Professional Speaking: Known. Booked. Paid.

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• The Results Lag: Why Speakers Give Up Too Soon 27.05.2026 24min

  There comes a point for almost every speaker and coach where the doubt becomes hard to ignore. You are doing the work, following good advice, showing up consistently — and nothing seems to be moving. The bookings are not coming. The calendar is open. Other people seem to be on calls constantly, and yours is, well, available.Or maybe some things are trickling through, but not enough for it to feel real or sustainable. There is a ceiling somewhere above you that you cannot quite identify, let alone push against.In this episode, John Ball addresses that place directly. Not with motivation. With a more useful question: what is actually going on?What you will take away:Why slow results are almost never a reflection of you as a person, and what they are more likely to reflectThe results lag principle: why the work you are doing now rarely pays off now, and why that is not failureWhy expert advice that works for established speakers often does not translate for those still building foundations, and how to recognise the differenceWhy measuring vanity metrics instead of leading indicators distorts your read of the situation entirelyHow to go back to your why as a diagnostic tool rather than a motivational oneWhat quitting actually means versus pausing a pursuit, and the difference between running out of resources and running out of reasonsWhen it genuinely is time to explore other options, and how to recognise that honestlyJohn shares from direct experience: the periods of doing live streams for 60 days with no traction, building a coaching business alongside a job taken out of financial necessity, and repeatedly asking himself whether the podcast was worth continuing. The answer in each case came back to the same place: the why.If you are at a point where the question is forming in the back of your mind, this episode is worth your time.If you are not getting results and cannot see why, get in touch. John works with professional speakers to diagnose exactly what is and is not working, and where the effort needs to go. Reach out on LinkedIn or at john@presentinfluence.com for a no-commitment conversation.FAQ SectionWhy are professional speakers not getting bookings even when they are doing everything right?John Ball argues that a lack of bookings is almost never a reflection of a speaker's ability on stage, but a problem on the business side: specifically, positioning and visibility. Most speakers who are not getting results are following advice calibrated for people further ahead in their business, without the foundational elements in place to make that advice work. Ball describes this as a context mismatch rather than a failure of effort or talent. The fix, he contends, is almost always in the business mechanics rather than the performance.What is the results lag and why does it matter for speakers building their business?The results lag is the delay between the work a speaker puts in now and when that work converts into bookings, income or visibility. John Ball uses his own podcast as an example: a slow-burn asset that does not immediately generate leads but builds trust, relationships and positioning over time. Ball argues that this lag is long enough to feel like failure when it is not, and that speakers who quit during this window are often stopping just before the pipeline they have built begins to pay out.How do you know if it is time to quit your speaking business or keep going?John Ball contends that most speakers who are asking this question are asking it too early. He draws a distinction between running out of resources, which is a practical reality and not a verdict, and running out of reasons, which is a more meaningful signal. Ball suggests going back to the original why as a diagnostic tool: if the why is still solid, the question shifts from whether to continue to what needs to change. People who have genuinely reached the end, he argues, usually know it without needing external confirmation.Why does expert advice on speaking and coaching sometimes not work?According to John Ball, much of the advice circulating in the speaking and coaching industry is designed for people who already have an established platform, a warm audience or a different market context. Following that advice faithfully without those foundations in place will not produce the expected results, and that is a calibration problem rather than a personal failure. Ball gives the example of being advised to live stream on LinkedIn daily for 60 days with no meaningful traction, attributing the failure to unclear positioning rather than the format itself.What is the difference between vanity metrics and leading indicators for speakers?John Ball argues that many speakers track the wrong things: follower counts, post impressions and downloads rather than enquiries, fee conversations and genuine relationship signals. Measuring vanity metrics creates a distorted picture of progress, making things look worse than they are or masking the fact that real indicators are not being tracked at all. Ball notes that some speakers do not track any metrics at all, and that without this visibility, it is impossible to run a business effectively rather than simply deliver a product.How does John Ball's Professional Speaking podcast approach the question of giving up?In this episode of Professional Speaking: Known. Booked. Paid., John Ball draws on personal experience across coaching, speaking and podcasting to address the question of whether to quit when results are not coming. He argues that the gap between invisible and known is often shorter than it appears from inside the fog of slow results, and that reconnecting with the original purpose behind the work is a more reliable guide than any external metric. Ball also shares that stopping for practical reasons, such as running out of financial runway, is not the end of the pursuit.CHAPTERS:00:00 When Effort Stalls03:06 Motivation Or Visibility03:33 Business Beats Performance05:06 Results Lag Reality08:17 Bad Fit Guru Advice12:19 Track Real Metrics15:07 Reconnect With Your Why17:31 Runway And Pausing20:12 Quit Or Honest Pivot21:51 Adjust The Right Levers23:53 Get Help And Next StepsVisit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.
• 'How-To' Content Will Kill Your Speaking Career | David Newman 13.05.2026 53min

