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The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Most Replayed Moment: Captivate A Room Even If You're Shy! - Vinh Giang

with Vinh Giang

Published September 26, 2025
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About This Episode

The conversation explores the concept of a "vocal image" and how it shapes the way others form beliefs about us beyond our visual appearance. Vinh Giang walks the host through live exercises on melody, rate of speech, volume, and emotional tonality, using famous movie monologues to demonstrate how vocal variety changes how messages are felt and remembered. They also discuss how facial expressions and nonverbal cues during listening can convey engagement or unintentionally signal impatience.

Topics Covered

Communication skills Public speaking Vocal image Confidence Personal Development Showmanship Storytelling Introversion and extroversion Perception Leadership and management

Disclaimer: We provide independent summaries of podcasts and are not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by any podcast or creator. All podcast names and content are the property of their respective owners. The views and opinions expressed within the podcasts belong solely to the original hosts and guests and do not reflect the views or positions of Summapod.

Quick Takeaways

  • Your "vocal image" is as important as your visual image in shaping how others perceive and feel about you.
  • Melody and pitch variety in your voice make what you say more emotionally engaging and memorable.
  • Varying your rate of speech and strategically slowing down highlights key ideas and increases clarity.
  • Volume acts as the lifeblood of your voice, carrying all other vocal foundations and influencing how confident or arrogant you seem.
  • Facial expressions and tonality are powerful tools for conveying emotion and for showing active listening without interrupting.
  • Most people underuse their vocal range due to fear of sounding strange, but the real risk is not going far enough.
  • Shy or nervous speakers tend to hurry and speak softly, which can undermine their impact even when their words are strong.
  • Nonverbal signals such as fast nodding can unintentionally communicate "hurry up" or "shut up" to the speaker.

Podcast Notes

Framing the importance of communication and vocal image

People's search for better communication

Host notes massive interest in how to communicate successfully[0:07]
• Mentions seeing almost a billion Google search results related to successful communication

Introducing the idea of vocal image

Guest defines vocal image vs visual image[0:12]
• People spend a lot of time on visual image: body language, clothing, posture
• Very few people intentionally work on their vocal image
How assumptions turn into beliefs[0:41]
• When people see you, they make quick assumptions such as "friendly" or "confident" based on posture and smile
• When you speak, those assumptions solidify into beliefs: "you are friendly" or "you are confident"
• Speaking can also flip assumptions negatively, e.g., someone expected to be nice turns out not to be
Common belief that voice cannot be changed[1:08]
• Guest says many people think they are stuck with their voice and communication style

Exploring melody as a core part of vocal image

Defining melody and pitch variety

Melody described as different notes in your voice[1:25]
• Host clarifies that melody means variety in pitch
Metaphor of melody underlying the voice[1:32]
• Guest says a melody lives underneath everyone's voice, similar to notes in music

Piano experiment to illustrate emotional power of melody

First piano track prompts feelings of sadness[1:52]
• Host immediately labels the first track as "sadness"
• Guest notes other possible reactions like "humble" or "nostalgic" from listeners
Second track evokes inspiration and motivation[2:09]
• Host describes the second song as inspirational and motivational
• Host imagines "running towards something" and also thinks of a cheesy commercial
Third track evokes fear and horror[2:30]
• Host says it feels like a horror movie and that something bad is about to happen
• They imagine a three-year-old on the stairs at night with long black hair as a scary image

Lesson from the melody experiment

Melody conveys meaning even without words[2:59]
• None of the piano tracks had lyrics, yet many descriptive words came to mind for the listeners
Everyone has a vocal melody that affects others[3:25]
• Guest connects this to how some people drain energy when they walk into a room, while others lift it
• He attributes this partly to the melody they come in with

Range and the possibility of impact with limited melody

Can limited range still convey different emotions?[3:29]
• Host asks if someone with limited range can still convey scary, sad, and inspiring feelings
Guest believes large emotional range is possible even without "88 keys"[3:49]
• He emphasizes treating the voice as an instrument to create many "songs"

