
A 2-hour workshop to understand and control how your body reacts under pressure - so calm becomes a trained response, not a hope.
Command The Room : Beating Your Inner Heckler
A high-impact workshop in confidence, communication and presentation skills that teaches you how to regulate anxiety at a nervous system level, own the room, and speak with clarity under pressure.
Would you like to feel calmer, bolder and more compelling in front of a crowd?
This is where it starts.
Not your standard seminar.
This is a fun, engaging weekend designed to build real skills and create real behavioural and nervous system change - so your confidence holds up in meetings, on stage, and in everyday life.
Fri 28 – Sun 30 August 2026 | Byron Bay Surf Club
Your ticket includes two expert facilitators across the full weekend + Friday dinner + lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea on Saturday and Sunday.
Wednesday 1st July
6:30pm to 7:30pm AEST
Guided breathwork and ice bath workshop
Sunday 13th December 2026, 7.00am - 9.00am
Noosa Tigers AFL club, Weyba Rd, Noosa Heads
$75. 15 spots only.
Whether that's:
...the list goes on. It reacts the same way. Heart rate spikes, breath shortens, thinking freezes.
Most people are unprepared for that reaction when it matters most.
Scheduled Suffering equips you for those moments - on purpose, in a controlled environment - so that when life hands you the real thing, your nervous system already knows what to do.
Together, we combine performance mastery + nervous system science, so you’re not just learning what to say, you’re training your body to stay calm enough to actually say it.
When your body detects a threat (public speaking for many of us), it goes into protection mode - heart racing, mind blank, voice shaky.
So we need the body to learn that we’re not in danger, and as Dr Bessel van der Kolk (author The Body Keeps The Score) explains, the body changes through “corrective experiences” - moments where you safely do the very thing you once believed you couldn’t.
That’s exactly how this workshop is designed.
1. You’ll learn what’s happening in your nervous system and how to take charge of it.
2. You’ll build the practical skills to speak clearly and hold attention.
3. You’ll practise - repeatedly - in supported, real-world scenarios that gently stretch your comfort zone.
And in that process, the courage that you’ve shown to turn up transforms into confidence as your nervous system gathers proof. Your nervous system now has the corrective experiences. It believes something different - I can handle this. I’m safe. I’ve got this.
That’s how confidence becomes reliable.
Automatic.
Confidence that holds up under pressure.
‘Confidence doesn’t just magically wash over you one day and THEN you’ll do all the things you want to do. You can’t buy it in a book from Amazon or an online course. You can learn about it, but your nervous system doesn’t accept theory, it needs evidence. It wants proof.’
-Damian Murdoch

You don't talk your way into calm and confidence. You earn it, with what psychologists call corrective experiences. Your nervous system doesn't accept theory, it needs evidence. It wants proof before it will change.
Scheduled Suffering gives you those corrective experiences. You feel the stress in your body, you practise the skills to calm your nervous system, and with repetition, that becomes the habitual way you respond under pressure.
Every round of breathwork, every ice bath is a rep.
With that proof and experience, your body stops bracing for impact and starts trusting it knows what to do.
As you string your wins together, the courage you've shown to step outside your comfort zone morphs into confidence.
Confidence is an outcome of courage and action, the right action.
This isn't theory Doc read in a book. 22 years ago, an anxiety and panic disorder that started with public speaking had spiralled until he could barely leave his bedroom - years of therapy and medication followed, and still, no lasting answers. So he decided he needed to work it out for himself, and rebuild himself from there.
He studied a Bachelor of Health Science, then NLP, hypnosis, results coaching and breathwork - testing every bit of it on himself, from a skydiving course, to freediving; to years of Toastmasters and public speaking courses; to a stand-up comedy gig in front of 220 people - the thing that terrified him most.
He calls it Scheduled Suffering because that's literally what got him his life back - booking in for the stressful and fearful situations that gave his nervous system the corrective experiences to override the anxiety and panic. It was a survival strategy he built first, and found the words for later.
Today, 15 years into turning that into his life's work, he's a Master Practitioner of NLP and Hypnosis, a Master Results Coach, and a Master Breathwork Facilitator, working with everyday people, athletes, performers and corporate teams - including as the mindset coach for the Noosa Tigers AFL Club.
Calm you can access on demand - even when the spotlight hits
A clear voice and message you actually feel proud to share
Practical speaking skills that hold attention and command the room
Tools to regulate anxiety anywhere - meetings, weddings, stages, life
Proof you can handle pressure (because you’ve already done it)
And the quiet confidence that says: “I’ve got this.”
1. Everyday humans facing everyday moments
The situations everyone else seems to handle easily…
but your nervous system turns into a full-blown emergency.
Maybe it’s:
- A wedding speech you’ve been dreading for months
- A eulogy you want to deliver well but fear you’ll fall apart doing
- Job interviews that keep you stuck playing small
- Team meetings, Zoom calls, or ‘toolbox talks’ that spike your heart rate
- Thinking, “I’ll just have a few drinks and wing it…”
You’d love to speak up.
But your mind blanks, your heart races, your voice shakes.
You’re tired of feeling embarrassed, stressed, or panicked. You just want to feel steady and capable.


