Explore every episode of the podcast Amplify with Jess Ekstrom
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock Your Inner Child and Tap Into Your Creativity, with Natalie Nixon | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:28:21 | |
Do you sometimes feel like your creative well has run dry? In a world increasingly dominated by AI and efficiency, how do we protect and cultivate our unique human spark? This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Natalie Nixon, PhD, a renowned creativity expert, innovation strategist, and author, famously dubbed the "Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite." Natalie shares profound insights on how to reclaim your inherent creativity, understand its real-world ROI, and navigate the evolving relationship between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence. Drawing inspiration from childhood wonder, Natalie and Jess explore how our natural creative impulses often get "disciplined" by traditional education and societal norms. You'll learn why "getting lost on purpose" can be a powerful catalyst for new ideas and how leveraging AI can actually amplify, rather than stifle, your human creativity. We tackle:
About Natalie Nixon, PhD: Natalie Nixon, PhD, is a global expert in creativity, innovation, and the future of work. She advises leaders on how to make their organizations more nimble and innovative through her unique approach to applied creativity. As a speaker, strategist, and author of The Creativity Leap, Natalie empowers individuals and teams to unlock their creative potential and drive tangible results. She is also launching her new book, Move, Think, Rest, in 2025. Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| Saying Yes Too Often? Here’s How to Set Boundaries with Kwame Christian | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:34:27 | |
Are you tired of feeling like you have to be inauthentic to be liked? Do you struggle with setting boundaries and advocating for yourself, fearing it might damage your relationships? This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her dear friend, Kwame Christian, a top-booked negotiation keynote speaker and host of the #1 podcast, Negotiate Anything. Kwame shares a deeply personal and formative childhood story that shaped his journey from people-pleaser to negotiation expert, revealing how his early experiences led him to compromise himself for the sake of being liked. He explains how this common "people-pleasing pressure" can actually damage the very relationships we're trying to protect. You'll discover:
About Kwame Christian Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| Become a Better Speaker with These Small Changes, with Lindsay Boccardo | 18 Mar 2025 | 00:25:51 | |
Public speaking can feel overwhelming, but small changes can make a huge impact. In this episode of Amplify with Jess Ekstrom, Jess sits down with keynote speaker and generational workforce expert Lindsay Boccardo to break down the subtle shifts that can take your speaking from good to great. Lindsay shares practical insights on how to engage your audience, bring the right level of energy, and avoid sounding like a phony game show host. They discuss how to turn up the dial on your presence in an authentic way, why confidence comes from preparation, and how even minor tweaks in gestures and posture can make a difference. If you’ve ever struggled with how to sound engaging without feeling like you’re putting on a performance, this episode is for you! What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Whether you're stepping onto a keynote stage or leading a team meeting, these tips will help you show up with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. Resources & Links:
Rate & Review: Enjoying Amplify with Jess? Rate us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and leave a review to help more people discover the show! Follow Jess on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-speaker-author/ - to stay up to date with her LinkedIn Live series, where these episodes originate. Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| 26: How to Get Your Book on Shelves | 21 Feb 2021 | 00:19:32 | |
So, you have a book idea, but you have no idea where to start in order to get your book on shelves—thankfully I've already been through the process and can tell you! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing four important steps to get your book on the shelves of retailers you love. Listen in as I dive into building a book proposal, getting a literary agent, securing a book publisher, and doing the work to see your book out in the real world. Four Steps to Get Your Book On Shelves 1. Answer this Question: Why do you want to write a book?
