Podcasts about creative troublemaker

The Energizer (ft. Rachel Sheerin)On powering your life and the lives of othersOPENING QUOTE:“A lot of those titans, in 2020 and 2021, they weren't ready to say the B word yet. It wasn't viral on TikTok yet.”-Rachel SheerinGUEST BIO:Rachel Sheerin doesn't just motivate, she illuminates. She doesn't just speak, she electrifies any room. Her keynote message of finding both passion and success in life and work is amazing, but what's really made her special and such an in-demand speaker and MC is her 1,000-watt onstage performance. Her tales of resilience, hilarious misadventures and powerful insights into burnout and recovery inspire and entertain audiences all over the world. Whether she's diving deep in the topics of personal growth, lighting the path toward professional success or sharing that infectious laugh, Rachel Sheerin is not just a speaker and an MC — she's an experience.Links:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramXFacebookCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[3:28] - Famous Words, New MeaningWhat does it really mean to love life?Just a few years ago, Rachel Sheerin was miserable, burntout, and ready to set fire to her career. Then, she did. What came next changed everything. She began looking for joy, rather than just the next project. She began looking for ways to “move the needle,” finding ways that her life was pulling her away from happiness rather than pushing her toward it. Loving our life means changing our mindset and our circumstances, learning to embrace what we can't change and push past what's standing in our way.[7:52] - Burnout as OvercaringBurnout comes There's a saying that parenting is only hard for good parents, and the same is true of career burnout. A career is only a challenge if you care about doing it well. Rachel found that her burnout came from trying to be all things, for all people, at all times.Soon, she began learning to prioritize what mattered most in a given moment. Sometimes, that was herself. Other times, it was her community. And sometimes, it was the entire world. Avoiding burnout is about managing our caring muscles.[16:24] - The Difference Between an MC and a Keynote SpeakerSimilar backgrounds, different rolesHaving seen both sides, Rachel Sheerin understands the distinction between an MC and a keynote speaker. An MC is someone there for engagement and enjoyment and event management. It's the three Es that are at the core role of an MC. A keynote speaker can definitely do those things, but it's really about their thought leadership, motivation, and whether they're an expert in their subject. To put it more succinctly: MCs excel at delivering an organization's message. Keynote speakers excel at delivering their own message to organizations.[33:41] - The People Who Don't Look Like YouBenefitting from diverse perspectivesWant to expand your knowledge, empathy, and capability? Start by expanding your openness to diverse voices. As Rachel says, it's not about hitting a benchmark or making a token effort on an individual or organizational level. It's about opening yourself up to exposure from people who look differently, think differently, and do differently than you. It's the moment when you star tasking: “Gosh, what else is out there?”RESOURCES:[2:48] Rachel's BlogFollow Rachel Sheerin:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramXFacebookFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramXYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Go Beyond (ft. Colin O'Brady)From never-walk-again to never-stop-climbingOPENING QUOTE:“Man, I'd do anything for an ejector seat button to get me the heck out of here, as fast as possible, that's for sure.”-Colin O'BradyGUEST BIO:Colin O'Brady is a 10 time world record holding explorer, New York Times bestselling author, professional athlete, multi-time entrepreneur, and collegiate athlete. Back in the early 2000s, Colin experienced a tragic setback that meant he was unlikely to ever be able to walk normally again. Not only did he walk again, but 18 months later he placed first in the overall legendary Chicago triathlon. From that day forward, Colin was a professional triathlete, racing in 25 countries across six continents. He then went on to break not one, but two mountaineering world records, where he competed in a series of challenges known as the Explorer's Grand Slam in just 139 days, reaching the top of the tallest peaks on all seven continents along the way.Today, Colin's impact goes beyond breaking records. He's the founder of a nonprofit, and has spoken to the likes of NBCUniversal, P&G, and the Aspen Institute, helping millions of people around the world transcend previous limits and go beyond.Links:WebsiteInstagramFacebookXLinkedInYouTubeCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[8:19] - The Voices in the TentOvercoming self-doubt in the blizzardMany people think that mega-achievers like Colin don't experience doubt, and that's what makes them strong. But in fact, it's their ability to overcome their own self-doubt that makes high achievers who they are.Colin recalls moments during his trek across Antarctica, when he was alone in his tent, when various different “voices” in his head were telling him to quit, give up, or move on. What allowed him to persevere wasn't a lack of doubt — it was the ability and tenacity to move past it.[13:23] - The Triathlon & the ChairOvercoming adversity one three-hour step at a timeWhen Colin experienced the accident that left him wheelchair-bound, he set an audacious goal — completing a triathlon. But the goal felt so far off and insurmountable, it was easy to get discouraged.Then his mother placed a chair down in front of him in the kitchen, and told him to focus on the small goals. She wanted him to cross the one-step distance to the chair from his wheelchair. It took three hours, and he did it.Later, Colin submitted Everest — and took a tiny pebble as a souvenir. From the kitchen to the top of Everest, Colin has learned to value the way that small things add up to mountain-sized achievements.[16:47] - The Peaks Beyond the PeakMoving goalposts in a life of achievementWe all have our mountain peaks — the goals we think will mark our ultimate level of achievement and joy. But then we get there, and what happens? We feel letdown, and realize there's a whole other peak even higher up.For Colin, he likens it to “post-Olympic depression” — the letdown felt by elite athletes after the end of the event they've worked their entire lives toward. His advice? Move beyond the finish line by acknowledging there is no finish line. The top of one mountain is the bottom of the next. You have to be invested in the process of growth, because growth is the peak that's always there.[26:16] - When the Consequences Are RealOn risk and danger in live and businessColin's often seen as someone who takes lots of risks. In fact, he constantly assesses the risk associated with any undertaking and only takes them on if he feels the risks are manageable. But that doesn't mean he's always comfortable. On the edge of comfort and risk is the sweet spot: discomfort that leads to growth.Where in your career are you calling it “risk” when it's really “discomfort”? What uncomfortable things can you do while still managing risk?That's where growth is likely to come fastest and hardest.RESOURCES:[4:44] The 12 Hour Walk, by Colin O'Brady[4:44] The Impossible First, by Colin O'BradyFollow Colin O'Brady:WebsiteInstagramFacebookXLinkedInYouTubeFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramXYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Letting Go to Move Ahead (ft. Jamie Hess & Matthew Vincent)This business demands boldness, so we talked to two of the boldestOPENING QUOTE:“Do you want to be doing a hoe down for children's vitamins and a skit about band-aids on Instagram for the rest of your life?”-Jamie HessGUEST BIO:Jamie HessJamie Hess overcame a slew of self-destructive behaviors and turned her so-called liabilities into her greatest assets. She became a top executive, ambassador for hundreds of brands, contributor to Today, Good Morning America, and The View and the face of zuda activewear on QVC. She speaks on stages across the country, teaching her prosperity system called Gratitudeology, a method that reframes the way people take on challenges, helping them hack their hustle and lean into their fear. Jamie spent two decades as a PR expert and high level brand strategist for companies like LinkedIn, McDonald's, and W Hotels. She's also the co-host of the Off the Ground Podcast, named one of the top 40 best podcasts by Good Housekeeping, and has her newest project, the Gratitudeology Podcast, launching February 5th, 2024. Links:WebsiteInstagramXLinkedInYouTubeMatt VincentIf you've never heard of the Highland Games, there are two things you need to know about them. Number one, it's a Scottish cultural event dating back 900 years that attracts some of the strongest people in the world. And number two, Matt Vincent is the two-time world champion. Yes, he could lift any one of us above his head easily. But these days he's more interested in lifting people's spirits through his brand, Not Dead Yet, launched in 2017. In addition to creating apparel and lifestyle products, Not Dead Yet has a podcast with over 450 episodes that brought Matt into the world of public speaking.Links:InstagramYouTubeXCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[9:52] - Why Be a Speaker?On motivations and inspirations For Jamie, the calling to become a speaker came from a desire to make an impact beyond social media influence. She wanted to not just serve brands but serve people, helping them unlock their greatest potential.For Matt, it's about what he calls the “forge.” By refining his message, his delivery, and his ethos as a speaker, he's refining himself and his community. As he says, “even if this doesn't turn into me getting speaker jobs, the side effect of me learning how to do it better will benefit people in my community.”[19:20] - The Power of GratitudeologyJamie explains her growing movementJamie explains the power of gratitude with a running analogy. When you head out on a run, your instinct is to look down at your feet. When you do that, you fixate on each individual step, and time passes slowly. You feel miserable. You want to quit. But when you raise your view to what's around you, taking in all the beauty of the world you're running through, the miles seem to fly by, and you discover you actually enjoy it. That's the power of gratitude, and the foundation of Gratitudeology.[24:56] - Motivating Through Dark MomentsMatt explores the light in the darknessWhat keeps us going when the work we're doing seems fruitless, or there's no immediate payback? Matt says it's all about focus. As evidenced by his earlier “forge” comment, he's discovered a passion for the process, not just the destination. He's fallen in love with the growth he experiences by pursuing his passions — so any results that come are just a bonus.Meanwhile, he reminds us to sharpen the ax to slay the bigger dragon. That looks different for everyone, but it really amounts to taking care of yourself and staying fired up. [29:46] - Choosing Your IdentityChoose who you are, then make it soMatt is someone who's already comfortable with leaving behind past versions of himself. He's let go of the athlete side of himself, which was once his defining characteristic and he now calls “the least important and least interesting things about me.” That willingness to let go is what gives us the opportunity to embrace new futures and identities for ourselves. It gives us the chance to “suck at something new.”As for Jamie, the burden of the past comes from associations. With a famous mother, she's had to move out from beyond her shadow to carve out her own niche for herself. That meant no longer hiding and instead embracing many of the same career directions her mother took — not in tribute or deference to her mother, but because that was the path that called to Jamie, as well. RESOURCES:[1:58] About Gratitudeology(™) [2:19] Off the Gram Podcast[2:52] About Highland Games[3:07] About Not Dead YetFollow Jamie Hess:WebsiteInstagramXLinkedInYouTubeFollow Matt Vincent:InstagramYouTubeXFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramXYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

From Comedy to Keppler (ft. Warren Jones)An unexpected path brings surprising insightsOPENING QUOTE:“Thunder applause, everybody on their feet. So happy, just ecstatic. And he said, "Here's the thought I had. I've got to write a new speech.”-Warren JonesGUEST BIO:From a hugely successful career in entertainment, working as a manager at ABC and then at Professional Representatives Organization International, Warren Jones entered the world of marketing to eventually land the CEO gig at EnterWorks. He also launched a successful comedy agency. Later, a casual breakfast meetup with a friend led to an offer to become the CEO of the prestigious Keppler Speakers Bureau. Warren couldn't turn down the challenge, and the rest is history.Links:LinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[15:31] - “I've Got to Write a New Speech”Improving from the topWarren brings up an inspiring story of a speaker who told him about an experience they had after a speech. They had just delivered their message to a packed room, who erupted in thunderous applause, and this speaker was feeling at the absolute top of their game. In that moment, they thought: “I've got to write a new speech.”This speaker was so focused on ensuring that the response they received — and the quality of their message— never diminished, that even at the absolute pinnacle they could only think about their new leap. That's the mark of a true pro.[18:10] - What Speakers Can Learn from ComediansEfficiency and ConnectionIn Warren's experience, comedians often say that writing the first five minutes of a set is the hardest. So many of them work backward — they start with their key beats or punchlines, then build from their destination backward. If something doesn't help get them there, they cut it. Meanwhile, comedians intuitively understand that comedy is about connection as much as its about humor. When an audience is tuned into the wavelength of the performer, that's when real magic happens.Speakers can learn from both of these lessons: design keynotes around your key points, being ruthlessly efficient in the process, and never forget about the power of connection.[23:46] - What Do the Greats Do?Asking Warren what gives speakers staying powerWarren helpfully outlines his example of the perfect pro speaker. She does the event calls and pre-event calls, sometimes more than one. She offers a follow-up conversation. When she walks onstage, she knows the audience — what the hot buttons are, what they may have talked about that morning in another session or the day before. She doesn't play down to the audience or underestimate them. She interacts early and often with the event planner. She even serves as an ambassador for other speakers. She's deeply service oriented.Consider this a checklist for anyone wanting not only a successful speaking career, but a long one.[36:22] - Substance Over FlashThe past, present, and future of the industryThere was a time in speaking when star power was king. Event planners wanted to draw a crowd, and a marquee speaker was the way to do it. But now events draw their crowds from the quality and relevance of the event itself. That means speakers aren't the star — their message is. The future of keynote speaking is all about transformative messages that lead to real impact, not recognizable names that ultimately lead nowhere. Content is what it's all about.RESOURCES:[1:35] About Keppler[40:15] Big Little Breakthroughs, by Josh LinknerFollow Warren Jones:LinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

