The Speaker Lab

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The Speaker Lab

Grant Baldwin

Grant Baldwin provides insights into the Art and Business of Professional Speaking

39 minutes 35 seconds

Turning Fear into Fuel on Your Speaking Path with Melanie Curtis
“I’m a big believer in consuming what you sell and practicing what you preach…it’s a useful step on the path to understanding what’s possible and for growing in the skill set of standing on stage in front of any number of people that makes your body react and become nervous.”
In this episode of The Speaker Lab Podcast, host Grant Baldwin sits down with Melanie Curtis, a world record-holding professional skydiver, seasoned coach, and sought-after keynote speaker. Their conversation explores Melanie’s unconventional career path, which began in the finance industry before she took the extraordinary leap into professional skydiving, amassing over twelve thousand jumps, and then eventually public speaking.
Melanie opens up about the challenges she faced along the way, including imposter syndrome, persistent anxiety, and the internal doubts that can hold back even the most driven professionals. She reflects on why each stage of her journey was essential and shares the turning points that nudged her toward treating public speaking as a serious business, rather than a side endeavor.
Throughout their discussion, you’ll hear advice on finding your target audience, building meaningful connections in both women-centric organizations and male-dominated industries, and leveraging storytelling to transform your message. Grant and Melanie also dig into the emotional side of entrepreneurship, the highs of big wins, the lows of self-doubt, and the importance of having a strong support network.
Whether you’re contemplating your first speech or looking to scale your speaking business, Melanie’s story will inspire you to trust your intuition, stay persistent, and redefine what’s possible for your own speaking journey!
You’ll learn:
- Using speaking for marketing a business
- Overcoming resistance, anxiety, and limiting beliefs
- The importance of high-level coaching and support systems
- How to practice speaking via Facebook/Instagram lives
- Gradual desensitization to rejection, visibility, and performance pressure
- To rely on support networks during discouraging times
- Designing personal boundaries for travel and gigs
- Distinguishing between type one and type two fun
- And much, much more!
“If I didn’t learn how to manage my fears, how to work with my fears and anxieties, my insecurities, I imagine I would have lived a really small life.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
23 December 2025, 11:30 am
38 minutes 21 seconds

Why Accountability Is the Key to Building Consistent Habits with Adam Gilbert
“Make sure you actually believe you can follow your plan. Because if you don’t feel hopeful, then you’re never going to feel motivated, you’re never going to feel committed, and you’re never going to follow through.”
Welcome back to another episode of The Speaker Lab Podcast! Today, Grant Baldwin is joined by Adam Gilbert, the mastermind behind MyBodyTutor.com and DoneDaily.com, to discuss insights for anyone looking to build a thriving speaking business or simply create lasting change in their personal and professional life.
Adam opens up about the profound impact his father's health struggles had on his mission to help others transform their lives through nutrition, fitness, and productivity. With over eighteen years of experience and over ten thousand clients served, he’s learned that while most people know what they should do, there’s often a huge gap between knowledge and action.
This episode breaks down the importance of “MPH”—mindset, psychology, and habits—and highlights practical frameworks anyone can use to move from dreaming to doing. You’ll learn why accountability is a game-changer, how starting small can build the momentum you need, and what it really takes to keep promises to yourself. Additionally, Adam explains how discomfort can be a compass for growth, why surrounding yourself with supportive people matters, and how to challenge assumptions that keep you stuck.
Whether you’re just starting and struggling to book your first gig or you’re a veteran looking to scale up, this conversation is loaded with implementable advice and motivating stories!
You’ll learn:
- Why consistency is hard for entrepreneurs and speakers
- The role and importance of accountability
- The parallels between health/fitness and entrepreneurship/speaking
- Why motivation is critical for sustained effort
- Breaking down MPH: Mindset, Psychology, Habits
- Reconciling assumptions about success
- Practical steps to develop self-confidence
- CPA: Clear objective, Plan, Actual belief in follow-through
- Building momentum through small wins
- And much, much more!
“There’s fear of failure, but there’s also fear of success, which is surprisingly very common but not often spoken about.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
16 December 2025, 11:30 am
40 minutes 38 seconds