2. Speakers, performers & presenters ready to level up
You already get on stage or in front of rooms.
But you know there’s another gear - to perform, present, teach, coach or create with presence.
You want:
- Confidence that feels steady, not forced
- Practical tools to manage anxiety in high-pressure moments
- To stay calm and sharp under pressure
- The ability to turn nerves into energy and connection
- Trust in your timing, presence and delivery
Good isn’t enough anymore.
You want professional-level confidence and control.
3. Business owners & creators with something to say
You have ideas. Experience. A message that matters.
You know you should be:
- Making videos
- Speaking on podcasts
- Presenting your work
- Showing up online or on stage
But you keep putting it off.
Not because you’re lazy - because being seen feels uncomfortable.
You don’t want to sound awkward, stiff, or “not like yourself.”
You want to communicate naturally, clearly, and confidently, so your voice matches the value of what you do.

This might NOT be for you if…
You’re not willing to step slightly outside your comfort zone
You’re not willing to be vulnerable
You want to keep avoiding fear rather than learn how to face it
You want purely theory with no active participation
Understand exactly why anxiety shows up and learn a simple, step-by-step process to take charge of it in the moment.
- No freezing
- No spiralling
- No white-knuckling your way through
When the pressure’s on, you’ll know how to steady your breathing, calm your body and think clearly.
This is about creating safety in your nervous system so you can stay calm under pressure.
Confidence doesn’t come from hype it comes from preparation.
You’ll build practical, real-world speaking skills that help you:
- Hold attention
- Speak clearly and with authority
- Structure what you say
- Stay present instead of rushing or blanking
Because confidence grows naturally when competence is there to support it.
Know what you want to say and how to say it.
You’ll shape your ideas into a message that feels:
- Authentic
- Engaging
- Genuinely you
Whether it’s a speech, presentation or performance, you’ll walk away with something you feel proud (and excited) to share.
Supportive, practical guidance so you can adjust quickly and see immediate improvement.
Mental strategies and preparation structures that reduce overthinking and build certainty.
Learn how to read a room and stay present, responsive and authentically connected to the people in front of you.
This is where performance stops feeling scary and starts feeling powerful.
Confidence built through action, not theory.
Across the weekend, we put you into pressure situations that replicate that moment when the spotlight hits.
You’ll create real evidence for your nervous system that you can handle pressure, so confidence becomes reliable, repeatable and something you can trust.
You’ll quieten the inner heckler.
World-Class Location - Iconic Byron Bay beach
Full Program Delivery - 2 x Expert facilitators
- Friday: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Sunday: 7:00am – 7:00pm
Catered Throughout
- Morning Tea × 2
- Afternoon Tea × 2
- Lunch × 2
- Friday Night Group Dinner
Guided Ice Bath Session - designed to replicate pressure and teach real-time nervous system regulation.
What does this actually look like in real life?
In this video, Doc breaks down how he used these tools to step onto a comedy stage - the most terrifying experience of his life - and stay calm under pressure.
Together, we combine performance mastery + nervous system science, so you’re not just learning what to say, you’re training your body to stay calm enough to actually say it.
When your body detects a threat (public speaking for many of us), it goes into protection mode - heart racing, mind blank, voice shaky.
So we need the body to learn that we’re not in danger, and as Dr Bessel van der Kolk (author The Body Keeps The Score) explains, the body changes through “corrective experiences” - moments where you safely do the very thing you once believed you couldn’t.
That’s exactly how this workshop is designed.
1. You’ll learn what’s happening in your nervous system and how to take charge of it.
2. You’ll build the practical skills to speak clearly and hold attention.
3. You’ll practise - repeatedly - in supported, real-world scenarios that gently stretch your comfort zone.
And in that process, the courage that you’ve shown to turn up transforms into confidence as your nervous system gathers proof. Your nervous system now has the corrective experiences. It believes something different - I can handle this. I’m safe. I’ve got this.
That’s how confidence becomes reliable.
Automatic.
Confidence that holds up under pressure.
‘Confidence doesn’t just magically wash over you one day and THEN you’ll do all the things you want to do. You can’t buy it in a book from Amazon or an online course. You can learn about it, but your nervous system doesn’t accept theory, it needs evidence. It wants proof.’
-Damian Murdoch

