Mic Drop

Set The Tone (ft. Scott Bloom)

A comic-turned-keynote speaker on turning laughs into impact

OPENING QUOTE:

“So obviously, you know, a little bit of a parody there making fun of our psychic friends. And what's great about that piece is it's interactive, it gets connected with the audience, and it's just a way to sort of show that you can make fun of, you know, of anything and it's something they can, you know, definitely relate to.”

-Scott Bloom

GUEST BIO:

As a stand-up comedian turned MC and keynote speaker, Scott Bloom has brought comedy to corporate events for the last 20 years. He’s now one of the most sought-after hosts and MCs in the business, capable of warming up even the grumpiest audience to transform boredom into laughter, and laughter into dollars and impact.

Links:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Vimeo

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[11:06] - The Role of Humor in Speaking

More than entertainment

Humor doesn’t just make people laugh. It opens them up, gets them engaged. It brings the energy of the room to a positive place and creates resonance between the speaker and the audience. Laughter is a manifestation of emotion, and relationships are built on emotional connection.

[17:35] - Speakers & Hosts

What they can learn from each other

Speakers can learn from hosts that you should always be in the moment, dealing with changes as they come. You have to present but also entertain. Hosts can learn from speakers that you should always have a clear focus, vision, and message that you want to talk about— even if you’re open to shifting from that initial game plan.

[22:50] - The Best & The Rest

What sets apart great presenters

The best presenters, speakers, and hosts are able to shift the tone of a room by their presence and message alone. When an audience feels they’ve seen it all before, a great speaker can shock energy into the entire room and get people listening, learning, and laughing. In Scott’s words, the best are capable of doing what’s necessary to “bring them where you want to be.”

[28:11] - Make Keynotes Funny Again

Comedy tips for speakers from a true pro

For anyone looking to deliver keynotes that are engaging, effective, and funny, Scott’s advice is to know your audience and recognize that what works in the club won’t work in a corporate environment (the reverse is also true). He also embraces the role of repetition— the antidote to nerves and anxiety is preparation, knowing your material backwards and forwards. Ironically, it’s this knowledge of your game plan that lets you comfortably veer away from that game plan when the situation allows.

RESOURCES:

• [16:13] Conan O’Brien’s Podcast
• [32:10] Scott Bloom on Acronyms

Follow Scott Bloom:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Vimeo

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:

Make a bigger impact, faster. ImpactEleven is a speaker training, development and accelerator community, working to transform individual lives and the world around us so that each of us can rise to reach our full potential on the speaking platform.

Learn more at: ImpactEleven.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

Crystal Balls & Frankenstein (ft. Gail Davis)

Get ready for one of our most eclectic Mic Drops ever

OPENING QUOTE:

“The chairman put his arm around me and said, "You know what, kid, you should retire." And I'm like, "I'm not even 40 years old." And he was like, "Well, I don't know if you'll ever outdo this."”

-Gail Davis

GUEST BIO:

Gail Davis is the founder and CEO of GDA, one of the most prominent and well-respected speaker bureaus on the planet. Before she launched her bureau 23 years ago, Gail hired dozens of speakers as a corporate-meeting planner for a Fortune 100 company. 

Links:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[10:03] - Speaker Bureaus: Myths and Facts

An inside look from a true insider

Despite some horror stories, the truth is that speaking bureaus are by and large trustworthy, respectful, and genuinely passionate about making the careers of speakers of all backgrounds. That said, Gail has advice for navigating bureaus— ask the right questions. Generally, they’re eager to help you in any way they can, not stand as an obstacle between you and your client.

[19:37] - How to Make Bureaus Love You

What they look for in emerging speakers

Want to make your bureau representative love you? Be available, but not aggressive. The way Gail puts it: “Every minute that I’m reading another email telling me about your new this or that is a minute I’m not out there talking to somebody that might be interested in you.” Be responsive and engaged with communications with your agent, and otherwise let them do their work. 

