The Speaker Lab With Grant Baldwin // Public Speaking / Motivational Speaking / Entrepreneurship

“When speakers communicate directly with the clients and leave me out of the communication, it can get fuzzy. And there have been times when that’s happened and logistical details have not occurred and it has cost somebody money.”Behind every outstanding speaking event is a world of logistics, relationships, and attention to detail that most audiences never see. On this week’s episode of The Speaker Lab, host Grant Baldwin chats with Lori Kennedy from Premier Speakers Bureau, an Advance Agent, who has mastered the art of making events run smoothly.Lori unpacks the critical steps that set the best speakers apart, from executing contracts and managing travel to handling last-minute changes with calm professionalism. Her candid stories from the field highlight the importance of flexibility, communication, and always having a Plan B.For speakers aiming to build strong, long-term relationships with event planners and bureaus, Lori emphasizes the power of simple habits like responding quickly to emails, keeping com

“Content is still important, but content is much more of a commodity. So the premise has to be that we’ve got to create something…It has to include conversation, it has to include community, it has to include the idea that there’s going to be something that’s analog that happens.”In this week’s episode of The Speaker Lab, Grant Baldwin chats with Brad Lomenick about what truly makes speakers memorable. Brad’s big takeaway is that being great to work with matters even more than being the most dynamic person on stage.Brad shares that self-awareness is key: know your strengths, get feedback, and focus on the type of events where you shine. He also highlights the importance of personal touches like connecting with organizers, knowing your audience, and showing genuine kindness.Ultimately, it’s the offstage moments and relationships you build that lead to lasting success. Want to get booked again and again? Prioritize being a good human, not just a good speaker!You’ll learn:The value of feedback in improving as a

“...hustle and hard work might get you past a certain project or deadline, but then habits will help you last over the long haul, right? So build a business that doesn’t ultimately break you over time.”What does it take to build a speaking business and a life that lasts? In this week’s episode of The Speaker Lab, host Grant Baldwin sits down with his longtime friend Chris Ducker, who just released his new book, The Long-Haul Leader. Together, they dig into the real strategies behind sustainable success, steering clear of the non-stop hustle that risks burnout.Chris shares candid insights from his entrepreneurial journey and research, emphasizing that while hustle is required in the early days, you can’t stay in high gear forever. Instead, he champions the power of habits, boundaries, and honest self-care, arguing that protecting your energy is more important than squeezing every last minute from your calendar.The episode is packed with valuable advice: how to recognize burnout before it hits, why recovery is

“A photo in general is not going to win you business, but bad photos are going to lose you your business all the time because it absolutely crushes.”Ever dread getting new headshots or wonder if your photos help your speaking business? On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Grant Baldwin chats with photographer John DeMato about what matters when it comes to imagery and visual storytelling for speakers.John’s best advice is that your branding photos aren’t for you; they’re for your audience. Every image should invite people into your world and show how you help them, building trust and credibility. This means going beyond stiff portraits and staged shots. John stresses having a strategy: your photos should tell the story of who you serve, how you solve problems, and what working with you looks like. Think candid behind-the-scenes moments, action shots, and authentic glimpses of your process, not just you on stage with a mic.Additionally, John advises focusing on natural, in-the-moment photos rather than stiff po

“If your heart is genuinely how do I care about people by doing what I love to do, if that’s the driver of it, I don’t see how you can not end up in a place that is rewarding, fulfilling, and doing something that makes the world a better place.”Ever wonder if your story is worth sharing or how to even start turning your experience into a book, speech, or brand? In this episode of The Speaker Lab, Grant Baldwin chats with Bill Blankschaen, founder of Story Builders, for an honest look at what makes a story truly impactful.Bill’s approach is all about clarity and service. He urges aspiring speakers and authors to ask what the one thing they want their audiences to remember. If they’re unsure about that, their message probably needs fine-tuning. Importantly, Bill reminds us that while your story is about you, it’s meant for others. The value lies in helping your audience solve real problems or see themselves in your journey.Grant and Bill also unpack practical tips and frameworks for how to test if your story is

