Leap Academy Podcast · Episode 114 · Jul 1, 2025
Matt Abrahams: How to Conquer Anxiety and Lead Powerful Conversations Under Pressure
"Matt Abrahams's passion for communication was shaped by his parents during his childhood."
44 minutes
Leap PodcastMatt Abrahams: How to Conquer Anxiety and Lead Powerful Conversations Under Pressure
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What's in this episode
Matt Abrahams's passion for communication was shaped by his parents during his childhood. In the corporate world, he noticed that great ideas often went unheard because people were too anxious to speak up, particularly in high-pressure situations. Realizing that fear, not a lack of ideas, was the barrier to success, Matt made it his mission to help individuals overcome anxiety and communicate with confidence. In this episode, Matt joins Ilana to share his top techniques for managing public speaking anxiety and how you can transition from rambling to speaking with clarity, confidence, and impact.
Matt Abrahams is a bestselling author, communication coach, and lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has helped individuals deliver impactful presentations, from IPO roadshows to Nobel Prize speeches, TED Talks, and World Economic Forum sessions.
In this episode, Ilana and Matt will discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:50) His Path to Becoming a Communication Expert
(05:50) Corporate Lessons and the Transition to Teaching
(09:36) Mastering Communication as a Teacher
(12:54) Understanding and Managing Anxiety
(18:19) Matt’s Top Anxiety Management Techniques
(23:15) The Keys to His Career Growth and Success
(25:11) Turning Mistakes into Business Opportunities
(28:49) Navigating Social Media and Feedback
(33:29) How to Stop Rambling and Speak with Confidence
(36:30) How to Understand and Connect with Your Audience
Matt Abrahams is a bestselling author, communication coach, and lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is the author of Speaking Up Without Freaking Out and Think Faster, Talk Smarter, and host of the award-winning Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. Matt has helped individuals deliver impactful presentations, from IPO roadshows to Nobel Prize speeches, TED Talks, and World Economic Forum sessions.
Connect with Matt:
Website: fastersmarter.io
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maabrahams
Resources Mentioned:
Matt’s Book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Faster-Talk-Smarter-Successfully/dp/1668010305
Matt’s Book, Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting: https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-without-Freaking-Out-Techniques/dp/1465290478
Matt’s Podcast, Think Fast Talk Smart: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-fast-talk-smart-communication-techniques/id1494989268
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Transcript
Full conversation
Transcript coming soon. In the meantime, watch the YouTube version above for closed captions, or listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify.
About Leap Academy
Where ambitious professionals leap to their next chapter.
Founded by Ilana Golan — Forbes contributor, board director, investor in 100+ companies, and former F-16 flight instructor commander — Leap Academy has helped 70,000 people across 4 continents reinvent their careers and build lasting reputations.
- American Business Awards Startup of the Year, 2023
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company
- Featured on Forbes, Yahoo Finance, NBC, CBS, ABC

Founder & CEO
Ilana Golan
Hosts every episode. Has guided thousands of professionals through career reinventions, leadership leaps, and brand building.
70,000
Lives impacted
$60M
Market value
4
Continents
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