How Speakers Can Book Association Opportunities with Erick Rheam
“When you go to these associations’ websites, they don’t have robust staff…it’s not hard to find them. You can directly engage with them and talk to them about an event that’s coming up. You can identify, ‘You have a fall conference coming up. I’d love to chat with you and see how I can best support you on that.’”
This week on The Speaker Lab podcast, host Grant Baldwin sits down with industry expert and regular guest Erick Rheam for a deep dive into one of the most powerful avenues for speakers: associations. If you've ever wondered what an association is, why they matter to your speaking business, or how to break into these lucrative networks, this episode is your roadmap.
Throughout their conversation, Erick and Grant peel back the layers, starting with a clear definition of associations and moving into the different types. You’ll hear why associations can be the “low-hanging fruit” for both new and seasoned speakers, offering paid opportunities and exposure to hundreds of decision makers at a time.
Additionally, the episode covers practical strategies for researching associations in your area, using both Google and ChatGPT to quickly uncover dozens of opportunities—plus tips on who to contact inside these organizations. You’ll also learn about Association Management Companies (AMCs) and Societies of Association Executives (SAEs), two insider gateways to getting in front of hundreds of associations through one well-placed showcase or breakout session.
If you’re nervous about reaching out or unsure about timing and how to build relationships, Erick shares actionable advice for playing the long game, planting seeds, and earning your way onto bigger stages. This episode is packed with simple tactics and inspiring stories that will help you get past the overwhelm, start building momentum, and unlock the massive potential of speaking for associations!
You’ll learn:
- Directories and resources for discovering associations
- Basic definition & purpose of an association
- Key characteristics of an association
- The types of associations: trade, professional, cause or mission-based, state & regional
- The benefits of being hired by associations
- Matching your speaking topic to association opportunities
- When and how to approach associations
- Using technology to identify relevant associations
- And much, much more!
“[Showcase events for speakers] are a great way in a forty-five minute to one hour talk to get in front of one hundred one one hundred and fifty decision makers that could potentially hire you.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
9 December 2025, 11:30 am
43 minutes 5 seconds

From Free Gigs to Paid Speaking with Dr. Yvette E. Pearson
“Everything [The Speaker Lab] does is very intentional drive, step driven, process driven, and it can fit whatever time that you can give it…So time is less relevant. Consistency is more relevant.”
Welcome back to The Speaker Lab podcast! In this episode, we’re diving deep into the realities of building a thriving speaking business while balancing a busy professional life. Our host, Erick Rheam, brings on Dr. Yvette E. Pearson, an engineer, executive in higher education, and passionate advocate for people-centered STEM organizations.
Dr. Pearson opens up about the unique challenges she faces as she transitions from speaking for free at conferences within her industry to establishing herself as a paid, professional speaker. She discusses the struggle of carving out time for business-building activities—like prospecting for speaking gigs—while balancing the demands of a full-time job and a consulting business.
Throughout the conversation, Erick offers practical advice on how to break out of the “industry speaker” mold, set and negotiate fees with confidence, and implement consistent power hours. You’ll hear actionable strategies for navigating awkward money conversations, leveraging free speaking gigs for future opportunities, and building momentum that can transform your speaking business. Whether you’re just starting, looking to move from free to paid gigs, or searching for ways to fit speaking into an already busy life, the insights and encouragement in this episode are for you!
You’ll learn:
- How to break the cycle of free speaking gigs
- What defines an industry versus a professional speaker
- Strategies for handling payment conversations
- How to utilize contracts and exit interviews to set expectations
- When to refer other colleagues for a gig
- Following up with free clients for testimonials, referrals, etc.
- Tracking daily prospecting as a motivational tool
- And much, much more!
“...that’s your walkaway price. That’s number one. You have to have that in your mind, and you have to be prepared to actually walk away.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2 December 2025, 11:30 am
38 minutes 39 seconds

