Mic Drop Mindset

How to Know You’re Speaker Bureau Ready: Fees, Materials, Reputation, and Consistency

The episode explains why speakers shouldn’t approach a speakers bureau until they’re “bureau ready,” noting bureaus typically want speakers already booking plenty of work and consistently earning about $7,500–$12,500 per talk, and that some speakers sign with bureaus yet book nothing. 

Jenn outlines key readiness factors: professional speaker materials (a speaker kit/portfolio with a clear signature talk, audience takeaways, bios, professional headshots, testimonials, and both editable drafts and polished PDFs so bureaus can add logos), reputation (responsiveness, warm referrals, industry relationships, and a strong online presence), and consistency (fee integrity, consistent branding, visible event activity, and audience fit). 

She also discusses tradeoffs of bureaus—25% commission, expectation to say yes, and benefits like negotiation, logistics, and access to ongoing event-planner relationships.

00:00 Bureau Ready Warning

00:22 Why Bureaus Say No

02:49 Who Bureaus Want

03:21 Build Your Speaker Kit

04:50 Professional Assets Checklist

05:28 Public And Private Versions

07:24 Reputation Matters Most

10:19 Boost Your Visibility

11:56 Consistency And Fee Integrity

13:54 Lifestyle Fit Reality Check

15:22 What Bureaus Actually Do

18:10 Wrap Up And Next Steps

Liked this episode? Please submit a review on your favorite listening platform. All reviewers have a chance to be coached in the studio with me in Minneapolis (virtual option also available). 

Email [email protected] to be considered for coaching with subject line "podcast review".

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

Find Your Authentic Speaking Style: From Formal to Facilitator

This episode explores how a speaker’s authenticity is connected to their unique speaking style and how to identify it. It suggests starting with outward cues like stage wardrobe (formal vs. informal) and aligning dress with language and delivery to avoid disconnects. 

Jenn outlines four core speaker personas—informative (data-driven), narrative (storytelling/performance techniques), entertainer (physicality, props, magic), and facilitator (co-creating interactive experiences)—and notes people may blend elements of each. 

Jenn also discusses vocal and cultural nuances, especially among women and women of color, including musical cadence influenced by traditions such as church and ministry, along with techniques like vocal fry, upspeak, pitch, and the importance of clear enunciation. She encourages recording and listening to audio to self-assess cadence, pacing, pauses, emphasis, and content balance, then leaning into natural style while practicing new techniques.

Get the free guide to evaluating your presentation skills: www.jennspingo.com/free-guide

Video on vocal techniques unique to women: https://youtu.be/ueVYU6jZ8-Q?si=hDQMOOY5u0IHYOgQ

00:00 Speaking Style and Authenticity

00:45 Dress Sets the Tone

01:54 Informal vs Formal Vibes

04:52 Stage Personas Explained

05:20 Informative and Narrative Types

06:59 Entertainers and Facilitators

09:25 Cultural Cadence and Musicality

10:51 Vocal Habits to Watch

12:13 Enunciation and Self Review

13:40 Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Liked this episode? Please submit a review on your favorite listening platform. All reviewers have a chance to be coached in the studio with me in Minneapolis (virtual option also available). 

Email [email protected] to be considered for coaching with subject line "podcast review".

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

How to Get Useful Speaking Feedback: From Worst to Best Sources

Jenn explains why speakers should actively solicit feedback to iterate on their talks, improve performance, and earn rebookings and referrals. She contrasts helpful feedback with a negative experience watching a competitor’s webinar where a volunteer speaker was repeatedly interrupted and bluntly criticized in front of hundreds, advocating instead for supportive, end-of-presentation feedback like Toastmasters and her Mic Drop Moments process. 

She recommends using Talkadot to collect immediate audience “smile report” data, quotes, and social graphics, and then ranks feedback sources from worst to best: self-review (often overly critical), staff (too supportive), family and friends (inconsistent and not specific), AI tools (useful analytics but limited on connection), other speakers (valuable if guided with specific questions), audience members and event organizers (more candid survey data), and finally speaker coaches for objective, encouraging, mindset-and-mechanics support. She previews next week’s topic on speaking fees.

