Jay Shetty & Vinh Giang ON Why You Keep Getting Interrupted

What if the way you speak is secretly holding you back, silently?

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty sits down with Vinh Giang, an award-winning entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and communication trainer who has assisted thousands in discovering their voice and unlocking a level of comfort and confidence they never knew they had.

He teaches his students how to transform how we connect, persuade, and lead. In his view, most of us are unknowingly trapped by the way we use our voice. So, he shares with Jay Shetty how unlocking your voice has the potential to change the course of your career, relationships, and confidence. Moreover, he shares life-changing strategies to help you become an effective communicator—not only on stage, but also in everyday life.

From Silence to Stage

Vinh Giang admits that he was not born a natural communicator, but he became one so he could fit in. He grew up speaking Chinese and Vietnamese before learning English, and often felt disconnected and unable to express himself.

He started out as a magician, yet he soon realized that receiving applause for his tricks felt empty. So he changed the trajectory of his career by honing his communication skills and getting so good at it that he could now teach others. Vinh Giang told Jay Shetty that he feels truly fulfilled when he teaches others how to speak with confidence and clarity.

The communication expert connects with people by making them feel at ease in their own voice and communicating with assurance and clarity. When he understood that the way we speak is not just innate but can also be learned, a new world of possibilities opened up for him. Giang explained to Jay Shetty that everyone can become a great orator if taught right. You need to be willing to change almost lifelong habits to achieve your goal. This transformation is open to everyone, regardless of their background.

Your Voice Is Not Your Identity

Vinh Giang challenges the common belief that people's voice is fixed. He told Jay Shetty that our voice consists of much more than our simple biological makeup. It is a set of learned behaviors that we subconsciously adopt, such as tone, cadence, and mannerisms. All of these shape our habitual voice.

In the beginning, you may not be aware of your habits, but if you slowly start paying attention to them, you will eventually uncover them. The more you practice how to change negative behaviors, the better you will become at your communication skills. However, it is important to note that the process may feel fake at the beginning because it is quite unfamiliar.

The communication expert strongly advises embracing the discomfort long enough to let new behaviors establish themselves. He explains that just as we have practiced being shy or hesitant for decades, with deliberate focus, we can equally practice assertiveness and clarity.

Expanding Your Communication “Home”

Vinh Giang describes to Jay Shetty the communication comfort zone as living in just five notes of an 88-key piano. Most people use a limited range of vocal and physical expressions because it feels safe and familiar, and anything outside that range is often seen as phony or over-the-top, when in reality it is simply unpracticed.

We often change our appearance but changing the voice is not common practice for most of us. The communication expert explains that it feels very uncomfortable changing something that we believe to be part of our inflexible identity. However, he strongly advises you push yourself beyong your limited "home" and explore the full range of your communication potential.

Don't cling too tightly to the current version of yourself, so you leave room for evolution. The key is to reframe unfamiliar behaviors not as inauthentic, but as untapped abilities. This change in perspective opens the door for more powerful, persuasive, and unforgettable communication.

Becoming Self-Aware

The communication expert shared with Jay Shetty that his clients' number one issue is self-awareness. They usually find themselves stuck at the unconscious incompetent stage and don’t know what they’re doing wrong.

Vinh Giang’s core technique is to raise awareness by recording a 5-minute video of yourself speaking about a topic you are familiar with or passionate about. While it may feel cringe and awkward at first, it is essential to do it, so you can identify possible negative habits or patterns such as filler words, visual tics, unclear speech, or low energy.

Vinh Giang recommends reviewing your video three times:

1. First, mute the video and assess your body language.
2. Second, listen only to the audio and analyze your tonality.
3. Third, review a transcript to catch redundancies and poor structure.

The communication expert told Jay Shetty that one of his students found out this way why he was always close to being promoted, yet never the first in line for it. By assessing his way of speaking, he understood he used too many filler words, which diminished his credibility. Similarly, this exercise empowers you to pinpoint what holds you back, transforming vague critiques like “lack of clarity” into specific and actionable areas of improvement.

Daily Communication

While many assume that communication training is reserved only for keynote speakers or content creators, Vinh Giang believes that your voice affects your entire life. Whether it’s getting interrupted in meetings, being overlooked for promotions, or feeling insecure in relationships, the way we communicate influences how others perceive and treat us.