Finding Your Message and Your Why with Marcy Grossman
“I’ve been a caterpillar. You know, what do caterpillars do? They collect, they eat, they stock up, they build up until they get a calling that says build yourself a chrysalis. And that [chrysalis], for me, was leaving public service.”
Welcome back to The Speaker Lab podcast! Today’s episode features Marcy Grossman, whose career path took her from criminal psychologist, working in federal prisons, to Canadian ambassador in the United Arab Emirates, and now to the world of professional speaking. Host Grant Baldwin guides us through Marcy Grossman’s candid journey, revealing the authentic highs and lows behind building a business as a speaker.
Less than a year ago, Marcy found herself in what she describes as the “dark valley of despair”—overwhelmed by anxiety, negative self-talk, and the fear that her stories wouldn’t matter. But instead of giving up, Marcy turned to The Speaker Lab podcast and program, discovering a supportive community, actionable frameworks, and the structure she needed to move forward. Grant and Marcy dig deep into what it really takes to pivot into the speaking industry. You’ll hear how Marcy leveraged her hard-earned experience, learned to embrace the nerves and adrenaline of being on stage, and realized the key to success is trusting the process.
Additionally, the episode covers how speaking can fit into a broader consulting or coaching business, the challenges behind the scenes that most speakers face, and practical tips for building momentum, managing self-doubt, and packaging your unique story. If you’re a speaker in the making, this conversation will remind you that setbacks are part of the journey, and that the stage can be a place for anyone willing to put in the work!
You’ll learn:
- About Marcy’s career as a criminal psychologist
- Gaining confidence through repeated experience
- How to cope with self-doubt and feelings of failure
- To reframe setbacks and regain momentum
- Learning and implementing a booking pipeline
- How speaking is largely driven by business process
- Expanding your offerings beyond just speaking
- And much, much more!
“Many of the speakers I have met are people that have messages in their heart, and that’s why they’re unstoppable.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
25 November 2025, 11:30 am
1 hour 2 minutes

The Six-Step Roadmap to Growing Your Speaking Career with Josh Shipp
“Within an in demand topic, how are you going to differentiate? There are only X number of categories of movies out there, right? And so it’s not like you’re suddenly going to invent a new category of movie, but you do want, within that well trenched category, to be distinct.”
Welcome back to The Speaker Lab podcast! In today’s episode, host Grant Baldwin is joined once again by youth speaker and entrepreneur, Josh Shipp, for a masterclass on how to build a seven-figure speaking business. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to reach and sustain that elusive seven-figure mark in the speaking industry, this conversation is for you!
Drawing inspiration from his own career and his work as the founder of a successful speakers bureau for the youth and education space, Josh pulls back the curtain on the practical, often overlooked strategies that lead to lasting success. He and Grant dive deep into the six core offerings every speaker should consider—starting with the foundational work of perfecting your speech, and then thoughtfully layering on merchandise, building an engaged online platform, writing a book, developing a course, and scaling through licensing.
You’ll hear candid reflections on why speaking alone can be both lucrative and limiting, the importance of focusing on quality before quantity, and how to know when it’s time to pursue additional streams of revenue. Josh offers clear benchmarks, practical income thresholds, and valuable insights into everything from setting realistic goals, leveraging audience feedback, and understanding the true costs and opportunities of each new offering.
Whether you’re trying to book more gigs, looking to expand with digital products, or simply want to avoid burnout while building a business you love, this episode outlines the unfiltered roadmap to becoming a seven-figure speaker!
You’ll learn:
- Focusing on substance over charisma
- The misconception that income must come from speaking alone
- Avoiding “shiny object syndrome”
- Building offers sequentially versus all at once
- Examples of different revenue pie charts
- Variables that influence your income model
- Why merch should come second in your sequence
- Utilizing other platforms like newsletters, podcasts, etc.
- The role of authoring a book as a speaker
- When to maximize a current offering or make a new one
- And much, much more!
“What I would advocate for, looking back on it with a bit of pattern recognition, is building these [avenues] deliberately step by step. That’s what’s going to help you get to a [seven-figure speaking business].”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
18 November 2025, 11:30 am
40 minutes 27 seconds