The Virtuoso (ft. Felipe Gomez)Singing, laughing, and connecting your way to the big stageOPENING QUOTE:“I really thought about it, but when I was there on the stage, I said, what the hell? I'm going to sing. I'm going to make them sing.”-Felipe GomezGUEST BIO:Felipe Gomez is a multi multi hyphenate who has given over a thousand performances across 65 cities, 25 countries and 15 impactful years. He's an artist, humanitarian thought leader and keynote speaker. Felipe combines his unapologetically bold approach to leadership with an unforgettable keynote format, one that features a grand piano at center stage.Links:WebsiteLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[5:16] - Music as an Impact MultiplierFrom straightforward keynotes to musical extravaganzasWhen Felipe first began delivering keynotes, they were much more traditional — standing up in front of the crowd and speaking. But he began thinking about his personal passion for music, and how it might be able to help augment his keynote message. It was then that he realized that while his message could speak to people's minds, his music could speak to their heart. The result was greater impact — more memorable keynotes, more connection between ideas and emotions —  and he never looked back.[7:44] - The Making of a VirtuosoMethod, Attitude, & PassionWhat makes a virtuoso?Felipe identifies a virtuoso as having three key traits — method, attitude, and passion.Most individuals and organizations focus on method. They want to reach new levels of operational excellence, perfect processes, and cutting-edge technology.But they also need attitude, their “onstage” persona. The attitudes we assume in our day-to-day jobs define whether we connect or disconnect with clients, customers, peers, and coworkers.Finally, you need passion. It means putting your heart and soul into what you're doing so that the ordinary ceases to happen and the extraordinary can take its place.This is how a virtuoso is made, in life, in music, or in business.[32:25] - Connecting to the OneA backstage ritual we can all learn fromBefore each keynote, just before stepping on stage, Felipe takes a moment to consider his audience. Whether he's about to speak to a hundred people, a thousand people, or 10 people, he reminds himself that if just one person in the room can watch his keynote and change a behavior, think differently, or break out of damaging habits, his work will have been worthwhile. When Felipe does this, it helps keep him focused on the individuals in the audience, not the overall size of the crowd. He forgets the numbers and just remembers the one.RESOURCES:[1:25] Learn More About Felipe[12:16] Attitude-E, by Felipe GomezFollow Felipe Gomez:WebsiteLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramXYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Insights from the World's Largest Bureau (ft. Ryan Heil)What we can learn from an industry powerhouse with a startup attitude run by a philosopherOPENING QUOTE:“So, I think that's our job, is to help speakers identify those nuggets, and the speaker's job's to take the complex and make it super applicable.”-Ryan HeilGUEST BIO:Ryan Heil is the president of Washington Speakers Bureau, the largest and quite possibly the single most respected bureau on the planet. But if you dive into his resume, you'll find a whole bunch of unexpected treasures. A former player for the New York Mets and a D1 college baseball coach, Ryan also holds a doctor of philosophy. He co-authored a book entitled Choose Love Not Fear, and has served in numerous leadership positions at Clemson University.Links:BioLinkedInXCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[7:44] - Finding the Fun in FuturismWhy Ryan Heil doesn't fear what's nextNot only is Ryan not concerned about the future of speaking in a rapidly changing marketplace — he's excited by it. He's brought a startup attitude to WSB, ensuring that nothing is sacred and no business strategy goes forward simply because “that's the way it's always been done.” His mantra, “Is there a better way to do this?” has helped WSB look toward the future, when many other long-established bureaus might be tempted to look only to their past. While Ryan acknowledges the company's history has many lessons to teach, he believes those lessons revolve around how to evolve — and what happens when you don't.[13:41] - Helping Speakers Reinvent ThemselvesHow WSB helps guide speakers into new frontiersWhen helping coach speakers to make themselves more marketable — and when selecting new speakers to go exclusive at WSB — Ryan focuses on a set of core questions.Who is going to pay to hear these people speak and their message? What question is the speaker answering that the customer knows they need to answer? How do we help connect that dot? What is your simple message that you repeat over and over again? Do you have platform skills, and how good are those platform skills?Emerging speakers should write these questions down somewhere, then set about answering each of them as they develop their brand.[22:40] - When Not to Go ExclusiveExclusive feels special, but it isn't always rightWhen it comes to going exclusive, Ryan advises putting it off early on. When you're figuring out who you are, making a name for yourself, carving out a space in the market — that's the time to work with as many different groups of people as possible. Keep developing your content, building your product, and finding customer bases. When it comes to the point where you need to either hire a back office or get with a bureau, then you know it's time to start thinking seriously about going exclusive.[28:39] - Ryan's Realistic OptimismThe speaking industry will change. But it will also endure.Ryan doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to potential upheaval in the speaking industry. “What budgets start to look like, what honorariums shift to, how contracts are done, I think all that's going to change. The inclusion of technology and AI into a lot of things, it's all going to change.”And yet, Ryan says, “I do believe that the core of this is going to be around the relationships. Regardless of where people work, who they work with, the structure they work in, people are going to hold meetings. They've been holding meetings and having speakers since the beginning of time, and I think that's going to continue.”RESOURCES:[1:29] About Washington Speakers Bureau[1:50] Choose Love Not Fear, by Ryan HeilFollow Ryan Heil:LinkedInXFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramXYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Behind the Curtain: An Open Convo with a Buyer and a Bureau (ft. Tim Mathy & Lynne McNees)How do you find out what buyers and bureaus want in a speaker? You ask them.OPENING QUOTE:“That standing ovation, it's not about the speaker, it's not even about the audience to me. It's about the people planning the event. That's who that standing ovation is for.”-Tim MathyGUEST BIO:Lynne McNees is president of the International Spa Association, or ISPA — the worldwide professional organization for the entire spa industry active in over 70 countries.When magazines like the New York Times, USA Today, Travel and Leisure, or the Associated Press need a spa expert, Lynne is the only name they trust. Before joining ISPA, Lynne was a Washington DC power player with high-profile roles in multiple presidential administrations. It's no wonder she jumped into the industry designed to help people relax.Links:BioLinkedInTim Mathy is the current president of the International Association of Speaker Bureaus. He has been in the bureau space since he joined SpeakInc over 20 years ago, and since then he's been active with industry leaders like PCMA, MPI, IMX, and the list of acronyms goes on and on. If you want to know how bureaus work from the inside out, Tim is your guy.Links:BioCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[8:49] - From Bureau to BuyerHow speakers go from Tim's list to Lynne's eventAfter working together for over 20 years, Tim and Lynne have a well-established bureau-buyer relationship. Tim says it all starts with knowing the buyer's community. He's not just picking the best speakers to present to Lynne, he's presenting the best speakers for her needs. For speakers, that means you don't have to generalize your message in order to meet every possible organization or subject. You can feel empowered to specialize, knowing that if your message is strong, you'll be able to find an audience that's right for it.[19:32] - What Gets You on the List?An inside look at what bureaus and buyers are looking forWhen it comes to what attracts Lynne or Tim to a speaker, they offer a clear list. First off, they're looking for the basics — customization and preparation, plus an easy-to-work-with attitude. They're also looking for a balance of inspiration and nuts-and-bolts takeaways, a business focus while also offering a humanitarian perspective. Consider these elements when preparing to pitch yourself to bureaus or buyers. Do you know how to strike that balance of uplifting and down-to-earth, business-centered and human? If you can find that sweet spot while remaining true to your character and message, you'll find opportunity.[20:28] - Changing Priorities in a Changing IndustryWhat's new when it comes to booking speakersLynne and Tim both explore the way that a speaker's primary purpose at a conference or event has evolved. It used to be that big-name speakers were a primary draw for industry conferences — you would go to the conference because so-and-so was going to be there. But today, these conferences have grown to attract attendees on their own. Now the speaker is less about a name and more about delivering actual value. Can you knock your keynote out of the park and leave the audience with relevant, actionable takeaways? If you can do that, it doesn't necessarily matter if you've got a megawatt name or massively impressive credentials.[27:08] - The Long GameAdvice from Tim and Lynne on looking forwardFor two people who have been working together in the speaking for decades, it's no surprise that Tim and Lynne advise playing the long game. Don't get bogged down in temporary setbacks or issues. Instead, focus on long-term strategy. What are the efforts that will be worthwhile no matter how the world changes? Focus on themAnd finally, all along the way there's one simple way to supercharge your career — be kind and trustworthy. “Once you have that trust,” Tim says, “you can't beat that.”RESOURCES:[1:54] About ISPA[2:46] About IASBFollow Lynne McNees:BioLinkedInFollow Tim Mathy:BioFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Exactly What to Say (ft. Phil Jones)How to be a perfectionist and an improviser all at onceOPENING QUOTE:“... woke up seven days later, 120,000 free downloads. I'm like, okay, I might have something.”-Phil JonesGUEST BIO:Phil Jones has founded not one but five multimillion dollar companies, became the youngest ever winner of the British Excellence of Sales and Marketing Award, and produced the most listened to nonfiction audiobook of all time, Exactly What to Say? Phil entered the business world at age 14 and went from a bucket and sponge to a fleet of car washing employees that led him to earning more at age 15 than his high school teachers.When it comes to speaking industry experience, Phil has given over 2,500 presentations across 57 countries and 5 continents. Beyond his business success, he's the proud dad of twins and is passionate about making a positive impact by elevating everyone around him.Links:WebsiteFacebookXLinkedInYouTubeInstagramCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[6:04] - The Power of “How”When someone's better than you, get curiousEver since his days working for his dad's self-employed building business, Phil has been intensely curious and active about finding out how people find success. As he says, “Success leaves clues, and if you're brave enough to follow the clues, then chances are it might work out well for you.”So when you come across someone who does what you do better than you do, don't get mad — get curious. Ask them how.[21:50] - Big Idea vs. Proven MethodWhat kind of book is in you?If you have a big idea, you can certainly go after a book deal and try to make a name for yourself through that big idea. But many speakers, Phil argues, would be better served by a “proven method” book. Something that's going to live with you, that will serve as your IP. Something that is your signature calling card. As Phil says: “John Bonjovi can write as much new music as he likes, but people are going to remember him for Living on a Prayer.[23:45] - Don't Rest on Your LaurelsMake something great? Time to remake it.Phil shares one quick but powerful insight that's important not to miss — once “Exactly What to Say” became a massive success, he didn't simply leave it alone. He began creating new editions for every print run. New call-to-actions, new lead magnets, new thank-you pages. All of these changes happen again and again, ensuring that his ideas remain as fresh and relevant as they were in the first edition.This concept can be applied to books, keynote speeches, career strategies — anything that you've found that works doesn't need to become stagnant.[32:37] - What Matters Most Happens OffstageService, relationships, and humanityPhil says that the biggest aspect of winning and sustaining a career as a speaker comes down to the more “intangible” things: health, relationships, boundaries. These things are all more important than fees and tactical business decisions. Meanwhile, keeping a service mindset is essential — no matter how many millions of audiobooks you sell.RESOURCES:[1:55] Exactly What to Say, by Phil Jones[32:28] NSA: National Speakers AssociationFollow Phil Jones:WebsiteFacebookXLinkedInYouTubeInstagramFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramXYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

The Soulful Giant (ft. Justin Wren)Fighter-turned-lover Justin Wren on what it means to fight for a greater purposeOPENING QUOTE:“And so now, whenever I've gotten into a fight and the cage door locks, I'm looking this guy in the eyes and I know that I know, but I also believe that I know he knows, that I have stronger reasons than he does, so I can take him to deeper waters.”-Justin WrenGUEST BIO:Justin Wren knows what it's like to feel like the world is against you. Fueled by anger resulting from persistent bullying, Justin pursued wrestling in high school, where he became a 10x state champion, 5x all-American, and 2x national champion. This propelled his dream of becoming a UFC fighter into reality, becoming a champion and an elite athlete. But the pain from his childhood didn't dissipate, and Justin fell into a spiral of depression and addiction that led him on a path toward destruction. In trying to escape this spiral, Justin visited the rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where he came across the Mbuti Pygmies, a group of people persecuted by neighboring tribes and forced into slavery.On one of his trips, he stayed for a year, living among them and sharing the culture of what he calls "the most bullied people on earth." His encounter with the pygmies left him wondering who was there to help them. And in that moment, Justin stepped out of the cage and founded the nonprofit organization Fight for the Forgotten. He's become a celebrated keynote speaker, ascending this new mountain with the same discipline and passion that got him to the top of professional sports. Links:WebsiteInstagramTwitterCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[4:36] - Discover Others to Discover YourselfSelflessness heals our own woundsAfter a long period of depression and hopelessness, how did Justin pull himself out of it? Not by working on himself — but by discovering the service of others. It was when he lost himself in the trials of the Mbuti people that he discovered his own purpose, passion, and personal joy. The lesson for us: if you feel lost, sometimes you're better off looking for the needs of others than looking for yourself.[12:58] - The Winner is the One with the Most Reasons to FightWhat Justin's mindset in the ring teaches us about living outside the ringMany people think that the stronger, better trained fighter is the one who wins. What Justin knows from being in the ring himself is that this isn't always the case. The person who wins is often the one who is less willing to lose. Or, to put it another way, it's the person with the deepest reason to win.When you discover a reason to fight that's deeper than the opponent — and in life, often the opponent isn't a someone but a something — then you'll discover a depth of fortitude you didn't know you had, and a will to win that will help you conquer anything.[16:03] - Change the Fight but Keep FightingWhat we can learn from the world's most loving fighterJustin describes how he went from fighting against people to fighting for people when he discovered his passion for serving the people of the Mbuti culture. But what's worth noting is that Justin didn't change his fighter's spirit. He didn't suddenly become a kumbaya, zen-loving individual who let the world wash over him in peace. Hell no. He kept his fighter's spirit, remained who he was, but applied everything that made him a great fighter to this new fight — the fight for humanity. We can all change our own personal fights without changing what makes us great fighters.[30:46] - Justin's Parting AdviceFor the new, nervous, and unsureJustin acknowledges that taking on big challenges often feels like trying to drain the ocean with an eyedropper. Does it even matter? Will anyon even notice? But Justin reminds us that every drop represents a human heart, a human life, some level of impact that may be small in the grand scale but enormous on the personal scale. Every single positive impact we make, whether it's on a massive keynote stage or in a room of ten people, can transform lives.RESOURCES:[2:10] About the Mbuti People[2:49] Fight for the ForgottenFollow Justin Wren:WebsiteInstagramTwitterFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

An Insider's Look (ft. Ivy Gustafson & Jenny DeRosse)Insights from two amazing experts right here at Impact ElevenOPENING QUOTE:“If you really open yourself up and show who you are and you're not afraid to show your weaknesses and your flaws, the audience really relates to you because we're all human.”-Jenny DeRosseGUEST BIO:Ivy Gustafson spent over 20 years in the bureau world, first as an agent for the Washington Speakers Bureau, and then as an agent for Gotham Artists. When she realized she wanted to dive headfirst into coaching speakers, she joined the Impact Eleven team as director of client development and coaching. Today, she coaches some of the world's most prolific keynote speakers.Links:LinkedInJenny DeRosse first entered the speaking industry as an agent for Toronto-based Speakers Spotlight. After moving to the States, she joined BigSpeak managing exclusive speakers and co-brokering. After a decade on the bureau side, she joined the Impact Eleven team, where she now manages the team of founding partners, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Ryan Estis, and little old me, booking approximately $8 million of keynotes per year for the four of us. She also heads up our bureau relations, which gives her a unique perspective into the industry.Links:LinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[13:54] - It's Not About Content or QualitySuccessful speakers are simply great peopleFrom highlighting what makes them fall in love with speakers to sharing their “speaker pet peeves,” the picture painted by Ivy and Jenny is that the speakers they love aren't the most successful, or the most popular, or the ones that can captivate a crowd. They're the ones who are kind, who answer emails on time, who show up to meetings with the bureau. They're the speakers who understand that this is a human business, and treat everyone as human beings.So if you want to impress a bureau — or anyone in this industry — it's even more important to be a good person than a good speaker.[39:25] - The Bureau is On Your SideBelieve it or not, bureaus want you to succeedThroughout the conversation, Ivy and Jenny make it apparent that bureau professionals want one thing more than anything else — to help speakers succeed. New and emerging speakers often become frustrated with bureaus, either because they can't get their attention or because they can't keep it. “Why don't they care about me?” they think. But the truth is that bureaus care deeply about their speakers — it's why they do what they do. Sometimes they simply have to balance all the competing demands on their time to the best of their ability.[36:35] - Advice for the Next GenerationWhat would our guests say to rising speakers?Both Ivy and Jenny joined Impact Eleven because they believed in the power of learning from people who have been there before. Their advice to young speakers is to seek out opportunities to learn from other speakers, other bureau experts, and established voices within the industry. Whether this comes through Impact Eleven or elsewhere, the power of learning from mistakes, missteps, and masteries of other speakers is absolutely essential.[34:49] - A Category of OneHow to hone your message and speaker brandIvy shares one of Impact Eleven's go-to mantras: what is your “category of one?” It applies to the idea that every speaker should try to pinpoint what they can talk about that no one else can with the same level of authority. It's about taking a broad category and turning it into something where you're the only authoritative voice.What's your category of one? The time to start looking is right now.RESOURCES:[2:10] About Gotham Artists[2:33] About BigSpeakFollow Ivy Gustafson:LinkedInFollow Jenny DeRosse:LinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