[21:47] - Rewriting History

What Gail would do differently from her early days

Despite having few regrets from the early stage of her career, Gail does admire those who invested in good people early in their career. There’s something to be said for the wisdom of investing in good people, paying them what they’re worth, and keeping them with you for the long haul.

[26:44] - Gail’s Frankenstein Speaker

Creating the perfect speaker from scratch

What traits would Gail include in the perfect speaker? Responsiveness, which fuels the speaker-bureau relationship. Clear on content, because your crowds and your clients need to know what you’re about. Humble & generous, because those are the people who create truly lasting and meaningful careers.

[34:16] -  Chasing Goosebumps

How to create moments of true inspiration onstage

Gail leaves us with a powerful message about what speaking is all about. “I look down and I have goosebumps. Why is that? Because she delivers her message with such poignancy and the words are just the perfect words.” Remember that a speaker is not only the facts they can share, but the inspiration and moments of joy they can create onstage. Those are the moments that inspire people to transform their lives.

RESOURCES:

• [2:08] GDA Speakers
• [4:32] About Nando Parrado
• [34:44] About Liz Murray

Follow Gail Davis:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN

Make a bigger impact, faster. ImpactEleven is a speaker training, development and accelerator community, working to transform individual lives and the world around us so that each of us can rise to reach our full potential on the speaking platform.

Learn more at: ImpactEleven.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

20 Mic Drops in 20 Minutes

20 speakers. 60 seconds of advice. Infinite insight.

GUESTS + KEY INSIGHTS:

[2:41] - Suneel Gupta

Inner wellbeing & outer performance

“In order for people to feel something, you have to feel something. You have to be emotionally connected to your content. So don't just talk about topics that you know, talk about topics that truly make you come alive, and then let that aliveness, let that conviction shine through in every part of your speech.”

Suneel's Website

[3:25] - Alison Levine

Leading teams in extreme environments

“When you come off stage, where do you go? You go stand next to the most important person in the room on the client side so that they can hear all the audience members coming up to you telling you how much they enjoyed your speech.”

Alison's Website

[4:22] Rich Diviney

High-performing teams from a Navy SEAL’s perspective

“Think about those stories— personal, professional— those things that have happened to you, and think about how to effectively describe them…because people will immediately pay attention. They'll put down their phones, they'll listen up, and they'll be really engaged.”

Rich's Website

[5:23] - John Livesay

Tell stories, win sales

“When your client says they're going to record your upcoming keynote, ask them who else they like to work with and see if you can hire a second camera person to film closeups and audience reactions.”

John's Website

[6:02] - Paul Epstein

The power of playing offense

“Does your head think it's a good idea? Does your heart feel it's a good idea? If both are on board, green light, proceed with action. If only one is on board, yellow light, solve for the gap. If neither is on board, red light, no action.”

Paul's Website

[7:13] - Nina Sossamon-Pogue

Resilience speaker & performance expert

“When doing a virtual gig, you want to be able to have a tight enough shot where they can see your eyes and you can connect, but you want to also be able to bring the energy like you're standing on a stage. Instead of sitting down where you can lose some energy or standing up, where you may move around too much and lose that tight shot, plant one butt cheek on that stool and plant that opposite foot firmly on the ground.”

Nina's Website

[8:12] - John “Gucci” Foley

Becoming the Blue Angels of your industry

“What is the key message? More importantly, what's the story and the connection back to the audience? And that's where I spend most of my time, making the connection back to every single audience.”

John's Website

[9:07] - Urs Koenig

The five then-to-now leadership shifts

“The speaking business really is three distinct businesses. It's number one, being a promoter, number two, a thought leader, and number three, being a performer on stage. This very simple three-way framework helps me to structure my time and my energy. Everything I do, I ask myself, which one of these three businesses am I pushing?”

Urs' Website

[10:06] - Erik Qualman

Digital leadership in focus

“My top tip is to end early. Sounds very simple, but it certainly is not easy. You always want to end early. Do not go over your time. And you have to plan for this. If you're given 45 minutes, there's going to be time that's cut. So plan on that being 35 minutes.”

