304: Speak More Confidently and Calm Your Nerves with David Pope

Send us a text If you’ve ever cringed at the sound of your own voice during a Zoom call or playback, you’re not alone. But what if your voice was the key to getting promoted, speaking with more confidence, or finally being seen as a leader? In this episode of The Mid-Career GPS Podcast, BBC-trained executive voice coach David Pope joins John Neral for a transformative conversation about how your voice impacts your leadership brand, career growth, and personal confidence. With a client list that includes CEOs, TEDx speakers, and professionals worldwide, David breaks down the science behind vocal perception and how people make snap judgments about your competence and executive presence based on how you sound. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to sound more confident in interviews, meetings, and presentations—even if you"re feeling nervous inside. Tune in to learn:Why mid-career professionals must pay attention to their voice in today’s competitive job marketThe psychological impact of how we sound—and why it affects hiring and promotion decisionsHow to project authentic gravitas without faking a deeper or “stronger” voiceThe real reason we hate hearing ourselves recorded—and how to get over itHow vocal variety, pace, and strategic pauses can dramatically increase your impactA practical voice training toolkit: posture, diaphragmatic breathing, pitch control, and articulationWhy slowing down helps you own the room and lead with authorityA powerful success story of a job seeker who used voice coaching to land her dream roleHow to build a “virtuous circle” of speaking confidence and positive feedbackThe deep connection between your voice, self-worth, and career clarity Whether you"re preparing for a big interview, looking to get promoted, or want to show up with more confidence in your current role, this episode gives you the tools to speak like the leader you already are. Connect with David Pope Free Public Speaking Bundle | LinkedIn | Support the show Thank you for listening to The Mid-Career GPS Podcast. Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here. Visit https://johnneral.com/resources for free and low-ticket resources, including how to join The Mid-Career GPS Membership Community. Visit https://johnneral.com to join The Mid-Career GPS Newsletter, a free, twice-weekly career and leadership resource for mid-career professionals. Connect with John on LinkedIn here. Get John"s New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here. Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John"s YouTube Channel here.