Straight,
Authentic Talk
By MELISSA FREDERICK MORRISON
ariah Burton Nelson speaks on many Mariah Burton Nelson topics. A former pro basketball player opens up about how and Stanford hoops star, she speaks to tell the difficult stories Mabout being an athlete. As execu-
tive director of an association that promotes lifelong healthful
recreation, she speaks about the importance of physical fitness. On TV and in print, she imparts her observations on gender issues in sports, competition, aging, leadership—even
her hysterectomy. She has plenty to talk about and she’s good
at it.
But not every subject is easy for Nelson to discuss. As a youthful
victim of sex abuse, she includes her experience in some talks. And
as a lesbian, she refers to being gay before audiences that aren’t
always receptive.
Talking about those parts of her life may not always be easy, but
they are part of who she is. And, Nelson says, presenting her
authentic self has made her better at what she does.
Opening Up to Authenticity
“Speakers try so hard to impress,” says Nelson, 50, who lives with her
partner of 16 years in the Washington, DC, area. “When you let go
of all that, audiences really perk up. I get a lot of compliments for
being ‘real,’ ‘down to earth,’ ‘accessible,’ rather than slick. People
seem to relax in response to my relaxation, and open up in
response to my openness.”
The approach affects not only her audience, but herself. “
Creativity flows through open channels, and if those channels are
blocked by fear and self-censorship, one is much less likely to be
in touch with the muse,” she says.
