The Speaker Lab Podcast

Expert speaker and communicator, Matt Abrahams, shares valuable tips on reading the audience, creating engagement, handling hecklers, and facilitating QA sessions. He emphasizes focusing on connection rather than perfection and provides techniques for managing nerves and anxiety. The podcast also discusses the importance of testing and refining your talk, as well as Matt Abrahams' new book and podcast on improving communication skills.

"You need to believe in yourself and you need to understand that you are validated in what you're wanting to charge."In this edition of our Student Highlight series, Brittany Richmond sat down with TedX speaker and education thought leader Dr. India White to talk about what it takes to build a speaking business and the tangible, practical things Dr. White did to take hers to the next level. "Work with them through that process until they say, okay, now let's get the contract going. Are you going to send it? Do you want mine? What do you want? Right. And then you go from there."This episode is filled with: Hard truths about building a speaking business Practical knowledge and problem-solving to help you work through the hard things Implementable changes to help you level up Expert advice from people a few steps ahead of you to achieve your dreams Tips on negotiating contractsGuidance on building solid relationships both with the audience and the event decision-makers "At the end of my conferences, I always have a QR code where I gather the people's name information and I ask, how did you like this? What did you want to learn from this? Is there anything you can add to this?"Episode Chapters: 05:16 How to align with your purpose and do work that changes lives09:16 Why TSL and what was your hope when you made this investment?14:25 What was your purpose in stepping into this space?17:33 The best part about being a speaker18:59 Underrated speaking advice to help you grow faster25:25 Negotiating tips to help you get better contracts28:17 How to capture post event feedback from attendees and build a relationship with event planners 31:32 Why brand building matters and how it shows up in other places off the stage 35:26 Tweaking your talk when the event timeline is thrown offEpisode Resources:Dr. India's WebsiteConnect with Dr. India on LinkedInWatch her TedX Talk on GritGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dave Allred, a speaking expert, discusses the power of public speaking in expanding your comfort zone and achieving goals. Topics covered include building a reputation as a speaker, betting on yourself to achieve big goals, and diving headfirst into new and intimidating opportunities.

Jeremy Rochford, Speaker discusses the use of ChatGPT in presentations. They cover using AI to develop content, pros and cons of using AI tools, and best practices for using AI as a piece of the creative process. They caution about the limitations of AI in understanding human emotions and culture, emphasizing the importance of knowing your audience and adding personalization to AI-generated content.

Dan Martell, a nontraditional speaker, shares how speaking can be a transformative platform to impact lives. Topics include leveraging platforms for message sharing, creating a nontraditional speaking career, building confidence as a speaker, structuring a talk, using speaking for brand building, and the power of repetition in improving speaking skills.

Dr. Reggie Wright scaled his speaking business in just 7 months by leveraging his story, putting in the work, and committing to making an impact. He shares how to use your message to stay focused, the importance of preparation, and his journey into professional speaking. Reggie's strategies for success include setting goals and managing emotions, and he discusses his experiences with virtual keynotes and speaking engagements in different regions. This episode highlights the role of character development and social emotional learning principles in academic success.

"History doesn't repeat itself. It's just that humans tend to do the same thing in patterns even if 20 or 40 or 50 years ago they did the exact same thing when faced with the same inputs."This week on the podcast, Grant sat down with Dominique Luster, a TSL alum and a professional speaker in the DEI space. Dominique’s speaking career started somewhat naturally as she was on a mission to share the history of minorities through working in the museum/education space for years before she was asked to do a TED talk. “Any project or organization that comes to the table with the same feelings and beliefs that history is not passive and that African American history matters and should be uplifted and shared and preserved and told just like anything else."In this episode, Dominique and Grant dig into: How Dominique got into speaking Figuring out what makes you unique and what your niche can be in the speaking world How to find DEI gigs and leverage your network What it looks like to get creative and find places to share your message Learning how to leverage her impact when it comes to seeking out gigs The ongoing symbiotic relationship of her speaking and consulting businesses growing together What Dominique thinks the future of the DEI space holds for speakers and thought leaders "I think the future of DEI is just becoming a part of what we do, a part of being a better world, about being a more mindful and care giving world, is just expanding it out so that it isn't so separate all the time."Episode Chapters:[00:03:07] Dominique’s background from Theather to Archival work and beyond[00:06:37] Speaking for work all the time and being asked to present a TEDx Talk[00:10:47] Are the opportunities in the DEI field limited?[00:13:32] How Dominique got into speaking in the university space[00:17:15] Who to approach when trying to get booked as a DEI speaker [00:21:54] How the DEI space is continuously growing and changing[00:27:27] What does the future of the DEI space hold?[00:29:46] Where can you find new opportunities and connections[00:32:31] Places to connect with Dominique onlineEpisode Resources:Connect with Dominique on LinkedInLearn more about Dominique’s workGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Angie Besignano, a coach, joins the podcast to discuss energy management. They cover the 4 types of energy, how to regulate and protect your energy, developing better energy habits, and the connection between energy and success.

Shawn Hanks, CEO of the Premiere Speakers Bureau, joins Grant to discuss the importance of demo videos for speakers. They cover topics such as creating a standout video, the ideal length of a sizzle reel, and what not to do in a demo video.

"There were two modules that were particularly helpful for me...The module about preparing your talk was really helpful...It helped me fill in stories where I needed to fill in a story and applications for real-life examples...And then the other part was the last module, Know When to Scale...That last module helped me really make sense of it all."Dr. Peggy DeLong joins Maryalice Goldsmith on the podcast this week to talk about her journey to The Speaker Lab and what she’s accomplished since beginning her speaking career. Together, they dig into what Dr. Peggy speaks about, how she found her niche, and what pushed her to take the next step to grow her business. "Well, a couple of things came together at perfect timing. Actually three things. Two opportunities literally fell in my lap. I've been a speaker for 20 years, often speaking for free, lots of different reasons and not making much movement. And then all of a sudden, the largest audience opportunity came my way without pitching, and the largest fee came my way. So I thought I really better level up my game."In this episode, they talk about: The impact of gratitude on your bad days Gaining clarity through the programming and resources TSL has How Peggy structures her talks and her message The power of finding your niche When Peggy fits in her Daily Power HourLearning how to say no to things that are good not great How Peggy takes care of herself so she can take care of everyone else the way she does The ins and outs of Peggy’s Pre Talk routine "I teach methods like gratitude and other things that feel good while we're doing them. So it's not a chore. You can actually look forward to doing these things, and when you do them on a regular basis, you are setting yourself up for positive mental health in the future."Episode Chapters:[00:04:20] Where did you find Gratitude?[00:07:57] Brain psychology of habits and why changing your thoughts can change your life?[00:11:38] What aligned to make you take the jump?[00:15:55] What helped you grow the most in the program? [00:18:08] Where is your speaking business taking you?[00:21:03] What is your framework for mental health?[00:23:13] What do your talks center around?[00:28:25] What does your schedule look like to build your business every day?[00:30:29] What was your biggest lesson to learn in the program? [00:33:48] What is your pre-talk routine?Episode Resources: Connect with Peggy on LinkedinExplore Peggy’s WebsiteBuy Peggy’s Books Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.