Actually, I do have one bit of expertise on this topic that I'll share with you. People are paralyzed by their fears because they are thinking that the audience is judging them and they are worried about how they will look and sound. These thoughts build a wall of fear and they are unable to connect with the audience. I tell my students to think of their speech as a gift they are giving to the audience. Give to them: entertain them, inform them, engage them - give them the gift of your ideas. The speeches that Almost_A_Robot is talking about are boring because the speaker has failed to connect with the audience. He or she has put up a wall of slides or information or noise and the audience feels invisible. -- lots to say on this topic. I look forward to seeing your podcast.