Podcast appearances and mentions of peter sheahan

Core Topics:Barb Betts: Build authentic relationships rooted in empathy and trust to drive meaningful connections and long-term success.Dan Chuparkoff: Use AI tools like ChatGPT to customize speeches for specific audience needs, ensuring relevance and resonance.Lisa Even: Integrate purposeful humor to make keynotes more engaging, memorable, and relatable.Jessica Abo: Leverage media by connecting keynote topics to current events, creating newsworthy stories that boost visibility.Chris Rollins: Adopt the "ACE" pre-talk routine—Align, Connect, Envision—to prepare for impactful presentations.Todd Hirsch: Personalize speeches by including client-specific trivia or achievements, fostering goodwill and connection.Cam F. Awesome: Collaborate with chambers of commerce to increase speaking opportunities and network with decision-makers.Rashad Rayford: Structure stories with a Spark, Struggle, and Solution to craft impactful and memorable narratives.Sheri Jacobs: Stay authentic while growing professionally, as audiences value genuine, relatable messages.Shasta Nelson: End keynotes on a positive emotional note with inspiring stories, leaving a strong, lasting impression.Michelle Anne Johnson: Cultivate a positive mindset before speaking to enhance presence and influence. Replace negative internal monologues with excitement and anticipation.ABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Shola Richards is a celebrated speaker, author, and workplace civility expert known for his advocacy in building more inclusive, respectful, and human-centered workplaces. After overcoming severe personal challenges in a toxic work environment, Shola dedicated his career to helping others navigate and transform organizational cultures through his speaking, writing, and training. His new book, Civil Unity, explores practical ways to foster civility and collaboration in even the most challenging environments. Shola's work has been featured in numerous high-profile outlets, and he is sought after by Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, and government agencies to help cultivate cultures of radical kindness and meaningful change.Core Topics:Turning Pain into Purpose: Shola shares his personal story of battling depression and almost losing his life due to a toxic work environment. He discusses how this breaking point became the catalyst for his mission to eliminate workplace incivility and improve organizational cultures. The Case for Kindness in Leadership: Addressing leaders who may view kindness as “soft,” Shola makes a compelling argument that compassion drives better results, greater engagement, and higher discretionary effort from employees. He explains why focusing on human connection is essential for business success.Ubuntu Philosophy in the Workplace: Shola dives into the concept of Ubuntu, meaning “I am because we are,” as a guiding principle for how teams and organizations can prioritize human connection, unity, and shared success over division and individualism.Practical Tools for Civil Discourse: In a world increasingly divided, Shola provides actionable techniques for engaging in civil discourse, even around heated topics. He shares strategies for setting ground rules in conversations and reducing conflict by seeking common ground.Resources:Learn more about Shola Richards:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeXFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Patrick McAndrew is the founder of Hara, a high-impact community focused on self-mastery for the self-made. He began his career as a speed-reading instructor and has since become a leading voice in attention and mental performance. Patrick's work centers on helping leaders go beyond linear learning to develop practices that strengthen focus, resilience, and intentionality. His methodologies bridge the gap between cognitive science and human-centered leadership, equipping professionals with the tools to cultivate their best selves while achieving organizational impact.Core Topics:Rethinking Productivity: Moving Beyond Willpower and Motivation: Patrick shares how traditional approaches to productivity often miss the mark by focusing on external solutions like willpower and motivation. Instead, he reveals how the real struggle is internal fragmentation—our inability to organize thoughts, emotions, and energy. His focus is on creating systems that address the root cause rather than treating the symptoms of distraction.Linear vs. Nonlinear Learning: Designing for the Modern Workforce: Through his experiences running Momentum Mind, Patrick highlights why linear learning models fail to resonate in today's fast-paced environments. He discusses how a nonlinear mentorship approach, with adaptive content and context-based problem-solving, can meet people where they are and help them address deeper challenges beyond simple skill-building.Self-Mastery for the Self-Made: Aligning Business and Personal Growth: Patrick explains why he launched Hara and the philosophy behind it: mastering the inner game of life and business simultaneously. He emphasizes that success is not just about professional achievements but aligning personal growth with business impact. Hara is designed as a community where leaders refine both their business acumen and personal mastery through shared experiences, deep mentorship, and continuous refinement.The True Value of Thought Leadership: From Information to Wisdom: In a world of information overload, Patrick argues that value no longer lies in mere data or knowledge. Instead, the focus should be on transforming that information into actionable wisdom. He shares how thought leaders can elevate their impact by cutting through noise, offering clarity, and developing insights that resonate on a deeper, more human level.Resources:Learn more about Patrick McAndrew:WebsiteLinkedInYouTubeLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Gaby Natale is a media entrepreneur, author, and the first Latina to be published by HarperCollins Leadership. She is the host and co-founder of SuperLatina, a nationally syndicated television show, and has won three Daytime Emmy Awards for her work. Known for her advocacy and pioneering spirit, Gaby uses her platform to empower others to embrace their uniqueness and defy stereotypes. Her bestselling book The Virtuous Circle provides a framework for turning obstacles into opportunities and unleashing your full potential.Core Topics:The Pioneer Mindset: Using Uniqueness as a Superpower: Gaby explores the concept of a pioneer mindset and