Facing Fears and Opening Up Onstage with Coach Kiah

Amplify with Jess Ekstrom

Getting up on stage and feeling confident about yourself, it's one of the biggest challenges we face on stage. Because we're not perfect. We're not robots. We'll flub from time to time.

So what do we do about that?

Today, Jess and Coach Kiah Twisselman talk about embracing imperfections and projecting confidence on stage.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. The Power of Vulnerability: Coach Kiah shares her unique approach to speaking, which combines humor and deep emotional connection. Learn how her personal journey of healing has empowered her to connect with audiences on a profound level, making them feel seen and understood.
2. From Ranch Life to the Spotlight: Discover how Kiah transitioned from a successful weight loss journey to a vibrant speaking career, including her experiences on national platforms like Good Morning America and The Kelly Clarkson Show. She reflects on the pivotal moment that led her to fully embrace her role as a keynote speaker.
3. Navigating Confidence Onstage: Jess and Kiah discuss the fears and insecurities that often arise before stepping onto the stage. Kiah reveals her strategies for overcoming nerves and staying authentic, including a humorous anecdote about dealing with sweat on national television.
4. The Myth of Masculine Confidence: The conversation explores how traditional notions of confidence can be restrictive, especially for women. Kiah offers insight into finding and embracing a style that aligns with one's true self rather than conforming to external expectations.
5. Finding Your Personal Style: Kiah talks about her journey to discovering a style that reflects her personality and makes her feel confident. She emphasizes the importance of wearing what makes you feel good and how it can enhance your presence on stage.
6. The Impact of Authenticity: Learn why Kiah believes that showing up as your true self—complete with your quirks and imperfections—is more powerful than trying to fit into a predefined mold. She shares how being authentic not only benefits you but also resonates deeply with your audience.

Quotes to Remember:

• “I like to tell people that I want to bring you on an emotional journey with me. We are going to laugh. I'm like one part motivational comedian. And we're also going to cry. Like we're going to talk about the hard things.” – Coach Kiah
• “It is the things that we generally feel most shame about that are the most healing for other people to hear.” – Coach Kiah
• “Stop waiting to lose the weight to go and find your style. Stop waiting to lose weight to finally wear the swimsuit and get in the pool with your kids.” – Coach Kiah

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Coach Kiah Twisselman is a former cattle rancher turned motivational speaker and life coach.

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(00:05:16) "Embrace vulnerability to unleash your power."

(00:09:04) "Facing fears in public speaking leads to empowerment."

(00:12:06) "Confidence in speaking comes from embracing your style."

(00:19:01) "Choose self-acceptance over societal beauty standards."

(00:21:24) "Your speaker identity shapes thought leadership impact."

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Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop