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The Toastmasters Podcast

The Toastmasters Podcast

By: Greg Gazin
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 The official Toastmasters podcast featuring conversations on communication, confidence, leadership, and personal growth.Copyright 2026, Archieboy Holdings, LLC.
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  • Article - How to Handle Stage Fright Before a Speech

    Article - How to Handle Stage Fright Before a Speech
    Apr 16 2026
    If you’ve ever wondered how to handle stage fright before a speech, you’re in good company. Even experienced speakers feel the adrenaline spike before walking on stage, opening a Zoom room, or stepping up for table topics. The goal isn’t to eliminate nerves completely. It’s to keep them from taking over. That matters because stage fright shows up in real ways: a dry mouth, shaky hands, a racing heart, a blank mind right when you need your first sentence. The good news is that these reactions are manageable. With the right preparation, you can turn that energy into focus instead of panic. This guide is for speakers, Toastmasters members, workshop presenters, and anyone who wants a practical way to calm down and perform well. It’s not about pretending to be fearless. It’s about having a repeatable process you can use every time. How to handle stage fright before a speech starts Stage fright is usually strongest in the minutes before speaking, not during the speech itself. That means your best tools are the ones you use before you begin: preparation, breathing, body language, and a clear starting routine. Think of stage fright like a fire alarm. It’s loud, but not always accurate. Your body is telling you that something important is happening. That energy can help you if you know how to direct it. 1. Prepare for a strong opening, not a perfect speech A lot of speaking anxiety comes from trying to remember everything at once. A better approach is to make the beginning of your speech automatic. Memorize the first 20 to 30 seconds. Know your opening line, your first transition, and the first point you want to make. If you can get through the start smoothly, your confidence usually rises quickly. Here’s a simple prep checklist: This is especially helpful in Toastmasters speech contests, meeting presentations, and client talks, where nerves tend to spike at the beginning. 2. Use a breathing pattern that slows the body down When people ask how to handle stage fright before a speech, breathing is usually one of the first things mentioned, and for good reason. Your breathing tells your nervous system whether to stay on alert or settle down. Try this before you speak: The longer exhale is the key. It signals that you’re safe enough to relax. If you’re backstage or sitting in a meeting room, this can be done quietly and discreetly. Another option is the “physiological sigh”: take one normal inhale, then a short second inhale on top of it, followed by a long exhale. Do that two or three times. It’s a quick reset when nerves are strong. 3. Loosen the body before the mind starts spiraling Stage fright often shows up physically before it becomes a thought problem. Your shoulders rise. Your jaw tightens. Your hands feel awkward. If you don’t notice those signals, they can feed the fear. A quick body scan can help: This matters because speakers often try to solve anxiety by thinking harder. Sometimes the faster path is to change the body first. A calmer posture often leads to calmer thoughts. 4. Reframe the feeling instead of fighting it One of the most useful mindset shifts is this: nerves are not proof that you are unprepared. They are proof that you care. Before your speech, try replacing “I’m nervous” with something more useful, such as: That may sound simple, but language shapes attention. The words you use before a speech can either calm you or intensify the spiral. A practical pre-speech routine for nervous speakers If you want a reliable answer to how to handle stage fright before a speech, create a routine you can repeat. A routine removes guesswork. It gives your brain a familiar sequence to follow when your adrenaline is high. Here’s a 10-minute routine you can adapt: 10 minutes before speaking 2 minutes before speaking At the moment you begin That last point is important. Nervous speakers often speed up. A deliberate pause at the start creates control and gives the audience a moment to settle in. Why practice under pressure helps more than rehearsal alone It’s one thing to rehearse alone at home. It’s another to practice while feeling observed. Stage fright improves when you train under conditions that resemble the real event. That’s why speaking clubs, peer feedback, and low-stakes practice matters. Toastmasters members often build confidence because they get repeated exposure to the very situation that causes nerves: standing up and speaking while others watch. If you want to reduce stage fright, don’t only rehearse the content. Rehearse the conditions: For speakers who like to learn from real examples, Toastmasters Podcast often features interviews with people who have dealt with fear, performed on bigger stages, and built confidence through repetition. Hearing how others manage their nerves can make your own process feel more normal. What not to do when stage fright hits Some advice sounds helpful but makes the problem worse. If you’re trying to figure...
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  • #297: What Happens When Toastmasters Give Youth Voices a TEDx Stage – CeCe Espeut

    #297: What Happens When Toastmasters Give Youth Voices a TEDx Stage – CeCe Espeut
    Apr 15 2026

    [26:51] What happens when students are given a real stage and someone willing to guide them there? In this episode, Greg Gazin speaks with CeCe Espeut about helping students step onto South Florida’s TEDx Miramar stage and what unfolded along the way.