how embracing your authentic self can transform your professional path. She challenges the notion of conformity and encourages leaders to harness their unique strengths instead of emulating others. This approach, she explains, is essential for achieving breakthroughs and standing out in any industry.Breaking the Emulator Cycle: Creating from Authenticity: Gaby discusses the trap of emulating others and why it often leads to mediocrity. While imitation can be a starting point, she urges speakers and professionals to move beyond copying and cultivate their own distinctive voices. She shares strategies for identifying where authenticity is being suppressed and how to activate your unique potential.The Virtuous Circle: Activating Your Inner Archetypes: In The Virtuous Circle, Gaby outlines seven archetypes that guide personal and professional development. From the Dreamer to the Warrior, she teases how each archetype plays a role in nurturing creativity, resilience, and leadership. She also shares a glimpse of how these archetypes can help individuals assess where they are thriving and where they may need to grow.Finding Strength in Vulnerability: Turning Setbacks into Growth: Through her personal story of overcoming setbacks and fighting for her place as a Latina media entrepreneur, Gaby illustrates how embracing vulnerability can become a powerful catalyst for growth. Her journey highlights how transparency and openness about challenges can inspire others and lead to deeper, more impactful connections.Resources:Learn more about Gaby Natale:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeXFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bios:Shelley Paxton: Former CMO of Harley-Davidson, Shelley left her high-powered corporate career to pursue a more meaningful path, coining the term Soulbbatical. As an author, keynote speaker, and guide, Shelley helps others redefine success on their own terms, inspiring leaders to build bold, brave, and authentic lives. Shelley's signature message—“I Quit So You Don't Have To”—is the core of her keynote and forthcoming book.Chris Schembra: Founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience, Chris has made a career out of helping people connect more deeply through shared experiences. From hosting intimate dinners to delivering workshops and keynotes, Chris focuses on fostering vulnerability and gratitude, encouraging organizations to build a culture of empathy and inclusion. His latest book, Gratitude Through Hard Times, delves into the transformative power of appreciation.Core Topics:Liberating Yourself from “Success-Empty” to “Success-Full”: Shelley advocates for a fundamental redefinition of success that goes beyond external accolades. Through her concept of Soulbbatical, she explores how true fulfillment comes from listening to your own voice, not society's expectations. Shelley's goal is to help professionals escape the trap of “success-empty”—having material success but feeling unfulfilled—and embrace a richer, more meaningful version of success by aligning with their core values and passions.Fostering Human Connection as a Business Strategy: Chris emphasizes that human connection should be at the heart of every business strategy. By using gratitude as a tool for fostering genuine relationships, he challenges companies to build deeper bonds between employees and clients. His 7:47 Gratitude Experience—a shared meal centered around expressing thanks—demonstrates that something as simple as asking the right question can dismantle barriers, create a sense of belonging, and ultimately drive better business outcomes.The Courage to Say “No”: One of the hardest, yet most powerful strategies for growth is learning to say no. Whether it's declining opportunities that don't align with your values or setting boundaries that protect your energy, they argue that success comes not from chasing every option, but from focusing on what truly matters. For Shelley, this principle shows up in her ability to pass on engagements that don't resonate with her core message. For Chris, it's about maintaining focus on his passion for creating meaningful connections, rather than chasing every possible business avenue.The Impact of Living Your Values Daily: A key theme in both Shelley's and Chris's stories is the importance of living authentically. From Shelley's tattoo of “Authenticity” to Chris's “Focus Equals Growth” mantra, both speakers emphasize that true success comes from daily decisions that reinforce personal values. Whether it's through their keynote messages or personal interactions, they model how consistently honoring one's principles can lead to professional success and personal satisfaction. Resources:Learn more about Shelley Paxton:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramTikTokLearn more about Chris Schembra:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Carla Johnson is a world-renowned keynote speaker, author of ten books, and a master of connecting the dots between creative problem-solving, strategy, and customer experience. She is best known for helping leaders and organizations cultivate innovative thinking and apply it to everyday business challenges. Carla's innovative approach earned her the title of the world's leading innovation architect, working with Fortune 500 brands, startups, and associations to rethink how they innovate and achieve breakthrough results. Her latest book, Rethink Innovation, provides a roadmap for unlocking creativity and achieving bottom-line impact.Core Topics:Defining and Conquering Your "Three-Story Limit": Carla's concept of the "Three-Story Limit" is a powerful metaphor for the boundaries we often unknowingly impose on ourselves. Just as early architects believed buildings couldn't exceed three stories, people often set limits on their potential. By identifying these hidden barriers and confronting them directly, leaders and innovators can break through constraints and reach new heights, just as William LeBaron Jenney did with the world's first skyscraper.Cultivating Curiosity as a Strategic Advantage: Curiosity, according to Carla, is the foundational skill that drives all forms of creative thinking and problem-solving. By intentionally pausing to understand a problem fully and resisting the urge to jump to quick solutions, professionals can uncover unconventional insights. Carla suggests applying curiosity in structured ways, such as reframing problems, examining them from multiple perspectives, and exploring ideas to their extreme possibilities.Exposing the Hidden Costs of the Status Quo: Carla argues that maintaining the status quo often carries a hidden cost—stagnation and loss of relevance. She challenges organizations and individuals to evaluate whether their “safest” path is actually putting them at risk of obsolescence. By constantly questioning accepted norms and pushing for bold experimentation, people can unlock new growth opportunities and avoid the trap of complacency.Applying the Concept of "Expiration Dates" to Drive Continuous Reinvention: To prevent content and strategies from becoming stale, Carla introduces the idea of assigning “expiration dates” to everything from keynotes and speaker reels to messaging and business strategies. This practice encourages regular re-evaluation, keeping ideas fresh and compelling. It's not about change for the sake of change but rather about embracing a mindset of continuous renewal to remain relevant and impactful in a rapidly evolving world.Resources:Learn more about Carla Johnson:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramXLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Amy Eddy is a senior agent at BigSpeak Speakers Bureau, where she helps top keynote speakers connect with businesses and organizations across industries. With a deep understanding of market dynamics and the unique needs of clients, Amy has built a reputation for excellence in the speaking industry. In addition to her work at BigSpeak, Amy is the founder of iFlourish, a nonprofit organization focused on helping women navigate personal and professional challenges to live more fulfilling lives.Core Topics:Market Shifts and Staying Relevant: Amy shares how the speaking market is evolving, with topics like AI and innovation taking center stage. She highlights how businesses are shifting focus from solely human-centered topics to more business-driven outcomes, showing speakers how to position their content to meet current demands without losing authenticity.Speaker-Bureau Relationships: Amy offers practical advice on how speakers can build strong, lasting relationships with bureaus. She emphasizes the importance of consistent, relevant content and maintaining a balanced communication strategy to stay top of mind without being overwhelming. A key takeaway: make it easy for bureaus to champion you by sharing digestible, timely updates.The Art of Personal Connection: Amy explains how face-to-face meetings, even something as simple as grabbing coffee with a bureau agent, can help speakers stand out. Building personal relationships, rather than relying solely on transactional interactions, helps speakers become the go-to choice for agents pitching clients.Creating Impact Through iFlourish: Amy opens up about her personal path toward fulfillment and how that led to founding iFlourish, a nonprofit focused on helping women overcome feelings of being stuck in their personal and professional lives. She explains how the organization is designed to provide that initial spark of change, helping women find joy, meaning, and confidence in their everyday lives.Resources:Learn more about Amy Eddy & BigSpeak:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Smiley is a highly sought-after speaker and thought leader known for his expertise in belonging and human connection. With a background in understanding workplace dynamics and the effects of loneliness on productivity, Smiley has become a key voice in promoting the value of connection in the corporate world. His work is grounded in solid data, making a compelling case for why fostering belonging is not just a 'soft' skill but a crucial driver of business success. Smiley's engaging style and authentic approach have made him a favorite among audiences looking to create more cohesive and supportive environments.Core Topics:The Business Case for Belonging: Smiley breaks down the critical importance of belonging in the workplace, presenting data-driven insights that show how a strong sense of connection can significantly boost productivity, reduce turnover, and improve overall job satisfaction. His approach helps organizations see belonging as a strategic priority, not just a nice-to-have.Staying True to Your Message: Authenticity is at the heart of Smiley's message. He shares how being genuinely aligned with your message is crucial for impact. For Smiley, this means living the principles he talks about—creating connections, fostering inclusivity, and making people feel valued in every interaction. This takeaway emphasizes the power of congruence between your message and how you show up in the world.Building Deep Relationships: Smiley emphasizes that success in speaking and business is deeply rooted in building strong, meaningful relationships. Whether with clients, colleagues, or audiences, Smiley shows that paying attention, showing appreciation, and fostering genuine connections are key elements of his success and can be for others too.Innovating with the Workplace Belonging Toolkit: Smiley introduces his Workplace Belonging Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help organizations continue the work of fostering connection beyond the keynote. The toolkit is an innovative way to provide ongoing value to clients, ensuring that the lessons from his talks are actionable and long-lasting.Resources:Learn more about Smiley Poswolsky:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:April is a dynamic leader known for her expertise in driving hyper-growth within organizations. With a background in healthcare and a track record of leading companies to unprecedented levels of success, April has become a prominent figure in the world of business and professional speaking. Her ability to translate personal and organizational challenges into actionable growth strategies has made her a respected voice in her field. April's passion for helping others achieve their potential is evident in her work, whether she's on stage or leading teams.Core Topics:From Small Beginnings to Big Dreams: April's story is a testament to the power of curiosity and resilience. Her journey from a small-town upbringing to leading a billion-dollar company highlights the importance of thinking big and taking calculated risks. Listeners will gain insights into how embracing their ambitions, despite limited resources or initial failures, can lead to remarkable achievements.Navigating Hyper-Growth: During her time at AYA, April played a crucial role in scaling the company to incredible heights. She emphasizes that real growth starts from within—both within the organization and within ourselves. April's experiences will inspire listeners to focus