Today's episode is a mini farewell episode. I'm taking the summer off from the podcast! I know I've done this before, and now I'm doing it again. It's also a permission slip for you to say no to more things so you can take more time for yourself and the things you want to be doing. Where can you pause, quit, or otherwise say NO THANKS and bow out? Hopefully today's episode will give you the support and inspiration you need to join me on the bench this summer. See you in September!

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You shared something personal. You allowed yourself to be judged and get feedback. You did something scary in front of other people. And now...

You have a vulnerability hangover.

How do you know? You’re saying…

• OMG I did that wrong
• I overshared
• My speech was boring
• I was the worst in the group
• I totally bombed that
• I can never go back there
• Everyone else was so much better

What next? You're stuck in a loop of negative thinking and you can't get out. On today's episode, I share three ways to manage your vulnerability hangover so it doesn't own you!

Want to join a public speaking club and improve your speaking skills? Check out a Speaker Sisterhood club right here. Guests are free anytime.

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Struggle with how to start your speech in a way that grabs your audience's attention? Have a hard time wrapping it up succinctly? Today's episode is for you! I share a few strategies you can use again and again to start and end your speech on a strong note. No more rambling, apologizing, or worrying - just use these tips and your presentations will always shine!

Learn more about Speaker Sisterhood and our clubs.

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You've probably heard "less is more." This statement couldn't be more true when it comes to public speaking and crafting a powerful talk. On today's episode, I break down the three ways to keep your speeches simple and effective.

They are:

1. If I could only tell someone three things, what would they be? 
2. When storytelling, use vivid details, but don’t get lost in unnecessary details. Always ask: Is this relevant? If it’s not, get rid of it.
3. Less is more! Make simple, clear points and reinforce them throughout your speech. 

Listen in as I share how to go about using this advice on today's episode of Claim the Stage!

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Wondering if it's too late to get started as a professional speaker? Today's episode is for you! Maria Romano is the founder of True Love Knots. She started her business in her 50s after her husband, Frank, passed away. She got back into the dating world and discovered it was dramatically different. Today she coaches people on how to be successful at dating and found her passion. Maria is also a professional speaker and performs wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and end-of-life celebrations. She is the author of Going from Just One to Plus One which hit #1 on the Amazon bestseller lists.

On today's episode, Maria shares her three best pieces of advice for women who want to start a speaking business later in life. She says building a community of coaches and supporters, clarifying your message, and just getting started were key to her success. Listen in as she shares her story and more!

Get Maria's online course, Become a Rockstar Officiant here. Check out her book here.

Register for Speaking School for Women, my signature six-week course to turn you into a paid speaker. Registration closes April 6th!

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Have you been dreaming about speaking on bigger stages, taking your expertise to more audiences, and getting paid for your expertise? If you're wondering if you're ready for this step, this episode will help you decide. Learn the five secrets to becoming a paid speaker and then check out my new course, Speaking School for Women, launching next week. Sign up for our mailing list at speakersisterhood.com or get on the waiting list by contacting us!

Sign up for our free webinar on March 30th: Build Your Brand Through Speaking here.

Transform your public speaking with my 60 Minute Public Speaking Makeover here.

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Have you ever found yourself saying this before a presentation? "What if I’m boring? I’m afraid everything I say everyone has already heard." 

If so, you are definitely not alone! Instead of focusing on having the most unique ideas, what if you focused on giving advice that is tried and true, and in your own style? On today's show, I share three ways to bring your own brilliance to your words. Sometimes it's not what you say, it's how you say it. My three tips:

1. Brilliance is putting your own spin on things in your own brilliant way. 
2. Your audience wants YOU, not a perfectly crafted persona of you.
3. Take risks with your presentations. Include things no one would expect: Costumes, props, videos, games, etc.

Want more information about Speaking School for Women? Get on the waiting list by emailing me at angela@speakersisterhood.com! 

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If you want to build a business as a speaker, coach, or author, getting visibility will make all the difference. Visibility is also important if you're trying to build a personal brand as a leader in your field. But how do you get visibility if you're just starting out? On today's show, Amanda Berlin, PR expert, shares how to DIY your PR so you can get yourself out there. She says there are three key types of visibility: Collaborations and alliances, speaking and events, and media. But how do you know where to start? Amanda breaks it all down and even offers a free training at the end to give you more helpful tips. 

Links from the episode:

Want one of the last three seats in Speaker Sisterhood Express? Get registered here. 

Transform your public speaking with my 60 Minute Public Speaking Makeover here.

Get Amanda's free training: The Three Pillars of Visibility

Check out Amanda's live two day event: Pitch School Live

More about Amanda:

After more than a decade in the New York City public relations world, Amanda Berlin now uses her pitch powers for good. She helps entrepreneurs step into their presence, create a story that inspires others, and spread their message in the media. Amanda and her clients have been featured in all types of media — from Business Insider to Entrepreneur on Fire and from WNYW Fox 5 to Bustle.com. She's the host of The Empowered Publicity Podcast and loves arming soul-powered business owners with the ideas and skill-set they need to go from hidden industry gem to recognizable trusted expert. Amanda has created a library of template guides and trainings and works one on one with clients to guide them to strategic story-telling and media relations based on her 12 years of experience guiding strategy for major brands in the corporate world. Amanda and her clients have been featured in all types of media — from Business Insider to Entrepreneur on Fire and from WNYW Fox 5 to Bustle.com. She's the host of The Empowered Publicity Podcast and loves arming soul-powered business owners with the ideas and skill-set they need to go from hidden industry gem to recognizable trusted expert. Amanda has spoken on the topics of visibility, publicity, and entrepreneurship at BizChix Live, Style Collective Raleigh and New York City, Body Local, Hoboken Entrepreneur Group, and more.

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Do you consider yourself to be a pretty good public speaker? Maybe even a great speaker? It's possible you're getting the job done, but there's always room for improvement. As you'll hear in part four of our four part series with Speaker Sisterhood club leaders and members, today's guest came to our clubs to make small tweaks with an eye on big changes. My guest today is Kathy Vines, a Certified Professional Organizer, owner of Clever Girl Organizing, and certified coach (CTACC) and professional resume writer through Kathy Vines Coaching. On today's show, Kathy describes her desire to go from being a trainer to being a more inspirational speaker through the use of storytelling and audience engagement techniques. She got the chance to test these new skills in her Speaker Sisterhood club before showing up in front of her audience and saw the difference right away. If you want to take your skills to the next level, listen to today's episode and take a look at our new program, Speaker Sisterhood Express. This is our new six-month, accelerated public speaking training program launching next month. Registration closes today at 5pm ET and more information can be found here. 

More about Kathy:

Kathy Vines has been a solopreneur times two since 2013.

She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Clever Girl Organizing, based in Melrose, MA. She works with people to help untangle their relationship to stuff and create the systems to conquer the chaos around them, and these days, she does it all virtually.

Kathy is also a certified coach (CTACC) and professional resume writer through Kathy Vines Coaching. She helps Gen X and Older Millennials with their career strategy, LinkedIn presence, and resumes as they navigate what comes next for them in their professional life.

She’s been bringing her ideas to audiences from the stage and the zoom screen for years. She is the author of the book, “Clever Girl’s Guide to Living with Less: Break Free from Your Stuff, Even When Your Head and Heart Get in the Way”. She has appeared regularly in Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, the Boston Globe and the Washington Post. She even appeared in a segment about fridge organization on “Inside Edition.” That video has been viewed on YouTube over 2.5 million, though she has no idea why.

Kathy loves creating clarity and aha moments for people, whether it is figuring out how they should spend the next 20 years of their career, or the best place to put their keys so they stop losing them, once and for all.

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Today's episode is part three of a four-part series with Speaker Sisterhood club leaders and members. I put this series together for you because I'm always asked how Speaker Sisterhood is different than Toastmasters, why it's only for women, and what you learn if you sign up. On today's show, I interview Jennifer Cummings Hillery, Speaker Sisterhood member and club leader.

Jen shares that she originally checked out Speaker Sisterhood because her friend was starting a club in her community and she wanted to see what it was all about. When she arrived, she was surprised by what she found. That was three years ago and she is still a member of that club and has run her own club for over two years.

Listen as Jen talks about her fears around showing emotion while speaking and how she deals with that today, what she has learned about practice, why listening is important, and how being part of a supportive community has helped her on her speaking journey.

If you'd like to check out Jen's club, you can do so here. 

We also have a brand new program called Speaker Sisterhood Express and registration is open until February 24th! It's an accelerated public speaking training program you can participate in from the comfort of your own couch. New clubs are launching in March and they are limited to 10 women per club. Learn more about Speaker Sisterhood Express and register here.

More about my guest: Jennifer Cummings Hillery is a lawyer, an active volunteer in her community and a published writer.  As an attorney, Jennifer was recognized for her writing skills and oral advocacy. After taking a break from the legal world, Jennifer has found great fulfillment volunteering and serving on the boards of various not-for-profit organizations, political campaigns, and as an elected Town Meeting Member.  She was recently awarded an "Outstanding Service Award" from her Alma mater, Skidmore College.  Her community involvement has solidified her belief that anything is possible when committed, hardworking, thoughtful individuals come together to support a common goal.  She is honored that two of her Speaker Sisterhood club speeches are included in the Speaker Sisterhood compilation book, “Secrets of the Sisterhood: 45 Stories of Love, Truth and Power.”  Jennifer loves spending time with her family – husband, three children, two cats, and a dog – who constantly remind her of the joy that exists in all the little things in life.

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Today's episode is part two of a four-part series with Speaker Sisterhood club leaders and members. I put this series together for you because I'm always asked how Speaker Sisterhood is different than Toastmasters, why it's only for women, and what you learn if you sign up. On today's show, I interview Liz Nania, Speaker Sisterhood member.

I asked Liz to come on the show to share the benefits she's gained through her membership. I think you'll be surprised by some of them! If you've been thinking about checking out Speaker Sisterhood, now is a great time. We have a brand new program launching today called Speaker Sisterhood Express! It's an accelerated public speaking training program you can participate in from the comfort of your own couch. New clubs are launching in March and they are limited to 10 women per club. 

Learn more about Speaker Sisterhood Express and register here.

More about my guest: Liz Nania is the director and founder of OUT to Dance, an award-winning dance studio where adults learn salsa, swing, ballroom, wedding dance, and more; and where both LGBTQ and straight folks are warmly welcomed. Classes and private lessons are offered virtually on Zoom and in-person in Boston. Liz is also a lifelong visual artist. You can find her dance studio at OUTtoDance.com, and her art at LizNania.com.

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Today's episode kicks off a four-part series with Speaker Sisterhood club leaders and members. I put this series together for you because I'm always asked how Speaker Sisterhood is different than Toastmasters, why it's only for women, and what you learn if you sign up. On today's show, I interview Becky Vesce, veteran Speaker Sisterhood club leader and member. Becky is also the club leader who will be leading our newest program, Speaker Sisterhood Express, which you will learn about at the end of today's show. Listen to find out:

• What Becky learned about sisterhood while participating in her club
• How she went from someone who felt she had to play a character in her own life to being herself in every situation
• How she stopped talking just to fill space and found out how to tell a story that connects with her audience
• The surprising things Becky is doing today as a result of what she gained through her membership

Learn more about Speaker Sisterhood Express and get on the waiting list here.

Follow Becky on TikTok or Instagram

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On today's show, I'm combining a makeover with a quiz...all for you! Today's episode continues January's theme of "connection" and I cover: 1. The difference between a comfort zone and a comfiness zone (and why you really need the latter!) 2. The Public Speaking Quiz and where you stand on various elements of speaking and speaking up.  3. We cover your results and what it all means for you. If you want to get more information and register for The 60 Minute Public Speaking Makeover, hop over here. This class will take place Tuesday, February 8th at 12:00pm ET. Registration is now open! Can't attend live? No problem, I'll send you the recording. Hope to see you there! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

How do you connect the expertise you offer to asking for money as a speaker? What are the three things speakers should be thinking about if they want to make money and get paid to speak in 2022? These are the questions I ask today's guest, Danielle Hayden. Danielle is a reformed corporate CFO and co-owner of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. She is on a mission to help speakers understand their numbers so they can increase their profitability and take home pay. Danielle shares her three best tips for speakers when it comes to making money and your money story. 

We discuss: 

• the importance of knowing how much money you need to make in order to set your rates
• knowing what your money mindset is
• the value of getting comfortable with discomfort

Here are the podcasts and books she mentions:

Danielle's podcast: Entrepreneur Money Stories

Money Magic by Laurence Kotlikoff

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

You're a Bad Ass at Making Money by Jen Sincero

Get Danielle's 5 Day Video Bootcamp: 5 days to transform your financial fear to financial clarity

More about Danielle:

After spending 10+ years in the boardroom as a corporate finance officer, Danielle is now in her sweet spot as the owner of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. where she helps business owners with bookkeeping, financial analysis, and education and as the author of the Profit Planner book series. When Danielle isn’t crunching numbers on her clients’ behalf or crafting the next iteration of the Profit Planner, you can find her hanging with her two kids as she inspires them to lead their fullest lives or doing any, and almost every fitness-related activity ranging from Spartan races to pilates.

