Nice words (from lovely humans)

“I’ve never been confident speaking in front of other people, but thanks to attending a Speaking Without Freaking workshop, and a lot of helpful advice and coaching from Dave,

I’ve been able to nail my 60 second intro, deliver a 20 minute presentation to a room of people, and I’m doing it again this week to a much bigger room - and I’m not bricking it. If you’re facing the same problems I was, I would absolutely recommend Dave!”

“I have had the absolute delight of getting to know Dave over the past year. I have seen him speak and instantly connected with his genuine and down to earth style.
I have done public speaking before, but I am always looking to improve. Dave has really helped me break down my story and bring it to life in a way that feels natural and engaging. Through working with him, I have learned simple yet powerful techniques to better connect with my audience.

What sets Dave apart is that he is not only brilliant at the practical side of speaking, he is also fantastic at sharing strategies for staying calm, managing time, and wrapping up confidently.
But it is Dave as a person that truly makes the difference. His approach, encouragement, and moral support are invaluable. He takes the time to understand you so the guidance fits who you are, not just textbook advice.

I highly recommend Dave and I am genuinely looking forward to continuing our journey together.”

“I started working with Dave right at the point where I started networking and it was genuinely terrifying for me. Every 60-second introduction made me feel sick — like I was about to pass out — and I’d actively look for excuses to leave rooms early just so I didn’t have to do it.

I’d always believed that because I’m autistic, I was missing something everyone else seemed to have naturally. Dave completely flipped that narrative. He didn’t try to “fix” me — he helped me turn the thing I thought was my weakness into the thing that made me memorable, funny, and likeable.

The result wasn’t just that I could deliver a 60 seconds without panic. I learned how to stand in rooms calmly, speak without feeling physically unwell, and — most importantly — walk up to strangers and start conversations with confidence. I could ask people about themselves and actually enjoy it.

Dave has genuinely transformed my life in a way no self-help book ever has. This wasn’t theory or motivation — it was real, practical change that stuck.”

“I attended Dave James’s ‘Speaking without Freaking’ one-day workshop because I’m writing a book and wanted some confidence about planning talks to support it.

I chose this workshop because of Dave’s background in speaking, comedy, and having given 2 TEDx talks - and rumours that his homemade brownies are excellent!

On the day, it was a small, friendly group, and everyone was there for different reasons - some personal, some business. Dave’s style was relaxed, thoughtful, and encouraging as he took us through his talk planning framework and we did practical exercises around storytelling. Then we each worked on and delivered a 2-minute talk in the afternoon.

What I came away with: genuine hope that I can do this, with a clear framework to follow, and a practice guide that gives me something concrete to work with. I now have a process for planning short talks about my book topics.

It was a day absolutely well spent - and the brownies were amazing! Thank you, Dave.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Dave speak a number of times, and he is consistently outstanding — a brilliant speaker with a natural ability to connect with an audience and deliver a message with clarity, warmth and impact.

I also attended one of Dave’s Speaking Focus Sessions and found it genuinely invaluable. Dave gave me real clarity and structure. He helped me shape my TEDx idea into a clear through-line, with a solid framework I could actually build the talk around — and he asked exactly the right questions to draw out what really mattered.

The session left me feeling calmer and much more confident. I came away reassured that I do have something important to say, and with a practical plan for how to say it. Not only that, I felt really positive and inspired — like the talk had suddenly come to life.

If you’re looking for expert guidance and support that moves you forward quickly, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dave.”

“Dave is exceptionally talented when it comes to teaching people the art of public speaking, which is essential SKILL to have in this day and age.
Whether you’re doing your 60 second pitch at networking event or a Keynote speech, the benefits of learning the art are invaluable.

Spend a day in the warm, knowledgeable and entertaining company of Dave, and has he would say, you will soon be speaking without freaking!

Public speaking is a good personal investment!”

“I want to say a big thank you to Dave for some brilliant advice ahead of my on stage interview at Expert Empires on Saturday.

Dave shared a few simple but powerful pointers around energy, community, connection presence, clarity and staying true to your own story. Just really practical guidance that immediately made me feel more confident and focused.

If you’re speaking on stage, on video, or even just trying to communicate your message better as a business owner, I’d strongly recommend connecting with Dave. He gets it, and he genuinely wants people to show up as themselves and do their best work.

Thanks again Dave. Massively appreciated.”

“We had such a fantastic training day with Dave the coach. He took the time to understand what we needed as a team, helped us uncover the real stories behind Primrose’s impact, and guided us in building a framework for storytelling which we can now use at events, talks and throughout our marketing.

The workshop was really engaging and we all came away feeling like we’d gained so much from the session. I would highly recommend Dave for any guest speaking training.

Thank you so much Dave for all your support and for being so friendly, professional, and above all making us laugh throughout!”

“If you’re looking for a strong pair of hands to steward your event to success then you need Dave James as your host/MC/compere.

I saw him host an association entertainment night where he showed respect for the audience, while gently poking fun at our expense - which went down really well with everyone. He’s funny and light-hearted while keeping things running smoothly.

Dave is an excellent communicator and easily builds rapport with an audience - perfect for large business conferences, awards nights and employee/staff events. I highly highly recommend him!”

“I had the pleasure of working with Dave as my speaking coach, and I really appreciated how generous and flexible he was in fitting me into his busy schedule. He has a remarkable ability to quickly identify the areas where you’re struggling most and help you express your ideas clearly and effectively. Dave is incredibly supportive, and his expertise in harnessing the power of storytelling and building a strong structure is second to none.

Working with him left me with real clarity and confidence about what I needed to do. I’ve received so many compliments about how polished and TED-like my talk felt, and I genuinely believe that was down to the structure Dave helped me create. I couldn’t recommend him more highly.”

“I saw Dave facilitate a room full of professionals, which including him managing and introducing guest speakers. Very confident, capable, and able to walk that delicate Eline between serious and factual, or great use of appropriate humour and linking.
Book him before he find out how good he is!”