Publishing Deals (3:41) 2. Write Your Book Proposal (4:41) What goes into your book proposal:
Working with a Literary Agent (6:19) Working with a Publisher(8:10) Working with a Sales Team to Get on Shelves (9:26) 3. Getting in Local Bookstores (10:31) 4. Getting in Local Libraries (12:09) One Liner: Only write a book if you want to leave your readers better after having read it. (15:15) Get Podcast Updates Every Monday: Text Podcast to 704-228-9495 Register for the Book Pop Workshop Webinar Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 25: How to Use Clubhouse as a Speaker with Mothyna James-Brightful | 14 Feb 2021 | 00:26:55 | |
Are you using clubhouse to grow as a professional speaker? With the platform becoming more and more popular, there is so much potential to gain awareness for your brand and network with others. In this episode of Business on the Brightside, Mothyna James-Brightful joins us to discuss how you can use clubhouse for your brand! Additionally, we talk about steps we can all take to create more diversity and inclusion in the speaking and event industry! First Paid & Non-Paid Speaking Gig (1:25) Pitching Yourself in Your Clubhouse Bio (8:05) How to Overcome the Fear of Speaking (9:17) Diversifying Speaking Engagements (11:50) Diversifying Your Experience (15:22) Advice to Speakers to Stay Active (18:38) Links: Grab the free email templates. Review the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 24: Ask THIS Question When You Have an Idea | 07 Feb 2021 | 00:23:47 | |
Have you ever had a moment in your life that you look back on and thought, "Wow, that actually happened... and I made it through." In today's episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing how I lost the first $10,000 I invested in my business before I ever really even started. The lessons that came from that experience didn't sink in until much later, but it also brought out more than just lessons, it taught me about risk. What was the risk of moving forward after failure? What's the risk of not moving forward? What considerations or risks do you have in your next big idea or adventure? Getting Started with Headbands of Hope (3:12) How Jess Lost $10,000 (7:20) Moving Beyond the Risk (11:31) Finding Success & Purpose After Failure (13:10) Links: Review the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com | |||
| 23: How to Stop Living on Autopilot with Antonio Neves | 31 Jan 2021 | 00:36:07 | |
Are you ready to make a change in the way you're living your life? Antonio Neves joins us as our first guest on Business on the Bright Side to discuss his book, Stop Living on Autopilot! In this episode, we talk through authenticity, knowing who you are, and surrounding yourself with quality community! If you're ready to stop living on autopilot, you need to hear this conversation with Antonio! Meet Antonio (2:25) Being Authentic (9:45) How do you introduce yourself? (15:16) Good Fear vs. Bad Fear (17:28) Thieves vs. Allies (26:58) Links Stop Living on AutoPilot by Antonio Neves Armchair Expert by Dax Shepard Review the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com! | |||
| 22: Goal Setting Tips | 25 Jan 2021 | 00:15:02 | |
Are you struggling with creating and prioritizing your goals? This episode is for you! While I'm not a fan of strict goal setting, I think it's important to know what you're working towards! Listen in as I share my favorite goal setting tips so you can accomplish what you want in 2021! Grab the Goal Setting Workbook Tips for Goal Setting 1. Leave room for possibility. Release your grip. How can you hold it with an open palm 2. Write down your goals. 3. Speak it into existence. 4. Do something small towards it. One Liner: We grow into the person that we want to be on the way to our goals, not in the planning. (11:04) | |||
| 21: 4 Mindset Shifts to Copy | 17 Jan 2021 | 00:11:48 | |
Sometimes our own way of thinking can get in the way of us achieving our own goals. Let's make life a little easier with a simple mindset shift. In today's episode, I'm sharing 4 mindset shifts you can copy to stop getting in your own way! 4 Mindset Shifts to Make Life Easier (1:26) 1. You before anything else. (1:38) 2. Care more about the system, less about the goal. (3:02) 3. Care more about what you’re creating than what people are thinking. (5:01) 4. Train your mind to see the good in people & business. See it and speak it. (6:37) "People aren’t thinking about you as much as you think they are." One Liner: Even our most engrained patterns and habits deserve to be questioned. What worked yesterday, might not work today. Always keep iterating. (7:47) Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 20: Quiz: Decide Your 2021 Personality | 10 Jan 2021 | 00:15:52 | |