Practical exercise: Siren technique and expanding vocal range

Introducing the siren technique

Siren technique moves from low to high and back down[4:02]
• Guest describes reading something in a low voice, gradually going higher, then back down
Initial neutral reading of Joker monologue[4:10]
• Host reads a card containing a monologue beginning "Want to know how I got these scars?" in his neutral voice
• Guest reveals it is Heath Ledger's Joker speech from The Dark Knight

Applying the siren technique to the monologue

Instructions for using full range, including falsetto[5:42]
• Guest encourages not being afraid to go into falsetto and to play within each sentence, moving up and down
Host practices with increasing range[5:42]
• Guest coaches the host to use more variation and evenness as his range expands
Purpose of the siren exercise[5:59]
• Goal is not to speak that way all the time, but to reveal how much the vocal instrument can do
• Guest says he can switch voices quickly because he has practiced these behaviors for about 25 years

Melodic voices stand out in noisy environments

Study with multiple people speaking simultaneously[6:40]
• Guest describes research where 5-6 people talked at once and the person heard most clearly had more melody
Melody increases memorability[6:42]
• What melodic speakers say becomes more memorable compared to flat delivery
• If everyone speaks in a flat, similar way, it is harder to differentiate and pay attention

Fear of going too far vs underplaying

Learning through feedback at the edges[7:05]
• Guest says you know you've gone too far by getting feedback, but most people never actually go too far
Main risk is not using enough vocal variety[7:16]
• He argues the risk is underplaying, not overdoing vocal expression
• He reassures that using more range allows others to feel what you say, not just hear it
Connection between emotion in voice and audience reaction[7:43]
• Guest references talent shows where judges say "I don't feel it," linking that to lack of emotion in the voice

Mastering rate of speech as a vocal foundation

Neutral reading of a monologue to assess rate

Host reads a threat monologue from the movie Taken[7:58]
• The monologue includes lines about having a "very particular set of skills" and threatening to find and kill the kidnapper
• Guest confirms the monologue is from the film Taken

Explaining rate of speech scale and defaults

Scale from 0 to 10 for speaking speed[8:51]
• 1 represents painfully slow speech, 10 represents speaking as quickly as possible
Default rate under nervousness[9:06]
• Guest says the host read around a 5, his default comfortable rate
• When nervous, people fall back on a default rate instead of using rate strategically

Using rate of speech to highlight and create energy

Slowing for emphasis and clarity[9:40]
• To create an auditory highlight on a key point, you slow down your rate of speech
Speeding up for charisma and less important parts[9:26]
• Guest explains that you speed up to show charisma and energy, especially on less important content
Example of flat rate causing confusion[9:41]
• He demonstrates listing the five vocal foundations at one pace, making it unclear what matters
• He then repeats with slowed emphasis on "core five vocal foundations" to create focus

Impact of delivery on clarity and reception

Clarity requires clear delivery, not just clear content[10:09]
• Guest says people want clarity, and how you say something affects how it is received
Nervous speakers typically speed up[10:28]
• Both note that nervous people tend to talk considerably faster
Words-per-minute benchmarks[10:38]
• Guest states that above 210 words per minute is too fast
• Average speaking rate is around 150 words per minute, with 150-180 considered good
• Speaking much slower than that can become monotonous for listeners

Transition hooks attention

Default melody plus default rate cause disengagement[10:59]
• Guest demonstrates flat melody and rate, noting the listener starts to switch off
Shifts between slow and fast keep people hooked[11:07]
• He emphasizes that transitions between speeds are what hook people's attention

Applying varied rate and melody to the Taken monologue

Instructions for re-reading with strategic pacing[11:31]
• Guest asks the host to slow some parts painfully and speed others, with the final threat line slowed way down
Host delivers a more dramatic version[12:01]
• Host varies pace and tone, especially on "I will kill you," producing a more chilling effect
Reaction to how different it feels and sounds[12:25]
• Host admits it feels strange to perform this way, while guest notes how fun it is to listen
• Guest underscores that same words with different delivery can become genuinely scary