Erik's Website

[10:43] - Gabe Karp

Embracing healthy conflict to fuel success

“Nothing turns a client or potential client off like the word no. And sometimes we may be asked something we feel might be too much of an imposition, but building your brand as a speaker is more than just your topic. It's also about what it's like to do business with you. So if a client says, "Hey, can you modify your keynote to cover a current issue we're having in our organization?" The answer is, ‘Absolutely. What would you like me to cover?’”

Gabe's Website

[13:03] - April Hansen

Hypergrowth in business

“If you're navigating the same dance that I am, really breaking your personal brand away from your corporate brand, leverage the two together and define those synergies. Take advantage of as many stages as your corporate role or your day job gives you.”

April's Website

[14:01] - Greg Scheinman

Personal transformation

“To be truly successful as a speaker, you must differentiate yourself through authenticity, so you need to break the framework and really develop your speech in your own voice. Then you've got to make the framework by putting your message back into the proven model so that it's received in a way that works for bureaus and clients, and so that you can get yourself hired, get on stage, generate fees, and live your message.”

Greg's Website

[15:05] - Ben Nemtin

Making the impossible possible

“The most important tool as a speaker is to invest in your speaker reel. That is the ultimate sales tool for you. Anytime you get on a stage that is high production value, invest in a videographer that can capture it, get the footage from the client if you can, and just collect this footage as much as you can over time so that you can build up your reel, because the reel is the first thing that the clients are going to look at and it's the entry point into the conversation of booking you.”

Ben's Website

[16:27] - Erin Stafford

How leaders prevent and overcome burnout

“Be radically transparent and vulnerable. I think we can all get embarrassed and feel ashamed and feel like imposters so we don't want to be totally transparent, but the more vulnerable and more transparent you are, the more people can really connect to your message and feel seen and heard and understood.”

Erin's Website

[17:04] - Jim Davidson

Resilience speaker

“If your presentation includes using a laptop with video files or audio files, you need an AV emergency kit. Now we often have AV professionals that we can rely upon to make this work for us, but if you speak long enough, you'll wind up in a remote location, small hotel, or internal meeting where your laptop will just not connect to the house sound system. That's when you pull out your emergency kit.”

Jim's Website

[17:59] - Shep Hyken

Customer service and customer experience

“The job isn't doing the speech, it's getting the speech. He told me that writing my speech, practicing my speech, researching for my speech, that can all be done in the evening and on weekends. And if I were to spend 40 hours a week working on marketing and sales, at getting business, then I would probably be very successful. That's 40 hours, not two hours or three hours a day, but that's a full-out investment, and the effort of getting the speech, not doing the speech.”

Shep's Website

[18:47] - Trish Hunt

From stuck to unstoppable

“Make sure you do all the logistical pre-work that makes you feel as calm as you can prior to hitting the stage. Know your audience and engage them during your speech. And an easy way to remember this is through the acronym WIIFM, what's in it for me? So pay attention to that and you'll be sure to keep them coming back.”

Trish's Website

[19:38] - Eric Termuende

The future of work

“Show and don't tell. Anytime you have a chance to tell a story, make sure that you're putting yourself in the story, telling that story in a present tense. So you're not telling somebody what happened, but you're almost making it live, sharing that story as if they're with you experiencing that story for the first time.”

Eric's Website

[20:37] - Ann Sheu

Mindset shifts for a radically intentional life

“Do you want to be a $50K speaker with four engagements a month or a $25K speaker with one engagement a month? What does your target market client and audience look like? What is your ideal audience size? What types of events do you want to be speaking at? When you have clarity around your ideal life as a speaker and what it looks like, then you can grow your speaking business within your parameters, and that makes it easier to stay true to yourself and cultivate a life filled with time, purpose, and financial freedom.”

