Linda Ugelow about Enjoying Public Speaking

Linda Ugelow is an international speaker, author, and speaking confidence coach with a transformative approach to overcoming the fear of speaking. She is also the author of the book Delight in the Limelight. Once gripped by her own public speaking anxiety, Linda now empowers business owners, corporate leaders, teams, performers, and authors to transform their experience of speaking from fear to delight, whether in front of a camera, on stage, or in the boardroom.

Linda holds a Master’s degree in Expressive Therapy and Movement Studies and spent over three decades performing globally as a singer, bassist, percussionist, and principal dancer with the acclaimed women’s world music group, Libana. Drawing on her deep understanding of performance and therapy, Linda developed her signature framework to help people confidently step into the limelight.

Linda offers insights and inspiration for overcoming speaking challenges through courses, on TikTok, and in the Delight in the Limelight podcast.

1) In your book, Delight in the Limelight, you mention the idea of an “inner freedom framework.” Could you explain what this looks like in practice and how someone can begin developing this inner freedom?

In the context of speaking, “freedom” refers to feeling unencumbered by fear, self-criticism, and self-doubt. This inner freedom allows us to connect with our natural expressiveness, speak with ease and confidence, and enjoy the experience of being seen and heard.

I developed the 3-part Inner Freedom Framework, inspired by Carl Jung’s idea of bringing what is unconscious into conscious awareness.

The first part of the Inner Freedom Framework is clearing away anything that has made us believe it’s unsafe to be seen or to take up space. I call this phase reveal and heal.

For me, this started with a childhood memory. As the “good girl” in my family, my mom often put me on a pedestal, which understandably made my siblings resentful. They’d kick me in the shins and tell me, “Shut up, stupid.” When I remembered this, a light bulb went on. Of course, I didn’t feel safe being the center of attention. A part of me knew it was dangerous to be in the spotlight.

When I uncovered this fear, I realized my anxiety around speaking wasn’t about the present moment—it stemmed from unconscious memories of the past.

Another key memory came from seventh grade when I was bullied. A group of girls made a pact: “No one talk to Linda!” And they didn’t. Although the silence lasted only four days, the feeling that no one cared about what I had to say lingered for decades. Our past experiences can shape us, for better or worse, for a long time. The good news is, once we identify these events, we can learn to release them.

The second part of the Inner Freedom Framework is to restore safety. We need to examine what we’re doing to ourselves that keeps us feeling unsafe—whether it’s self-criticism about our appearance, the sound of our voice, or anything else that reinforces the idea that we’re not good enough. These internal messages often stem from early experiences and societal influences.

While I work privately with clients, these reflections are especially powerful in a group setting. I’ll offer a journal prompt to explore an aspect of their internal process or past experience. Participants write and then share their reflections with the group. Not only does the journaling help uncover the patterns that hold them back, but sharing also fosters deep compassion as they listen to one another. The shared experience brings healing in itself.

The third part of the Inner Freedom Framework is re-patterning our habits. Living in a limited space affects how we stand, move, and breathe—whether we carry tension or feel open and expansive, and how we express ourselves. It also impacts how we use our voice. For example, I used to speak softly because, in my family, speaking loudly meant anger. I decided early on that I would never raise my voice to avoid scaring anyone. As an adult, I forgot this promise and wondered why people kept asking me to speak up.

Some clients have the challenge of speaking too fast. They rush their words to avoid being interrupted, taking up time, or just to get it over with because they feel anxious.

Re-patterning allows us to experiment—with our voice, our breath, and our self-expression. Every time we speak is an opportunity to practice feeling more free, more at ease, and to discover the joy of hearing our own voice. This ongoing practice helps us embody the inner freedom we seek.

2) The challenge for many people (myself included) is they view speaking as a form of performance art, which inherently then runs the risk of performance anxiety. How do you guide your clients to shift their mindset from performing to authentically connecting with their audience?

Connection is key, but it starts with connecting to yourself first. In my program Comfy on Camera, we have a module called Make Friends with the Lens (the audience). Step One involves closing your eyes to connect with yourself and narrate what you notice: the flow of your breath, the feel of your feet on the floor, the shape of your posture—these are ways to ground yourself and connect on a visceral level.

