Finding Your Voice: How to Outgrow the Need to Prove Yourself with Michael Gendler

This week, I talk with Michael Gendler about what it really takes to communicate at a high level without losing yourself in the process. Michael’s story is more than “learn public speaking.” It’s the journey of a shy Russian immigrant kid with a deep drive to prove himself, who eventually realized that the breakthrough isn’t technique — it’s self-acceptance. We talk about how grit can be both a gift and a cage, why striving doesn’t always lead to happiness, and what happens when you start pursuing excellence from peace instead of pressure. We also unpack Michael’s inside-out approach to speaking: flow over performance, presence over perfection, and why the ability to handle pressure is the real foundation of high-stakes communication. Let’s get to it! In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:33) Freestyle rap, improv, and learning to create on the fly (03:52) “Mamba mentality”: when proving yourself becomes your identity (08:27) Redefining happiness when achievement stops working (13:37) The hidden cost of growing up as an immigrant (and staying shy) (15:40) The “magic” of unlocking skills people already have (18:57) Grit is powerful… until it turns into a cage (37:38) The simple way to end strong (and why people remember the ending) (44:33) The moment Michael froze in a meeting—and everything changed (57:52) What Ultraspeaking is really teaching (01:02:23) Why most speaking advice fails (inside-out vs outside-in) (01:13:31) The real obstacle isn’t skill—it’s self-consciousness (01:16:04) What makes a keynote actually work (01:24:13) Teaching what you see: turning intuition into frameworks (01:34:41) The Accordion Method, and how great speakers expand + compress ideas (01:35:57) What Michael is world-class at (01:40:42) Building a future where people feel more free to express themselves Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.Apply for 1-on-1 Coaching with Barrett: https://barrettbrooks.com/coaching Subscribe to Tiny Leadership Lessons: https://barrettbrooks.com