The Keynote Curators Podcast

Your audience isn’t craving more content.They’re craving a story that feels like it’s about them.Hall of Fame speaker and brand guru Bruce Turkel breaks down why the right story, told the right way, is still the most powerful business tool you own. From harmonicas to high-stakes keynotes, Bruce shares how to turn personal moments into universal messages your audiences can’t stop talking about.Why this delivers impact for event professionals:✅ Story as Human Technology – Why storytelling is the original operating system for connection, trust, and action (not just a “nice-to-have” on your agenda).✅ Tell Their Story, Not Yours – How to turn your experiences into universal truths your audience sees themselves in—so they remember the message and move on it.✅ “Valuable” vs. “Value” Speakers – The difference between booking a famous name and booking a session people quote in meetings six months later.✅ Audience-First Event Design – Practical ways to align what the company wants with what attendees actually crave—so no one feels sold to, they feel spoken for.✅ Risk Is the New Engagement – How bold questions, interaction, and participation transform keynotes from passive content into can’t-look-away experiences.✅ Music, Meaning & Memory – Bruce’s use of music as a creative twist that helps audiences feel the story, not just hear it—and leave with a real sense of accomplishment.🎙️ Listen now to hear how Bruce turns stories into strategic assets for your brand, your events, and your people:🎤 Want story at the center of your next agenda? View Bruce Turkel’s full profile, topics, and videos here💡 Programming a branding, marketing, or storytelling block? Explore more speakers📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call📩 Email: info@thekeynotecurators.com#Storytelling #AudienceEngagement #EventPlanning #DeliveringImpact #BrandStrategy #KeynoteSpeaker #ContentCreation #EventProfs #StoryDrivenMarketing #TheKeynoteCurators

What if the most powerful performance tool on your agenda is two simple words of gratitude? “Thank you.”Transformational keynote speaker Chris Schembra has spent years helping leaders turn gratitude into a strategy.Instead of more talk about perks and performance metrics, this episode goes straight to the human side of leadership: chosen surrender, connection, and the art of practicing gratitude on purpose.In today’s podcast, Chris unpacks how gratitude can reset burnt-out teams, deepen trust, and create the kind of culture people don’t want to leave. It’s part mindset shift, part playbook for designing more human workplaces and events.Why this delivers impact for event professionals (and all listeners):✅ Gratitude as leadership: the simple practice that builds trust faster than bonuses✅ “Chosen surrender”: slowing down just enough to hear what your people actually need✅ From icebreakers to impact: questions that unlock real stories in rooms full of strangers✅ How shared gratitude moments turn audiences into communities✅ Practical ways to hardwire pro-social behavior into your agenda (and keep it alive after)💡 Programming a human-connection or culture block at your next event?🎤 Learn more about Chris Schembra in his keynote speaker profile.📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call today.📩 Email us: info@thekeynotecurators.com#DeliveringImpact #Gratitude #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #KeynoteSpeaker #EventProfs #MeetingProfs #CorporateEvents #EmployeeEngagement #TheKeynoteCuratorsPodcast

As we near the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Lt. Col. Robert J. Darling, USMC (Ret.) shares how he dealt with this crisis, taking us inside the White House bunker that day—with playbooks any leader can use.🇺🇸 It was the day a country became a neighborhood. It’s a conversation about unity under pressure, calm in chaos, and how to turn hard days into durable readiness.🇺🇸 American resilience, up close. The day a country of millions behaved like a neighborhood—and why that spirit still scales.✈️ From Beirut ’83 to the Marines. How crisis shapes calling—and the mindset it takes to serve when it counts.💼 Inside the White House bunker. Minute-by-minute decisions on 9/11; translating uncertainty into decisive action.📞 Crisis communication that works. “Known / Unknown / Next” to align teams when facts are incomplete.🗂️ Preparedness beats hindsight. Practical plans for organizations and families—before the next hard day.🔧 Flash Emergency Management. Robert’s new venture to help businesses build resilience and continuity—so operations bend, not break.🤝 Enduring values. Unity, service, and showing up for each other—beyond headlines or politics.Agendas call for leadership under pressure, crisis readiness, or culture that holds when things get loud. If you want yours anchored in the spirit of unity, Robert will exceed the bar.🎙️ Listen now and hear how Robert turns a once-in-a-generation crisis into frameworks any leader can use right away.🎤 Check out Robert’s profile here: thekeynotecurators.com/speaker/book-robert-j-darling/The dates everyone wants will go first. Get your hold in before Robert’s calendar fills up. DM me with your date, city, audience, and goals to get started.💡 Programming a resilience block? Explore more leaders at thekeynotecurators.com📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call📩 Email: info@thekeynotecurators.com#DeliveringImpact #NeverForget #September11 #CrisisLeadership #Resilience #DecisionMaking #Communication #Preparedness #Leadership #EventPlanners #MeetingPlanners #TheKeynoteCurators #Podcast