on their internal decision-making processes and personal growth as they strive to overcome external challenges.The Transition to Thought Leadership: For April, becoming a thought leader was about making sense of her experiences and sharing those lessons with others. By turning her professional journey into a mission to help others, she found a deeper sense of purpose. This segment encourages listeners to reflect on their own journeys and consider how they can use their experiences to impact others.The Growth Game Plan: April's signature framework provides a structured approach to achieving growth in turbulent times. She shares practical strategies for staying relevant and ensuring that audiences not only feel inspired but also leave with actionable tools. This discussion will resonate with anyone looking to refine their approach to personal and professional development.Personal Resilience and Growth: April's story is one of turning trauma into growth. She discusses how facing personal and professional challenges head-on led to greater self-awareness and resilience. This segment offers listeners a powerful reminder that the path to success often requires navigating through adversity and emerging stronger on the other side.Resources:Learn more about April Hansen:WebsiteLinkedInYouTubeXLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Jeff Civillico is an award-winning entertainer, speaker, and philanthropist. Known for his high-energy performances, Jeff has headlined in Las Vegas since 2009 and performed over 5,000 shows. He is the founder of the nonprofit organization Win-Win Entertainment, which brings smiles to children, patients, and staff in hospitals nationwide. Jeff's keynote, "Work That Matters," blends inspiration, team building, and entertainment to deliver a powerful message on the impact of using one's platform for positive change.Core Topics:The Path to Entertainment: Jeff's story from starting as a street performance volunteer to a Las Vegas headliner highlights the importance of seizing opportunities and following one's passion. His story underscores the value of embracing your unique path and the power of small moments in shaping a career.Creating Impact Through Performance: Jeff's "Work That Matters" keynote emphasizes the significance of using your platform to make a positive impact. For speakers, this means recognizing the influence they have and using their voice to inspire and uplift others, both on and off the stage.Lessons from Nonprofit Work: Jeff's dedication to charitable work through Win-Win Entertainment demonstrates how giving back enriches one's professional and personal life. We can draw inspiration from Jeff's example to incorporate purpose-driven initiatives into our own careers, enhancing our overall impact.Balancing Adventure and Career: Jeff's adventurous pursuits, like juggling in zero gravity, reflect his zest for life and willingness to push boundaries. He showcases the importance of embracing new experiences, staying curious, and continuously challenging yourself to grow both personally and professionally.Resources:Learn more about Jeff Civillico:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeXFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Brittany Hodak is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and author known for her expertise in creating unparalleled customer experiences. She has worked with some of the world's biggest brands and artists, including Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Walmart. Brittany's book, "Creating Superfans: How to Turn Customers into Lifelong Advocates," has garnered acclaim for its practical and impactful approach to customer engagement. Brittany also holds a master's degree in consumer behavior and psychology, further deepening her understanding of what drives customer loyalty and brand advocacy.Core Topics:The Path to Entrepreneurship: Brittany's story highlights the importance of seizing opportunities and the impact of encouragement from mentors. She showcases the importance of recognizing pivotal moments and using them as launch pads for your own ventures. Brittany's experience underscores the value of believing in your ideas and taking calculated risks.Transition to Professional Speaking: Transitioning to professional speaking can be a natural extension of your expertise. Brittany's experience shows that your unique story and insights can create demand for your speaking engagements. Understand the importance of recognizing your value and not undervaluing your time and expertise.Creating Superfans: The SUPER model provides a structured approach to building a loyal audience. This translates to understanding your audience deeply, personalizing your message, exceeding expectations, and consistently delivering value. Brittany's framework can help anyone develop a strong, engaged following that supports your career growth.Expert Advice for Speakers: Brittany emphasizes the importance of refining your message and consistently seeking feedback. The focus should be on honing your craft and ensuring your message resonates deeply with your audience. She also reminds us all of the value of continuous improvement and staying connected with your audience's needs.Resources:Learn more about Brittany Hodak:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Clint Pulver is a renowned keynote speaker, author, and professional drummer known for his expertise in employee retention and workplace culture. He is the creator of the Undercover Millennial Program, which has garnered insights from over 11,000 employees. Clint's engaging presentations blend his passion for music with powerful messages on leadership and mentorship. His book, "I Love It Here," offers invaluable lessons on creating workplaces where people thrive. Clint's innovative approach and commitment to impact have made him a sought-after speaker and thought leader.Core Topics:From Helicopter Dreams to Keynote Success: Clint originally aspired to be a helicopter pilot but had to pivot due to an eye disease. After an unfulfilling stint in the medical field, he discovered his passion for speaking and drumming. This segment highlights the importance of finding and pursuing one's true calling, even when life throws unexpected challenges.The Undercover Millennial Program: Clint's unique research initiative involved going undercover as a young employee to gather authentic insights from over 11,000 employees across 198 organizations. He shares how this program revealed the gaps between leadership perception and employee reality, leading to his book "I Love It Here." This section offers valuable lessons on understanding and improving workplace culture.Integrating Drumming into Keynotes: Clint seamlessly blends his drumming talent with his speaking engagements, creating a memorable and interactive experience for audiences. He explains the logistics of incorporating live drumming and the impact it has on reinforcing his messages. This part provides inspiration for leveraging unique personal skills to enhance professional presentations.Creating Value Beyond the Stage: Clint discusses his 52-week Master Class series, which offers micro learnings on employee retention and leadership. He explains the importance of providing ongoing value to clients and creating multiple revenue streams. This section encourages speakers and entrepreneurs to think creatively about extending their impact and offerings.Resources:Learn more about Clint Pulver:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Anne Mahlum is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist known for her transformative impact in the nonprofit sector and the fitness industry. She is the founder of Back on My Feet, a nonprofit organization that uses running to help homeless individuals gain independence, and Solidcore, a high-intensity fitness boutique. Anne's innovative approach to community building and personal empowerment has garnered widespread recognition. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader, dedicated to inspiring others to pursue their passions and overcome life's obstacles.Core Topics:Early Life and Personal Challenges: Anne shares her upbringing in North Dakota, revealing the idyllic start of her childhood and the later turmoil due to her father's gambling addiction. This period of her life teaches listeners the importance of resilience and finding healthy outlets during challenging times.Founding Back on My Feet: Discover how Anne's passion for running and her personal pain from her father's addiction led her to create Back on My Feet, a nonprofit that empowers homeless individuals through running. This segment highlights the power of turning personal struggles into impactful community initiatives.The Journey to Solidcore: Anne describes her transition from nonprofit work to founding Solidcore, a fitness brand with a unique approach. She emphasizes the importance of standing out in a crowded market and leveraging personal strengths. This part offers valuable insights into brand differentiation and market entry strategies.Empowerment through Speaking and Future Goals: Anne discusses her new chapter as a keynote speaker and thought leader. She shares her motivation to empower others and her commitment to helping people realize their potential. This segment is a powerful call to action for listeners to pursue their dreams, overcome fear, and make a significant impact in their own lives and communities.Resources:Learn more about Anne Mahlum:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Naren Aryal is the CEO and co-founder of Amplify Publishing, a pioneer in hybrid publishing. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Naren has overseen the publication of thousands of titles, specializing in non-fiction and thought leadership. He is passionate about helping authors navigate the evolving landscape of publishing, offering innovative solutions that combine the best aspects of traditional and self-publishing. Naren's expertise and dedication have made Amplify a trusted partner for authors looking to produce high-quality, impactful books.Core Topics:Understanding Hybrid Publishing: Naren explains the concept of hybrid publishing, highlighting its position between traditional and self-publishing. He discusses the benefits, such as high-quality production and marketing support, and the challenges, like the necessity of author investment. This segment offers listeners a clear understanding of why hybrid publishing might be the right choice for them.ROI and the Bigger Picture: Explore how to calculate the return on investment for your book beyond just sales. Naren emphasizes the broader impact of a book on speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, and overall brand visibility. This insight is crucial for authors and speakers looking to leverage their book as a central piece of their platform.The Publishing Timeline: Naren outlines the timeline for hybrid publishing, from manuscript to market. He compares this to traditional publishing, highlighting the faster turnaround times. This practical advice helps aspiring authors understand what to expect and how to plan their book projects effectively.Harnessing AI in Publishing: Delve into the role of AI in modern publishing. While AI can't replace the unique experiences and creativity of human authors, Naren discusses how it can aid in editing, marketing copy, and other supportive tasks. This forward-looking perspective prepares authors for the future of publishing.Resources:Learn more about Naren Aryal and Amplify Publishing Group:WebsiteLinkedIn (Naren)LinkedIn (Amplify)InstagramXFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:John Winsor is a highly regarded entrepreneur, author, and speaker with a deep focus on innovation and the future of work. His extensive career includes founding Radar Communications, which was sold to CP+B in 2007, where he embraced co-creation and strategy to enhance market intelligence. Winsor's early entrepreneurial ventures also involved building a magazine publishing company that centered on sports like mountain biking and extreme skiing. This venture was notably successful, leading to the turnaround of Women's Sports & Fitness and the launch of The Gravity Games, later sold to Condé Nast​​.Winsor is not only recognized for his thought leadership in advertising and business strategy but also as a significant voice in discussions about talent management and the changing workforce landscape. His insights have been published in prestigious outlets like The Harvard Business Review and The Guardian​. At the heart of his professional journey is a profound commitment to exploring and leveraging the potential of crowdsourcing and open talent, themes that are prevalent in his talks and writings, including his book co-authored with Jin H. Paik on open talent solutions​.Core Topics:Early Digital Nomad Experience: Winsor discusses his early adoption of the digital nomad lifestyle, setting up a satellite connection in a remote Mexican village, which allowed him the flexibility to balance life and work remotely long before it became mainstream.Cultural Impact on