Path To The Main Stage Podcast

S3 Ep. 10: Perfect Your Pitch and Boldly Own the Stage with Precious L. Williams

Perfect your pitch and boldly own the stage! Learn how to step into boldness, pitch yourself with impact, and build a speaker brand that gets remembered. In this high-energy episode, Li Hayes sits down with pitch expert and 13-time national champion Precious L. Williams, the Killer Pitchmaster herself, who lays out exactly what it takes to stand out—whether you’re pitching your next big talk or elevating your value with meeting planners. Hear how Precious went from pitching with $-400 in her bank account to landing a half-million-dollar deal in just 54 seconds, why being authentically YOU (not another copycat!) is non-negotiable, and how a mohawk, confidence, and grit landed her in national ad campaigns and TV spots. Uncover lessons about the “quiet storm” of introvert pitching, breaking through doubt, connecting powerfully to your audience’s true needs, and why experience matters more than nailing every word. This episode is packed with practical tools for both emerging and seasoned speakers who want to win more business and make an unforgettable impression. Key Highlights: * The journey from the mayor’s stage to national media (03:06) * What makes a killer pitch that gets you booked—and paid (06:46) * Brand-building tips: dressing the part, using your digital footprint, and standing out with style (33:29) * The seven deadly sins of speaking and how to avoid them (36:36) * How to get value from every opportunity—even when it isn’t cash (27:29) * Why experience always beats perfection on stage (39:38) Timestamped Overview: * 00:00: Introduction & the power of boldness in speaking * 02:12: Precious L Williams’s journey: first speech to mayor, governor, and beyond * 05:57: The birth of a pitchmaster: pitching with nothing to lose * 07:19: The $500,000 pitch story and lessons learned * 14:13: Pitching for all personalities: authentic, not copycat * 16:40: How to pitch emerging speakers (and what not to say!) * 20:02: Making your topic irresistible with human connection * 24:04: Networking boldly through groups & building relationships * 27:29: Evaluating speaking opportunities beyond the paycheck * 30:00: How visibility, follow-up, and gratitude fuel more bookings * 33:29: Why style matters: personal brand, color, and presence * 36:36: Top speaker mistakes—and how to fix them * 39:38: Closing advice: experience vs. perfection on stage Subscribe to Path to the Main Stage and get ready to slay your next stage!

S3 Ep. 09 - Getting the Reps and Embracing the Grind with Todd Bertsch

Level up your speaking journey with actionable advice on finding your niche, embracing the grind, and connecting with any audience! Learn how to navigate the early stages of your professional speaking career as Todd Bertsch joins co-host Li Hayes for an honest and motivating conversation. Discover the importance of focusing on a single niche, why getting "reps" matters far more than getting paid early on, and how to hone your message for real impact. Hear practical tips for building stage-side leads, maximizing audience interaction (including Todd’s signature dance bit!), and preparing for the unexpected with a speaker survival kit. You’ll get clear guidance on crafting a referable keynote, balancing customization, and leveraging feedback to grow. Todd shares candid stories about the hustle, the difference between speaking to audiences who “want to be there” versus those who “have to be there,” and how to build resilience when things go wrong. Whether you’re just starting out or ready for bigger stages, you’ll walk away empowered to embrace the grind, respect the craft, and find your own spark. Episode Overview: * 00:00 Introduction and Todd’s background * 01:19 Finding your niche and building early experience * 04:39 The grind: getting reps vs. getting paid * 08:46 Honing your message and storytelling * 10:34 Audience-centric speaking * 13:14 Interaction techniques (including Todd’s dance routine) * 18:12 Gifts, main stage dynamics, and stage-side leads * 23:09 Studying the audience and getting quality feedback * 26:39 Conference vs. corporate audiences * 29:00 Getting reps and learning from stand-up comics * 30:06 Customizing vs. crafting your core talk * 35:47 Speaker survival kit and handling technical issues * 45:32 The importance of speaker reels and video * 46:38 Todd’s advice for day-one speakers * 48:03 Closing thoughts and encouragement