Resources mentioned:

Talkadot https://www.talkadot.com/s/jennespinosa-goswami/share

Mic Drop Moments (for 2 levels of feedback) www.calendly.com/jennchat

Evaluate your own presentation with this free guide: www.jennspingo.com/free-guide

00:00 Why Feedback Matters

01:28 A Webinar Feedback Horror Story

04:23 Better Ways to Give Feedback

06:06 Fast Audience Surveys with Talkadot

07:20 Ranking Feedback Sources

07:34 Worst to Mid Feedback Options

12:21 Speakers and Audience Insights

14:41 Event Organizer Reports

15:36 Why a Speaker Coach Helps Most

17:49 Recap and Next Steps

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

How to Write an Expert Speaker Biography (Without Imposter Syndrome)

Jenn explains how to develop an expert speaker biography by first giving yourself permission to be an expert, even if you work adjacent to a credentialed industry and feel imposter syndrome. 

She recommends reviewing and editing existing bios (website About Me page or social profiles) to ensure they clearly state who you are, what you do, who you help, and how you help, while removing unnecessary length and clutter. 

She discusses balancing education, certifications, and training with experience and personal connection to the topic, noting you don’t owe audiences anything you’re not ready to share. 

She advises adding one human “factoid” to make the bio personable, creating both long and short versions (ideally 150 words or less), and keeping biographies consistent across platforms to avoid confusion and improve hireability.

00:00 Expert Enough Mindset

02:05 Adjacent Industry Imposter Syndrome

03:16 Two Bio Types Explained

03:54 Edit Your Long Bio

05:07 Education Versus Experience

08:28 Share Only What Serves

09:26 Add Human Factoid

11:25 Short Bio Speaker Kit

13:05 Consistency Across Platforms

13:53 Closing And Next Steps

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

Finding a Call to Action That Feels Authentic for Keynote Speakers

On Mic Drop Mindset, Jenn coaches keynote speaker and bestselling author Steve Fredlund, a former actuary, on how to include a call to action without feeling like he’s “selling from the stage” or shifting the spotlight onto himself. 

Steve shares discomfort with QR codes, newsletters, and book pitches, partly driven by sensitivity to seeming arrogant or manipulative, and he wants audiences primarily to apply what they learned. 

Jenn helps him explore what he wants people to do, why a call to action matters, and the difference between success (getting booked) and validation (spinoff business and deeper impact). 

As they discuss options, Steve becomes most energized by hosting retreats as a congruent next step, and he commits to reflecting on that and not adding new offers unless he feels genuinely good about them.

About Steve:

Steve Fredlund is an award-winning keynote speaker, two-time TEDx presenter, and bestselling author of Do the Unright Thing. After more than 30 years as an actuary, executive, entrepreneur, and nonprofit founder, including leading humanitarian efforts in East Africa, Steve gained a unique perspective on leadership in uncertain conditions.

Today, Steve helps leaders keep moving forward through change and uncertainty. Through engaging stories, humor, and practical tools drawn from African safaris, leadership research, and high-pressure decision environments, he equips audiences to build engagement, make confident decisions with limited information, and lead effectively when the path isn’t clear.

Visit his website at https://stevefredlund.com/

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:39 The CTA Struggle on Stage

02:45 Why Selling Feels Icky

04:06 Defining the Real Outcome

05:26 Calls to Action and Conviction

06:31 Are the Resources Compelling

07:55 Audience Impact and Feedback

10:01 Validation Versus Success

11:19 Brainstorming the Next Step

12:02 Call To Action Gap

12:47 Retreats Spark Excitement

14:02 Fears And Pricing Doubts

15:37 Reframing The CTA

17:07 Inviting On Stage

19:31 Chasing Inner Knowing

20:17 Action Steps And Boundaries

22:35 Closing Reflections

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

Write a Signature Talk Outline without Memorizing the Whole Thing!

In this episode of Mic Drop Mindset, Jenn challenges listeners to write a business speech in 15 minutes by using a practical framework rather than traditional school speech rules. 

She defines a business presentation as any talk that leads to a program or service and says the framework works for formats from short breakouts to half-day trainings. 

Jenn starts with defining success and “beginning with the ending in mind,” emphasizing that audiences remember how you close and that the conclusion should deliver a deliberate emotional impact. 

She advises against memorizing entire speeches, recommending memorizing only the introduction, key transitions (especially into the call to action), and the conclusion. 

