Crazy Good Talks

Do you know that feeling when you take on too much at once and feel like you're spinning a million plates that could fall and break any second? Deirdre Van Nest knows this feeling all too well. The way to get out of this chaos is knowing when to say NO. With this in mind, … Continue reading 35. How Saying ‘No' Can Create New Opportunities in Your Business →

Humans have been using storytelling to communicate, pass on knowledge and connect for thousands of years. But, did you know that when you share your wisdom and stories, and package them in the right way,  your stories actually become assets in your business? In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest has a conversation with John LoDuca, … Continue reading What it means to be a Thought Leader With John LoDuca Part 2. (Ep 34) →

A ‘Thought Leader' has the ability to transform people, industries, and sometimes even the world. In order to be considered a thought leader you must voice (or pen) original ideas AND you must differentiate yourself through a unique process.  In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with John LoDuca, founder of Playbook Builder, about how to … Continue reading What It Means To Be a Thought Leader With John LoDuca Part 1. (Ep 33) →

Remote work has opened up a whole new world of opportunities. But, there is still some resistance and fear from business owners who are not comfortable moving to this new way of working. The truth is if you're not willing to provide at least some remote options, you will not be competitive when it comes … Continue reading Top Secrets to Effectively Leading a Remote Team with Andrea Schlapia (Ep 32) →

Most people think their presentation starts when they take the stage, but it actually starts at your introduction. A Crazy Good introduction paves the way for you and is just as important as the presentation itself. Why? Your introduction needs to be compelling so your audience is primed and excited to hear what you have … Continue reading How to Get People Excited to Hear You Speak-Even Before You Take the Stage (Ep 31) →

Just saying the word…Video. Strikes fear in hearts of even the most courageous advisors and entrepreneurs.  In addition to hearing your inner critic tell you how bad you look and sound, if you're not a video expert, filming, editing, and producing a video can be really intimidating! Plus, it's easy to make mistakes.  That's why … Continue reading Top 10 Tips for Crazy Good Videos With Laura Garfield (Ep. 30) →

Would you believe that the subject matter of a great story is almost irrelevant? What makes a story great and what can RUIN it… is all in the editing! Finding the right details in a story to capture the audience's attention and relate to the presentation's topic is much more important than having an action-packed … Continue reading Why “Killing your Darlings” Is Absolutely Critical in Storytelling (Ep 29) →

Do you want to know the secret behind the success of Michael Kitces, one of the most sought-after speakers and thought leaders in his industry? Through consistency, practice, and following specific communication strategies, Michael has become the legend he is today. In this episode, Michael talks to Deirdre and reveals the strategies he uses to … Continue reading How One Presentation Started a Digital Empire With Michael Kitces Part 2 (Ep 28) →

Imagine if one presentation could change your life forever. That's exactly what happened to Michael Kitces, one of the most sought after speakers and thought leaders in the financial services industry. But if you're an entrepreneur, don't tune out. This episode is for you too because even though Michael's an advisor, at his core, he's … Continue reading How One Presentation Started a Digital Empire With Michael Kitces Part 1 (Ep 27) →

One of the biggest challenges a presenter has is grabbing the attention of your audience from the first words out of your mouth.  In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre will teach you how to inspire your audience and hook them at the beginning of every presentation both virtually and in person. In this … Continue reading REPLAY – How to Grab Attention from the First Words Out of Your Mouth →

What would you do if you could no longer speak? It's unimaginable isn't it? That's the reality our guest Tim Schut is facing.  In June of 2021, Tim was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech. This means he is progressively losing his ability to speak.  He now uses optimism and courage to inspire others, … Continue reading 26. What Would You Do if You Could No Longer Speak With Tim Schut →

FACT: Your clients are INUNDATED with messages and attention spans are short. That's why when you express yourself, you MUST take the time needed to create messages that are relevant and interesting. Messages that stand out, can make or break your client and audience engagement.  In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre talks to … Continue reading 25. How to be RADICALLY Relevant With Bill Cates →