The Biggest Stage in the World (ft. Emily Ford, Jordan Tarver, & Giselle Ugarte)Three experts help make the monster of social media a lot less scaryOPENING QUOTE:“We are in the business of impact. And the way I've changed my approach with social media is that social media is another stage, but it's a stage that has the reach of millions of people.”-Jordan TarverGUEST BIO:Emily Ford has built businesses and organizations with hundreds of thousands of active customers, launched sales teams across multiple countries and generated nine figures of revenue in her own company. She's also a masterful force in the social media world with tens of thousands of followers across multiple platforms.Links:WebsiteFacebookYouTubeLinkedInJordan Tarver is an author and keynote speaker whose book You Deserve This Sh*t is a bestselling self-help success story with over 10 million social media views.Links:WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebookGiselle Ugarte has been producing online video content for longer than most people have even known what Instagram was, generating tens of millions of views and creating a career out of helping other people do the same.Links:WebsiteInstagramTikTokLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[12:21] - A Message for the HatersDon't like social media? This is for you.Whether you're a speaker who doesn't care about social media or simply isn't very good at it, it's time to change your mindset. Social media isn't some “other” thing that's separate from your speaking. It's just another room, another stage — one that has the potential to reach millions of people. When you're on social media, you should be every bit as “you” as you are when you're onstage. It's an extension of your brand, your message, and your purpose.[13:08] - Finding Your Voice & Your PlaceMaster social media by mastering yourselfFinding your footing on social media is about being honest with yourself, rather than trying to fit yourself to whatever is the “it” platform at the moment. Where are you most comfortable? Where is your audience likely to be? Which platforms do you enjoy the most? Start there, and then hone in on what your unique voice really is. Trying to chase content trends is often a losing game, because by the time you've imitated them, a new trend has taken their place.But authenticity will always be in style.[14:17] - Stocking the RefrigeratorWe get out of social media what we put inMany people avoid social media because they consider it toxic. They don't want to be fed a stream of content that will make them feel insecure, unhappy, and as if the rest of the world is doing better than they are. But social media gives us what we put in — like stocking a refrigerator. If we seek out content that's relatable, inspiring, and positive, then the algorithm will give us more of it. If we put fruit in the fridge, then guess what we'll find when we open it up?[20:59] - Embrace Our Algorithm OverlordsYou can't control what takes off. Focus on what you can control.It can often be frustrating when you see a post or piece of content by someone else get picked up by “the algorithm” and make a massive impact, while your high-quality content is getting ignored. Our experts' advice? Let go of that frustration. Control what you can control: your output. If you continue to put out quality content that connects with people, eventually you'll have something hit. You just have to be patient.RESOURCES:[2:18] You Deserve This Sh*t, by Jordan Tarver[5:33] About Montessori SchoolsFollow Emily Ford:WebsiteFacebookYouTubeLinkedInFollow Jordan Tarver:WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebookFollow Giselle Ugarte:WebsiteInstagramTikTokLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

The Best Story Wins (ft. John Livesay and David Burkus)John Livesay and David Burkus on telling stories and picking fightsOPENING QUOTE:”Whoever tells the best story is the one that's going to win that pitch, not who has the best price or who has more bells and features.” -John LivesayGUEST BIO:John Livesay, also known as The Pitch Whisperer, is the speaking industry's sage of storytelling and the go-to expert for helping brands tell compelling stories to their own audiences. He's done exactly that for the likes of Coca-Cola, Olympus, Berkshire Hathaway, and many more big name clients, offering a roadmap for turning great products into narratives that customers just can't ignore.Links:WebsiteFacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTubeDavid Burkus is one of the leading minds in the business world, and one of its most provocative. He literally wrote the book on managing remote teams before COVID hit. Since then, he's been instrumental in helping organizations everywhere adapt to the seismic shifts brought on by remote work, especially when it comes to how leaders interact with their team members and their customers. Links:WebsiteTwitterFacebookLinkedInInstagramYouTubeCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[3:40] - Why a Bad Time is the Best TimeTurning opposition into opportunityDavid shares how he entered the professional speaking game at the height of the pandemic — probably the only speaker to make that somewhat insane choice. But David doesn't see it that way. He turned a powerful new need, managing remote workers and teams in the COVID era, into an opportunity to provide unique value. He's never looked back, and there's something to be learned from his accomplishment. Sometimes the worst time is the best time.[5:40] - The Universal LanguageThe brain thinks in stories, which is why storytellers excelFrom Olympus to Coca-Cola, John Livesay delivers the same undeniable message: the best story wins. Audiences think in terms of narrative — it's how the brain is wired. That's why the best speakers, leaders, marketers, whatever you like; they're the ones who know how to tell a story. What story are you telling?[9:07] - You Are Your Own Chief Culture OfficerManaging people is everything, even if you're only managing yourselfEvery leader at every level of an organization is the chief culture officer of their own team, whether it's a team of two or 200. Even a sole proprietor has a company culture — it's what they will do, won't do, and the things they insist on in their work and general approach.  It's how they function, how much they're willing to work, all the little details that make up their “organization” of one. Teaching every leader at every level how to take responsibility for the people in their team is the key to unlocking real impact that lasts.[11:25] - Want to Inspire Action? Pick a FightStop talking metrics and put on the boxing gloves“People don't want to join a company anymore, they want to join a crusade.” With that, David Burkus introduces one of the most striking ideas from our episode — that if you want to lead people, you need to pick a fight and do so wisely. Position yourself as your customers' ally in a fight against the status quo, and you'll inspire many more people to join you on that mission than if you just talk metrics and KPIs.RESOURCES:[2:04] Leading from Anywhere, by David Burkus[4:34] Books by John Livesay[11:25] Pick a Fight, by David BurkusFollow John Livesay:FacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTubeFollow David Burkus:WebsiteTwitterFacebookLinkedInInstagramYouTubeFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

The Brooklyn Badass (ft. Alec Melman)OPENING QUOTE:“Being adaptable and being patient, that'll answer for those feelings of frustration. If you can hold on long enough, good things happen.”-Alec MelmanGUEST BIO:Alec Melman is co-founder and CEO of Gotham Artists, one of the most successful and respected talent agencies in the country. Founded in 2009, Gotham is known for its innovative approach and unique roster of talent that stretches from keynote speakers to musicians, stand up comics and more. For 14 years, Alec has helped guide and grow Gotham every step of the way through intense and dramatic changes in the industry.Links:BioLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[5:33] - The Extra InchLittle things that add up to big impactTo Alec, explaining Gotham's success as a bureau is simple: customer service. Gotham is simply “a little faster, a little nicer, and a little sharper.” Things like getting back to people quickly makes them stand out relative to the inefficiencies of some other bureaus, and that's led Gotham to grow at the astonishing rate it has.[10:36] - The Agency-Speaker ConnectionWhen to go exclusive and how to know it's time for a changeAlec discusses how most of Gotham's exclusive partnerships with speakers grow out of existing relationships. He expresses how bureaus want to go exclusive with speakers they've worked with before, having booked 7-10 dates before even broaching the exclusive conversation. How does this apply to speakers? Be patient. Building those bureau relationships in your non-exclusive days will pay dividends down the road.[28:39] - Ongoing Connection in the Digital EraWhy Alec is a believer in virtual keynotesAlec believes that people who don't believe in virtual keynotes and other disruptive technologies fail to understand them. They're not the “redheaded stepchild” of in-person — they're a unique opportunity in their own right. He uses the example of a $100,000 speaking budget. An in-person event would spend that budget on one or two massive names, one big splash. That has value, of course. But so does spreading that budget out over 12 monthly installments, bringing in smaller names who can cover a range of topics. Virtual isn't better or worse than in-person, it's simply a separate opportunity.[30:33] - The Bureau of LessHow doing less for speakers helps Gotham serve them betterAlec approaches every decision for his clients using the “triangle of decision-making.” Is it profitable? Is it fun? Does it match our long-term vision? If the answer to all of those questions isn't an enthusiastic “yes,” then it's not right. “I don't want to take our eyes off the prize and start focusing on ancillary activities,” he says. “If the opportunity knocks, we'll be ready for it, but I'm not going out of my way and trying to make that materialize.In this way, Gotham serves its clients by doing a few things very, very well, rather than trying to do 100 things somewhat competently. Gotham's focus, not their breadth, has allowed them to grow and excel.RESOURCES:[1:46] About Gotham ArtistsFollow Alec Melman:LinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Grounded in a Higher Calling (ft. Jessica Encell Coleman, Jesse Israel, and Light Watkins)Three purpose-based speakers share their perspectivesOPENING QUOTE:“We often think that time is our most valuable asset, but if you're not present during the time that you have, then you're essentially squandering that time.”-Light WatkinsGUEST BIO:Jesse Israel is the founder of The Big Quiet, which turns meditation into the social practice of connection, and has led to the New York Times calling him "the meditation expert". He's on a mission to connect leaders to their joy and power so they can make a fulfilling contribution to the world. He shared his message to thousands on tour with Oprah, so he knows how to deliver both internal and external impact.Links:WebsiteInstagramTwitterLight Watkins is an expert meditation teacher and thought leader who has written three bestsellers on inner peace and consulted with some of the biggest organizations in the world on the topics of wellness, purpose, and enlightened leadership. He's been the meditation coach to some of the most influential celebrities in the world.Links:WebsiteTwitterInstagramJessica Encell Coleman is a love activist, empowerment educator, and creator of The Magic of Human Connection. Her amazing workshops have paved the way for thousands of people to feel more love for themselves, each other, and the planet.Links:WebsiteInstagramCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[3:39] - Letting Your Mind WinMeditation is about surrender, not victoryMany of us in the speaking industry are intensely competitive — even if it's competition with ourselves. We want to master ourselves and help others master themselves through our work. The result is that we often look at meditation as a battle with your mind. But your mind will always win that battle. In reality, meditation is about working in connection with your thinking mind, which ultimately leads to profoundly settled mental states and the ability to tap into a deeper understanding of yourself and the world.[12:53] - When Pride is a Good ThingWhen you're proud of what you do, you do it betterWe tend to equate our self-worth with how we feel we're performing in our various “roles,” in life and in our careers. Are we succeeding in business? Are we excelling as speakers? But when we can let go of this aspirational focus and simply be proud of ourselves for doing work we feel has value, we can let go of these insecurities that often put up barriers between us and our audience. When we do that, we let go of a highly emotional state of decision-making and become a more powerful operator of the facets of our lives.[14:38] - The Subject They Don't Teach You in SchoolWhy connection is as essential as math or physicsJessica highlights the way that caring for ourselves, caring for others, and caring for the planet make up the ingredients of a fulfilled life — and yet we don't teach any of these things in any level of formal education. That's why so many people misunderstand what it means to be connected to the people and world around us, and to ourselves. As speakers, the ability to connect with people in a genuine way is absolutely essential. Formal training on human connection can benefit us all immensely.[19:29] - There's (Literally) No Time Like the PresentWhy focusing on the present moment is a good long-term moveBeing “grounded” or “present” doesn't just sound nice. It's a very real way to refocus yourself when you become obsessively focused on what comes next. Light recommends making a quick mental list of ten things you're grateful for. Gratitude is a cheat code for presence, he says, that instantly grounds us in the things around us for which we're grateful. Because gratitude is so present-focused — “I'm grateful for X, Y and Z that I have right now.” — it breaks us out of the rhythm of constantly thinking about the future.RESOURCES:[1:51] The Big QuietFollow Jesse Israel:WebsiteInstagramTwitterFollow Light Watkins:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFollow Jessica Encell Coleman:WebsiteInstagramFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Striking a Chord (ft. Chris Barton)Listen-in with the founder of the world's most innovative listening appOPENING QUOTE:“There's so many unique ways of doing things, and the key thing is to question the assumptions. Don't assume that what holds true for one other speaker, holds true for you.”-Chris BartonGUEST BIO:If you've ever heard music playing and wondered, “Hey, what song is this?” You have Chris Barton to thank for the answer. Chris is the founder and former CEO of Shazam, the music identification app that went from “impossible” according to MIT professors, to “ahead of its time,” in a world with no apps or app stores, to becoming the 6th largest acquisition by Apple in the history of the company in 2018.Chris is also a founding member of Google's Android Partnerships team, holds 12 patents, and founded Guard, a system that uses AI to prevent drowning in swimming pools. Of course, Chris is also an incredible (and incredibly successful) keynote speaker on how to rethink obstacles and take inspired action.Links:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[5:50] - Being Ahead of Your Time Means Lots of WaitingHow innovation can feel frustratingYou probably first heard of the song-identifying app Shazam some time in the last several years. It seems like sometime around the mid-2010s, Shazam was everywhere, leading up to its being acquired by Apple in one of the company's biggest acquisitions of all time.But Shazam was actually launched in 2002, spent six years barely escaping bankruptcy, and only survived thanks to Apple's App Store finally launching in 2008. Shazam was ahead of its time. And while that concept conjures images of billionaire innovators beating the market and blowing minds, the truth is that it often means a lot of waiting for the world to catch up. If you're ahead of the curve in your arena, it may feel a lot like you've missed the train. In reality, the train just has to catch up to you.[20:35] - Start with First PrinciplesMake a habit of ignoring what's expectedChris often turns to the scientific and philosophical concept of first principles: beginning any train of thought with no assumptions. It's a matter of breaking down everything into the most basic truths, which then leads you to question the things that are assumed to be truths but may not be.For example, there was an assumption that you have to recognize what's playing on the radio in order to tell people what song they're hearing. That was an assumption which Shazam turned on its head.Where can you challenge assumptions in your own life and career? What do people currently “know” that just ain't so?[22:17] - Innovate EverythingFrom your story to your conversationsChris shares a compelling story about how he landed a great apartment in an “impossible” market. By determining that landlords were always the first people to know when an apartment was becoming available, he bypassed the gatekeepers and found out about new opportunities first. Chris advocates for applying this principle across your life and career. He builds on his “first principles” idea to show that every aspect of what you do is an opportunity to innovate. Every process, every convention, was at one point a crazy new idea. How might a crazy new idea change your life?[27:55] - You're a Product, and That's OkayBeing objective can transform your career for the betterAs keynote speakers, we tend not to like thinking of ourselves as products. It feels like an oversimplification, a cold and calculated idea. But Chris argues that when you think of yourself and your message as your product, you free yourself from the self-consciousness that comes with self-assessment. You can take on feedback, criticism, and opportunities for improvement without personal feelings getting in the way. You can make your product — your keynote and the way you deliver it — the best possible product it can be.RESOURCES:[1:52] The Story of Shazam[10:17] About BigSpeak[30:04] About Alison LevineFollow Chris Barton:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Insights from a Booming Bureau (ft. Angela & Richard Schelp)Wit and wisdom from the dynamic husband-and-wife leaders of Executive Speakers BureauOPENING QUOTE:“People will always claim that we're a mid-range size bureau when we're not anymore. Now we're a large bureau, we just don't have George W. Bush as an exclusive, but we generate the kind of volumes and numbers that those people with the exclusives generate. So I think that's an area where I believe a lot of people underestimate us.” -Richard SchelpGUEST BIO:Angela and Richard Schelp are the dynamo husband and wife team that runs Executive Speakers Bureau. Their Memphis-based bureau is on a growth tear, nearly tripling their size over the last seven years. With humble roots dating back to 1993, Executive is now one of the largest and most respected speaker bureaus on the planet. Angela and Richard have enjoyed massive success while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, care for others, and deep commitment to professionalism. They serve clients, speakers, and team members with huge hearts — and a little dose of southern hospitality.Links:Executive Speakers BureauBureau HistoryCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[10:26] - Playing the Long GameHow speakers can burn bright without fizzling outWhy do some speakers endure the test of time while others fade quickly?Angela and Richard have seen the full range of careers for speakers — from the great to the not-so-great. They've found that the difference is strategic, long-term thinking. The speakers who play the long game, sacrifice their fee in strategic settings, work on projects with long-term potential even if they don't come with big short-term gains, are all vital.The other difference? Innovation. A willingness to reinvigorate and innovate on their speaking business day-in and day-out is what makes a speaking career that lasts.[14:59] - The Dos and Don'ts of Contacting BureausHow to make a powerful connectionWith a bureau as successful — and busy! — as Executive, the sad truth is that cold emails and calls often have to be disregarded. That highlights the importance of the “connection before the connection,” the contact that can give you a warm introduction to someone at a bureau you're pursuing.Further, bureau leaders want to see speakers who have invested in their careers. They want to see diligence, progress, and tenacity in continuously building their brand, message, and client list.[23:35] - From Early Traction to Massive AccelerationHow to move from growing to flowingWhat things have Richard and Angela seen that turn early, promising speakers into rocketships to massive success?Often, according to Richard, it comes down to that extra commitment to marketing. They may have a dedicated marketing team to develop a campaign, improve their assets, or reach new audiences. SEO can also be important to help with discovery, as can honing in on specific niches. The basics like testimonials also provide a strong foundation for future momentum.[26:04] - Exclusive or Not?When to go exclusive in your bureau relationshipRichard and Angela outline some of the key considerations when determining the right time to go exclusive with a bureau. If you have momentum, you're struggling to manage your career on your own, and you're commanding fees in the $15K-$20K range but want to bump up to $25K and beyond, then an exclusive partnership can help take you to that next level.That said, you must find a bureau that “gets” you, that has a vision for what you do, and which genuinely cares about your message and approach.RESOURCES:[1:49] The Executive StoryFollow Executive Speakers Bureau:FacebookTwitterLinkedInYouTubeFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Making It Personal (ft. Bridget Hilton, Chad Foster, and Nikolas Badminton)Three top speakers on embracing change in life and onstageOPENING QUOTE:“I trained to be a Samurai in Japan. I worked on a lobster boat in Massachusetts. I went to farm school. I was a model for a whiskey company, which was really fun. I once did a speech where I was in between Ben Affleck and Aerosmith, so there was a lot of imposter syndrome on that one. And I've learned all these weird skills. Learned how to trapeze or how to make my own coffee beans or fly a plane or go dog sledding.”-Bridget HiltonGUEST BIOS:Chad Foster is an award-winning business leader, international keynote speaker and author of Blind Ambition. Connecting inspiration to implementation, Chad shares the insights gained from going blind at 21 and bouncing back to build a massive enterprise value, creating a more resilient leadership culture, and inviting diversity to drive business innovation.Links:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokBridget Hilton, my next guest, is a leading expert in the art science and path to becoming rich in life experiences. Inspired by a viral video of a deaf woman hearing for the first time, she then founded the first social good electronics company called Listen, sold millions of products, partnered with the likes of Google and Delta Airlines and Amazon, and has given over 50,000 people the gift of hearing.Links:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInNikolas Badminton is a world renowned futurist speaker, and he mentors leaders to create more connected, curious and creative teams that embrace futures designed to drive more profit and explosive growth.Nik has spent 30 plus years working with leadership at over 300 leading organizations at the frontline of Foresight, strategy and disruption. He's the chief futurist at futurist.com and the author of Facing Our Futures: How Foresight Futures Design and Strategy Creates Prosperity and Growth.Links:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInYouTubeCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[11:06] - Turning Stories About You into Stories About Your AudienceBeing personal without stealing the spotlightMany speakers struggle with finding the balance of sharing personal stories to engage with their audience without making it “all about them.” After all, a great keynote is about the audience — not the speaker.That's a balance all of this week's guests have achieved in their own unique ways. For some, like Bridget, it's about breaking up her incredible adventures with funny, self-deprecating stories of bad experiences and vulnerability.For Chad, it's all about disarming tension between speaker and audience. As someone who went blind at the age of 21, he understands the power of humor in breaking down barriers with people who may not know how to be “natural” around someone whose experienced something he has. [15:14] - Teaching TransformationHow to encourage an audience to embrace changeAll three of our featured speakers have undergone transformations throughout their lifetimes. From changes in physical capabilities to changes in mindsets, how do they bring their personal stories into a powerful conversation about embracing change?It's all about getting the audience to ask: “How can I make this work for me rather than against me? What can I control?” If you can tap into that, you'll have your audience captivated — and lead them to change.[22:05] - What if the Audience Disagrees?Connecting with your audience even when they're disconnectedOur guests this week have all experienced audiences who aren't fully receptive to their message. Their advice? Lean into it. If we really believe that keynote speaking is about initiating change, then a hostile audience is the perfect audience. They're the ones who have the power to be transformed. So be jarring, be bold, and don't adjust your message just to be as agreeable or “warm and fuzzy” as possible.[27:27] - Speakers Think (Blank), but the Truth is (Blank)Myths and truths in the speaking businessWhat do speakers believe that simply isn't true? The greatest myth, on which all our guests agree, is that perfect delivery is the pinnacle of the craft. Many speakers believe that what an audience wants is the perfect flow, that you have your content down to a T, that you're polished from the moment you step onstage to the moment you leave.But really it's about connection and even vulnerability. Your audience wants you to be human, to share your humanity with them. When you can do that, you can bring them into their world and help them see the transformational power within themselves. That's what speaking is about, not standing up in an impeccable suit and “nailing it.”RESOURCES:[2:11] Blind Ambition[2:43] LSTN Sound Co.[3:54] Futurist.com[3:56] Facing Our Futures: How Foresight Futures Design and Strategy Creates Prosperity and GrowthFollow Chad:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokFollow Bridget:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFollow Nikolas:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInYouTubeFollow Josh:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

