Most speakers prepare for their big talks, but very few actually train like athletes, and that's the gap holding them back from true mastery.

In this episode, I'm sharing why approaching your speaking like an athlete is the key to extraordinary performance and how the reps you do between big moments are exactly what make you extraordinary when it counts.

When you tune in, you'll discover:

• The crucial difference between preparing for a talk and training like an athlete

• Why staying in the reps through podcasts, panels, and smaller stages builds your voice as a muscle

• How to rehearse properly (hint: it's not in your head or reading notes—it's on your feet)

• The importance of protecting your instrument and organizing your assets like a pro

• Why conserving energy allows you to spend it extravagantly on stage

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In today's episode, you will hear a big talk from Jane Newman, an amazing speaker and alum of The Big Talk Academy Mastery. You may remember her from Episode 716, which dropped in December, where we explored the hidden costs of AI.

Jane is an international speaker, entrepreneur, and coach. She writes and speaks on the urgent necessity of retaining our humanity in a techno-centric world.

Based in Seoul, South Korea, Jane travels internationally, working with global thought leaders on reimagining AI and technology. Her message to live joyfully offers a necessary panacea to lives driven by efficiency and productivity.

In her thought-provoking big talk, "Re-humanising: Reclaiming our Humanity in a Techno-centric World," she explores:

• Why technology has become an insidious colonizing force and how the system discriminates against those who don't fit digital molds

• The reason burnout and tech overwhelm aren't personal failings

• The importance of real human connection and community in reclaiming our humanity

• How we can push back against tech companies and demand human-first design

Her first appearance on The Big Talk podcast in Episode 716

Website: https://www.jane-newman.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-newman-writer-and-speaker/

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Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes, gave away over 100 million pairs of shoes and built a $700 million company — yet the pain of "not enough" nearly cost him his life. Through his healing journey, he discovered the truth that saved him: he had always been enough. Today, Blake is dedicating his life to ENOUGH, a cultural intervention reminding us all of what's always been true: we are enough.

Mark Fujiwara is a Modern Samurai, transformation architect, and conscious wealth advisor. Drawing on the Japanese art of kintsugi — repairing broken pottery with gold — Mark helps leaders turn their "cracks" into sites of strength by uncovering their ikigai, their highest purpose.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• The fact that suffering doesn't discriminate, and vulnerability can be the antidote to your isolation

• Why the shame-isolation cycle is what puts lives at risk, and how finding even one person to talk to about your mental health can begin to break that cycle

• When turning your mess into your message heals you, too

• How to be your own advocate with medication for your mental health

Claim Your Free "We Are Enough" Bracelet

Blake is giving away free bracelets to The Big Talk community! Visit https://weareenough.co/bigtalk to claim yours. Normally $30, yours free — because you are enough. 100% of bracelet profits go directly to mental health organizations saving lives every day. When your bracelet arrives, snap a photo and tag @wearenough, @blakemycoskie, @markfujiwara, and @triciabrouk so we can celebrate you!

If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out. You are never alone.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (US)

• Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741

• International Association for Suicide Prevention — https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ for global crisis center listings

• NAMI Helpline (National Alliance on Mental Illness) — 1-800-950-6264 or text NAMI to 741741

• Psychology Today Therapist Finder — https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

This episode discusses mental health and suicide. If you are personally affected, please know that help is available, and you deserve support.

Websites: https://blakemycoskie.com/ and https://weareenough.co/

Instagram: @weareenough and @blakemycoskie

Website: markfujiwara.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fujiwarapm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fujfocus

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What if "dreaming big" was actually limiting you and keeping you from what you really desire?

In this episode, I'm challenging the conventional wisdom behind dreams and wishes, and showing you how to become a limitless creator instead.

When you tune in, you'll discover:

• Why you should replace your big dreams with crystal-clear desires

• My personal story of returning to Mexico to be there during the sea turtle nesting season

• What I learned from my desire for this powerful experience

• How to become a limitless creator and swap your dreams and wishes for white-hot desires

Publish your book with The Big Talk Press

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This week, you'll hear a big talk from an alum of The Big Talk Academy Mastery that will expand how you think about the world and inspire you to take the big stages you desire.

Lauren E. Graham is an educator, speaker, and ecosystems strategist for planetary and democratic futures. She has dedicated her career to working at the intersection of climate, social impact, and creative media for public engagement.

In her poetic and profound talk, Lauren invites us to meet chaos with moral imagination and tenderness—and build a world worth living in.

