S4 Ep. 00: Welcome to Season 4

S4 Ep. 01: Unlocking Speaker Flow with Darren Virassammy

What if the secret to giving unforgettable talks isn’t perfect slides or endless practice—but jumping into freezing water at 6am and talking to stuffed animals? In this eye-opening episode, Li Hayes sits down with Darren Virassammy, TEDx speaker with over a million views, to reveal unconventional but powerful strategies any speaker can use to master the stage. From harnessing the power of nature to building mental anchors for nerves and flow, Darren Virassammy shares unique prep routines, explains why the best talks aren’t really about you, and offers practical tricks for both new and seasoned speakers. Learn how to turn chaos into confidence and discover the habits that will actually get you to the main stage. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Show intro, speaker backgrounds, and the power of nature03:41 Using nature to recalibrate for speaking04:23 Transition: How nature improves public speaking04:43 Preparing talks in wild environments and managing distractions06:55 Going “crazy”—prepping speeches in cold oceans09:46 Tamer exercises: why Darren Virassammy rehearses with stuffed animals12:17 Anchors, visualization, and handling audience nerves14:21 Flow state: using music and familiar habits to get ready18:18 Tricky details: diet, distractions, and managing nerves18:34 Writing vs. delivering: how to make your talk sound natural20:38 Scripting, “killing your darlings,” and time management22:31 The rehearsal valley: from robotic to natural delivery26:08 Crafting and repeating your main idea (“the block” or “hook”)28:33 Adapting to last-minute time cuts—optional blocks and flexibility30:23 Real-world example: making on-the-fly edits at major events31:28 Resilience and mental resets when things go wrong32:02 Advice for beginner speakers: don’t be too literal with outlines33:45 How to truly serve your audience36:36 Using questions to shift perspectives37:51 Individualizing for different audiences and reading the room38:58 Final wisdom: what Darren Virassammy would tell his younger self40:17 Wrap-up, actionable takeaways, and how to grow as a speaker

S4 Ep. 00: Welcome to Season 4

Are you sabotaging your speaking career by chasing every new opportunity? Discover why adopting a “hedgehog” mindset—rather than the cunning but scattered fox—is the secret to long-term success on stage. In this high-impact season four kickoff, Li Hayes reveals a surprisingly simple framework inspired by Jim Collins’ Good to Great, then gives a rapid-fire teaser of the transformative topics coming soon: revolutionary keynote prep, burnout recovery, lucrative government gigs, speaker reels that actually get you booked, how event planners really choose speakers, and mastering sales from the stage. Whether you’re on your first stage or aiming for the spotlight, get ready for the most practical and inspiring season yet. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Season 4 intro & welcome 00:22 Li Hayes shares a powerful lesson from "Good to Great" 01:02 The parable of the hedgehog and the fox 01:52 Three keys to sustained speaking success 02:37 Applying the hedgehog vs. fox approach to your career 03:58 Preview: fresh keynote prep methods 04:24 How to recognize, prevent, and recover from burnout 04:47 Cracking the government speaking market 05:02 Why every speaker needs a reel (and how to build one) 05:37 Inside advice from bureau agents and event planners 06:01 Using speaking gigs for sales success 06:24 How to connect with Li Hayes and get coaching 06:59 Closing remarks and next steps

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