getting, getting people to shut up. And I will tell you that, you know, I mentioned this to you briefly before we started our session today, that I used to be a magazine writer and that was kind of what, you know, I learned how to interview people, interview CEOs of companies for, for the magazine. And then of course I honed the getting people to be quiet back in the old Clubhouse days where you get somebody that's yagety yagety yagety. And I, I learned the perfect level. Thank you so much. And let's move on to something else. So, you know, before we jump in, and I do want to ask you to share some tips that will help people listening to this, but can you give us like just a little bit of a taste? You mentioned of what it was like to you know, be a radio personality or in a mass market? And just because I'm a little curious, and can you just give us like 2 minutes on what that was like?

[00:05:30.15] - Royce

Wow, that could take 3 hours in that easily. So I mean, it's just like one highlight or something, something that, that really, I mean, you know, obviously, uh, I, I met incredible celebrities that people, everyone, you know, let's say start with Paul McCartney and work our way down. I mean, it's So many, so many great interactions over there. You know, I spent probably an hour with Bruce Springsteen. I spent probably a half an hour with Billy Joel. And, you know, I mean, just, just those kinds of memories stand. I've also, you know, I had Richard Simmons run into the studio and pick me up, you know, physically I mean. And, and, uh, you know, I've been slimed on Nickelodeon and all that stuff, but I've also been been, you know, privileged to do a lot of great, you know, let's call them stunts or remotes. Two different times I spent a week in Jamaica thanks to the Jamaican Tourism Bureau. I broadcast the Olympics live from Lillehammer, Norway. Probably my favorite, I got to fly with the Navy Blue Angels. And as a private pilot myself, that was awesome. Even the guy trusted me so much, he even let me roll it.

[00:06:51.07] - Royce

3 times I got to roll an F/A-18. So I'm like, yes, thank you. So there's all kinds of perks, but at the same time, people are turning on the radio to be entertained. So you better have something, you know, worth listening to.

[00:07:09.23] - Annette

Yes. And, you know, well, again, now I feel incredibly even more lucky that you, you know, came on my podcast with me. So let's, let's dive into some of the things that, that people, people do now. Live programs like LinkedIn Live programs were very, very hot a couple of years ago. I, you know, I did a weekly LinkedIn Live show for several years. I, when I started my podcast, I started putting them on my podcast as well. And, you know, several of my friends were doing the same thing, like Brenda, who I mentioned, other people were, they were doing LinkedIn Lives and then they would put those episodes would go on their podcast. Now, I, I lost, um, a fair amount of guests, potential guests, because they did not want to be live. So I would tell them, yes, I'd have you on my podcast, but you have to be live with me first. And I would never hear from them again because people were nervous. And I'm sure that was also a factor on radio because you were live, you were not recording. Recording those, I'm assuming, in advance.

[00:08:16.18] - Royce

So no do-overs. Nope.

[00:08:19.05] - Annette

Yeah.

[00:08:19.20] - Royce

So, which is awesome because, you know, on one hand, you know, it's, it's, it's, it is live. You can actually feel that. And the good news is if you screw up, then it's gone.

[00:08:33.15] - Annette

Yeah.

[00:08:33.23] - Royce

The bad news is if you have your best set ever, guess what? It's gone. So, I mean, everything is instant.

[00:08:41.20] - Annette

Well, the thing— so now people have shifted, you know, as, as I have. You know, I don't do live shows very often anymore, and most people I know are now recording, you know, as we are today recording the podcast in the studio, and then it will be uploaded to YouTube and put on my podcast, etc. So I'd love some tips because obviously you have them for people who are sort of prepping, preparing to be on a program. You know, it might be if you, if you're live, some people will be preparing for lives. Probably most will be for recording because I think most podcasts are recorded today. Uh, so if you can give us, you know, a few mistakes that people make, maybe a few of those, and then some tips on how they can for people who are, you know, podcasters, speakers, etc.

[00:09:40.13] - Royce

Yeah, it is the number one fear is public speaking. You know, it beats out death.

[00:09:46.23] - Annette

Yes.

[00:09:47.03] - Royce

Which I feel bad for people who have to give eulogies. I'll wait. I'll wait for that one to hit. There you go.

[00:09:53.25] - Annette

So, uh, no, no, I know that well. They say that people giving eulogies, most, they'd rather be in the coffin than be on the stage speaking. So yeah, no, I get that.

[00:10:04.20] - Royce

And it's universal. And I understand that. The secret is what I like to call getting used to you because we're afraid of being judged. We're not really afraid of speaking because we've been doing it all our lives, right? But you're afraid how people are thinking about you on stage. And did you mess up? Did I screw this up? Number one, I always tell people, especially with a live audience like in, you know, a public speaking arena, uh, guess what, folks? They're not worried about your next sentence. They're worried about their hair. So, you know, step back a little. You know, it's not as intense to them as it is to you, and I understand that. But you remember the first time you heard your voice recorded?

