Today's episode is a mini farewell episode. I'm taking the summer off from the podcast! I know I've done this before, and now I'm doing it again. It's also a permission slip for you to say no to more things so you can take more time for yourself and the things you want to be doing. Where can you pause, quit, or otherwise say NO THANKS and bow out? Hopefully today's episode will give you the support and inspiration you need to join me on the bench this summer. See you in September!

You shared something personal. You allowed yourself to be judged and get feedback. You did something scary in front of other people. And now...

You have a vulnerability hangover.

How do you know? You’re saying…

• OMG I did that wrong
• I overshared
• My speech was boring
• I was the worst in the group
• I totally bombed that
• I can never go back there
• Everyone else was so much better

What next? You're stuck in a loop of negative thinking and you can't get out. On today's episode, I share three ways to manage your vulnerability hangover so it doesn't own you!

Want to join a public speaking club and improve your speaking skills? Check out a Speaker Sisterhood club right here. Guests are free anytime.

Struggle with how to start your speech in a way that grabs your audience's attention? Have a hard time wrapping it up succinctly? Today's episode is for you! I share a few strategies you can use again and again to start and end your speech on a strong note. No more rambling, apologizing, or worrying - just use these tips and your presentations will always shine!

Learn more about Speaker Sisterhood and our clubs.

You've probably heard "less is more." This statement couldn't be more true when it comes to public speaking and crafting a powerful talk. On today's episode, I break down the three ways to keep your speeches simple and effective.

They are:

1. If I could only tell someone three things, what would they be? 
2. When storytelling, use vivid details, but don’t get lost in unnecessary details. Always ask: Is this relevant? If it’s not, get rid of it.
3. Less is more! Make simple, clear points and reinforce them throughout your speech. 

Listen in as I share how to go about using this advice on today's episode of Claim the Stage!

Wondering if it's too late to get started as a professional speaker? Today's episode is for you! Maria Romano is the founder of True Love Knots. She started her business in her 50s after her husband, Frank, passed away. She got back into the dating world and discovered it was dramatically different. Today she coaches people on how to be successful at dating and found her passion. Maria is also a professional speaker and performs wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and end-of-life celebrations. She is the author of Going from Just One to Plus One which hit #1 on the Amazon bestseller lists.

On today's episode, Maria shares her three best pieces of advice for women who want to start a speaking business later in life. She says building a community of coaches and supporters, clarifying your message, and just getting started were key to her success. Listen in as she shares her story and more!

Get Maria's online course, Become a Rockstar Officiant here. Check out her book here.

Register for Speaking School for Women, my signature six-week course to turn you into a paid speaker. Registration closes April 6th!

Have you been dreaming about speaking on bigger stages, taking your expertise to more audiences, and getting paid for your expertise? If you're wondering if you're ready for this step, this episode will help you decide. Learn the five secrets to becoming a paid speaker and then check out my new course, Speaking School for Women, launching next week. Sign up for our mailing list at speakersisterhood.com or get on the waiting list by contacting us!

Sign up for our free webinar on March 30th: Build Your Brand Through Speaking here.

Transform your public speaking with my 60 Minute Public Speaking Makeover here.

Have you ever found yourself saying this before a presentation? "What if I’m boring? I’m afraid everything I say everyone has already heard." 

If so, you are definitely not alone! Instead of focusing on having the most unique ideas, what if you focused on giving advice that is tried and true, and in your own style? On today's show, I share three ways to bring your own brilliance to your words. Sometimes it's not what you say, it's how you say it. My three tips:

1. Brilliance is putting your own spin on things in your own brilliant way. 
2. Your audience wants YOU, not a perfectly crafted persona of you.
3. Take risks with your presentations. Include things no one would expect: Costumes, props, videos, games, etc.

Want more information about Speaking School for Women? Get on the waiting list by emailing me at [email protected]! 

If you want to build a business as a speaker, coach, or author, getting visibility will make all the difference. Visibility is also important if you're trying to build a personal brand as a leader in your field. But how do you get visibility if you're just starting out? On today's show, Amanda Berlin, PR expert, shares how to DIY your PR so you can get yourself out there. She says there are three key types of visibility: Collaborations and alliances, speaking and events, and media. But how do you know where to start? Amanda breaks it all down and even offers a free training at the end to give you more helpful tips. 

Links from the episode:

Want one of the last three seats in Speaker Sisterhood Express? Get registered here. 

Transform your public speaking with my 60 Minute Public Speaking Makeover here.

Get Amanda's free training: The Three Pillars of Visibility

Check out Amanda's live two day event: Pitch School Live

More about Amanda:

After more than a decade in the New York City public relations world, Amanda Berlin now uses her pitch powers for good. She helps entrepreneurs step into their presence, create a story that inspires others, and spread their message in the media. Amanda and her clients have been featured in all types of media — from Business Insider to Entrepreneur on Fire and from WNYW Fox 5 to Bustle.com. She's the host of The Empowered Publicity Podcast and loves arming soul-powered business owners with the ideas and skill-set they need to go from hidden industry gem to recognizable trusted expert. Amanda has created a library of template guides and trainings and works one on one with clients to guide them to strategic story-telling and media relations based on her 12 years of experience guiding strategy for major brands in the corporate world. Amanda and her clients have been featured in all types of media — from Business Insider to Entrepreneur on Fire and from WNYW Fox 5 to Bustle.com. She's the host of The Empowered Publicity Podcast and loves arming soul-powered business owners with the ideas and skill-set they need to go from hidden industry gem to recognizable trusted expert. Amanda has spoken on the topics of visibility, publicity, and entrepreneurship at BizChix Live, Style Collective Raleigh and New York City, Body Local, Hoboken Entrepreneur Group, and more.