Vinh Giang shared with Jay Shetty how one of his clients was constantly interrupted in meetings. Yet the problem wasn’t her ideas, but the way she took up space while talking. Through Giang's training, she learned how to make herself more noticeable by standing up when presenting, using assertive gestures, and raising her speaking volume. She could immediately notice how people stopped cutting her off and paid more attention to what she had to say.

We often blame external factors when, in reality, it is our communication style that can undermine our message. Our entire existence revolves around communication; it's not just something we do on stage. But, because most people never reflect on how they speak, even small improvements can create a meaningful edge in both personal and professional settings.

Vocal Presence for Introverts

A common myth that Vinh Giang dismantles is that introverts are incapable of being powerful speakers. He clarifies to Jay Shetty that introverts simply need to be more strategic about when they use their voice, not how. Just as musicians decide when to play, introverts can learn to master the instrument of their voice, as long as they manage their energy effectively.

The communication expert shares his concept of “menu items”, which are quick strategies to boost energy, such as Wim Hof breathing techniques, healthy snacks, and motivational playlists.

It's not accidental when your speech is delivered with energy, presence, and authority, but there is a lot of work behind the scenes that led up to this moment. Introverts in particular need sufficient time to intentionally replenish their energy, so they can be fully present when it truly counts. This kind of preparation ensures that your voice isn’t just heard, but that it leaves a lasting impression.

Accent, Anxiety, and Articulation

Many people worry that their accent is holding them back, especially in a global context. Vinh Giang told Jay Shetty that the real issue often isn’t the accent, but the articulation.

Moving your mouth incorrectly may lead to confusion and low clarity. The communication expert had to make a conscious effort to learn the correct movements when speaking English, because Vietnamese and Chinese employ a different set of facial muscles when speaking. While it is essential to honor your heritage and accents make the world more interesting, if you look to master a language, you need to study the exact movements so you can truly master it.

Moreover, Vinh highlights the importance of clear enunciation. One way to improve it is by reading aloud daily with exaggerated lip and tongue movements. If you want to go the extra mile, place a pen in your mouth while reading to enhance precision. Mastering the physical aspects of your target language pronunciation can significantly enhance clarity without sacrificing your native identity.

Failing Your Way to Mastery

Many people quit before improving because discomfort feels like failure. Vinh Giang shares with Jay Shetty a traumatic university presentation where he got a nosebleed mid-speech, an occurrence which nearly crushed his confidence. Yet the communication expert sees failure as essential for growth. He explains that adopting a new communication style is like learning to play the saxophone—it sounds terrible at first. Yet many people fear they will come across as fake or phony and just give up.

Instead of giving up right away, he urges the listeners to reframe early awkwardness as a crucial part of experimentation. Change won't happen overnight, and others may not notice the progress, but the final results may be baffling. Your natural moments on stage appear so because of the countless repetitions behind the scenes. In fact, mastery looks effortless because of relentless practice. The true danger is remaining stuck in rigid patterns that no longer serve you.

Mirror Your Audience

Vinh Giang explains to Jay Shetty the concept of vocal mirroring. Just like mirroring body language builds rapport, adjusting your tone, pace, and volume to match someone’s emotional state helps create an instant connection.

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If someone approaches you gently, don’t overpower them—meet them where they are. Jay notes that people often unintentionally mismatch energy levels in conversations. Whether someone is sad, excited, or frustrated, responding in a similar manner demonstrates empathy. From that place of connection, you can then lead the conversation toward clarity, action, or comfort. Communication isn’t just about delivery—it’s about emotional tuning.

The Path to Unconscious Competence

Vinh Giang’s five vocal foundations provide a toolkit for engaging and responsive communication. They are:

• Rate
• Volume
• Pitch
• Tone
• Pause

When you master them, they not only help you convey ideas but also help you connect with others more deeply. Vinh Giang told Jay Shetty that it doesn’t take the same amount of time to become fluent in communication for everyone. Some may break through in six months, while others may take years.

The key is consistency and focus. It’s similar to learning to drive—you eventually reach a point where gear-shifting becomes second nature. Experienced speakers can adjust their tone, pace, or volume automatically because they have internalized these skills.

Vinh says the ultimate reward is freedom—the ability to be present, spontaneous, and impactful. He believes that the most genuine communication is refined and intentional, not raw and unfiltered.

By owning your instrument and practicing consistently, you give yourself permission not just to be heard, but to be felt.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “Communication Expert Vinh Giang: Why You Keep Getting Interrupted (How to Use Your Voice So People ACTUALLY Listen)” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.