Growing up, being told I was "holding court" was an accusation; a polite way of saying I am taking up too much space and showing off. I have finally realised having the confidence to stand up in front of a room full of people, or start a casual conversation with a stranger, is a superpower that’s been fundamental to my career.
When we reframe room presence from "showing off" to audience stewardship, everything shifts. It transforms public speaking from a one-way performance into a practice built on trust, narrative clarity, and real-time connection. In this opening post of my new journal series, I explore the five core pillars of audience stewardship, and why mastering them matters for far more than just big-stage presentations.

July was full of half-finished projects, heatwaves, and learning step-by-step. Here are a few reflections on yoga, drought on the allotment, live theatre, and why living a full life isn't about getting everything right the first time.

June was a beautifully chaotic blur of heatwaves, thriving new yoga classes, tiny garden harvests, and slow mornings with Brontë. Here is a honest look at surviving summer, letting the garden slide, and looking forward to a July packed with theatre trips.

I have so many exciting updates to share with you this month! It has been an incredibly busy few weeks leading up to the launch of my brand-new website, which is finally live!

Please come take a look around: www.rachelfoster.uk

You can find all the details for my current offerings on the Classes & Events page. I’ve also started a Journal, where I share deeper insights into my work, alongside a peek into the personal habits that keep me grounded. Right now, you can find articles covering tips for executive speaking, delivering online presentations, and a sweet little feature about my allotment.

Step off the mat and into the soil with me as I share a peek into my garden sanctuary, how it keeps me grounded, and what I'm planting for the month of June.

From 50-year-old pastoral utopias to classic cozy crime, here is a look at everything I read and reviewed this May.

A deep-dive review of Marge Piercy's 1976 feminist sci-fi classic, Woman on the Edge of Time, and why its radical vision of a gender-neutral future still matters today.

I’ve been in many conversations over the years with people who feel very strongly that people should always have cameras on during meetings even when they’re not actively participating.

There is an assumption that ‘cameras on’ equals engagement. If we can see faces, people must be paying attention.

But is that actually true?

I have been enjoying some time off recently and fully disconnected for the past couple of weeks. I have been getting into the garden as much as I can. I have a sizeable allotment area at home where I grow fruit and vegetables, and spring is when everything starts to come to life. I have been sowing seeds, planting new varieties, and catching up on some much-needed maintenance.

If you walk out of senior meetings thinking, 'I knew that, why didn’t I articulate it more clearly?' you aren't alone. This isn't a competence issue; it's a pressure issue. Discover the CALM approach to communicating with steady, executive authority when the stakes rise.