Path To The Main Stage Podcast

*Path to the Mainstage Podcast* is the ultimate podcast for aspiring and professional speakers. Hosted by Li Hayes, a seasoned speaker agent and coach, she and her co-hosts share expert insights, strategies, and real-world advice to help you master your craft, captivate audiences, and land high-profile speaking gigs.If you’re ready to take your speaking career to the next level, this is your roadmap to success!

Path To The Main Stage Podcast is a business podcast hosted by LI Hayes, with 46 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

LI Hayes hosts Path To The Main Stage Podcast, a business show with 46 episodes published.

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  Episode #4

  S5 Ep. 04: The Power of Saying “No” and Scaling Your Speaking Business with Crystal Washington

  Sep 28, 202646 minS5

  Unlock the power of saying no and scaling your speaking business! Learn how to define your worth, build sought-after expertise, and create systems that streamline your path to main stage success. In this insightful episode, Crystal Washington—Hall of Fame speaker and Forbes top 50 female futurist—shares her candid journey from corporate revenue management to global keynoter and digital marketing trailblazer. You’ll discover essential strategies for breaking into professional speaking, the pivotal role of mentorship, and how to partner with speaker bureaus to maximize your opportunities. The conversation focused on actionable ways to confidently raise your fees, leverage industry relationships, and adapt your business for a rapidly changing future. One concept discussed was the value of specialization—choosing a topic organizations actively want. A key theme that emerged was the power of “no” in building a sustainable business, as well as the importance of authenticity, generosity, and building a trusted brand amidst evolving industry trends and AI disruption. Find out why the future of speaking favors experts with real-world credibility, why speaker camaraderie is a game-changer, and why Crystal wouldn’t change a thing about her journey (hard lessons included). Episode Overview 00:00: Becoming a professional speaker—Crystal’s background and journey 03:39: Taking a leap—launching a digital marketing firm and the first paid speaking gig 06:59: Three accelerators: trending topics, mentorship, and systems thinking 09:46: The art of saying no—why boundaries and fee integrity matter 14:07: Raising your fee—when and how to level up 18:17: The truth about working with speaker bureaus 22:44: What is the Hall of Fame and the value of being part of NSA 27:14: Crystal’s topic—futurism and strategic foresight 30:48: The future of speaking—industry disruption, AI, and trust 39:15: The reality behind quick-fix programs and speaker training 43:51: The advice Crystal would (not) give her younger self

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  Episode #2

  S5 Ep. 02: Build A Stage-Worthy Platform with Laura Gassner Otting

  Sep 21, 202649 minS5

  Unlock the secrets to a standout speaking career! Learn how to craft your signature voice, price your expertise, and build a stage-worthy platform—while staying true to yourself. In this energizing “Turning Point” episode, Li Hayes sits down with Laura Gassner Otting, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, top motivational speaker, and mindset coach, for a candid conversation about her unconventional path from politics and entrepreneurship to the pinnacle of professional speaking. Discover why your journey to success doesn’t have to be linear, how to engineer credibility with “jewels in the crown,” and why getting paid what you’re worth is as much about perception as performance. Laura Gassner Otting breaks down the real story behind building a speaking business, mastering the TEDx stage, setting the right fee, and leveraging both coaching and purposeful reps to build lasting impact. You'll hear heartfelt, actionable advice on crafting a life and business that work for you, developing transformational messaging, and breaking in with authority—even if you’re starting from zero. Whether you’re dreaming of your first keynote or aiming higher on the main stage, this episode will inspire you to “start your story in the middle,” experiment, and be unapologetically you as you step into the spotlight. Episode Overview 00:00 Welcome, intro, and Laura Gassner Otting’s background02:22 Becoming an endurance athlete later in life04:16 Shifting from politics and corporate to entrepreneurship07:06 Building a life-first business, embracing non-linear paths09:24 First experiences on stage: confronting stage fright12:31 The turning point: TEDx, taking risks, and being coached16:03 Behind the scenes at TEDx: malleability, feedback, and transformation22:32 Getting paid: from potato hats to uncovering the pricing game25:09 Why is your rate your rate? Determining your value29:05 Leveraging credibility and “jewels in the crown”32:06 The importance of reps—and the power of coaching38:01 The real turning point: manufacturing your own experience and speaker reel45:55 Standing out in a crowded market46:28 The best advice I wish I knew at the start48:52 Wrap up and closing thoughts

