{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Words in the Wilderness","title":"Helen von Dadelszen on courageous action, nervous system regulation, and speaking with confidence","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2771,"description":"Helen von Dadelszen on courageous action, nervous system regulation, and speaking with confidence.\nI (Jacky Power) speak with Helen von Dadelszen, voice and communication coach and author of Courageous Action, about what it really takes to communicate well when you are nervous, under pressure, or worried about getting it wrong. We explore how confidence is built through action, not perfection, and why vulnerability, preparation, and self-trust matter more than sounding polished.\nWe discuss the mindset and body-based tools that help people speak up more effectively in interviews, meetings, presentations, and performances. Helen shares practical ways to quiet the inner soundtrack, regulate the nervous system, and expand your comfort zone through repeated courageous action.\nKey topics\nHelen introduces Courageous Action as a practical guide to building confidence through action, not waiting until you feel ready.\nWe reflect on a real-time example of how nerves and self-consciousness can affect communication.\nHelen explains that hesitations, stumbles, and rephrasing are part of being human and can create connection rather than weaken credibility.\nHelen describes the internal “soundtrack” of limiting beliefs, including thoughts like “I’m not confident enough,” “my accent is funny,” or “I’m not senior enough.”\nHelen recommends asking two key questions before speaking.\nThe conversation covers embodied regulation tools including breath, grounding, power poses, tapping, and low-stakes practice.\nHelen emphasizes that effective communication is hard in fight, flight, or freeze, so the goal is to down-regulate the nervous system rather than eliminate nerves.\nJacky shares performance experiences, including reading from a script on stage and learning from feedback to slow down and trust the poetry more.\nThey discuss how audience silence, awkward moments, small turnouts, or logistical mishaps can be turned into connection rather than failure.\nHelen share that good speakers often...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/hWOJzs9My3AEtPNBYp_3c6d2c4zfOy3xXSnAP5_vXr4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hODZk/ZGQ3Mjk3NjJmMWE4/NjllMWZlNzVlZTEw/MjgwMi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}