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Welcome to episode two of my new format, "three things". In case you missed last week, each episode will feature three things to help you. Of course I'm always focused on speaking, but that can mean a lot of things! This month's theme is "Connection" and I continue talking about different ways to connect with your audience, yourself, and your friends. Today's three things are:

1. The hidden benefit of making more mistakes

2. The #1 reason you're uncomfortable speaking

3. The Connection Quiz (and what it says about you!)

Tune in each week as I offer tips, stories, interviews, resources and more. 

If you'd like to check out the Inc.com article I covered in today's show, making-mistakes-makes-you-popular.html">read it here.

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View my new course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, and get one free month of Skillshare! Go here.

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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Happy New Year! It's good to be back. I'm trying something new on the podcast! Each episode will feature three curated things that I think can help you. Of course I'm always focused on speaking, but that can mean a lot of things! On today's show, I introduce this new format and give you three things that all center on the theme of connection. In fact, the entire month of January is about connection! Tune in each week as I offer tips, stories, interviews, resources and more. 

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If you'd like to check out my new course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, and get one free month of Skillshare, go here.

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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I know you're already awesome, but if you want to  continue building on your awesomeness, you'll love today's episode! It's episode 200 and it's packed with stories, ideas, and tips from things I learned this year. I hope you love it! This'll be my last episode of this year and I'll be back in January with more fun. Enjoy!

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If you'd like to check out my new course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, and get one free month of Skillshare, go here.

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

You've likely heard of mindfulness by now, perhaps you have even studied and practiced it. But have you thought about how mindfulness can improve the process of putting together a speech, delivering that speech, and processing the whole experience afterwards? On today's show, I interview Theresa Wiggins, a mindfulness coach, Speaker Sisterhood club leader, and owner of Village Parenting. Theresa kicks off the episode by leading a three minute mindfulness exercise to demonstrate how it works and then we launch right into the benefits, the science behind it, and how to apply it in the various stages of the speech creation and presentation phases. You can learn more about Theresa's work at Village Parenting here or check out her Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest here. 

More about Theresa:

Theresa Wiggins speaks on a variety of topics including parenting, mindfulness, family engagement in education, as well as her own journey with mental health. With over 20 years combined experience in the fields of education and coaching, she integrates her passion for kids, families, and education into Village Parenting. Theresa teaches mindfulness, is a parenting coach, and provides consultation and staff development to schools. Village Parenting seeks to build bridges between home and school in order to improve the education and happiness for the whole child. 

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If you'd like to check out my new course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, and get one free month of Skillshare, go here.

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Public speaking, speaking up, being singled out...all of these activities can lead to serious fear and anxiety. In fact, you may feel so much fear and anxiety about them that all of your life decisions are made in an effort to avoid them. If this is you, you are going to love today's episode. My guest today is Judy Grupenhoff, MEd, NBC-HWC. She is an Integrative Wellness Coach, HeartMath® Certified Trainer and Interventions Professional. She specializes in anxiety coaching with a focus on the neurobiology of change and self-compassion. For over 10 years she has been helping women of all ages learn practical brain-based skills to calm the nervous system, quiet inner critical dialogs, and live with greater power, peace and possibility.

We discuss:

• The neurobiology of self-criticism vs self-compassion
• The difference between anxiety and fear
• Neural pathways and the role they play in anxiety and fear
• The three essential steps to calm an anxious brain
• How to shift your thinking to self compassion

Learn more about Judy and get her 3 Steps to Calm an Anxious Brain.

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If you'd like to check out my new course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, and get one free month of Skillshare, go here.

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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How many times have you had something you wanted to say, but stopped yourself in fear of being wrong, looking stupid, or being the center of attention? My guest today, Hope Timberlake, is a speaker, trainer and author who focuses on the communication side of leadership. She is here to talk about her new book, Speak Up, Dammit! How to Quiet Your Fears, Polish Your Presence and Share Your Voice and offer you actionable tips for speaking up. We discuss:

• The main reasons people don’t speak up
• Helpful techniques to help with speaking up
• The benefit of pausing while speaking and one technique to help build this skill
• Techniques for using facial expressions to build connection with your audience
• Tips for connecting and looking warm and welcoming in a virtual environment
• The importance of energy, how to infuse passion into your speech, and the role voice modulation plays
• The importance of creating a Speak Up role model or alternate persona
• The Speak Up Structure Tool and how it works for creating a compelling speech

Find Hope's book here

More about my guest:

Hope Timberlake is a speaker, trainer and author who focuses on the communication side of leadership. She is passionate about persuasive messaging, relationship building, executive presence, developing others, and elevating the voices of women and those underrepresented in leadership. Her book, Speak Up, Dammit! How to Quiet Your Fears, Polish Your Presence and Share Your Voice was released in October, 2021.

Hope works with executives and their teams across many industries at companies including AirBnB, Autodesk, Bank of America, BlackRock, Dropbox, Intel, PlayStation, Splunk and many scaling start-ups.

By creating rapport and building trust, Hope successfully empowers people to excel as communicators and leaders. Her energy, creativity and results-oriented approach make her keynotes and workshops impactful, engaging and entertaining

Hope earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and completed a Masters degree at University of California, Berkeley. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, teenaged children and dog Mona.

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If you'd like to check out my new course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, and get one free month of Skillshare, go here.

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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Even great speakers could use more tips and tricks to improve their speaking skills. If you're looking for simple tweaks that will make a huge difference, look no further. I share five ways to improve your presentations without much effort at all. Try one or try them all! You'll be glad you did. 

The list:

1. Always ask yourself the three key questions before building your talk.
2. Start and end strong.
3. Use vocal variety.
4. Present yourself with power through a strong stance.
5. Build your own pre-speech ritual (like a baseball player)

If you'd like to check out my new course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, and get one free month of Skillshare, go here.

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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What is the Dandelion Marketing Strategy? I'm glad you asked! On today's show, I share a recent thought I had while at the park with my son and how it relates to sharing our messages about what we do. If you struggle with sharing your voice, being seen through your marketing, or putting your message out into the world, today's episode is for you! I share the four key elements of the Dandelion Marketing Strategy, why they are all equally important, and how to use them for your work. If you try out what I share today and want to tell me about how it's going, email me! angela@speakersisterhood.com

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Today’s show is a reboot of episode 11 which aired in July of 2016! This is possibly my favorite interview of all and I’m excited to bring it back for your listening pleasure. My guest today is Kelly Coffey, a personal trainer who used to weigh over 300 pounds. She is the voice behind the blog at strongcoffey.com where she helps women who struggle with their weight and their choices to get happily grounded in healthier habits. Her work gets down to the root of why we sabotage ourselves and the tools she teaches are just as relevant to women in the speaking business as they are to women who are trying to improve their health.

In this episode, you'll learn how Kelly went from personal trainer to becoming a top speaker and thought leader in the fitness field, why we sabotage ourselves, important signs to pay attention to if you are sabotaging yourself (and what to do next), the mental tricks to attacking self-sabotage, an ideal way to behave if you are afraid to speak on stage, and where to focus your attention once making the decision to move out of self-sabotage.

Check out Kelly's free, life-changing, hour-long online masterclass for women only - Coffey's Four Step System to Lose Weight Without Losing Yourself. Claim your free seat here

Check out my Skillshare class, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives, here

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Have you ever thought about making an online course? Or, have you made one that didn't turn out so well and you're wanting to take a new approach? On today's episode, I take you behind the scenes of my new Skillshare course, Public Speaking for Shy Creatives: How to be Relaxed and Confident. I talk about the idea phase, creating content, producing the videos, post-production, and the mistakes I made along the way. If you've been thinking about creating an online course but don't know where to start, this episode will give you tips to get you moving. 

If you'd like to check out my new course and get one free month of Skillshare, go here. 

Here's more information about my course:

I’ll cover four strategies to help you feel and look more confident, relaxed, and prepared on camera, on screen, and on stage. If you’re interested in building a creative business, freelancing, becoming a speaker, being interviewed on podcasts, or showing up more on social media, you will love this class. You’ll complete a class project that will teach you how to build your own pre-speech ritual so you are in the best mindset and have the most engaging content to present every time. Key takeaways include:

• How to go from dreading public speaking to creating a mindset of connection and service
• The three key questions you need to ask yourself to build an engaging, powerful presentation every time
• How to show up with magnetic energy so your audience is excited to hear from you
• How to use your notes effectively
• Practice tips to help you set yourself up for success every time

Check it out! 

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If you want to get back to basics and have a refresher course on the fundamentals of communication, speaking, and leadership, this episode is for you.

My guest today is Joel Schwartzberg. You may remember him from one of our most popular episodes, How to Make a Point That Sticks. Joel is a leadership communications coach and author and today he brings his tips to help you create a "language of leadership."

Joel's key message: "The most powerful tool you have as a leader—to inform, engage, and inspire—is your voice. Yet all too often, our words fall flat; we get caught in our head, fail to truly understand our audience, or simply flub the landing. But it’s our words and awareness of their impact that make the difference between simply managing teams and inspiring them to do their best work. "

We discuss:

• Why some women come across as aggressive if they are straight forward
• The importance of gender neutral language
• Ideas around what to do if you are interrupted in a meeting and how to deal with that
• Why leaders need to focus their communication on inspiration, not just information
• The importance of shifting language from merely sharing problems to solving them
• Do’s and don’ts for conveying empathy and hope
• Easy ways leaders can improve the effectiveness of meetings through communication
• The three simple words that quickly reveal if you’re getting your point across or not

More about Joel:

Joel Schwartzberg is a leadership communications coach whose clients include American Express, Blue Cross Blue Shield, State Farm Insurance, the Brennan Center for Justice, and Comedy Central. Joel’s articles on effective communication have appeared in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Toastmaster magazine. He is the author of Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter, which Seth Godin calls “a manifesto for giving talks that make a difference,” and The Language of Leadership: How to Engage and Inspire Your Team, which Kevin Eikenberry says “will make your communication more purposeful, meaningful, and inspirational.”

Learn more about Joel and his coaching practice here.

Get Joel's new book, The Language of Leadership

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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How many times have you set a goal for yourself and then either abandoned it, came up with reasons not to do it, or lost motivation and forgot why it was important to begin with? Doing something new, something big, or something different comes along with challenges and oftentimes when we set out to do these things alone, we don't succeed. Why does this happen?

My guest today is Molly Keehn Ed.D., an educator, co-founder of CoJourn and co-author of the book, “CoJourn: Harnessing the Power of Connection to Tune into Your Wisdom, Achieve Your Goals, and Create the Life You Want.” Along with co-founder Karl Henricksen, she helps people make changes in their lives in a structured and connected way.

On today's show, we discuss the benefits of having an accountability partner when setting out to accomplish a goal, the eight core components of her program and why they are important to a successful partnership, the role of self-compassion, and how to create a "guiding theme" to keep you focused on what you say you want. Molly also shares her own academic research on the subject while giving us a glimpse into her guiding themes and how they are going.

Learn more about CoJourn here or get the book here.

Check out the meditations Molly mentioned in the episode:

compassion.org/category/exercises/#exercises">Kristen Neff's meditations and exercises

Chris Germer's 6 minute self-compassion break

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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Today's episode is a must-listen if you have been struggling to figure out what is stopping you from being where you want to be, having what you want to have, or doing what you say you want to do. Today's guest is Lisa Fabrega, a personal transformation advisor who supports ambitious women as they strive to create a deep and lasting impact on the world. 

Her advice blew my mind as she broke down her Capacity Framework and the six capacities that could be contributing to keeping you stuck. Shifting how you see yourself is just the start of her work as she helps you see your own internal capacity and connection to your inner wisdom. The six capacities she notes are money, visibility, purpose, embodiment, structural, and boundaries. Listen as she goes through each one and describes how these areas can hold you back if unaddressed. 

More about Lisa: For more than ten years, Lisa has worked with new and seasoned entrepreneurs as well as Nobel Prize organization nominees to break through boundaries that have been holding them back. Her signature approach involves the proven concept of expanding your capacity as a way to reach your highest levels of success. Lisa has addressed thousands of people both on stage as a keynote speaker as well as when she appeared on podcasts including The UnMistakeable Creative, Her Rules Radio and Tell Me A Story with Debra Silverman. She’s also been featured on CNN, Yahoo! News and The Huffington Post. She splits her time between Florida and California with her two rescue dogs, Luna and Sadie.

