You're listening to life kit from NPR.
Hey, everybody, it's Marielle.
There's this weird thing that happens to a lot of us.
We might be perfectly comfortable talking to one person or within a small group of people, but if we find ourselves needing to speak to a crowd, especially up on a stage or behind a podium, we freeze.
Anxiety takes over, and next thing you know, you're up there saying words, but your voice is shaking, you're sweating through your shirt, and you're not sure you're doing delivering your message.
By the way, this does happen to me.
Even though I host a show at NPR.
When I was walking down the aisle to officiate my brother's wedding, I was so nervous that the thought popped into my head.
I could make a run for it.
They'll never find me.
I pushed through, and the wedding went forward.
But the point is, a lot of us need help becoming better, more confident public speakers, and that's what today's episode is about.
Reporter Kyle Norris is going to lead us on this journey, and the advice applies whether the idea of talking in front of people makes you queasy or gets you kind of pumped.
Rachel Oman has been terrified of speaking in front of other people for a long time.
Well, I have had a lifelong fear of public speaking going back to childhood, I would say.
And as I've gotten older, it's gotten worse, and it's gotten to the point where it's crept into even just talking to people that I don't know.
Well, one on one, she said that.
Fear got even worse when the pandemic started.
It's even affected her ability to socialize and have a good time.
And I started finding myself becoming more and more reclusive, not wanting to go to social events or things because I would get so uncomfortable.