  David Newman is a speaker, consultant, and author of four books, including Do It Speaking and Market Eminence. He's spent decades helping experts, consultants, and professional speakers build what he calls market eminence -- the combination of visibility, credibility, and brand preference that makes you the obvious choice in your field.In this conversation, David makes the case that the era of how-to content is over, that differentiation is not optional, and that most speakers are making themselves dangerously easy to replace. He also shares the three types of content that AI cannot replicate and a practical framework for becoming a category of one.What you'll take away:Why branding agencies are often the wrong first move for speakers -- and what to do insteadThe fire hose problem: why giving audiences too much content kills your follow-up businessThe mule vs magician distinction: what high-value clients actually want to buyWhy how-to content is finished as of November 2022 -- and the three content types that still workHow to think, what to believe, and where to focus next: the framework for content that AI can't produceThe market eminence model: visibility, respect, and brand preference as the three pillars of getting bookedCategory of one: what it actually means and why being divisive is the strategy, not the riskWhy your website navigation might be quietly sabotaging your speaking enquiriesThe "disturbing your enemy" exercise: how to find your position by identifying who you'd rather repelConnect with David Newman: Website: doitmarketing.com | Market Eminence resources: marketeminence.comJoin me for the Speaker positioning event on May 27th, A Position of Authority: Why Most Speakers Are Invisible (And What To Do About It)https://present-influence.kit.com/products/a-position-of-authority-eventCHAPTERS00:00 AI Changed Speaker Content01:49 Branding Is BS04:57 Stop The Firehose10:23 Mule Versus Magician15:26 Front Load Airport Value17:52 Market Eminence Framework20:05 Category Of One26:06 Finding Contrarian Differentiation28:03 Spotting Anti Clients30:51 Disturb Your Audience32:29 Why Speakers Dont Book33:40 Three Content Upgrades35:04 Future Casting Advantage38:22 Is Speaking Doomed40:27 No Footnotes Needed43:15 Marketing Show Your Work45:38 Make Speaking Obvious49:07 Where To Find David50:31 Host Wrap And Workshop52:28 Follow Review And FarewellFAQ SECTIONWhy is how-to content no longer effective for professional speakers?According to author and speaker strategist David Newman, how-to content became obsolete in November 2022 when ChatGPT became publicly available. AI systems can now produce more comprehensive, accurate, and faster how-to content than any human speaker. John Ball and David Newman argue that speakers who continue to rely on how-to content are competing directly with AI on AI's strongest ground. The only content that remains uniquely human is content based on personal experience, hard-won expertise, and a genuine point of view.What are the three types of content that AI cannot replace for professional speakers?David Newman identifies three categories of Professional Speaking: Known. Booked. Paid. The first is how-to-think content -- strategic, insight-driven content based on the speaker's own experience and expertise that helps audiences approach problems differently. The second is belief-shifting content that separates myths from truths and challenges conventional wisdom based on the speaker's direct observations. The third is future-casting or trend-spotting content that helps audiences understand what is coming next and how to prepare for it. Newman argues that focusing exclusively on these three areas can transform a speaking business within 90 days.What does it mean for a speaker to become a "category of one"?David Newman defines a category of one as a speaker whose specific combination of topic, perspective, philosophy, and personal experience cannot be replicated by any other speaker. It does not mean being the only speaker on a topic -- it means being the only speaker who approaches that topic from your particular angle, with your particular beliefs and your particular biases. Newman argues on the show with John Ball that divisive, opinionated positioning is not a risk but a strategy: the people who resonate deeply will book you; those who do not were never going to book you anyway.How can professional speakers find and develop a contrarian positioning?David Newman and John Ball discuss on the podcast that the first step is identifying who you would actively not want to hire you -- your "enemy" -- and then creating content that would deliberately alienate them. Newman shares a story of a client whose contrarian positioning around corporate intrapreneurship was validated when a hostile executive told her exactly what he did not want -- which confirmed she had found her position. The homework Newman recommends is to write, post, or share something that would genuinely upset the audience you do not want, because doing so more strongly attracts the audience you do.What is the "mule vs magician" distinction, and why does it matter for speakers and coaches?The mule vs magician framework, developed by David Newman, describes two different orientations to value in speaking and coaching programmes. A mule mentality is focused on volume -- more content, more bonuses, more videos, more binders. A magician mentality is focused on outcome -- the shortest possible path to the result the client already knows they want. Newman argues that high-value buyers and executives are no longer impressed by quantity and that the correct question when designing a programme is not what to add but what to remove.Visit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Your Topic Is Not Your Positioning: Why Good Speakers Stay Invisible 05.05.2026 22min

