Podcast Summary: Dream Life Club

Episode: How to Speak With Influence (Without Trying to Convince)
Host: Sumi Krishnan
Date: January 21, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sumi Krishnan brings listeners behind-the-scenes of her own quest to become a more effective public speaker and communicator. Drawing from her first week attending a prestigious in-person public speaking course led by Richard Greene, Sumi unpacks core lessons about authentic influence, the real mechanics of communication, and shifting from “performance mode” to heartfelt, connective conversations. She connects these insights to the importance of art, community, and impact, especially in times of societal chaos.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Community and Art in Chaos

• Sumi opens with reflections on how easily creatives—and particularly those with ADHD—can fixate on superficial details like branding, rather than focusing on genuine impact and connection.
• She emphasizes that art and beauty are needed more than ever during tumultuous times, both for personal empowerment and broader social good.
• "If we're burnt out, stressed, and doom scrolling all the time, we're a lot easier to manipulate and control and feel frozen in fear than actually empowered to go do something positive in the world." (04:30)

2. Taking Public Speaking Seriously

• Sumi shares her motivation for joining a select in-person public speaking course: to level up from being a competent speaker to an exceptional one, and to bring valuable lessons directly to her community.

3. Assessing Yourself as a Speaker: The Three Scales

(10:15)

• Richard Greene had participants rate themselves on three areas when imagining giving a 20-minute talk about something passionate:

  1. Fear Level: 0 (no fear) to 10 (total panic)
  2. Ability to Engage: 0 (people bored/disengaged) to 10 (everyone riveted)
  3. Level of Fun: 0 (no fun) to 10 (absolute joy)

• Sumi candidly scores herself: fear 4, engagement 6, fun 3 – revealing her lifelong performance anxiety despite frequent performing.

  "When Richard said that, like, you know, you're doing it right if you're having fun, I was like, okay, I have something to learn from this course." (14:10)

4. The 7:38:55 Rule – What Actually Influences an Audience

(15:20)

• Sumi introduces the “7% rule” (more accurately the 7:38:55 rule) learned from Greene:

  • 7% of impact: Words
  • 38%: Tone of Voice
  • 55%: Body Language

• She demonstrates how the same words (“I love you”) can land completely differently depending on delivery.

  "I knew that body language and tone mattered more, but I didn’t think it was only 7%. Honestly, that was new to me last night." (18:00)

• Many creatives, especially those who self-doubt, unintentionally dull their own impact by dialing down passion for fear of being boring; the real growth is in leaning into tone and body language.

• Actionable takeaway: Focus less on “getting the words right” and more on how you say them.

5. Unconscious Body Language Habits

(22:15)

• In the course, Richard Greene identified small, subconscious physical habits in speakers that undermine confidence and presence—crossing legs, shifting weight, hiding hands.
  • Sumi was unaware she crossed her legs while speaking, which reads as “meek” or less confident.
  • Confident stance: stand balanced, equal weight on both feet, shoulders square, power area facing the audience.
  • Hands should be used expressively: “It’s like buying a Mercedes without a steering wheel, if you don’t use your hands.” (Richard Greene, quoted by Sumi, 25:10)
• Pro tip: Be “more Italian”—use your hands naturally to support emphasis and engagement.

6. The Mindset Shift: From Performance to Conversation

(28:00)

• Traditional public speaking advice (e.g., looking above people's heads) disconnects speakers from the audience’s humanity.

• Greene’s advice: Treat every speech, song, or talk as a conversation from the heart, one-on-one with individuals in the room.

• Making authentic eye contact fosters oxytocin and natural connection, reducing nervousness and drawing the audience in.

• Sumi relates: her own nerves are much higher when she’s performing vs. when she tunes into genuine conversation and letting herself “drop in.”

  “Giving a talk on stage is actually nothing more than having a conversation from the heart…about something you’re authentically passionate about.” (Richard Greene, quoted by Sumi, 32:40)

• Further, frame your speech as giving something of real value—the analogy: if you were giving everyone in the crowd a $100 bill, you wouldn’t be nervous. Believe your message has real worth and is a gift.

7. Why Communication Is a Moral Imperative

(37:10)

• Sumi argues it’s more important than ever for good-hearted, thoughtful people to take communication skills seriously, rather than ceding influence to the “uninformed, buffoons, narcissists, and sociopaths.”
• Developing influence and confidence in speaking is part of enabling positive change.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On self-expression and the world:

  “We need all of us right now to be able to have the energy to do the most positive things.” (03:30)

• On public speaking anxiety:

  “Even when I’m up on stage singing...my body literally shakes. I shake. And that’s not a very comfortable feeling.” (13:30)

• On what truly influences:

  “If I am worried that the words I am saying aren’t exactly right, what do I do to make up for that? I work with the levers of tone and body language to make it land better. It’s mind blowing... we do the opposite.” (19:45)

• On body language:

  “Stand squarely in the middle, and your power area is between your two shoulders. If you’re talking to people, you don’t want to be talking to them on an angle.” (23:20)

• On hands and gestures:

  “It’s like buying a brand new Mercedes without a steering wheel. These hands offer so much opportunity to emphasize your point, to land your position, to increase people’s attention spans.” (Richard Greene, via Sumi, 25:10)

• On reframing the speech:

  "It’s a conversation, not a performance... as a gift to someone else." (32:40)

• On valuing your contribution:

  "If you don’t think what you have to offer is worth at least a hundred dollars to everybody, don’t talk." (Richard Greene, via Sumi, 34:00)

• On the moral imperative:

  "Good people need these skills and good people are often the last ones to pay attention...so that ultimately good can win." (37:40)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–05:00 – Sumi opens with context around chaos, art, and community
• 10:15–14:30 – The “three scales” exercise (fear, engagement, fun)
• 15:20–20:30 – The 7:38:55 rule and how words, tone, and body language really function
• 22:15–26:00 – Unconscious body language habits and practical corrections
• 28:00–36:00 – Performance vs. conversation, using eye contact, and the $100 analogy
• 37:10–End – The moral imperative for good people to become better communicators

Final Takeaways

Sumi Krishnan’s episode is both an encouragement and an action plan for all creatives, leaders, and dreamers:

• Stop focusing just on getting the words right—lean into how you deliver your message.
• Bring mindful body language and tone to your communication.
• Shift from “performance” to “conversation,” making connection your goal.
• Recognize your value—your message is a gift to your listeners.
• Good people need to own their influence in the world.

Recommended Action:
Try the three self-assessment scales before your next presentation or conversation. Focus on raising your fun, dialing up your tone and openness, and treating every interaction as a heart-to-heart exchange.

“Love you guys and I’ll see you soon.” (39:00)
— Sumi Krishnan