S3 Ep 08: How to Become the Ultimate Event MC

What if the secret to a thriving speaking career isn’t just being the star of the show—but actually being the life of the party holding it all together? In this episode of the Path to the Main Stage Podcast, host Li Hayes welcomes the dynamic Rob Ferre—professional MC, keynote speaker, game show host, and DJ—who reveals how embracing the role of MC can open new doors, elevate events, and leverage unexpected opportunities in the world of professional speaking. Rob Ferre shares his unique journey from Walt Disney World Jungle Cruise skipper to running his own entertainment brand, and the surprising reasons why "connecting the audience" is more valuable than chasing the spotlight. Learn the overlooked skills every MC must master, hear behind-the-scenes stories of handling live event hiccups with humor and grace, and get practical advice on building audience trust, effective crowd work, and creatively upselling your offerings. If you’ve wondered how to break into emceeing, amplify your impact, or just want an insider’s playbook for managing unpredictable moments on stage, this episode is packed with actionable tips and fresh perspectives that may just shift the way you think about your speaking career. Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Introduction and episode theme 01:04 Rob Ferre’s “life of the party” background and brand story 02:31 How Rob started in entertainment and transitioned to speaking 06:00 Key distinctions: Keynote vs. MC skills 09:46 Crowd work: what it is and how to do it well 11:29 Prepping for the audience and creating “connection activities” 15:38 Creative event openers and setting the tone 17:23 Where speakers can “cut their teeth” and practice new material 19:15 Challenges and improv solutions for MCs 25:27 Building trust with your audience 31:13 Top advice for speakers to improve 34:02 How to design effective games, activities, and case studies 38:58 Pricing, value-adds, and negotiating MC vs. keynote roles 43:00 Skills and opportunities for MCs to elevate events 47:12 Rob’s #1 advice to his former self on systems and processes 48:41 Episode close and key takeaways

S3 Ep 07: How To Make Yourself a Bookable Speaker

Learn how to make yourself a bookable speaker—and land more gigs! Join Li Hayes as she interviews international speakers bureau veteran Maria Franzoni, who shares the essential strategies and mindset for emerging speakers ready to take their speaking careers to new heights. In this practical and encouraging episode, you’ll discover the secrets behind “The Bookability Formula,” including how to pick the right topic, why being easy to work with matters, and what it takes to be memorable and relevant in today’s speaking landscape. You’ll hear real-world advice on building your online presence, networking with event planners, and handling the business side of speaking with professionalism. Maria Franzoni emphasizes the importance of humility, quick responsiveness, and tailoring your message to solve genuine problems for your audience. Plus, learn how passion can fuel your success—but only if it aligns with a paying market! Packed with inspiring stories and actionable wisdom, this episode is perfect for anyone charting their path to more (and bigger) stages. Key Highlights: * The harsh truth about barriers to entry and why many speakers go hungry (08:26) * The four essential traits of highly bookable speakers (18:09) * The critical importance of speedy responses and building trust with event professionals (22:32) * What planners are REALLY looking for (and what can destroy your reputation) (15:25) * Video best practices and social media do’s and don’ts (27:05) * Why humility matters more than ever (33:14) * Maria’s biggest piece of advice for new speakers (38:49) Timestamped Overview: * 00:00: Introduction & Maria’s background * 01:42: How to get started in speaking * 04:23: Finding relevant and hot topics * 06:14: Passion vs. commercial value * 07:26: Who should be a speaker? * 09:14: Agent/bureau/manager myths * 12:07: Assets every speaker needs * 14:26: Why event planners are risk-averse * 18:09: Four traits of bookable speakers * 22:32: “Easy to work with” pitfalls * 27:05: Video requirements and examples * 31:07: Current client trends * 33:14: The role of humility * 38:49: Maria’s advice for new speakers * 40:06: Outro and next steps This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about their speaking journey. Tune in and take notes!

S3 Ep 06: AJ Harper - Book Writing For Speakers (Part 2)

Learn proven ways to market your book with confidence and build a lasting audience. In this episode, Li Hayes welcomes back bestselling author and editor AJ Harper, who shares the exact steps that successful authors use to move books—from pre-writing to post-launch. Discover when and how to start your marketing, why your network and author community matter, how pre-orders and bonuses drive momentum, and the truth behind bestseller lists. Plus: actionable tips to leverage speaking and podcast appearances for book sales, and the one tool every author must develop—a robust mailing list. If you want actionable strategies to sell your book—and transform your speaking career—this episode lays out the real Path to the Main Stage. Timestamped Overview: * 00:00 – Introduction; why this episode matters for aspiring speaker-authors * 01:12 – When and how to start marketing your book—even before you begin writing * 03:36 – Distribution, leveraging networks, and why social media alone isn’t enough * 06:09 – How to test your book’s market value and gauge interest * 07:47 – The vital role of community and author networks (literary citizenship explained) * 12:00 – Pre-launch marketing tactics: what works, how and when to use pre-orders * 15:29 – Understanding publisher support (and why the visible marketing is up to you) * 17:13 – Email list strategies, crafting incentives and bonuses for readers * 20:27 – The honest truth about paid advertising (and a smarter alternative: BookBub) * 24:20 – High-impact launch events: what actually moves the needle * 28:18 – What to do after launch day: ongoing book marketing and the power of speaking * 30:42 – Podcasting as a long-term book promotion strategy * 33:19 – Licensing, derivative works, and adding income streams for your book * 34:57 – What is a “good” number of book sales? The truth behind author statistics * 38:29 – The top 5 actions authors must take to sell books * 40:14 – Unpacking bestseller lists: Amazon, USA Today, NYT, and what it really means * 45:13 – AJ’s #1 piece of advice for new authors: start building your mailing list now * 45:56 – Episode wrap-up and resources for authors Ready to rethink everything about book marketing? Tune in now.