During her big talk, "A Tender Treatise: Lessons from Moral Collapse and the Quiet Rebuilding of What Comes Next," she explores:

• Why a multi-systems collapse (political, ecological, economic, social) is both inevitable and an opportunity

• How we can use tenderness as a radical tool for rebuilding

• The importance of strategic stillness for reclaiming our moral center

• Four practical steps we can take to create the kind of world we want to live in

Watch her big talk on YouTube

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/legraham/

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Today, I'm joined by Jenny Nguyen, Founder and Owner of The Sports Bra, the world's first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women's sports.

Jenny's background as an Executive Chef equipped her with the leadership skills to build a successful hospitality business. The idea for The Sports Bra was born of her personal frustration at not being able to reliably find a place to watch major women's games.

Fueled by a community-backed Kickstarter, she opened The Sports Bra in April 2022. It became an instant global phenomenon, proving the existence of a massive, underserved market. In its first eight months alone, the bar generated nearly $1 million in revenue.

Jenny's vision transcends sports, focusing on equity by sourcing from women-owned businesses and creating an inclusive space. Her leadership and the bar's success have drawn extensive media coverage from outlets including The TODAY Show, ESPN, The New York Times, and Vogue.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• The benefits of community-funded success over traditional funding

• Why persistence and taking the next step matter more than having all the answers

• The massive underserved market for women's sports

• How to use your business as a platform for social justice

Instagram: @thesportsbrapdx & @jennyfromthebra

Website: https://thesportsbrafranchise.com/ & www.thesportsbraofficial.com/

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This week, I'm sharing what it's really like working with speaker agents and bureaus. Too many speakers think getting signed with an agent means they can sit back and wait for bookings to roll in, but that's not how it actually works.

If you've been thinking that getting signed is the finish line, or wondering why your agent isn't booking you, this episode will save you frustration and money.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• What speaker agents actually do (and who they really work for)

• The 7 essential questions to ask before signing with any agent or bureau

• What to realistically expect when working with representation, and when you might not need an agent at all

• Red flags to watch out for in agent relationships

• How commission structures really work and impact your income

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In today's episode, you will hear a big talk from Lee Powers, an amazing speaker and alum of The Big Talk Academy Mastery.

Lee Powers is a registered nurse, ICU and workplace violence survivor, and an international speaker. She's dedicated her life to transforming personal trauma into purpose.

Her journey began while completing her Nurse Practitioner training when a patient assault left her critically injured. She was put on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma, yet she was fully aware of everything that was happening. That life-altering experience completely reshaped her life, career, and mission.

In her big talk, "A Nurse's Awakening from a Coma: Lessons Learned from Being the Patient," she explores:

• The alarming rates of workplace violence that healthcare workers face compared to other industries

• Raising awareness about Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), a little-known condition that affects over 50% of ICU survivors

• Why the way we treat unresponsive patients matters deeply

• How she transformed her devastating experience into a mission to improve patient care and reduce medical trauma

Website: https://leepowersrn.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-powers-rn-bsn-034845337/

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Today's guest, Lisa Shumate, is the CEO and Founder of Maximum Q. She has built her consultancy on the foundational principle that authentic leadership is essential to driving change and innovation.

Lisa's media career spans notable leadership roles, including over 13 years as Associate Vice President and General Manager at Houston Public Media. She brings extensive experience from the television industry, with management roles at TEGNA and ABC/Disney.

She served on the PBS Board of Directors, where she provided strategic guidance for one of America's most trusted media institutions. And she most recently served as Chair of American Public Television's Board of Directors.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• The importance of managing your emotions as a leader

• The #1 factor for high-performing teams

• Using team charters to create ownership and empowerment

• How to create better working conditions and reduce reactive management

• Her current favorites: Book: How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job, Speaker: Martin Luther King, Jr., and Podcast: The Diary of a CEO by Stephen Bartlett

Watch her big talk at SPEAK: Impact, "The Optimist Option."

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-trapani-shumate-b1a62045/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxqleader/

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In this episode, I explore how the season of spring mirrors the cycles of growth, emergence, and transformation that every leader and speaker experiences.

If you've been feeling stuck, waiting for the right moment to launch your big idea, or hesitant to step into your voice, this is for you.

When you tune in, you'll discover:

• Why spring is the perfect metaphor for personal and professional growth

• The importance of honoring "winter" seasons of rest, reflection, and preparation

• The necessity of breaking through comfort zones and limiting beliefs to achieve growth, and how to recognize and trust the timing of your own breakthroughs

• How to embrace visibility and allow your growth to become public

• Practical guidance for identifying your current season and taking aligned action

Grab your copy of my new book, Being Smart Is Stupid

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