Using volume as the lifeblood of your voice

Observation about pace and confidence in meetings

Shy people tend to hurry their speech[13:00]
• Host has seen shy or younger team members in board meetings rush through what they say
Confident speakers move and talk like a lion[12:48]
• He recalls someone telling him that confident, charismatic people are slow and composed like a lion
• Guest references a "prey versus predator" concept and says confident people take their time

Reading a motivational monologue to explore volume

Host reads a script about taking hits and not blaming others[13:14]
• Lines include "Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth" and "Cowards do that, and that ain't you"

Explaining volume and its functions

Volume carries other vocal foundations[13:34]
• Guest calls volume the lifeblood of the voice that carries melody, rate of speech, and other foundations
Volume scale and common defaults[14:10]
• He again references a 1-10 scale and says many people stay around 3 or 4
Highlighting with volume: loud vs quiet[14:32]
• There are two ways to highlight with volume; one is to go very quiet to make something sound scary or important
• If a low volume becomes default, it stops being a highlight and loses function

Volume, confidence, and arrogance

Low volume often signals low confidence[14:49]
• Guest notes that speaking quietly is a default shy behavior and reads as lacking confidence
High volume can feel arrogant if unbalanced[13:57]
• He says some leaders without self-awareness sit on the high end of volume and can seem arrogant without other vocal foundations

Practicing extremes of loudness and softness

Host pushes volume to both loud and whisper[15:04]
• Guest urges the host to be very loud-loud enough for people outside to hear-and also to whisper parts
Voice as vibrations that move people[15:33]
• Guest explains that voice is a series of vibrations that can physically move and affect listeners
• He links this to how people talk about others having "good vibes"

Tonality, emotion, and the role of facial expressions

Reading a romantic script to examine emotion

Host reads a monologue about realizing you want to spend the rest of your life with someone[17:02]
• Lines emphasize wanting the rest of your life to start as soon as possible once you realize who you want to be with

Defining tonality as emotion in the voice

Tonality is the emotional quality of speech[16:19]
• Guest labels this foundation as the emotion that exists within your voice
Face as remote control for emotion[16:27]
• He says your face is the remote control that lets you add emotion into your voice

Exercise: Using facial expressions to change tone

Guest instructs host to match vocal emotion to facial expression[17:21]
• He asks the host to make faces like disgust, surprise, anger, and happiness while reading lines
Host plays with disgust, surprise, anger, and happiness[16:53]
• When told to be disgusted, the host adds a disgusted tone; with surprise, he sounds surprised; with anger, he sounds angry; with happiness, he sounds joyful

Mirror neurons and emotional contagion

Guest reports feeling the emotions the host expressed[17:30]
• Even knowing the exercise is artificial, the guest still feels the emotional shifts
Brain mechanisms behind shared emotion[17:30]
• Guest mentions mirror neurons as the mechanism by which seeing facial expressions makes us feel similar emotions

Gendered conditioning, emotional restraint, and its costs

Are men worse at emotional expression?

Guest agrees men are generally worse[17:35]
• He says he personally was taught to keep emotions inside and that showing sadness or happiness was seen as weakness
Resulting vocal behavior: constant composure[17:53]
• He adopted an always-composed voice, speaking in one flat way because he thought that was how a man should speak

Personal story: inability to emote and relationship impact

Example at a concert with his wife[18:05]
• At a concert, his wife asked how he felt; he said it was exciting, but his tone made her think he hated it
Belief he was stuck and the damage it caused[18:18]
• He didn't know how to emote and believed he was stuck that way for years
• He says this lack of expressed emotion damaged many of his relationships