  If you're a good speaker who isn't getting booked at the rate or fee you think you deserve, this episode is going to be uncomfortable in the right way.The problem, in most cases, isn't your speaking. It's your positioning. And more specifically, it's the fact that most speakers build their positioning around what they want to say rather than what the market actually needs to hear.In this episode, John works through six positioning mistakes that keep credible, capable speakers invisible -- with real client stories and examples that make each one land where it needs to.Join us for the live speaker positioning event: https://present-influence.kit.com/products/a-position-of-authority-event It's a 'pay what you want' event, so pay a little, pay a lot, whatever you think good positioning guidance is worth.What's covered:The topic trap—why building your talk around your own expertise and interests, rather than your buyer's specific problem, is the fastest route to an empty pipeline. Including a story about a speaker whose health and productivity topic created a liability rather than a solution.Information vs transformation -- why packing your keynote with everything you know is the reason you're not getting rebookings or workshop enquiries. The talk that impresses is not always the talk that converts.The speak-on-anything problem -- both the unfocused speaker who hasn't chosen a lane, and the ego-driven speaker who believes intelligence alone equals credibility. With a real example from John's time at The Speaker Lab, and a look at what happened when Courtney Harding (episode 254) chased a hot topic without a clear problem to solve.The corporate bottom-line test—particularly for speakers building a career in the UK and Europe, where the association circuit doesn't exist in the same way it does in the US. If you want to be well-paid, corporate is where you need to be -- and your topic must connect directly to making or saving money. Cross-references the episode with Jackson Ogunyemi on education speaking, and a forthcoming episode with Claire Young on the UK education speaker market.Nice-to-have vs must-book -- why some topics will always sit in the soft column no matter how well you frame them, and what creates genuine urgency in a booking decision.The person is positioning—ethos, logos, and pathos applied to the speaker's positioning. Why two speakers can deliver identical content and create entirely different results, why your ethos cannot be copied even when your content is, and what Maria Franzoni revealed about content theft on episode 256 of this show.Referenced episodes:Episode 254 -- Hot Market, Cold Inbox: Why Your Speaking Calendar Isn't Matching Your Credibility (Courtny Harding)Episode 256 -- How Professional Speakers Get Hired: The Bookability Formula (Maria Franzoni)Jackson Ogunyemi episode -- education speaking and why it rarely pays enough to build a career onComing soon -- Claire Young on the UK education speaker booking market==============FAQs==============What is speaker positioning, and why does it matter for getting booked?Speaker positioning is how you define and communicate the specific value you deliver to a specific buyer with a specific problem. It goes beyond having a topic—it determines whether a buyer sees you as a must-book speaker or a nice-to-have. Most speakers who struggle to get booked consistently, or who aren't commanding the fees they want, have a positioning problem rather than a speaking problem. In this episode, speaking coach John Ball explains why positioning built around what a speaker wants to say, rather than what the market needs to hear, is the most common reason credible speakers stay invisible.What is the difference between a topic and a positioning for a speaker?A topic is a subject area —such as leadership, communication, resilience, or AI. A positioning is a specific claim about who you serve, what problem you solve, and why you are the credible choice to solve it. John Ball describes the topic as raw material and positioning as what you build from it that makes a buyer say yes. Speakers who position themselves around a topic category rather than a specific buyer problem are easy to overlook and difficult to justify to stakeholders.What mistakes do speakers make when trying to break into the corporate market?The most common mistakes speakers make when breaking into corporate include: building their talk around their own interests rather than a problem the business already knows it has, delivering information-heavy keynotes rather than creating genuine transformation, speaking on too many topics without a clear specialisation, and failing to connect their subject to the company's bottom line. Corporate buyers need to justify every fee to stakeholders, which means a speaker's topic must connect directly to making money, saving money, or reducing risk. John Ball covers all of these mistakes with real client examples in this episode.Why do some speakers get lots of enquiries while others with equal talent don't?Speakers who attract consistent enquiries are typically positioned at the intersection of a specific, urgent problem, a credible, differentiated solution, and demonstrable evidence that their work delivers results. John Ball describes this as the difference between a nice-to-have speaker and a must-book speaker. Topics that address immediate, high-stakes business pain points -- such as AI adoption, organisational communication failures, or leadership under pressure -- create urgency in the buyer that drives action. Softer topics, however well framed, tend to be deferred or cut when budgets tighten.What are ethos, logos and pathos, and how do they apply to speaker positioning?Ethos, logos, and pathos are the three modes of persuasion identified by Aristotle. In the context of speaker positioning, logos refers to the intellectual substance of a speaker's content—their frameworks, research, and arguments. Pathos refers to the emotional resonance they create—their delivery, humour, and ability to move an audience. Ethos refers to their credibility and earned authority to speak on a subject—their track record, lived experience, and body of work. John Ball argues that ethos is the most powerful and least copyable element of a speaker's positioning, and that speakers who rely solely on logos—listing credentials and frameworks—leave the most important part of their positioning invisible.Can other speakers copy your talk and damage your positioning?Content theft is more common in the speaking industry than most people acknowledge. Talks get transcribed, frameworks get lifted, and stories get repurposed by other speakers. However, John Ball argues that what makes a talk genuinely powerful -- the speaker's ethos, their lived experience, and their earned authority -- cannot be copied. Two speakers can deliver identical content and create entirely different results because audiences respond to the person carrying the ideas, not just the ideas themselves. Speaker agent Maria Franzoni addressed this directly on episode 256 of Professional Speaking: Known. Booked. Paid.Is corporate speaking the only viable route for well-paid speakers in the UK and Europe?For speakers building a career in the UK and Europe, corporate speaking is the most reliable route to sustainable, well-paid work. The association speaking circuit that sustains many American speakers does not exist in the same form in the UK and Europe, and associations that do exist largely do not pay competitive fees. Education speaking can be rewarding but rarely pays enough to build a primary income on -- explored in depth in the episode with Jackson Ogunyemi. Faith speaking does not pay at meaningful levels except for established public figures. After-dinner speaking, conference speaking, and stand-up comedy can be lucrative but require distinct skill sets. A forthcoming episode with Claire Young, who runs a UK education speaker booking agency, will explore the education market in more detail.Ready to do the actual work on your positioning? John is running a live event -- A Position of Authority: Why Most Speakers Are Invisible (And What To Do About It) -- where we go beyond the theory and build a position that is specific, credible, and unmistakably yours.Registration link: https://present-influence.kit.com/products/a-position-of-authority-why-most-speakVisit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence
• Stop Trying to Be Funny: Beth Sherman on What Actually Gets Audiences to Listen 29.04.2026 56min