The Right Kind of Difficult (ft. Jon Acuff)On learning, growing, adapting, creating, and sharingOPENING QUOTE:“Be your version of funny. Don't be somebody else's version. So what happens is speakers read a book about public speaking and they go, "I got to tell a joke." And they tell a joke that isn't their joke. And it just feels like you're wearing your dad's coat at the eighth grade dance. It doesn't fit you. It doesn't create the moment you want.” -Jon AcuffGUEST BIO:Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books and one of the most successful thought leaders on the circuit, which is why Ink Magazine named him one of the top 100 leadership speakers in the world. He's also a gifted comedian, recently fulfilling a dream by opening up for Dolly Parton at Ryman Auditorium. For over 20 years, he's helped some of the biggest brands tell their story, including the Home Depot, Bose, and Staples. His fresh perspective on life has given him the opportunity to write for Reader's Digest, Fast Company, The Harvard Business Review and Time Magazine.Links:WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[4:22] - The Right Kind of DifficultFinding your zone is about finding the right challengeHow do you know you've found your calling? When it's the “right kind of difficult,” the kind of challenge that has you excited to confront it, to take it on, to master it. Jon calls walking off stage the hardest part of his job, because he could stay there for hours — not because it's easy, but because it's hard in a way that thrills him.[6:17] - Content that Soars (and Sticks the Landing)Perfectly packaging ideas for your audienceJon is the first to acknowledge that almost no speaker or thought leader is delivering truly brand-new, never-heard-before ideas. But what separates bad from good and good from great is the way those ideas are interpreted, packaged, and presented in an unforgettable way.One example of this is Jon's concept of “soundtracks,” or the messages that live inside our heads on a daily basis. By taking the idea of internal monologue and presenting it in an instantly memorable way, Jon has created a keynote message (and book) that resonates with audiences everywhere.[15:41] - Be Funny by Being YouIll-fitting humor is like an ill-fitting suitJon emphasizes the importance of humor, while also emphasizing the risks of using humor that doesn't match your personal style. He likens it to “wearing your dad's coat at the eighth grade dance.” He goes on: “It doesn't fit you. It doesn't create the moment you want. If you're slapstick at a dinner party, be slapstick on stage. If you're dry at a dinner party, be dry on stage. Be your version of funny. Don't be somebody else's version of funny, because it won't work. You won't enjoy it."[26:30] - Rewriting Your SoundtrackHow changing what you tell yourself can change your lifeUse Jon's three-part question to see whether you have a broken soundtrack or repetitive thought. First: Is it true? Second: is it helpful? Third: Is it kind?If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” you're suffering from a broken soundtrack that's going to keep you from achieving both happiness and greatness.As a speaker, the first person you have to inspire is yourself.[34:39] - To Monetization and BeyondTurning ideas and expertise into content and incomeIf 2020 taught the speaking industry anything, it was that even if your business model starts on the stage, it can't end there. Jon has found myriad ways to expand his message and monetization — from treating writing books as a craft to trying out new media like podcasts, YouTube, and online challenges. He's still a speaker at heart, but he's also much more — and that means diverse audiences and income.RESOURCES:[1:20] Jon's BooksFollow Jon Acuff:WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

A New Model (ft. Tiffani Bova)Where innovation and self-awareness meet, you'll find Tiffani BovaOPENING QUOTE:“I stood up in my home office, I hit record, I gave the keynote about what I wanted to say about customer experience. I transcribed the keynote, and that was the beginning of my chapter. That's how I started writing the book.”—Tiffani BovaGUEST BIO:Tiffani Bova is the Global Growth Evangelist at Salesforce and the author of two Wall Street Journal bestselling books, The Experience Mindset and Growth IQ. She's also the host of the top-ranked podcast What's Next with Tiffani Bova. She's ranked on the current Thinkers50 list of the world's top management thinkers, has been named one of the top 100 women in tech, and is considered one of the top 10 influencers on the future of work.Links:WebsiteFacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagramYouTubeCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[8:21] - Developing Your SkillsHow Tiffani and other speakers go from “first draft” to full-fledged speaking mastersWant to improve as a speaker? Tiffani offers a clear three-step approach. Start by watching recordings of yourself, both with the audio on and the audio off. You'll notice things about your mannerisms, engagement, and message that you don't catch while you're delivering in the moment.Next, study the great — not to copy, but to observe and pick up ideas to improve your artistic choices.Finally, trade the sessions summary for detailed audience feedback. This is a great way to get outside perspective to fuel progress.[13:33] - A New Model for SpeakingHow Tiffani is breaking the mold for what a career speaker looks likeInstead of working as a freelancer selling speeches for cash, Tiffani has a full-time job with Salesforce — yet still is every bit the thought leader and speaker of others at the top of this field. She's managed to leverage her passions and skills into a new way of being a speaker, all while doing the things she loves most.[26:43] - Writing for Non-WritersHow Tiffani wrote a book by crafting keynotesWhile Tiffani had a desire to write a book filled with her ideas, writing in that form doesn't come naturally to her. So instead of trying to fit herself into that mold, she stuck to what she knew — keynotes. She wrote ten keynotes about topics that were important to her, and those scripts became the basis for her first book. The rest is best-selling history.[33:30] - For New SpeakersTiffani's advice for speakers on the riseIn addition to Tiffani's three-step process for improving keynotes, she offers more advice for aspiring and building speakers. Seek out feedback from trusted voices, even those whom you think may not have time for you or even know who you are. You may be surprised.However, seeking feedback comes with a part two — you have to actually be willing to accept and consider that feedback. It doesn't mean you have to take every bit of criticism to heart, but it does mean being open to growing from the feedback you receive.RESOURCES:[0:45] Tiffani's Books[38:42] Nancy Duarte on StorytellingFollow Tiffani Bova:WebsiteFacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagramYouTubeFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

West Coast (Bureau) Innovation (ft. Ken Sterling)OPENING QUOTE:“I'm a homeless kid from New York who wants to connect and wants to be around people, and wants to be safe myself, and wants to make the world a safe place. And really my true north is people and living a positive, collaborative lifestyle with the people that I care about and that help make the world a better place.”-Ken SterlingGUEST BIO:Ken Sterling is Executive Vice President and Chief Learning officer of BigSpeak, the largest speaker bureau on the West coast. Ken is famous for designing BigSpeak's Bureau Alliance Program, which has revolutionized the way speaker bureaus collaborate and work together to create more abundance and exposure for their exclusive speaking clients.Ken holds a PhD in organizational leadership, an MBA, a master's in communication, and a JD. In addition to his leadership role in the speaking industry, Ken also teaches marketing and business ethics and law at UC Santa Barbara.Links:WebsiteLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[15:09] - Disruptive InnovationHow BigSpeak built and scaled unlike anyone elseIf you want to innovate and truly make your speaking career into something powered by rocket fuel, you can't take five half-steps. You need to choose one or two pursuits, and then pursue the hell out of them with an all-in mindset. Don't half-embrace new technologies or new ideas. Embrace them all the way, then pivot if you need to. That's how Ken helped BigSpeak innovate in a big way.[22:22] - What a Buyer WantsIt's more than the topicsBuyers today want authenticity. They want unique perspectives, including those from diverse voices. They want speakers to demonstrate their capability not just onstage but in writing and other areas of your career. It's about more than just matching a specific topic. It's about representing something that a buyer can't find in any other speaker. [23:33] - The Other Pandemic“Unprecedented times” indeedEveryone focuses on COVID as the biggest shift to the speaking industry in recent memory. But to Ken, the bigger transformation was the shift toward more diverse and inclusive voices. In a world post-George Floyd and other events spurring conversations about marginalized voices, the speaking world is finally moving beyond the “white old guy in a suit” model for all speakers. There is — and has to be — room for diverse voices.[29:40] - The One ThingSetting yourself apart as a speakerKen advises that if a speaking topic is too broad, an audience won't feel like they're getting something new out of the hour they devote to your performance. Meanwhile, having a “one thing” which Ken calls your “zone of genius” helps set you apart in a crowded market, more than being the 1,000th speaker promising to simply “boost productivity.”[35:24] - Find Your True NorthThe missing ingredient for many speakersToo many speakers begin from a place of identifying what's hot in the speaker world, then trying to go after that. Instead, Ken advises that speakers start with what they truly own and have mastered — and are excited by! — and then finding a way to match that message to the current zeitgeist. Buyers want someone who truly owns their message, not someone who is following the latest trend.RESOURCES:[1:30] About BigSpeak[23:07] Ken's INC ColumnFollow Ken Sterling:WebsiteLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