Do you consider yourself to be a pretty good public speaker? Maybe even a great speaker? It's possible you're getting the job done, but there's always room for improvement. As you'll hear in part four of our four part series with Speaker Sisterhood club leaders and members, today's guest came to our clubs to make small tweaks with an eye on big changes. My guest today is Kathy Vines, a Certified Professional Organizer, owner of Clever Girl Organizing, and certified coach (CTACC) and professional resume writer through Kathy Vines Coaching. On today's show, Kathy describes her desire to go from being a trainer to being a more inspirational speaker through the use of storytelling and audience engagement techniques. She got the chance to test these new skills in her Speaker Sisterhood club before showing up in front of her audience and saw the difference right away. If you want to take your skills to the next level, listen to today's episode and take a look at our new program, Speaker Sisterhood Express. This is our new six-month, accelerated public speaking training program launching next month. Registration closes today at 5pm ET and more information can be found here. 

More about Kathy:

Kathy Vines has been a solopreneur times two since 2013.

She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Clever Girl Organizing, based in Melrose, MA. She works with people to help untangle their relationship to stuff and create the systems to conquer the chaos around them, and these days, she does it all virtually.

Kathy is also a certified coach (CTACC) and professional resume writer through Kathy Vines Coaching. She helps Gen X and Older Millennials with their career strategy, LinkedIn presence, and resumes as they navigate what comes next for them in their professional life.

She’s been bringing her ideas to audiences from the stage and the zoom screen for years. She is the author of the book, “Clever Girl’s Guide to Living with Less: Break Free from Your Stuff, Even When Your Head and Heart Get in the Way”. She has appeared regularly in Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, the Boston Globe and the Washington Post. She even appeared in a segment about fridge organization on “Inside Edition.” That video has been viewed on YouTube over 2.5 million, though she has no idea why.

Kathy loves creating clarity and aha moments for people, whether it is figuring out how they should spend the next 20 years of their career, or the best place to put their keys so they stop losing them, once and for all.

Today's episode is part three of a four-part series with Speaker Sisterhood club leaders and members. I put this series together for you because I'm always asked how Speaker Sisterhood is different than Toastmasters, why it's only for women, and what you learn if you sign up. On today's show, I interview Jennifer Cummings Hillery, Speaker Sisterhood member and club leader.

Jen shares that she originally checked out Speaker Sisterhood because her friend was starting a club in her community and she wanted to see what it was all about. When she arrived, she was surprised by what she found. That was three years ago and she is still a member of that club and has run her own club for over two years.

Listen as Jen talks about her fears around showing emotion while speaking and how she deals with that today, what she has learned about practice, why listening is important, and how being part of a supportive community has helped her on her speaking journey.

If you'd like to check out Jen's club, you can do so here. 

We also have a brand new program called Speaker Sisterhood Express and registration is open until February 24th! It's an accelerated public speaking training program you can participate in from the comfort of your own couch. New clubs are launching in March and they are limited to 10 women per club. Learn more about Speaker Sisterhood Express and register here.

More about my guest: Jennifer Cummings Hillery is a lawyer, an active volunteer in her community and a published writer.  As an attorney, Jennifer was recognized for her writing skills and oral advocacy. After taking a break from the legal world, Jennifer has found great fulfillment volunteering and serving on the boards of various not-for-profit organizations, political campaigns, and as an elected Town Meeting Member.  She was recently awarded an "Outstanding Service Award" from her Alma mater, Skidmore College.  Her community involvement has solidified her belief that anything is possible when committed, hardworking, thoughtful individuals come together to support a common goal.  She is honored that two of her Speaker Sisterhood club speeches are included in the Speaker Sisterhood compilation book, “Secrets of the Sisterhood: 45 Stories of Love, Truth and Power.”  Jennifer loves spending time with her family – husband, three children, two cats, and a dog – who constantly remind her of the joy that exists in all the little things in life.

Today's episode is part two of a four-part series with Speaker Sisterhood club leaders and members. I put this series together for you because I'm always asked how Speaker Sisterhood is different than Toastmasters, why it's only for women, and what you learn if you sign up. On today's show, I interview Liz Nania, Speaker Sisterhood member.

I asked Liz to come on the show to share the benefits she's gained through her membership. I think you'll be surprised by some of them! If you've been thinking about checking out Speaker Sisterhood, now is a great time. We have a brand new program launching today called Speaker Sisterhood Express! It's an accelerated public speaking training program you can participate in from the comfort of your own couch. New clubs are launching in March and they are limited to 10 women per club. 

Learn more about Speaker Sisterhood Express and register here.

More about my guest: Liz Nania is the director and founder of OUT to Dance, an award-winning dance studio where adults learn salsa, swing, ballroom, wedding dance, and more; and where both LGBTQ and straight folks are warmly welcomed. Classes and private lessons are offered virtually on Zoom and in-person in Boston. Liz is also a lifelong visual artist. You can find her dance studio at OUTtoDance.com, and her art at LizNania.com.