Mic Drop Mindset

Mic Drop Mindset is the podcast for entrepreneurs and professional speakers who want to grow their business through public speaking without losing their confidence, credibility, or authentic voice. If you know you’re good at what you do but struggle to: feel fully confident on stage or on screen position yourself as a paid expert stand out in a crowded speaking space or translate your message into real business growth this show is for you. Hosted by Jenn Espinosa-Goswami , ICF-certified speaker coach, award-winning corporate trainer, and Founder of Weightless LLC, Mic Drop Mindset blends the mindset and mechanics of professional speaking so you can stop second-guessing yourself and start showing up with clarity, authority, and impact. With more than 16 years of experience in professional speaking, speaker coaching, and leadership

Mic Drop Mindset is a business podcast hosted by Jennifer Espinosa-Goswami, with 24 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Jennifer Espinosa-Goswami hosts Mic Drop Mindset, a business show with 24 episodes published.

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  Mic Drop Mindset

  Why Speakers Quit: Behind the Scenes of a Speaker Business Episode 23

  Aug 28, 202622 min

  Why Speakers Quit: Behind the Scenes of a Speaker Business Episode 23 Jenn shares what happens behind the scenes in her speaking business, inspired by speakers Fredrik Haren and John Coyle, and notes the less glamorous realities of being “always on,” frequent rejection, and socially exhausting meet-and-greets. “It is socially exhausting. You have to work in every room from the moment you arrive until you leave. You have to be “on” the whole time. And rejection abounds.” - quote from Coyle. She outlines practical activities required to stay consistent, including continually seeking opportunities, posting on LinkedIn for visibility, podcasting and guesting, weekly email marketing, scheduling discovery and pre-event planning calls, networking, and reviewing analytics. On a monthly basis she batch-records content, maintains a “hot list” pipeline of short- and long-term speaking leads, and rehearses customized talks. Quarterly, she plans a promotional calendar and follows up on leads that may reopen later. She also describes delivery logistics (contracts, slides, payment, coordination), balancing speaking volume with family capacity, and the seasonal nature of speaking. 00:00 Why This Episode 01:15 Speaker Life Reality 03:48 Less Glamorous Work 05:11 Weekly Visibility Tasks 08:53 Calls Networking Data 11:29 Monthly Pipeline Rehearsal 14:13 Quarterly Planning Follow Up 16:59 Capacity Systems Seasons 19:53 Final Takeaways Further reading: Fredrik Haren https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/speaker-you-just-speak-right-well-yes-fredrik-haren/ John Coyle https://www.strategy-business.com/blog/What-its-really-like-to-be-a-public-speaker Jason Connell https://jasonconnell.co/prospeaking/ Previous episodes mentioned: Coaching with Michelle von Ruden https://www.buzzsprout.com/2593278/episodes/19424512 Rehearse like a $10K Speaker https://www.buzzsprout.com/2593278/episodes/18925127 Liked this episode? Please submit a review on your favorite listening platform. All reviewers have a chance to be coached in the studio with me in Minneapolis (virtual option also available). Email jenn@jennspingo.com to be considered for coaching with subject line "podcast review". Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com. Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

