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You've worked hard to build your business. But are you protecting everything you've created?

Many entrepreneurs invest thousands into branding, websites, and marketing without realizing that one overlooked legal detail could put it all at risk.

In this episode of Captivate the Mic, Elaine Williams sits down with Melissa Gray, business attorney and founder of The Law Spot, to uncover the common legal mistakes entrepreneurs make and how to avoid them.

From trademark troubles and intellectual property protection to business partnerships and contracts, Melissa shares practical insights that could save business owners thousands of dollars and unnecessary stress.

Elaine also shares her personal experiences with having her original presentation materials used without permission and navigating business partnerships that didn't go as planned.

Whether you're a coach, speaker, consultant, or small business owner, this conversation is packed with valuable lessons to help you protect your work and build your business with greater confidence.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why protecting your business name and brand matters before you launch.
• The costly consequences of skipping a trademark search.
• How to protect your original content, presentations, and intellectual property.
• Why contracts and written partnership agreements are essential.
• How proactive legal planning can help prevent expensive disputes.
• Why taking your business seriously means protecting what you've built.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Meet Melissa Gray
03:49 – Why preventive legal planning matters
07:27 – Melissa's journey from attorney to entrepreneur
13:29 – The trademark mistake that could cost thousands
17:36 – When someone uses your work without permission
19:00 – Understanding and protecting intellectual property
21:39 – Why speakers and coaches need clear agreements
24:27 – Business partnerships and the importance of contracts
28:53 – Business structures and personal liability
32:42 – Entrepreneurship and taking imperfect action

Connect With Melissa Gray

Founder, The Law Spot

Learn more about business formation, trademarks, intellectual property, and legal protection for entrepreneurs.

Website: https://www.thelawspot.com/ 

Connect With Elaine Williams

Ready to become a more confident speaker, storyteller, and communicator?

Visit https://captivatethecrowd.com

Enjoyed this episode? Follow Captivate the Mic, leave a rating and review, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear this conversation.

Remember: Building a business takes courage. Protecting it takes intention.

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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Have you ever struggled to take up space or be taken seriously in your career—especially if you're a petite woman or balancing multiple creative passions?

In this inspiring episode of Captivate the Mic, Elaine Williams sits down with the incredible Letam "Ley" Duson, Esq.—a Baltimore City prosecutor, litigation attorney, speaker, and founder of Ley All Day, a personal styling and image consultancy brand. Ley shares her journey from prosecuting high-profile police misconduct cases to running luxury style retreats in Italy and helping busy professionals build authentic, confidence-boosting wardrobes.

Whether you're looking to elevate your executive presence, navigate career transitions, or refine your personal style without throwing out your whole closet, Ley brings a powerful blend of legal precision, poise, and creative flair.

Key Takeaways:

• How to command the room and take up space as a 4'10.5" female prosecutor in high-stakes courtrooms.
• Why career transitions don't require abandoning your past skills—how law and styling complement each other.
• The 3-to-5 adjective framework for defining an authentic personal style that boosts your confidence.
• Why luxury retreats in Italy create transformative bonds and reignite hidden passions for women.

About Our Guest:
Letam “Ley” Duson, Esq. is a highly sought-after speaker, attorney, personal stylist, image consultant, and founder of Ley All Day. With over a decade of courtroom experience, Ley helps modern professionals elevate their personal brand and own their power.

Connect with Ley Duson:

Website: https://leyallday.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leyallday/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/letam-duson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19BXAiuhkN/?mibextid=wwXIfr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leyallday
TikTok: @LeyAllDay

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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Grab Your Free 5-Minute Warm-Up Handout Now: https://speakers.captivatethecrowd.com/speaker-warm-up-opt-in

You wouldn't sprint without stretching. So why do we walk into the meeting, the stage, the pitch — cold? A quick solo episode on why so many women can't find their lower register when it matters, plus the two-minute warm-up I've been teaching leaders for twenty years.

Here's what I've watched happen for twenty years.

A woman who is brilliant in the hallway walks into the conference room and her voice goes up. Gets faster. Gets smaller. She apologizes before she makes her point. And afterward she says some version of the same sentence to me: I don't know why I do that.

So let's talk about why.

Your lower register isn't missing. It's not a skill you failed to acquire. It's a place you learned not to go — because at some point, taking up space cost you something. A comment. A room that went quiet the wrong way. A review that used the word "abrasive." Socialization does part of it. Past visibility trauma does the rest. Your body remembers. Your throat remembers.