Learn more about Lisa here

Want to work on your goals, improve your public speaking skills, and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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Here's a brand new live coaching episode! On today's show, we'll hear from a financial advisor who has no problem working one to one with clients and now wants to create workshops to promote her work, but feels crippling fear around speaking to groups. How to handle this??

My second guest has committed to giving a maid of honor speech at her sister's wedding and is looking for tips and tricks for regaining confidence, relieving anxiety, and finding the right timeframe for the speech. After taking more than a year off from presenting in general and at work, she's feeling rusty and anxious about speaking in front of a big crowd. What can be done to prepare and give a great speech?

Find out on today's live coaching episode!

If you’d like to submit a question for live coaching on an upcoming episode, email me! angela@speakersisterhood.com.

Want to improve your public speaking skills and check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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Have you ever found yourself in an audience and looked up at the woman on stage and wondered, how? How does she do that? On today's episode, I asked a lot of "how" questions of my guest, Sheetal Sheth. Sheetal is an actress, author, producer, and activist. Sheetal’s breakout role came in Albert Brooks’ “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World” and she is known for her performances in a wide range of memorable roles in film and on television. I asked Sheetal to share her experience as an Indian American woman making her way in Hollywood and how she was able to find her voice as a young actress and now in her other roles as activist, producer, and author. We also discussed how she has gotten over her fear of rejection, how she has continued to roll out new work, and what has kept her motivated as she worked her way up. She also offers advice on how to step out and tell your story both on stage and through a book. 

Her latest children’s book, Bravo Anjali, comes out next week on September 21st. It is the follow up to Always Anjali, which debuted to critical acclaim and became a favorite for schools and parents. 

More about Sheetal Sheth: Sheetal is also a cancer survivor and outspoken advocate who served in President Clinton's AmeriCorps and is currently on the advisory board of Equality Now and an ambassador for Jennifer Newsom's, The Representation Project. Learn more about Sheetal here. 

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Welcome back! I hope you had a great couple of months. It’s good to be back. On today’s episode, I make an announcement about a couple changes to the show going forward, address how the questions I posed in the last episode impacted my life, and I share a HUGE surprising gift I gave myself by speaking up on a couple occasions. If you’re a people pleaser or don’t like to “rock the boat,” this episode will get you thinking differently about all you can gain by speaking up for yourself.

If you’d like to submit a question for live coaching on an upcoming episode, email me! angela@speakersisterhood.com.

Want to check out a Speaker Sisterhood club as a guest? Your first meeting is free and all clubs are meeting online. Find the club that works for you here.

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We all just went through a year of unexpected twists and turns. What can we learn from it? Anytime we go through something dark, difficult, or traumatic, it changes us. That means we may find that we have new reasons for doing what we’re doing, we may care about different things, and we might have to reprioritize. It’s a scary time and an exciting time because you get to destroy and then create. On today’s show, I go into some questions you can ask yourself to help you recreate your life with the perspective of who you are today.

These questions include:

• How am I defining myself?
• Where is the life?
• Where are my allies?
• Where are the breadcrumbs?
• What is motivating me today?
• What is most fulfilling?
• Where am I looking for validation?
• What are my three goals for the rest of 2021?
• What is my origin story?

What got you here won’t get you there.

Listen to Andy J Pizza on Art for Your Ear podcast

If you want to be featured on an upcoming live coaching episode, email me here with your question.

Want to weigh in on our new podcast format? Give us anonymous feedback and help us continue to improve our podcast!

If you're interested in checking out a Speaker Sisterhood club and would like to learn more about membership, go here.

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What do you do when you've been working a 9-5 job for years, and now you want to step out and build your own business but feel nervous about using your voice and drawing attention to yourself? Our first guest on today's live coaching episode asks this question. Hint: The process of figuring this out can actually be fun! Our second guest asks how to give an effective keynote when you're not sure what will best connect with your audience. This is our second live coaching episode and we'd love to do more! Email angela@speakersisterhood.com to get on the show and have your question answered. Guests today are MaryKate Daly and Emily Aborn. 

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Welcome to our first live coaching episode! Today we take questions from listeners Dana Hahn and Becky Vesce.

Dana asks: I want to provide training for teachers on the topic of how to support grieving children in the classroom. How can I eliminate the fear and anxiety of speaking to large groups of professionals?

Becky asks: I go live on Facebook and Instagram regularly for my makeup business. I like to keep it educational and casual but I struggle with the ask. How can I get my sales pitch in without breaking the trust of my audience?

Want to be featured on an upcoming episode of Claim the Stage and have your question answered? Email us! angela@speakersisterhood.com.

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Friends! This is a special anniversary edition of Claim the Stage, solo hosted by me, Angela. Can you believe it's already been five years??! Me neither. On today's show, I discuss:

• what it’s like to do a project for five years
• how my views have changed on the podcast over the years
• how the podcast has helped my business succeed
• my initial fears around doing a podcast
• what I’ve learned from my guests
• what I’ve learned about being a great interviewer
• the show going forward
• what I'm thinking about building next

Want to give feedback on my new course ideas? Email me! Angela@speakersisterhood.com.

Two ideas: How to start a podcast, how to be a better podcast guest. 

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Is growth possible without suffering? Leveling up in life requires a ton of growth - both in confidence and in skills. How can we acquire both of these without suffering? Our guest today is Sophie McLean, a wisdom teacher who has spent decades leading transformational seminars to over 200,000 people around the world. She likes to explore the universal existential questions of “Who am I?” and “What is my life about?” while also focusing on the nature of what it means to be human. She is the author of The Elegance of Simplicity: A Wisdom Teacher’s Epic Journey to Awareness and offers an effortless pathway to awareness. She also shares the secrets she's discovered about the process of self-discovery, how  you know when you’ve discovered something meaningful about yourself, and how to settle on a topic or brand for yourself if you want to be a known speaker or author. Get access to Sophie's free course, The Call of the Soul, here. 

More about Sophie: 

Born in Algeria, educated in Morocco and France, and with a professional career in the USA and UK, Sophie McLean has had an eventful life. She’s been a helicopter pilot, a teacher, a designer, a relief worker, a war refugee, and a CEO. She’s been shot at, shipwrecked, and widowed. She’s lived on a farm, a boat, a penthouse, and an ashram.

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A breakup can be more than a romantic relationship -- it can be the loss of a job, a business, a move to a new city, losing a cherished friendship, anything. It’s an ending that requires attention and care and on today's episode, our guest will show you how to process that time of life. Erin Davidson (pronouns: she/her), MA, RCC, is a writer and Registered Clinical Counselor in Vancouver B.C. specializing in sex and relationship therapy. We focus on her new book, Break Through the Breakup, to show how the breakup can be a catalyst for self-discovery and growth. There are many gifts that come from endings and change and today's guest will highlight what those are.

More about Erin:

Erin works with clients of all genders, sexual orientations, and relationship dynamics to bring more compassion and joy to their connection with themselves, their sexuality, and their relationships. She is the author of two books: Break Through the Breakup and Thriving in Non-Monogamy. You can read more of her writing and connect with her on Instagram @erin.e.davidson and her website: www.erinedavidson.com.

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Guess what! Today we're talking about one of our favorite subjects: Doing it before you're ready. You might be asking...do what? Well, anything! Working towards a dream, writing that book, speaking on a bigger stage, asking that cute person out on a date...whatever. We can make excuses all day and blame things outside of our control, but what if we just took action instead? Joli and Angela talk about their own experiences with starting before they were ready and offer advice on how to do the same. If you're wondering how Angela went from shy and behind the scenes to running a public speaking business, you'll hear the whole story in this episode. 

If you want to be featured on an upcoming live coaching episode, email angela@speakersisterhood.com with your question. 

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We spend a lot of time talking about how to use your authentic voice for speaking, but when you want to sit down and write a compelling email that really connects to your audience, what is the best way to share your voice? Email is an incredibly effective method of marketing, yet it can be so hard to craft a message and hit send when you know it's being broadcasted to hundreds or thousands of people. Learning what to say, how to say it, and when to send an email to get the most out of it is an art form. Today's guest, Jena Bagley, Advocate Manager of AWeber, will enlighten you and give you helpful tips to be an effective email marketer. If you struggle with finding your voice when writing, you'll gain helpful strategies to focus your words and get the most out of the communication. 

Get your free gift from Jena here 

More about Jena Bagley:

As the Advocate Manager for AWeber, a leading email service provider and the very first autoresponder, Jena Bagley works closely with content creators, podcasters, social media strategists & enthusiasts, coaches, entrepreneurs, and more. Through email marketing you can connect with your audience and drive them back to your podcast, blog, website or social platforms over and over again, keeping you top of mind. Having worked in several different industries over her career, including restaurant, bridal, real estate, recruiting, direct sales, and SaaS, Jena has acquired a wealth of knowledge about sales, marketing, and what it really means to build a relationship with your target audience.

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Have you ever had a grand vision for your life and then immediately discarded it because you thought it could never work?  Or, have you had that grand vision, rolled it around in your mind for years, and then finally decided to let it go because it was too risky, wasn't something you thought you could really do, or seemed too grand for you? If so, today's episode is for you! We talk about things we've done to avoid our destiny and also share tools and mindset tips to help you move from the dreaming stage to the action stage of going after your destiny. We have a lot of experience with this topic and there was no shortage of personal stories and advice. Grab your pen and prepare yourself to take notes - it's time to go after your destiny!

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Have you ever felt like you needed permission from your friends and family to take a risk? Maybe you weren't waiting for their validation consciously, but were you delaying taking action because you didn't know what others would think of your idea? Does that sound familiar? What about pretending? Ever show up in relationships acting one way, but thinking another? Have you ever felt you had to put on a show in order to be accepted or loved? And when it comes to pausing, have you ever felt guilty for taking your foot off the gas so you could coast for a bit and not feel the pressure to constantly be doing something?? Today's show is all about addressing three big topics that can get in the way of living our life fully. Whether it's waiting for the right person to give you the green light, wanting to impress someone by acting a certain way, or constantly working to prove your worth, you're missing out on the magic of life by constantly striving for things that don't improve the quality of our life. Joli and Angela share their experiences and perspective on these words and offer advice on how to deal with them in a way that isn't soul crushing.

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Speaking up about your needs, desires, fears, and upsets in relationships can be an anxiety-inducing experience. If you struggle with speaking up, you are likely familiar with the symptoms of anxiety - the "what if" thoughts, the nausea, the fears of everything unraveling. On today's show, we interview Paula Leech, a sex and relationship therapist who specializes in helping women and couples learn how to speak up. We discuss how to take more risks with your words, how to separate your anxious thoughts from your other thoughts, how to develop a different mindset about difficult topics, and much more. If you have ever wondered if speaking up about what is important to you could feel easeful, today's episode is for you. 

More about our guest: 

Paula Leech holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University and a Master’s Degree in Family Therapy from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She’s also an AASECT (American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists) certified Sex Therapist and worked with individuals, relationships, and families in private practice in Quincy, Massachusetts for over ten years. In that time, Paula received AASECT certification as a Supervisor of Sex Therapy, and co-founded a sex therapy agency and training institute where she saw clients in addition to training therapists to become competent, confident sex therapists themselves. Paula continues to regularly present at various training institutes as well as Universities and therapy agencies across the US.

Learn more about Paula Leech here 

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Did you know that in 30 seconds to one minute per day you could improve your wellness and well-being? It's true! In fact, today's guest says the smaller the changes are that you make to your life, the better results you will have. Quit trying to incorporate every healing modality under the sun only to feel frustrated and disappointed with yourself. Taking a few minutes a day can be transformative for your overall wellness and today's guest will show you how. 

Pam Victor is a happiness coach, professional improviser, and founder of Happier Valley Comedy, the first and only comedy theater in Western Massachusetts which provides regular shows, a full-curriculum comedy training program, and the THROUGH LAUGHTER Program for professional and personal development...and happiness! On today’s episode, Pam walks us through a couple simple techniques you can start using today to improve your well-being. Her philosophy is that if it doesn’t bring joy and ease, why do it? So instead of dreading a wellness routine, you’ll learn how to look forward to it! You’ll learn more about her new online wellness program launching May 8th, Resilience Through Joy: The 30-Day Happiness Experiment, and the benefits it provides. To learn more about it and enter the drawing for a free spot, visit www.happiervalley.com.

More about Pam:

Pam Victor is also a teacher, corporate facilitator, TEDx speaker, author of "Baj and the Word Launcher" and "Improvisation at the Speed of Life," a recipient of The New England Public Radio Arts & Humanities Award, mother of two adult daughters, and she likes you already.