Held just steps from the sand at Byron Bay’s iconic Main Beach, this immersive 2.5-day experience is designed to help you regulate anxiety, build genuine confidence, and develop the practical speaking skills to command any room.


Start by understanding yourself and your nervous system, and create the safety and clarity needed to grow over the weekend.
- Meet the facilitators and your cohort
- Set intentions and personal goals
- Learn the mindset principles that support lasting confidence
- Identify your strengths, patterns and current challenges
- Build psychological safety and connection within the group
You’ll finish Day 1 grounded, clear, and ready to stretch your comfort zone.

Develop the practical tools and communication skills that make confidence feel natural and repeatable.
- Understand how your nervous system responds to pressure
- Learn simple regulation techniques to steady your body and mind
- Train voice, posture, movement and stage presence
- Craft and structure messages that hold attention
- Practise speaking and stretch beyond your usual limits
You’ll finish Day 2 with real skills and growing belief.

Apply everything you’ve learned in supported, real-world scenarios that build lasting confidence.
- Strengthen belief patterns and performance mindset
- Refine voice, space and audience connection
- Use mental rehearsal and focus techniques
- Step into stretch challenges that simulate real pressure

Each participant delivers a short presentation or performance in a safe, encouraging environment, creating the kind of corrective experience that teaches your nervous system: “I can do this.”
You’ll leave with evidence - not hope - that you can stay calm, clear and confident when it matters most.
Your ticket includes two expert facilitators across the full weekend + Friday dinner + lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea on Saturday and Sunday.
We're both incredibly proud of the positive impact our workshops, shows and programs have made.
Here’s a look at what satisfied customers are saying


‘Vanessa isn’t only an inspiration to women showing them they can do whatever the f*** they want to do and put their minds to, but to everyone. A true pioneer & powerhouse of a human. I can’t recommend her courses or shows enough.’

‘From the moment she stepped on stage, Vanessa commanded the room with her magnetic presence and razor-sharp wit.’

‘What really drew me in was this was being delivered by someone (Doc) who had experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Someone who had come through it on the other side and knew what I was going through, what I was feeling. Not someone who had just studied for a few years and told me I just need to breathe.’

'Vanessa is more relaxed and direct on a comedy mic than anyone I have seen’

‘Vanessa is a hurricane-like force of nature’

'Working with Doc has been nothing short of transformational, and I would highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to optimise their mental state, output and overall quality of life.'