White Belts and Plati-Truths (ft. Sebastian Terry, Erin Stafford, and Tucker Bryant)Three speakers, three perspectives, one incredible conversationOPENING QUOTE:“And I think that it's important to show people that there is hope, that you are able to be successful and have an incredible career and family, et cetera, and also still be mentally healthy and still be happy. There is a way to do it.”-Erin StaffordGUEST BIOS:Sebastian Terry is a bestselling author, avid surfer, and founder of 100 Things. Originally from Australia, he now travels the world helping people live more purposeful, fulfilling, and really fun lives.Links:WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeLinkedInTwitterAfter marketing roles at MTV, Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, and American Express, Erin Stafford became a senior executive at one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. Then she smashed into the wall of serious burnout. Next, she set out on a mission to help other driven type A people beat burnout while still unlocking peak performance.Links:WebsiteTwitterInstagramLinkedInTucker Bryant grew up in the UK, then spent a decade in Silicon Valley working at both Google and Stanford. He's a brilliant spoken word poet, bridging the gap between art and business in his unique keynote performances.Links:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[10:12] - When Patterns are Broken, New Worlds EmergePoetry and impactAfter hearing from Tucker about the way he weaves poetry into his keynotes to drive transformation, Josh shares how generally breaking patterns and helping audiences think about things differently is one of the most effective ways to generate real transformation. Sebastian goes on to speak about how he uses humor in a similar way — turning insights into memorable calls to take action in the real world.[13:16] - Super Fluffy, Ethereal, Woo-Woo, SoftErin on being yourselfErin shares how she's felt pressure to be a certain way in her presentation — soft, ultra-cheerful, and wellness focused. “That is just not who I am.” Instead, she prefers actionable direction. “What do I need to do today when I go home? Just tell me what the hell I'm supposed to do to get out of burnout?” She wants the tools, and that's what she brings to her keynotes. There is room for both styles in the keynote world, but it's all about determining who you will be.[18:42] - The Trojan HorseHiding the profound in the simpleJosh and Tucker speak about how marketing your message matters. If you present your message as being all about work-life balance and personal growth, planners may put you in a “breakout session on the third day of the conference.” But if you can pitch a big-stage concept, then imbue it with powerful and profound messages, you can deliver on the promise of your keynote while also bringing powerful, positive surprises to your audience.[22:21] - The Individual and the OrganizationHow to speak to both in your messageErin shares how she's found her message of burnout connecting on both an individual level and an organizational level. Finding a message that does both is essential as a keynote speaker. You can't only speak to people on a personal level, but you also can't be focused only on the bottom line. Speakers must find a way to deliver their message in a way that its impact is clear — both for individual human beings who want to improve their wellbeing, and for massive enterprises who want to supercharge their organizational success.[25:39] - What Gets You On the Stage?Our guests speak on what motivates themAsk speakers why they do what they do, and you'll get different answers — but a similar core theme. For Seb, it's about impact. He speaks about letters he's received that detail both personal and organizational transformations that genuinely improve people's lives.For Tucker, it's about turning his own mistakes, missteps, and hangups into opportunities to help others grow. When he reflects on opportunities he's missed in life by sticking to what was comfortable, he sees the opportunity he has to help others break out of their own comfort zones and seize those opportunities.Finally, Erin shares how passionate she is about helping people find real success, the kind of success that doesn't show up in net worth or job title. She's seen amazing leaders who have reached the pinnacles of their careers who are miserable, burnt out, and lost. She believes in showing those people there is hope, that you can be successful and balanced and mentally healthy.Overall, all three of our guests believe in the power of how words spoken onstage can lead to so much more — not just improving financial outcomes, but improving lives.RESOURCES:[2:20] 100 Things, by Sebastian Terry[39:23] The Type A Trap, by Erin StaffordFollow Sebastian Terry:WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeLinkedInTwitterFollow Erin Stafford:WebsiteTwitterInstagramLinkedInFollow Tucker Bryant:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Pushing Past Autopilot (ft. Ryan Leak)How one of the world's most successful speakers lives intentionallyOPENING QUOTE:“I grew up in the church, and saw my dad. We had this small African-American church in the suburbs of Chicago, and I just saw the impact my dad had on a community of people and I thought, man, what if we could do this all the time? What if we could do this, not just Sundays, but what if we could add value to people's lives all week long?”-Ryan LeakGUEST BIO:Who has the audacity to propose to the love of his life, then ask her to marry him the very same day as the proposal? The incredible Ryan Leak not only secretly planned a blowout wedding, but is one of the most inspiring and successful keynote speakers on the planet. He is the best-selling author of two books, Chasing Failure and Leveling Up. He's the CEO of a leadership development firm that trains over 15,000 leaders each year. Most importantly, he's married to his best friend Amanda and is the proud assistant coach for his son's basketball team.Links:WebsiteInstagramFacebookTikTokLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[13:47] - Sharing Your FailuresThe courage to be vulnerable onstageA mentor once told Ryan, “If you talk about your weaknesses, you'll never run out of content.” He's taken that to heart in his career — and helped others talk about their own weaknesses and failures. The result is that he's helped thousands of people come to not only accept failure, but embrace it as a necessary and thrilling part of their journey toward greatness and personal success.[14:48] - The Role of HumorMake ‘em laugh, make ‘em laugh, make ‘em laughRyan is keenly aware of the power of humor. It does much more than just entertain an audience. It breaks down barriers between audience and speaker. It allows you to communicate profound truths in a disarming way. It allows you to be authentic about your own shortcomings while also acknowledging the often funny — and tragic — ways the world works. All this adds up to more engaging, powerful, and impactful speeches, no matter your topic, approach, or audience.[17:22] - Take Control of the PlaneWhat it means to push past autopilotMany speakers — and successful people in all careers — begin to rely on their instincts and experience to guide them. They come up with an idea, it feels right, it seems to work, and so they keep using it again and again. But Ryan advises that this can often lead you to become stuck. You don't want to change, or plainly assess your own performance for potential weaknesses.But the key to success like Ryan's is to always have your hands on the wheel, turning here and there to keep yourself on the right path — even if those adjustments can be painful for the ego at times.[29:23] - Generosity is EverythingGive everything and you'll have everythingRyan recounts a CEO who approached him after a speech, telling him: “You're pretty special.” Why? Because he “give[s] a shit about people.”What seems like such a simple trait makes all the difference. Ryan discusses how he makes it his goal at every event to be as lowkey and un-demanding as possible, to the point of ordering his own food at times even when the client offers to do it for him. He believes in being generous when it's easy and it's not easy, and he's found that it's blessed his life and career in ways he never could have imagined.[35:27] - Studying the GreatsTaking bits and pieces to make yourselfAs a student of basketball to the point of having had the chance to work out with an NBA team, Ryan recognizes the value in studying the greats. Even though he may not seem to have much in common with the likes of Gary Vee, he recognizes that there's value in studying other speakers — no matter how different they may seem. Then he can identify their strengths and incorporate them into his own approach.RESOURCES:[2:01] Chasing Failure & Leveling Up[20:28] The Surprise WeddingFollow Ryan Leak:WebsiteInstagramFacebookTikTokLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

A Punch in the Face, Wrapped in a Warm Hug (ft. Laura Gassner Otting)Laura Gassner Otting on getting through fear and getting more with lessOPENING QUOTE:“I gave that talk holding on to the lectern. Like if I let go, I would fly into space and die. It was so scary but at the end of it, they handed me a check.”-Laura Gassner OttingGUEST BIO:Laura Gassner Otting, known worldwide as LGO, has been described as a punch in the face wrapped in a warm hug. After selling her extremely successful executive search firm, she entered the speaking industry and promptly blasted off. Applying extreme levels of curiosity, intensity, creative problem solving, and drive, she hit escape velocity in record time and continues to scale fast. She's the bestselling author of two books, and her extensive body of work is helping her deliver meaningful value to audiences around the globe.Links:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebookLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[3:08] - Lessons from Taylor SwiftKeynote speaking advice from an unexpected sourceWe start the episode in an unexpected place — a Taylor Swift concert. Laura shares how impressed she was with the way that Swift left plenty of space for the audience to be part of the show simply by cheering and showing appreciation. She goes on to say that this is something all keynote speakers could apply to their own approach. The more the audience feels like they're having a conversation rather than receiving information, the more engaged they'll be.[5:49] - The First OvationA small tweak to delivery that paid massive dividendsHow did Laura get more out of her speaking career? By giving less. “The first standing ovation I ever got was when I decided to…give 48 minutes of content during a 60-minute keynote.”She goes on to share how allowing moments for the audience to laugh, cry, cheer, and respond turned her speeches into conversations — and that made all the difference. It didn't just lead to her first standing ovation. It also led to major upward momentum in her career as she became an in-demand voice on stages everywhere.[9:10] - Laura's Identity CrisisIt's not all smooth sailing — even for LGOAfter feeling on top of the world having just sold her company amidst huge success, Laura had to face a moment of transformation. Who was she now that she wasn't “LGO, CEO”?Then, a contact encouraged her to get onstage. She gave her first talk ever at TEDx Cambridge in front of 2,600 people — and was terrified the entire time. But she got through it, delivered her message, and discovered something about herself. She had a passion for speaking. That discovery was waiting just on the other side of her terror. What discoveries do we miss because we're afraid?[13:48] - The Creative HackA video reel and a shot of career rocket fuelEarly in the development of her speaking career, Laura had a problem. She needed a video reel, but had only been onstage once. How could she put together a reel of multiple successful performances when she didn't have multiple successful performances.Simple. She rented an auditorium, brought an audio-visual setup, and ran through multiple pitch-perfect lines in multiple outfits. Boom. All of a sudden she had a professional-looking reel with what appeared to be multiple killer performances — even though most of them had come from the same day.The rest is history.[37:19] - From the Today Show to the Top of the Bestseller ListUncommon results require uncommon methodsHow did Laura get a book blurb from a huge name — one she didn't even know — that landed her spots on the Today Show and the bestseller list? Well, she asked. She relentlessly reached out to Amy Cuddy, until finally she had the chance to bug her in person. To her shock, Amy agreed to let Laura write a blurb on her behalf for approval. Laura didn't stop there. She wrote an audacious, intensely positive blurb. And it worked!RESOURCES:[9:35] Laura's Cambridge TEDx Talk[19:45] Limitless by LGO[37:20] About Amy CuddyFollow LGO:WebsiteTwitterInstagramFacebookLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Insights From a Bureau Legend (ft. Martin Perelmuter)A top name in the speaker industry tells us what it means to succeed in this businessOPENING QUOTE:“Whenever we look at new speakers I always look at not just who they are today and what they've done up until now, but look at who they could be 5 or 10 years from now and look at the potential.”-Martin PerelmuterGUEST BIO:Martin Perelmuter is the president and co-founder of Toronto based Speakers Spotlight. The agency is one of the top speaker Bureaus in the world, with 36 full-time team members booking over 2,500 events each year. Martin is a self-described unapologetic idealist and has played a key role in the speaking industry for over 25 years. He serves on the board of governors of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus and is currently the president-elect, taking the helm in 2024.Links:LinkedInTwitterSpeakers SpotlightCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[8:55] - Canada vs. U.S.A.Not a competition — just a discussionAs someone who has found major success in both the Canadian and U.S. speaker markets, what does Martin have to say about their differences and similarities?He highlights how Canadians are “...more like the British in terms of…social values and the way Canadians think. For a US speaker speaking in Canada, the most important thing to keep in mind is you are speaking in a different country, we're not the 51st state.”His point? You can't walk onto a Canadian stage and deliver the exact same keynote you would deliver in the U.S.— and vice versa. Even simply acknowledging that there are differences between Canada and the U.S. can go a long way in endearing you to audiences in either country when you're speaking abroad.[25:29] - What Do Planners Want Today Versus Ten Years Ago?A decade of change in a fast-moving industryMartin highlights the movement toward more “authentic” speakers, who eschew the three-piece-suits for t-shirts and jeans, eliminating barriers between themselves and their audiences. Meanwhile, the industry has begun placing particular value on those who have actually been “in the trenches” — living real experiences that they can then go speak about.And, of course, there was the rise of TED events which made public speaking a much more visible, accessible phenomenon. Now people are more familiar with keynote speakers — and better able to detect when they're not authentic.[37:38] - The Next Ten YearsLooking into Martin's crystal ballMartin acknowledges that while the last few years have shown us it's impossible to predict with certainty what will happen, there are certainly some trends to watch. He believes we'll see greater adoption of tools that help speakers get their message through to people and see lasting impact. Whether that looks like regular Zoom chats with clients or virtual Q&A sessions — or something we haven't thought up yet — that ongoing engagement is going to be central to in-person and virtual events.Different platforms might come and go, but the purpose of keynote speaking will always remain: impact and behavior change in people that need and want it most.[42:29] - What Puts a Speaker in the “Top Five”?Martin shares his thoughts on what makes for a go-to speakerJosh asks Martin what characteristics or attributes make someone an “inner circle, top five go-to” speaker for a bureau leader like Martin?His reply is simple — flexibility, reliability, and the willingness to put in work. When a speaker can adapt to a wide range of audiences and events, will always bend over backward to deliver for their clients, and is willing to improve anyway they can, they'll always be in-demand among the bureaus.RESOURCES:[1:30] About Speakers Spotlight[28:30] The Rise of Gary V[29:37] The History of TED Talks[34:45] About IASBFollow Martin Perelmuter:LinkedInTwitterSpeakers SpotlightFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

On this episode, Ami Kassar interviews Josh Linkner, Author & Speaker, to discuss how the pandemic grounded him as a speaker - but did it change his life forever? Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's an internationally recognized expert on innovation and is the author of four books on the subject including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming, and The Road to Reinvention. Josh is passionate about starting and building companies. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm - and was previously the CEO and founding partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale. Today, Josh serves as Chairman and co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession for greasy pizza. Recorded 01/20/2023.

