Claim The Stage: A Public Speaking Podcast For Women

Speakers often mistake their “norm” as a commonality that they share with many other speakers. In reality, your “norm” is actually your unique DNA. Every speaker has their own unique story/journey and learning how to tell it is absolutely crucial in today’s public speaking environment. On today's show, I interview Travis Thomas, a professional public speaker and seasoned improv performer. Travis has performed in front of thousands of people and trained dozens of organizations like the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, US Soccer, Gatorade, PepsiCo., and Under Armour. On this episode, you'll learn how being "normal" can actually be the key to your success, how to use your story to create a connection with the audience, and how to use trust, vulnerability, and authenticity to be a better public speaker. You can learn more about Travis at http://liveyesand.com and get his book, 3 Words for Getting Unstuck: Live Yes, And!.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/s

When you're looking for support in accomplishing your goals, where do you turn? Do you value diversity of thought and experience unlike your own when seeking advice and direction? To offer her insight on this topic, I interview Julie Kratz, a highly-acclaimed leadership trainer, frequent keynote speaker, and executive coach. Julie is the author of Pivot Point: How to Build a Winning Career Game Plan and ONE: How Male Allies Support Women for Gender Equality. On today's episode, we cover: what “male allies” are, why they are important, and their role in helping women’s success why women should encourage men to become allies, and how men can get involved a few tips to help women and men who want to work together successfully the kinds of results women can hope to see by following this advice two of the key points in Julie's book, ONE: How Male Allies Support Women for Gender Equality one piece of advice that you can do today to be more successful working together Check out Julie's book here and find out more

You've likely heard of SEO (search engine optimization), blogging, and websites, but have you ever used these tools yourself? If you are interested in being a paid public speaker, a big part of booking your next gig comes from event organizers finding you! If you don't have a website yet, you are missing out on an opportunity to show your expertise and have a virtual storefront for your speaking business. On today's episode, I interview Kristen Day, the owner of A Visual Business and a consultant and trainer for small businesses with a focus on their online presence using social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising on Google (PPC), blogging, website readability and development, and email marketing. We discuss:  the “trifecta” and why speakers need it why SEO is important for speakers and how to use it how to be an effective blogger and write meaningful content how to get started with a website and tips for keeping it simple mistakes people make when following this advice how to

How comfortable are you with being assertive? Did you know that it can save your life? On today's episode, I interview Lauren Roselle, one of the world’s experts on the topics of interpersonal communication, assertiveness, harassment prevention, and self-defense. She is also the founder and President of Esteem, a communication consulting firm.  We discuss: what “verbal assertiveness” is and why it's important  the difference between being assertive and being aggressive how women can use their voice to be respected by others and seen as powerful how women can use their voice to prevent assault and sexual harassment how to set and communicate clear boundaries Lauren has led well over 1,000 workshops and her 27 years of experience includes personal coaching, group trainings, and motivational public speaking. Lauren’s mission is to empower those around her to walk through the world with less fear and more confidence. 
You can find out more about her at https://esteemcommunication.org.   --- Support this podc

In the final episode of the Tales from the Road mini series, Lenore Braun, club director of the Speaker Sisterhood, and Amber Ladley, creative director of the Speaker Sisterhood, interview me about my reflections, lessons, embarrassing moments, and advice for other speakers interested in planning a tour. 13 days after my five-week speaking tour, I'm sharing all the details and behind the scenes stories that went into the planning and execution of this massive undertaking. If you haven't listened to any other episodes in this series yet, you might want to start at the beginning, as I do reference those episodes in this interview. Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

Being a persuasive speaker is a work of art. It requires thinking through some key elements of your message, knowing your call to action, and keeping things simple. On today's episode, you'll hear from Dr Michelle Mazur, a speaking strategist and founder of Communication Rebel in Seattle, Washington. She gives her advice for creating a persuasive speech with a memorable message by using her "3 Word Rebellion" method. You'll also learn a few fundamental ways to be persuasive and how to avoid messing it up! If you are a business owner, you'll learn how to assemble a talk that helps you promote your work and persuade your audience (without a sales pitch at the end!). You'll also learn how to find what your audience is resistant to so you can include their objections in your presentation. This episode is full of helpful tips and easy to follow advice. You can get Michelle's 3 Word Rebellion Framework at www.threewordrebellion.com and find more information about her at www.drmichellemazur.com. Enjoy!  --- Suppo

As I was thinking about this week's episode, it occurred to me that there was one major piece missing from the series so far: the speech I've been giving on the tour! Monday night, I setup my podcast mic in the event space and recorded the speech I've been giving on the road. The title it goes by is The Secret Life of Speaking Up or Discover Your Power Voice and the content is the same for both. This talk breaks down how to see public speaking differently, how to reframe fear, how to use your body, mind, and spirit to be a more powerful presenter, and how to infuse love into your words so your talks are more impactful. This workshop was recorded Monday, April 30, 2018 at The Park View Room in Worcester, Massachusetts for the Young Professional Women's Association. Enjoy! Have a question about the tour you'd like asked on next week's episode? We're wrapping up the speaking tour and may include your question in the post-tour interview. Email me at angela@speakersisterhood.com!  Thanks to our tour sponsors: Inn