[00:10:55.02] - Annette

Oh, Look, I still hate to hear my voice recorded. I think I sound like a chipmunk. You know, I still hate that.

[00:11:02.04] - Royce

That's because we hear our voices through bone. We're listening through an entirely different medium. Our voice to our ears is traveling through bone. Other people and microphones hear our voice through air. So the best way to get used to you is grab your phone. And record yourself a lot. I recommend, and I have free guides for this on my website, by the way, and you record yourself. Now, here's a— and I want you to talk for 5 minutes. The awesome part is no one else has to see it. You can delete it right afterwards if you'd like. I recommend keeping the first one because you'll see how much progress you've made. But you record yourself for 5 minutes. That's a long time. If you haven't talked straight for 5 minutes, you'll discover that's a long time. Start with your sales pitch or something you want to work on. But after a while, you're going to run out of things to say. So feel free to talk about why your best friend is your best friend. Talk about a grocery list. Talk about something you hate, your favorite sports team or whatever. But just keep talking because after you get through that first couple of minutes, the real you starts to come out.

[00:12:26.11] - Royce

And that's when you'll notice little things that you do that you never realize because it's second nature to us. Filler words like, um, and like, and you know, and those type of words. It may be gestures that you do. I always like to tell people, record at least 5 feet away so you can see at least your upper body because you may not realize you always touch your head or play with one arm or something. And all these things. But here's the secret. Number 1, don't watch it back right away. Trust me on that. In— after a good night's sleep, you're going to look much prettier, much thinner. You're going to sound smarter, everything, because you're so self-conscious right after you record it. Then once you decide to listen back, take the phone, turn the volume all the way up, and put the phone face down. And just listen to yourself. Listen to the whole thing, and you'll start already, even after one recording, to start to pick up on certain phrases or words that you're using. In radio, they're called crutches— same things we say all the time— and you want to eliminate those.

[00:13:37.13] - Royce

And the sad news is they just change, Annette. They just venture. Used to say absolutely all the time. Now it's okay. You know, they just—

[00:13:47.01] - Annette

Yes, yes.

[00:13:48.08] - Royce

They morph. So anyway, after you do that, you've listened to it. Now turn it up, this time with the sound off, and you wanna watch yourself. Just watch yourself. And then that's when you'll start to see how you move. Now this is obviously more important to public speaking than let's say even being on camera. But even then you can notice, It's hard to remember to smile. You know, it's just little things. And you do that probably even if you do that once a week, I guarantee you in 10 weeks you're going to be amazed at how much better you are. So get used to you, because once you get used to how you sound and are listening to yourself over and over, obviously you know, you're ahead of the game because you have to listen to your podcasts or edit videos or whatever. So you hear yourself now on the air. I'm hearing myself live as in the headphones, right? So I hear my recorded voice live into my ears, which is how a lot of disk jockeys— it's called affectation because you first hear yourself in headphones and you go, hey, Hey, that sounds pretty good.

[00:15:12.09] - Royce

And then you start going, hey, hey, that sounds even better. And then pretty soon you're talking like this, and after a while it sounds like you're puking. And that's why in radio this is called puking.

[00:15:30.13] - Annette

Oh my gosh. Yeah, you know, it's funny, I just want to say that it's very similar to what I teach people to get comfortable on video. And I just tell them to do it for like 14 days, record a short video every day for 14 days, and then look at them, you know, after day 15, and from the oldest to the newest, and you will see a difference. And, you know, I, I don't know if people believe you, but when I tell people that they will just get used to seeing themselves, you know, I, I still, I don't like to have my picture taken. There aren't many photos of me in the house, even from special occasions, because I don't like to have my photo taken. But when I see myself on video, I don't even see myself anymore. I really, it just doesn't faze me. And it's because, as you say, I'm used to me. I know that, yes, I want to have my hair washed and a little makeup, but, you know, it just doesn't matter.

[00:16:23.02] - Royce

Right. And after you get to that level, then you start working on, on intonation or pace or volume or You know, my favorite, the pause. The pause is the most powerful part of any language, really. And we're afraid as humans, we hate the vacuum, we hate silence. And in our heads, we're freaking out. Oh my gosh, I forgot what I was going to say next. Or did I say that right? Or whatever. Your brain is just racing when you just pause. For even a couple of seconds, it not only gives your brain a chance to catch up, but it makes what you say next powerful. You see what I did there? And that was only about a second and a half.

[00:17:14.13] - Annette

No, that you can do.

[00:17:16.03] - Royce

You, you can pause for 4 seconds and people will not think you're having a seizure. Trust me.