“The mistake I’m seeing a lot of companies make is they’re racing to shove it into a product where they’re trying to drive costs down before the leaders making the call have become AI-driven leaders.”Feeling overwhelmed by AI and unsure how it fits into your speaking business? In this value-packed episode of The Speaker Lab, Grant Baldwin chats with Geoff Woods, author of The AI-Driven Leader, for a refreshingly practical look at embracing technology without losing your human edge.Geoff shares how speakers should treat AI as a tool, focusing on using it to drive real results and streamline the work that matters most. He introduces straightforward frameworks, like his CRIT method (Context, Role, Interview, Task), to help you get more out of AI, whether you’re prepping your next keynote or brainstorming business strategy.What shines through is the focus on human strengths and meaningful connections. Rather than fearing that AI will make us obsolete, Geoff sees it as a chance for speakers to elevate their unique

“The act of you and I exchanging contact information raises the standard that there is going to be a follow up…You want to make that connection and set the expectation right then and there.”Ever left a conference buzzing, only to watch that excitement fizzle when it comes to follow-up? This live coaching session from The Speaker Lab pulls back the curtain on how pros turn event momentum into real speaking business.Facilitator Erick Rheam teams up with speakers Bridget Quigg and Shannon GaNun for a candid conversation about what works and what doesn’t in post-event follow-up. Bridget shares her frustration when promising leads go silent, and Erick offers simple, practical advice: always exchange contact info in person, set clear expectations for next steps, and don’t rely on LinkedIn or mass attendee lists. Real business starts with real, personal connections.Shannon’s question on breaking into corporate gigs leads to another golden nugget: you don’t need a hard pitch. Just mention that you’re available for fu

"I know there's a lot of benefits to automation, but when it came to [outreach], I felt it was very important for me to send personalized emails to each person in my network to tell them what I was doing and ask if I could help."If you’ve ever considered leaving a stable corporate career to pursue something more meaningful, Tania Will Jeppesen’s story is essential listening. On this week’s episode of The Speaker Lab podcast, host Grant Baldwin sits down with Tania—a former operations and HR leader who took the leap from a secure job and steady paycheck to launch her own consulting business, “The Prepared Leader.” It’s an episode full of practical advice and heartfelt honesty for anyone wrestling with the tension between comfort and calling.After nearly two decades in the trenches of supply chain and operations, Tania recognized a gap: frontline managers were often overlooked in leadership development. Driven by a blend of professional experience, a supportive family, and her own faith, she finally acted on a

“I was trying to figure out what’s my lane that I need to be saying yes to? And what are the things I would have to say no to so that I can say yes to the better things?”Kent Chevalier’s speaking journey is anything but conventional. In this week’s episode of The Speaker Lab podcast, Grant Baldwin sits down with Kent, a longtime pastor turned Pittsburgh Steelers chaplain—who’s built his career at the intersection of faith, leadership, and personal courage.Kent opens up about transitioning from preaching in churches to mentoring professional athletes, and how the toughest challenge wasn’t the change of audience, it was learning to truly value his craft. Like many who come from service-driven backgrounds, Kent faced the uncomfortable work of charging for his expertise, despite years spent speaking for free. He shares honestly about wrestling with guilt, setting boundaries, and deciding that his time spent away from his wife and daughters needed to be respected and compensated.Underneath it all is a message fami

“I feel guilty to charge [money] for what I love to do…one woman said, ‘They should pay you because it’s your gift, you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.’”Few stories capture the grit and transformation behind a speaking business like Stephanie Dauphin’s journey. This week, Grant Baldwin chats with Stephanie on The Speaker Lab podcast about investing over a decade in her craft—often speaking for free, wrangling self-doubt, and struggling with the idea that meaningful, joyful work can (and should) be well-paid.Her turning point wasn’t just learning how to market herself or build a keynote. It was doing the mindset work: identifying and letting go of limiting beliefs around money, motherhood, and self-worth, many rooted in her upbringing. Stephanie is honest about the messy process, the fear of charging what you’re worth, and the inner resistance that can sabotage your best opportunities.What shines through is her hard-earned wisdom: fulfillment comes from embracing your gifts, serving others, and having the cour