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Calling all Claim the Stage fans who have been on the fence about checking out Speaker Sisterhood and are looking for a personal invitation! This is for you. :) It's been over a year since we launched a new public speaking club due to covid, but we're back at it and we'd like to invite you to our newest club in Westfield, Massachusetts. This club will be meeting online for the foreseeable future and can be joined by anyone, anywhere. Your first meeting is free while you check out what we're all about and see if membership is for you. On today's episode, I introduce you to Andrea Ross, our newest club leader. She's been a member since we started in 2016 and is now ready to step into the roll of leader. Hear her story, why she joined Speaker Sisterhood, and why she wants to create a space for more women to find their voice in 2021. You can send a message to Andrea directly through her club page here if you'd like to inquire about attending an upcoming meeting on May 16th or 30th. I'll be there on the 16th if you'd like to say hi. 

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Here's an episode for the super fans! This bonus episode is brought to you from a beach house on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We went on a short vacation and decided to record an unplanned episode. On the show, we do Joli's performance review and read listener feedback from our recent survey. Joli also gives Angela feedback and they discuss her current adventures in online dating. There are many laughs and tangents and you'll find out more about the names Zazzle and Butterfinger as the show goes on. If you haven't left us feedback yet, please do so! We'd love to hear from you. Enjoy this wild episode. :) Give us feedback here

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Have you ever looked at someone who is seemingly doing it all and wondered, how do they do so much? The answer may be that they have a system to keep them moving forward. On today’s episode, Laura Khalil, a communications expert, skilled interviewer and host of the Top 125 Apple Podcast, Brave by Design, teaches us how to create a system to be brave and do the work that scares us or typically stops us from moving forward. She shares the process she takes her clients through to help them avoid the dreaded “Not yet” excuse that can prolong us from starting something new. She also talks about how to get more conscious about destructive patterns we have, how the body can help us make better decisions, and how to determine what projects are worth it and which aren’t.

More about Laura:

Laura Khalil has consulted with some of the world's most recognizable brands on marketing including Intel, GE, Twitter and more. Through her boutique agency, Podcast Brand Lab, she helps businesses grow their brand and client list and get booked solid through podcasting. Learn more about Laura Khalil here

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How often have you been called “selfish” in your life? How often have you gone out of your way to avoid being seen that way? On today’s show, we interview Naketa Ren Thigpen, LCSW, the #1 Balance & Relationship Advisor in the World. She is also the author of the book Selfish: Permission to Pause, Live, Love and Laugh Your Way to Joy. On today’s episode, we explore what the word selfish really means and how Naketa has redefined it. She discusses the work she does with her clients to help them reprioritize their life to include more joy and less bending to expectations and fear. As the title of the show indicates, we talk about how to live life for yourself and stop trying to live it for everyone around you.

More about Naketa:

Naketa Thigpen has become the go-to for fast-scaling married women entrepreneurs and power couples seeking to balance love and success without dimming or apologizing for their spirited ambition. As the creator of the breakthrough paradigm The Joy Map Method, transformative empowerment speaker and CEO of ThigPro Balance and Relationship Management Institute, Naketa and her team set out every day to inspire, equip and empower her client-partners to amplify intimacy 360% across all key relationships so they can create joy and achieve WHOLE SUCCESS!

Follow Naketa on Instagram 

Get her book, Selfish

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Even if you're not in sales for your profession, you're always selling. Perhaps you're selling your friend on an idea for a trip you'd like to take, or selling your child on the benefits of vegetables. You likely even have a component of your job that requires you sell your ideas to your team, your boss, or your clients. Selling is an essential tool and yet it is often looked at as a high stress activity to avoid if we can. It's also viewed as a skill that requires a lot of extroversion and swagger. Here's some good news: Selling can be easy and it can even be something you look forward to! On today's episode, we welcome back Nikki Rausch, also known as The Sales Maven. You may remember her from episode 133: The Misunderstood Process of Selling where she talked about her "Selling Staircase" and the process you take your customers through so they understand how you can help them. Today we discuss why there is so much fear and anxiety around selling, why you don't have to be the life of the party to be good at sales, how to show up like a boss when you sell, and different techniques to employ as a pre-sales ritual. 

More about Nikki:

After 25 years of experience selling to such prestigious organizations as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, and NASA, Nikki Rausch decided to trade in her road warrior status so she could help entrepreneurs sell in a way that builds relationships, creates true connection, and results in more closed deals and long-term clients. Now, as a sales coach, author, speaker and founder of Sales Maven, Nikki transforms the misunderstood process of “selling” into techniques, tools, and tips for busy entrepreneurs. When she's not helping business owners move their clients along the 'Selling Staircase', Nikki enjoys taking in all the beauty that living in the Pacific Northwest affords her.

Get more information about Nikki and download your free gift here

Nikki's socials: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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Do you remember being called a "Good Girl" as a child and beaming in delight over the praise and reinforcement for a job well done? If you're now wondering why you find it difficult to say or do something that may not be seen as "nice" or "polite," it may be because of your good girl conditioning. On today's show, we talk to Sarah Schneider, a Good Girl Dismantler, executive coach, leadership trainer, and CEO of the leadership coaching company SarahSchneider & Co. We discuss the inner good girl problem and the struggles women face in leadership because of it, fears that get in the way of women embracing their power,  and the skills needed to overcome the good girl mindset. 

More about Sarah: For over 18 years, Sarah has been having candid conversations with leaders at all levels, supporting the professional, business, and personal development of those leaders, and effectively building and leading teams. Sarah works predominantly with women leaders to dismantle the cultural Good Girl conditioning so that they can do what they know to do and lead on their terms. Sarah is a Professional Certified Coach, holds an MBA, and navigated a decade in the male-dominated IT space.

Find Sarah on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Want to weigh in on our new podcast format? Give us anonymous feedback by March 31st and help us continue to improve our podcast! 

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"Perfectionism, people-pleasing, codependency, and constant striving to measure up— all of these patterns are rooted in fear and angst, which are emotion-level issues. The challenge for us is to bring love to the parts of ourselves that are hurting and terrified. Our work is to bridge the gap between the head and the heart.” - Caroline Garnet McGraw

If that quote means anything to you, you will love today's show. Our guest is Caroline Garnet McGraw, an author, speaker, and coach for recovering perfectionists. She's the author of You Don't Owe Anyone, a new book coming out April 20th now available for preorder here. If you feel like you owe the world a brave face, superhuman strength, an explanation, or your time and energy, it's time to hit play! Caroline shares why she wrote this book, how to stop feeling like you owe everyone something, what the "guilt gauge" is, and how to stop people pleasing. 

Get Caroline's book and other bonuses here

More about Caroline: Caroline is the creator of A Wish Come Clear, a popular blog devoted to trading perfectionism for possibility, as well as several online interview series. She's a two-time TEDx speaker, and her essays have been featured on The Huffington Post, Momastery, and Women For One. Caroline lives in Florence, Alabama with her family.

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On today's show, Angela interviews her longtime mentor, Martha Johnson, to discuss aging. Angela is turning 40 today! Martha is a former consultant, business owner and coach who, at 81, enjoys a simpler life while staying engaged with what matters. On today's show, Angela asks:

1. If you could go back and give your 40 year old self advice, what would you tell her?

2. What are the hidden gifts of aging?

3. How has your perspective on death and dying changed as you age?

4. What’s most important to you now, in your 9th decade?

5. You believe in “conscious aging.” What is that?

More about Martha: She is a life journey author, promoter of next chapter conversations, and the creator of The Willingness Check.  Her books Why Not Do What You Love? (2017 edition) and both volumes of Musing Along the Way offer wisdom which resonates with reflective folks of any age. Visit Martha's website to learn more. Martha was also featured on episode 14: Are You Unwilling? where she talked about one of her signature approaches to helping people move through blocks.

Want to offer feedback or suggest a topic for an upcoming show? Email us! Angela@speakersisterhood.com.

Check out a speaking club today!

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Hi Friends, Angela here. I have a new course coming out March 8th and this episode is dedicated to the topic I'm covering: How to present online like a pro! Joli and I discuss the topic along with some of our other favorites, like what's bringing us joy and what we're kicking to the curb. After our intro, you'll hear a replay of episode 145, a Q&A episode all about online presenting. I cover:

• How do I set up my computer and lighting to get the best look?
• How can you create engagement when people don’t have their camera on and you can’t see them?
• How can I build an instant connection with a virtual audience? I want to have an engaging opening and usually I just feel like everyone is bored as soon as I start.
• I hate being on camera! How do I get over this?
• How do I field questions while trying to present? What if I don’t know the answer to a question?
• How do I deliver a script when it’s not possible to memorize it?

Introducing my new course, Online Presenting Made Easy! This course is designed to take you from anxious and unsure to actually enjoying presenting (yes it is possible!). You’ll learn how to:

• create content that is meaningful, informative, and not salesy
• keep the audience engaged from start to finish so you’re not left wondering if anyone heard anything you said
• use the technology so it enhances your presentation instead of being a source of frustration
• present yourself with authenticity instead of sounding robotic and boring

Register here!

If you're interested in checking out a Speaker Sisterhood club and would like to learn more about membership, go here.

Want to share feedback about this episode or offer an idea for a topic you'd like us to cover? Email me!

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Hi friends, Angela here. On today's episode, Joli and I explore a popular subject: Perfectionism. We address it from our two areas of expertise: relationships and speaking. How does perfectionism get in the way of having stronger, more fulfilling relationships? When going after your dream of stepping into the spotlight, how does perfectionism creep in to stop you and make you question yourself? We each give three scenarios of perfectionism that we've seen stop women in their tracks and offer a new perspective instead. We also open the episode talking about some of my insecurities that popped up because of this podcast, we share what's bringing us joy, and I share a tip to avoid burnout. If you want to sign up for tonight's Pop Up Talk to build confidence to speak on camera, go here. To register for my upcoming four-part course on online presenting, go here. Have the day you need to have!

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Race, sexuality, gender, disability....these are subjects that may make you nervous. How do you talk about them? What if you say the wrong thing? What if you offend someone? You may find yourself saying nothing at all in an effort to save yourself from the embarrassment of doing it incorrectly. On today's episode, our guest walks us through how to have conversations about topics that feel foreign, awkward, and unspeakable. If you struggle with wanting to talk to someone who is different than you in a way that is respectful and kind, this episode will show you how. 

Our guest is Bianca I Laureano, an award-winning educator and sexologist. She is a founding member of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WOCSHN) and her most recent project is ANTE UP! a virtual freedom school offering professional development and certification. She has written several curricula and is the lead writer for the Netflix film Crip Camp’s curriculum rooted in Disability Justice principles. In May 2020 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the California Institute for Integral Studies for her work in expanding the equity and justice frameworks for the US sexuality field. Find out more about Bianca at her website BiancaLaureano.com and about ANTE UP! at www.AnteUpPD.com

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Today's guest is Cindy Lee Alves (they/she), an award-winning sexologist and founder and head educator of Ascension Institute, a place to learn about pleasure, sexual shame, and sexological professional development. We discuss how to bring pleasure into your work, conversations and presentations, relationships, and life. Cindy Lee walks her talk and it shows in today's episode. If you ever find yourself feeling dragged down by life or dreading the things you're "supposed to" enjoy, you will love this conversation. Cindy Lee shares her own experiences with finding pleasure, why it matters, and how you can do the same. 

More about our guest: Cindy Lee has over a decade of experience in facilitating challenging conversations with both adults and young people. Centering Black, Indigenous, and folx of color across intersecting system-impacted identities, they have educated thousands of people on sex(uality) ed(ucation) and wellness with interests in pleasure, justice, and liberation. She is also the host of Sex on Shuffle - a podcast discussing sex(uality) using teachable moments in music and popular culture. Cindy Lee earned their Master in Education from Widener University’s Center for Sexuality Studies and Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Women's Studies from Stony Brook University. Additionally, they are recognized for their contributions as a founding member of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network's Leadership Collective. Her downtime involves dancing, yummy food, and shimmying often.

If you want to continue learning about how to integrate pleasure into your life, listen to episode 163 + 164: The Pleasure Experiment, parts 1 & 2. pleasure-experiment.pdf">You can download Joli's Pleasure Experiment ebook here. 

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From Angela: If you haven't listened to last week's episode yet, that's a great place to start. On today's show, Joli and I continue exploring the topic of pleasure and Joli's Pleasure Experiment. We each tried a few of the experiments and talked about what we learned. If you're looking for simple and interesting new ways to spend your time, The Pleasure Experiment is for you. Rather than binge another show on Netflix, check out what Joli has built and try the experiments along with us. pleasure-experiment.pdf">You can download her Pleasure Experiment ebook for free here. Joli is also hosting a free pleasure experiment book club on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:30pm ET. You can join us here. 