Making the Impossible Possible (ft. Ben Nemtin)One man's dream to help others achieve theirsOPENING QUOTE:“It was national news, then it was international news, and then people also started sending us their dreams, asking for our help. And so we just kept doing it because the energy was there. And that's why this project turned into, really, a lifestyle. And I realized that a list is really a reminder of the things that are truly important to you that tend to get buried by the day-to-day.”-Ben NemtinGUEST BIO:Ben Nemtin rose to fame when he and three buddies from school made a list of 100 impossible things they wanted to do before they died. Then they jumped into a van together and set out to make them happen. The catch? For every one dream they accomplished, they had to help someone else achieve a dream of their own. The foursome filmed the whole thing, which became a hit TV show on MTV and helped launch Ben's remarkable speaking career. This last year, Ben delivered over 150 paid keynotes and is one of the most in-demand speakers on the planet. He helps audiences make the impossible possible while covering topics like mental health, burnout, and regret in a deeply personal and authentic way.Links:WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebookLinkedInYouTubeCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[10:04] - From Desire to Belief to ActionGoing from wanting something to making it realityHow do you play basketball with the President? First, you have to decide to do it. Then you have to never take no for an answer. Next, and this is the important part, you have to continue refusing to take no for an answer.That's what Ben learned— that achieving your dreams happens only when you mix a desire with the belief that it's possible and the continual, never-ending drive to take action and make it happen.[14:47] - Building the Speaking MuscleDispelling the talent myth“Every speaker that you see started where you are now.” With that simple message, Ben nails what makes speaking so magical— the fact that it's not magic at all. If you're willing to put in the reps, put in the hours, and keep striving to become better, anyone can truly become a transformative speaker. There's no secret talent, no genetic code for speaking prowess. It's just practice, practice, and more practice.[20:45] - Growing During the PandemicHow Ben turned the normal COVID story on its headWhen your circumstances become worse, how do you respond?Ben responded to the worst possible circumstances by making himself the best he could be. “When COVID hit, I had to really look at, ‘How do I make my keynote 20% to 30% better? Because I feel as though it's going to be less impact virtually, just by nature of the virtual environment.”That ownership over difficult circumstances is rare, and powerful. Sometimes you can lighten your load. But when you can't, you can always make yourself stronger to bear the weight.[36:03] - The Ultimate RegretHow to avoid feelings of missed opportunities at the end76% of people on their deathbed regret having lived their life for someone other than themselves. “I lived the life I thought I should live, not a life for me.”How do you avoid that regret? By following the three steps we started with. Find your desire, truly believe it's possible, and then set about making it a reality every day with everything you do.RESOURCES:[7:38] The Buried Life, by Matthew Arnold[33:20] The Buried Life WebsiteFollow Ben Nemtin:WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebookLinkedInYouTubeFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Stories that Stick (ft. Kindra Hall)A master storyteller on what works, what matters, and what doesn't work or matterOPENING QUOTE:“We get to know people through their stories, and they're asking themselves in that moment as you come out on stage: "I'm spending the next hour with this person, do I like them? Do I connect with them? Do I feel like they're related to me in any way? Do I trust them?”-Kindra Hall:GUEST BIO:Kindra Hall is the best selling author of Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business. Kindra is one of the busiest keynote speakers on the scene, helping global brands better communicate the value of their company, their products and their individuality through strategic storytelling. She's also the Chief Storytelling Officer at SUCCESS Magazine, where she shares the inspiring, often untold stories of achievers like Daymond John, Deepak Chopra, James Altucher and Misty Copeland in print and on the podcast SUCCESS Stories with Kindra Hall.Links:WebsiteFacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagramYouTubeCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[6:00] - The Four Key Elements of a Great StoryKindra's secret sauce for amazing storytellingKindra lists four key components of great storytelling— First, they need an identifiable character. It can be you or someone else, but it needs to be someone your audience can identify with.Next, a story needs authentic emotion. It doesn't have to make your audience cry, but it needs to make them feel something. Third— a story needs a moment. It's a point in the story where the listener can “come in and sit right there next to you,” experiencing what you or the main character experienced.Finally, a story needs specific details. This adds to the image your audience is creating in their minds, making your story more vivid and impactful.[14:48] - Intros & EndingHow Kindra thinks about two of the most important parts of a keynoteWhen it comes to intros, Kindra has a strong stance: “Always start with the story.” That's how your audience will get to know you, much more than listing out your credentials or resume.As far as endings, Kindra ties all the concepts she's gone on to discuss back to that original story. It brings everything full-circle, and helps solidify the concepts discussed because they tie back to her original narrative. This leaves a lasting impression and ties emotion and feelings to the intellectual side of what's been discussed.[22:36] - Kindra's Storytelling HeroesInfluential names you may not knowKindra lists her mentor, Donald Davis, as one of her storytelling heroes. She cites his traditional storytelling chops and ability to make life's everyday moments have power and value as one of her biggest inspirations. Kindra also lists the opening story of Glennon Doyle's book Untamed, despite its status as being considered “overhyped.” It clearly struck a chord with a wide range of people— the hallmark of a great story.[29:16] - Kindra's Storytelling No-NosTaking a stand against emotional manipulationTwo things Kindra feels strongly about in stories and keynotes— don't cry, and don't tell stories that have no purpose other than to make your audience cry. Becoming emotional onstage might feel like it will convey vulnerability and impact, but the truth is that it takes the focus off your audience and puts it on you. You're meant to be the deliverer of the message, not the central star of the message.Meanwhile, Kendra says that while stories should be emotionally resonant, they also need to tie back to your message on an intellectual level. Ask yourself what the purpose of a story you share actually is— if it doesn't go any deeper than “making the audience cry,” cut it out.[32:52] - More than an OvationKindra's real measure of a great keynoteMany speakers measure success in standing ovations. But Kindra uses another metric. Does anyone come up to her after the keynote and ask to discuss its message with her further? Does anyone speak to her about speaking at another event? These are signs that she's made a lasting impression after leaving the stage and concluding the event. That's the true measure of keynote success.RESOURCES:[23:02] About Donald Davis[24:02] Untamed, by Glennon Doyle[24:40] New York Times Metropolitan DiaryFollow Kindra Hall:WebsiteFacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagramYouTubeFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Rose-Colored Glasses (with Lime Green Frames) (ft. Erik Qualman)Erik Qualman's relentlessly optimistic and transformative approach to speakingOPENING QUOTE:“And even though I'm speaking to a group... Let's say yesterday, there's 5,000 people there. There's people in there, it's a business meeting, but there's people struggling with personal issues. So, they'll send a note, and "Hey, I was..." I mean, this is at the extreme, but I've gotten emails, I'm sure you have as well, that's like, "I was going to end it. I was going to end my life today, but then there's something that you said that just said, okay, one more day, let me keep it going.”-Erik QualmanGUEST BIO:Erik Qualman has been named the number two most likable author on the planet, coming in just behind J.K. Rowling. In addition to penning not only one but five number-one best sellers, he's been named a top 50 digital influencer by Forbes Magazine. Erik has delivered keynotes in 55 countries and reached over 50 million people with his compelling and inspiring messages and, according to him, “Most importantly I'm still trying to live up to the World's Greatest Dad coffee mug I received from my wife and two daughters.”Links:WebsiteBooksInstagramFacebookTwitterYouTubeLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[12:17] - Intentionality, from Health to Family TimeStaying healthy and connected to what mattersJosh and Erik discuss the difficulties of traveling as a speaker, both for physical health and family connections. For Erik, it's become about putting processes in place that allow him to fit all the parts of his life that matter most. When possible, he includes his wife and children in his travel— especially during summer vacation. He also actively tracks his time spent traveling so that he doesn't spend more time away than he wants to without realizing it. [16:04] - How to FocusSimple idea, difficult in practiceOnce you start pursuing any sort of career project, you quickly become pulled in a million different directions. Soon, you're no longer being intentional about your time— you're being reactive. Erik reminds us all to take time re-focus yourself and your team, if you have one. “How do I be intentional with every minute?”[29:13] - What are your Green Glasses?Finding and double-clicking on what makes you uniqueErik tells the story of how bright green glasses became his trademark nearly by accident— but how he later embraced the look as his identifying trademark. It's not about a gimmick— it's about creating an image that's recognizable and representative of what you stand for. In Erik's case, he stands for optimism and the willingness to be unique, like a pair of bright green glasses.[29:39] - Going InternationalErik's tips for being a truly global speakerErik's advice for anyone speaking internationally? Prep, prep, prep. Always remember that cultures are different across the world. You need to speak from a place of understanding of your audience's background, cultural space, political situations, and more. Human experience is universal, but it's influenced by where we come from. Always remember that when speaking internationally.[33:31] - Digital Leadership and SpeakingErik's perspective as the number-one expertErik defines digital leadership simply as empathy. Do I care enough to fix your problem and remove friction? Most innovation isn't additive, it's subtraction. Digital leadership is about taking away barriers and causes of friction to create an environment for success. It all begins with empathy.RESOURCES:[4:19] About TravelZoo[4:28] Socialnomics, by Erik Qualman[5:32] About Book Expo[15:51] The Focus Project, by Erik Qualman[25:46] Digital Leader, by Erik QualmanFollow Erik Qualman:WebsiteBooksInstagramFacebookTwitterYouTubeLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Forging Deeper Connections (ft. Riaz Meghji)What can broadcasting teach us about keynote speaking?OPENING QUOTE:And the impact of these past two years could be stress, anxiety, depression, disconnection, and while an overarching theme we've talked about being the great resignation, I believe that's an outcome of the great disconnection.”-Riaz MeghjiGUEST BIO:Riaz Meghji is a human connection expert and author of the book Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection that Build Extraordinary Relationships. He's also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience. Over the course of his career, he's interviewed experts on current affairs, sports, entertainment, politics, and business.Links:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebookCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[6:22] - Silence and PacingPowerful tools in broadcasting or keynote speakingRiaz points out how he noticed that in the virtual world there was widespread discomfort with silence. He then used intentional pausing to his advantage, using it to impact pacing and break through the white noise. Through silence, he says, people will stop in their tracks and ask, “What happened?”[9:09] - The Power of a Virtual Green RoomCreating deeper connection in remote keynotesRiaz likes to get into his remote sessions as much as 30 minutes before the event actually starts. This gives him the chance to connect with the MC, other speakers, or any other key people so that they can connect on a deeper level before the event. This provides more context and even helps simulate both the adrenaline rush and the tranquility of being in a green room together before a big event.[14:38] - Make Small Talk BiggerLessons on human connectionFor too long we've looked at small talk as a defense mechanism to prevent us from getting real in front of someone we don't know or hitting a nerve with someone else. But if we make our small talk bigger, it presents us with massive opportunities to serve. Ask first and talk second. Be intentional with your curiosity. You'll be amazed at what you discover about the people around you[30:39] - What is Assertive Empathy?Taking on difficult conversations the right wayNeed to have a difficult conversation? Try applying the principal of assertive empathy— relationship first, logic second. It's all about leading with a sense of discovery, rather than posturing our own position. Begin by asking questions and getting to know the other side's perspective before sharing your own. You'll be amazed by how much more productive those conversations become.[34:18] - Be Interested, Not InterestingThe power of making people feel famousWe all have an innate desire to belong. Whether you're a presenter on stage or a leader with your team, what can you do to go the extra mile and allow someone to feel recognized, acknowledged, seen, and appreciated? And don't wait until some big conference or town hall to celebrate people's wins— celebrate them in everyday interactions whenever you notice them. RESOURCES:[2:10] Every Conversation Counts, by Riaz Meghji[13:18] Cigna Research on Loneliness[16:02] About Gordon Livingston[26:24] The Compound Effect, by Darren HardyFollow Riaz Meghji:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebookFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

How Two Experienced Meeting Planners Hire Speakers (ft. Debbie Lipsky & Jason Callori)Perspectives from two meeting planners who hire speakers dailyOPENING QUOTE:“I think some people are a little more high maintenance than others. And, like, for the event, the conference I work on. It's a C-Suite client conference. Every single person in attendance, all our clients are our VIPs. As a speaker, you're coming in to present and provide education and thought leadership to them. So you're not supposed to be a VIP yourself.”-Debbie LipskyGUEST BIO:Debbie Lipsky has been running events and hiring speakers for over 20 years in her role at the financial services giant, SEI. LinkedInJason Callori works for Cardinal Health, the 15th largest company in the United States with $162 billion in revenue. He's booked dozens of speakers and runs some of the largest and most elaborate conferences and events in the game.LinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[7:51] - What Bookers Look for in SpeakersStraight from the sourceWhat does Debbie want? Customization. In the world of TED talk videos available for free online, there's no reason to book someone who's giving the same talk at every event. She wants to receive a custom message, one that is tailored to that exact audience on that day.As for Jason, he wants dynamism, magnetism, and stage presence. He calls it the ‘phone test.' If he's looking down at his phone within ten seconds of watching someone's videos online, he knows they're not the person for his event.[11:04] - Bureau or No Bureau?An answer to the classic question— what do bookers want?Despite doing a lot of research on his own, Jason does work closely with speaker bureaus for the simple fact that it makes his life easier. Like Jason, Debbie pairs her own research with close bureau partnerships. Overall, 95% of her bookings come through bureaus.[18:38] - New and Exciting or Tried and TrueHow do bookers decide which way to go?Network matters. Proven success matters. But both Debbie and Jason assert that what it really comes down to is picking the right person, with the right message, for the right event. Sometimes that means going with someone who has a massive portfolio of previous talks, and sometimes it means going with a new upstart who doesn't have many keynotes under their belt but who has otherwise demonstrated their value. [27:57] - Setting the Volume KnobSetting the right tone to attract attentionDo bookers want a rock concert-like atmosphere from their speaker, or a more substantive and information-driven approach? The simple answer: a happy medium. There needs to be a good takeaway and substance, but there also needs to be energy and fun along the way. Generally, that fun factor will need to be even higher when it comes to the opener and closer of a multi-day conference.[32:11] - The Old Razzle DazzleDebbie and Jason reflect on what ‘wows' themIf you ask Debbie and Jason, ‘dream' speakers do the little things right. They have their slides locked in at least two days before the event. They take the time to know the business they're speaking to— the audience's roles and goals. They don't just want to impress the higher ups, they want to create real impact for the employees themselves. If you want to get booked, nail all the little things.RESOURCES:[2:33] About SEI[2:43] About Cardinal HealthFollow Debbie:LinkedInFollow Jason:LinkedInFollow Josh:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

