In this episode, host Erin Prather Stafford talks with Eliza VanCort, an author, speaker and survivor whose work sits at the intersection of political science and the performing arts. Their conversation centers on VanCort’s book, “A Woman’s Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall. Raise Your Voice. Be Heard,” and her practical advice for women and girls on claiming space, overcoming nerves and navigating the expectations society places on them.
A recurring theme runs through the conversation: women are often pressured to make themselves small, and that instinct quietly undermines their confidence and their success. VanCort challenges it directly, drawing on her own life. “I thought if I could just be invisible, then I’ll be safe. But of course, being invisible isn’t safe. It’s so dangerous.” She also digs into the role of body language and voice in conveying worth and power, and makes the case for treating nerves as fuel for powerful communication rather than something to suppress.
About Eliza VanCort
After surviving traumatic kidnappings as a child and a life-altering bicycle accident as an adult, Eliza VanCort became a sought-after empowerment advocate. Her work blends political science and the performing arts, drawing on more than twenty years as an acting instructor to give audiences practical tools for transforming how they communicate, both with themselves and across differences.
VanCort is a Cook House Fellow at Cornell University and a Govern for America League of Innovators. She co-founded Think Twice Labs, which takes a fresh approach to building emotional intelligence and communication across differences, and she has become a viral voice on TikTok for her candid commentary. She is the mother of four kids, all claiming their space in their own way. Learn more at elizavancort.com.
This episode was broadcast on October 30, 2023.