On today's episode of Claim the Stage, you'll hear an impromptu conversation between some serious public speakers! We put together a little roundtable to share stories, tips, and what still surprises us. Featured on the episode: Bobbie Carlton, founder of Innovation Women Kit Pang, founder of BostonSpeaks Brenda Loan Baker, Speaker Sisterhood club leader in Boston, Brockton, and Lowell Emily Canina, Speaker Sisterhood club leader in Boston Kathy Lamphier, marketing professional  Addison, a really cut dog You'll hear about how to reframe fear, how I use my interest in standup comedy in my speaking, how Bobbie uses "not being funny" to also be hilarious, how Kit keeps things simple, and how passion and talking about what you like can improve your presentations. This episode was recorded at Alley, a coworking space at 10 Ware Street in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 26, 2018. Enjoy! *See pictures of Addison the dog on my Instagram: @angelalussier Thanks to our tour sponsors: Inn

One of my favorite parts of the #SpeakUpTour2018 so far has been the private dinners we're doing at women's homes. In today's episode, you'll get to hear some of the two-minute speeches given at those dinners. To give you some context, at the dinners, I talk about the importance of infusing love into your presentations so you can transfer that love to your audience. The best public speakers speak from the heart and create an emotional connection with their audience - this is what makes them powerful. In the 15 speeches you'll hear today, look for the love! Each one of them shares something personal and important to them. These speeches were recorded at private homes in York, Maine on April 10th and Yarmouthport, Massachusetts on April 19th. Most of the women who are sharing in this episode rarely give speeches (some never have) and bravely agreed to not only speak in front of the group, but also be recorded for this podcast! So cool. :) Learn more about #SpeakUpTour2018 here: https://speakersisterhood.com/spe

Howdy! It's day 11 of the #SpeakUpTour2018 and I'm sharing what I've learned so far on the road. I feel like a band on tour now that I'm constantly traveling in the van and living out of a suitcase. It's been fun and my schedule has allowed me some downtime to think about what I'm learning. I'm sharing my top six reflections with you on today's episode. They are: Everything is more real now We are all the same Being present is more important than being perfect, but it's good to have a plan Life is a continual study You'll never be ready; you just have to start It's all about listening and connecting If you've ever thought about going on a speaking tour or want to up your speaking game, these reflections may be helpful on your journey. Enjoy! Thanks to our tour sponsors: Innovation Women BostonSpeaks Angie's BoomChickaPop Tea Forte Emerson College AllStar Car and Truck Rental OmPractice Ona  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

If you haven't already heard, I'm hitting the road! I'm posting today's episode from Portland, Maine, the first stop on my speaking tour that we've titled #SpeakUpTour2018. I'm on a mission to empower women to speak up through a series of workshops, events, and book signings happening all over New England in the month of April. I'm excited to get started and share my stories from the road as the month goes on. On today's episode, I have three interviews to share with you. I've decided to share the behind the scenes of what goes into building a speaking tour by interviewing a couple of people who made it possible: Shana from All Star Car and Truck Rental in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and Athan Vennell, a clothing designer located in Hatfield, Massachusetts. The third interview in today's episode is with me! Lenore Braun and Amber Ladley, part of the Speaker Sisterhood team, took over the show and interview me about my pre-tour thoughts. I'm pretty tired in the interview, but I think I said a few useful things? W

The Speaker Sisterhood is a network of speaking clubs for women who want to discover, awaken, and create their voice through the art of public speaking. It's also the company I founded in late 2016. It's a training ground for almost 200 women who are on a journey of self-discovery. In this five-part series, you'll hear from the women of the Speaker Sisterhood as they deliver powerful speeches and discuss the process of arriving at their topic. Their stories are personal, real, and brave. The women are discovering what's inside of them and sharing it with the world. You don't want to miss this series.  In part 5, you'll hear from members Sandra Costello and Beth Ann Jedziniak. Learn more about starting your own club or joining the Speaker Sisterhood at www.speakersisterhood.com. Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

The Speaker Sisterhood is a network of speaking clubs for women who want to discover, awaken, and create their voice through the art of public speaking. It's also the company I founded in late 2016. It's a training ground for almost 200 women who are on a journey of self-discovery. In this five-part series, you'll hear from the women of the Speaker Sisterhood as they deliver powerful speeches and discuss the process of arriving at their topic. Their stories are personal, real, and brave. The women are discovering what's inside of them and sharing it with the world. You don't want to miss this series.  In part 4, you'll hear from members Adrienne Roth and Lenore Braun.  Learn more about starting your own club or joining the Speaker Sisterhood at www.speakersisterhood.com. Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