Business Philosophy: Reflecting on his experiences abroad, particularly in Mexico and Paris, Winsor explains how exposure to different cultures has deepened his approach to business and innovation, advocating for a slower, more observant engagement with new environments.Open Talent and Innovation: John dives into the concept of 'open talent,' contrasting it with traditional employment and explaining how this model has influenced industries by decentralizing how work is performed and emphasizing the importance of aligning tasks with outcomes.Revolutionizing Industries through Crowdsourcing: Winsor shares a compelling story about how his company, Victors and Spoils, leveraged crowdsourcing to win a major contract with Harley-Davidson, showcasing the potential of open innovation to disrupt established market norms and propel businesses forward.Resources:Learn more about John Winsor:WebsiteLinkedInInstagramXFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Mary Ellen Slayter is a content marketing innovator who transitioned from journalism to founding Rep Cap, a B2B content marketing agency that excels in video and podcasting content. Her expertise lies in leveraging journalistic skills to enhance B2B content marketing, focusing on storytelling as a tool to solve business problems and drive engagement.Core Topics:Journalistic Approach to Content Marketing: Mary Ellen discusses how her journalistic background influences her content marketing strategy. She emphasizes the importance of concrete details in storytelling to make business communications compelling and memorable.Integration of Digital Media: Reflecting on the evolution of her agency, Mary Ellen highlights the shift from traditional writing to predominantly using video and podcast formats. This transition underscores the growing relevance of multimedia in engaging modern audiences effectively.The Business of Content Marketing: Exploring the practical applications of content marketing, Mary Ellen shares how strategic content creation aligns with business objectives like lead generation, brand awareness, and customer education. She stresses that content should always serve a clear business purpose.Advice for Aspiring Thought Leaders: Offering insights for thought leaders and speakers, Mary Ellen encourages a proactive approach to content creation. She advocates for experimenting with new ideas, staying curious, and consistently considering the buyer's perspective to enhance relevance and impact.Resources:Learn more about Mary Ellen Slayter:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedinInstagramVimeoLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Shawn Kanungo is a strategist and keynote speaker who operates at the intersection of creativity, business, and technology. Having spent over a decade at Deloitte before venturing into the world of public speaking, Shawn has become a recognized leader in innovation and disruption. He is known for his high-energy presentations and a bold approach that challenges traditional boundaries in the field of professional speaking.Core Topics:Innovation in Speaking: Shawn discusses how professional speakers can be likened to modern-day rock stars, with the potential to significantly impact lives and businesses through engaging and innovative presentations.The Role of Digital Content: Exploring his unique strategy, Shawn emphasizes the importance of recording keynotes and sharing them on social media as a method to test and refine content. He also touches on his groundbreaking work in creating a streaming special, which sets a new standard for speakers worldwide.Impact Over Income: Reflecting on his personal motivations, Shawn shares inspiring stories from audience members whose lives were changed by his talks. He passionately argues that the true value of speaking lies in the impact made on individuals' professional paths and personal growth.Advice for Aspiring Speakers: Shawn offers practical advice for up-and-coming speakers, encouraging them to focus on the impact of their work and to embrace modern digital tools to enhance their visibility and influence.Resources:Learn more about Shawn Kanungo:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedinInstagramXFacebookTikTokLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Susan Drumm is a leadership development advisor with a rich academic and professional background, including Harvard Law School and the London School of Music and Dramatic Arts. She has coached billionaires, CEOs, and political figures, guiding them to enhance their leadership capabilities through increased self-awareness and strategic personal development. Susan is also the author of "The Leader's Playlist," where she merges her expertise in leadership with her passion for music to offer innovative approaches to personal and professional growth.Core Topics:Enlightened Leadership: Susan defines "enlightened leadership" as a blend of awareness about one's impact on others and an intimate understanding of one's internal dialogue. She discusses the balance between recognizing personal strengths and addressing weaknesses that could limit leadership potential.Patterns of Success and Struggle: Drawing on her extensive experience coaching top executives and leaders, Susan identifies common 'playlists'—patterns of thought—that can propel leaders to success or serve as obstacles. She emphasizes the importance of transforming these internal narratives to achieve sustained effectiveness and fulfillment.The Power of Music in Leadership: Susan explains how she uses music not only as a metaphor but as a practical tool to help leaders reprogram their subconscious and foster more empowering beliefs. She shares examples of how specific songs can anchor new, positive mindsets, facilitating profound personal changes.Radical Career Changes: Susan reflects on her own career transitions, from law and business to acting and then to leadership development, highlighting the insights gained and the challenges overcome. She provides advice for those contemplating significant career changes, focusing on the need for courage, clarity, and commitment to personal growth.Resources:Learn more about Susan Drumm:WebsiteThe Enlightened Executive (Podcast)LinkedinXFacebookYouTubeLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Frankie Russo is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker with a track record of launching successful ventures across various sectors, including technology and marketing. As the founder of Russo Capital and the mind behind companies like Potenza Inc. and 360ia, Frankie