[00:17:22.15] - Annette

Yeah, no, that, that makes a lot of sense. And the thing, the thing that's, that's kind of funny though is when it comes to short-form video, it's exactly the opposite. You don't want to have that 4 seconds because when you're, when you're pausing, it seems like, like forever, right?

[00:17:36.12] - Royce

So, so who knows, with the algorithm might just kick you off or something.

[00:17:40.04] - Annette

So yeah, yeah, no, I, I love that. So I feel like I just had a mini, mini masterclass in that. So once people are, are comfortable, um, what do you suggest that maybe some Tips for preparing, say they're going to go on a podcast, they're going there, they, they're going to be on a podcast. It's very, I think, kind of hot today for people. Everybody wants to be a podcast guest because they, you know, increase their reach, et cetera. Uh, but they are not given questions. Now, I, we talked about this a little bit before we started today and The whole idea of people are nervous, they don't know what to expect. And I, I think it's a mix of people. The people that I know, friends of mine who do podcasts, do not necessarily give— they don't give the questions to their guests ahead of time. So maybe you can give, you know, what is the common practice? Do you think most guests will get questions in advance or not? And how can they prepare? Either way, right?

[00:18:49.14] - Royce

Well, and let me kind of shape this in, in a public— because they're both the same, really, public speaking and being on a podcast.

[00:18:58.06] - Annette

Awesome.

[00:18:58.16] - Royce

We get anxious, right? We get nervous. That's adrenaline. That's just plain old adrenaline. One of the first things you can do— well, you want, of course, breathing. I don't know, have, you know, box breathing where you inhale Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. You know, that helps a lot. What else helps is exercise. Go, go walk around, do a few jumping jacks or something. That'll tell your body, okay, we're supposed to exercise now, and your adrenaline will drop down. But what most people don't realize is that hyperadrenaline phase, phases just goes away after about 15 seconds at the most. For most people, it's about 5 to 7 seconds. So after you start speaking, at about 7 seconds in, you're going to feel much normally, much more at ease. So what I like to tell people is have that first section of your speech, of your intro or whatever, down. Have that memorized. Have it— you can do it coming out of a sound sleep. That's how I like it. If I can wake up from a sound sleep and jump into my pitch, I know I have it down, right?

[00:20:16.10] - Royce

So, and that is usually 10 or 15 seconds at least. And then you'll be much more calmer. As a public speaker, you know, and all the pros know this, you want to have a killer open, you want to have a killer close, and a great story. All the other stuff you can fill in.

[00:20:39.04] - Annette

Yeah, no, no, I love that. So that— so, uh, you know, as I told you earlier, you know, my process before I'm going to be doing a podcast is either hosting it or a guest spot or speaking. And I love to speak on the stage. I mean, I think it's a lot of fun. But as I dance around, you know, I put on my music blasting and I'm dancing around. So actually, I'm doing exactly what you suggest people do.

[00:21:04.07] - Royce

Right. Right. Yeah. And it's— you got— I see people behind the curtain still reading index cards, you know, so they don't forget Section 3, which is another thing, you know, that drives me crazy. People are so worried about perfection when instead you want connection with the audience because guess what? They don't know about Section 3, nor do they care. Once again, they're worried about their hair. So, you know, just, just go, just keep talking. You know, that's, that's all there is to it. Or pause or ask a question. Obviously tough to do on a podcast, but great in front of an audience. Have them stand up, have them do some crazy exercise or something. But you know, there are so many ways on, on radio or on podcasts. Obviously you, you have to, you're in the moment, you have to be doing it. Now. So, you know, it's, it's a different kind of animal, but the same thing applies. Don't worry about how you missed this sentence or you wanted to get to this point. Yeah. You know, maybe it's, maybe it's the universe telling you, look, that's boring. No one needs to hear that.

[00:22:19.16] - Royce

Okay. Move on.

[00:22:21.02] - Annette

Yeah. No, I love that. And the thing is, too, that nobody knows if you leave out a whole section. They don't know what you're— they don't, they don't know what you're— what your plan is. You know, they don't know. So now can you give us some, some suggestions? And, you know, maybe it is easier to do if you are speaking, you know, in— to— on the stage, if you're speaking, giving a presentation. And that might mean presenting to the board your idea for the marketing for the next quarter or something. How can people make that connection? I mean, you know, this podcast is conversational, and I try to be, you know, just we're two of us together, and we happen to be recording it. But if you're presenting, how can you make that connection with, with the audience?

[00:23:12.03] - Royce

You mean, as becoming one with the audience?

[00:23:16.11] - Annette

Well, I don't know, however you want to share it with, because I, I've heard things where they say, you know, look over onto one side and then look at somebody on the other side and look at somebody in the back of the room. So, you know, however you would like to share, because that's just stuff that I've heard and I try to do myself, but I'm sure you have no more, way more, right?