Ann's Website

[21:32] - Bob Marsh

Simple shifts to maximize growth and stay relevant

“First, don't overthink the possibilities, because there are so many in this world of being an expert. You can do writing, you can do keynote speaking, you could do breakout sessions, you could be an MC, you could do training workshops. Pick one thing that really gets you excited and build something truly great. Second, find an expert and a coach who's going to have a process and a plan to walk you through.”

Bob's Website

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

Be Turbulence Tough (ft. Ryan Campbell)

From the (literal) top of the world to the depths of despair— and back again

OPENING QUOTE:

“My life had changed. The everything that gave me my identity was now the very thing that took it all away. And then on top of that, I've got five breaks in my back, shattered face, shattered legs and ankle, and a spinal cord injury and diagnosed by the doctors as a complete paraplegic. I’m straight into a spinal rehabilitation ward, six months in hospital, a year and a half in recovery. A real tough chapter of life, you could say.”

-Ryan Campbell

GUEST BIO:

At just 17 years old, Ryan Campbell set a world record as the youngest solo pilot to fly around the world. He became famous in his home of Australia and was enjoying incredible success until a tragic accident struck. A broken back and a paraplegic diagnosis left Ryan in despair, but his remarkable journey of perseverance helped him achieve the impossible. Today, he is both walking and flying again. Ryan delivers a powerful message on becoming TurbulenceTough on stages around the world.

Links:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[8:33] - From Victim to Pilot

When and how Ryan took back control of his life

After Ryan’s accident and while he was struggling emotionally during recovery, he looked across the hospital room to a quadriplegic next to him who had no hope of recovery. In that instant, he realized that this man would give anything for the ability to roll over, like Ben had. This perspective shift changed his life forever and gave him the strength to persevere and take back control of his life.

[16:33] - Being TurbulenceTough

Ryan shares his breakthrough brand

In a time when 65% of employees consider their job their #1 stressor in life and only 19% of those people possess the resilient skills to excel amidst that stress, Ryan teaches individuals and teams to analyze, extract, and store wisdom from any moment in time and make them more resilient for whatever comes their way. He’s turned this into a powerful and identifiable brand that drives his speaking business today.

[28:38] - What’s Your Pink Cadillac?

A simple tip with powerful results

In a stellar example of turning life experience into memorable IP, Ryan has built his love for a rundown old pink Cadillac into a powerful message of self-care. He encourages his audiences to find their own ‘pink Cadillac,’ the thing they do for themselves that may not be financially responsible or designed to move their career forward, but simply brings them joy. The results have been astounding.

[25:32] - Beyond the Stage

A tearful moment behind the scenes

Ryan shows how going above and beyond can lead to phenomenal results and transformative experience. In one of his traditional ‘extra 2%’ visits to a dinner with his client after a successful keynote, Ryan met a woman who tearfully thanked him for his message after she’d had a devastating year. He had the chance to shake that woman’s hand and make an even more profound impact on her— and she on him— than if he had simply delivered his keynote then gotten on a plane back home.

RESOURCES:

• [2:41] Born to Fly
• [13:43] 3RC Bootcamp
• [28:38] About Graceland

Follow Ryan Campbell:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

There Is No Normal (ft. Rene Rodriguez)

One speaker’s unconventional journey to impact and success

OPENING QUOTE:

“You tell a joke, no one laughs. You walk in a room, no one notices. You sell a product, no one buys you. You set a vision, and no one buys in. And the feeling is one of feeling insignificant— and maybe even leads to depression and a questioning of one's self.”

-Rene Rodriguez

GUEST BIO:

For over two decades, René Rodriguez has been researching and applying behavioral neuroscience as a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership advisor, world-class sales expert, renowned speaker coach and now best-selling author. He has also trained more than 100,000 people in applying behavioral psychology and neurology methodologies to solve some of the toughest challenges in leadership, sales, and change.

After hosting his second annual AMPCON in Las Vegas, René just launched his book, Amplify Your Influence and hit the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Amazon and Publisher’s Weekly best-sellers lists. Amplify Your Influence is available now at retailers everywhere. 