A cold voice is a compliant voice. It stays high and thin and quick because that's where it's been safe.

I'm going to come back to all of that in another episode. It deserves its own room. But today I want to hand you something you can use this week.

So we warm up. Not because your voice is broken — because your body needs the reminder that it's allowed to be here.

Two minutes. Speaking to two people or two thousand, same warm-up.
In this episode, we'll tackle:

• Why your voice climbs when the stakes rise — and why that's history, not nerves
• What vocal authority actually is (it isn't volume, and it isn't doing a Serious Voice)
• Why nobody taught you this, even if you've had presentation training
• The full warm-up — doable in a stairwell, a parked car, or the bathroom before you walk in
• Why you go over the top in the warm-up so you don't have to in the room

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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Are you tired of dry, boring networking events where you're the smartest person in the room but still stuck trying to break through your six-figure ceiling? In this episode of Captivate the Mic, host Elaine Williams sits down with Meghann Conter, Founder & CEO of The Dames—an international community built specifically for 6-, 7-, and 8-figure women entrepreneurs. Meghann dives into why women must do business differently, how humor and connection accelerate growth, and why making strategic, 5-minute "asks" is the secret to unlocking massive revenue and community support.

3 Key Takeaways:

• The "Reverse Mullet" Concept: Why putting fun, humor, and play at the front of your events breaks down defenses so real business and connection happen in the back.
• Jumping Into Bigger Ponds: Why high-earning women hide from traditional networking, and how surrounding yourself with higher-level mentors pushes you past revenue bottlenecks.
• The 5-Minute Strategic Ask: How getting clear on 2 or 3 quick, low-friction requests mobilizes your network into active power partners.

GUEST BIO & LINKS
Meghann Conter is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and the Founder & CEO of The Dames—the premier international community and business accelerator for women running and leading 6-, 7-, and 8-figure companies. A former corporate marketer who launched her first business during the 2009 recession, Meghann turned her passion for sketch comedy and high-level strategy into a global movement. Through The Dames, she empowers women to ditch hustle culture, leverage strategic power partnerships, and redefine success with impact, alignment, and hilarity.

🔗 Connect with Meghann:
Main Website: https://www.thedames.co/
Membership Information: https://www.thedames.co/joindenver
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghannconter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MeghannConter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeghannConter/
Join the upcoming FunFerences: 
https://www.thedames.co/funferenceguests2026
https://www.thedames.co/FFSponsorships2026

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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Chasing a passion isn't always smooth sailing, especially when you're managing teams, scaling a physical salon business, and navigating unexpected industry crises.

In this episode of Captivate the Mic, I sit down with the fabulous Evelyn Kershaw—a powerhouse salon owner, entrepreneur, and product creator—to uncover the real, unvarnished truth about leadership, resilience, and business growth. From dealing with team walkouts to sourcing natural ingredients directly from long-time friends for her upcoming product line, Evelyn drops pure wisdom on what it takes to stay grounded and keep building when the going gets tough.

Key Takeaways:

• How to navigate sudden staff walkouts without burning down your business or losing your core values.
• The reality of launching a physical product line and sourcing authentic, farm-fresh ingredients.
• Why staying in your lane and serving your core clientele is the key to sustainable expansion.
• Lessons in resilience learned from navigating pandemic closures and tenant management.

About Our Guest: Evelyn Kershaw is a seasoned salon owner, entrepreneur, and product creator known for her expertise in hair care, business leadership, and authentic storytelling.

Connect with Evelyn:

• Website: https://www.evelynkershawsalon.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvelynKershawSalon
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evelynkershawsalon/

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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If you think it's too late to completely pivot your career, launch a product, or start a global podcast, this episode will change your mind. Host Elaine Williams sits down with Anne Zuckerman—inventor of Bezi Bra Discs and top 2% global podcast host—to uncover what it takes to build a business from scratch without corporate capital. From incredible family survival stories in war-era Hungary to bootstrapping a retail storefront using empty boxes to look successful, Anne shares raw, generational lessons that taught her to stand unapologetically in her authority and manufacture products right here in the USA.

3 Content Takeaways:

--- The "Empty Box" Retail Strategy: How Anne’s mother built a successful, cash-only lingerie business in the 1950s without initial capital by using empty manufacturer boxes to fake inventory depth.

--- Navigating Product Patents & Manufacturing: The reality of bringing a physical product (Bezi Bra Discs) to market—from meeting an industrial design engineer on a singles hike to keeping manufacturing local within the USA.