  Beth Sherman is a multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy writer who spent 30 years writing for Letterman, Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, and multiple major awards shows, including the Oscars. She now works as a keynote speaker and executive presentation coach, helping leaders and professional speakers build rapid rapport using the same principles comedians use to convert a room full of strangers.In this episode, John and Beth explore what professional speakers can actually learn from standup comedy — not the jokes, but the craft underneath them. Beth shares her BETH framework and challenges the assumption that being funny has anything to do with telling jokes.What you'll take away:Why trying to be funny is one of the worst things a speaker can do — and what to do insteadThe BETH framework: Brevity, Elephant in the room, Truth, HumanityWhy specificity and truth are the real engines of humour and connectionThe difference between self-deprecation and self-awareness on stageWhat comedians know about building trust with a sceptical audience that most business communicators don'tWhy silence on stage felt like failure to Beth — and how she's working through itWhat a "callback" is and why it's the most underused tool in a speaker's closingVisit bethsherman.com or connect with Beth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-sherman/CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Beth Sherman02:20 Comedy Roots and Writer Room05:38 Standup Lessons and Testing07:30 Humour Influences and Favourites12:24 Stagecraft Rapid Rapport13:46 Bombing and Hecklers19:09 From TV Writing to Speaking23:36 Building a Speaking Business26:27 Positioning Humour as Rapport27:39 Trust Through Humour29:15 Standup And Speaking31:51 Keynote Challenges35:57 Stop Trying To Be Funny38:36 BETH Framework39:24 Brevity Wins40:42 Elephant In The Room42:56 Truth And Self Awareness45:55 Specific Details47:59 Humanity Over Jokes49:03 Working With Beth53:06 Quick Rapport Tip54:46 Wrap Up And TakeawaysFrequently Asked QuestionsDo professional speakers need to be funny to be successful?According to Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and keynote speaker Beth Sherman, no. The goal is not to be funny — it is to be human. Trying to be funny often comes across as inauthentic and can undermine credibility, particularly for women and speakers from minority backgrounds. What engages audiences is vulnerability, relatability, and genuine connection. Laughter is a by-product of that, not the target.What is the BETH framework for speakers?The BETH framework was developed by Beth Sherman and stands for Brevity, Elephant in the room, Truth, and Humanity. It is a four-principle approach derived from professional comedy writing and stand-up that helps speakers and leaders build rapid rapport with any audience. Brevity means using fewer words for more impact. Elephant in the room means acknowledging what your audience is already noticing. Truth means that specificity and honesty are inherently engaging. Humanity means being relatable and vulnerable rather than polished and performative.How can speakers use humour without telling jokes?Beth Sherman teaches that truth is funny — comedians do not invent absurdity, they observe and report it. The most effective way for speakers to add humour to a talk is through specificity and self-awareness rather than constructed jokes. Sharing the particular details of a real experience — what was in the room, what was said, what you did when you got in the car — creates universal relatability because audiences recognise the truth in it. This approach works regardless of whether the speaker considers themselves funny.What is rapid rapport, and why does it matter for speakers and leaders?Rapid rapport is the ability to build trust and connection with a new or sceptical audience quickly. Beth Sherman argues that until an audience trusts you, nothing else you say matters — not your data, your story, or your framework. Comedians develop this skill by necessity: they must win over strangers, often in hostile conditions, within minutes. The same principles apply in leadership communication, sales, and keynote speaking. Beth's keynote and masterclass work translates these principles for business audiences.What is the difference between self-deprecation and self-awareness for speakers?Self-deprecation means putting yourself down for the purpose of getting a laugh. Self-awareness means acknowledging what your audience is already noticing about you or the situation. Beth Sherman advises speakers to favour self-awareness over self-deprecation, particularly if they belong to a group that may already face unconscious bias from their audience. Self-deprecation can undermine credibility; self-awareness builds connection and trust.How do you open a talk and win an audience over quickly?Beth Sherman's primary recommendation is to smile and look like you want to be there. Beyond that, acknowledge the elephant in the room early — whatever your audience might be thinking or distracted by. If you open with tension or a dramatic hook, relieve it quickly. The goal is connection, not perfection, and audiences respond to speakers who appear present and genuinely engaged with the room.Visit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• What Speaker Bookers Actually Want in 2026 – Elliot Kay, Speaker Awards Founder 24.04.2026 43min

  Elliot Kay is the founder of The Speaker Awards, a seven-time author, and one of the most connected people in the UK speaking industry. In this conversation, John and Elliot dig into what's actually changing in how professional speakers get hired, and why most speakers are still playing by rules that no longer apply.Heads up: entries for The Speaker Awards 2026 close 30 April. If you're a fee-paid speaker and you're on the fence, the deadline is a week away. Full details at thespeakerawards.com.What you'll take away:Why the era of the "information speaker" is over, and what's replacing itThe three things bookers now demand: problem clarity, implementable change, and proof of ROIWhy positioning (and repositioning) is the single biggest lever most speakers never pullThe "Watch Me Go" mentality: a non-aggressive, slightly defiant attitude that changes how speakers show upWhy imperfection is currency post-pandemic, and slick performers are losing groundChase budgets, not crowds: why twelve people in a boardroom often pays more than a hundred at a conferenceWhat The Speaker Awards process actually does for entrants (hint: the clarity matters more than the trophy)The pipeline reality: presence, partnerships, referrals, and why the bookers who hire you rarely comment on your postsFAQs from this episodeWhat do corporate bookers actually want from professional speakers in 2026?According to Speaker Awards founder Elliot Kay and host John Ball, bookers now prioritise three things: absolute clarity on the problem the speaker solves, implementable takeaways the audience will actually use, and demonstrable return on investment. The era of the "information speaker" is over because information is now freely available through AI. Speakers who can prove behavioural change after their talks are the ones getting rebooked and referred.Is the professional speaking industry declining because of AI?No. Both Elliot Kay and John Ball argue the opposite. As AI-generated content floods digital channels, audiences are craving real human connection more than ever. Live events are increasing in demand, not decreasing. The skills that matter are shifting from information delivery to authentic presence, emotional connection, and provable impact. Speakers who position themselves around outcomes rather than information are well-placed to benefit.What is the single biggest mistake professional speakers make?Positioning. Elliot Kay argues that if the positioning is wrong, nothing else will work. The second biggest mistake is failing to reposition over time. Speakers who used to get booked and no longer do have usually not updated their positioning, showreel, or brand in three or more years. The market moves. Speakers who don't move with it become irrelevant.Should professional speakers chase bigger audiences or bigger budgets?Elliot Kay's direct advice: chase budgets, not crowds. Twelve people in a high-level boardroom often pay significantly more than a hundred people at a conference. Fee per head is rarely correlated with audience size. Speakers optimising for audience count are optimising for the wrong metric.What does the Speaker Awards process give entrants beyond recognition?The process itself forces speakers to clarify who they are, what they stand for, and the problem they solve. Elliot Kay describes this as "shedding the fluff." Entrants consistently report that the preparation and judging process sharpens their positioning in ways that change subsequent fee conversations, regardless of whether they win.When are the Speaker Awards 2026, and how do speakers enter?Entries close 30 April 2026. The gala takes place on 3 July 2026 at the Leonardo Hotel, St Paul's, London. Entry is £80, with an administration fee, and speakers are permitted up to three categories. Full entry details are at thespeakerawards.com.About The Speaker Awards:19 independent judges across categories, including bureau heads, agents, PSA past presidents£80 admin fee to enter, up to three categoriesGala on 3 July 2026 at the Leonardo Hotel, St Paul's, LondonEntry deadline: 30 April 2026Find Elliot: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kay/The Speaker Awards: thespeakerawards.comCHAPTERS00:00 Chase Budgets Not Crowds00:38 Meet Elliot Kay02:02 Speaker Awards Explained03:37 Why Enter Awards06:08 Judges Bureaus Credibility08:27 Community Over Egos10:08 How To Enter Deadline12:17 What Gets You Booked Now14:20 Elliots Speaking Origin Story16:40 Humour Connection On Stage20:07 Information Speakers Are Done21:23 New Keynote Watch Me Go23:33 Authenticity Beats Slickness27:34 Speaker Mistakes Positioning31:14 Building a Booking Pipeline35:21 Advice for More Bookings38:38 AI and Live Events Future40:20 Where to Find Elliot41:24 Wrap Up and Next EpisodeVisit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Why Confident Speakers Still Don't Get Rebooked 22.04.2026 6min