    CeCe Espeut, a two-time TEDx speaker, five-time Distinguished Toastmaster, and creator of TEDx Miramar, brought together Toastmasters to mentor students preparing for their first talks. What began as a simple idea quickly became something more for the students, the mentors, and for CeCe herself.

    Using a one-to-one mentoring approach, each student was paired with a Toastmaster. But it didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t just about coaching speeches. It was about learning how to listen, adapt, and meet each person where they are.

    Listeners will hear…

    • How a one-to-one mentor model changed the dynamic for both students and coaches
    • Why “no crying allowed” forced mentors to rethink how they give feedback
    • The surprising difference between youth talks and adult TEDx ideas
    • How experienced speakers had to adapt—fast—to truly connect
    • What “accomplishment bonding” looks like—and why it matters

    Some of the biggest shifts didn’t happen on stage. They happened in the way people communicated—with each other, and with themselves.

    And in the end, it wasn’t just about the talks—it was about what it took to get there. Youth didn’t just find their voice. They helped others rediscover theirs.

    CeCe is featured in the March 2026 Toastmaster Magazine article Youth Take the Stage: South Florida Toastmasters Help Young People Find Their Voice with TEDxMiramar Youth by Kate McClare.


    About CeCe Espeut

    CeCe Espeut is a two-time TEDx speaker, five-time Distinguished Toastmaster, and creator of TEDx Miramar. A former U.S. Marine, she is also an author and leadership mentor dedicated to helping others find and share their voice. She has been a Toastmaster since 2016, is a past Division Director, and a member of three clubs in District 47.

    CeCe lives in Miramar, Florida and can be reached at: Cece@tedxmiramar.com.


    Additional Resources:

    CeCe refers to Zone of Genius. You can also listen to Toastmasters Podcast Episode #285: Leading from Your Zone of Genius: Aligning Work with Passion, with Katie Stoddart.
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  • #296: Africa’s Ascent: What Drove Toastmasters Growth – Frank Tsuro

    #296: Africa’s Ascent: What Drove Toastmasters Growth – Frank Tsuro
    Apr 1 2026

    [28:53] Across parts of Africa, Toastmasters has seen double- and even triple-digit growth over a 10-year period—at a time when global membership has slightly declined. So what changed—and why did it stick? Frank Tsuro shares his experience, what contributed to that growth, and what others can learn—while offering a closer look at Africa and Toastmasters across the continent.


    Frank puts the growth into perspective, explaining that it was years in the making—built on long-term thinking, leadership continuity, and a willingness to expand beyond familiar territory.

    He also points to a shift in how growth was approached—moving beyond simply adding clubs to thinking more strategically about how they support each other. That helped address one of the key challenges he describes: isolation, where single clubs struggled to sustain momentum on their own.

    At the same time, Toastmasters met a real need. In many parts of Africa, people conduct business in English or French—even when those aren’t their first languages. It provided an accessible way to build communication skills, connect across cultures, and invest in personal growth—while opening the door for more people to step into leadership.

    You can read Paul Sterman’s article, Africa’s Ascent: The continent has soared in Toastmasters growth, visibility, and performance, in the April 2026 issue of the Toastmaster magazine. You can also check out Family Ties and Toastmasters: Joining a Club Together Strengthens Bonds and Boosts Communication in the December 2025 issue.

    Listeners will hear…

    • What drove double- and triple-digit Toastmasters growth across parts of Africa
    • Why a multi-year plan created momentum that carried across leadership teams
    • How one leadership visit helped shift the trajectory of an entire region
    • Why growing areas—not just individual clubs—leads to more sustainable success
    • How isolation can impact clubs—and what helps them stay strong
    • How younger leaders contributed to the growth and energy across the continent

    Frank’s perspective reminds us that meaningful growth comes from consistency, shared vision, and people willing to step forward.

    Along the way, it also offers a deeper appreciation for the diversity and potential across Africa—and the role Toastmasters can play.


    About Frank Tsuro

    Frank Tsuro works with first-generation leaders—individuals who have risen through talent and determination but were never handed the traditional leadership playbook. He has been a Toastmaster since 2012, is a Past International Director, and is a dual member of the Entrepreneurs Club and L’Avenir Toastmasters in Johannesburg. He lives between Harare, Zimbabwe, and Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Frank Tsuro lives between Harare, Zimbabwe, and Johannesburg, South Africa, and can be reached via Facebook and LinkedIn or email: ftsuro@toastmasters.org
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