What if I told you that your posture could shape your future?

In today’s episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I’m joined by Ben J. Munday, speaker, coach, and public speaking mentor to explore the power of physicality, confidence, and connection.

Ben’s approach to leadership and communication bridges the physical, mental, and emotional. Through his work with organizations and as VP of Education for Berlin’s leading public speaking group, he helps leaders turn self-awareness into influence.

In this conversation, we dive into how your energy introduces you before you speak, the hidden language of confidence, and how to connect authentically with any audience from boardrooms to TEDx stages.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• How to align your body language with your message

• Why confidence is physical, not just mental

• The biggest mistakes leaders make when communicating

• Tools to adapt your tone and energy for any audience

• How to build stronger emotional connection through presence

• The secret to overcoming imposter syndrome

• Why “practice, practice, practice” is the real key to success

Ben J. Munday is a speaker, coach, and emcee who’s hosted and delivered keynotes alongside thought leaders like Michelle Obama and Erin Meyer. Drawing from years of work in corporate fashion, somatic coaching, and public speaking, Ben helps people transform their communication from transactional to transformational.

📍 Learn more at benjmunday.com

⏱️ In This Episode

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

01:40 – The Three Dimensions: Body, Mind & Emotion

02:30 – Your Energy Introduces You Before You Speak

05:00 – The Most Common Leadership Communication Mistakes

07:45 – How to Master Non-Verbal Communication

10:10 – Open Body Language: Building Instant Connection

13:00 – How to Read and Match the Room

17:00 – Lessons from Hosting Major Global Events

19:00 – Confidence and the Power of Posture

23:00 – How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome Physically

25:00 – Why Communication Is the Ultimate Growth Strategy

29:00 – The #1 Skill That Changes Your Life: Connection

32:00 – Preparing for Diverse Audiences as a Speaker

35:00 – End Messages

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📅 New episodes every Monday at 11 AM EST

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

📺 Watch the full episode playlist: SMARTA Podcast on YouTube

🌍 See more of Sonia’s work: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram: @soniamartaauthor

Have you ever felt like you’re standing still in your career, not because of the ceiling above you, but the floor beneath you?

Today on The SMARTA Podcast, we dive deep into what’s really holding you back at work and how to unlock your potential by removing the “interference” that clouds performance.

In this episode, we unpack:

💡 Why you need to stop managing change and start building change fitness

💡 How to balance freedom and structure to build trust and accountability

💡 What “performance = potential - interference” really means in practice

💡 How to design a culture that’s both emotional and cognitive

💡 Why leadership doesn’t start with a title, it starts with you

About Yvette:

Yvette Janse Van Rensburg is a Partner at Let’s Talk Talent, specializing in culture, leadership, and talent management. She’s passionate about making organizations irresistible by unlocking people’s potential. You can connect with Yvette and explore her work at letstalktalent.co.uk.

In this episode:

00:00 – Intro

01:19 – What makes organizations irresistible

02:39 – The power of the “performance = potential – interference” equation

06:21 – Building culture that lasts

11:08 – Moving from change management to change fitness

15:18 – Freedom within the framework: structure vs flexibility

18:16 – Rethinking talent management

20:56 – Leadership starts before the title

23:27 – The rise of AI and hybrid workplaces

27:43 – The future of people and culture

30:15 – The sticky floor paradox

32:50 – Books that shaped Yvette’s perspective

35:55 – Unlocking hidden talent

38:52 – Final message to listeners

41:00 – Outro

If today’s episode made you see yourself differently, pause to think, or feel understood share this episode with someone who needs it too.

Double-check that you’re subscribed for more weekly conversations that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out. Also, rate this podcast 5 stars as it’s what helps me grow the show!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

🌐 Learn more about Sonia Marta: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram @soniamartaauthor and connect via linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

What if the very things you think are “holding you back” are actually your greatest power?

If you’ve ever felt overlooked in a loud room, struggled to be taken seriously at work, or questioned whether your voice truly matters, today’s episode is going to shift something in you. Today you will learn how to own your voice, communicate with impact, and lead confidently whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or somewhere in between. This conversation will help you understand yourself better and show up differently tomorrow.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with:

1. How to communicate with authenticity (and what that actually looks like in real-life conversations).

2. Why introversion is a leadership strength, not something to “fix.”

3. How to build a work culture where everyone feels heard (no matter the size of the room).

4. 3 practical skills anyone can use to stand out in a new team or organization.

5. How to use storytelling to influence decisions, connect deeply, and grow your career or brand.

Richard Étienne is a storytelling strategist, documentary filmmaker, communications consultant, and founder of The Introvert Space a platform dedicated to elevating introverted voices in leadership.

He has shaped communications at 10 Downing Street, created social strategy that reached over 1 billion impressions, led storytelling at Bacardi, Elsevier, and The Economist, and co-hosts the Trends at 12 segment on BBC London Radio.

▶︎ Website & Resources: https://www.richardetienne.co.uk

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome & Richard’s Journey

01:12 The 3 Key Takeaways for Your Leadership Growth

04:30 Misconceptions About Introverts in Leadership

07:55 Building Inclusive Workplace Cultures

11:15 How to Bring Your “Whole Self” to Work

14:42 Skills to Stand Out in Any Career Stage

17:25 How to Grow Your Voice & Your Community

20:10 The Art of Storytelling for Influence

24:50 The Power of Pivoting Careers

29:17 Books That Transformed Richard’s Journey

32:01 How to Create Space in Conversations

35:30 Final Message to the Listener

If today’s episode made you see yourself differently, pause to think, or feel understood share this episode with someone who needs it too.

Double-check that you’re subscribed for more weekly conversations that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out. Also, rate this podcast 5 stars as it’s what helps me grow the show!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

🌐 Learn more about Sonia Marta: www.soniamarta.com

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram @soniamartaauthor and connect via linktr.ee/soniamartauthor