It happens to all of us!

This past few weeks it happened to me.

The dreaded thing that I prepare all of my clients to handle with unapologetic ease.

Because this one thing is inevitable.

I have seen it happen on virtual meetings. On podcasts,

On stages,

On camera,

At expos,

Wherever tech is needed,

it has happened.

About 3/4 of my way through a live interview with the brilliant Arel Moodie, Founder of ​TalkaDot​ (an incredible tool for speakers and facilitators), my tech decided to fail me. My camera glitched and I was no longer visible. It was just my image, though at the time I didn’t know that my image could be seen, because on my end, it was just a black screen.

And how did I react?

I did the thing I tell my clients not to do:

I apologized.

I spent a moment too long trying to troubleshoot

and I used “humor” to mask my discomfort.

During all of this, Arel kept the conversation moving forward like a pro.

Here is what happens when you stop making it about your audience and start making it about the technical glitch:

You stop listening.

You stop connecting.

You continue to feed the cortisol monster.

So what can you do instead and what did I learn from this?

Here’s the short list:

1. Name it, don’t dwell on it.

A quick “Looks like my camera’s gone rogue” is enough. No apology is required. Everyone watching has dealt with tech drama. They don’t need your guilt on top of it.

2. Keep your presence in your voice.

Even if your face disappears, your tone and energy can still hold the room. Don’t shrink. Speak like you’re still being seen. Because often, you still are.

3. Let your guest shine.

Arel didn’t flinch. He stayed present and kept the momentum going. When you’re hosting, sometimes your best move is to spotlight the guest and let the conversation breathe.

4. Trust yourself to lead through it.

As the host, I had to keep things moving. Even while staring at a blank screen, I reminded myself the real connection is in the voice. The rhythm. The way you stay present even when things get weird.

5. Debrief with kindness.

Afterward, I didn’t spiral. I laughed. I replayed the moment and pulled out the lesson. This experience reminded me that even when you teach this stuff for a living, you’re not immune to it.

You just get better at recovering.

And that’s what I want for you. Not perfection.

Recovery.

Because the moment your tech fails is not the moment your presence has to.

It’s actually the perfect time to show your audience how you lead when things get weird.

And honestly? That’s what they’ll remember most.

If you are curious to see how it all played out? You can watch the full interview with Arel Moodie ​right here​.

The glitch kicks in around the 30:30 mark.

And while you’re there, you’ll also walk away with:

• What over 10,000 speaker bookings tell us about what gets you on stages in 2025

• How to make your message stick (even if no one knows your name yet)

• A simple shift to start booking more gigs without burning out

Spoiler: It’s not about being louder. It’s about being clearer.

Watch it. Then bookmark it.

Because these insights might just change how you prep your next talk.