Building Frameworks That Grow Your Speaking Brand with Melanie Deziel
“Once you have your go-to framework, your go-to model, and then as you innovate, few come up with new ideas, and instead of just doing away with the old one, it becomes a tool in your pocket. And you can keep building that toolbox as you go.”
This week, host Grant Baldwin reconnects with his good friend, renowned speaker, author, and content strategist Melanie Deziel. If you've ever struggled to organize your ideas, wanted to stand out in the crowded speaking market, or wondered how successful speakers build frameworks that turn concepts into intellectual property, you're in the right place.
Grant and Melanie explore the crucial role frameworks play in building a memorable and scalable speaking business. Melanie breaks down why frameworks matter, what separates a strong framework from a pile of raw ideas, and how you can start developing your own signature process or model. Using relatable analogies, the discussion centers around how having a clear structure not only makes your message more memorable but also acts as a powerful tool for marketing, referral, and content creation.
Listeners will gain practical strategies with Melanie’s “IRON” method—Information, Relationship, Operation, and Name—for building frameworks step-by-step. She discusses the risks of trying to cram too much into one model, why a unique name or catchy acronym isn’t the first thing you should focus on, and how to make sure your framework truly represents your expertise.
Whether you’re a new speaker refining your message or a seasoned professional reimagining your brand, you’ll find plenty of guidance on how to take your ideas from abstract to impactful!
You’ll learn:
- How frameworks offer structure, scalability, and memorability
- Building intellectual property (IP)
- Overcoming the fear of narrowing your expertise
- The IRON Method: Information, Relationship, Operation, Name
- When to innovate an existing framework vs. introducing a new one
- Leveraging AI for brainstorming, organization, and naming
- And much, much more!
“The real challenge is having so many ideas, but they are not in a usable structure to be able to share those ideas effectively.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
11 November 2025, 11:30 am
47 minutes 29 seconds

Storytelling, Identity, and Growth in Speaking with Harris III
“I started pursuing meaning instead of money. And I made way more money focusing on meaning and not thinking about money as much as I did when I was laser focused on making more money but living a life that was absent of meaning.”
Welcome back to The Speaker Lab podcast! In today’s episode, host Grant Baldwin sits down with Harris III, an award-winning illusionist, speaker, author, and entrepreneur known for his unique blend of magic and impactful storytelling. Harris shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a career that’s not just about entertainment but inspiring meaningful change.
Together, Grant and Harris dig deep into the art of connecting with audiences, the challenge of moving beyond labels like “Christian magician” or “entertainer,” and how Harris transitions his skills from performing magic to cultivating transformational experiences for organizations across the globe. They talk candidly about entrepreneurship, building a personal brand, and the difference between energizing a crowd and genuinely impacting lives.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out as a speaker, the role of storytelling in corporate culture, or how to balance personal fulfillment with business growth, this episode is packed with insights, honest reflections, and practical advice. Plus, Harris opens up about the powerful moments that shaped his career, the challenges of identity in the public eye, and his commitment to helping others unlock their own potential.
Tune in for a conversation that goes behind the scenes of the speaking business and offers inspiration for anyone seeking to make a lasting difference both on and off the stage!
You’ll learn:
- How to transform from a performer to a communicator
- Seeing entrepreneurship as a vehicle for impact
- The limitations of live events
- How price point affects perceptions of speakers
- Industry trends and frustrations with “infotainment”
- The challenges of religious categorization
- Balancing personal satisfaction vs. financial stability
- And much, much more!
“You can have anything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
4 November 2025, 11:30 am
39 minutes 29 seconds

Moving from Moments to Meaning: Mastering Stage Storytelling with Katie Quesada
"All those little intangibles that are so nuanced, the great storytellers can put themselves physically and emotionally back in the story and bring you with them, and then somehow bring it back to you.”
If you’ve ever felt like your life isn’t interesting enough for the stage, Katie Quesada is here to change your mind. On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Katie and Grant Baldwin unpack what really makes stories memorable. Instead of rehashing a list of personal events, Katie encourages speakers to choose moments that spark connection. For example, she doesn’t just share about living in an RV; she asks audiences, “Have you ever craved simplicity?” Suddenly, everyone relates.
Her simple storytelling framework uses the Three Cs:
- Context: Set the scene, but skip the extra details. Give just enough info so listeners can picture what’s happening.
- Conflict: Don’t shy away from what was hard or scary. This is where real connection happens.
- Conclusion: Don’t just wrap up with your own win. End on shared values, so the audience sees themselves in the story.
Katie’s practical advice is to test stories at dinner parties, coffee shops, or wherever you chat with friends. Notice what gets a reaction, and refine as you go. She recommends keeping a running note of story ideas and even using AI tools like ChatGPT to help organize and edit your thoughts. And when it comes to humor, focus on levity. You don’t need punchlines; just offer moments for your audience to breathe and relate. You don’t need a dramatic life event. Look for everyday moments that mean something, keep your stories concise, and always connect back to your listener!
You’ll learn:
- Creating shared meaning with the audience
- Differences between personal stories, borrowed anecdotes, and historical narratives
- Cutting unnecessary details from your speaking
- Balancing struggles with authenticity
- Moving from moments to meaning
- Emotional resonance as the driver of behavioral change
- Practicing energy, expressiveness, and nuanced delivery
- And much, much more!
“Authenticity is going to be what cuts the noise of becoming a stereotype, especially in the speaking space.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
28 October 2025, 10:30 am
46 minutes 24 seconds