What Matters Now (ft. David Horsager)David Horsager on research and trust— and why they're closely linkedOPENING QUOTE:“We had, by that October, $1.40 to our name after paying our urgent bills. And we lived in the basement of 86 year old Clara Miller's home with no windows, no bathroom, no kitchen, but we could walk three flights of stairs up and share her bathroom. And we had a half of a shelf in her fridge and we could share that and it had black mold on the walls. And that's how we started this speaking business.”-David HorsagerGUEST BIO:David Horsager is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, bestselling author of three books, and internationally recognized expert on trust— as well as one of the most successful keynote speakers on the circuit.Links:WebsiteBooksFaceBookLinkedInTwitterYouTubeInstagramCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[4:22] - A Speaker's Number One JobHint: it may not be what you thinkThe reason you follow a leader, buy a product, or experience transformation after a speech is all about trust. It's not about being liked, it's about being trusted. Rather than trying to talk about fifteen different topics, or write your keynote around making yourself look good, you should instead focus on creating trust between you and your audience— then going from there.[14:05] - David's Unique Approach to ResearchLearning and brainstorming his wayResearch, research, research. That's one of the biggest takeaways from our conversation with David. He's a diligent, almost obsessive researcher, drawing on resources from every field he can find to come up with actionable and proven messages. As a side effect, this research leads to connections with a wide range of people and organizations— and more engagements. [22:32] - Key Questions to Ask YourselfExpert advice when writing and delivering keynotesWhen writing or delivering every keynote, David asks himself this question: What does this mean to them now? This ensures that his message is not only relevant, but also timely. Is your message outdated? Is it striking a resonant chord with your audience where they are at this present moment, and where they'll be tomorrow? Another question: Are you committed to your client? Are you committed to this business? If the answer is yes, you'll do whatever it takes to make a five-star impact.[27:31] -The Eight Pillars of TrustApplying them to your speaking businessDavid doesn't dive deep on all eight pillars of trust, but he does mention a few. Intent and compassion, which shows we care about someone beyond their benefit to us. Consistency is another— the only way to build a reputation is visible consistency. Finally, competency: if you want to be trusted in your area of expertise, you have to be competent.RESOURCES:[7:00] Begin with Trust, Harvard Study[21:30] About Donald Miller[24:01] The Trusted Leader Show, Podcast by DavidFollow David Horsager:WebsiteBooksFaceBookLinkedInTwitterYouTubeInstagramFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Keeping the Beat (ft. Mark Schulman)Legendary drummer and must-see speaker Mark Schulman on where music and leadership meetOPENING QUOTE:“I talk about how when I sit behind the drums, I don't just play the drums. I am the drums. And when I get up to give a speech, I don't just give a speech, I am the speech. I literally take on that persona and I allow myself to be selfless. And I'm always thinking, What can I do for you? What can I do for them? What can I do for the audience?”-Mark SchulmanGUEST BIO:Legendary drummer Mark Schulman has been the go-to drummer for Pink, Foreigner, Stevie Nicks, Beyonce, Cher, Sheryl Crow, and many more. He's been voted one of the top-three pop/rock drummers and been featured as a cover artist on Modern Drummer magazine. Now, he's also one of the most successful keynote speakers on the circuit, as well as a successful author. Links:WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[8:00] - Discipline is DisciplineDrumming or speaking, the root is the sameSuccess in one discipline doesn't always translate to success in another. But for Mark, learning to be a great drummer and learning to be a great speaker depended on the same core principles— discipline, action, and refinement over time. Mark says he's always studying, always reading, and always looking for ways to improve his content and delivery. It's that same discipline that made him one of the world's great drummers. [13:12] - The Rock Star MindsetWhere confidence meets selflessnessBeing a rock star doesn't mean being a selfish diva. In fact, the great rock stars embody two great principles— utter confidence in who they are, and the recognition that what they provide is an act of service. When Mark's onstage, either behind a drum kit or a microphone, he's there to bring something magical to the audience. Anyone, from a fresh name in speaking to a longtime expert, can embody that rock star approach.[15:10] - Speaking to the OneMark's backstage moment of intentionWhile a speaker stands in front of a crowd of dozens, hundreds, or thousands, Mark says that you have to focus on each individual audience member. Before each event, he takes a moment backstage to remind himself that he's having a series of one-on-one conversations— not delivering a message to a monolithic crowd. This helps him connect on a personal level with each person that attends his events.[33:21] - Get On That StageMark's #1 piece of advice for budding speakersYou're early in your career. You've got some early momentum. Mark's advice? “It is really all about clocking the hours on stage. You need that experience. Any chance you get with a Rotary Club, with a Moose lodge, with a Masons or church group, temple, whatever— speak, speak, speak. Whether it's for free, whether it's for money…Nothing replaces that time on stage.”RESOURCES:[7:05] Conquering Life's Stage Fright, by Mark Schulman[9:24] Bruce Turkel[29:23] Pink's Record-Breaking TourFollow Mark Schulman:WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Break the Mold (ft. Heather McGowan)Sometimes the best advice is to ignore the advice.OPENING QUOTE:“In the past two weeks, it was diamonds, hairdressers, biopharmaceuticals, education, quality control. Next week, it's education. So it's all over the place. And how do you take that same insights or series of insights or decide which ones are important to which audiences so you can scale it?”- Heather McGowanGUEST BIO:One of the most successful speakers today, Heather McGowan is a leading voice on the future of work and the fourth industrial revolution. She's helped lead organizations around the world in the quest to balance performance and wellbeing, and her latest book The Adaptation Advantage was named one of the Top 30 business books of 2021. It delivers a groundbreaking model for helping leaders let go, learn fast, and thrive. Links:WebsiteLinkedInTwitterCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[6:28] - Uniquely Authentic, Uniquely SuccessfulBreaking the mold & making careersPeople are always telling Heather how authentic she is. But the truth is that she begins from a very simple truth— people want to have a conversation. When Heather steps onstage, she has an idea she wants to convey and she's out to do it in the most authentic, straightforward, and memorable way. Sometimes, it's as simple as that— though it's certainly never easy.[12:29] - Adapting Your MessageSame mission, different audienceHow do you deliver the same message to a group of 5,000 people for 12 minutes as you do a group of 100 people for 75 minutes? The answer is adaptability. You have to be able to identify the core truths and value in your message, then build the rest of your message around them based on the audience, setting, time limit, and other factors. It's a skill, and like any skill it can be practiced and perfected.[9:25] - The Future of Work & The Future of KeynotesThe world is changing. Are you changing with it?The future of keynote speaking has a lot in common with the future of work— it's becoming more connected, less rigid in its formulas, and more open to unique perspectives and ways of doing things. That can only be a good thing, and it will allow for a new group of speakers to come up and continue changing the game for generations to come.[22:13] - Bringing Diversity to the StageEquity and inclusion are #1Heather's goal? To see a time when all of the things about her that are currently selling points relating to her uniqueness— such as her orientation— are simply background to her message. But for now, she's proud to be a driving force helping more diverse voices reach keynote stages. It's something we should all aspire to do in our own ways.RESOURCES:[2:37] The Adaptation Advantage[4:18] About Amplify FestivalFollow Heather McGowan:WebsiteLinkedInTwitterFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Between the Lines (ft. Naren Aryal)Exploring the fusion point where books & speaking meetOPENING QUOTE:“Hey look, here's 10 titles and here are the high level takeaways from each of the 10. Where does your book fit in? And if you can't tell me exactly how it's different, how it's unique in this space, then we've got some work to do on conceptualizing your book.”-Naren AryalGUEST BIO:Naren Aryal is founder and CEO of Amplify Publishing Group. Though not a speaker himself, Aryal has helped publish thousands of books— including many for leaders in the speaking industry. Links:Official BioCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[4:38] - One Industry, Three ModelsOptions for speakers who want to get publishedWant to get published? You have three paths— traditional publishers, self-publishers, and hybrid publishers. Self-publishing is a route that allows for maximum independence and allows you to keep nearly all your royalties. But it also means that everything falls to you to either do yourself or outsource— cover design, editorial, marketing, book distribution, etc. Traditional publishing requires a higher barrier of entry, but the potential for success can be greater. Finally, hybrid publishing combines elements of both, offering a suite of practical services but letting authors keep more of their royalties.[9:24] - Turning Royalties in Your FavorEarn more for your workUnderstanding royalties is essential for managing a publishing career— including how they influence whether to self-publish. Everything from publishing advances to royalty splits and out-of-pocket costs should be considered before moving forward on your path.[14:32] - Planning Your Book— and BeyondWhat to prepare for in advanceOne of Naren's best tips is that you should start acting like you have a book to sell, because if you wait until the end to market yourself and your ideas, it's too late. Successful authors have done the legwork to establish relationships, get people interested and invest in what they have to say. Once you make the ask to buy a book, it's much more authentic and effective.[16:06] - Common Mistakes to AvoidWhat new authors do wrong— and how to make it rightOne of the most common publishing mistakes for speakers? Not knowing who their audience is. And, for the record, “everybody” isn't an acceptable answer. You have to define your target market early, often before you even begin writing.RESOURCES:[3:50] Amplify Publishing Group[20:07] The Rise of AudiobooksFollow Naren Aryal:Official BioFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Cry and Keep Walking (ft. Robyn Benincasa)Lessons from the valleys to the (literal) peaksOPENING QUOTE:“And this was after three days racing above 14,000 feet nonstop, no sleep, three days into it and then we get to this hut at 15,000 feet and realize, "Dear sweet, baby Jesus. We now have to summit this 19,700 foot active volcano." And then you return to this hut before we ride 250 more miles on our bikes and paddle three days to the finish line. It was nine days for the win.”-Robyn BenincasaGUEST BIO:Robyn Benincasa is a world champion adventure racer, a 2014 CNN hero, a Guinness World Record endurance kayaker, a New York Times bestselling author, and a 23 year veteran San Diego firefighter. She's been named one of the top 50 keynote speakers in the world, the number-one female speaker for meetings.net, and one of the top 10 speakers featured by Harvard Business Review. She's been delivering over 100 keynotes a year for the last 15 years and remains one of the highest demand speakers in the world.Links:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeLinkedInCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[5:18] - Learning from the ExtremeWhat keynote speakers can learn from firefighters and racersRobyn has become world-renowned for the performance of her teams. In keynote speaking, we can learn from her example. Robyn relies heavily on her team of agents, bureau reps, and others who help manage and grow her career. No speaker is a one-person-show.[15:26] - Gaining Stability from SpeedHow going faster helps us stay on courseWhen pro mountain bikers come to rocky, uneven portions of the trail, they speed up. In life, the rocky portions of life often leave us feeling like we need to slow down and reduce our action. In reality, these are the times when we should power up and power through.[17:06] - Turning Setbacks into ComebacksHow to flip the script on your biggest disappointmentsAs Robyn says, “You're not defined by your setbacks. You're defined by your comebacks. We're all going to have those setbacks, so what are we going to do about it? What are we going to do with what we have? “If you're going through hell, go faster.”[37:28] - Humility Over ArroganceA woman who has every right to be prideful — but isn'tRobyn has earned the right to be arrogant, but instead, she's the opposite. Robyn isn't there for the accolades or applause. She's there to lift others up and show them what's possible. She hopes others become the best versions of themselves in the spirit of generosity, and that's what makes her an irresistible choice for bureaus and meeting planners alike.RESOURCES:[2:56] “Adventure Race teams and Audacious Goals,” Harvard Business Review[10:09] Project Athena[27:18] About Altitude SicknessFollow Robyn Benincasa:WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeLinkedInProject AthenaFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, Impact Eleven (formerly 3 Ring Circus) offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: impacteleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

In this episode, we share a conversation with Josh Linkner. Linkner is an author, speaker, and expert on creativity. He shares ways we can shake up the normal way of thinking to boost our creative output, ways to help groups generate creativity, and how to make our organisations ones that reward new ideas!

Set The Tone (ft. Scott Bloom)A comic-turned-keynote speaker on turning laughs into impactOPENING QUOTE:“So obviously, you know, a little bit of a parody there making fun of our psychic friends. And what's great about that piece is it's interactive, it gets connected with the audience, and it's just a way to sort of show that you can make fun of, you know, of anything and it's something they can, you know, definitely relate to.”-Scott BloomGUEST BIO:As a stand-up comedian turned MC and keynote speaker, Scott Bloom has brought comedy to corporate events for the last 20 years. He's now one of the most sought-after hosts and MCs in the business, capable of warming up even the grumpiest audience to transform boredom into laughter, and laughter into dollars and impact.Links:WebsiteLinkedInYouTubeVimeoCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[11:06] - The Role of Humor in SpeakingMore than entertainmentHumor doesn't just make people laugh. It opens them up, gets them engaged. It brings the energy of the room to a positive place and creates resonance between the speaker and the audience. Laughter is a manifestation of emotion, and relationships are built on emotional connection.[17:35] - Speakers & HostsWhat they can learn from each otherSpeakers can learn from hosts that you should always be in the moment, dealing with changes as they come. You have to present but also entertain. Hosts can learn from speakers that you should always have a clear focus, vision, and message that you want to talk about— even if you're open to shifting from that initial game plan.[22:50] - The Best & The RestWhat sets apart great presentersThe best presenters, speakers, and hosts are able to shift the tone of a room by their presence and message alone. When an audience feels they've seen it all before, a great speaker can shock energy into the entire room and get people listening, learning, and laughing. In Scott's words, the best are capable of doing what's necessary to “bring them where you want to be.”[28:11] - Make Keynotes Funny AgainComedy tips for speakers from a true proFor anyone looking to deliver keynotes that are engaging, effective, and funny, Scott's advice is to know your audience and recognize that what works in the club won't work in a corporate environment (the reverse is also true). He also embraces the role of repetition— the antidote to nerves and anxiety is preparation, knowing your material backwards and forwards. Ironically, it's this knowledge of your game plan that lets you comfortably veer away from that game plan when the situation allows.RESOURCES:[16:13] Conan O'Brien's Podcast[32:10] Scott Bloom on AcronymsFollow Scott Bloom:WebsiteLinkedInYouTubeVimeoFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVEN:Make a bigger impact, faster. ImpactEleven is a speaker training, development and accelerator community, working to transform individual lives and the world around us so that each of us can rise to reach our full potential on the speaking platform.Learn more at: ImpactEleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Crystal Balls & Frankenstein (ft. Gail Davis)Get ready for one of our most eclectic Mic Drops everOPENING QUOTE:“The chairman put his arm around me and said, "You know what, kid, you should retire." And I'm like, "I'm not even 40 years old." And he was like, "Well, I don't know if you'll ever outdo this."”-Gail DavisGUEST BIO:Gail Davis is the founder and CEO of GDA, one of the most prominent and well-respected speaker bureaus on the planet. Before she launched her bureau 23 years ago, Gail hired dozens of speakers as a corporate-meeting planner for a Fortune 100 company. Links:LinkedInTwitterCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[10:03] - Speaker Bureaus: Myths and FactsAn inside look from a true insiderDespite some horror stories, the truth is that speaking bureaus are by and large trustworthy, respectful, and genuinely passionate about making the careers of speakers of all backgrounds. That said, Gail has advice for navigating bureaus— ask the right questions. Generally, they're eager to help you in any way they can, not stand as an obstacle between you and your client.[19:37] - How to Make Bureaus Love YouWhat they look for in emerging speakersWant to make your bureau representative love you? Be available, but not aggressive. The way Gail puts it: “Every minute that I'm reading another email telling me about your new this or that is a minute I'm not out there talking to somebody that might be interested in you.” Be responsive and engaged with communications with your agent, and otherwise let them do their work. [21:47] - Rewriting HistoryWhat Gail would do differently from her early daysDespite having few regrets from the early stage of her career, Gail does admire those who invested in good people early in their career. There's something to be said for the wisdom of investing in good people, paying them what they're worth, and keeping them with you for the long haul.[26:44] - Gail's Frankenstein SpeakerCreating the perfect speaker from scratchWhat traits would Gail include in the perfect speaker? Responsiveness, which fuels the speaker-bureau relationship. Clear on content, because your crowds and your clients need to know what you're about. Humble & generous, because those are the people who create truly lasting and meaningful careers.[34:16] -  Chasing GoosebumpsHow to create moments of true inspiration onstageGail leaves us with a powerful message about what speaking is all about. “I look down and I have goosebumps. Why is that? Because she delivers her message with such poignancy and the words are just the perfect words.” Remember that a speaker is not only the facts they can share, but the inspiration and moments of joy they can create onstage. Those are the moments that inspire people to transform their lives.RESOURCES:[2:08] GDA Speakers[4:32] About Nando Parrado[34:44] About Liz MurrayFollow Gail Davis:LinkedInTwitterFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY IMPACTELEVENMake a bigger impact, faster. ImpactEleven is a speaker training, development and accelerator community, working to transform individual lives and the world around us so that each of us can rise to reach our full potential on the speaking platform.Learn more at: ImpactEleven.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

IN THIS EPISODE: Creativity isn't a hidden talent that belongs to a select few -- it's a native force that resides in all of us, and it's a discipline that can practiced and learned. In this episode, Josh Linkner shows us how to become everyday innovators and develop a creative capacity for making gains in every aspect of our lives. Josh breaks down the beliefs and behaviors that lead to creative breakthroughs, how to develop big ideas through testing and experimentation, how leaders can foster creativity within their organizations, and when we should move on from ideas that aren't working. ABOUT JOSH: Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He passionately believes that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Today, Josh serves as Chairman and co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. RESOURCES: Book: Big Little Breakthroughs Website Twitter Mudita Venture Partners