You've recorded your ‘Why Story'. Now, how do you get people to see it?  In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with Kalli Fedusenko, owner of Kalli Collective LLC. Kalli shares her top tips for promoting and getting more views for your “Why Story” video – or any video for that matter. You'll learn:  How … Continue reading 24. How to get more eyes on your videos with Kalli Fedusenkko →

It's time to stop juggling all those balls. Having your own business or practice doesn't have to be so stressful. You CAN create a self managing company.  In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest speaks with Barron's top 100 advisor Erin Botsford, CPF®, founder and chief executive officer at The Advisor Authority. Hear about Erin's extraordinary … Continue reading 23. Stop Juggling All The Balls With Erin Botsford CFP® →

Are you struggling to hold your audience's attention and own the room every time you speak? If so, you might be making the most common delivery mistakes without realizing it.  Let's turn that around! In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest unpacks 13 mistakes that derail speakers of all experience levels from giving a Crazy Good … Continue reading 22. 13 Mistakes That Stop You From Becoming a Crazy Good Speaker (And How To Fix Them!) →

You'd love to get paid for your professional speaking. But you're not sure how to go from free-based to fee-based. Sound familiar? In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest tells all! Having gone from speaking for free to now earning a living from delivering her Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre has proven tips to help you initiate … Continue reading 21. From Free to Fee: Proven Tips for Becoming a Paid Speaker →

There are two emotions you can use to motivate and inspire your audience every time you speak. In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest talks with Sam Palazzolo, the managing director at Tip of the Spear Ventures and author of “The Influential Leader”. Sam shares his advice on harnessing the power of two emotions to build … Continue reading 20. How Harnessing the Power of Emotions Will Create Value in Your Presentations With Sam Palazzolo →

As a speaker, you've probably heard this advice: “Be vulnerable. It will help your audience connect with you.”  But when does being vulnerable cross into TMI? After all, you want to engage your audience and Own the Room –– not clear it! In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest shares two ways to show vulnerability that … Continue reading 19. How To Be More Vulnerable When You Express Yourself – Without Scaring People Away →

During a virtual presentation, one of the most difficult tasks can be keeping the energy moving and your audience engaged throughout the entire presentation.  It's time to relieve yourself of “virtual fatigue”; keep your audience AND yourself energized during your next presentation! In part two of this mini-series, Deirdre Van Nest reveals the rest of … Continue reading 18. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 2 →

Energy and the internet can be a tough combo for any speaker.  That's why keeping the energy moving during your virtual presentations is THE key to engaging your audience. In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest reveals her go-to formula for getting and KEEPING an audience's attention during virtual presentations. Use this formula so that YOU … Continue reading 17. Got “Virtual Fatigue”? A 4-Part Formula for Keeping Your Audience AND Yourself Energized During Virtual Presentations: Part 1 →

Are you struggling to create a clear brand message? One a 10-year old can understand?  No matter how long you've been in business, messaging is tough! Especially if you're not a professional marketer.  In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest gets solutions from Casey Fuerst, the owner of Tic Tac Toe Marketing and a StoryBrand Certified … Continue reading 16. 7 Steps To Creating a Clear Brand Message That Turns Prospects Into Clients With Casey Fuerst →

Do you have a book inside you that's aching to get out? Of course you do! Well, you're in luck because the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint will give you the guidance and structure to write it. In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest is joined by Ross Marino CFP®, the founder and chief executive officer at … Continue reading 15. Writing a Book Using the Crazy Good Talks® Blueprint With Ross Marino →

When you're presenting, do you feel pressured to fill every space with words? A lot of professionals feel this way. They believe that if they pause, they're giving the audience “nothing.” In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre Van Nest explains why the opposite is true. You will discover why taking a  pause is … Continue reading 14. How to Master the Power of the Pause in Your Presentations →

What's the difference between a good speaker and a Crazy Good Speaker?  In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest shares four trade secrets that Crazy Good Speakers use to stand out and own the room every time they speak. Whether you're a new speaker, seasoned speaker, or somewhere in between, these are tips you can use … Continue reading 13. So What Does It Actually Take To Be a Crazy Good Speaker? →

