Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson: communication coaching for humble leaders
Episodes
194 - Does This Make Sense ? Is it really such a bad question to ask?
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
‘Does this make sense?’ - a simple 4 word sentence that some of my peers would suggest you should NEVER ask?Why?It’s suggested that asking this ...
193 - Tired of Repeating Yourself? How to Be Heard Without Burning Out
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel tired, no, EXHAUSTED? Saying the same thing over and over and over and over again, and being dismissed, not heard, not understood or just ge...
192 - Stop Over-Explaining! Tell Stoies Instead
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re prone to over-explaining yourself, you’re going to love this episode.Using stories to illustrate your point is a powerful way to land yo...
191 - How To Have Conversations for Commercial Outcomes Without Being Salesy
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Delivering commercial outcomes is one of the reasons we have conversations - whether it’s one-on-one or at scale through panels, keynotes, webinars ...
190 - How To Develop Gravitas
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gravitas - we know it when we see it, but how do we develop it for ourselves?In this week’s episode I’m exploring what gravitas is, what it’s NO...
189 - Authentic Storytelling in an AI World
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gabrielle Dolan is a keynote speaker and author who teaches leaders the art and skill of strategic storytelling, teaching them to communicate more eff...
188 - How to Speak Up in Meetings with Senior Leaders
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A key form of professional influence is speaking up, and being heard, in meetings with senior leaders. That might be really daunting, or, you’ve str...
187 - How To Be Concise Without Being Abrupt or Cold
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they want to speak more concisely … Sure, there’s value in getting to the point, but concise isn...
186 - Getting a Seat at the Table (& speaking so people want to listen)
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s hard to influence the conversation when you’re not in it.In this week’s episode of Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson I’m sharing m...
185 - From Knowing It to Saying It Clearly
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You know your stuff. Everything makes sense when you’re thinking it through, or when you write it out.But when it comes to saying it.What (the hell)...
184 - How to Speak with Authority Without Over-Explaining
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Over-explaining and over-talking to establish credibility and authority is such a common challenge … it’s easily in the list of top 5 challenges I...
183 - Speaking with Impact: Being heard, remembered and taken seriously
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why do you want to stop rambling, stop losing your words, be more concise or just more articulate?Because, when you speak you want to make an impact. ...
182 - How to Stop Rambling and Get to the Point
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How to stop rambling is SUCH a common challenge, I wrote an ebook about it! When I ask the question, ‘what’s your biggest challenge, frustration o...
181 - Why Your Mind Goes Blank When You Speak Under Pressure
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve asked more than 2,000 people ‘what’s your biggest challenge, frustration or issue’ when it comes to speaking, and the answers are the sam...
180 - How To Get The Right Words To Come Out [Summer Season]
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this summer season episode I’m revisiting the most popular episode of the year - How to Get The Right Words to Come Out ….Does it ever feel lik...
179 - Being Confident to Be DISLIKED with Kate Toon [Summer Season]
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the summer season of Speaking with Confidence I’m revisiting some of my, and your, favourite episodes.And this one is one of my all time favourit...
178 - Using Your Voice, Your Way, a conversation with Denise Duffield-Thomas (summer season)
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the summer season of Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson, where I’m sharing some of my favourite and most popular episodes.This week...
177 - Sales Conversations That Feel Faboulous - a real coaching call
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sales conversations tend to trip up even the most confident of communicators - we don’t want to feel salesy or pushy, we don’t want to be rejected...
176 - Are you rambling, or are you verbally processing?
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"I want to stop rambling" is the number one 'problem' people come to me to solve.But what if your 'rambling' is actually how...
175 - Umms, Ahhs, and Filler Words - Are They Really That Bad?
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Concerned your umms and ahhs are undermining your credibility?In this week’s episode I’m answering a listener question about training yourself OUT...
174 - How Personal is Too Personal
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘How much of yourself do you share?’ and ‘how to make a speech engaging’ are the questions I’m answering in this week’s episode.Storytelli...
173 - Lecterns, Mics and Unfamiliar Stages
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever rocked up to speak at an event, expecting a lectern, or a certain kind of microphone, and the set-up was NOT as you expected?Or you were forced t...
172 - Tips For Pitching a TEDx Talk
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to know how to pitch to speak at a TEDx talk?Listen up, because that’s the exact question I’m answering today.A listener has set herself a ch...
171 - How to Manage Disagreements And Conflict
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you hiding, or not speaking up, because you’re concerned people might disagree with you?Well, chances are, someone will! After all, if they alre...
170 - Making a Difference Over The Long-Term
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like you’re tired of the sound of your own voice? Or the sound of your message? But you’re still not making the impact you want?Yep, I g...