  Taki Moore recently wrote that conviction is a shortcut to charisma. It's a clever line. It's also only half right, and the other half is quietly costing speakers bookings.In this episode, John unpacks why confident, polished speakers still fail to convert rooms into clients, referrals, or rebookings. The issue isn't delivery. It's the gap between creating a feeling of value and creating actual change, and those two things are not the same.What you'll take away:Why audiences stop looking for substance when the signals are right (and why that's a trap for strong speakers)The Toastmasters case study: total conviction, zero argument, room completely soldThe Monday morning test: the one question that separates speakers who get applause from speakers who get bookedHow to tell whether you're performing or actually shifting the roomWhy "I loved it" is three words that feel like a win and mean almost nothingIf you're getting great reactions but not great outcomes, this episode is for you.CHAPTERS00:00 Conviction and Charisma00:32 Mmmbop and Emotion01:28 Toastmasters Wake Up02:24 Applause Without Action03:33 Design Monday Changes04:30 Reframing Takis Quote05:02 Next Steps and OutroNext episode: A conversation with multi-Emmy-winning comedy writer Beth Sherman, who is also a professional speaker. Don't miss it. Follow the show so you don't.Visit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• When It All Goes Wrong On Stage: What Bombing Taught Me About Preparing To Speak 17.04.2026 9min

  Last week I bombed on stage at a standup comedy gig. Not catastrophically -- more in the way where you know before you walk onstage that you're not ready, and then it shows.I want to talk about it, not for the catharsis, but because the cascade that led to that bad night is exactly the same cascade that leads to underprepared keynotes, flat training sessions, and presentations that don't land the way you knew they could.What actually went wrongI had months of notice. No excuse on preparation. But life did what life does, other work took priority, and I found myself on the day of the gig trying to write new material from scratch. When that didn't work, I retreated to older material I hadn't rehearsed. I took a set list onstage -- something I've never done -- and in that moment I knew it wasn't a practical tool. It was me confirming to myself what I already knew: I wasn't prepared.My opening line died in complete silence. My body started sweating. My face went red. If you've ever watched a performer visibly unravel in real time, you know it's uncomfortable for everyone in the room.The real lesson for professional speakersThe host blamed the crowd. I didn't take that excuse. The crowd was what it was, and I've handled tougher rooms. This was on me.What stings most is that I already knew this about myself. When I'm learning music, nobody hears it until it sounds good. Not a rough version, nothing. I don't share works in progress. I should have applied that same standard here.Performing under pressure doesn't reveal your talent. It reveals your preparation.Two things I'm taking awayThe first is obvious but worth saying: never go onstage unprepared. Sometimes you need a bad night to remember why the obvious rules exist.The second is more interesting. I need to build my improv skills -- not to replace preparation, but to have a recovery mechanism when preparation wasn't enough. A flat opener shouldn't be able to take down an entire set. The ability to read a room, pivot, and bring an audience back with you is a separate skill from preparation, and one worth developing deliberately.Preparation protects you. Improv saves you when preparation wasn't enough.If you speak professionally, this episode is worth your time whether you're a keynote speaker, trainer, or coach. The principles of preparation, self-knowledge, and recovery apply equally whether you're on a comedy stage or a conference platform.Related episodes: Better Speaking Won't Get You Booked, But This Will -- Clinton YoungCHAPTERS00:00 Bombing the Gig00:29 Last Minute Prep Spiral01:35 Set List and Silence03:22 The Real Lesson04:44 Why It Matters to Speakers05:56 Two Takeaways06:19 Improv and Recovery08:56 Winging It Is Earned09:37 Do the Work and Go AgainVisit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• The Referral Script That Landed a £10k Speaking Gig: Clinton Young on What Actually Gets Speakers Booked 15.04.2026 48min

  Most speakers are working on the wrong problem.They're polishing their delivery, tweaking their slides, and hunting for better techniques. Meanwhile the gap between where they are and a well-paid, regularly booked speaking career has almost nothing to do with any of that.Clinton Young is a keynote speaker and coach who has learned -- sometimes expensively -- what actually moves the needle. In this episode he hands over the exact referral script he paid $4,000 to learn. The script he used at a free gig in England that led directly to his first £10k speaking engagement.It's in the episode. You can also grab the free PDF here: present-influence.kit.com/ec8e9e8259What you'll learn in this episodeWhy authenticity and vulnerability outperform polish almost every time, what world class actually means for a working speaker -- and why it's not Tony Robbins, the three things every athlete does that most speakers skip, why confidence is a skill you build rather than a trait you're born with, the four stages of learning and why stage three is where most speakers get stuck, how reps create the stage presence that tips and tricks never will, why improv is a spiritual practice and what it does for your adaptability on stage, how to handle mistakes, forgotten lines, and ringing phones without losing the room, why humour matters more than most speakers admit, the jab-jab-right-hook technique for opening any talk, why falling in love with the problem rather than your solution is the commercial shift most speakers need, and the elegant referral ask Clinton uses from every stage.About Clinton YoungClinton Young is a keynote speaker and coach. Find out more and access the resources he mentions at worldclassspeakersecrets.com.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: How to Get Paid for Public Speaking with Grant BaldwinMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Why Nice Feedback Is Killing Your Speaking Growth and How to Fix It 01.04.2026 9min