“When you are speaking and you’re in front of people and you give them the momentum to look at life from a different perspective or do something they don’t have the courage to do, you could help change people’s lives.”Podcasts are full of powerhouse moments, but few stories capture the grit, honesty, and resolve it takes to truly make an impact the way Stacey Chillemi’s does. On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Stacey sits down with Grant Baldwin and peels back the curtain on her journey—from overcoming epilepsy and setbacks in the corporate world to building a thriving career as a speaker, bestselling author, and podcast host.Stacey talks openly about the uphill climb, the self-doubt, the setbacks, and the reality that success is never an overnight story. For Stacey, building a speaking business meant reaching out to anyone who would listen, stubbornly persevering through rejection, and finding conviction in her own lived experience—even when the path forward felt unclear.This episode is a masterclass in res

“When you understand going into [speaking] that it’s going to suck for a while, it’s going to take longer than you think and it’s going to be harder than you think. When you know those things up front, when you meet them, you can anticipate it.”Stepping onto the stage as a speaker is about more than nailing your performance—it’s about persistence, honesty, and the courage to start before you feel ready. On this week’s The Speaker Lab episode, Chase Livingston opens up about his journey from theater hopeful to youth motivational speaker, sharing the hard truth: real progress takes both time and tenacity.Chase doesn’t shy away from discussing the realities of building a speaking career, sharing candidly about the slow start, the necessary unpaid gigs, and the doubts that come with venturing into this path. He highlights the importance of steady action—sending countless emails, making connections, and learning when to charge for his expertise.His message is clear: Know the cost, be ready to persevere, and lead w

“I got to the point where if I was going to [be a speaker] I have to be serious about it and I’m going to have to invest in myself. I had to get to the ‘I’m worth it’ mindset, and The Speaker Lab [helped me with that].”Making an impact as a speaker isn’t just about your time on stage—it’s about the courage to own your story and use it to help others. This week, teen resilience speaker, Kimberly Clark, shares her powerful journey from addiction and trauma to inspiring change in the lives of young people. What sets Kimberly apart isn’t just her willingness to be real and raw—it's her focus on turning pain into practical solutions for the teens she serves. Rather than settling for telling her story for free, she learned to recognize her true value, invest in her own growth, and help her audience move from inspiration to action. Her message? People aren’t just looking for a story—they want help navigating their own challenges.Kimberly gets honest about the hurdles every speaker faces, from self-doubt to the emoti

“The hardest thing about building a community is making sure that you’ve tapped into a transition that people have and are navigating so that they actually want to build relationships with each other.”As a speaker, building your authority goes beyond what you say on stage, it’s all about how you connect with your audience afterward. This week, Gina Bianchini, founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, joins us to reveal why community-building is the next essential step in growing your influence and credibility. With a passion for transforming one-time talks into ongoing relationships, Gina shares practical ways to move your audience from passive listeners to active participants, showing that genuine engagement starts when you help people connect with each other and not just with your content.Additionally, Gina gets real about the challenges of staying inspired in the middle of burnout and business setbacks, offering refreshing advice on reinventing your approach and leading with purpose. Gina believes that the true

“If you impact one leader and that leader shows up better, then that leader engages better with his or her team. And then if that’s a good experience and it’s consistent, then those teammates do the same for their team. And all of a sudden you’re cascading down.”One of the best things about being a speaker? You get to write your own story—and Daniel Harkavy’s is proof that the path isn’t always smooth, but it’s definitely worth it. In this episode, Daniel opens up about his rocky first speaking gig, however instead of quitting, he uses that failure as fuel. As a result, speaking became the key to growing his coaching business—not just for applause, but to make real connections and lasting impact.Daniel reminds us that success on stage isn’t about being perfect, it’s about leaning into your strengths, learning from the mess-ups, and using your unique voice to serve others. Speaking doesn’t have to be your end game—sometimes it’s the launchpad for something even bigger. His big takeaway is to embrace what makes

