The Science of Powerful Public Speaking

What if law school trained lawyers not just to think, but to show up fully in the real world?

Performance coach and lawyer Paul Marchegiani joins Jonathan Cohen to explain why legal education must go beyond seated lectures and embed physical presence, communication, and embodied learning into how future lawyers are taught — especially in an era shaped by AI and client expectations.

👉 Read his latest publication “Untethered: Why Legal Education Needs to Get Lawyers Out of Their Seats” in the ABA Syllabus and explore more of his work at VoxVera.com to sharpen your legal presence and communication skills.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Nerves Are Energy, Not Weakness: Learn how to reframe anxiety into focus and presence.

2. Your Body Leads Your Voice: Breath, posture, and physical awareness shape confidence.

3. Emotion Drives Persuasion: Aligning words with feeling creates authentic impact.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

4:41 Theater and Music as a Foundation for Public Speaking

8:15 Jonathan's Journey and the Emotional Toll of Public Speaking

12:03 Fears and Objections in Public Speaking

16:00 The Role of a Litigator and Transition to Public Speaking Training

19:49 The Musicality of Language and Public Speaking

23:47 Building Human Connection in Public Speaking

27:09 Reading the Room and Adapting to the Audience

30:54 Overcoming Trauma and Anxiety in Public Speaking

34:44 Breathwork and Physical Presence in Public Speaking

38:22 Curiosity and Continuous Learning in Public Speaking

42:54 Practical Tips for Persuasive Public Speaking

Connect with Paul Marchegiani

Website: https://www.voxvera.com/founder-bio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pmarch500/

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