[00:23:38.15] - Royce

Well, no, it's, it's really a question of, first of all, I always come from the place that every human is thinking, which is what's in it for me. So, you know, you've got to deliver something that is beneficial to them. If it's a company, yeah, it may be, you know, blowing this out in Q3 so we save Q4 or whatever. But make that point, make that one point, tell them what you— it's like the old news, right? Old news headline. Yeah. So yeah, tell them what you're going to say. Say it. Tell them what you just said.

[00:24:13.21] - Annette

Yep.

[00:24:14.08] - Royce

So, so many people, if that's what you want to do, get that one point across. Then go with that. If you have a free-flowing conversation or you have a whole day seminar or whatever, yes, you want to make connection with people. I always like to use the— I do the scan technique where you do kind of, you know, it depends on the, you know, the audience. Of course, if it's a women's club with 20 people, it's going to be a whole lot different than, you know, a 3,000-seater.

[00:24:44.09] - Annette

Oh, so I would imagine— I haven't been there yet, but yes, I would imagine so.

[00:24:48.12] - Royce

Oh, it's, it's fun. Trust me. So it's— but you want to— I like to use the, you know, the triangle technique. So you look at someone's forehead, then their left eye, then their right eye. Those are probably backwards on here, but you actually, you understand. So that will make them feel seen, you know, and then just casually move on. Once again, it's like a pause. You don't want to stare at one person the whole time. That will make them very uncomfortable. So, you know, just keep moving along. But what we're looking for is natural. And see, I threw a pause in there too, and that didn't sound weird, did it? So, I mean, that's exactly how people speak. So just be yourself. And once again, it gets back to getting used to yourself because you're building this up. We all do it. I do it too. You build this up into some huge thing. One thing we're great at as humans is catastrophizing, right? We'll think the worst thing possible coming, the worst outcome possible. What if this happens? And, you know, we all know scientifically that like 89% of stuff we worry about never happens.

[00:26:03.05] - Annette

Yeah.

[00:26:03.12] - Royce

So, you know, just keep that in mind and just be you.

[00:26:08.29] - Annette

So we are. Well, thank you for that. And, you know, I am. We are winding down now. We've been here almost 30 minutes and the time has just flown by. I know it goes by so fast.

[00:26:18.23] - Royce

I can talk a lot, I guess.

[00:26:20.24] - Annette

So can I. So can I. So, so two things. First, where can people find you if they want to learn more about you, if they want to work with you? I assume LinkedIn. Just give us a couple of places where people can find you.

[00:26:35.08] - Royce

Absolutely. You can definitely find me on just Royce Blake on LinkedIn. That will find you. Also have a company page called Voice of Royce. Almost everything in my life now is Voice of Royce in it. So voiceofroyce.com, it's Voice of Royce on Facebook, on Substack, YouTube. So, you know, it's— yeah. So Voice of Royce, I have a lot of free guides there for folks too. Awesome. One of the easiest ones, it's easy to read. I think it's only 16 pages and it'll give you instructions on recording yourself. It's called From Mic Camera Shy to Camera Confident, and it's totally free. Uh, grab it at the website and just— and remember, it's awesome because no one else has to see you practice.

[00:27:24.07] - Annette

So yes, yes. So again, before we close, um, I always ask all of my guests to share a final thought. Now we've had a wide-ranging conversation. I've learned some things. I know people listening have learned some things. But what may be something I didn't ask you that you think would be helpful for people to know?

[00:27:46.17] - Royce

I'm going to give you something that I see every day.

[00:27:50.03] - Annette

Okay.

[00:27:50.20] - Royce

And it's how to fight imposter syndrome, because we all have imposter syndrome. I don't care how large you are. I have an unnecessarily large sign.

[00:28:02.21] - Annette

I will—

[00:28:03.05] - Royce

I turn my camera around, but it's not really family friendly. That.

[00:28:07.21] - Annette

Okay.

[00:28:08.07] - Royce

But I'll give you the PG version.

[00:28:10.07] - Annette

Okay.

[00:28:10.22] - Royce

It's a large sign that just says, hey, exclamation point, you've screwed up way bigger things than this, exclamation point. And it reminds me every day that, and I think we all, if we look back and go, yeah, that was way bigger than this. It gives yourself permission. Just put stuff up, send it, you know, make it, whatever you're doing. And I see that every day.

[00:28:42.03] - Annette

Yeah, no, I love that. And you know what I, what I tell the people that I work with is, you know, progress above perfection. You know, it's not about being perfect. It's about making progress for, for you, just looking at yourself against your prior self. So again, I think— I'm sorry, go ahead.

[00:29:04.24] - Royce

No, I said absolutely. Done beats perfect.

[00:29:08.10] - Annette

Yes, absolutely. So again, thanks so much for joining me today. And for everyone else, thanks for being here, and I will see you next time.