Amplify with Jess Ekstrom

Kelsey O'Connor was a D1 student-athlete at North Carolina State University until she suffered a traumatic brain injury that abruptly ended her athletic career. Her journey of recovery and overcoming immense was the basis of her commencement address that went viral on TikTok and Facebook with over 40M (million) views.

 In our season 3 finale, Kelsey tells her story and how it led her to become a sought-after public speaker

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Kelsey O'Connor's Speech: https://www.kelseyoconnor.net/videos/v/beyondperformance
Life Beyond Labels Podcast: https://sportsepreneur.com/welcome-life-beyond-labels-podcast/

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop

I recently read a study on dopamine that completely changed how I look at my work and life.

It initially shocked me, but then I realized why it makes sense.

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

As a speaker, you always want to reach the point of high-flying careers that take you worldwide, but that also means taking you away from your family. This raises the question, "Can speakers really have it all?"

Can we prioritize our careers, marriages, partnerships, and kids at the same time?

Today, Dr. John Delony gives us his tips.

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Dr. John Delony is a mental health expert who offers guidance on relationships, anxiety, and wellness.
Dr. John Delony Show: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDrJohnDelonyShow
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johndelony/

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop

In our culture, "Making it" usually means being an Oprah or Sara Blakely, appearing on a reality TV show, or discovering a scientific formula that lets you speak to your dog.

Most of us (including me!) won't make it big time. But I still have something to offer that people find value in. 

And so do you.

So, how do we measure our progress to maximize our potential and the value we give others?

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

Therese Gopaul-Robinson knew it was time for a raise. She asked for a meeting, practiced her speech, and had her PowerPoint presentation ready to go. It was time to take the next step in her career.

But she didn't get her raise in that meeting - she was let go instead.

Today, Therese shares her journey to becoming a world-class keynote speaker, which was initially filled with rejection and fear of inadequacy but ultimately led to her finding her first gigs.

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Therese Gopaul-Robinson is a Keynote Speaker and Healthcare Consultant who's obsessed with helping women in leadership.

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop

Imagine you had an assistant that could fit in your pocket and tell you any information you desired. 

"How many stars are there in the galaxy? How do I make a sourdough starter? What does it mean when something uploads “to the cloud"?

Well you do have that assistant - your phone.

Having all that knowledge at our fingertips is convenient, but does this convenience stop us from acting like students, being beginners, and trusting ourselves?

Perhaps access to all this information is a primary reason for killing our motivation.

And that's what I'm digging into today.

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

Lindsey Epperly has grown her travel business from a one-woman operation to a team of 80 (!!). It has been on the Inc 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, and Lindsey seemingly has it all.

And yet, even with her success, Lindsey still encounters imposter syndrome - especially when (despite the accolades) she feels like her business is failing.

Through her experiences, she realized the common pitfall of equating self-worth with success, a challenge familiar to many high achievers in today's hustle culture.

However, Lindsey's perspective shifted as she began to see imposter syndrome as a sign of stepping out of her comfort zone, using it as a motivational tool to turn obstacles into opportunities.

And here's what she learned in the process.

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Lindsey Epperly is the CEO of JetSet World Travel and host of Who Made You the Boss? Podcast.

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop

Did you know that most folks are more scared of public speaking than they are of sharks? It’s crazy, but it also makes sense! Whether it’s Jaws or facing a live audience, your body reacts to nerves similarly—it’s just a biological thing.

In this episode, I'm sharing tips on how to ease your nerves before a speaking engagement, whether on stage as a keynote address, in a meeting, or at a wedding.

I’ll walk you through quick tricks, like using peppermint and box breathing to calm yourself in the moment, and why making eye contact is a game changer.

So the next time you step on stage, you'll have the confidence to own it.

Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

You know that passive income everyone raves about, where you wake up to find a couple thousand extra dollars in your bank account?

Surprise! It turns out it's not as easy as it seems!

Today’s guest, Lashonda Brown, a tech educator and founder of Bootstrap Biz Advice, explains that passive income takes years of hard work and system-building.

So, what should you do, and how can YouTube help?

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop

Over a bowl of popcorn shrimp a few months after our wedding, my husband and I decided to put our apartment up for rent and take off in an RV and travel the country. 

We did something we now call “try it on.”

We had questions about finances, mail, and skincare routines, but we went for it anyway.

And here's what happened.

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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.