René has worked with senior leaders at DuPont, Coca-Cola, Cargill and 3M, as well as high-performing individuals in numerous fields focusing on centering your message in your own story to increase authenticity and genuine leadership across the world.

Links:

• Website
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube
• Amplifii
• The Neuro Side
• Subscribe

CORE TOPICS & DETAILS

[10:50] - Different Path, Incredible Results

Rene’s nontraditional approach to building credibility

Rene is a well-respected expert with no advanced degrees. He speaks over 100 times a year, but barely works with bureaus. He speaks over 100 times a year, but barely works with speaker bureaus. He's not afraid to change lanes and speak on a different topic. His first book is coming out 27 years after he started in professional speaking. The lesson here for us all? We don't need to follow a preordained route, and we shouldn't feel defeated if we're missing any of the conventional markers that lead to speaking success.

[8:21] - Before You Step Onstage

What every speaker should know but doesn’t

It’s easy to begin thinking of your ‘audience’ as some amorphous idea that moves with you from event to event. But each audience is different. Before you step onstage, ask yourself— who is this audience? Are they sad? Are they excited? Were they just acquired? What’s their state of mind? Asking questions like these will help you give much more impactful keynotes when you step onstage.

[28:15] - Amplifying Your Influence

Maximizing your impact as a speaker

Always remember— it’s about the audience, not the speaker. Neuroscience proves that when someone speaks with a tone of arrogance or boastfulness versus humility and grace, it kills their credibility in the minds of their audience. Instead, focus on the needs and feelings of the people you’re serving— because, after all, speaking is an act of service.

[30:55] - If You Could Go Back…

The one thing Rene wishes he knew at the start

“You could be great at something, but if no one knows what you do, it doesn't matter.” For all the important conversations about purpose, impact, and the positive influence speakers can have on the lives of others, the simple fact is that you also have to build your speaking brand like a business. Never forget that at every step along the path.

RESOURCES:

• [2:40] Amplify Your Influence

Follow Rene Rodriguez:

• Website
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter its starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

Love, Loathing, & A Life of Creativity (ft. Natalie Nixon)

Finding space to imagine, creating space for who you are, and much more. 

OPENING QUOTE:

“I was really paying attention to the emotional connection I had to this work, where the best I can describe it is that I feel energetically, my body is humming when I'm on stage. I feel vibrant. I feel alive. And I feel happy when I'm connecting to people through these ideas through the medium of speaking.”

 -Natalie Nixon

GUEST BIO:

Natalie Nixon is known as the Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite, and is a highly successful author and keynote speaker. Before making the leap to full-time speaking, she was a cultural anthropologist, PhD in Design Thinking, accomplished dancer, and a professor for 16 years.

Links:

• Website
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

CORE TOPICS & DETAILS:

[9:28] - Reaching the Head and the Heart

How Natalie connects intellectually and emotionally with audiences

Among sometimes unrealistic expectations from clients, Natalie has learned to balance emotionally resonant performances with intellectually stimulating and challenging ones. While she’s a natural performer, she recognizes that truly impactful ideas are what transform audiences— not just flashy performances.

[20:38] - Natalie’s Favorite Question

Natalie’s surprising pre-event question for clients

Natalie’s clients are often shocked when she asks them, “What does success look like to you?” In an industry where speakers can sometimes focus too much on themselves, the best in the business make the satisfaction and success of their clients and audiences the center point of any engagement.

[30:23] - Cultivating Creativity

Surprising (and surprisingly simple) insights for increased innovation

“Create space and time,” Natalie says when asked about fostering creativity. What does she mean by that? She means that you have to prioritize creative thought in your life— it won’t make time for itself. Schedule time in your calendar to think creatively, ask big questions, and move above the day-to-day rigors of your life to tap into your innovative abilities.