For the main content, she teaches a 3-2-1 method (e.g., three points, two examples each, one takeaway or question) to stay structured and avoid rambling, and notes she provides templates and modular structures in her coaching.

Resources mentioned:

Signature Speech structure: https://bit.ly/signaturespeak

How to Use the 3-2-1 Method

• 3 Main Points: Select three key arguments, steps, or ideas for your speech.
• 2 Sentences Per Point: Elaborate on each point with two examples/case studies/stories to force clarity, prevent rambling, and keep the content concise.
• 1 Core Conclusion: Close with one clear transition, pause and audience engagement question

00:00 15 Minute Speech Challenge

00:12 Business Speech Rulebook

01:22 Define Success and Purpose

01:57 End With Emotional Impact

04:20 What to Memorize

05:43 Consistency Over Control

06:39 The 3 2 1 Method

08:45 Templates and Coaching Support

09:36 Recap and Next Steps

10:16 Wrap Up and Call to Share

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

In this Mic Drop Mindset episode on presentation skills, speaking coach Jenn coaches client Jamie Ryan.

Jamie shares her signature talk, “Swag to Swagger” (SWAG: Scientific Wild Ass Guess), using a Toyota Supra break-in metaphor and a COVID test company example to show how founders can overfocus on “cool tech” without proving differentiation and value. She advises doing competitor landscape analysis via patents, PitchBook/Crunchbase, and startup news, tracking findings in a spreadsheet, and validating whether buyers will pay for added cost/complexity. 

Jenn praises Jamie’s storytelling, clear structure, memorable opening/closing, and strong time management, then offers coaching on clarifying “landscape analysis,” reducing filler words like “so,” and using purposeful stage movement.

Want a copy of the Speaker Feedback Form Jenn mentioned on this episode? Email her at [email protected]

About Jamie Ryan:

Jamie Ryan spent nearly 15 years in Silicon Valley as an in vitro diagnostics innovator and technology scout, addressing the world’s most pressing problems.  From creating tests for diseases from swine flu and COVID pandemics to drug-resistant “superbugs,” she learned the path from prototype to market is full of surprises.  Evaluating 100+ medical device startups as a subject matter expert in strategic business development, mentoring, and pitch judging showed her that many of  these “surprises” can be anticipated - and addressed - if you know where to look.

She started JL Ryan Consulting LLC to improve medical device startup success rates by identifying and addressing risks early, before costly pivots are needed.

Jamie offers advisory sessions and pitch reviews to MedTech startup founders, and speaks at accelerators, incubators, and industry conferences.

Visit Jamie at https://www.jlryanconsulting.com/

00:00 Welcome and Topic

00:14 Meet Jamie Ryan

01:44 Talk Title and Audience

02:58 Supra Story Hook

03:55 Cool Tech Cautionary Tale

05:23 Founder Action Steps

07:05 Coach Feedback Storytelling

08:26 Structure and Strong Ending

10:14 Timing and Clarity Notes

15:22 Stage Presence and Movement

16:56 Racetrack Focus Strategy

17:54 Final Thanks and Wrap

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

Rehearse Like a $10,000 Speaker: The 7-Step Process for Confident, Professional Talks

The episode explains how to rehearse like a “$10,000 speaker,” emphasizing that rehearsal effort should be consistent whether a talk is paid or free because every stage builds reputation, from small unpaid events and podcasts to larger engagements. 

Jenn discusses speaking fees as an ideal number and notes advice to avoid starting pricing conversations too early. On rehearsal frequency, she cites guidance ranging from at least 10 run-throughs to TED/TEDx’s often-quoted 100 practices, then shares her own approach: 

Rehearse until you can clearly begin, end, and deliver the full middle. 

Drawing from Heroic Public Speaking (Michael and Amy Port), she outlines a seven-step rehearsal process (including table read, content mapping, staging/blocking, improv and rewrite, plus several rounds of rehearsal), plus a modular talk structure that helps speakers stay on time and adapt when time is cut.