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From Angela: When Joli and I first met to brainstorm topics for upcoming episodes, the subject of pleasure was at the top of her list. Being a sex educator, this topic comes up a lot for her. But the approach she wanted to take for our show was not one from the standpoint of sex, it's from how to find pleasure in everyday life. Many women treat pleasure as a reward. Sound familiar? Joli feels it should be incorporated into how we live our lives everyday. In today's episode, Joli and I talk about what pleasure is, how to experience more of it, and what it has to do with speaking (hint: a lot!). She also introduces us to her surprise Pleasure Experiment. You don't want to miss this episode or the amazing experiments Joli has cooked up for you! Here's to more pleasure!

pleasure-experiment.pdf">Grab your free download of the 14 day experiment here

Get the muffin recipe here

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From Angela: When you're going through something difficult, do you ever think about how that situation is changing you for the better? What about the lessons and learnings that come from things being hard? On today's episode, I interview Elizabeth Lesser, author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow, a book I read over the fall this year. This book had a profound effect on me and I was excited when Elizabeth accepted my offer to come on the show to talk about it. We also discuss her new book, Cassandra Speaks: When Women are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes and we spend half of the interview discussing how the way stories have been passed on has formed the way we as women think about speaking up today. Elizabeth shares her insights from the book, personal stories from her life, and advice for anyone wanting to share their expertise but thinks they're not ready. She's also the cofounder of Omega Institute, recognized internationally for its workshops and conferences in wellness, spirituality, creativity, and social change. Elizabeth has given two popular TED talks, and is one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100, a collection of a hundred leaders who are using their voices and talent to elevate humanity.

Before the interview, Joli and I share some of our favorite moments from the interview, what's bringing us joy these days, what we're working on, and updates on our next episode. If you want to skip right to the interview, it starts at 41:50. 

If you would like to share feedback about this episode or offer an idea for a topic you'd like us to cover, email me at angela@speakersisterhood.com. 

If you're interested in checking out a Speaker Sisterhood club and would like to learn more about membership, go to https://speakersisterhood.com/. 

Learn more about Elizabeth Lesser and her books here. 

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Hot topic alert!! For our first regular episode as a duo, Joli and I decided to tackle a subject that has made us both scratch our head for years. We start off the episode sharing our experiences with what femininity has meant to us, how it shows up for us today, and the role it plays when it comes to speaking up and thinking about sisterhood. If you've ever struggled with fitting into society's narrow definition of what it means to be "feminine", I think you'll enjoy today's commentary and interview. Our guest is Serina Payan Hazelwood, a certified holistic sex educator, experienced-registered yoga teacher, and somatic drum circle facilitator. She brings body-centered, holistic approaches to her work, drawing on her study of religion and spirituality, ancestral trauma and healing, social justice, ecopsychology, and colonization. Serina has over 20 years of experience creating innovative approaches in the wellness field, leading programs that bring people together using accessible, intersectional modalities. Her methods are rooted in liberation and supported by the pillars of reclamation, ritual, and renewal. Serina’s liminal identities as a queer Indigenous-LatinX-European descendant make her a natural connector, messenger, and community healer. 

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Welcome to our first episode of 2021 and my first episode with a co-host! I'm excited to introduce Dr. Joli Hamilton to the show. You've heard her on past episodes like episode 150: How to Speak Up in Romantic Relationships, a bonus episode from February of 2020 called How to Gain Confidence to Speak Up, episode 134: An Announcement and An Offering, and episode 106: What Does One Year of Speaking Training Get You? Feel free to go back and listen if you want to learn more about her.

We talk about:

• Joli's background and why she decided to do this
• What it's like to create a business partnership within a friendship
• How the podcast is evolving
• Our vision for the show
• Our fears when it comes to working on this show together
• Upcoming topics

Have an idea for an upcoming guest or topic? Email me!

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Greetings from the Glitter Closet! Today's episode is sort of a continuation of the branding series because I talk about the branding process I've been going through the last few months and what it means for Speaker Sisterhood. 

I share:

• My "why"
• New offerings for 2021
• Endings that I've had this year
• What it means to be a Speaker Sister
• My branding process and what I learned
• An update on my exploration into my addictions
• An announcement about how this podcast is changing

Thanks so much for listening. I'm looking forward to sharing more with you in 2021! 

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Today’s episode is a chance to go inside the writer’s process and also learn more about the experience of publishing a book about a personal experience. As many speakers are looking to share their personal stories and may want to publish them as well, I hope today’s episode inspires you to start writing. My guest today is Nicole Hendrick Donovan. She is an author, reflective storyteller, spiritual seeker, mother, and teacher. 

In July of 2020, Nicole published A Life Suspended: A Mother and Son’s Story of Autism, Extinction Bursts, and Living a Resilient Life. In her book, she shares the journey of discovering her youngest son is on the Autism spectrum and the process of getting him the education and support he needs to thrive.

We discuss:

• How Nicole decided to write her book
• How she came up with the title “A Life Suspended” and what it means
• Techniques she used to get herself to write
• how she decided what to share and what to leave out
• how she’s using online speaking to help her promote her book
• what writing the book did for her as a mother and a woman

You can connect with Nicole on Instagram @nhdwrites and Facebook at Nicole Hendrick Donovan. To read her blog, or her book, visit her website at nhdwrites.com.

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What is a voice brand? That's a good question! In part 4 of The Branding Series, I interview David Wolf, the creator of the "voice brand." He shares what it is, why it's important, what the different vehicles are for creating yours, and how to to know what approach to voice branding is best for you. If you've ever thought about using your voice for audiobooks, podcasting, or other audio experiences, you're going to love today's show. 

My guest is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AudiVita Studio. For more than 32 years, David Wolf has been the creative director, music composer and/or producer of content for radio, TV, film, podcasts, audiobooks and multimedia. He created and hosted the Smallbiz America Podcast from 2005-2018. David created the Audivita Studio to apply his experience and the talents and skills of his virtual creative team to help companies, publishers, entrepreneurs, influencers and thought leaders grow their brands and businesses through podcasting, audiobooks, video and internet radio. 

Learn more about David and AudiVita Studio here.

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Welcome to part 3 of The Branding Series! Speaker Assets...what are they? They're things like your website, your highlight reel, your social media profiles, etc. Basically they are the things event planners look at when trying to determine your credibility and brand. If you want to create some for yourself or improve the ones you already have, today's episode is for you. My guest is Suz Chadwick, a BOLD Business, Branding & Speaker Coach. With over 10 years as a brand consultant working with global brands as well as soloprenuers, Suz knows what works when it comes to creating a business & personal brand to connect and stands out. Suz is also the author of Play Big, Brand Bold, host of the popular Brand Builder's Lab podcast and the creator of Brand Builder's Academy, The Bold Speaker's Collective & Brand Leader's Lounge. 

On today's episode, we discuss:

• Why speaker assets are important and where speakers go wrong
• The most common speaker assets event planners look for and how to create them
• What you should have on your speaker page to be taken seriously
• What you can build with no budget (it's more than you think!)
• The value of testimonials and how to use them correctly

Learn more about Suz Chadwick 

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Have you ever thought about creating your own podcast? Or maybe you would like to be a guest on someone else’s podcast. If you’d like to build your brand through the explosive power of podcasting, look no further. Today’s guest is Case Lane. Case is a global writer, podcaster, entrepreneur, traveler, and the founder of Ready Entrepreneur. After a successful book promotion podcast tour, Case developed an approach to help professionals, writers, entrepreneurs and other public speakers understand and navigate the growing podcast industry as guest speakers.

We discuss:

• why podcasting is a good place to show up if you are trying to build your brand
• how to find podcasts to pitch if you can’t afford an expensive PR agency
• how to write a pitch to be a guest on someone’s podcast
• how to prepare for an interview
• what to talk about to get the most out of the interview
• how to be a valuable guest after the show

Learn more about Case Lane and her book and podcast

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Today’s episode kicks off our four-part branding series. Branding became a hot topic around 10 years ago when the concept of creating a “personal brand” became more important. My goal in creating the series is to get you thinking about how you are showing up in the world, what you are known for, and how you can amplify your brand message and reach more people through a variety of marketing and communications methods. My first guest is Maggie Bergin. Maggie is a brand strategist on a mission to eliminate brand vagueness for womxn-owned businesses. She helps consultants, freelancers & side-hustlers build cohesive, irresistible brands by turning zones of genius & personalities into precise and compelling reasons for clients to hire you. Maggie wants womxn in business to BE UNDERSTOOD so their client lists and incomes grow.

*Warning: This episode is not suitable for children*

We discuss:

• How Maggie defines branding and why it's important
• What "brand vagueness" is and why we should avoid it
• What makes a brand cohesive and irresistible
• Examples of good and bad brands
• The six questions you should ask yourself when trying to determine your brand
• How to know if your brand is good or if it sucks

Learn more about Maggie

Follow Maggie on Instagram @beunderstoodbranding

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Instead of trying to crush your fear (whatever that means), why not use it to build confidence? On today's episode, you'll learn how to do this using The Billie Shepard Presentation Method. Twenty years ago Billie founded Billie Shepard & Associates, leveraging her acting experience and unique training methods into the business arena; transforming corporate speakers into influential leaders. Her clients include Facebook, Uber, Intuit, and Rackspace. She is the author of The Billie Shepard Presentation Method, describing her methods and participant breakthrough stories of success, recently launched on Amazon.

On today's episode we discuss: 

• The four steps in Billie's method and how to apply them: Body, voice, improvisation, intention
• How to transform your fear into energy and confidence
• The biggest mistakes speakers make and how to fix them
• Uncommon advice Billie offers

Learn more about Billie Shepard

Get The Billie Shepard Presentation Method on Amazon

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Today's episode was supposed to be focused on how to ask for what you're worth as a speaker, but we ended up talking about much more! Our conversation covers speaking, money, and what my guest has learned about both. Caleb Guilliams founded the company BetterWealth, authored the best-selling book "The AND Asset", hosts the Better Wealth Podcast, and speaks to thousands around the world.  He is a fascinating twenty-something who is changing the face of finance and sees each speaking engagement as a strategic networking opportunity and a chance to build his brand. Listen in as he shares his story of getting into the field of finance, how he charges for speaking engagements and leaves a lasting impression, what he does to make the most out of every time he's on stage, and what he has learned about using public speaking to build his company. 

Take his BetterWealth financial assessment and find other free tools here. 

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Ever sat down at your computer to write a speech and then found yourself still sitting there an hour later with nothing written? You, my friend, are in need of a speech framework! My guest today is Mridu Parikh and she goes over the simple steps to create a speech that is simple to put together, easy to remember and even easier to present. Mridu is a productivity speaker and coach who helps high achieving women skyrocket their time and energy while squashing overwhelm. She is also the best-selling author of "Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions To Get The Right Things Done And Achieve Your Goals."

We discuss what gets in the way when we try to write a speech, the system she uses, and how she makes it easy for her audience to remember the key points in her speech. If you struggle with writing and remembering your speeches, this episode is for you! 

Get Mridu’s FREE resource: 21 Killer Hacks To Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

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She's back by popular demand! Dr Joli Hamilton is back on the podcast today to discuss how to speak up for what you want in your romantic relationship. Do you find you keep having the same argument over and over again? Are you feeling stagnant or stuck in your relationship? Maybe you know you want something different, but you're not sure how to get there. 

On today's episode Joli and I go into the depths of what creates problems in a relationship and how to pull yourself out so you can create a relationship that reflects your desires and goals. Hint: It requires speaking up for what you want! It also requires doing some work and getting clear with yourself before you include your partner in the conversation. As always Joli is refreshingly honest about her own relationship journey and gives clear advice on how you can create a relationship you love. 

Also! Joli's new book, Project Relationship: The Entrepreneur's Action Guide for Passionate, Sustainable Love is out today! You can get a free Kindle copy this week and all she asks in return is a review on Amazon to help more people find her book. Grab yours today! I just finished reading it and it is a must read for everyone! 

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We're all navigating a world that is requiring us to communicate through screens more than ever before. That means public speakers who were once used to a stage are now having to present themselves through a camera. If you made money as a public speaker or used public speaking to sell your business, you've likely had to re-evaluate your strategy in a big way. My guest today is Juju Hook, a consultant, coach, and speaker who once used in-person events to promote her business. Today, her business looks much different. 

We discuss:

• Juju’s big career switch in midlife and what inspired it
• How switching careers has made her see herself differently
• How Juju pivoted her business away from speaking on stages and toward virtual packages
• The new way she is helping her clients navigate the current business climate
• The marketing tools Juju used to engage her customers in new ways
• Juju’s major learnings from re-strategizing and rethinking her business this year
• What she will do differently in her business based on what she learned in 2020

Download Juju’s free self-assessment: “Discover Your Essence of Influence”

You can find her branding blog at StrategicJuju.com and her program for PrimeTime women at PositivelyPrimeTime.com.