The Speaker Sisterhood is a network of speaking clubs for women who want to discover, awaken, and create their voice through the art of public speaking. It's also the company I founded in late 2016. It's a training ground for almost 200 women who are on a journey of self-discovery. In this five-part series, you'll hear from the women of the Speaker Sisterhood as they deliver powerful speeches and discuss the process of arriving at their topic. Their stories are personal, real, and brave. The women are discovering what's inside of them and sharing it with the world. You don't want to miss this series.  In part 3, you'll hear from members Deb Burke and Julie Bermant.  Learn more about starting your own club or joining the Speaker Sisterhood at www.speakersisterhood.com. Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

The Speaker Sisterhood is a network of speaking clubs for women who want to discover, awaken, and create their voice through the art of public speaking. It's also the company I founded in late 2016. It's a training ground for almost 200 women who are on a journey of self-discovery. In this five-part series, you'll hear from the women of the Speaker Sisterhood as they deliver powerful speeches and discuss the process of arriving at their topic. Their stories are personal, real, and brave. The women are discovering what's inside of them and sharing it with the world. You don't want to miss this series.  In part 2, you'll hear from members Becky Vesce and Lori Polep.  Learn more about starting your own club or joining the Speaker Sisterhood at www.speakersisterhood.com. Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

The Speaker Sisterhood is a network of speaking clubs for women who want to discover, awaken, and create their voice through the art of public speaking. It's also the company I founded in late 2016! It's a training ground for almost 200 women who are on a journey of self-discovery. In this five-part series, you'll hear from the women of the Speaker Sisterhood as they deliver powerful speeches and discuss the process of arriving at their topic. Their stories are personal, real, and brave. The women are discovering what's inside of them and sharing it with the world. You don't want to miss this series.  In part 1, you'll hear from members Alicia Davis and Beth Fairservis.  Learn more about starting your own club or joining the Speaker Sisterhood at www.speakersisterhood.com. Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support

A big part of becoming a well-known speaker is getting yourself in front of people and being seen. However, being visible can be scary! Where do you go? What do you say? How do you do it well? In today's episode, I interview Ed Evarts, an author, speaker, and leadership coach and we get into this sticky subject. His newest book, Raise Your Visibility & Value: Uncover the Lost Art of Connecting on the Job includes his "Seven Visibility Accelerators" and he shows us how to create that visibility we're looking for. The seven are:           #1: Introduce yourself #2: Be accessible #3: Be responsive #4: Interact with others #5: Participate with a purpose #6: Engage with industry associations #7: Manage your reputation Ed shares great tips and stories to emphasize the seven accelerators and even shares a few mistakes he sees people make so we can be more successful at following his advice. If you're trying to build your brand as a speaker, today's episode is for you. Learn more about Ed Evarts and get his book

Do you struggle with feeling confident when presenting yourself in front of others? Join the club! Feeling discomfort when speaking in public is a normal reaction. So how do you curb that natural response? On today's episode, you'll hear from Alyssa Dver, chief confidence officer and co-founder of the American Confidence Institute and author of seven books including Kickass Confidence: Own Your Brain. Up Your Game. She answers the question, what is confidence? And shares how confidence impacts your behavior, how to build confidence leading up to a presentation, hold onto it throughout your talk, and not let your inner critic run the show when you're done. She also shares the neuroscience behind building confidence and offers a couple of her “instant, anytime confidence kickers." If confidence is an area where you struggle, you'll love today's episode! Get a free ebook copy of Alyssa's book, Kickass Confidence: Own Your Brain. Up Your Game. by emailing her at alyssa@kickass-confidence.com.  Learn more about Al

If you're an expert on a subject or feel like you have something to prove, you may feel the need to share everything you know in one presentation. While that may make you feel like you've covered all your bases, it will likely leave your audience feeling overwhelmed, lost, and tired. Rather than leave them wondering what to do next, get to the heart of your message by following the advice of today's guest. In this episode, I interview Suzannah Baum, presentation skills specialist, and executive speech coach and speaker. With more than a decade of experience in the public speaking field, Suzannah teaches both new and experienced speakers how to create and deliver structured, engaging and powerful presentations, allowing them to step out in front of audiences with confidence, build their careers and businesses, and stand out as the leader that they are. We cover Suzannah's tips on cutting through the fluff and using her "who, what, how" approach to decide what stays and what goes. She talks about how to make yo

You can craft a talk, but can you make a point? In today's episode, I interview Joel Schwartzberg, a professional communications trainer and author of the just-released “Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter." We cover the problems speakers run into when they're building their message, early warning signs that your talk isn't going to make a point, and the "I believe..." test to make sure you're on the right track. Joel shares a few strategies to not only help with content, but also delivery and presence. He also shares a few of his favorite female speakers who aren't afraid to present with power. If you're looking for simple tweaks to add high impact to your points, you're in the right place. More information about Joel can be found at www.joelschwartzberg.net. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/claim-the-stage-podcast/support