  Most speakers say they want feedback. What they actually want is validation.There's a significant difference -- and confusing the two is one of the most common reasons capable speakers plateau and stop growing. In this solo episode John Ball breaks down why most feedback fails, why the human brain is wired to turn critique into personal attack, and how to build a feedback loop that genuinely accelerates your development as a speaker.With real-world examples drawn from stand-up comedy and professional speaking, this is a practical and honest look at one of the most misunderstood tools in a speaker's arsenal.Get the free Fast Feedback Framework mentioned in the episode here: present-influence.kit.com/71c6c5dc43What you'll learn in this episodeWhy most feedback is too soft to be useful, how your brain converts feedback into a personal attack and what to do about it, the difference between performance feedback and personal judgment, how to filter feedback without dismissing it entirely, why applause is not a reliable indicator of growth, and how to build a feedback system that actually improves your speaking over time.The Feedback FilterWhen you receive feedback, ask three questions. Is there any truth in this? Is this about my goal or their preference? Can I test this without overreacting?Key principles from the episodeFeedback isn't the problem -- poor feedback is. If you only accept feedback that feels good, you'll never hear what makes you better. Friends soften feedback, peers filter it, audiences don't explain it. Growth comes from truth, not reassurance. You can protect your ego or improve your performance -- you don't get both.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: What a Bombed Gig Taught Me About Preparation for Professional SpeakingMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• From Invisible to Influential: Brand Clarity for Speakers with Sapna Pieroux 26.03.2026 39min

  What makes a speaker visible, memorable, and trusted in a crowded marketplace? It's rarely about being louder, stranger, or more active on social media. It's about being clearer, more consistent, and more intentional about how you show up.Sapna Pieroux is a personal and business brand consultant, author of Let's Get Visible, and speaker who has spent her career helping entrepreneurs and business leaders clarify who they are and stand out for the right reasons. This is a rich, practical conversation about what brand clarity actually means for professional speakers -- and why most are getting it wrong.What you'll learn in this episodeThe difference between brand and branding and why confusing them undermines your positioning, why being authentic is necessary but not sufficient on its own, how to curate your professional persona without becoming fake or performative, why trust depends entirely on alignment between what you do, say, and show, how to study aspirational brands without simply copying them, why consistency matters more than novelty for long-term visibility, what to do when you feel invisible online, why 100 ideal connections beat a million empty followers every time, why bookers care about more than follower count, and why your audience needs to hear your core message far more times than you think before it lands.About Sapna PierouxSapna Pieroux is a personal and business brand consultant, speaker, and author of Let's Get Visible. Connect with Sapna on LinkedIn or visit brandvisions.ai.Key principle from the episodeYou are almost always more at risk of getting bored with your message before your audience does. Repetition is not laziness. It is part of clarity.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: How to Dress for Maximum Influence with Joseph RosenfeldMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Why Smart Speakers Get Stuck and How to Break the Loop 18.03.2026 12min

  The smarter you are, the easier it is to get stuck. Not because you lack ability, but because intelligence can quietly build a wall between you and the reality that would actually move you forward.In this solo episode John Ball explores one of the most common and least talked about reasons experienced speakers plateau. It's not a skill gap. It's a distance-from-reality problem.Drawing on 15 years of coaching speakers, John introduces the concept of psychological limiter loops -- self-reinforcing cycles that keep you feeling productive while quietly keeping you stuck. He unpacks how intelligence, identity, and the need to protect your status can prevent you from getting the feedback, visibility, and real-world exposure that would actually accelerate your growth.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy smart people overthink instead of executing, how psychological limiter loops work and why they feel like progress from the inside, why the hardest part of any speaker's journey challenges your identity rather than your skill, why potential doesn't pay the bills but bookings do, and five practical ways to break the loop and reconnect with reality.The five ways to break the loopReconnect with reality, shorten the loop, lower the exposure threshold, knock the wall down, and act before certainty.Resources mentionedThe New Comedy Bible by Judy Carter, and The Dip by Seth Godin.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: Why Nice Feedback Is Killing Your Speaking GrowthMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Speechwriting Secrets from the Political World with Rob Noel 11.03.2026 51min

  What separates a forgettable speech from one people remember years later?Rob Noel has written speeches for some of the most high-profile political figures in the US, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former CIA Director Mike Pompeo. He understands better than almost anyone what makes a speech land -- and what makes it disappear the moment the speaker leaves the stage.Some of his insights are genuinely counterintuitive. One of Rob's most contrarian views is that sometimes the best speeches are never written at all. Many of the world's best speakers perform better when speaking naturally rather than reading from a script. But that does not mean preparation is optional. It means preparation has to support authentic delivery, not replace it.What you'll learn in this episodeWhat Rob calls the thread of steel -- the single organising idea that runs through every great speech -- and why most speakers don't have one, why stories consistently outperform statistics in audience recall, how ancient rhetorical techniques like chiasmus still create memorable lines today, why the hidden skill of speechwriting is capturing someone else's voice rather than showing off your own, the speechwriting clichés to avoid, what makes a TEDx talk structurally different from other speeches, how influence and manipulation intersect in political communication, and why callbacks and catchphrases are more powerful than most speakers realise.The thread of steelGreat speeches are not collections of ideas. They are one idea expressed in multiple ways. Famous examples include "I Have a Dream," "Yes We Can," and "Ask not what your country can do for you." Without a thread, even talented speakers drift into disconnected points audiences quickly forget.Why stories beat statisticsRob shares how a speech he worked on referenced Marco Rubio's father's keys jingling at the door late at night after work. Years later people still remembered that detail. Vivid sensory language activates imagination and emotion in ways data never can.About Rob NoelRob Noel is a political speechwriter whose clients have included major figures in US political life. Connect with Rob to find out more about his work.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: The Language of Leadership with Simon LancasterMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.SPGFS - Hiro.fmBecoming known will always make it easier to get booked and podcast guesting is one of the easiest ways to make that happen, when you have the right strategy. This program will teach you everything you need to know about podcast guesting, from the tech stack to making an impact. You'll get all the tools to stand out as an amazing podcast guest and get booked on great shows.
• How to Get Corporate Speaking Gigs: A Live Coaching Session with Jackson Ogunyemi 06.03.2026 28min