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  Episode #22

  Speaking Opportunities Beyond the Keynote Speech: Episode 22

  Aug 14, 202619 minS1

  Speaking Opportunities Beyond the Keynote Speech Building Your Speaking Suite (Keynotes, Breakouts, and Training) Jenn expands on creating a speaking lifestyle by explaining how to build a suite of speaking programs beyond a single signature speech, comparing keynotes, breakout sessions, and corporate trainings. She describes keynotes (typically 20–60 minutes) as the “gold standard” focused on inspiration and motivation, often higher paid, and notes the growing popularity of fireside chats as a more interactive keynote-style format. Breakout sessions (60–90 minutes) are highly engaging, implementation-focused deep dives that are often unpaid but can offer backend monetization and may include resources like workbooks. Corporate training is a hands-on, facilitated immersion designed to change behavior and upskill teams over hours or days, requiring strong room-reading and activity leadership. She encourages aligning formats to goals, strengths (entertainment, education, engagement), capacity, travel preferences, and prospecting strategies. Resources Mentioned: Episode 16 What to Charge for your Speaking Fee https://www.buzzsprout.com/2593278/episodes/19255784 Elevate your Presentation with the 3 E's Guide www.jennspingo.com/free-guide 00:00 Building Your Speaking Suite 00:29 Keynote Speaking Basics 02:58 Fireside Chats Explained 03:51 Breakout Sessions Deep Dive 05:52 Corporate Training That Changes Behavior 07:40 Choosing Your Best Format 09:02 The Three Es Self Assessment 10:50 Mixing Formats for Your Goals 12:14 Real World Speaking Examples 12:59 Booking Strategy and Prospecting 14:13 Wrap Up and Next Steps Are you looking to help your leaders communicate better? In Building Trust and Influence through Speaking, Jenn explores how to help your leaders develop their authentic voice and create connection with their audience organically. Send an email to jenn@jennspingo.com to with subject line "Keynote availability" to check dates. Visit https://www.jennspingo.com for program details. Liked this episode? Please submit a review on your favorite listening platform. All reviewers have a chance to be coached in the studio with me in Minneapolis (virtual option also available). Email jenn@jennspingo.com to be considered for coaching with subject line "podcast review". Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com. Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

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  Episode #21

  Speaker Coaching with Tom Hicks | Episode 21

  Aug 1, 202628 minS1

  Finding the Right Speaking Markets with keynote speaker Tom Hicks On Mic Drop Mindset, host Jenn interviews keynote speaker Tom Hicks about identifying target markets for his keynote on fear of failure, where he teaches audiences to juggle in 45–75 minutes to practice embracing failure in a safe, low-stakes way. They discuss logistical considerations like room setup (tables and space vs. auditorium seating), Tom’s preference to travel within a day’s drive from Iowa, his current speaking fee goal,, and his reliance on referrals while building a speaker reel. Tom shares that educators (K–12 staff/faculty and higher ed) and HR-related groups have resonated most, with most bookings originating from women. Jenn suggests expanding into associations, nonprofits and galas, corporate employee resource groups and women’s leadership groups, and chambers of commerce, plus improving follow-up and testimonial collection using tools like spreadsheets and Talkadot or Google Forms. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:46 Tom’s Talk Overview 02:19 Room Setup and Logistics 04:32 Pricing Goals and Assets 05:18 Best Audiences So Far 07:34 Multiply What’s Working 11:57 New Markets to Target 15:19 Choosing Next 6 Months 16:48 Follow Up Systems 20:58 Mindset for Outreach Resources mentioned: Rejection Proof by Jia Jiang https://www.rejectiontherapy.com/book Go for No by Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton https://www.goforno.com/ Places to Find Speaking Engagements resource (organized by markets): Email me at jenn@jennspingo.com Talkadot for audience feedback (affiliate): https://share.talkadot.com/jennespinosa-goswami About Tom: Tom Hicks is a keynote speaker and former college Dean who helps people transform fear of failure into fuel for growth by literally teaching them how to juggle. Inspired by a life-changing lesson that began with a gift of juggling balls from his grandmother, Tom has helped thousands of students, leaders, and teams build resilience, embrace mistakes, and rediscover the power of curiosity and play. Connect with Tom: www.linkedin.com/in/hickstr www.tom-hicks.com Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com. Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