169 - It Was A Disaster! How To Recover A Presentation When It’s Going Pear-shaped?
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you recover a presentation where your slides don’t work, you’re not feeling great, and when you see audience members sleeping during your p...
168 - How Can I Boost My Confidence Quickly?
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In honour of World Smile Day today I want to share the simplest, and most under-rated way to boost your confidence … Yes, SMILINGBefore you think, ...
167 - How To Get The ‘Right’ Words To Come Out
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Does it ever feel like your brain and mouth are out-of-sync? You know what you want to say but your mouth just doesn’t play along?That’s exactly t...
166 - How To Ask Questions From The Audience
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever been in the audience at a conference, asked a question of one of the speakers, and got completely tangled up in giving context?Well, that’s EXA...
165 - Can I Present for 20 Minutes Without Notes?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Is it realistic to do a 20 minute speech without notes?”, that’s the question I’m asking in this week’s Speaking with Confidence podcast.It...
164 - How To Engage Your Audience
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I was recently asked this question:“How to engage the audience? I love watching speakers who engage the crowd but don't put people on the spot?’...
163 - How To Make My Audience Relax (& Maybe Even Laugh)
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson I’m answering another community question: “How can I make my audience relax, and maybe...
162 - How To Prepare in 2 Minutes
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“How do you quickly prepare when you’re put on the spot?”, that’s the question I’m answering in today’s episode of Speaking with Confidenc...
161 - Personal Reflections on Imposter Syndrome
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s my birthday … it’s a big milestone birthday … as such, this episode is a little bit different to normal episodes.As I reflect on my caree...
160 - How To MC Like A Pro (even if you’re not)
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“How To MC an Event” is the question I’m answering in this week’s episode of Speaking with Confidence … a question asked by Louise in my com...
159 - How To End Your Talk
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you end your talk so that your audience takes the next step with you? And how do you end your talk so you’re memorable?This week I’m answer...
158 - Tips to Ground Yourself Before a Speaking Gig
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“What are your grounding hacks before a speaking gig?” is the question I’m answering in this week’s episode of Speaking with Confidence.Ground...
157 - How to Record Social Media Videos
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I’m giving you my top tips for speaking on camera, and getting over that reluctance to record when it’s just you and the camera.I ...
156 - Knowing WHEN to Speak Up
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I’m discussing the importance of strategic communication and how to effectively contribute to conversat...
155 - Umms & Ahhs and How To Stop Them
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m answering the question, “how do I train out the excessive umms and ahhs and other unnecessary fillers that take away the conviction and ...
154 - Managing The Fear Of Public Speaking
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s often said that the fear of public speaking is second only to the fear of death itself.If this is even close to true I find it incredibly sad -...
153 - How To Memorise Your Presentation So You Don’t Need Notes
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If I had a dollar for every person who’s asked me ‘how do I memorise my presentations?’ … In this episode of Speaking with Confidence with Ca...
152 - The Problem With Shortcuts Like AI and Templates
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s really tempting to use shortcuts like AI or templates when crafting a presentation; but if you’re not careful they’ll trip you up more than...
151 - How To Talk About Myself Without Sounding Too Braggy
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you showcase your awesomeness without sounding like an arrogant twat? Well, that’s exactly what I’m answering in today’s episode!Most hum...
150 - How To Speak Up Even When I’m Scared
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s REALLY hard to speak up when you’re scared or nervous; worried about looking like an idiot or being rejected.Yet we need to, right? Because, ...
149 - How To Be Heard In Meetings
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all been there. In a meeting, we have ideas we want to contribute, and we just can’t make ourselves heard.Whether it’s dominating personal...
148 - How to Speak Clearly & Confidently Under Pressure
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I’m fine in normal conversation, but as soon as all eyes are on me, I just lose my confidence, and my words”If I had a dollar for every time a ...
147 - How To Show Up EVEN WHEN You’re Not Feeling it
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ugh! How do you show up and be engaging, inspiring, energetic, motivating and enthusiastic … when you’re not?That is the topic of this podcast bec...
146 - How Personal Is Too Personal
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you balance building rapport by sharing personal stories but not getting ‘too personal’ with your audience?That’s the topic of this episo...
145 - What is the best way to practise my speech?
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best way to practise my speech? This is a question I am asked A LOT, so I’ve answered it in this podcast episode.Unlike many speaking co...
144 - Using Your Voice, Your Way, with Denise Duffield-Thomas
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Denise Duffield-Thomas is a highly successful business woman. As a Money Mindset Mentor she has supported more than 10,000 people deal with their mone...