[31:56] - The Loathe/Love Audit

A powerful exercise anyone can use today

Take out a blank piece of paper and draw a line down the center. Set a timer and write out everything you loathe about your current state— life, career, pursuits— that you loathe. Then take the same amount of time and write everything you love about your current state on the other side. At the end, you’ll discover that either you can make changes in your life to reduce the things you loathe without losing the things you love— or you already have achieved a great balance and should have the confidence to carry on.

[38:52] - Black Woman Speaker: Opportunities and Challenges

A powerful perspective on leading as a black woman in the industry

In a world with a range of perspectives on how much someone’s race, cultural background, or other characteristics should influence their work, Natalie knows just where she stands. “I love being Black. I love being a woman.” Because of her perspectives, she never ignores those lenses. Instead, she allows them to deepen and enhance her messages. That includes acknowledging the way being both Black and a woman have created unique challenges in her life and career. 

RESOURCES:

• [14:30] About Strategic Design
• [26:466] Figure8Thinking.com
• [34:31] A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger

Follow Natalie Nixon:

• Website
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

The Inside Man (ft. Shawn Hanks)

Discover what top bureaus want— from the CEO of a top bureau himself

OPENING QUOTE:

“There are two ways to really capture our attention, or I would say any bureau's attention.”

-Shawn Hanks

GUEST BIO:

Shawn Hanks is one of the most highly respected leaders in the speaking industry as CEO of Premier Speakers Bureau. PSB books thousands of events and touches millions of lives each year. Besides this role, Shawn has also served as president of the International Association of Speaker Bureaus and has seen it all in his 22 years in the business.

Links

• Shawn’s Bio
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

[11:46] The Ultimate Partnership

Initiating and maintaining bureau relationships

Among a series of can’t-miss insights, one that stands out is Shawn’s advice to focus not on your relationship with a bureau but your relationship with specific agents. After all, those are the people that can truly make moves on your behalf if they become personally invested and passionate about you and your career. And, of course, pursue relationships with a genuine spirit of connection— not manipulation.

[18:49] Myths and Truths of Speaker Bureaus

Everything you want to know and thought you knew

Josh plays ‘Myth or Truth’ with Shawn and we’re all gifted a rapid-fire airing of some of the most common speaking career questions. Sitting back and letting a bureau make your career happen? Myth. Bureaus are the deciding vote on who gets hired or not? Myth. As is usually the case in life, it’s much more nuanced— and requires more legwork on the part of speakers and other parties.

[20:23] A Diversifying Industry

Goodbye ‘male, pale, and stale’

Shawn and Josh discuss the amazing strides the speaking industry has taken away from a somewhat homogenous lineup of speakers to a much more diverse range of backgrounds, perspectives, cultures, and insights. After all, speaking is about telling stories that transform lives— and diverse backgrounds bring a much greater richness of storytelling and achievement.

[21:40] How to Build a Career that Lasts

Today, tomorrow, ten years later

You can choose one thing to last twenty years— your speaking career, or your speaking topic. Not both. Josh and Shawn agree that if you want to build a lasting career, your message must evolve and grow like the world around you and the people who live in it. 

[33:24] For Those at the Beginning

Shawn’s tips for speakers at the start of their career

There are so many valuable insights here that to pack them in, we’re going to have to stick to bullet points.

• “If you speak on everything, you speak on nothing.”
• Write a book— it won’t just make you look like an expert, it will make you an expert
• Get help— a coach, a mentor, a speaker development organization— to develop and guide your career
• Invest in yourself early, rather than too late

RESOURCES:

• [2:10] Premiere Speakers Bureau
• [2:22] International Association of Speakers Bureaus

Follow Shawn:

• Shawn’s Bio
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

Comfortably Uncomfortable (ft. Sterling Hawkins)

From rock bottom to top of his game, discover Sterling Hawkins’ keys to ultimately excelling as a speaker and expert— including a sneak peek at his keynote

OPENING QUOTE:

“When the company crashed, so did I. No job, ran out of cash. I go from this gorgeous, big, beautiful penthouse in downtown San Francisco to my parents' house. And just to make sure I was firmly grounded in rock bottom, my girlfriend broke up with me. True story. It's like a depressing country song. I hit every single beat.”

