Making It with Jess Ekstrom

Ever wonder about the differences between workshops and keynotes?

Katie Quesada, keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and storytelling consultant, believes workshops are not about teaching but guiding participants to discover their insights.

In today's episode, Katie shares how to design and deliver workshops that help individuals and teams become “story collectors,” using their personal and brand narratives to forge deeper connections.

Discover her core philosophy of "stories over stuff" in structuring a workshop, which may inspire you to create your own.

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Katie Quesada is a Storytelling Consultant, Speaker, and Coach.

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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

We usually see things as black and white, especially when trying something new.
So, how can we shift that mindset? 
There's just one word you can add to remind yourself: it's not that we're not there; it's that we're not there yet.

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.

How can we as speakers expand our networks to meet some amazing people and, probably more importantly, secure speaking engagements?  

We need to be strategic about our networking efforts. But what exactly does that mean, and what are the steps we should be taking to get our names out there more.

Today, Jess is joined by Chelsea C Williams, and she has some tips!

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. How can I continuously improve visibility and generate referrals for business growth?
2. How can I balance personal stories and business topics in public speaking?
3. Why is it crucial to incorporate DEI into workplace conversations and leadership?

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Chelsea C Williams is an entrepreneur, workplace educator, and professional speaker. Her company Reimagine Talent delivers HR and career development solutions.

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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 today’s special episode, I share a keynote showcase of one of my talks from Inman Connect, one of the most extensive speaking engagements in the real estate industry. You've listened to my food for thought to start your week. Now, tune in to hear some of the principles I discussed in the podcast during my signature keynote! 

Sidenote: We highly recommend watching Jess's keynote on YouTube to see her practices in action!
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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.

Getting up on stage and feeling confident about yourself, it's one of the biggest challenges we face on stage. Because we're not perfect. We're not robots. We'll flub from time to time.

So what do we do about that?

Today, Jess and Coach Kiah Twisselman talk about embracing imperfections and projecting confidence on stage.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. The Power of Vulnerability: Coach Kiah shares her unique approach to speaking, which combines humor and deep emotional connection. Learn how her personal journey of healing has empowered her to connect with audiences on a profound level, making them feel seen and understood.
2. From Ranch Life to the Spotlight: Discover how Kiah transitioned from a successful weight loss journey to a vibrant speaking career, including her experiences on national platforms like Good Morning America and The Kelly Clarkson Show. She reflects on the pivotal moment that led her to fully embrace her role as a keynote speaker.
3. Navigating Confidence Onstage: Jess and Kiah discuss the fears and insecurities that often arise before stepping onto the stage. Kiah reveals her strategies for overcoming nerves and staying authentic, including a humorous anecdote about dealing with sweat on national television.
4. The Myth of Masculine Confidence: The conversation explores how traditional notions of confidence can be restrictive, especially for women. Kiah offers insight into finding and embracing a style that aligns with one's true self rather than conforming to external expectations.
5. Finding Your Personal Style: Kiah talks about her journey to discovering a style that reflects her personality and makes her feel confident. She emphasizes the importance of wearing what makes you feel good and how it can enhance your presence on stage.
6. The Impact of Authenticity: Learn why Kiah believes that showing up as your true self—complete with your quirks and imperfections—is more powerful than trying to fit into a predefined mold. She shares how being authentic not only benefits you but also resonates deeply with your audience.

Quotes to Remember:

• “I like to tell people that I want to bring you on an emotional journey with me. We are going to laugh. I'm like one part motivational comedian. And we're also going to cry. Like we're going to talk about the hard things.” – Coach Kiah
• “It is the things that we generally feel most shame about that are the most healing for other people to hear.” – Coach Kiah
• “Stop waiting to lose the weight to go and find your style. Stop waiting to lose weight to finally wear the swimsuit and get in the pool with your kids.” – Coach Kiah

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Coach Kiah Twisselman is a former cattle rancher turned motivational speaker and life coach.

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(00:05:16) "Embrace vulnerability to unleash your power." 

(00:09:04) "Facing fears in public speaking leads to empowerment." 

(00:12:06) "Confidence in speaking comes from embracing your style." 

(00:19:01) "Choose self-acceptance over societal beauty standards." 

(00:21:24) "Your speaker identity shapes thought leadership impact."

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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

Perfectionists are good at a lot of things, but they are not good at being beginners.  

Does that sound like you?  

Yeah me too, until I was a beginner at two things that challenged me and changed my mindset - being a mom and stand-up comedy.

Here's what it taught me. 
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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.

Before becoming a Mic Drop Academy alum, Cassandra was already well-versed in public speaking as a communication expert and professor at Texas A&M University, but now she had the tools to make her goal of becoming a keynote speaker to fruition.

She talks with Jess about her journey after Mic Drop, sharing tips for aspiring speakers on what to know, how to handle rejection, and why setting boundaries is key—even if that means saying no sometimes, and that's okay!

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Dr. Cassandra LeClair is a speaker and leading expert in research-based communication strategies to build corporate resilience, and the author of Being Whole: Healing from Trauma and Reclaiming My Voice

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(00:01:03) Transforming Public Speaking into Engaging Storytelling

(00:07:12) Navigating Rejection and Self-Worth in Monetization

(00:08:23) Embracing Rejection: Path to Speaker Success

(00:11:21) Overcoming Self-Doubt Through Positive Self-Image

(00:18:06) Effective Communication Through Setting Boundaries

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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

We've all faced it before: the dreaded FOMO.

Sometimes, it feels like a double-edged sword. You don't want to miss any chances, but saying yes for the sake of saying yes can lead to quick burnout.

In this episode, Jess shares a mantra that helped silence her FOMO, and hopefully, it will do the same for you.

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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.

Antonio Neves saw a problem: he couldn't find the right content for balancing personal growth and family relationships, especially as a man in today's society.  So he decided to do something about it by founding the Man Morning newsletter, a platform dedicated to inspiring men to start their day with purpose and intention. 

Learn tips on self-improvement, on-stage speaking, stepping out of your comfort zone, and prioritizing emotional well-being to lead a more fulfilling and enriched existence. 

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(00:00:32) Embracing Masculine Growth and Connection Newsletter

(00:03:08) Celebrating Accomplishments for Personal Growth

(00:17:14) Celebrating Value and Empowerment in Males

(00:23:05) Man Morning Meetings for Emotional Release

(00:23:06) Emotional Support for Men: Man Morning Gatherings

(00:28:07) The Power of Authenticity in Presentations

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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

 Have you ever asked yourself, "Am I where I should be at this point in my life?" or "Am I "on time? "

We all rave about the 30 under 30 lists, but did we ever stop to think that maybe it was easier for them because they didn't have anything to risk? 

And maybe we're on the right track to success regardless of the time.

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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.