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  Episode #20

  Speaker Coaching with Sebastian Dziuk | Episode 20

  Jul 17, 202633 minS1

  Live Speaker Coaching: Refining Offers, Pricing, and Sales for an Email Marketing Business On Mic Drop Mindset, host Jenn conducts a live, off-the-cuff coaching session with Sebastian Dziuk about clarifying his business model and offers as an email marketing specialist for experts and thought leaders. Sebastian explains his premium done-for-you lead magnet and automation services ($6,500 and $10,000) and a newer $497 “Email Revenue Roadmap” strategy blueprint, noting that many leads—often early-stage entrepreneurs from places like SCORE—aren’t ready to invest. They identify that the key issue isn’t creating more low-ticket offers but targeting clients who already believe in email marketing and have less time, emphasizing relationship-building through in-person paid events and word of mouth. Jenn recommends leading sales conversations with the highest-priced offer first, then stepping down if needed, and Sebastian commits to returning to foundational outreach and letting prospects decide on budget. 00:00 Live Coaching Setup 00:27 Sebastian Business Dilemma 03:00 Talks Framework Audience 04:32 Current Offers Pricing 07:27 Belief In Email 09:39 Find Right Buyers 13:27 Proof Case Studies 15:38 Ideal Client Profile 22:19 Sales Process Fit Calls 23:38 Back To Foundations 27:00 Start With Premium 30:47 Action Steps Wrap Up 31:37 Where To Find Sebastian 32:04 Final Outro About Sebastian Dziuk Sebastian Dziuk is an email marketing expert, entrepreneur, and U.S. Army veteran whose roots in military public affairs shaped a career built on strategic communication and organic growth. After navigating the fast-paced world of intrapreneurship at General Mills, Sebastian has built a reputation for turning complex ideas into messaging that moves people to buy. As founder of Dziuk Studios LLC, Sebastian has helped dozens of experts and thought leaders turn online attention into sales using his signature AttractCycle™ framework. With a career built on the intersection of creativity and strategy, Sebastian works with his clients to build a sustainable, organic lead generation system. Connect with Sebastian: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiandziuk/ Website: https://dziukstudios.com/ Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com. Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

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  Episode #19

  Presentation Skills Coaching with Michelle Von Ruden: Episode 19

  Jul 3, 202629 minS1

  Faith Based versus Secular Speaking: How to Choose your Best Audience Host Jennspingo coaches speaker and burnout strategist Michelle Von Ruden on how to navigate speaking in both Christian and secular contexts without limiting opportunities. Michelle worries meeting planners may avoid her if they see faith-based content, especially as she rebrands her website and grows her faith-focused podcast, Why I Believe. They clarify that her core burnout talk stays the same while stories and references shift by audience, and note she has no evidence yet of lost bookings—only advice from experienced speakers. Jenn highlights that faith is central to Michelle’s values and identity and can’t be fully separated, encourages evaluating advice through values and outcomes, and discusses choosing audiences intentionally due to limited capacity. Michelle decides she wants a 50/50 mix of faith-based and secular engagements, prioritizes authenticity, and shares her themed weekly schedule for managing multiple business demands. About Michelle: Michelle Von Ruden is a speaker, burnout strategist, and host of the Why I Believe podcast. She helps high-achievers overcome burnout, perfectionism, and overwhelm so they can lead with greater resilience, clarity, and purpose. Author of “3 Ways to Develop Your Resilience”, Michelle’s insights have been featured in Volume One – Women in Leadership 2024, the Maxwell Leadership Blog, and podcasts such as LeaderPass and Coachful Coaching. She holds a BS in Finance from Capella University and an MBA in Management & Leadership from the University of Kansas. With more than 20 years of leadership, operations, finance, and entrepreneurial experience, Michelle combines practical strategies with real-world wisdom. She is a certified Maxwell Leadership Coach, Speaker, and Trainer, a DISC Behavioral Analysis Consultant, and a respected leader within Maxwell Leadership, Polka Dot Powerhouse, and One Woman. Michelle has inspired audiences across the U.S. and Canada through keynotes, workshops, and leadership development programs. Connect with Michelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellervonruden/ https://vonrudencc.com/speaking 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:26 The Faith and Speaking Dilemma 03:14 Customizing Stories for Audiences 04:36 Fear of Meeting Planner Pushback 05:40 Website and Branding Decisions 09:02 Filtering Advice Through Values 11:49 Faith as Core Identity 13:23 MVR Rebrand and Future Site Plan 15:03 Can You Mix Both Worlds 15:36 Defining Proof Points 16:36 Who You Serve Most 19:24 Choosing Faith or Secular 20:05 Owning Your Identity 21:39 Unmasking and Cancer Story 23:52 Money Values and Mix 25:46 How Top Speakers Scale 27:34 Weekly Focus System 28:16 Mic Drop and Connect Have a question or suggestion for a future episode topic? Email me jenn@jennspingo.com. Ready to deliver mic drop moments in your next presentation? Schedule a call to learn more about coaching www.calendly.com/jennchat Looking to book a speaker for your corporate or association event on topics including leadership and communication? View my programs at www.jennspingo.com

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