Most talks chase clicks. This one measures energy—and shows you how to manage it.From panic-attack to playbook, keynote speaker Erin King breaks down why your only real unfair advantage (in an AI world) is your energy—intuition, empathy, creativity, adaptability—and how to deploy it on purpose.Why this delivers impact for event & meeting planners:✅ Energy > Time: Treat energy like a budget you manage, not a vibe you hope for.✅ 5 Energy Types: Kinetic, responsive, generative, synergistic & more—each with a fastest path to power.✅ Subtract to Perform: Remove the blocks (doing too much, quitting too early, dodging clarity).✅ Close the Loops: Decisions & commitments left open drain the room—clarity returns capacity.✅ Leader’s Edge: Energy management is a leadership skill, not a wellness perk.🎙️ Listen now on all platforms.🎤 Booking an energy-first keynote or workshop? DM “ERIN KING” for availability or view her profile here: View Profile💡 Programming an energy management block? Explore more speakers who turn energy into outcomes: thekeynotecurators.com📞 Ready to elevate the room’s energy? Book a 15-minute discovery call📩 Prefer email? Let’s talk energy that converts: info@thekeynotecurators.com#Energy #Leadership #PeakPerformance #AudienceExperience #EventProfs #MeetingPlanners #KeynoteSpeakers #DeliveringImpact #TheKeynoteCurators

Most leadership talks inspire. This one operationalizes purpose.From the control room of a U.S. nuclear submarine to the boardrooms of turnaround companies, Marc Koehler has learned that clarity and preparation—not charisma—keep teams alive and aligned.In this episode, Marc shares how elite leaders simplify complexity, act with courage, and keep both mission and morale on course.Why this delivers impact for event & meeting planners:✅ North Star + 90-Day Plans: Balance long-term purpose with short-term precision 🌟✅ Train Before the Storm: Build readiness, not reactivity 💡✅ The 40/70 Rule: Decide faster, lead bolder 🎯✅ Values → Decisions: When values are clear, actions align ⚖️✅ One-Page Mission: A “code word” your whole team can rally behind 🧭✅ Family Mission Statement: Bringing purpose home 🏡🎙️ Listen now to hear how Marc turns submarine discipline into a framework any leader can use right now to advance right away.🎤 Booking a purpose-driven leadership keynote? DM “MARC KOEHLER” for availability or visit his profile: View Profile💡 Programming a leadership-alignment block? Explore more speakers at thekeynotecurators.com.📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call📩 Email us: info@thekeynotecurators.com#DeliveringImpact #Leadership #Purpose #Keynote #KeynoteSpeaker #LeadWithPurpose #DecisionMaking #TeamAlignment #EventPlanners #MeetingPlanners #TheKeynoteCurators #Podcast

Authenticity isn’t a vibe. It’s a wise strategy for event planners looking to book impactful keynote speakers.Today's guest, Anthony Scaramucci, drops a masterclass in real talk: why audiences smell spin, how keynote speakers earn trust under pressure, and why the right words reshape behavior (and business).🎧 If you’re an event planner who cares about audience experience more than optics, this one’s for you.Why this episode delivers impact:✅ Authenticity over artifice: how to speak to people, not at them (audiences feel the difference)✅ Power of language: from FDR to Reagan, why the right words change behavior (and how to craft them)✅ Emotional control = trust: temperance + humility as the real leadership flex, especially on stage✅ Make conferences matter: create intimate rooms where deals + relationships actually happen✅ Stay the course: persistence and adaptability when recession headwinds hit🎤 Want an authenticity-under-pressure keynote speech that turns language into leadership? Hire keynote speaker Anthony Scaramucci for your next conference.💡 Building a leadership + communication block that lands on Monday? Explore more keynote speakers at thekeynotecurators.com.📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call with yours truly.📩 Or, email me: info@thekeynotecurators.com#Keynote #KeynoteSpeaker #KeynoteSpeakers #Leadership #Communication #Authenticity #EventPlanners #MeetingPlanners #DeliveringImpact #AudienceExperience #TheKeynoteCurators #TheKeynoteCuratorsPodcast