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A very popular subject among public speakers is how to become an author.  But how do you turn your speaking topic into a book? Today's episode features my conversation with Honorée Corder, an executive and strategic book and publishing coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of more than 50 books including You Must Write a Book. Honorée passionately helps business professionals and entrepreneurs write, publish, and monetize their books, boost their brands, and get much more business.

On today's show, we discuss:

• How Honorée got started as an author and has written over 50 books
• How she helps people turn their message into a book
• What Honorée asks speakers to determine if they are ready to write their book
• The writing process she recommends to aspiring authors
• How to organize your content so it’s ready for publishing
• Pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing
• Advice for co-authoring a book
• How a book can help a speaker or business owner beyond making money
• How to work with a ghost writer, including cost and process

Get a free copy of Honoree’s book, You Must Write A Book

Learn more about Honoree at HonoreeCorder.com

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Our first installment of Four Minutes of Truth last month was such a success that it's continuing (as I hoped!). On today's episode, you'll hear from four women on the following topics: finding the right words, living with cancer, a relationship with an unexpected friend, and what living your truth actually feels like.  

Julia Becker Collins submitted her truth about living with cancer and she can be found at advertising.com/">www.vision-advertising.com or @JuliaRivka on Instagram.

If you are enjoying these submissions, please consider submitting your own for an upcoming episode! It's easy to do. 

Here's how it works:

1. You pick a topic you want to talk about. It can be how you're feeling about life these days (rants are totally acceptable), an experience you had recently or in the past, a meaningful idea or concept, or a vision you have for the future. The only requirement is that it's you, speaking your truth.

2. You will record this on your own, speaking into the voice recorder app on your phone and then you'll email it to me. If you have earbuds with a mic, that's great. If not, you can talk directly into the phone and that also works well. (If you have better recording software, feel free to use that.) Recording in a quiet room is ideal, but if you want to record while going for a walk or out in the world, that works too! Just try to have good sound quality if you can.

3. I would love it if it was you just riffing, unscripted. It's fine to have a couple general points outlined, but I'd love it if you could speak from the heart without sounding like you're reading or reciting something. If you mess up, you don't have to stop and start over. Keeping it real is a big part of what I want to showcase!

4. You can do this anonymously, or you can introduce yourself. I just ask that you start the recording with one of the following:

"My name is and this is my four minutes of truth..."

OR

"I'm submitting anonymously and this is my four minutes of truth..."

*If you want your full name and website/a social media platform highlighted in the show notes, please note that in your email to me. Otherwise it will just show your first name.*

5. No topic is off limits and swearing is totally fine.

Also, DON'T OVERTHINK IT! You can always submit another recording later if you want to talk about something else on a future episode. It doesn't have to be your life's manifesto or anything, just something that's on your mind or that you want to share. That being said, if you want to share something sacred or big, don't hesitate to do it.

Email it to me at angela[at]speakersisterhood.com. 

Looking forward to your submission. <3

-Angela

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Today's show is a fun, interactive episode that gives you a chance to play along with your voice and body! My guest today is Kelly Vogel. Kelly is the founder of Sound Passage, a practice that helps people embody the power of their own voice through gentle sound and movement. Most episodes don't come with a user manual, but this one does. I recommend you find a quiet place where you can practice Kelly's teachings as we go. Her exercises are simple and as you'll learn, they make a big difference. We discuss why voice and body work are important and how they can impact you when doing difficult things, like giving a speech, having a hard conversation, or running a big meeting. Kelly shares voice and body warmups you can do anytime and you'll be able to practice them right along with us. Also! Speaker Sisterhood is presenting an online workshop featuring Kelly and her work on October 6th at 7pm ET. We will practice some of the exercises we tried on this episode and you'll learn other ways to stay present in your body during chaos and stress. You can register for that workshop here.

More about Kelly: Originally from San Francisco, Kelly holds an MA in Literature and has been a college educator for over 20 years. She is also a singer-songwriter/pianist with three albums of original music. As an introvert, Kelly knows all-too-well the anxiety that public speaking and performing can generate. The creation and development of Sound Passage has been instrumental in helping her move from a place of vocal constraint to a place of inspiration. Kelly is a Learning Specialist at Smith College and lives in Easthampton, MA with her husband and daughter.

Learn more about Kelly Vogel and Sound Passage

passage-warm-up-exercises.docx.pdf">Get Kelly's list of warm ups here

Register for our online workshop October 6th

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The hot topic right now is online presentations and how to do them so you feel good and your audience pays attention. The areas of interest range from feeling comfortable in front of the camera to how to use the tech and engage the audience throughout your meeting. Fear not! I have answers for you and I even created an entire course on the subject that starts this Monday, September 21st. If you want more information than what I cover on today's episode, take a look at the course and get yourself a seat before registration closes on Sunday. 

Here are the questions I answer on today's show:

1. How do I setup my computer and lighting to get the best look?
2. How can you create engagement when people don't have their camera on and you can't see them?
3. How can I build an instant connection with a virtual audience? I want to have an engaging opening and usually I just feel like everyone is bored as soon as I start.
4. I hate being on camera! How do I get over this?
5. How do I field questions while trying to present? What if I don’t know the answer to a question?
6. How do I deliver a script when it’s not possible to memorize it?

Want to learn more? 

Introducing my new course, Online Presenting Made Easy!

This course is designed to take you from anxious and unsure to actually enjoying presenting (yes it is possible!).

You’ll learn how to:

• create content that is meaningful, informative, and not salesy
• keep the audience engaged from start to finish so you’re not left wondering if anyone heard anything you said
• use the technology so it enhances your presentation instead of being a source of frustration
• present yourself with authenticity instead of sounding robotic and boring

You’ll also get a chance to try out what you are learning in small group breakouts so you get immediate feedback and practice.

The format of the course is four 75-minute live classes on Zoom each Monday night from 7:00-8:15pm ET starting September 21st. (September 21, 28, October 5, 12.) 45 minutes of each class are for teaching and the other 30 minutes are for you to practice.

Want to learn more? Registration is now open!

If you can’t make it live, all the classes will be recorded and available to watch anytime. I’ll be sending the recording link out every week after class for anyone who missed it.

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Today's show is taking a rare turn into the world of mental health and trauma and how it influences our ability to use our voice. My guest is Dr. Omar Reda, a board-certified psychiatrist, Harvard-trained trauma expert, and Founder of Project Untangled, a model of care for trauma survivors. He has extensive experience and expertise in trauma-informed care, art and play therapy, refugee mental health, Muslim mental health, and the use of dialogue to combat hate. He is also the author of the book Untangled, A Go-To Guide for Caregivers of Traumatized Children, Families, and Communities.

We discuss:

• The role of parents and what happens when they don't do their job
• What attachment is and why it's important for speaking up
• Types of trauma and how these experiences affect adults
• Why people who experienced trauma as children metaphorically lose their voice
• Strategies and tools for adults to learn how to speak up now
• Approaches for breaking the cycle of trauma and loving yourself more

________________________________________

Learn more about my new course, Online Presenting Made Easy! Registration is now open. Class starts September 21st. See you there!

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I'm excited to bring you a new series I'm calling "Four Minutes of Truth." It features women who are sharing something that is true for them in a four minute recording. Today's episode features five women I asked to participate to kick off the series, but my hope is that future episodes will include submissions from listeners like you! The five women are all Speaker Sisterhood club leaders who were once members (and some still are). You'll hear about topics like friendship, loneliness, self-awareness, the importance of speaking up, sensitivity as a strength, and new habits formed during the pandemic. 

You will hear from:

Becky Vesce, virtual club and Enfield, CT club leader

Julie Bermant, Amherst, MA and Holyoke, MA club leader

Janelle Anderson, Christiansburg, VA club leader

Jennifer Cummings Hillery, Melrose, MA club leader

Shauna Gullbrand, Salem, NH club leader

All of these clubs are meeting virtually for the foreseeable future and you are welcome to attend as a guest for free at any time. Email them by clicking the link above and filling out the contact form on their page. 

If you would like to share your four minutes of truth, email me your recording to angela@speakersisterhood.com. The only requirement is that it starts with "Hi, my name is and this is my four minutes of truth." Don't overthink it and don't write a script. Just freestyle something and see what comes out. 

To take the survey for my upcoming course on online presentations, click here. The survey will be live until Saturday, August 29th at 12pm ET. 

Want to learn more about what Speaker Sisterhood is all about? Get started here. 

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If you missed the last episode, listen to that first! Today's show shares responses from you, the listeners, and observations of apologizing from other women in the world. I also shared an insight I learned from the apologizing challenge. If you have ideas for upcoming episode topics or would like to suggest a guest, email angela@speakersisterhood.com. You can also share your insights from the challenges at this email address as well. It may be a little longer than usual before the next podcast episode comes out - I have something different and big planned! Stay tuned...

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Today's episode is another one from the road. Pushing my son's carriage leads to many ideas and thoughts that need to be captured immediately! I smooshed two important topics together in hopes to inspire some thought around our behavior. The topics?Being unreasonable and apologizing. I put these two topics together because I think they are two things we could all work on and learn from. You'll hear more about why I'm bringing these things up now and how you can participate in sharing what you're learning about them too!

Email me at Angela@Speakersisterhood.com to share a text update or record your voice and send an audio file that could be on the next episode. I think it'd be really interesting to see what we all learn. 

Enjoy :)

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Here is the sequel to my most popular episode ever, Episode 108: Four Ways to Look and Feel Powerful, Confident and Relaxed While Speaking. On today's show, I share an update on what happened after recording "The Answers Episode" and offer the following four tips:

1. Perfect is boring. Don't aim for perfect, aim for real.

2. Nail a few key points. Don't overstuff your burrito.

3. Know your weaknesses and fears so you can plan for them.

4. Embody your love for the topic (energy matters). 

I share lots of stories and examples that'll help you integrate these tips into your speaking both on stage and online. Also, here are a couple links I mention in the episode:

Episode 108: Four Ways to Look and Feel Powerful, Confident and Relaxed While Speaking

Episode 45: Captivate with Vanessa Van Edwards (or listen where you download podcasts)

Hurry Slowly podcast episode: What If You're Not Broken?

Have a topic you want to hear covered or want to sponsor the show? Email me at angela@speakersisterhood.com

 

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The most frequently asked question I've heard in the last three months is something along the lines of, "How do I give an online presentation that doesn't suck?" First off, it's hard! Second, it requires a little more thought than just showing up and talking. I put together a list of seven ways to improve at online presenting. But first, here are the seven reasons you suck at it:

1. You lost them at the seventh second when you hit a technical glitch related to your slides.

2. You're boring.

3. You won't turn your camera on.

4. Everyone sucks at online presentations.

5. You're talking AT your audience.

6. You didn't think about your audience.

7. You ONLY thought about your audience. 

See the full list including tips to improve here. 

Got a topic you want covered on my show? Email me at angela@speakersisterhood.com and you may hear it on an upcoming episode! 

 

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I'm 5% ready for this episode to be out in the world, but waiting to release it won't solve anything. On today's episode, I share the "answers" to the questions I posed in the last episode. I get into invisible privilege, how learning about my addictions made me aware of my own complacency in other areas, how epigenetics plays a part in our trauma and healing, how focusing on one problem to solve has been problematic for me, and what I am doing to make a difference going forward. I hope you'll share what you thought of this episode or share your own thoughts by emailing me at angela@speakersisterhood.com.

Listen to David Foster Wallace's "This Is Water"

the-stage-questions.pdf"> Download the questions from episode 137

Check out a Speaker Sisterhood club

Watch Mark Wolynn's video on epigenetics "It Isn't Your Fault"

 

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Hiiii!! It's me again. It's been two months and I'm excited to get back to the show with a big episode of questions. These questions were designed to help you do some self-discovery during this time of change. They are also there to help you see things about yourself you may not want to look at because this is where the truth lives! Ready? 

the-stage-questions.pdf"> Download your copy of the questions here. 

Email me your answers for the next episode to angela@speakersisterhood.com by June 15th. Let me know if you want to be anonymous or not. Would love to include you!

If you'd like to attend a Speaker Sisterhood meeting to share your answers and check out our clubs, view our list of groups here. 

Learn more about the International Institute for Restorative Practices here. 

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Hi friends. Your host, Angela here. :)

How are you doing during these strange times? I recorded a short episode on a walk around my neighborhood today while trying to get my eight month old son to take a nap. Just checking in to say hi and see how you're doing. If you want to shoot me a note, my email is angela@speakersisterhood.com. Hope you're finding peace during this time. <3

If you want to check out a virtual Speaker Sisterhood meeting, find the listing of clubs here. Your first meeting is free and this is a great time to see what we're all about! 

