3.28 How to overcome your fear of presenting (with special guest, author Linda Ugelow)

03/17/25 • 38 min

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

If you dread presentations, or would just like to be a bit more confident when speaking, then this episode is for you! Linda Ugelow, author of Delight in the Limelight, is talking about why so many of us struggle with public speaking and what we can all do to improve. If you listen carefully, you’ll also find out what happened when I was live on stage in a wetsuit too 😊

You can find out all about Linda here or follow her on TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.
You can also buy her book, Delight in the Limelight or find it on Audible.

You can get her Speaker Preparation Checklist to feel grounded, focused, and energized when you speak.

If you want a giggle, you can also watch my FameLab disaster video and my response

****
I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464

I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

You can find out all about Linda here or follow her on TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.
You can also buy her book, Delight in the Limelight or find it on Audible.

You can get her Speaker Preparation Checklist to feel grounded, focused, and energized when you speak.

If you want a giggle, you can also watch my FameLab disaster video and my response

Previous Episode

3.27 How to “do it all” – a listener Q&A episode!

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode I answer three questions from listeners on different topics, but that are all loosely connected to the idea that we want to be able to “do it all”. I give Julia some tips on writing up a PhD with small children, I advise Susan on how prepare for her comprehensive exams, and I give Sajini some ideas about managing overwhelm when balancing writing up with working as an international student. Interestingly, these are all topics that I don’t have direct experience of, but stay with me as I apply our mindset principles to these very real challenges.

Next Episode

3.29 How to Stop Wasting Time by Trying to Be Too Efficient

Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

In this episode of The PhD Life Coach podcast, Dr Vikki Wright explains why chasing ‘perfect efficiency’ is actually making your PhD harder. Many students think that taking flawless notes or writing excellent first drafts will save time — but this mindset often leads to procrastination and stress. Instead, Vikki reveals why starting imperfectly is the key to progress. She explains that writing is part of the thinking process, reading evolves with your understanding, and connecting with others can be the most effective use of your time. If you're overwhelmed by the pressure to be ‘productive’, this episode will help you work smarter — not harder. Ideal for PhD students and academics feeling stuck, behind, or anxious about their thesis. Listen now to learn how embracing imperfection can help you finish your PhD with less stress.

Links I refer to in this episode:

Why you shouldn’t read when you’re writing

Why perfect plans fail: embracing imperfection in academic writing

How to get started on a task

How to use the do know don’t know list

The PhD Life Coach - 3.28 How to overcome your fear of presenting (with special guest, author Linda Ugelow)

Transcript

Vikki: Hello and welcome to the PhD life coach podcast. And this week we have a guest author with us. So welcome Linda Ugelow, the author of Delight in the Limelight, who is an expert in all things presentations and overcoming your fears of speaking in public. So welcome Linda.

Linda: Thank you for having me, Vikki.

Vikki: No, it's exciting to have you here. Tell people a little bit more about yourself and how you came to write a book about this.

Linda: I became an online c