-Sterling Hawkins

GUEST BIO:

Sterling Hawkins is the founder of the No Matter What Movement, a powerhouse speaker, and an all-around terrific human being who performs over 50 keynotes a year on some of the world’s biggest stages . From running a $500 million venture-backed startup in Silicon Valley to mastering the world of professional speaking, Sterling is absolutely overflowing with insights into everything from crafting a message to leading an organization. 

Links

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[3:23] - Sterling’s Keynote Opening: Part 1

From top of the world to rock bottom

Sterling opens his keynote with his story, told with flair but also a frankness that’s captivating. He had it all. He lost it all. Here he’s both establishing an emotional thread to which we can all relate— success and failure— and establishing the setup to the key insight that will define his keynote. But that won’t come yet. First, he has to hit rock bottom, and he takes us right along with him for the ride.

[5:17] - Sterling’s Keynote Opening: Part 2

From despair to determination

This is the turning point. We join Sterling in his parents’ house, alone, his career gone, over a hundred thousand dollars in debt. He lets us sit in the darkness with him for a bit, and then comes the turn. He shares the declaration to himself that changed everything: No Matter What. Now we’re beginning to accelerate toward the inspiration and insight that will guide us forward in Sterling’s message.

[8:12] - Sterling’s Keynote Opening: Part 3

From big picture to five simple things

At this point in Sterling’s opening, notice how he moves from the big picture— the world’s greatest innovators, the world’s biggest challenges— to the close-up and concrete. Like pouring all of the big ideas he’s mentioned into a funnel, he focuses our attention on where we’re headed next: Five things that will lead you to breakthroughs No Matter What.

[16:12] - When All Else Fails: Community

The people around you are your lifeline

When you face something unprecedented to you, you have to rely on a network of people who have been there— or at least somewhere similar. Sterling speaks of how vital his network of relationships— including with Josh— helped him navigate the uncharted waters of the last two years. Never neglect your network. It’s more than a professional launchpad, it’s your community when everything else fades away.

[23:12] - Turning Cons Into Pros

The power of embracing discomfort

When COVID hit and all in-person keynotes were canceled, Sterling found himself in a familiar place. He may not have been in his parents basement, but he could have easily let himself slip into “basement thinking.” Instead, he embraced the advantages of virtual speaking— like the fact that you can deliver multiple virtual keynotes per day. What negatives could be hiding positives within them in your career?

[29:52] - Run Away or Push Through

Universal advice for emerging speakers

Sterling’s parting advice for rising speakers trying to reach the next level? No surprises here— embrace discomfort. See it as an obstacle to blast through rather than a monster to run from. This will open all kinds of possibilities, like when Sterling pushed past his discomfort and asked to speak at a conference with no experience after receiving a simple automated invitation to attend as a guest.

RESOURCES:

• [1:04] 3 Ring Circus
• [3:01] Hunting Discomfort (Pre-Order)

Follow Sterling Hawkins:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

The Long Game & the Short Game (ft. Eric Termuende)

How focusing on long-term goals improves short-term outcomes

OPENING QUOTE:

“The biggest issue I think I had in starting my career was my age. How could, at the time, a 22-year-old speak about work and the future of work if he's never had a job?”

-Eric Termuende

GUEST BIO:

Eric Termuende is one of the fastest growing young speakers in the world, having rocketed to success on the heels of his bestselling book, Rethink Work, powered by his expertise on the future of teams and work.

Links

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Youtube
• Rethink Work

[3:55] - Turning Passion into Purpose

How Eric combined interests to create a speaking career

Eric Termuende is a wonderful example of how simple algebra can lead to profound insights about your career. He had a passion for workplace culture. He believed in helping organizations transform for the better. And he enjoyed performing, being onstage in front of a group of people. He did some basic self-analysis and found a career path that would allow him to harness all of these passions while providing real value.

