Overcoming Adversity and Setbacks in Speaking with Stacey Chillemi

“When you are speaking and you’re in front of people and you give them the momentum to look at life from a different perspective or do something they don’t have the courage to do, you could help change people’s lives.”

Podcasts are full of powerhouse moments, but few stories capture the grit, honesty, and resolve it takes to truly make an impact the way Stacey Chillemi’s does. On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Stacey sits down with Grant Baldwin and peels back the curtain on her journey—from overcoming epilepsy and setbacks in the corporate world to building a thriving career as a speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host.

Stacey talks openly about the uphill climb, the self-doubt, the setbacks, and the reality that success is never an overnight story. For Stacey, building a speaking business meant reaching out to anyone who would listen, stubbornly persevering through rejection, and finding conviction in her own lived experience—even when the path forward felt unclear.

This episode is a masterclass in resilient action. Stacey lays it out straight that your story is enough, but confidence comes from doing the work consistently. She reminds us that fulfillment isn’t about chasing perfection but about putting yourself out there, showing up with empathy, and taking the first step, even when you’re not sure what comes next. If you’re someone waiting for the “right time” to chase your dream or if you need a nudge to believe your story matters, let Stacey’s hard-won wisdom and relentless optimism show you what’s possible when you bet on yourself!

You’ll learn:

• The unrealistic expectation of overnight success
• How Stacey helps others by sharing her story
• How difficulties impacted Stacey’s career path
• The power speaking has on creating emotional impact
• Advice for when your story doesn’t feel “big enough”
• Challenges of narrowing broad experiences into a focused message
• The value of cold outreach
• And much, much more!

“I had self doubt and I had to work on building confidence in myself, and anytime I saw that I made some mistakes, I had to tweak it, and fix it, and just keep moving forward.”

Episode Resources

• Stacey’s Website
• 2 Day Booked and Paid Bootcamp
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
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• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

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