"If you're not clear about what you want, your audience won't be clear either." - Julie Hansen

As Julie Hansen walked into my home, I KNEW we were going to get along. Her confident demeanor, outstanding style, and personal brand were on point - so we sat down to get to know each other on the podcast. She handed me her book, Act Like A Sales Pro, and proceeded to give me the deep dive into who she is, how she got here, and where she's going. I'll let her tell you about that journey - we packed all this goodness into 45 minutes.

Join us as Julie gives you the insider's view of your sales presentations - because everyone is selling something. Yes, even you. From ticks & distractions to habits & respecting your audience - she even confirms that my constant reminders to speakers to PRACTICE. Listen in, figure out your intention for your audience, DON'T WING IT, and go spark the magic! xoxo

Jim Darling & I met in DC back in the days before he had a smartphone - he found out about me when I hosted Cup of Inspiration at Sisarina. He moved to Denver 2 years before me - and when we caught up at his birthday party, his candor reminded me why I needed to introduce you all to him.

Jim started his career in graphic design and realized that photography was his gift after realizing how lonely it is to engage with a computer. He is an incredible portrait photographer who captures humans in their element and this is his year of decluttering - starting with deleting Twitter. Now he's clearing out much more.

Join us as Jim & I go deep into social media fears, "stranger portraits," being a real business man, and how networking can change your life. Also check out a Creative Mornings near you and GO TO ONE! xoxo

FIND OUT MORE: https://www.melaniespring.com/podcast/the-life-changing-magic-of-finding-your-gift/ 

Chris Ward & I met because too many people said it must happen. We met as he walked in my front door with his black suit jacket & HUSTLE t-shirt on. His 6'5" frame can be intimidating when he's being a bodyguard overseas, yet his gentle demeanor shows his deep love for the human race.

Chris is a futurist, advocate, and revolutionary. He got into repping Legal Shield when he was an entrepreneur & saw the future helping those who wouldn't normally get the help they need. He doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk here in the US & using his military background to help shield those who are helping humans around the world.

Join us as Chris tells us how he went to engineering school because he wanted to build a spaceship with comfy seats & enough room for his tallness. Yep, it's a fun ride. xoxo

More here: https://www.melaniespring.com/podcast/wanna-start-a-revolution-be-the-change/

Jessa Woodward and I met via Instagram magic. She pitched her attendance at SPEAK With Confidence to her leadership team so she could come back and operationalize the core values for the organization she works for. And they said YES! Now she's making magic inside her organization for everyone because she believes everyone should have safe, brave, equitable spaces.

Jessa wants to create courageous cultures where people can have brave conversations and lead with whole hearts. And she was SUPER courageous getting up on stage but not without working her tail off beforehand. She spent almost 80 hours on the course before showing up to the Retreat and it showed in how she owned her voice AND the stage.

Join us as Jessa tells us how she minds her own biscuits. Find out how to be a better leader & start having those brave conversations. Listen in or check out more at https://www.melaniespring.com/podcast/everyone-deserves-to-have-safe-brave-equitable-spaces/

xoxo

As entrepreneurs, we have to stay connected or we end up feeling very alone. Entrepreneurship gets way more risky when you disconnect from others and think hustling is how you build your business. Kristin Darga of Impact Founder jumped on the podcast with me to chat about how to build your business without running the risk of losing everything - even when you hit your goals.

Join us as we go deep into the halls of building business & keeping your wits about you. Find out what she would have told herself way back in the beginning of starting Impact Founder. Listen in! xoxo

Get more at  http://www.melaniespring.com/podcast/entrepreneurship-is-risky-business/

Marc Gutman and I met at his Happy House - an old coal shack renovated into his office space - outside of Boulder, Colorado. It was the perfect location since this week we're talking all about finding your happy place. Marc is an amazing storyteller who I've known from Maverick, Entrepreneurs' Organization and weirdly overlapping social circles. We could talk for hours - but here's an hour we recorded on the podcast just for you.

Marc grew up in Detroit, Michigan before hopping into his car after college and driving to Hollywood where he began his storytelling career. He's the founder of Wild Story, a brand story messaging consultancy. Marc found his happy place in between being a master storyteller and a strategist working with outdoor brands.

Listen to the rest here.

Alexandria (Alex) Agresta is Chief Purpose Pioneer at Purpose Pioneers and is now a SPEAK With Confidence Rockstar Alumni! I'm such a huge fan of hers and I promise two minutes into this episode - you will be too. This woman is so on brand and so purpose-driven it shines through her in every way. Alex knew her purpose was all about purpose when she was six-years-old - so who better to talk about living a life and work full of purpose than Alex herself?! On this episode, we chat about systemizing purpose and creating systems around fulfillment in life, why your purpose is your brand, channeling both masculine and feminine energies, and, of course - manifesting that shit!

Jon Cook is so good at connecting people that I found him because every time I asked for people who were connected in Denver, every person I asked sent me to him. Jon is a wonderful human filled with loads of information about effective copy for your business. For this episode, we're about to enjoy a stay-at-home double-date while sipping rosé at 4pm on a Wednesday talking all things branded copy. Jon is a content writer extraordinaire who understands brand voice better than most. He builds trust for his clients by learning how to be them. John and his team at Keynote Content work with thought leaders and speakers to create branded copy & content creator that writes copy that passes "The Sniff Test." (See - NOW you know why I like this guy.)

 Last week we held our SPEAK With Confidence October Accelerator in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. The week was busy, jam-packed with great Rockstars, Trainers, and Experts. During our 3-day retreat we were able to write talks, laugh, cry, eat so much delicious food and hold space for each other like we never have before at any other SPEAK With Confidence. If you're feeling FOMO - don't stress. The April SPEAK With Confidence Accelerator is ready for you & already starting to fill up! Go check it out. Now that we're done with all that for this moment, let's get back to PODCASTING!!!! Join me in a confetti party for the return of the Adventures of Branding podcast while I introduce you to my dear friend, Jenny Shtipelman. Jenny is Senior Vice President at Eagle Bank, a powerhouse career woman with super savvy financial advice, and a closet that truly does redefine what a banker's closet looks like. "Jenny From The Bank" is a kickass human with a personal brand that's totally her own and stretches beyond her industry or position. If you didn't think you could let your personal brand shine because you work in a corporate environment, this will challenge you to reconsider. Listen to the podcast here.

THIS EPISODE SIMPLIFIED: We've come to the final chapter of the SPEAK With Confidence podcast series. You've collected your IP, written and memorized your talk, got all the language to sell yourself and are ready for the final step: Practicing! Let's jump into Chapter 7: Practice Your Face Off (but not literally). Just because this is the end, doesn't mean you are done. I know - practice does NOT make perfect - but it sure makes you more comfortable on stage. It's important that you never stop practicing - even when you've given your talk a million times. I'll share what I've learned over years about stage presence, being an inviting speaker, and how to get your audience engaged. But before we get started on all the things to DO on stage, I have one big DON'T to share. Listen to the podcast to find out my big DON'T.