You may not be talking about politics at your speaking engagements, but you may be discussing issues that are controversial or where people have a distinct point of view. Or, you may get a question from an audience member that throws you off. How can you handle hard conversations, whether it’s at events, panels, media interviews, or even with your family and friends? Joining me in this episode are Sarah Stewart (from the left) and Beth Silvers (from the right) of the Pantsuit Politics podcast. Along with their strategies for handling hard conversations, we get into why companies don’t seem to value training on these “soft skills” as much as they should, why they tend to bucket it as a “women’s issue”, and how we can position these topics differently. About My Guests: On the Pantsuit Politics podcast, two friends on opposite sides of the aisle have real conversations about politics and policy. Sarah Stewart Holland (from the left) has always loved politics, although her political opinions have changed drastically over the years. As the creator and cohost of Pantsuit Politics, she has turned that passion into a career. When she's not opining about policy or the latest political firestorm from behind the mic, Sarah is raising her three young song with her husband in her hometown of Paducah, KY, where she served on the Paducah City Commission. Before turning to the mic, Sarah wrote about parenting and politics on her blog bluegrass redhead. Her writing has also been published on the Atlantic, Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and BlogHer. Beth Silvers (from the right) owns and operates Checking In with Beth Silvers, a life and business coaching practice. Drawing on her eleven years of experience with a large midwestern law firm as an attorney and human resources executive, Beth helps individuals clarify and realize their goals. She has been recognized as one of Ohio’s Most Powerful and Influential Women by the Ohio Diversity Council, a Human Resources GameChanger by Workforce Magazine, and one of Cincinnati’s Forty Under 40 business leaders. A graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky, Beth lives in Union with her husband, two daughters, and miniature schnauzer. She loves people, politics, poetry, and watermelon. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/125 Listen to the Pantsuit Politics podcast: http://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/ Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/ or text the word SPEAKING to 444-999. Sign up for a Strategy Session at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/strategy. Create your signature talk or TEDx talk. Get all the details at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/coaching. Say hi to me on Instagram and Twitter: @CarolMorganCox. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts and leave a review! Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 92: Deconstructing My TEDx Talk: Why We’re Uncomfortable with Women in Power Episode 94: Speaking and Showing Up Powerfully as Women with Molly Baker McPherson Episode 97: Thinking Bigger – I Get Coached On-Air by Geraldine Carter Episode 123: The Key Elements You Need to Get Paid Speaking Engagements with Li Hayes JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.