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  Episode #1

  S5 Ep. 01: Power Habits That Fuel Success with Mike Michalowicz

  Sep 7, 202653 minS5

  Becoming unstoppable on your speaking journey! Learn how to build a resilient speaking career, strategically increase your value, and deliver memorable presentations—no matter the audience size. In this dynamic episode, you’ll hear practical wisdom on navigating the long (and sometimes rocky) path to the main stage, as business book author and speaker Mike Michalowicz shares his real-life missteps, career-defining pivots, and the powerful habits that fuel success. Whether you’re just finding your voice or pushing to command top-tier fees, you’ll glean actionable strategies for progressing through the speaking “value ladder,” leveraging your signature work, and mastering audience engagement. The conversation explores the realities behind “overnight success,” with candid stories of empty auditoriums, last-minute travel scrambles, and adapting to unforeseen challenges. Key themes include establishing your reputation, creating opportunities by building communities, and why facilitating connection can be your secret edge. Discover the techniques behind getting your reps in, selling your ideas (and your book), and why one phenomenal keynote outshines a roster of mediocre talks. Honest, tactical, and full of golden nuggets, this episode will motivate you to keep climbing with purpose—and equip you with the tools to go further, faster. Episode Overview 00:00: The real journey behind becoming a professional speaker 00:25: Mike Michalowicz’s background and achievements 02:16: Struggles, imposter syndrome, and the myth of overnight success 04:04: Real speaking fees and value ladders for speakers 05:46: “Stages” of paid speaking and what they mean 07:19: Humbling early speaking gigs and lessons learned 09:17: Evolving from general expertise to being a draw 11:01: The importance of showing up—no excuses 13:14: Navigating travel disasters and relentless commitment 17:03: Respecting the event, being ready, and staying flexible 18:16: Signature books, bestseller myths, and leveraging your “hook” 22:02: The power of building and facilitating communities 24:28: Why promoting others helps you too 26:47: The reality of rotating speakers and sharing opportunities 27:56: Getting your reps: how to test and improve new material 31:11: Audience engagement, physical storytelling, and “stitching” for connection 40:50: Turning points, identity shifts, and pro tips for speaking at colleges 43:25: Step-by-step: using college clubs to gain experience, get paid, and build credibility 49:33: Leveraging university gigs for higher-profile and higher-paying opportunities 51:12: The biggest lesson: master one great speech, not ten mediocre ones

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  Path To The Main Stage Podcast

  S5 Ep. 00: Season 5 Preview: Secrets of Top-Earning Speakers Revealed

  Sep 6, 20264 minS5

  Learn how top speakers made it big—and how you can too! Discover the exact steps, deliberate actions, and bold moves that propelled today’s most successful speakers to million-dollar stages. In this energizing kick-off to Season 5, Li Hayes reveals why this season is different: you’ll hear from highly accomplished, generous speakers who openly share the behind-the-scenes details—not just their spotlight moments. Get an inside look as Li Hayes previews powerful interviews with Mike Michalowicz, Laura Gassner Otting, Kevin Surrace, Jeffrey Hazlett, Joey Coleman, Donald Miller, Crystal Washington, and more. You’ll learn how these pros landed their first keynotes, the high-impact investments they made in themselves, and the strategies they use month after month to command premium fees and grow their businesses. Whether you need a push to make a bold career move or want to master the business around your speaking, this episode packs practical inspiration for every stage of your journey. Episode Overview with Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to the season and what makes it unique 00:40 Meet the speakers: their earnings, track records, and what you’ll learn 01:23 Preview: Mike Michalowicz’s actionable strategies for booking stages 01:47 Laura Gassner Otting’s bold investments in speaking 02:12 Kevin Surrace’s monthly game plan for ongoing speaking success 02:36 Jeffrey Hazlett on building a business around speaking 03:07 Joey Coleman’s tips for working with event planners 03:18 Sneak peek at surprise guests and more 03:34 Wrap up and how to keep learning and connecting

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  Episode #10

  S4 Ep. 10: Diana Castro - Elevate Your visibility and brand as a speaker

  Aug 3, 202644 minS4

  Elevate your visibility and brand as a speaker! Learn how to create effortless, impactful content that amplifies your message—and turns your passion into career momentum. In this value-packed episode, content expert Diana Castro joins Path to the Main Stage to demystify the process of building a standout presence, from nailing your image to mastering the content creation cycle. Discover strategic tips for identifying your audience, completing the client journey “circle,” and producing a speaker reel that opens doors. Get practical advice for leveraging every platform, building an email list that’s your own personal stage, and designing authentic social content—without burnout. Diana shares her proven frameworks on content clarity, batching a year’s worth of material, and the importance of presenting yourself as the professional you aspire to be (with just the right amount of polish). Plus, you’ll hear why showing your human side creates the strongest speaker-audience bond, and how overcoming fear of rejection leads to deeper business connections. Episode Highlights: 00:00: The journey to becoming a successful speaker & content visibility 02:00: Making content creation easy—for you and your audience 05:27: The three essential legs of effective content 07:34: Completing the client circle & building business from your content 12:16: Why your image is your professional asset 15:26: Authenticity vs. polish—finding your balance on camera 19:33: Investing in the right speaker reel (and what not to do) 22:01: How emerging speakers can create their own stages 27:04: Producing a year of content in days (batching strategies) 33:33: Building connection through personal storytelling and lifestyle 38:05: Delegation, posting strategies, and picking your platforms 41:22: Diana’s advice for new speakers—trust the process, enjoy the ride

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