You have permission to change who you are at any time. Isn't that crazy? You can determine who you are and what you want to be, along with how you approach situations. Ready to dive in? Let's figure out what your 2021 personality is with this simple quiz! 10 Questions to Decide What You Want Your 2021 Personality to Be (3:35) 1. Do you want to be a coach, player, or spectator? (3;42) 2. What people do you want to reach? (4:11) 3. How do you want to help those people? (4:34) 4. Where do you want to meet these people? (6:03) 5. What creative medium do you want to use to share your gifts? (6:30) 6. What do you want your look to be? (7:02) 8:33 7. How do you want to respond to challenges?(9:28) 8. Who is your alter ego?(10:33) 9. What are you not going to care about anymore?(11:34) 10. What’s the one thing that you’re going to care deeply about?(12:14) One Liner: Remember, you’re a different person yesterday than you are today. Who you are as a person is fluid and dynamic so keep checking in with yourself. (13:00) Links Review the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com | |||
| 19: 3 Ways to Build Momentum in 2021 | 03 Jan 2021 | 00:11:51 | |
Happy New Year! Is 2021 the year you're looking to grow personally and professionally, without feeling overwhelmed with the goals you have in mind? In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing 3 ways to build momentum this year! New Year’s Resolutions are a Load of Crap (1:45) Set goals and build momentum in 2021: (2:41)
One Liner: In 2021, I’m in competition with no one, I’m rooting for everyone, there’s room for me at the top, and I am right on time. (9:34) | |||
| 18: Year in Review: What Worked, What Didn't, and What to Do Next | 20 Dec 2020 | 00:24:11 | |
As we bring 2020 to a close, I’m sharing the details on all of the things that worked and didn’t work in my business and life amidst the pandemic. All of my businesses experienced very different moves in 2020. One business flatlined, one business quadrupled in sales, and another business started at zero. On a personal level, I was able to appreciate slowing down, creating new routines, and avoid things I didn’t enjoy. Ready to get the inside scoop on the success and failures of 2020, let’s dive in! Sitting in Our New Home (2:27) What Worked in 2020 (4:00) What Worked in 2020: Professional Brand (4:15)
What Worked in 2020: Personally (10:50)
What Didn’t Work in 2020 (14:49) What Didn’t Worked in 2020: Professional Brand (15:30)
What Didn’t Worked in 2020: Personally (18:40)
One Liner: Your value doesn’t come from one thing you do. You are the sum of all the things you do. (20:50) Links Micro Course: How to Host Your Own Online Events Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 17: How We Decided to Live in an Airstream (and a Tactic for Big Decision Making) | 13 Dec 2020 | 00:14:39 | |
Are you facing a big decision in your life right now? It’s hard to make decisions that will impact your life! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I’m sharing how I approach big decision making! I’m also highlighting how we used this approach for our decision to uproot our lives and live in an airstream! Considering RV Living (1:29) List Making (4:16) How I Face Big Decision Making (3:56) 1. Pretend to Go All-In (3:56) 2. Ask yourself what all you need to do to make this happen. (4:05) 3. Find your first domino (the first thing you need to do on your list). (4:46) 4. Is there friction or is there flow? (6:47) One Liner: When a decision becomes too big and scary, pretend to go all in and see how it feels. After that first step, you’ll find that fear slowly fades away. (9:29) I've created a shop for people who do, because I think that the best selling product that you're looking to create is the story that you already have. The Bright Side Shop is filled with digital and physical products to help you do just that. Links jessekstrom.com Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| The Viral Speech that Launched Kelsey O'Connor's Speaking Career | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:30:04 | |
Kelsey O'Connor was a D1 student-athlete at North Carolina State University until she suffered a traumatic brain injury that abruptly ended her athletic career. Her journey of recovery and overcoming immense was the basis of her commencement address that went viral on TikTok and Facebook with over 40M (million) views. In our season 3 finale, Kelsey tells her story and how it led her to become a sought-after public speaker --- --- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| 16: How to Create Content that Gets Shared on Social Media | 06 Dec 2020 | 00:14:08 | |