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Do you speak about a topic that most people would rather avoid than have to deal with? Topics that make your target audience uncomfortable can be hard to market because they may not want to face that discomfort. On today’s episode, I interview Rachel Richards, a former financial advisor who has made a name for herself in the personal finance realm. She is the bestselling author of “Money Honey” and “Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement.” Her valuable money lessons have helped thousands of millennials work their way out of financial despair. She has successfully done what no one has done before: made the topic of money management fun, entertaining, and simple.

We cover:

• How Rachel got into money management as a career focus
• How she took a topic that is typically dry and difficult to follow and made it fun and simple
• Tips to turn an emotionally-charged topic into something people want to learn about
• How she approaches this topic when putting together a speech
• How she creates compelling content for social media
• What she did to change her mindset from seeing this topic as hard and difficult to simple and easy
• Customer research she did to learn about how her audience talks about finances
• How she has gotten so much attention for the book
• Advice she would give as a starting point for other speakers and aspiring authors who are trying to make their topic more attractive and are struggling with it

Learn more about Rachel Richards here

Buy Money Honey here

Buy Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement here

Follow her on Instagram Facebook and Twitter

 

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Welcome to a special bonus episode! Today we're talking all about gaining confidence to speak up. My guest is Dr Joli Hamilton (you heard her on our last episode, #134) and we're sharing our experiences with speaking up, advice on how to do it, and what to do when speaking up goes wrong. This is a super popular subject and we're excited to share some tips to make this practice easier for you. We also talk more about our upcoming weekend retreat we're doing in Western Massachusetts in June. Get all the details, find out why you might want to be there, and apply here. 

More about Joli:

Dr. Joli Hamilton has a doctorate in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute where she specialized in Jungian and Archetypal Studies. Joli also earned a certificate in holistic sexuality education from the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment, where she is now faculty teaching intimacy, communication, theories of sexuality education, and kink awareness for new sex therapists and educators. She is an AASECT board-certified sex educator and is currently the Chair of the Continuing Education Committee for AASECT. Joli is also a professor of human sexuality where she is constantly finding new ways to teach people how to lean into their curiosity about sex, love, and connection.

Want to get your copy of Secrets of the Sisterhood? This book is a compilation-style publication that features speeches written by Speaker Sisterhood members. The women between the pages of this book are courageous, powerful truth tellers. These 45 speeches were originally delivered in Speaker Sisterhood clubs across the U.S. between 2016 and 2019. You’ll read stories of believing, seeking, becoming, and so much more. This book also serves as a fundraiser for our scholarship program, The Gratitude Fund. 50% of profits will go towards this fund to help more women access the power of the Speaker Sisterhood. Get your copy of the book by 24310376.html"> clicking here.

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I'm baaaaack! I mean, the show has been running, but I haven't really felt like I'm "back" until now. 2019 brought all kinds of challenges and every time I thought I got up, I was kicked down again. On today's episode, I invite my friend Dr. Joli Hamilton to join me to talk about a big secret project we're unveiling right here, right now. We also talk about how this project came to be and the steps we've taken to make it real. I go over all of this in the hopes that it will provide some sort of roadmap for you, if you want to do something similar. We're VERY excited about this new offering and hope you will join us for the fun in June. To learn more about it and apply, go here.

Learn more about Dr. Joli Hamilton here. 

Have an idea for an upcoming topic or guest you'd like to recommend? Email me! angela@speakersisterhood.com

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Selling. It's one of those necessary elements of making your business grow, but how do you do it in a way that feels satisfying and not slimy? On today's episode, I interview Nikki Rausch, a sales coach, author, speaker and founder of Sales Maven. After 25 years of experience selling to such prestigious organizations as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, and NASA, Nikki decided to start her own business so she could help entrepreneurs sell in a way that builds relationships, creates true connection, and results in more closed deals and long-term clients. Now, Nikki transforms the misunderstood process of “selling” into techniques, tools, and tips that can be successfully incorporated into a process replicable by anyone whose livelihood relies on selling a product, a service, or themselves.  On today's episode we discuss:

• How Nikki became a sales expert
• Why the sales process is so misunderstood
• The "Selling Staircase" and how to use it
• Nikki's favorite sales techniques when speaking on a stage or using speaking to sell your business
• The biggest mistakes she sees speakers and business owners make when it comes to selling
• What Nikki would say to someone who is hesitant to make a pitch because they're afraid of hearing a "no"

Nikki has offered all Claim the Stage listeners a copy of her ebook, Closing the Sale, which helps uncover why you might be fumbling sales calls and what to do instead, how to establish yourself as the expert and language to use when asking for the sale. Get it here: www.yoursalesmaven.com/cts

Learn more about Nikki and follow her here:

Visit Nikki's website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Twitter

YouTube

Want to get your copy of Secrets of the Sisterhood? This book is a compilation-style publication that features speeches written by Speaker Sisterhood members. The women between the pages of this book are courageous, powerful truth tellers. These 45 speeches were originally delivered in Speaker Sisterhood clubs across the U.S. between 2016 and 2019. You’ll read stories of believing, seeking, becoming, and so much more. This book also serves as a fundraiser for our scholarship program, The Gratitude Fund. 50% of profits will go towards this fund to help more women access the power of the Speaker Sisterhood. Get your copy of the book by 24310376.html"> clicking here.

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

If you're someone with a big message to share, you may find yourself wondering if your message is too much -- too controversial, too "out there" or too bold for your audience. What if you upset someone? What if you're misunderstood? If you're going against the norm or presenting a topic that will get a big response, you may have concerns and want to tone it down. Today's guest recommends you don't and she'll tell you why. Rachel Braun Scherl, a self-proclaimed "Vagipreneur" is a champion for the business of women’s health and a pioneer in the space, where she has passionately focused on driving the conversation about solutions and options for women’s sexual and reproductive health. She's the author of the best-seller, Orgasmic Leadership: Profiting from the Coming Surge in Women’s Sexual Health and Wellness.

On today's episode we cover:

• How Rachel got into this type of work
• How she picked the title for her book and the backlash of that decision
• What a "Vagipreneur" is and why she calls herself that
• Tips to be bold and find your bold message 
• How to be an orgasmic leader 

Find out more about Rachel: 

Rachel's website

Rachel's book 

Facebook

Twitter

Want to get your copy of Secrets of the Sisterhood? This book is a compilation-style publication that features speeches written by Speaker Sisterhood members. The women between the pages of this book are courageous, powerful truth tellers. These 45 speeches were originally delivered in Speaker Sisterhood clubs across the U.S. between 2016 and 2019. You’ll read stories of believing, seeking, becoming, and so much more. This book also serves as a fundraiser for our scholarship program, The Gratitude Fund. 50% of profits will go towards this fund to help more women access the power of the Speaker Sisterhood. Get your copy of the book by 24310376.html">clicking here.

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Jennifer Brown is an LGBTQ bestselling author and CEO of a multimillion dollar inclusion + diversity consultancy who has spoken at places like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the NBA and Google. She also just released her second book How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive. On today's episode, we discuss: 

• How public speaking became Jennifer's #1 strategy to bring in corporate clients like Walmart and Starbucks
• How Jennifer pitched herself for big speaking gigs
• What she included in her talks to help potential clients see she would be a good match for them
• What kind of techniques she uses to engage a room of people who would rather not be in a diversity & inclusion training
• Advice she has for others who have to give presentations on a topic that the audience may not be engaged in

Learn more about Jennifer:

Jennifer Brown Speaks

Jennifer Brown Consulting

Get her book: How to be an Inclusive Leader

Follow her:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

24310376.html"> Get The Secrets of the Sisterhood: 45 Stories of Love, Truth, and Power

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Putting your ideas and advice into the world can be a scary move. How do you protect yourself and your content so you don't have to worry about your work being stolen or used by others? On today's show, I interview Jamie Lieberman, an attorney, podcaster and entrepreneur dedicated to making legal accessible and sharing the message that working with a lawyer doesn’t have to be scary. As the owner and founder of legal.com/">Hashtag Legal, Jamie draws on her experience working with influencer marketing professionals, speakers, creatives and business owners to help her clients grow and protect their businesses.

On today's show, we cover: --How Jamie got her first speaking gig and the strategies she has used to speak on stages of 500+ audience members --How content creators (like speakers, online course creators, authors) can protect their intellectual property --The three clauses in a speaking contract speakers should be paying way more attention to --Other important elements speakers should put in their contracts --Recourse a speaker can take if a client doesn't pay on time or pay the amount in the contract --Tips around negotiating a speaking engagement

*The smell Jamie was referring to in the interview was Play Dough!

Want to get your copy of Secrets of the Sisterhood? This book is a compilation-style publication that features speeches written by Speaker Sisterhood members. The women between the pages of this book are courageous, powerful truth tellers. These 45 speeches were originally delivered in Speaker Sisterhood clubs across the U.S. between 2016 and 2019. You’ll read stories of believing, seeking, becoming, and so much more. This book also serves as a fundraiser for our scholarship program, The Gratitude Fund. 50% of profits will go towards this fund to help more women access the power of the Speaker Sisterhood. Get your copy of the book by 24310376.html"> clicking here.

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Today’s episode is the final installment of our four-part series that showcases Speaker Sisterhood members and their speeches appearing in our new book coming out November 29th, “Secrets of the Sisterhood.” This is a compilation-style book that features 45 speeches about love, truth, and power.

This episode features speeches and interviews with Kathryn Petruccelli, member of our Florence, MA club, and Carolyn Johnson, member of our Reading, MA club.

Kathryn Petruccelli is a writer, poet, and performer with an M.A. in teaching English language learners. Her professional life has included translating "Hotel California" for Hungarian high school students, anthologizing poetry written by teen moms, and creating engaging leads for articles about produce festivals. She is currently seeking her next big adventure. More at poetroar.com.

Carolyn Johnson is a wife, mother, and woman on a mission of self-discovery. At this time she is researching professional fields that may be a good fit for her.  Above all, she hopes to find opportunities that will enable her to make a positive difference in other people's lives.

“Secrets of the Sisterhood” is not only a showcase of amazing stories, it’s also a fundraiser for our scholarship fund. Fifty percent of book profits will go towards this fund so we can give more women access to Speaker Sisterhood membership. Get a special 30% discount on launch day, November 29, 2019 by using LAUNCH30 at checkout. Click here for more information and the link to buy the book. 

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Today’s episode is part three of a four-part series that showcases Speaker Sisterhood members and their speeches that will appear in our new book coming out November 29th, “Secrets of the Sisterhood.” This is a compilation-style book that features 45 speeches about love, truth, and power.

This episode features Shauna Gullbrand, club leader of our Salem, NH club, and Kim Meninger, past member of our virtual club. 

Shauna Gullbrand, PCC, ACC, is a Certified Professional Coach receiving her certifications through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and the International Coach Federation (ICF).  She is co-host of the weekly podcast Hawks & lavender rose, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and and Integrated Energy Therapy® Master/Instructor (IET). Shauna is passionate about guiding others on their journey of self-discovery and advocates for more conscious living.

Kim Meninger started her own coaching and consulting business after more than 10 years in the high-tech industry. It was during her high-tech years that she experienced first-hand the unique challenges facing women in traditionally male-dominated environments. With a BA in psychology and an MBA from Boston College, she decided to leverage her experience to empower women to build their confidence, visibility and influence in order to maximize their impact and advance their careers. Kim coaches individuals and groups. She also speaks regularly on career and leadership topics to corporate, non-profit and academic audiences.

“Secrets of the Sisterhood” is not only a showcase of amazing stories, it’s also a fundraiser for our scholarship fund. Fifty percent of book profits will go towards this fund so we can give more women access to Speaker Sisterhood membership. Get a special 30% discount on launch day, November 29, 2019 by using LAUNCH30 at checkout. Click here for more information and the link to buy the book. 

 

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Today’s episode is part two of a four-part series that showcases Speaker Sisterhood members and their speeches that will appear in our new book coming out November 29th, “Secrets of the Sisterhood.” This is a compilation-style book that features 45 speeches about love, truth, and power.

On today’s episode, I interview Sandra Costello and Stacy Every, members of our Northampton, Massachusetts club. 

Sandra Costello is a spirited entrepreneur but also known as the Chief Hugger. She is a portrait photographer to women and the people they love, an inspirational speaker, and the kind of coach all small business owners want by their side. Always positive and ready to inspire photographers and creatives-alike to authentically brand themselves and do the work they love.

Stacy Every is a former educator who seven years ago started a new life with her own massage therapy business. Her new life included speaking up and sharing her opinion, and since this terrified her, she joined the Northampton, MA Speaker Sisterhood chapter in 2018. She has been a resident in Westfield, Massachusetts for 17 years where she lives with her three much beloved teenaged children.

