My TEDx Talk Preparation Video Guide It’s TEDx Talk coaching season — at least for me! I’m currently working with 2 incredible speakers on their upcoming talks, and it has reminded me just how important the prep process is. There’s absolutely a right way and a wrong way to prepare for a TEDx talk. Let me tell you a quick story about […]

A simple 4-step technique to instantly ground you ! If you know me, you know that my favorite way to calm public speaking (and ANY) nerves is 4-7-8 breath exercise.  BUT many people don’t like holding their breath for 7 seconds. That’s why I want to show you another equally powerful tool: Square Breathing, also known as […]

Need some articulation help? I often do voiceovers. It’s one of my favorite (paid) pastimes. 😀  Ever since I misused and temporarily damaged my voice at the star-studded Williamston Theatre Festival when I was 19, I’ve been obsessed with the speaking voice. I realized that, at least in my profession, if you don’t have a […]

This pre-summer month has been a whirlwind — between dashing back and forth to Rome for a corporate training with a new Austrian client, launching new masterclasses, being a guest on the “15 With Fosca” podcast, and even stepping briefly back on stage — I’m equal parts exhilarated and exhausted. And here’s a little secret: […]

How to Be Engaging in Work Presentations We’ve all sat through presentations where the speaker was technically “good” — clear voice, straightforward content, polished slides — but… our minds wandered anyway and we remembered nothing after! Here’s the truth: Being clear is not the same as being compelling. If you want your audience to lean […]

I love the month of May. The days are longer and brighter and everything (including us) is stretching toward the sun. It’s the perfect moment to open up toward that warm sun, take in some Vitamin D, and maybe even raise your status… literally! In this month’s Speak Easy, we’re diving into a subtle but powerful […]

It’s here—my TEDx Talk is now live on the TEDx YouTube channel!  I received the amazing news that TEDx chose my talk as an Editor’s Pick! Only 0.07% of TEDx talks receive this honor, which means TED’s editorial team sees it as a standout talk with a powerful message. It’s already received 36,000 views!  You can watch “*The […]

Hi there – March is here, bringing with it the luck of the Irish. But did you know that in the theatre and public speaking world, it is considered bad luck to say “Good luck,” before someone takes the stage? Instead, tradition dictates saying, ‘Break a leg.’ This stems from the belief that wishing bad luck ironically brings good fortune.  I […]

✨ Exciting News: My TEDx talk will be published soon! 🎉 I’ll let you in on a little secret. Despite being an experienced actress and public speaking coach, I was terribly nervous before stepping onto that TEDx stage! My heart raced, my mind froze, and I felt completely out of sync. Why? Because I cared deeply about my message. […]

Hi there , It’s Elia Nichols, your go-to Public Speaking and Communications coach, Keynote speaker, and Actress—and I’m so excited to reconnect with you! Can you believe this is my first newsletter?! No one is perfect!  One of my favorite quotes of all time is: “People don’t connect with your successes… They connect with your messes! Your message is in […]