Public speaking consistently ranks as one of our biggest fears, but what if the real issue isn’t technique at all? In this episode, Jay sits down with Tristan de Montebello, co-founder of Ultraspeaking, to explore why confidence breaks down when we communicate and how to rebuild it from the inside out.

Tristan shares his rapid journey from beginner to finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking and the lessons that reshaped how he thinks about mastery, coaching, and performance. Together, they unpack the idea of “leaking” insecurity, why audiences feel it instantly, and how small moments like pausing, blanking, or making mistakes can actually build trust when handled with confidence.

The conversation moves beyond stages and spotlights into everyday moments: meetings, conversations, questions left unasked, and opportunities we quietly avoid. This episode is about learning to stay present, trusting what’s already inside you, and stepping into discomfort long enough to let your best thinking show up.

Challenge of the Week:

Volunteer for something without fully preparing. Raise your hand, ask the question, or take the turn you’d normally avoid and notice what shows up when you stay confident anyway.

We talk about:

[00:00] Intro: What is Ultraspeaking?

[02:21] What People Get Wrong About Public Speaking

[04:33] Why Do “Quick Fixes” Not Help in Speaking?

[05:58] Speaking Is About One Thing: Psychology

[08:28] Are You Leaking Your Insecurity? The Impact of Stumbling in a Speech

[10:28] Small Signals of Confidence - How to Stop Leaking

[18:47] Tristan’s Journey at The World Championship of Public Speaking

[24:16] The Truth about Great Public Speakers

[36:16] Your Weekly Challenge

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

Why confidence leaks before technique ever matters
The role of coaching and deliberate discomfort in mastery
How staying present changes the way people receive your message

Links & Tools from This Episode:

Ultraspeaking Website
World Championships of Public Speaking
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
Free Resources
Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email podcast@the1thing.com or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing.

Produced by NOVA