“Secrets of the Sisterhood” is not only a showcase of amazing stories, it’s also a fundraiser for our scholarship fund. 50% of book profits will go towards this fund so we can give more women access to Speaker Sisterhood membership. Keep listening to future episodes to find out where to get the book and to get a special 30% discount on launch day, November 29, 2019!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Wow! It's so good to be back. Today's episode is part one of a four-part series that will showcase Speaker Sisterhood members and the speeches that will appear in our new book coming out November 29th, "Secrets of the Sisterhood." This is a compilation-style book that features 45 speeches about love, truth, and power. 

On today's episode, I interview Lauren Simonds, the book's editor and one of our featured speechwriters.

Lauren is a former paramedic, a Smith College graduate, an award-winning small business tech journalist, and she currently works as a freelance writer and editor. After years of writing for other people (not that there’s anything wrong with that), Lauren joined a Speaker Sisterhood club to reawaken her own voice and, in the process, discovered an amazing community of women.

Lauren also interviews me about the speech I submitted and we talk about what it was like to put this book together. If you've ever thought about working on a project like this, we share some insights into what we learned behind the scenes in the hopes to provide some guidance.

"Secrets of the Sisterhood" is not only a showcase of amazing stories, it's also a fundraiser for our scholarship fund. 50% of book profits will go towards this fund so we can give more women access to Speaker Sisterhood membership. Keep listening to future episodes to find out where to get the book and to get a special discount on launch day, November 29, 2019! 

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Raw. Real. Hilarious. "On brand." These are the words I'd use to describe today's guest and final installment of the Guest Mentors Summer Series. Jessica Pettitt, M.Ed., pulls together her stand up comedy years with 15+ years of diversity trainings in a wide range of organizations to serve groups to move from abstract fears to actionable habits that lead to teams that want to work together.  Jess is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a Certified Speaking Professional. Fewer than 10% of speakers worldwide hold this credential.

On today's episode, Jess and I explore how she went from unpaid, unknown speaker to paid speaker with a platform. 

We cover:

• the mindset shifts that took place
• her marketing pieces and messages
• how she built a schedule/plan/goals to get started
• her biggest challenges when it comes to pitching, pricing, and negotiating
• advice she would give to her past self 
• advice for speakers who are trying to break into this field and are feeling lost or stuck
• what Jess means by "Two horses: Ego Vs Humility" and why they matter

Get Jess' book, "Good Enough Now" here

Get your freebies from Jess here

The Guest Mentors Summer Series is five episodes featuring women who are, first and foremost, professional public speakers. But they’re also authors, speaker coaches, and seasoned business owners. You’ll learn about their mindset shifts, challenges, systems, advice for new speakers, pricing tips, and so much more. This series is full of inspiring personal stories, entertaining experiences on stage, and expert advice.

This series is sponsored by:

Speaking School for Women, my signature online course that teaches you how to become a paid, professional speaker in six weeks or less. Learn branding, marketing, speechcraft, pricing, pitching, and so much more. Now until August 31st, get 20% off using promo code SUMMER20 at checkout. Learn more at https://speakersisterhood.thinkific.com/

Told Video: Original, thoughtful storytelling for your brand. Here to help you with your next step in speaker marketing: a meaningful video. Let your story out into the world - get it Told. Follow Told video on Instagram at @toldvideo for flash sales and discounts announced monthly!

Learn more about improving your public speaking skills at a Speaker Sisterhood club for women:https://speakersisterhood.com/

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

"Everything that goes wrong on stage is a teachable moment." -Lisa Braithwaite

On today's installment of the Guest Mentors Summer Series, you'll hear from Lisa Braithwaite. Lisa is a speaking coach, trainer, and author of "Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection." She mentors entrepreneurs and professionals to create memorable and engaging presentations so they can build their businesses through speaking. With a B.A. in Theater and an M.A. in Education, she spent 16 years developing programs and training in the nonprofit sector as an advocate and educator, as well as founding her own organization. She's been interviewed for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Men’s Health, Toastmaster Magazine, and Inc.com.

Today's episode will give you permission to be creative and use interaction to bring your presentations to life. Lisa says there's a difference between simplifying and dumbing down for the audience and today she'll show you how. Her philosophy is connection, not perfection and you'll learn how to do that during this interview. 

Get Lisa's book here

Follow Lisa on social media platforms @coachlisab

Check out Lisa's website here

Read her blog

The Guest Mentors Summer Series is five episodes featuring women who are, first and foremost, professional public speakers. But they’re also authors, speaker coaches, and seasoned business owners. You’ll learn about their mindset shifts, challenges, systems, advice for new speakers, pricing tips, and so much more. This series is full of inspiring personal stories, entertaining experiences on stage, and expert advice.

This series is sponsored by:

Speaking School for Women, my signature online course that teaches you how to become a paid, professional speaker in six weeks or less. Learn branding, marketing, speechcraft, pricing, pitching, and so much more. Now until August 31st, get 20% off using promo code SUMMER20 at checkout. Learn more at https://speakersisterhood.thinkific.com/

Told Video: Original, thoughtful storytelling for your brand. Here to help you with your next step in speaker marketing: a meaningful video. Let your story out into the world - get it Told. Follow Told video on Instagram at @toldvideo for flash sales and discounts announced monthly!

Learn more about improving your public speaking skills at a Speaker Sisterhood club for women:https://speakersisterhood.com/

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Susan is the only person I've met who, like me, gave 500+ free talks before realizing this could be a potential revenue stream and career path. We're soul sister speakers with a lot of good karma. :)

On today's installment of the Guest Mentor Summer Series, I interview Susan Lindner. Susan is a Cultural Anthropologist, Brand Marketer, and Disruptor. Susan got her start as an AIDS educator in the brothels of Thailand, helping turn prostitutes into entrepreneurs. Today, she’s the founder of Emerging Media, a branding, PR and marketing agency dedicated to helping tech founders reach their finish lines. Her award-winning strategies have gotten 10 companies acquired, and she is now hell bent on sharing them with the world. Susan speaks to startups, innovators, and top executives from 60+ countries at GE, PWC, Deutsche Bank, Capital One and at global conferences, consulates and trade organizations about strategic storytelling, mastering the message and the media for maximum impact.

On today's episode, we spend a lot of time on how Susan has built her speaking business, how she manages it, and how she continues to grow her speaking opportunities. She also shares why you should use a virtual assistant and how having one can help you. 

Check out Susan's CRM: Hubspot

Visit Susan's website for her company, Emerging Media

The Guest Mentors Summer Series is five episodes featuring women who are, first and foremost, professional public speakers. But they’re also authors, speaker coaches, and seasoned business owners. You’ll learn about their mindset shifts, challenges, systems, advice for new speakers, pricing tips, and so much more. This series is full of inspiring personal stories, entertaining experiences on stage, and expert advice.

This series is sponsored by:

Speaking School for Women, my signature online course that teaches you how to become a paid, professional speaker in six weeks or less. Learn branding, marketing, speechcraft, pricing, pitching, and so much more. Now until August 31st, get 20% off using promo code SUMMER20 at checkout. Learn more at https://speakersisterhood.thinkific.com/

Told Video: Original, thoughtful storytelling for your brand. Here to help you with your next step in speaker marketing: a meaningful video. Let your story out into the world - get it Told. Follow Told video on Instagram at @toldvideo for flash sales and discounts announced monthly!

Learn more about improving your public speaking skills at a Speaker Sisterhood club for women:https://speakersisterhood.com/

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Do you consider yourself to be a bombshell? In episode two of the Guest Mentors Summer Series, Amber Hurdle will redefine what a "bombshell" is and why you want to be one. 

Amber Hurdle, author and speaker, creates content-rich experiences to sharpen personal, employer and business brands. A former teen mom turned powerhouse business woman, Amber learned to clearly articulate her own value, eventually enabling her to work with international celebrities and Fortune 100 companies alike. Her clients include large brands such as FedEx Ground, Mars, Inc., and Marriott, as well as small businesses that want to play big. Recognized among the “Top 40 Under 40” by the Nashville Business Journal, she is also a top certified advisor for the Fascination Advantage® personality assessment and is certified in the Change Cycle®. Known for her straight shooting Velvet Machete™ and warm personality, Amber never fails to motivate professionals to up their game in business and in life.

Amber will teach you how to:

• eliminate excuses and take action
• find your motivation to accomplish your goals
• decide who you want to be today and then be that person
• use your network to build your speaking business early on
• know who you help, what you help them do, and how you help them

Links we discuss in the episode:

Amber's website

Get her book

Visit Meredithspeaks.com

Check out Agile CRM

The Guest Mentors Summer Series is five episodes featuring women who are, first and foremost, professional public speakers. But they’re also authors, speaker coaches, and seasoned business owners. You’ll learn about their mindset shifts, challenges, systems, advice for new speakers, pricing tips, and so much more. This series is full of inspiring personal stories, entertaining experiences on stage, and expert advice.

This series is sponsored by:

Speaking School for Women, my signature online course that teaches you how to become a paid, professional speaker in six weeks or less. Learn branding, marketing, speechcraft, pricing, pitching, and so much more. Now until August 31st, get 20% off using promo code SUMMER20 at checkout. Learn more at https://speakersisterhood.thinkific.com/

Told Video: Original, thoughtful storytelling for your brand. Here to help you with your next step in speaker marketing: a meaningful video. Let your story out into the world - get it Told. Follow Told video on Instagram at @toldvideo for flash sales and discounts announced monthly!

Learn more about improving your public speaking skills at a Speaker Sisterhood club for women:https://speakersisterhood.com/

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Lois Creamer says the goal of a professional speaker is to be memorable, create takeaways that are doable, and to be creative in the approach. So...how do you do this? In part one of the Guest Mentor Summer Series, we explore all this and more! 

Lois Creamer is a recognized industry expert working with speakers who want to book more business, make more money and fully monetize their intellectual property. She is the author of Book More Business: Make Money Speaking. Coming soon is her new book, co-authored with Cathy Fyock, The Speaker Author: How to Use Books to Sell Speaking and How to Use Speaking to Sell Books. Clients include Chicken Soup’s Jack Canfield; bestselling author of The Sales Bible Jeffrey Gitomer; presentation guru Patricia Fripp and more.

Find out what Lois says are the two most important character traits and the one most important skill to be successful as a professional speaker, and learn what the acronym PSA means when it comes to writing effective speeches and web content. Lois has a wealth of knowledge on the speaking industry and will teach you the ins and outs of turning your content into something people will want to buy. 

Links mentioned in the episode:

Get Book More Business: Make Money Speaking

Get The Speaker Author: How to Use Books to Sell Speaking and How to Use Speaking to Sell Books

Visit Lois' website

The Guest Mentors Summer Series is five episodes featuring women who are, first and foremost, professional public speakers. But they’re also authors, speaker coaches, and seasoned business owners. You’ll learn about their mindset shifts, challenges, systems, advice for new speakers, pricing tips, and so much more. This series is full of inspiring personal stories, entertaining experiences on stage, and expert advice. 

This series is sponsored by:

Speaking School for Women, my signature online course that teaches you how to become a paid, professional speaker in six weeks or less. Learn branding, marketing, speechcraft, pricing, pitching, and so much more. Now until August 31st, get 20% off using promo code SUMMER20 at checkout. Learn more at https://speakersisterhood.thinkific.com/

Told Video: Original, thoughtful storytelling for your brand. Here to help you with your next step in speaker marketing: a meaningful video. Let your story out into the world - get it Told. Follow Told video on Instagram at @toldvideo for flash sales and discounts announced monthly!

Learn more about improving your public speaking skills at a Speaker Sisterhood club for women:https://speakersisterhood.com/ 

 

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Today's episode is a big departure from the typical format of this show. I decided to hit record and just start talking. You'll find out why as I get into it. I talk about what's been going on the last six months, how to deal with change, what it means when things are hard, a great mantra for dealing with transitions, and what's next. I also share reflections, recent lessons, and what you can expect from the podcast this summer. 

Speaking School for Women, my signature online course that teaches you how to become a paid, professional speaker in six weeks or less, is discounted all summer. Learn branding, marketing, speechcraft, pricing, pitching, and so much more. Now until August 31st, get 20% off using promo code SUMMER20 at checkout. Learn more at https://speakersisterhood.thinkific.com/

This episode is sponsored by Told Video: Original, thoughtful storytelling for your brand. Here to help you with your next step in speaker marketing: a meaningful video. Let your story out into the world - get it Told. Follow Told video on Instagram at @toldvideo for flash sales and discounts announced monthly!

Learn more about improving your public speaking skills at a Speaker Sisterhood club for women:https://speakersisterhood.com/

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support