Most people think “better communication” means finding better words. In this episode of Speaking With Authority, Jim Koetting sits down with Christopher Lincoln, founder of NeuroSpeak, to unpack the truth: communication is a neuroscience and nervous system skill before it’s a language skill.

Chris has coached CEOs, executive teams, sales leaders, and highly technical professionals who have the title—but struggle to create clarity, trust, influence, and confidence under pressure. Together, Jim and Chris explore what happens in the brain when stakes are high: cortisol spikes, memory access drops, fear hijacks logic, and even great leaders accidentally create stress in the people they’re trying to help.

Then the conversation turns personal and unforgettable: Chris shares his experience volunteering in Ukraine during the war, serving families while air-raid sirens and missile threats were part of daily life. You’ll hear how calm leadership, empathy, and psychological safety become essential when everything is uncertain.

They also dive into a wild story from Chris’s early career: arriving in the United States to teach music… and discovering he’d be teaching piano (and later drums) with almost no time to prepare. That experience becomes a powerful metaphor for learning fast, managing fear, and performing under pressure—and how music, rhythm, and emotion can shape executive presence and persuasive speaking.

If you’re a CEO, founder, leader, or high-performing professional who needs to speak clearly in high-stakes moments—this episode is for you.

1. Why neuroscience beats scripts and “perfect wording”
2. How cortisol destroys clarity and memory in tense conversations
3. How leaders accidentally increase stress in meetings (and what to do instead)
4. The “charisma zone”: balancing competence and warmth
5. Why communication is a nervous system issue (breathing, tension, pace)
6. Communication lessons from working in a war zone
7. How music can create emotion and engagement instantly
8. The #1 blind spot leaders have when they watch themselves speak: facial flatlining
9. Chris’s #1 practical tip: stop using PowerPoint as a speaking crutch

Christopher Lincoln — Founder, NeuroSpeak (Communication + Neuroscience Coaching)

Jim Koetting — Trusted Mentor and Coach | Speaking With Authority

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*Stop Selling. Start Owning Your Authority*

Authority is the difference between being “one of many” and being the go-to person everyone calls when things get messy. In this episode of Speaking With Authority, Jim Koetting sits down with five-time author and Three Dog Right founder Lisa Apolinski to unpack how real authority power works in an uncertain, noisy, digital-first world.

Lisa shares how growing up in a family business shaped her view of authority: you have an area of genius, people know it, and they come to you when the stakes are high. Then she contrasts that with Fortune 500 culture, where most leaders still cling to features, benefits, and “me too” services instead of clearly owning the pain they solve and the result they deliver.

You’ll hear how clarity around the real problem you solve turns you from a “vitamin” into a “painkiller,” why cutting prices is a race to the bottom, and how a single authority shift helped a client go from selling a handful of licenses to thousands—without working more hours.

Lisa also walks through defining statements, thought followership, generosity in business, and why you can’t spell authority without author.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to uncover the real business you’re in

• Why clarity, generosity, and authority attract right-fit clients

• Practical steps to unleash your own authority power

#Authority #GoToExpert #ThoughtLeadership #JimKoetting #LisaApolinski

*How to Read Minds Without Saying a Word*

In this episode of Speaking With Authority, host Jim Koetting sits down with Roxani Oikonomou, an international expert in nonverbal communication, micro-expressions, and emotional intelligence.

Roxy reveals the hidden language of humans—how our faces, gestures, and subtle expressions reveal far more than words ever could.

You’ll learn:

How to turn fear into confidence on stage and in life.

What happens when your mind goes blank and how to recover in seconds.

Why today’s generation is losing emotional awareness because of screens.

How leaders, parents, and teachers can rebuild psychological safety through empathy and micro-awareness.

Whether you’re a speaker, leader, parent, or entrepreneur, this conversation will help you recognize what others feel before they say a word—and lead with greater empathy, confidence, and connection.