Front and Center

Sometimes your audience is so fantastic-looking, you have to take a selfie!

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Communication Super Power Alert! 👉 Swap “Why?” for “What?”

Have you ever asked a genuine question—only to have someone get instantly defensive? (Parents of teenagers, I'm so there with you.)
A small shift can make a big difference:

“Why?” can make people take a step back.
“What?” opens a door.

For example:
❌ “Why do you buy that?”
✅ “What do you like about that?”
❌ "Why did you do that?"
✅ "What was your thinking on that?"

Same intention. Completely different impact.

Curiosity is a powerful (and beautiful) trait.
Without any intended accusation, the word “Why?” can feel like judgment—even when you don’t mean it that way.
This simple tweak works everywhere—
with colleagues, clients, and yes… even teenagers.
Try it this week and notice what changes.

Happy times and storytelling!

"In an age of AI... the things that make us human will become much MORE important instead of much LESS important." Anthropic co-founder and president, Daniela Amodei, who was a Literature major in college.

Let's get your HUMAN-NESS shining through your intelligence!

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Anthropic co-founder and president, Daniela Amodei shares why studying literature and the humanities might be more important than ever in the age of AI. Watch more of her interview with ABC News' @rebeccajarvis on tonight’s ABC News Live special “AI: The Next Chapter” now streaming on @hulu and @disneyplus.

You have an important presentation coming up.
Does this sound familiar?

"I’ll look at it on the plane."
"I’ll rehearse in the mirror while I do my make up/shave."
"I’ll think through it while I walk the dog."
"I’ll get by. It’ll be fine-- it always is."

Is “getting by” the goal of presenting? Not if you want to GROW in your career.
Build the skills to BE YOUR BEST SELF when you are FRONT + CENTER.
[email protected]

Keeping your voice healthy in cold and flu season PRO TIP #3: Wellness Formula. I went 3 YEARS without having a single cold or illness WHILE ON BROADWAY and singing in other peoples' faces every day. I credit a lot of it to this fantastic product! You start taking it the instant you feel any symptoms. I am never without it in my house or my suitcase. I AM NOT AFFILIATED IN ANY WAY with this product or this company; I'm just spreading the Gospel about a product I believe is helpful.

Winter health PRO TIP #2: wrap the end of your scarf around your hand when you touch surfaces in public! Or keep your gloves on.
This may feel really goofy at first, but I swear it has saved me from hundreds of colds and other plagues, even living in NYC and riding public transportation daily.
Honestly, I do it instinctively all year long now-- using a sleeve, bottom of a shirt or the edge of a dress in summer-- colds are not limited to winter months!

Have you ever wondered how people who use their voices for their living stay healthy?
This year's colds are kicking peoples' vocal butts! 😂
Several people have reached out asking me what the magic concoction was that I posted about last year.
So here it is again! "Singer's Tea."
Fresh ginger root (steeped in simmering water), lemon juice, honey and cayenne pepper.
Super easy, inexpensive and effective! I would make a concentrate and keep it in my Broadway dressing room fridge, then add hot water when I needed it.
- ginger and lemon thin mucus,
- cayenne and ginger open sinuses,
- honey coats the throat and makes it all palatable.
(You can use ginger tea bags as well, in a pinch but fresh is most potent.)

Imagine being your BEST SELF in front a crowd... you are:
💫clear.
💫confident.
💫human.

It can happen! I can help.

For 10 years I have been helping executives and sales experts shape their messages and convey them with maximum impact.

Executive Communication Coaching for your leaders.

Communication and Storytelling workshops for your team.

[email protected]

Rachel de Benedet
speaking + storytelling skills for business + beyond