Keys to Thriving as a Professional Speaker with Brian Lord
“When downselling, it’s really good to say, ‘Who is above me, and who is below me?’ And then also find out, looking laterally, who do you compete against? Who is within a similar fee range?...Who can I refer that might fit along that axis.”
In this episode, Grant Baldwin teams up with industry insider Brian Lord of Premier Speakers Bureau for a conversation about what it takes to succeed as a speaker. Brian’s insight is simple: know your place in the market, nurture real relationships, and don’t underestimate the power of referrals.
Brian shares his “speakers matrix” concept, challenging every speaker to map out who’s above, below, and alongside them in terms of fees and content. Why? Because networking up and down this axis isn’t just smart, it’s essential. Those connections bring in gigs you’d otherwise miss and make sure you’re not flying solo in the business.
Brian’s biggest reminder is to not get lost in the latest trends. AI may be hot, but your authentic message and consistently fresh content are what keep you booked and relevant. And always, always deliver value offstage because event planners love a speaker who’s great to work with, not just to watch.
Moreover, if you’re an independent speaker, these strategies matter even more. The takeaway from this episode is to focus on building your network, referring others, and adapting as the industry evolves. Impact and bookings come from meaningful relationships, not complicated tactics, because it’s human connection that grows your career, one conversation and one referral at a time!
You’ll learn:
- The role of a speaker as a message bearer
- Understanding down-sells and up-sells
- Effective networking and referral strategies
- Creating variations of your core service
- Emotional separation from your “product”
- The “Free market” effect: your booking successes as feedback
- How off-stage behavior matters as much as on-stage behavior
- How to fold hot topics like AI into core expertise
- And much, much more!
“If you get the thought into your head that you are somebody who goes around helping people get better for having met you than if they hadn’t, then that’s your goal as a speaker.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
21 October 2025, 10:30 am
51 minutes 32 seconds

The Five Levels of Building a Successful Speaking Business with Erick Rheam
“You have to make sure you don’t lose the vision of what you started, because the team could begin and can take on a personality of its own. And if you don’t manage it, you can get off the vision of what brought you here.”
What does it really take to build a thriving speaking business? In this week’s thought-provoking episode, Grant Baldwin sits down with Erick Rheam to explore the practical strategies and mindset shifts needed for true longevity in this industry.
Erick, an established speaker with years of experience under his belt, opens up about his own journey: the early hustle, the inevitable challenges, and, most importantly, how he’s learned to balance ambition with sustainability. He and Grant get real about the myth of constant grind, explaining that putting in the hard work is necessary at the start, but staying stuck in overdrive isn’t the secret to lasting impact or happiness.
Instead, this conversation dives deep into the habits and boundaries that separate career burnout from long-term success. Erick shares how intentional routines, clear priorities, and strategic rest have shaped his evolution, not just as a speaker, but as a leader, husband, and friend.
If you’re dreaming about building a speaking business with staying power, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Tune in for a refreshing look at what it takes to sustain your passion and make an impact for years to come. Whether you’re just getting started or already established, Erick and Grant’s discussion is a must-listen for any speaker ready to play the long game. Don’t miss it!
You’ll learn:
- The defining characteristics, obstacles, and recommended advancements for the five levels of a professional speaking career
- Level 1: The Aspiring Speaker
- Level 2: The Amateur Speaker
- Level 3: The Professional Speaker
- Level 4: The Career Speaker
- Level 5: The Legacy Speaker
- Not taking the speaking journey for granted
- The importance of being coached at every level
- And much, much more!
“It’s fun when you do something that you’re really passionate about and aligned with, it’s amazing how every other part of your life starts to align once you figure out what that looks like.”
Episode Resources
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
14 October 2025, 10:30 am
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