  Jackson Ogunyemi has 25 years of speaking experience in the education sector. He has the experience, the message, and the stage presence. What he's missing is the business engine that consistently generates corporate bookings.In this live coaching session John Ball works with Jackson to unpack some uncomfortable realities about the speaking industry -- and build a practical strategy for breaking into higher-paying corporate opportunities.If you want to turn speaking into a real business rather than hoping to be discovered, this episode will show you exactly where to start.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy many speakers are relying on the wrong growth strategies, the reality of speaker bureaus and why they don't create demand for speakers who aren't already in demand, why visibility alone doesn't generate bookings, how to identify a profitable speaking niche worth pursuing, why sales teams could be one of the most powerful markets for speakers, how to use LinkedIn as a prospecting tool, the outreach message that actually gets responses, why persistence matters more than perfection in building a speaking pipeline, and how to build a simple speaking sales engine from scratch.The key insightMost speakers try to build an audience before they build a business. The real order is: build a sales engine first, get booked and paid, then grow your visibility on top of that momentum.The five practical steps from this episodeChoose a clear hunting niche, build a list of companies in that niche, contact decision makers on LinkedIn with a simple opening question, track your outreach in a CRM, and follow up consistently. Even 30 to 60 minutes a day of prospecting can start generating real conversations and opportunities.Want to join John's Serious About Speaking newsletter? Subscribe on LinkedInVisit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: How to Get Paid for Public Speaking with Grant BaldwinMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Self-Awareness and Mindset for Speakers: Fix the Internal Problems First with Michael Delisser 04.03.2026 55min

  Most presentation problems are not technical. They're internal.Speakers obsess over slides, structure, and delivery mechanics while the real issues -- self-awareness, mindset, and genuine focus on the audience -- go unaddressed. Fix those, and the technical problems often resolve themselves.Michael Delisser is an executive communication coach who has spent his career helping leaders and speakers identify the blind spots that are quietly undermining their impact. His approach is direct, practical, and grounded in a simple truth: you cannot improve what you cannot see.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy most presentation problems are internal rather than technical, how a humiliating early experience with filler words changed Michael's entire approach to coaching, why recording yourself is one of the most powerful self-awareness tools available, how to reduce distracting habits without sounding robotic or over-rehearsed, why perfectionism actively harms your development as a speaker, how to identify your strengths and minimise your fatal flaws, why starting with outcomes rather than content changes everything about how you prepare, the most common presentation pitfalls Michael sees repeatedly, how to build genuine emotional connection with an audience, the trust-logic-emotion framework for persuasive communication, why you must address the audience's pain before presenting your solution, and how communication skills will matter more not less in the age of AI.About Michael DelisserMichael Delisser is an executive communication coach and author of Leadership Accelerators, which covers emotional intelligence, communication habits, and personality-based leadership. Connect with Michael to find out more about his coaching work.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: Why Nice Feedback Is Killing Your Speaking GrowthMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.SPGFS - Hiro.fmBecoming known will always make it easier to get booked and podcast guesting is one of the easiest ways to make that happen, when you have the right strategy. This program will teach you everything you need to know about podcast guesting, from the tech stack to making an impact. You'll get all the tools to stand out as an amazing podcast guest and get booked on great shows.
• Should You Start a Podcast? What Speakers Need to Know Before They Hit Record 27.02.2026 20min

  Should you start a podcast? If you're a speaker, coach, or expert it can feel like the obvious next step. Visibility. Authority. Credibility. Influence.But is it actually the smartest move right now?In this solo episode John Ball takes a balanced, honest look at podcast hosting -- the real advantages, the hidden costs most people underestimate, and why sequencing matters more than following trends.Podcasting can absolutely become a powerful business asset. It can sharpen your thinking, strengthen your authority, expand your network, and generate enquiries. Done well it becomes a content engine and a long-term brand builder. But it demands time, focus, energy, and consistency. And if your positioning isn't clear, a podcast won't fix that. It will simply amplify whatever is already there.What you'll learn in this episodeThe real advantages of hosting a podcast for speakers and experts, the hidden time cost most people dramatically underestimate, why most niche podcasts don't monetise directly, when hosting actually makes strategic sense, why guesting often builds authority faster than hosting, how podcast guesting strengthens your clarity and confidence as a speaker, the difference between building a content library and building a reputation, and why sequencing matters more than momentum.The key principleClarity first. Platform second. If your business foundation is strong, a podcast can amplify your impact. If it isn't, guesting is almost certainly the smarter first move.Mentioned in this episodeStrategic Podcast Guesting for Speakers -- first three lessons free at presentinfluence.com/podcastguestVisit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: How to Use Podcasting to Build Professional Authority with Mark AsquithMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.SPGFS - Hiro.fmBecoming known will always make it easier to get booked and podcast guesting is one of the easiest ways to make that happen, when you have the right strategy. This program will teach you everything you need to know about podcast guesting, from the tech stack to making an impact. You'll get all the tools to stand out as an amazing podcast guest and get booked on great shows.
• How Listening Makes You a Better Speaker with Julian Treasure 25.02.2026 49min

  Julian Treasure has given five TED talks, with a combined audience of hundreds of millions of views. His message is simple and counterintuitive: the most important skill for speakers is not speaking. It's listening.Audiences don't hear your message as delivered. They hear it through filters -- culture, mood, expectations, the speaker before you, the acoustics of the room, even the time of day. If you're not listening to their listening in real time, you're speaking into a void and hoping for the best.This is one of the most thought-provoking conversations the show has produced, and essential listening for any speaker who wants to truly land their message rather than just deliver it.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy speaking and listening form a circle rather than a straight line, the listening filters that shape how audiences receive your message, how to handle the graveyard slot and other attention dips, what to do when the speaker before you has poisoned the room, the gift visualisation that instantly improves your on-stage presence, why sound affects physiology, focus, behaviour, and buying decisions, practical advice on microphones, acoustics, and why lavalier mics can betray you, the role of silence and humility in real listening, and how the three intentions -- yours, the audience's, and their intention for themselves -- shape every speaking engagement.About Julian TreasureJulian Treasure is a sound and communication expert, author, and one of the most-watched TED speakers in the world. He is the founder of the Listening Society, which offers free resources and membership at thelisteningsociety.community. Speaking and listening assessments for individuals and organisations are available at juliantreasure.floot.app. Find out more at juliantreasure.com.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: The Language of Leadership with Simon LancasterMentioned in this episode:SPGFS - Hiro.fmBecoming known will always make it easier to get booked and podcast guesting is one of the easiest ways to make that happen, when you have the right strategy. This program will teach you everything you need to know about podcast guesting, from the tech stack to making an impact. You'll get all the tools to stand out as an amazing podcast guest and get booked on great shows.Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• How Great Speakers Use Rhetoric, Metaphor and Emotional Language with Simon Lancaster 20.02.2026 48min