‘Vanessa has next-level confidence’

'Vanessa's course delivery is very relaxed and comfortable, and her course has been a massive help in getting my first Solo show out into the wild'

‘Damian’s unwavering belief that those traits that you have been led to believe are your worst, he will prove to you that they are in fact your uniqueness, and he will bring them out and together you will polish them until they shine.’
When you have a question, chances are someone else has too. Here are the answers to the most common questions about our workshop.
There are loads of accommodation options in Byron Bay, ranging from 5 star luxury to backpacker and budget style accommodation. The top pick options, as mentioned on byronbaytourism.com are;
- Luxury – Elements of Byron: A world-class beachfront resort with villas, spa, and fine dining.
- Beachfront Apartment – Beach Suites Byron Bay: Stylish self-contained suites just steps from Main Beach.
- Guesthouse – Byron Palms Guesthouse: Relaxed B&B with tropical gardens and a homely feel.
- Backpacker Hostel – Wake Up! Byron Bay: A lively hostel offering surfboard hire, yoga classes, and beachfront access.
- Camping – First Sun Holiday Park: Unbeatable location right on the beach, offering both campsites and cabins.
Note: If flying in to the Ballina/Byron Bay airport, the training venue is approximately 35km North. If flying into Gold Coast airport, the training venue is approximately 70kms south.
Byron Bay Shuttle provides transfers from $35 for Byron/Ballina or from $48 from Gold Coast Airport one-way. Parking around the training venue is paid and limited, however free parking is available in most of the residential areas, so arriving early to find a free space and wandering into town is recommended.
If you need further information, please reach out to your facilitators and we will be happy to help.
This workshop is for anyone who wants to feel more confident speaking in front of others. That includes professionals, creatives, leaders, business owners, performers, and people who simply want to stop their nerves from running the show in meetings or social situations.
Not at all. You might be working on a speech, presentation, story, poem, comedy idea, or simply practicing speaking up with more confidence. The focus is on communication and confidence, not being ‘entertaining’.
You are exactly who this workshop is designed for. Everything is taught step by step in a supportive environment. You will never be pushed to do more than you feel ready for, and you will have tools to manage nerves before you ever step into a spotlight moment.
No. While we talk about anxiety and mindset, this is a skills-based workshop. You will learn practical tools, techniques, and strategies to manage nerves and communicate more confidently.
You will have opportunities to practice in a gradual and supported way. By the end of the weekend, participants take part in a guided sharing session where you can present what you have been working on. This is designed to feel encouraging, not high pressure.
That is completely fine. Part of the workshop is helping you discover what you want to say and shaping it into something clear and meaningful. You will be guided from ideas all the way through to a finished piece.
Examples include:
Work presentations
Wedding or special event speeches
Creative pieces like comedy, storytelling, or poetry
Pitches or business talks
Practicing confident communication for meetings or leadership
If you use your voice in the real world, it fits.
We keep numbers small so everyone gets personal attention and a safe space to practice. Maximum participants: 16
You will learn how to:
Manage physical symptoms of anxiety
Calm your inner critic
Structure and develop what you want to say
Speak with more clarity and presence
Stay grounded when all eyes are on you
No major preparation is required. If you already have an idea, speech, or project, bring it along. If not, we will help you create something during the workshop.
That is a normal human response to nerves. The workshop leaders are experienced in working with anxiety and group facilitation, and the environment is supportive and respectful. You will be guided through techniques to help you stay regulated and recover if you feel overwhelmed.
This workshop focuses not just on what to say, but on what is happening inside your mind and body when you say it. We work on confidence, mindset, and anxiety alongside practical communication skills.
The workshop is led by Vanessa Larry Mitchell and Damian Murdoch, experienced facilitators with backgrounds in comedy / performance / training / education / coaching, who specialise in helping people build confidence and command a room.
Comfortable clothes you can move and breathe in
Swimmers for the ice baths or a dip in the ocean!
A notebook or device for writing
Anything you need to feel comfortable
Any draft speeches, creative projects or ideas if you have them
No. The final sharing session is just for workshop participants in a supportive environment. It is not a public show.
Perfect. This is a learning space, not a talent contest. Progress is the goal, not perfection.
Participants leave with practical anxiety-management tools, a stronger sense of confidence, and a piece of communication they have developed and practiced in a supportive space.
Where possible, we try to book accessible venues so that everyone can participate however there are times where we find this difficult. Please contact the facilitators to ask specifically about the location you are interested in attending.