“To script or not to script?” Do you ever ask yourself this question as you prepare for a Crazy Good Talk®? In this episode, Deirdre Van Nest helps you decide which approach to take for your next speaking engagement –– and why (hint: It's all about keeping your audience's attention!). She also dispels the myth … Continue reading 12. To Script or Not to Script? How To Know Which Approach Will Keep Your Audience's Attention →

Have you ever had tons of people register for your event, but then, only a few people actually show up?  It's frustrating. Especially when you've prepared a Crazy Good Talk®.  Help is here! Whether you're an advisor, thought leader, or executive, this episode is for you. Deirdre Van Nest talks with Brad Swineheart, senior vice … Continue reading 11. 5 Strategies To Get More People To Attend Your Events With Brad Swineheart →

Did you know that breathing is a secret weapon for decreasing anxiety and increasing your effectiveness as a presenter? In fact, when used daily, this secret weapon will give you more peace of mind and help you be more successful in all areas of your life. In this episode of the Crazy Good Talks® Podcast, … Continue reading Episode 10 – The Secret Weapon for Decreasing Your Speaking Jitters — with Jesse Tordsen →

Contrary to popular belief, one of the ways even the best presentations can be derailed is by closing with a Q and A session. If you are presenting like this, it is absolutely time to make a change! In this episode of the Crazy Good Talks® Podcast, Deirdre Van Nest shares why it's a mistake … Continue reading Episode 9 – Never, ever end your presentation with a Q & A session. Never! →

What if you could become one of the best professional keynote speakers in the entire world? What would that journey look like, and how would you want to be remembered? In this episode of the Crazy Good Talks® Podcast, Deirdre Van Nest sits down with Craig Valentine, MBA, an award-winning professional speaker, and speech coach. … Continue reading Episode 8 – Speak To Be Remembered — with Craig Valentine, MBA →

Your ability to build trust and emotional connection may not be as easy to quantify, but research shows, to the consumer, these qualities are MORE important than competency. In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre sits down with Joey Davenport, International speaker and president of Hoopis Performance Network. Joey and Deirdre share the top … Continue reading Episode 7 – The Blind Spot of Building Trust — with Guest Joey Davenport →

Creating a real connection with your audience through a “Why Story” is like adding lighter fluid to your presentations, conversations and marketing tactics. In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre delves into more detail on Why Stories. You will learn why this type of storytelling is so powerful and how to communicate your story … Continue reading Episode 6 – Is Storytelling in Your Sales & Relationship Building Toolkit? Part 2 →

Did you know that human brains are ideally set up to understand and learn from a story? In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre will go over three types of stories every business professional MUST have in their tool kit. You'll learn that stories are an extension of your sales and relationship building team, … Continue reading Episode 5 – Is Storytelling in Your Sales & Relationship Building Toolkit? →

One of the biggest challenges a presenter has is grabbing the attention of your audience from the first words out of your mouth.  In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, Deirdre will teach you how to inspire your audience and hook them at the beginning of every presentation both virtually and in person. In this … Continue reading Episode 4 – How to Grab Attention from the First Words Out of Your Mouth →

Are you treating your presentations like any other meeting? You may not realize the work you need to put in before you step on stage. In this episode of Crazy Good Talks® Deirdre Van Nest, discusses how to discipline yourself and put the audience's needs before your own. Deirdre explains ways you can empower yourself … Continue reading Episode 3 – How To Prepare Before You Step Out on Stage →

In this episode of Crazy Good Talks®, you will get to know Deirdre Van Nest. Why is this important? Deirdre believes if you are going to follow her advice you need to feel confident she knows her stuff! Deirdre is passionate about helping and mentoring people to success, she has powered through her own challenges … Continue reading Episode 2 – Why I Left The Stage for 24 years with Deirdre Van Nest →

Welcome to Crazy Good Talks® podcast! In this debut episode of Crazy Good Talks®, top-rated international keynoter and trainer, Deirdre Van Nest discusses her approach to improving your speaking skills, so you can stand out and own the room every time you speak. Deirdre, highlights a couple of success stories and how she helped others … Continue reading Episode 1 – Why You Must Be a Crazy Good Speaker with Deirdre Van Nest →