20 Mic Drops in 20 Minutes20 speakers. 60 seconds of advice. Infinite insight.GUESTS + KEY INSIGHTS:[2:41] - Suneel GuptaInner wellbeing & outer performance“In order for people to feel something, you have to feel something. You have to be emotionally connected to your content. So don't just talk about topics that you know, talk about topics that truly make you come alive, and then let that aliveness, let that conviction shine through in every part of your speech.”Suneel's Website[3:25] - Alison LevineLeading teams in extreme environments“When you come off stage, where do you go? You go stand next to the most important person in the room on the client side so that they can hear all the audience members coming up to you telling you how much they enjoyed your speech.”Alison's Website[4:22] Rich DivineyHigh-performing teams from a Navy SEAL's perspective“Think about those stories— personal, professional— those things that have happened to you, and think about how to effectively describe them…because people will immediately pay attention. They'll put down their phones, they'll listen up, and they'll be really engaged.”Rich's Website[5:23] - John LivesayTell stories, win sales“When your client says they're going to record your upcoming keynote, ask them who else they like to work with and see if you can hire a second camera person to film closeups and audience reactions.”John's Website[6:02] - Paul EpsteinThe power of playing offense“Does your head think it's a good idea? Does your heart feel it's a good idea? If both are on board, green light, proceed with action. If only one is on board, yellow light, solve for the gap. If neither is on board, red light, no action.”Paul's Website[7:13] - Nina Sossamon-PogueResilience speaker & performance expert“When doing a virtual gig, you want to be able to have a tight enough shot where they can see your eyes and you can connect, but you want to also be able to bring the energy like you're standing on a stage. Instead of sitting down where you can lose some energy or standing up, where you may move around too much and lose that tight shot, plant one butt cheek on that stool and plant that opposite foot firmly on the ground.”Nina's Website[8:12] - John “Gucci” FoleyBecoming the Blue Angels of your industry“What is the key message? More importantly, what's the story and the connection back to the audience? And that's where I spend most of my time, making the connection back to every single audience.”John's Website[9:07] - Urs KoenigThe five then-to-now leadership shifts“The speaking business really is three distinct businesses. It's number one, being a promoter, number two, a thought leader, and number three, being a performer on stage. This very simple three-way framework helps me to structure my time and my energy. Everything I do, I ask myself, which one of these three businesses am I pushing?”Urs' Website[10:06] - Erik QualmanDigital leadership in focus“My top tip is to end early. Sounds very simple, but it certainly is not easy. You always want to end early. Do not go over your time. And you have to plan for this. If you're given 45 minutes, there's going to be time that's cut. So plan on that being 35 minutes.”Erik's Website[10:43] - Gabe KarpEmbracing healthy conflict to fuel success“Nothing turns a client or potential client off like the word no. And sometimes we may be asked something we feel might be too much of an imposition, but building your brand as a speaker is more than just your topic. It's also about what it's like to do business with you. So if a client says, "Hey, can you modify your keynote to cover a current issue we're having in our organization?" The answer is, ‘Absolutely. What would you like me to cover?'”Gabe's Website[13:03] - April HansenHypergrowth in business“If you're navigating the same dance that I am, really breaking your personal brand away from your corporate brand, leverage the two together and define those synergies. Take advantage of as many stages as your corporate role or your day job gives you.”April's Website[14:01] - Greg ScheinmanPersonal transformation“To be truly successful as a speaker, you must differentiate yourself through authenticity, so you need to break the framework and really develop your speech in your own voice. Then you've got to make the framework by putting your message back into the proven model so that it's received in a way that works for bureaus and clients, and so that you can get yourself hired, get on stage, generate fees, and live your message.”Greg's Website[15:05] - Ben NemtinMaking the impossible possible“The most important tool as a speaker is to invest in your speaker reel. That is the ultimate sales tool for you. Anytime you get on a stage that is high production value, invest in a videographer that can capture it, get the footage from the client if you can, and just collect this footage as much as you can over time so that you can build up your reel, because the reel is the first thing that the clients are going to look at and it's the entry point into the conversation of booking you.”Ben's Website[16:27] - Erin StaffordHow leaders prevent and overcome burnout“Be radically transparent and vulnerable. I think we can all get embarrassed and feel ashamed and feel like imposters so we don't want to be totally transparent, but the more vulnerable and more transparent you are, the more people can really connect to your message and feel seen and heard and understood.”Erin's Website[17:04] - Jim DavidsonResilience speaker“If your presentation includes using a laptop with video files or audio files, you need an AV emergency kit. Now we often have AV professionals that we can rely upon to make this work for us, but if you speak long enough, you'll wind up in a remote location, small hotel, or internal meeting where your laptop will just not connect to the house sound system. That's when you pull out your emergency kit.”Jim's Website[17:59] - Shep HykenCustomer service and customer experience“The job isn't doing the speech, it's getting the speech. He told me that writing my speech, practicing my speech, researching for my speech, that can all be done in the evening and on weekends. And if I were to spend 40 hours a week working on marketing and sales, at getting business, then I would probably be very successful. That's 40 hours, not two hours or three hours a day, but that's a full-out investment, and the effort of getting the speech, not doing the speech.”Shep's Website[18:47] - Trish HuntFrom stuck to unstoppable“Make sure you do all the logistical pre-work that makes you feel as calm as you can prior to hitting the stage. Know your audience and engage them during your speech. And an easy way to remember this is through the acronym WIIFM, what's in it for me? So pay attention to that and you'll be sure to keep them coming back.”Trish's Website[19:38] - Eric TermuendeThe future of work“Show and don't tell. Anytime you have a chance to tell a story, make sure that you're putting yourself in the story, telling that story in a present tense. So you're not telling somebody what happened, but you're almost making it live, sharing that story as if they're with you experiencing that story for the first time.”Eric's Website[20:37] - Ann SheuMindset shifts for a radically intentional life“Do you want to be a $50K speaker with four engagements a month or a $25K speaker with one engagement a month? What does your target market client and audience look like? What is your ideal audience size? What types of events do you want to be speaking at? When you have clarity around your ideal life as a speaker and what it looks like, then you can grow your speaking business within your parameters, and that makes it easier to stay true to yourself and cultivate a life filled with time, purpose, and financial freedom.”Ann's Website[21:32] - Bob MarshSimple shifts to maximize growth and stay relevant“First, don't overthink the possibilities, because there are so many in this world of being an expert. You can do writing, you can do keynote speaking, you could do breakout sessions, you could be an MC, you could do training workshops. Pick one thing that really gets you excited and build something truly great. Second, find an expert and a coach who's going to have a process and a plan to walk you through.”Bob's WebsiteFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: 3RingCircus.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Be Turbulence Tough (ft. Ryan Campbell)From the (literal) top of the world to the depths of despair— and back againOPENING QUOTE:“My life had changed. The everything that gave me my identity was now the very thing that took it all away. And then on top of that, I've got five breaks in my back, shattered face, shattered legs and ankle, and a spinal cord injury and diagnosed by the doctors as a complete paraplegic. I'm straight into a spinal rehabilitation ward, six months in hospital, a year and a half in recovery. A real tough chapter of life, you could say.”-Ryan CampbellGUEST BIO:At just 17 years old, Ryan Campbell set a world record as the youngest solo pilot to fly around the world. He became famous in his home of Australia and was enjoying incredible success until a tragic accident struck. A broken back and a paraplegic diagnosis left Ryan in despair, but his remarkable journey of perseverance helped him achieve the impossible. Today, he is both walking and flying again. Ryan delivers a powerful message on becoming TurbulenceTough on stages around the world.Links:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[8:33] - From Victim to PilotWhen and how Ryan took back control of his lifeAfter Ryan's accident and while he was struggling emotionally during recovery, he looked across the hospital room to a quadriplegic next to him who had no hope of recovery. In that instant, he realized that this man would give anything for the ability to roll over, like Ben had. This perspective shift changed his life forever and gave him the strength to persevere and take back control of his life.[16:33] - Being TurbulenceToughRyan shares his breakthrough brandIn a time when 65% of employees consider their job their #1 stressor in life and only 19% of those people possess the resilient skills to excel amidst that stress, Ryan teaches individuals and teams to analyze, extract, and store wisdom from any moment in time and make them more resilient for whatever comes their way. He's turned this into a powerful and identifiable brand that drives his speaking business today.[28:38] - What's Your Pink Cadillac?A simple tip with powerful resultsIn a stellar example of turning life experience into memorable IP, Ryan has built his love for a rundown old pink Cadillac into a powerful message of self-care. He encourages his audiences to find their own ‘pink Cadillac,' the thing they do for themselves that may not be financially responsible or designed to move their career forward, but simply brings them joy. The results have been astounding.[25:32] - Beyond the StageA tearful moment behind the scenesRyan shows how going above and beyond can lead to phenomenal results and transformative experience. In one of his traditional ‘extra 2%' visits to a dinner with his client after a successful keynote, Ryan met a woman who tearfully thanked him for his message after she'd had a devastating year. He had the chance to shake that woman's hand and make an even more profound impact on her— and she on him— than if he had simply delivered his keynote then gotten on a plane back home.RESOURCES:[2:41] Born to Fly[13:43] 3RC Bootcamp[28:38] About GracelandFollow Ryan Campbell:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: 3RingCircus.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

There Is No Normal (ft. Rene Rodriguez)One speaker's unconventional journey to impact and successOPENING QUOTE:“You tell a joke, no one laughs. You walk in a room, no one notices. You sell a product, no one buys you. You set a vision, and no one buys in. And the feeling is one of feeling insignificant— and maybe even leads to depression and a questioning of one's self.”-Rene RodriguezGUEST BIO:For over two decades, René Rodriguez has been researching and applying behavioral neuroscience as a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership advisor, world-class sales expert, renowned speaker coach and now best-selling author. He has also trained more than 100,000 people in applying behavioral psychology and neurology methodologies to solve some of the toughest challenges in leadership, sales, and change.After hosting his second annual AMPCON in Las Vegas, René just launched his book, Amplify Your Influence and hit the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Amazon and Publisher's Weekly best-sellers lists. Amplify Your Influence is available now at retailers everywhere. René has worked with senior leaders at DuPont, Coca-Cola, Cargill and 3M, as well as high-performing individuals in numerous fields focusing on centering your message in your own story to increase authenticity and genuine leadership across the world.Links:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInFacebookInstagramYoutubeAmplifiiThe Neuro SideSubscribeCORE TOPICS & DETAILS[10:50] - Different Path, Incredible ResultsRene's nontraditional approach to building credibilityRene is a well-respected expert with no advanced degrees. He speaks over 100 times a year, but barely works with bureaus. He speaks over 100 times a year, but barely works with speaker bureaus. He's not afraid to change lanes and speak on a different topic. His first book is coming out 27 years after he started in professional speaking. The lesson here for us all? We don't need to follow a preordained route, and we shouldn't feel defeated if we're missing any of the conventional markers that lead to speaking success.[8:21] - Before You Step OnstageWhat every speaker should know but doesn'tIt's easy to begin thinking of your ‘audience' as some amorphous idea that moves with you from event to event. But each audience is different. Before you step onstage, ask yourself— who is this audience? Are they sad? Are they excited? Were they just acquired? What's their state of mind? Asking questions like these will help you give much more impactful keynotes when you step onstage.[28:15] - Amplifying Your InfluenceMaximizing your impact as a speakerAlways remember— it's about the audience, not the speaker. Neuroscience proves that when someone speaks with a tone of arrogance or boastfulness versus humility and grace, it kills their credibility in the minds of their audience. Instead, focus on the needs and feelings of the people you're serving— because, after all, speaking is an act of service.[30:55] - If You Could Go Back…The one thing Rene wishes he knew at the start“You could be great at something, but if no one knows what you do, it doesn't matter.” For all the important conversations about purpose, impact, and the positive influence speakers can have on the lives of others, the simple fact is that you also have to build your speaking brand like a business. Never forget that at every step along the path.RESOURCES:[2:40] Amplify Your InfluenceFollow Rene Rodriguez:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInFacebookFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter its starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: 3RingCircus.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Love, Loathing, & A Life of Creativity (ft. Natalie Nixon)Finding space to imagine, creating space for who you are, and much more. OPENING QUOTE:“I was really paying attention to the emotional connection I had to this work, where the best I can describe it is that I feel energetically, my body is humming when I'm on stage. I feel vibrant. I feel alive. And I feel happy when I'm connecting to people through these ideas through the medium of speaking.” -Natalie NixonGUEST BIO:Natalie Nixon is known as the Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite, and is a highly successful author and keynote speaker. Before making the leap to full-time speaking, she was a cultural anthropologist, PhD in Design Thinking, accomplished dancer, and a professor for 16 years.Links:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInCORE TOPICS & DETAILS:[9:28] - Reaching the Head and the HeartHow Natalie connects intellectually and emotionally with audiencesAmong sometimes unrealistic expectations from clients, Natalie has learned to balance emotionally resonant performances with intellectually stimulating and challenging ones. While she's a natural performer, she recognizes that truly impactful ideas are what transform audiences— not just flashy performances.[20:38] - Natalie's Favorite QuestionNatalie's surprising pre-event question for clientsNatalie's clients are often shocked when she asks them, “What does success look like to you?” In an industry where speakers can sometimes focus too much on themselves, the best in the business make the satisfaction and success of their clients and audiences the center point of any engagement.[30:23] - Cultivating CreativitySurprising (and surprisingly simple) insights for increased innovation“Create space and time,” Natalie says when asked about fostering creativity. What does she mean by that? She means that you have to prioritize creative thought in your life— it won't make time for itself. Schedule time in your calendar to think creatively, ask big questions, and move above the day-to-day rigors of your life to tap into your innovative abilities.[31:56] - The Loathe/Love AuditA powerful exercise anyone can use todayTake out a blank piece of paper and draw a line down the center. Set a timer and write out everything you loathe about your current state— life, career, pursuits— that you loathe. Then take the same amount of time and write everything you love about your current state on the other side. At the end, you'll discover that either you can make changes in your life to reduce the things you loathe without losing the things you love— or you already have achieved a great balance and should have the confidence to carry on.[38:52] - Black Woman Speaker: Opportunities and ChallengesA powerful perspective on leading as a black woman in the industryIn a world with a range of perspectives on how much someone's race, cultural background, or other characteristics should influence their work, Natalie knows just where she stands. “I love being Black. I love being a woman.” Because of her perspectives, she never ignores those lenses. Instead, she allows them to deepen and enhance her messages. That includes acknowledging the way being both Black and a woman have created unique challenges in her life and career. RESOURCES:[14:30] About Strategic Design[26:466] Figure8Thinking.com[34:31] A More Beautiful Question, by Warren BergerFollow Natalie Nixon:WebsiteTwitterLinkedInFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: 3RingCircus.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's an internationally recognized expert on innovation and is the author of four books on the subject including the *New York Times* Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and  The Road to Reinvention.Josh is passionate about starting and building companies. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm - and was previously the CEO and founding partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession for greasy pizza. _____The Better Questions Newsletter - https://www.behindthehuman.com/newsletterGet your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life  Connect with Marc >>>  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Drop a review and let me know what's resonating with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*Behind the Human is proudly recorded in a Canadian made Loop Phone Booth*Special props

The Inside Man (ft. Shawn Hanks)Discover what top bureaus want— from the CEO of a top bureau himselfOPENING QUOTE:“There are two ways to really capture our attention, or I would say any bureau's attention.”-Shawn HanksGUEST BIO:Shawn Hanks is one of the most highly respected leaders in the speaking industry as CEO of Premier Speakers Bureau. PSB books thousands of events and touches millions of lives each year. Besides this role, Shawn has also served as president of the International Association of Speaker Bureaus and has seen it all in his 22 years in the business.LinksShawn's BioLinkedInTwitter[11:46] The Ultimate PartnershipInitiating and maintaining bureau relationshipsAmong a series of can't-miss insights, one that stands out is Shawn's advice to focus not on your relationship with a bureau but your relationship with specific agents. After all, those are the people that can truly make moves on your behalf if they become personally invested and passionate about you and your career. And, of course, pursue relationships with a genuine spirit of connection— not manipulation.[18:49] Myths and Truths of Speaker BureausEverything you want to know and thought you knewJosh plays ‘Myth or Truth' with Shawn and we're all gifted a rapid-fire airing of some of the most common speaking career questions. Sitting back and letting a bureau make your career happen? Myth. Bureaus are the deciding vote on who gets hired or not? Myth. As is usually the case in life, it's much more nuanced— and requires more legwork on the part of speakers and other parties.[20:23] A Diversifying IndustryGoodbye ‘male, pale, and stale'Shawn and Josh discuss the amazing strides the speaking industry has taken away from a somewhat homogenous lineup of speakers to a much more diverse range of backgrounds, perspectives, cultures, and insights. After all, speaking is about telling stories that transform lives— and diverse backgrounds bring a much greater richness of storytelling and achievement.[21:40] How to Build a Career that LastsToday, tomorrow, ten years laterYou can choose one thing to last twenty years— your speaking career, or your speaking topic. Not both. Josh and Shawn agree that if you want to build a lasting career, your message must evolve and grow like the world around you and the people who live in it. [33:24] For Those at the BeginningShawn's tips for speakers at the start of their careerThere are so many valuable insights here that to pack them in, we're going to have to stick to bullet points.“If you speak on everything, you speak on nothing.”Write a book— it won't just make you look like an expert, it will make you an expertGet help— a coach, a mentor, a speaker development organization— to develop and guide your careerInvest in yourself early, rather than too lateRESOURCES:[2:10] Premiere Speakers Bureau[2:22] International Association of Speakers BureausFollow Shawn:Shawn's BioLinkedInTwitterFollow Josh Linkner:FacebookLinkedInInstagramTwitterYouTubeABOUT MIC DROP:Brought to you by eSpeakers, hear from the world's top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests' Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it's starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is produced and presented by eSpeakers; sponsored by 3 Ring Circus.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he's on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar. Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award. Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza. Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comABOUT eSPEAKERS:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals all over the world connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSPONSORED BY 3 RING CIRCUS:From refining your keynote speaking skills to writing marketing copy, from connecting you with bureaus to boosting your fees, to developing high-quality websites, producing head-turning demo reels, 3 Ring Circus offers a comprehensive and powerful set of services to help speakers land more gigs at higher fees. Learn more at: 3RingCircus.comPRODUCED BY DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown's processes to launch today's most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here's to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comSHOW CREDITS:Josh Linkner: Host | josh@joshlinkner.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | JHeaps@eSpeakers.comConnor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@DetroitPodcastStudios.com