--- The 28-Day Podcast Launch Blueprint: How a serial entrepreneur in her 70s launched her own show in under a month, rapidly scaling it into the top 2% globally.

GUEST BIO & LINKS

Anne Zuckerman is an inventor, top 2% global podcast host, and serial entrepreneur. She is the creator of Bezi Bra Discs, a patented, USA-made fashion utility designed to give professional women complete wardrobe confidence and eliminate distractions during high-stakes presentations and meetings. After launching her hit interview series, Just Wanted to Ask, in just 28 days, she quickly scaled it into the top 2% of podcasts globally. Proving it is never too late to reinvent your career, Anne uses her platforms to coach business owners to bypass execution mistakes and fast-track their professional growth.

Main Website Hub: https://annezuckerman.com/
Shop the Product: https://beziwoman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annezuckerman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annezuckerman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneInPink

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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Even though I grew up performing, singing, dancing, and doing theater, the very first time I stood up to speak as myself at a Toastmasters meeting—without a script or a character to hide behind—my brain went completely blank. My heart pounded, I started sweating, and I completely choked in under 30 seconds.

In this special solo episode of Captivate the Mic, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own journey from freezing up on stage to doing stand-up comedy and helping C-suite executives command the room. Speaking well under pressure is a completely different animal than regular conversation, and true confidence comes from the inside out.

Key Takeaways:

• Character vs. Self: Speaking as a character with a script is vastly different from standing up and sharing your authentic voice as a human being.
• Practice in Front of People: Skip the mirror. Mirror practice makes you hyper-self-conscious. True growth happens when you practice in front of real eyes.
• Ride the Ride: Every audience is a unique experience. Give up the need to control the outcome, stay anchored in your purpose, and be willing to ride the ups and downs.
• Connect with Your Why: When your focus shifts from "How do I look?" to "How can I make an impact?", your nerves naturally settle.

Elaine Willaims' Bio

An award-winning comedic speaker, international best-selling author, and podcast host, Elaine Williams is a premier video and speaker coach who transforms clients from "awkward to awesome" on camera and stage. As the founder of Captivate the Crowd, she combines her certified coaching background with over 40 years of professional experience across theater, film, TV, and stand-up comedy—including credits with Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent, and HBO—to train executives, entrepreneurs, and speakers to confidently command the room. Her clients have accelerated from complete camera avoidance to launching successful YouTube channels, embarking on international book tours, and speaking for organizations like NASA. A highly sought-after speaker who has delivered keynotes at military bases and prestigious universities nationwide, Elaine holds a BA in Drama with honors from UT Austin and draws on her extensive training in leadership, performance, and visibility to empower leaders to step out of the wings, take imperfect action, and own their spotlight. 

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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Are you tired of making the same mistakes in your life or business over and over again, but you just can't seem to find your blind spots? Trust me, you are not alone. Today on Captivate the Mic, I am bringing you an absolute mind-expanding conversation with the brilliant psychotherapist, best-selling author, and master storyteller, Ira Israel.

Ira has an unbelievable backstory. After a near-fatal car accident in 1985 left him with massive physical trauma, he spent decades relentlessly searching for the meaning of life. He spent eight years studying philosophy in Paris, eight years studying Eastern spirituality in Thailand and India, and another eight years studying deep psychology. When he brings all that aggregated knowledge into a room, breakthroughs happen fast.

In this episode, we tackle the raw truth behind why relationships and marriages are so hard in our modern world, how our early childhood core wounds dictate our current behavior, and why we naturally default to meaning-making machines. We even dive into some hilarious, star-studded stories involving Landmark Forum breakdowns and accidentally sitting next to Madonna in a New York Kabbalah class! If you are ready to face your blind spots without judgment and show up authentically, you need to listen to this.

Key Takeaways:

- The Core Wound Reality: Why your deepest childhood emotional wound will stay with you your whole life, and how to turn it from a victim narrative into your personal purpose.

- Why Modern Relationships Fail: A look at attachment theory and how our cultural obsession with power, independence, and "fixing" things actively blocks intimacy.

- The Landmark Revelation: How changing the language you use to describe your personal tragedies alters the baseline of your actual reality.

- Overcoming Intellectual Control: Why high-powered, brilliant people often suck at building intimate partnerships, and how to cultivate genuine wonder instead.

- The Power of Everyday Impact: How small, intentional acts of loving human connection—like a hand on a shoulder—can literally save a person's life.