Most keynotes inspire you to face adversity.This one dares you to choose which side of your vision you want to feed.Dr. Magie Cook went from orphaned and homeless to building a salsa company from $800—and selling it for $231 million.This week on The Keynote Curators Podcast, Magie shares how event professionals can turn adversity into a practical playbook—one that helps events spark real change and inspires attendees to see the world in a brand new way.🎧 Listen now to our conversation (in English and Spanish!) and you'll learn:✅ Adversity → Advantage: Pain doesn’t have to shrink you; if you shift your mindset, it actually sharpens you.✅ Victim or Victor: Fear and joy can’t coexist, so feed the good wolf in you.✅ Purpose Pays: When you know your "why", you can face any adversity along the way.✅ Future Casting: Visualize the goals you want to achieve, then hit the shots you need to make (even if your eyes are closed!).✅ Success Isn’t Straight: The middle of your story might be messy, but that’s where growth happens.✅ No One Is Self-Made: Nobody makes it to the top alone, so remember the people who lifted you up along the way.🎤 Want a purpose-driven keynote that turns adversity into action? DM “MAGIE” for availability & fit, and check out her profile: View Profile💡 Building an adversity-to-action block? Explore more keynote speakers at thekeynotecurators.com.📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call📩 Email us: info@thekeynotecurators.com#Keynote #KeynoteSpeaker #KeynoteSpeakers #Adversity #Purpose #PersonalDevelopment #GrowthMindset #EventPlanners #MeetingPlanners #AudienceExperience #TheKeynoteCuratorsPodcast

Most talks motivate. This one rebuilds people.Burned over 100% of his body as a child, keynote speaker John O’Leary chose purpose over pain—and turned adversity into a playbook for life, leadership, and audience experience that lasts far beyond the hour.🎧 In today's podcast, John shares how family, choice, and community transform adversity into personal development and a true growth mindset for teams, leaders, and the humans behind the name badges.Why this delivers impact for event & meeting planners:✅ Victim or Victor? The 5-minute reframing that changes Monday✅ Resilience rituals your team can actually keep✅ Tough love → independent action (the “Mom lesson”)✅ Make kindness operational: back-of-house to front-of-room✅ Story → movement: John’s film Soul on Fire premieres tomorrow, Oct 10 → soulonfiremovie.com🎤 Booking a purpose-led keynote? DM “JOHN” for his availability & fit and check out his profile: View Profile💡 Programming an adversity-to-action block? Explore more keynote speakers at thekeynotecurators.com.📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call#DeliveringImpact #Keynote #KeynoteSpeaker #KeynoteSpeakers #Adversity #Purpose #PersonalDevelopment #GrowthMindset #EventPlanners #MeetingPlanners #AudienceExperience #TheKeynoteCurators #Podcast

From adversity to purpose: a keynote speaker who rows across oceans. 🚣‍♂️Event planners and meeting planners: if you're in search of a keynote that elevates audience experience and sparks real personal development with your audience, Tez Steinberg is your blueprint for a growth mindset under impossible conditions.🎧 Listen in to this podcast episode as we cover:✅ Endurance through adversity: hear how Tez went from depression to rowing the Pacific—solo.✅ Overcoming limiting beliefs: don’t wait for fear to vanish—act with it.✅ Curiosity > comfort: following wonder led Tez to ocean rowing—and a mission.✅ Purpose scales teams: bigger-than-you goals attract allies and momentum.✅ Mantra you’ll steal: “You can quit—just not today.”✅ Real-world impact: funding river-barrier projects to fight ocean plastic.🎤 Booking a purpose-led keynote? DM “TEZ” for availability & fit, and check out his profile here: View Profile💡 Designing an adversity-to-action block? Explore more keynote speakers at thekeynotecurators.com.📞 Ready to Deliver Impact? Book a 15-minute discovery call📩 Contact us directly: info@thekeynotecurators.com#Keynote #KeynoteSpeaker #KeynoteSpeakers #Adversity #Purpose #PersonalDevelopment #GrowthMindset #EventPlanners #MeetingPlanners #AudienceExperience #TheKeynoteCurators #Podcast

Stop "should-ing" all over your calendar. Keynote speaker Shelley Paxton—former Harley-Davidson CMO turned corporate rebel—walked away from a “dream job” after a nightmare made her choose soul over should.Now she helps leaders bring soul into the boardroom and design cultures where people actually thrive.🎧 In this episode of The Keynote Curators Podcast, listen in as Shelley shares:✅ Where she lands across leadership • culture • well-being✅ Why “I quit my job so you don’t have to” is a permission slip you can use✅ Boundaries over burnout • Values over validation • Pause over push✅ Why ripples of impact are the new ROI✅ Why success is a feeling, not a checklist—and how that changes events🎤 Want Shelley to bring “soul into the boardroom”—and help your audience choose boundaries over burnout? Visit her keynote speaker profile.💡 Programming a values-led, people-first event? Explore more speakers at thekeynotecurators.com.📞 Ready to lock your mainstage? Schedule a 15-minute discovery call here.#EventProfs #KeynoteSpeakers #Leadership #Culture #Wellbeing #Burnout #WorkplaceCulture #AudienceEngagement #TheKeynoteCurators #CorporateRebel