What if everything you thought you knew about being a good communicator was wrong?

You don't have to be the loudest person in the room to make an impact. But what happens when you have something important to say and nobody seems to be listening?

In this episode of Real Talk with OVOV, host Amber Rivera sits down with Denise Thomas, founder of The Effective Communication Coach and author of The Only One in the Room, for an honest, powerful, and sometimes hilarious conversation about finding your voice, navigating difficult conversations, and learning how to communicate with confidence.

Drawing from 19 years of experience in Fortune 500 companies, Denise challenges some of our biggest communication myths and shares what it really takes to become a leader who doesn't just speak, but makes people feel heard.

In this episode, we're getting into:

• Why being the loudest person in the room doesn't make you the best communicator
• The difference between what you intended to say and how your words actually impact others
• What to do when your ideas are ignored, dismissed, or credited to someone else
• Why avoiding difficult conversations doesn't protect your peace
• The communication gap between generations
• How to become a better listener and connect with people who think differently
• Why great leaders don't create followers — they create other leaders
• How to reclaim your confidence when you've been made to feel like your voice doesn't matter

Denise also shares the unexpected encounter with Stephen Covey that helped inspire her journey to becoming an author.

The biggest takeaway? Your voice has value. You deserve to be heard. And you don't have to shrink yourself to make other people comfortable.

Whether you're navigating the workplace, building your confidence, leading a team, or learning to advocate for yourself, this conversation is for you.

💬 LET'S TALK: Have you ever been the only one in the room, or felt like your voice wasn't being heard? Share your experience in the comments.

👍 Like this episode, subscribe to Real Talk with OVOV, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that their voice matters.

About Real Talk with OVOV

Real Talk with OVOV goes beyond the titles to have honest, people-centered conversations about leadership, community, power, and the people shaping Arizona's future.

Follow Our Voice, Our Vote Arizona on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @OVOVAZ

#RealTalkWithOVOV #DeniseThomas #FindingYourVoice #EffectiveCommunication #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #CommunicationSkills #Confidence

How do you know what to trust in elections?

On this episode of Real Talk with OVOV, host Amber Rivera sits down with Avery Xola, Voter Education Manager for the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, for a conversation about elections, civic education, misinformation, and how Arizonans can find reliable information about the voting process.

From the impact of TikTok and social media echo chambers to common misconceptions about democracy, Avery breaks down some of the biggest challenges facing voter education today. He also shares his path into public service, why he compares his work to being Spider-Man, and how comic books became an unexpected tool for making civic education easier to understand.

In this episode:
🎙️ How misinformation and information overload affect voters
🗳️ What the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission does
📱 Social media, echo chambers, and finding trustworthy election information
🏛️ Why civic education doesn’t have to be partisan
🦸🏾 How superheroes and comic books can make civic education more accessible
📋 Why understanding the entire ballot—including local races and propositions—matters

Whether you follow Arizona elections closely or simply want to better understand how the process works, this episode offers a practical look at voter education and the people working behind the scenes to help Arizonans navigate elections.

Real Talk with OVOV brings conversations about politics, culture, community, and the issues shaping Arizona directly to the green couch.

▶️ Listen to the full conversation and subscribe for more episodes of Real Talk with OVOV.

#RealTalkWithOVOV #Arizona #VoterEducation #CivicEducation #ArizonaElections #MediaLiteracy #Misinformation

What happens when you look beyond the title and get to know the person behind the office?

In this episode of Real Talk with OVOV, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sits down with Amber Rivera for a conversation that goes beyond politics and into the person behind the public role.

Mayes opens up about motherhood, ambition, family, losing her father, finding purpose, and what it means to balance life with the responsibility of serving Arizona. She also talks about her work as Attorney General, protecting consumers and families, corporate accountability, housing, civil rights, and why elections matter.

But this conversation isn't just about the Attorney General's office. It's about the experiences, values, and relationships that shape the people making decisions that affect our communities.

🎙️ Real conversations. Real people. Real ideas.

Listen, share, and tell us: What did you learn about the person behind the title?

#RealTalkWithOVOV #KrisMayes #Arizona #AttorneyGeneral #Motherhood #PoliticsAndPeople #OVOVAZ #RealTalk