  Rhetoric is one of the oldest and most powerful communication tools in existence. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Most speakers think it's something politicians do. Simon Lancaster knows it's something every effective communicator does -- whether they realise it or not.Simon Lancaster is a political speechwriter with over 20 years of experience writing for heads of state, CEOs, and some of the most influential communicators in the world. In this conversation he breaks down the mechanics of persuasive language -- rhetoric, metaphor, emotional framing -- and explains how professional speakers can use these tools to become genuinely more compelling without sounding manipulative.What you'll learn in this episodeWhat rhetoric actually is and why it matters for modern speakers, why emotion persuades more reliably than logic, how metaphor shapes perception, behaviour, and belief at a subconscious level, why corporate language dehumanises audiences and destroys engagement, practical ways to become metaphor-aware in your own communication, the responsibility leaders and speakers carry when using persuasive language, why rhetoric isn't taught and why that gap is genuinely dangerous, and how the most effective political communicators use emotional framing to create trust and momentum.Key ideas from the episodeLeadership is an emotional contract. Metaphor speaks to the subconscious. Rhetoric is morally neutral -- like a pen, it can be used for good or bad. The company-as-car metaphor and why it backfires. Why switching to human metaphors -- family, journeys, belonging -- transforms how audiences respond.About Simon LancasterSimon Lancaster is a political speechwriter, author, and TEDx speaker. His books include Winning Minds, The Expert's Guide to Speechwriting, and You Are Not Human. Watch his TEDx talk at youtu.be/bGBamfWasNQ and find out more at bespokespeeches.com.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: The Language of Leadership with Simon LancasterMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Where Personal Development Ends and Professional Speaking Should Begin 19.02.2026 10min

  The professional speaking world and the personal development industry have been intertwined for decades. That overlap has created energy, inspiration, and genuine transformation. It has also created hype, pseudoscience, and borrowed authority.In this solo episode John Ball explores where persuasive speaking becomes manipulation, why anecdotes are powerful but weak evidence, and how emotional intensity in a room can quietly lower the audience's critical thinking. This is not an attack on personal development. It is a call for healthier boundaries, intellectual humility, and higher standards from everyone who takes a stage.If you are building a serious speaking career and care about long-term credibility, this episode is for you.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy persuasive speaking is inherently powerful and inherently vulnerable to abuse, how pseudoscience and science-sounding language spread on stages, the role of TEDx in transferring perceived authority to speakers who may not have earned it, why anecdotes move audiences but do not prove causation, how high emotion lowers scepticism in a room, the difference between confidence and competence, what intellectual humility actually looks like in a keynote, and how integrity protects both your reputation and the profession long term.The key ideaCertainty sells. Nuance builds careers. If you want short-term applause, oversimplify. If you want long-term authority, raise your standards.References mentionedCarl Sagan -- "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," How to Have a Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono, and Elizabeth Loftus on memory distortion research.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: Why Smart Speakers Get StuckMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• How Professional Speakers Get Hired: The Bookability Formula with Maria Franzoni 13.02.2026 1godz

  Being a good speaker and being a bookable speaker are not the same thing. Most speakers confuse the two -- and it costs them.Maria Franzoni is a former speaker bureau owner and author of The Bookability Formula. She has spent her career on the other side of the table -- deciding which speakers get hired and which get passed over -- and her view of what actually drives bookings in the UK and European markets is blunt, practical, and essential listening for any speaker serious about building a sustainable career.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy "follow your passion" is often terrible business advice for speakers, the real differences between the UK and European speaking markets versus the US, why relevance to a paying market matters far more than polishing your keynote, what actually builds credibility and what immediately signals "fake," the networking mistake almost every speaker makes, why speakers who overrun damage not just their own reputation but the entire event, what really drives bookings for the highest-paid speakers, what makes organisers and bureaus reject a speaker instantly, why a weak demo video is worse than having no video at all, whether your full keynote should be publicly available, and why plagiarism is more common in the speaking industry than most people admit.Key principles from the episodeRelevance is the filter -- if the market doesn't care, your passion won't save you. Proof beats claims -- testimonials, outcomes, and case studies do the heavy lifting. Bookability is a business -- relationships, follow-up, and sales habits matter more than most speakers want to admit. Great speakers are often not the highest paid -- the most bookable speakers usually run the best business.About Maria FranzoniMaria Franzoni is a former speaker bureau owner, speaker consultant, and author of The Bookability Formula. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn or visit mariafranzoni.me.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: How to Get Corporate Speaking Gigs with Jackson OgunyemiMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.
• Why Most Speakers Stay Stuck: The Overthinking Trap That Kills Speaking Careers 11.02.2026 20min

  Why do so many capable speakers never gain momentum or consistent bookings?It's not talent. It's not confidence. It's not credibility. It's the habit of overthinking and under-acting.In this sharp solo episode John Ball breaks down the single biggest block that stops speakers from becoming successful professionals -- and why the planning that feels productive is often procrastination in disguise. Drawing on years of coaching speakers and working inside the speaking industry, John explains why real progress only begins when action meets reality.If you want to treat speaking like a business rather than a hobby, this episode will give you a reset.What you'll learn in this episodeWhy overthinking is the primary obstacle for most capable speakers, how planning becomes a comfort zone that masquerades as progress, why being ready is usually procrastination in disguise, how to navigate the imperfections and challenges that come with taking real action, and what it actually means to build a speaking business rather than maintain a speaking hobby.Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algorithm recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow and leave a rating.Related episodes: Why Smart Speakers Get StuckMentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.