How To Own The Room

Are you sitting comfortably? Well, stop it. Beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall makes HTOTR history by telling Viv Groskop to Sit Up Straight! That done, the pair explore the joy of the ad lib, the value of being your own mentor, and the secrets of limitless energy.

Do you "leave it all on the court"? Viv Groskop talks to novelist Madeline Miller about the speaking secrets of teachers, what you can learn from watching others, and how Bruce Springsteen inspires her to hold nothing back.

Do you suffer from nerves? Become a professional performer! Viv Groskop talks to comedian, actress and writer Catherine Tate about why she hates flattery, her enthusiasm for extreme adventure, and - yes - how performing cured her anxiety. Plus she reveals the killer secret of dealing with Q&As...

What if it's not all about you? Viv Groskop talks to writer, actor, comedian and producer Meera Syal about fighting for diversity, failing in front of Victoria Wood and the peril and power of representing others when you speak.

How do you choose your words when lives are at stake? Viv Groskop talks to Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, a Deputy Assistant Commissioner and one of the most senior female firefighters in the UK, about self-belief, communicating under pressure and the way social conditioning effects the confidence of girls and women. 

Do you know how to fail? Viv Groskop talks to author, journalist and podcaster Elizabeth Day about how to pull off a killer career pivot, how to survive a wardrobe crisis and how to fail brilliantly.

What's the worst that could happen? Viv Groskop talks to Nicola Mendelsohn, Facebook's Vice-President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa about salary negotiation, not assuming people can read your mind and the importance of not living life wondering what if...

Feel awkward about being, well, um, GOOD at what you do? Viv Groskop talks to Josie Rourke, film and theatre director, about owning your own fluency, the power of "messy spaces" and why we must never assume women are struggling to find a voice.

Does your voice go up at the end of a sentence? Always? Viv Groskop talks to bestselling historian Margaret MacMillan about conquering uptalk, the power of storytelling and the importance of trusting your team. Plus some brilliant advice for anyone shy at parties...

This girl is ON FIRE! Viv Groskop talks to MP for Tooting (and practising doctor) Rosena Allin-Khan about how faith, facts and funky music help boost her confidence.

What if this was easy? Viv Groskop talks to documentary filmmaker Stacey Dooley about the power of going with the flow, the value of staying true to your own voice - and what still makes her nervous.

Brilliant women reveal the secrets of brilliant speaking, with comedian and TV and radio presenter Viv Groskop

Want to know what really scares Professor Mary Beard? Want to know how her experience can transform your own? Or just curious why this interview is happening at 70 mph on the M4? Viv Groskop talks to "Britain's best-known classicist" about swearing, flirting, Boris Johnson - and why speech is still men's business.

Do men have more authority than women? Viv Groskop talks to bestselling author Jessie Burton about the male voice, the dangers of discussing your creativity, and why she wears an invisible Scooby-Doo villain costume to all speaking engagements.

"Who knew, young black women from East London who love Nandos can speak well!" Viv Groskop talks to Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, computing, maths and language prodigy and co-founder of the STEMettes, about under-dressing, turning the stage into your living room and just how important (and unusual) it is to know the point of your talk.

Have you ever said no, when you should have said yes? Viv Groskop talks to Yana Peel, CEO of Serpentine Galleries, about listening to your gut, knowing your audience and deploying the power of intimacy.

Ever suffered from "goat voice"? Viv Groskop talks to retail guru Mary Portas about radical candour, the power of silence and the surprising ways in which a speech is like a ball game. 

Have you got "happy high status"? Viv Groskop talks to Sam Baker, digital entrepreneur and co-founder of The Pool, about powerpoint, fairydust and really hating public speaking.

In the very first episode of How to Own the Room, Viv Groskop talks to food writer and broadcaster Nigella Lawson about being shy, making mistakes - and the armour of professional hair and makeup.

Comedian and TV and radio presenter Viv Groskop sets off on her mission to reveal how you too can own the room.