has demonstrated exceptional skill in driving exponential growth and innovation. Recognized with numerous accolades such as the Inc. 5000 Top 50 Businesses in the Southwest and ABIZ Entrepreneur of the Year, Frankie's entrepreneurial spirit is matched by his commitment to fostering authentic self-expression. Through his best-selling books, "The Art of WHY" and "Breaking WHY," and impactful keynote speeches, Frankie inspires individuals and organizations to harness their unique weirdness to achieve unprecedented success.Core Topics:Authentic Entrepreneurship: Frankie Russo reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the transition from financial success to seeking a deeper, more meaningful impact. He discusses the founding of Potenza Inc., his commitment to creating a brand to be proud of, and the lessons learned from overcoming challenges and embracing authenticity.Confidence vs. Conviction: Russo explores the distinction between confidence, built through experience and practice, and conviction, derived from a deep personal belief in one's message. He emphasizes the importance of conviction in delivering impactful keynote speeches and connecting with audiences on a profound level.The Power of Weirdness: Frankie delves into his philosophy of embracing one's weirdness as a source of innovation and authenticity. He shares how loving his weird led to significant personal growth and success and discusses the importance of creating a culture that celebrates individuality for continuous innovation.Future Directions: Looking ahead, Frankie Russo discusses his commitment to deepening his impact through keynote speaking and sharing his insights on authenticity, imagination, and selflessness. He outlines his approach to refining his content, continually experimenting, and ensuring that his messages resonate with and empower his audiences.Resources:Learn more about Frankie Russo:WebsiteLinkedinInstagramLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Raj Nathan, known as the Startup Hypeman, is a multifaceted entrepreneur, blending his passion for hip hop with expertise in startup pitch consulting. His dynamic approach to storytelling and audience engagement has made him a notable figure in the entrepreneurial and keynote speaking worlds. Raj's innovative pitch framework, Que PASA, has guided numerous startups to success, emphasizing the importance of empathy and clarity in communication. As the organizer of Hype Week, Raj showcases his ability to energize and unite the startup community through carefully curated events. His unique journey from rapping about simple rhymes to empowering startups with compelling narratives exemplifies the transformative power of integrating diverse talents.Core Topics:Embracing Hip Hop for Authentic Expression: Raj discusses his passion for hip hop and how it has shaped his approach to storytelling and keynote speaking. He emphasizes the art form's ability to engage audiences through rhythm, rhyme, and raw emotion, sharing how integrating rap into his presentations energizes and connects with listeners on a profound level.The Que PASA Framework for Pitch Perfection: Nathan introduces the Que PASA (Problem, Approach, Solution, Action) model, a powerful tool for startups to create compelling pitches. By leading with empathy and addressing real-world problems, Raj highlights how this framework helps startups stand out and make a lasting impression.Organizing Hype Week: Insights into Event Planning: Raj shares the behind-the-scenes of Hype Week, a series of events celebrating the startup ecosystem. He discusses the importance of early planning, securing sponsors, and creating a buzz to ensure the event's success. Raj's experience offers valuable lessons for speakers looking to organize their own paid events.A Live Performance: Raj's Rap Artistry: In a display of his musical talent, Raj delivers a freestyle rap, showcasing his improvisational skills and the powerful blend of hip hop and storytelling. This performance underlines the episode's theme: the transformative power of combining diverse talents to create unique, impactful experiences.Resources:Learn more about Rajiv Nathan:WebsiteLinkedinInstagramXLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bio:Vika, hailing from the former Soviet Union and now a global citizen, has carved a unique path through her adventures and storytelling. Her journey from fleeing political asylum to becoming an advertising executive and finally embracing a nomadic lifestyle underscores her belief in the power of narratives. A Moth story slam winner and a contributor to Vice, Vika uses her experiences to teach and inspire, advocating for storytelling as a means of connection, healing, and transformation.Core Topics:The Essence of Storytelling: Vika discusses the intrinsic human need to create narratives, emphasizing storytelling's capacity to transform personal and collective experiences. She explores how stories have shaped her life, from her early days in the Soviet Union to her global travels, highlighting the role of storytelling in overcoming challenges and fostering empathy.Curiosity Intelligence and Transformative Narratives: Introducing the concept of 'curiosity intelligence,' Vika offers insights into changing limiting self-narratives through inquisitiveness and openness. She shares practical tips for adopting a more curious mindset, illustrating how this approach can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of oneself and others.The Power of Authentic Connection: Vika reflects on her experiences of connecting with people worldwide, underscoring the importance of authenticity in storytelling. She discusses the transformative effect of genuine interactions, both in personal encounters and on the speaker's stage, advocating for stories that resonate on a soulful level.Shaping the Future Through Stories: Looking forward, Vika shares her vision for utilizing storytelling as a tool for societal change. She emphasizes the need for stories that promote empathy, understanding, and action, calling on listeners to embrace their narratives as agents of change in their communities and beyond.Resources:Learn more about Vika Viktoria:WebsiteLinkedinInstagramXFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bios:Paul Mobley is an acclaimed American photographer and keynote speaker known for his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, from celebrities to everyday heroes. With a background enriched by his work with Annie Leibovitz and a passion for exploring the human condition, Mobley's photographs transcend