“The goal is to become reassuringly expensive to some extent because what you’re able to charge as a speaker is directly correlated to the insurance policy that you can provide for that event.”One of the best parts about being a speaker is that you get to decide what your speaking career looks like. Your story is unique—and only you can deliver the kind of value your audience needs. This week, Clint Pulver joins the show to remind us that success on stage is about more than a great keynote. Clint’s become an in-demand speaker by leaning into what makes him truly different—combining research, storytelling, and full-on showmanship to create real experiences for his audiences.From hauling drum kits in a rental car as a young speaker to now orchestrating jaw-dropping interactive moments, Clint proves that your wild ideas are often your most valuable assets. He encourages speakers to go beyond the standard and design memorable experiences—think Broadway-level performance, not just another lecture. The big lesson?

“What does it feel like to be a customer of your business? How are you treating your customers? How are you making them want to not just come back, but tell their friends?”Brittany Hodak’s story reminds us that a truly fulfilling speaking career comes from real clarity and intentionality, not chasing every gig or opportunity that comes along. She didn’t set out to become a speaker—her journey began with launching a marketing agency for some of music’s biggest names, which eventually led to media attention, a Shark Tank appearance, and eventually speaking invitations. Only after saying yes a few times did Brittany realize the demand—and value—for her insights on creating “superfans” through customer experience.However, Brittany’s growth wasn’t from one big break. It stemmed from consistently refining her message, learning to say no (even to well-paid opportunities), and protecting her priorities—especially bedtime routines with her two young kids. Instead of chasing every opportunity, Brittany focused rel

“One thing that will make you better suited towards being able to deal with that is if you have a resilient mindset to know that whatever you’re going through, what is the lesson I’m going to get out of it and how is it going to make me better? Where is the positive growth going to come from here?”Tiran Jackson’s story is a masterclass in turning heartbreak into hope and challenge into fuel. If you think a speaking career is about big breaks or spotlight moments, Tiran is living proof that the real work happens in the trenches of adversity. What began as a thriving engineering career was turned upside down by a tragic accident that took his wife’s life and left Tiran fighting for his own. In the aftermath, he didn’t set out to be a speaker, but the realization that his journey through loss, resilience, and rebuilding could help others, sparked something new.For months, Tiran focused on tiny, consistent steps: showing up for grueling physical therapy, supporting his son through grief, and speaking at small gat

“Client communication just doesn’t cut it anymore. In 2025 we have so many generations working together, we want to rush right to the product, but we have to learn how to use these people first communication skills.”Jason Raitz is proof that success as a speaker isn’t about overnight wins or waiting for an opportunity to knock—it’s about grit, clarity, and a relentless focus on serving others. Starting from a childhood love of the stage (and a knack for bribing friends with cookies), Jason spent years speaking in churches and schools before finally stepping into the corporate world, but this pivot didn’t come easy.For years, Jason juggled ministry with speaking gigs, sometimes feeling invisible and fighting off imposter syndrome—especially when the dream career didn’t materialize quickly. The breakthrough came when he stopped trying to speak to everyone and niched down, listening deeply to the needs of his new audience: financial professionals. That decision, plus hours of research and talking with industry l

“Ultimately, you don’t need to have any certification. You need to have some level of experience where you can speak authentically and congruent. It’s gotta be congruent with how you feel about your knowledge.”Clinton Young knows what it’s like to hit rock bottom—and how to turn that experience into fuel for an inspiring speaking career. After losing his business and confidence during the 2008 financial crisis, everything shifted thanks to a tough-love moment at a seminar and a game-changing podcast episode. Now, as a sought-after speaker and coach, Clinton helps others build clarity, confidence, and the systems they need to get booked and paid to speak.Clinton’s secret sauce? It’s all about systems—the thing that separates hobby speakers from true professionals. Instead of trying to talk to everyone about everything, he challenges speakers to focus on what they’re great at (credibility), what fires them up (excitability), and where the real opportunities are (profitability). The biggest thing that holds most