[8:16] - The Magic One-Degree Shifts

Small changes, big impact

Eric is a believer in making small corrections that, when combined, add up to big transformations. One area where he’s making these shifts is in removing friction in his business— how can a story be tweaked, how can a process be streamlined— to build more momentum toward the next level of success and impact.

[10:58] - Habit vs. Practice

Both are important. One is essential. 

Eric stresses the difference between habit and practice. Habit is developing an automatic course of action, day in and day out. But in his words, shooting lots of foul shots won’t make you a great shooter. It’s the practice, the tiny adjustments, that lead to improvement. Don’t rely on habit. Depend on practice.

[19:56] - Have Fun with It

A cliche with truth at its core

After 16 months away from live stages due to COVID, Eric was nervous about his first live event. But he ultimately decided to focus on simply enjoying himself, and the result was one of his most successful events both in terms of his impact and the opportunities it’s opened for him. The lesson? Remember that the whole point of following your passions is to enjoy your work. 

RESOURCES:

• [2:19] Rethink Work, book by Eric Termuende
• [10:58] Kobe Bryant’s Practice Regimen

Follow Eric Termuende:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]

Energy, Passion, and More Energy (ft. Cassandra Worthy)

Going beyond the surface with one of the most vibrant, passionate, and strategically savvy speakers in the industry

OPENING QUOTE:

“Every day from the day that I landed the engagement to the day that I actually did it, I did that keynote message in my kitchen. Every day I got up and I was like, "All right, time to deliver my keynote." And gave the same energy and passion if I was in front of an audience. And by the time I did it, all the words were there, they just dropped, just came out of my mouth. And I was able to look in eyeballs, see the energy, engage with folks, and I had a blast.”

 -Cassandra Worthy

GUEST BIO:

Cassandra Worthy exploded onto the speaking scene in 2018 and is already seeing fees and volume that make even the most seasoned industry veterans blush. Before that, she spent 15 years in corporate America and began as a chemical engineer. Today, the only label that really fits the bill for Cassandra is change enthusiast.

Links

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

[4:35] - Be Free-Spirited, but Intentionally So

How to combine a sense of rebellion with a sense of purpose

Cassandra gives the impression of someone carefree and even downright whimsical, but behind that free spirit is a focused, driven, and intentional personality honed in her time as a chemical engineer, a field where process makes perfect. She combined intuition and process to create a career unlike anyone else’s.

[18:15] - Service First, Everything Else Second

Cassandra wins by not focusing on winning

If you love your work so much you’d do it for free, then you’re ready for a lasting keynote career. Be purpose-driven and purpose-filled, and eventually everything else will follow.

[20:55] - Surprise: Practice Matters

What starts at the kitchen table dominates the keynote stage

When Cassandra landed a massive engagement, she didn’t just celebrate. She sat down in her kitchen every single day and delivered her keynote to an audience of nobody, giving it the same energy and passion she would onstage. By the time the event arrived, the words flowed naturally and she was able to be fully engaged with her audience.

[25:42] - Be 100% Yourself

If they want somebody else, they already have them.

Cassandra quickly realized that trying to adapt existing messages or approaches to her own personality wasn’t going to work. The thing she did best was be herself, and so she molded her message and presence around who she is at her core— someone enthusiastic about change.

RESOURCES:

• [7:47] National Speakers AssociationNational Speakers Association National Speakers Association
• [9:15] Change Enthusiasm 
• [11:01] Stories that Stick by Kendra Hall

Follow Cassandra:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

Follow Josh Linkner:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

ABOUT MIC DROP:

Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. 

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. 

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. 

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com

ABOUT eSPEAKERS:

When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. 

eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.

The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. 

Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.

Learn more at: eSpeakers.com

SPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:

From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. 

Learn more at: 3RingCircus.com

PRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:

In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. 

Here’s to making (podcast) history together.

Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com

SHOW CREDITS:

• Josh Linkner: Host | [email protected]
• Joe Heaps: eSpeakers | [email protected]
• Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]