In Step Two, look at your audience. What are you grateful for? Then in Step Three, practice what it feels like to simply receive their attention and positive regard. Allow yourself to be filled with this positive energy.

By practicing receiving, you begin to repattern your relationship with the audience, turning it into an experience that uplifts and empowers you. This is the foundation of authenticity: experiencing your presence and welcoming others into that space with you.

3) In your book, you mention practical exercises like breathwork and visualization as ways to repattern the emotional response to public speaking. Can you share how incorporating these techniques can actually turn anxiety into enjoyment, and how that process might even become fun over time?

They are both powerful tools for managing the fear of speaking. Breath-counting techniques, like breathing in for four counts, holding for a few, and releasing for another set, are popular because they help you feel in control of your breath.

However, it’s important to note that managing fear is different from clearing it. To truly clear the fear, you need to address the root causes—those experiences, messages, and inner dialogue that create the fear. Once you’ve done that, techniques like breathwork and visualization can deepen and enhance your speaking experience.

For example, if you feel tightness or restriction in your ribcage, you might need to re-pattern your breathing. This process takes time, but it can be a pleasure to practice. Throughout the day—when you wake up, go to sleep, work, or even watch a movie—take a few moments to savor your breath, as if it’s the most delicious thing. Practicing this easy, flowing breath in conversation makes it familiar so that you can call on it any time, even on stage.

Visualization or mental rehearsal isn’t about scripting what you’re going to say—it’s about imagining how you want to feel while you’re saying it. The first question is, How do you want to be? How do you want to feel? Grounded, strong, and authoritative? Or maybe playful and laid back? If you don’t have a clear image of what you want, it’s like trying to travel without entering your destination into the GPS. Visualization helps set that internal GPS.

Mental rehearsal is a key part of my speaker preparation process. As soon as I’m invited to speak, I spend a few minutes envisioning my ideal experience. I repeat this while I’m preparing, and again just before the event. This repetition keeps me focused on how I want to feel, setting the stage for that experience to unfold.

4) There is so much in your book that can be applied outside the realm of public speaking. For those who don’t regularly give formal speeches or presentations, what have you learned about mastering public speaking that also explicitly benefits everyday conversations and interactions?

First, I define public speaking as any time we open our mouths to speak in public, whether it’s in a formal setting or during everyday interactions.

Let these daily conversations become your playground for exploring, practicing, and expanding your vocal awareness and expression. Play with your tone, volume, melody, speed, and energy. For example, my husband and I have a fun little game: each morning when he comes downstairs, he says “Good morning” in a deep, resonant voice, and I boom “Good Morning” back to him. It’s our playful way to practice expanding the volume and power of our voices.

If you have children, that’s another perfect opportunity to explore vocalization while playing or reading together. Everyday situations like sitting at the dinner table, meeting with friends, talking with clients or colleagues, or even chatting with the grocery store cashier offer chances to practice. You can focus on scanning your body for tension, feeling your feet on the floor, or noticing how comfortable you are (or not) making eye contact while speaking.

Each interaction becomes a chance to try something new and build fluency in your self-expression. This kind of practice is not only fun but also empowering. You’ll feel a sense of growth and satisfaction in all the speaking you do while making it an enjoyable part of your day.

5) For obvious reasons, I love that your approach focuses on cultivating “delight” when it comes to public speaking (rather than just pushing through fear). What are the foundational tenets of how you help clients rediscover joy and playfulness in such a typically stressful situation?

Again, the first step is doing the inner work. Once you’ve cleared away mental and emotional barriers and connected with the sound and sensation of your voice, you can focus on shifting into a more energized state.

I created The Speaker Green Room as a place to get into and stay in the zone. You get to prepare yourself mentally, physically, vocally, and energetically through meditations, warm-ups, journaling, and rituals.

From over 500 performances with my women’s world music group (which I describe in more detail in Chapter 14 of my book), I noticed we always performed better with an audience than when singing alone.

Speaking can be like that, too. It can be exhilarating—a natural high—not just in spite of others watching, but because of their presence.

The supportive structure of the Inner Freedom Framework transforms speaking from merely “getting the job done” into an opportunity to grow and step into your full potential. By blending experimentation, connection, and even spirituality, we turn public speaking into something deeply enjoyable—where you can truly delight in the limelight.