The SpeakUp Blog
Practical guides to speaking with confidence — beating nerves, cutting filler words, and building a practice habit that compounds.
The Complete Filler Words List: What They Are and How to Cut Them
A complete filler words list with real examples — sounds, words, phrases, and qualifiers — plus how to spot your own pattern and start cutting it today.
July 26, 2026 · 8 min readSpeech CraftHow to Start a Speech: 12 Openers That Hook Any Audience
Learn how to start a speech with 12 proven opening techniques, plus the mistakes that lose an audience in the first 30 seconds and how to fix them.
July 25, 2026 · 10 min readFundamentals15 Public Speaking Tips for Beginners (That Actually Work)
15 practical public speaking tips for beginners covering preparation, delivery, nerves, and practice — plus the mistakes that quietly hold new speakers back.
July 24, 2026 · 10 min readSpeaking AnxietyHow to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking (Even If It Terrifies You)
A practical, step-by-step guide to overcoming public speaking anxiety: why glossophobia happens, exposure-based practice, and calming techniques that work.
July 22, 2026 · 10 min readPractice & DrillsHow to Practice Public Speaking at Home: A 20-Minute Daily Routine
Practice public speaking at home with this 20-minute daily routine: warm-ups, impromptu drills, recorded rehearsal, and self-review — no audience required.
July 22, 2026 · 9 min readFiller WordsHow to Stop Saying 'Um': 9 Practical Techniques That Work
Learn why you say um and like, plus 9 proven techniques to eliminate filler words from your speech — from strategic pauses to recorded practice.
July 22, 2026 · 9 min readReading only gets you so far
SpeakUp scores every practice session on pace, filler words, clarity, and structure — so each rep makes the next one better.
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