Nonverbal listening cues and their meanings

Using facial reactions to show listening without interrupting

Facial expressions as a powerful listening tool[18:32]
• Guest suggests you don't need to respond verbally while someone talks; you can react with your face to show you're following
• If someone says something bad and you show a shocked or concerned face, it signals that you are locked in

Host's podcasting techniques for nonverbal communication

Audience often sees the host's face most of the time[19:12]
• Host notes that 95% of the time, the camera is on him, so he is effectively talking to the guest with his face
Specific cues: head turns and nods[18:59]
• He says turning his head slightly can mean "tell me more"
• A certain type of nod communicates curiosity and encouragement to elaborate
Guest affirms and praises host's use of facial cues[20:20]
• Guest says he can see the host doing varied facial expressions to cue elaboration and engagement

Unintentional negative cues: fast nodding and interruptions

Talking while listening signals impatience[19:27]
• Host notes some listeners start talking or making reaction sounds while you're speaking, which can mean "shut the fuck up" unconsciously
Difference between fast and slow nods[19:55]
• Host recalls a past guest, Vanessa, who said a fast nod means "shut the fuck up"
• A slow nod with engaged expression means "I love this, tell me more" and shows curiosity

Integrating the vocal foundations into a richer vocal "song"

Combining rate, volume, melody, and emotion

Building a rich vocal performance[20:22]
• Guest says that once you vary rate of speech, volume, melody, and facial expressions, you create a rich song with your voice

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

Your vocal image is as influential as your visual image; by intentionally shaping melody, pace, volume, and emotion in your voice, you can change how others feel about and remember what you say.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What assumptions do people currently make about me when I speak, and how might my default tone, pace, or volume be contributing to that?
  • • How could intentionally varying my melody, rate of speech, or volume change the impact of an important conversation I have coming up?
  • • What is one small vocal habit (e.g., always speaking at the same speed or volume) that I can experiment with changing this week?
2

Vocal variety-especially in melody and rate of speech-acts like a highlighter for your message, making the important points stand out and preventing listeners from tuning out.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in my typical presentations or conversations do I rush through key ideas instead of slowing down to highlight them?
  • • How might using deliberate speed changes and pauses help people better understand and remember my main points?
  • • What specific part of my next talk or meeting will I practice delivering with exaggerated slow-downs and speed-ups to see how it feels?
3

Volume and emotional tonality send powerful signals about confidence and intent; underusing them can make you seem unsure, while overusing them without balance can make you seem aggressive or arrogant.

Reflection Questions:

  • • In what situations do I tend to speak too softly or too loudly, and how is that affecting how others perceive my confidence?
  • • How could I experiment with getting slightly louder on key statements and softer on more intimate or serious lines to shape how people feel?
  • • What is one recurring interaction (e.g., team meeting, 1:1, sales call) where I will consciously adjust my volume and emotional tone to better match my message?
4

Your face is a remote control for your voice and a tool for listening; using expressive facial reactions can both infuse your words with emotion and show others you are deeply engaged without interrupting.

Reflection Questions:

  • • How expressive is my face when I'm speaking or listening, and what emotions might people be reading from it right now?
  • • In what conversations could I rely more on facial expressions (rather than verbal interjections) to signal that I'm listening and that I care?
  • • What is one facial or body-language cue (e.g., slow nod, curious head tilt, concerned frown) I can intentionally practice to support my spoken words?
5

Most people underestimate their vocal range because of social conditioning or fear of feeling silly, but practicing at the extremes in a safe environment reveals new capabilities that can later be dialed back for everyday use.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What fears or beliefs (about being "too much" or looking foolish) are holding me back from experimenting more with my voice?
  • • How might setting aside a private practice time-reading scripts or passages with exaggerated emotion, pitch, and volume-change how comfortable I feel using my voice in public?
  • • When and where will I create a low-stakes environment this week to push my vocal range further than I normally would, just to see what's possible?

Episode Summary - Notes by Blake

Most Replayed Moment: Captivate A Room Even If You're Shy! - Vinh Giang
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