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Michael Fox, Outfox Financial
★★★★★
Doc is genuinely down-to-earth and has an incredible ability to explain complex concepts in real-world, practical terms. Working with him has been nothing short of transformational.
Renee
★★★★★
Many of my patients know about the guru man who I see fortnightly to help with my anxiety. Doc is a life changer.
Mick
★★★★★
Doc has given me vast knowledge and understanding of how the mind and body works, giving me a huge range of tools on how to handle things better at work, and in my family and private life.
Audrey
★★★★★
I joined Doc’s program because of the panic attacks I was experiencing and to deal with my general anxiety... I was getting triggered every day on the way to work. I haven’t had any panic attacks since.
Sunday, 13th December. 7.00am - 9.00am.
Noosa Tigers AFL club, Weyba Rd, Noosa Heads.
Hour One - Understand It. We start with the nervous system education. I find that when people understand their brain and exactly how this stuff works, that’s when they’re inspired to really buy in and give it a go. You’ll learn the real science behind why your body reacts the way it does under pressure, and what’s actually happening inside you when anxiety, stress, anger or panic take over. You’ll find this stuff fascinating - you’re getting the owner’s manual to your body. No fluff, nothing you can’t actually use.
Hour Two - Do It. This is where it gets real. A guided breathwork session first, using the exact techniques you just learned about, followed by the ice bath itself. You’ll feel the same stress response you just understood - heart rate up, breath shortening, that urge to bail - except this time, it’s on purpose, it’s guided. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can bring yourself back to calm. For many, that’s life-changing.
You don’t leave with notes. You leave with proof.
Anyone who wants to understand why they react the way they do under pressure. And wants to regain control in those moments.
One thing everyone in the room will have in common by the end - you’ll know exactly what your body does under real pressure, and you’ll have a trained response to it.
Because this involves cold exposure and intense breathwork, there are some health conditions where this isn’t safe without medical clearance.
You’ll complete a short health screening when you register - if anything comes up, we’ll talk it through before your spot’s confirmed.
Got a question?
Ask me anything about the workshop. I’ll reply to you personally.
This is where you stop wishing for calm under pressure, and start training for it.
Scheduled Suffering
Sunday, 13th December 2026. 7.00am - 9.00am.
Noosa Tigers AFL club, Weyba Rd, Noosa Heads
$7515 Spots Only
Book My SpotWorkshop starts in
Together, we combine performance mastery + nervous system science, so you’re not just learning what to say, you’re training your body to stay calm enough to actually say it.
When your body detects a threat (public speaking for many of us), it goes into protection mode - heart racing, mind blank, voice shaky.
So we need the body to learn that we’re not in danger, and as Dr Bessel van der Kolk (author The Body Keeps The Score) explains, the body changes through “corrective experiences” - moments where you safely do the very thing you once believed you couldn’t.
That’s exactly how this workshop is designed.
1. You’ll learn what’s happening in your nervous system and how to take charge of it.
2. You’ll build the practical skills to speak clearly and hold attention.
3. You’ll practise - repeatedly - in supported, real-world scenarios that gently stretch your comfort zone.
And in that process, the courage that you’ve shown to turn up transforms into confidence as your nervous system gathers proof. Your nervous system now has the corrective experiences. It believes something different - I can handle this. I’m safe. I’ve got this.
That’s how confidence becomes reliable.
Automatic.
Confidence that holds up under pressure.
‘Confidence doesn’t just magically wash over you one day and THEN you’ll do all the things you want to do. You can’t buy it in a book from Amazon or an online course. You can learn about it, but your nervous system doesn’t accept theory, it needs evidence. It wants proof.’
-Damian Murdoch

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