Guest Intro:

Ira Israel is a licensed psychotherapist, licensed professional clinical counselor, author of How to Survive Your Childhood Now That You’re an Adult, and creator of the best-selling video series Yoga for Depression and Anxiety. He holds graduate degrees in philosophy, psychology, and religious studies, and spent years teaching mindfulness and meditation at the legendary Esalen Institute.

Connect with Ira Israel:
Website: https://iraisrael.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ira-israel-449364/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iraisraelofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ira.israel.5
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iraisraelofficial

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us Fan Mail

What do Broadway showstoppers and massive business profit margins have in common? A lot more than you think!

In this episode of Captivate the Mic, I am sitting down with the brilliant, beautiful, and absolute powerhouse entrepreneur Erin B. Haag. Erin grew up deep in the legendary New York theater scene—her dad was the technical director at the iconic Public Theater, and she was running lines with legends like Kevin Kline and working on star-studded productions in Central Park. But after a sharp wake-up call in conservatory, she walked away from the stage and built a massive career as a pricing and profitability strategist.

We break down how the fierce work ethic, high stakes, and deep psychological insights of the theater world translate perfectly into running a wildly successful business. If you are a female entrepreneur who avoids looking at your numbers, feels shame around your pricing, or struggles to understand your financial data, this episode is a breath of fresh air. Erin explains how she built and sold a Pilates studio for 40x her investment, built another company with an 82% recurring revenue model, and why she is now building an AI-powered pricing software to help you confidently scale.

Key Takeaways:

• Music is Math: Why an artistic or creative background is actually your secret weapon for understanding numbers and data.
• The Audition Truth: The powerful moment Erin realized she didn't want her financial destiny left to whether or not a room full of people liked her.
• Enforced Survival: How changing a business from transactional packages to a recurring subscription or membership model changes everything.
• Get On Board with AI: Why elite business networks are dropping spreadsheets and leaning into artificial intelligence to package services.
• Passion and Profit: Overcoming the false narrative that purpose-driven businesses cannot be highly profitable.

Guest Intro:

Erin B. Haag is the creator of Pricing Overhaul®, a proven method helping entrepreneurs shift their money mindset, restructure pricing for profitability, and pay themselves abundantly. With over 20 years of pricing strategy experience, she works with global corporations and small businesses to increase profit with ease. Erin founded Pricing Overhaul® Academy, certifying coaches to use her method with their clients, and she is also the bestselling author of Give Yourself a Raise: The Mindset and Math You Need to Get to Your First Million. Off the clock, Erin is a mom of 2 who enjoys travel, wine, and cheese.

Connect with Erin:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pricingoverhaul/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pricingoverhaul/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-b-haag-25a8406
• Website: https://pricingoverhaul.com/

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

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Think you’re too busy to write that book? Think again.

Ever feel like you’ve got a massive story inside you but zero time to actually sit down and type it out? I get it. We’re entrepreneurs, we’re caregivers, we’re running a million miles an hour. That’s why I brought the fabulous Judy Lane Boyer onto the show.

Judy is a professional ghostwriter and former professional translator who specializes in helping busy, badass bosses get their brilliance out of their heads and onto the page. We dive deep into why strategy beats "passion" alone, how to stop marketing your book (spoiler: never), and the emotional hurdles that keep most people from ever starting.

Key Takeaways:

• The Ghostwriter's Role: It’s not about losing your voice; it’s about "downloading" your expertise into a marketable manuscript.
• Strategy Over Luck: Why you need a clear goal and a target reader before you ever type "Chapter One."
• Healing the Trigger: Judy shares a powerful story about using EMDR to handle client feedback and business growth.
• The "Rewriting" Hack: A 20-minute exercise to shake loose your best ideas when you’re feeling stuck.

Guest Intro: 

Judy Lane-Boyer is a ghostwriter, book coach, and the founder of Audience Granted Ghostwriters—the culmination of her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. She helps therapists, coaches, and thought leaders turn their expertise into powerful, clearly structured books that leave a lasting impact. Judy’s deep understanding of the writing craft is backed by a decade of language translation experience, a massive 200-page research thesis, and a personal journey of using writing to find integration and meaning through her own mental health and late ADHD diagnosis.

When she isn’t helping authors bring their stories to life, Judy lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Dave, and their dog, Pippin. You can usually find her exploring the Texas Hill Country, traveling to central Mexico or York, England, or enjoying a good cup of coffee with her community.

Connect with Judy:

• Website: www.audiencegranted.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judyelane
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agghostwriter/

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!