Resources mentioned: 

Mic Drop Moments program (enrollment open through May 30) https://calendly.com/jennchat

Video on 7 step rehearsal process from Amy Port https://youtu.be/vuUXrqfMSxE?si=m3d1v8H5q0s-XZ4p

Join Jenn at her next event: https://linktr.ee/jennspingo

00:00 Rehearse Like a Pro

00:17 Reputation Over Fees

01:06 Small Stages Matter

02:05 Pricing Talk Timing

02:50 How Much Rehearsal

04:28 Mic Drop Program Invite

05:30 TED Talk Rehearsal Myth

07:08 No Magic Number

07:30 Heroic Seven Steps

10:12 Internalize and Modularize

12:13 Comfortable Shoes Mindset

12:54 Seven Steps Breakdown

14:43 Memorize Key Parts

15:27 Craft a 10K Experience

15:38 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

Mic Drop Mindset introduces a new episode format featuring live, on-camera coaching, welcoming Dr. Theresa B. Skaar (Dr. T), a social psychologist and mindfulness-based workplace facilitator who helps high-stress, helping professionals reduce burnout and improve communication. 

Dr. T delivers a brief talk on mindful listening, defining mindfulness as paying attention on purpose in the present moment, nonjudgmentally, and leads a simple breath practice plus an everyday-activity exercise (like handwashing) to build active attention before bringing it into conversations. 

Jenn then coaches Dr. T on strengths and improvements, praising her growing comfort, relatability, clear references, humor, and vivid language, while suggesting she deepen standout moments, show rather than tell with physical demonstration, add pauses, and use space more intentionally to avoid rocking.

Resources mentioned: 

Email me at [email protected] for a copy of the Speaker Feedback form.

Want to experience your own Mic Drop Moments? Join us in our weekly rehearsal group from April through August. https://calendly.com/jennchat/mdm?back=1&month=2026-03

About Theresa:

Dr. Theresa B. Skaar, also known as Dr. T, is a social psychologist, mindfulness-based speaker, and workplace facilitator who helps organizations reduce burnout and improve communication at work.

With a PhD in social psychology and certification in Mind-Body Medicine, she brings research-backed tools into high-stress, real-world environments. Drawing from 35+ years across healthcare, corporate, and academia, she teaches practical strategies for mindful communication, self-awareness, and navigating grief, change, and emotionally charged conversations.

Known for her humor, warmth, and no-nonsense approach, Dr. T helps leaders and teams move from reactive to intentional. Audiences leave with tools they can use immediately to listen better, speak more clearly, and build healthier workplace cultures.

Based in Minnesota, she works with healthcare teams, associations, and mission-driven organizations across the country.

Website: https://ccwithdrt.com/

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

In this interactive episode of Mic Drop Mindset, host Jenn Espinosa-Goswami welcomes a special guest into the studio for a live mini coaching session. Joined by virtual mindset decluttering coach Michelle Hoff, listeners get an inside look at how to refine a speaking message for both impact and business growth.

Michelle shares her unique A.L.I.G.N. Method™ and introduces her “team decluttering” approach—a collaborative model designed to transform client outcomes while helping professional organizers expand their services and revenue.

As Michelle delivers a 5 minute segment of her talk, Jenn provides real-time, strengths-based coaching, highlighting what’s working and where greater clarity, audience connection, and calls to action can elevate the message.

If you’re a speaker, coach, or service-based professional looking to sharpen your presentations and clearly communicate your value, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately—plus a behind-the-scenes look at coaching in action.

Want to get a copy of the Speaker Feedback form? Email Jenn at [email protected] with Subject "Feedback form".

Enrollment is open for Mic Drop Moments! This is a rehearsal group for speakers with weekly practice on Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30 Central. In this small group, you’ll present a 10 minute segment of your speech with feedback from both the group and Jenn, an ICF-certified speaker coach and international speaker at corporate, association and entrepreneurial events. Enroll for 6 months or 3 months. 

View pricing here: https://calendly.com/jennchat/mdm?back=1&month=2026-03

About Michelle Hoff:

Michelle L Hoff is a Virtual Mindset Decluttering Coach. With 30 years of experience helping clients create a loved home - an owner of a cleaning business, landscape and interior designer, painter and Amazon Best Selling author. Her book “Compassionate Decluttering" and her proven framework, The A.L.I.G.N. Method™ empowers mid-life women to take control of clutter, get support, make lasting changes so she can have time and space to live with more ease and joy. 

Website: https://compassionatedecluttering.com/

Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me [email protected].

Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat

Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com