143 - How to establish credibility (without sounding too boastful)
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“How do I establish credibility, how do I demonstrate my experience, without sounding arrogant?”I’m easily asked this question at least 5 times ...
142 - But what if I freeze when all eyes are on me?
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Cat, I recently FROZE, completely froze, when the MC introduced me to talk. I was prepared, I knew my topic, but my nerves got the better of me and...
141 - Stepping into the Spotlight - Why You Want To (even if it’s scary)
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even if you’re an introvert, if you don’t like ‘all the attention’ or you’re happy ‘being in the background’, sometimes it’s important...
140 How do I showcase my talents?
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I’m answering another community question,How do I bring everything I know, together?This is a question ...
139 - I have to write a speech, where do I start?
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Speaking with Confidence I’m answering a community question:How do I write a speech? Where do I even start?It’s an excellent qu...
138 - How To Speak Naturally, Not In 'Presentation Mode'
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Speaking with Confidence I’m answering a community question: How do I show up more naturally and not in ‘presentation mode’?...
137 - I Talk Too Fast - How To Slow Down
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Speaking with Confidence I’m answering a question from my community: “How do I stop talking so fast when talking to someone in...
136 - How To Make Online Meetings More Engaging
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of 'Speaking with Confidence' I’m sharing my top tips to effectively host and show up in online meetings. We all spend a LOT...
135: How To Pitch For Speaking Opportunities
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s Speaking with Confidence episode I’m answering a listener question, “If a speaking opportunity comes up, what is the best way to ...
Episode 134: Mastering Simplicity In Your Communication
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do I have my listener understand even the most complex of concepts? How can I stop overwhelming my audience with all.the.things? They're the quest...
Episode 134: Mastering Simplicity In Your Communication
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do I have my listener understand even the most complex of concepts? How can I stop overwhelming my audience with all.the.things? They're the quest...
Episode 133. The psychology of Imposter Syndrome in Business with Kara Lambert
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Speaking with Confidence, business psychology consultant Kara Lambert talks about the mental hurdles that can hold business owners ...
Episode 132. How To Impactfully Communicate Complex Information
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode I talk with Dr Anneline Padayachee, a nutritional food scientist who bridges the gap between food science and nutrition. This...
Episode 131. How To Be The Dissenting Voice + AI ethics with James Gauci
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cat talks to James about how to be the dissenting voice; in this case go against amovement of AI enthusiasts. And, because it is such...
Episode 130. Authenticity in Copywriting with Melanie Campbell
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Melanie Campbell is a holistic women's business guide who helps soul-inspired women 40+, grow their soul-aligned business by shining their unique ligh...
Episode 129. Authenticity in Singing and Speaking with Mel Lathouras
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mel Lathouras, a singer and performer, shares her journey of helping others sing fearlessly and overcome the narratives that hold them back. She empha...
Episode 128. Crafting Content with purpose, passion and profit in mind with Mel Daniels
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mel Daniels is a content strategist and podcast host and joins me to discuss the importance of authenticity and content in social media marketing. I...
Episode 127. Overcoming blockages and influencing impact in the public sector, with Georgie Smith
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Georgie Smith is an expert in getting things done in the public sector, is the Founder of Upsides Training and the author of the book, The Formula for...
Episode 126. The Power of Authentic Storytelling with Michelle Pritchard
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to speak with confidence to establish authority in your industry is a journey – one that requires showing up, speaking up, being authentic ...
Episode 125. Webinars that make an impact, with Jodi Porteous
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As an accountant and an engineer earning “good money”, Jodi and her husband thought they were doing well with traditional models of household budg...
Episode 124. Being Seen – The Power of Authentic Self Expression with Rebecca Taylor
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca Taylor is a leading personal branding photographer and visibility mentor, renowned for her ability to capture the authentic essence of top-tie...
Episode 123. Intuitive Business & Overcoming Self-Sabotage with Chenae Carey
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chenae Carey is an Intuitive Business Mentor bridging the gap between practical strategy and intuitive guidance for her clients. In this episode we ha...
Episode 122. Doing Business HER Way with Rosie Shilo
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rosie Shilo is the Virtual Assistant Advocate. She coaches, teaches and supports Australian Virtual Assistants while teaching other business owners ab...
Episode 121. Being just one step ahead – How Jenn Donovan uses speaking to make impact
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you impact 100,000 small business owners from a farm in regional NSW? That’s the question that drove Jenn Donovan of Social Media & Marke...
Episode 120. The Power of Storytelling in Securing Grant Funding with Liz Fleming
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Would you like to successfully secure grant funding for your business or community group? Have you ever wondered what makes for a successful grant a...
