How to Move Through Your Presentation with Claudia Monacelli.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.

Based in Rome, Claudia Monacelli trains actors, film dubbers, singers, and professional voice users. She is also an active interpreter for the Italian government and previously served as an interpreter for the U.S. Department of State. In this conversation, Claudia shares how intonation, body movement, breathing, and mindset all work together to help you engage your audience and deliver your message with power.

Start with What You Want to Say

Claudia: My first suggestion for speakers just starting out is to think deeply about what they want to say. The planning process is usually long, and that's a good thing — it calms you down. Use mind maps, start from a single word, and work outward. When you have true intention behind your message, so much of the fear begins to dissolve.

The First Three Words

Claudia: Fear is still present for seasoned professionals, including interpreters who speak for others in real time. But here's what we've all learned: you are fearful until you turn on the microphone and utter those first three or four words. Then you calm down immediately. It's getting those first words out. The adrenaline stays — but that's the excitement of speaking.

Dynamic Equilibrium — Embracing Imperfection

Claudia: Nothing will ever be perfect. But there is a dynamic equilibrium you hold as a speaker. Your voice can dip and come back up. You may forget a few words, then they return. If you can embrace the idea that you will make mistakes, it becomes much easier to begin and to keep going.

Look at the Audience — Really Look

Claudia: When you're delivering a message, I have one rule: look out into the audience and find someone who seems friendly. If that doesn't work, look at someone and imagine they are your grandmother, and that you are their only lifeline to the message. You have to speak so they can understand you. The audience gives you feedback you can't get any other way.

When the Audience Goes Blank — Ask Questions

Claudia: Some audiences are culturally reserved — you get blank stares and you have no idea if you're reaching them. In those moments, ask questions. Have them speak. Give them the lever of power. It gives you time to think, and it draws them in. Don't single out individuals, but invite the room to respond. It is a reengaging act.

Intonation, Body, and the Voice as a Window

Claudia: Intonation patterns can save your audience from falling asleep. The kinetics of intonation — how you punctuate your speech with a nod, a hand gesture, a shift of the shoulder — all of these create imprints. You are communicating with your whole body, never just with words. I work with clients on loosening the hip bones, the jaw, the rib cage, and the breath. When all of those parts are ready, the speaker can truly move — and movement is life.

Your Voice Is the Window of Your Soul

Claudia: The eyes may be the windows of the soul, but I believe it's the voice. You can hear in someone's voice how they slept, what they carry, who they are. A voice that resonates — one built on breath, body, and intention — can move mountains. Vibration goes right through people. That's what makes great singers great, and it's what can make a great speaker unforgettable too.

Peter: Claudia, where can listeners connect with you?

Claudia: You can find me at claudiamonacelli.com, and on Instagram under the title of my book, The Magic of Pleasure Seeking.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.