the visual, offering deep insights into the stories of those he portrays. His projects, including "American Farmer," "Everyday Heroes," and portraits of centenarians, reflect his commitment to showcasing the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. Through his keynote speeches, Mobley shares valuable lessons on connection, storytelling, and authenticity, drawing from his extensive experience behind the lens to captivate and inspire audiences.Core Topics:Discovering the Soul of Your Subjects: Paul dives into the importance of connecting with the individuals in front of the camera, a skill that is invaluable for speakers seeking to engage and resonate with their audience. He illustrates how genuine interactions can lead to capturing the essence of a subject's character, offering a lesson in authenticity and empathy.The Impact of Storytelling Through Visuals: We discuss how powerful narratives can be woven through imagery, paralleling the way speakers can use stories to captivate and move their audiences. Paul emphasizes the role of storytelling in creating memorable experiences and the importance of bringing stories to life, whether through photographs or words.Embracing Challenges and Perseverance: Reflecting on his journey and the obstacles he faced, Paul shares insights into the resilience required to succeed in the creative field. This section offers encouragement and motivation for speakers navigating their paths, highlighting the rewards of persistence and hard work.Lessons Learned from Life Behind the Lens: Mobley concludes with the broader lessons he has learned throughout his career, from the power of observation to the value of kindness. His experiences provide rich learning opportunities for speakers, underscoring the importance of staying true to one's values and the impact of small gestures.Resources:Learn more about Paul Mobley:WebsiteLinkedinInstagramXFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: amplifypublishinggroup.comABOUT 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.com

Guest Bios:Michelle Anne Johnson: A transformative figure in leadership communication, Michelle leverages her extensive background in acting and personal development to help leaders harness the power of presence. Her journey from performing on television to coaching Fortune 500 executives showcases her unique ability to empower individuals to lead with authenticity, confidence, and purpose.Doug Manuel: A former BBC documentary producer turned rhythm revolutionary, Doug's life took a new direction after immersing himself in West African drumming. With a mission to use art to connect people and cultures, Doug has created stage shows and keynotes that blend musical performance with insights into engagement, collaboration, and community. Now based in Senegal, he continues to impact lives through his nonprofit work and innovative approach to keynote speaking.Core Topics:The Power of Presence: Michelle Anne Johnson delves into the essence of presence in leadership, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, confidence, and purpose. She shares insights into how personal power can dramatically enhance one's impact in both personal and professional realms.Rhythm as a Universal Language: Doug Manuel explores how rhythm and music can bridge cultural divides and foster a sense of unity and collaboration. From corporate workshops to community outreach in Senegal, Doug's work illustrates the profound impact of art on human connection and engagement.Transformative Journeys: Both guests share their personal transformations, highlighting the pivotal moments that led them from traditional careers to the world of keynote speaking. Their stories inspire listeners to pursue their passions and make a meaningful impact.The Art of Keynote Speaking: Michelle and Doug offer valuable advice for aspiring keynote speakers, focusing on the importance of storytelling, authenticity, and audience engagement. They discuss the challenges and rewards of translating personal experiences into compelling presentations that resonate with diverse audiences.Inspiring Others: Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own journeys and consider how they can use their unique skills and experiences to inspire others. Whether through the arts, social impact work, or leadership development, everyone has the potential to make a significant impact in their communities and beyond.Resources:Learn more about Michelle Anne Johnson:WebsiteYoutubeLinkedinInstagramXIMDBLearn more about Doug Manuel:WebsiteYoutubeLinkedinInstagramFacebookLearn more about Josh Linkner:WebsiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagramXFacebookABOUT 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 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 sponsored by ImpactEleven.Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.comABOUT THE HOST:Josh Linkner — a New York Times bestselling author — is a rare blend of business, art, and science.On the business front, he's been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He's the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He's twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. Josh has been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world. His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world's foremost experts on innovation. Joshis the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he's on a mission to help leaders Find A Way™ through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.comSPONSORED BY AMPLIFY PUBLISHING GROUP:Partnering with CXOs, keynote speakers, change makers, and other visionary leaders, Amplify Publishing Group (APG) is a leader in the hybrid publishing space with more than twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books. Passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard, they're known for launching books that start engaging and timely conversations. At each turn, they have been at the forefront of innovation and have spearheaded a critical disruption of the publishing industry.Learn more at: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/ABOUT 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.com

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

Peter Sheahan, well known leadership consultant and speaker, is joining CASB for their 83rd Annual Convention on Friday, December 8, 2023 to speak on AI, K12 education, and student mental health. Hear what Peter has in mind for his keynote address and why you should attend.

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