Episode 119. The Fear Of Being ‘Seen’ and how I manage it
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a fear of being ‘seen’? Are you tired of ‘playing small?’ This has been a common theme across many conversations I’ve been ha...
Episode 118. Are you making this speaking mistake?
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you making this speaking mistake? In this special episode where I share part 1 of my recent 3-part Speaking with Impact workshop, I share one of...
Episode 117. Where Does Confidence Come From
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where does confidence come from? Confidence generally comes from experience, training, results … but when you’re a service-based professional, o...
Episode 116. Speaking Impactfully On Instagram with Tracy Harris
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tracy Harris, aka Mums with Hustle on Instagram, has created a multi-million dollar business using Instagram as her primary audience building tool. ...
Episode 115. Selfless Selling: How To Get Comfortable Having Sales Conversations with Frances Pratt
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I chat with sales expert Frances Pratt, about overcoming the discomfort associated sales. We explore the importance of mindset and und...
Episode 114. How Kindness & Nervous System Regulation Helps You Speak with More Confidence with Erica Webb
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I chat with Erica Webb, a registered counsellor and somatic exercise coach, about the importance of self-kindness and nervous system ...
Episode 113. Speaking Human with Louise Davis
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In corporate environments, why do we speak in ‘stiff, robotic, corporate speak’ in our workplaces? That’s the very conversation I’m havin...
Episode 112. 2023 Season Finale | A Year In Review
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Season Finale! This is an ‘out-of-character’ episode to finish up the year with a reflection on the year that’s been. No speaking tips as such, ...
Episode 111. How To Successfully Wear Many Professional Hats With Laura Elkaslassy
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you effectively introduce yourself when you wear many professional hats? That’s the question I asked Laura Elkaslassy, owner of FOUR diffe...
Episode 110. Authentic Storytelling with Jen Jeavons
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What would you tell your 20-something self about life and business? Somehow that’s the question that Jen Jeavons and I ended up answering in this ...
Episode 109. Performer, Pitcher, Presenter or Conversationalist? Which one are you?
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of highly impactful speakers the image we conjure in our minds is often the most rarefied of all speakers – the keynote speaker or per...
Episode 108. The Art of Negotiating a Pay Rise with Alex Hanlon
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had to negotiate a pay rise? Or are you like me … and just cross your fingers and hope you’ll get one? Alex Hanlon from Fair Pay N...
Episode 107. How To Find The Gold In Your Own Stories
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the biggest barriers to speaking confidence is thinking we’re not good enough, not interesting enough or not ‘smart/experienced/focused/spe...
Episode 106. How Julia Slowed Down for Industry Leadership
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As an industry expert, Julia found herself frustrated that people with less experience and less knowledge were speaking at industry events. She also r...
Episode 105. The Power of Leading with Effective Communication With Kristy-Lee
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In personal relationships there’s a massive focus on effective communication. But what about in workplace relationships … especially when you’...
Episode 104. Unlocking A Speaker-Seeker’s Secrets With Nadine Zrinzo
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of THE BEST ways you can build your professional profile is to speak at industry events and conferences. But how do you get those opportunities?...
Episode 103. The Power Stories All Business Owners (and Leaders) Need To Tell, with Valerie Khoo
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Valerie Khoo - keynote speaker, author, visual artist & CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre – is my guest today. As a woman who wears m...
Episode 102. Growing Your Business Through Speaking, with Danielle Lewis
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does one woman build a name for herself on a global stage? Yep, you guessed it. Speaking. In this episode I talk with Danielle Lewis, co-found...
Episode 101. Lessons Learned from Podcasting, Top Speaking Mistakes and Information by Firehose
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What have I learned in recording 100 podcast episodes? Both about podcasting itself and the mistakes people make when it comes to speaking confidence?...
Episode 100! - The Power of Stories and Authenticity in Driving Community Impact
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate the 100th episode of Speaking with Confidence (100!!!!) I have a very special conversation with two inspirational community leaders. ...
Episode 99. How To MC An Event, Well.
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode I am answering listener questions … two listeners in the course of a week asked me ‘can you give me some tips to MC an ev...
Episode 98. How To Be Authentic While Still Using Structure
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Want to be an impactful, powerful and authentic expression of yourself? That’s exactly what I teach inside the Impactful Presenters Program. A...
Episode 97. Building the Confidence to Not Be Liked and Overcoming Fear with Kate Toon
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The fear of public speaking is often cited as a fear greater than death. But when you peel back the layers on what that’s REALLY about … it’...
Episode 96. How To Be Engaging on Webcam and in Online Meetings
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you finding it difficult in our new online world, of hybrid or video meetings, to connect with your audience like you used to in real life (IRL)? ...