Do you find yourself stuck when it comes to creating shareable content? In this episode, I'm highlighting four things that you need to consider in order to strategize your content creation. Listen in as I highlight the importance of relatable and valuable content for your audience. 4 Things You Need to Think About (2:06) 1. Decide What You Want to be Known For 2. What’s the value you want to provide people? 3. Does my content fall into one of these two buckets: relatable or valuable? - Relatable Content (5:07) - Valuable Content (5:24) 4. Make it short. (5:47) "As Don Draper said, make it simple, yet significant.” (6:41) How to Create One Liners (8:00) One Liner: Don’t get caught up in the external of likes and followers—aim for the connection metrics of shares and engagement. (10:02) Links Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 14: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself When You're Stuck | 22 Nov 2020 | 00:10:20 | |
Do you ever find yourself lacking inspiration or struggling to get started on a new project? In this episode I'm sharing 3 questions to ask yourself when you're stuck! Three Questions to Ask When You’re Feeling Stuck: (4:18) 1. Is this even what I really want? (4:18) 2. Could the outcome look different from what I originally imagined? (5:15) 3. Can I change the route on how I want to get there? (5:51) One Liner: Hold your purpose tightly, hold your plans loosely, and you’ll find your way. (6:51) Links Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 13: How to Get Your E-Commerce Brand Ready for the Holidays | 15 Nov 2020 | 00:15:29 | |
Is your e-commerce brand ready for the fast-approaching holidays? In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 things you need to do to ensure your site is ready for the three big e-commerce holidays right around the corner! Holiday Habits for E-Commerce (1:36) Get your eCommerce Shop Ready for the Holidays (2:25) 1. Make sure that your website is ready to collect emails.(2:25) 2. Test your checkout process to make sure there aren’t any glitches. 3. Make sure your best selling products are on your homepage. (5:18) 4. Establish your shipping and refund policies. (6:14) 5. Build a Marketing Strategy for the Big Three (8:04) The Big Three Holidays: Black Friday Cyber Monday Giving Tuesday Recap (9:54) One Liner: Don’t make it hard for people to give you money, believe in what you’re selling and then ask for the sale. (10:27) Links: Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 12: Chasing the Bright Side Audio Teaser | 08 Nov 2020 | 00:22:58 | |
It's Chasing the Bright Side's first birthday! One year ago, I was on a press tour, sharing about how I'd poured so much into this book, and thinking about all of the potential lives this book could impact. What a year it has been! In today's episode, I'm sharing a quick teaser of chapter one! Listen in! Links Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. | |||
| 11: 4 Ways to Deal with Tough Work Situations | 01 Nov 2020 | 00:17:25 | |
Do you feel like 2020 is kicking your a** when it comes to your work or business? I'm here to remind you that these obstacles are all part of the process. In this episode, I'm sharing four ways to deal with tough work situations. Shit Happens (3:45) Tough Work Situations that are Bound to Happen (3:45) 1. Remove Your Ego (3:45) 2. Understand that sometimes Plan B can be better than Plan A (6:33) 3. Give yourself some grace (8:45) 4. What would your idol do? (10:54) The Recap (12:55) One Liner: Failure is not opposite of success, it’s just a part of it. (13:39) Links: | |||
| 10: What's Your Money Story? | 25 Oct 2020 | 00:12:11 | |
Do you know your money story? While you may realize it, you've got one! In this episode, I'm diving into my money story, how it developed stress around money for me, and how that impacted my business. So sit back, and let's dive into your money story! Love/Hate Relationships with Money (1:32) My Money Story (1:58) Look at the numbers. What are they telling you? (4:18) Understanding at KPIs and Patterns (4:39) Separating Yourself from the Money (6:44) Don't ask: 'What's wrong with me?" Do ask: "What's wrong with the products?" This Episode's One Liner: What are you making your money mean about your self worth? (8:00) Links Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 8: Ask THIS Question in Your Next Interview | 11 Oct 2020 | 00:09:50 | |
Are you heading into an interview for a potential job or opportunity? Want to stand out from the other candidates, while also growing from the interview itself? I’m sharing the one question you NEED to ask during your next interview! Listen in! Interview Question: Is there any reason why I wouldn’t get this job? (2:40) Follow Up Question: Because if there are any flags or concerns, I would like to talk about it now. My Experience with Asking This Question (5:11) What This Question Tells an Interviewer (6:45) What Are Your Favorite Interview Questions? (7:19) This Episode’s One Liner: Sometimes the answers we’re looking for, lie within the questions themselves. (7:35) Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! | |||
| 7: 4 Storytelling Reminders | 04 Oct 2020 | 00:13:45 | |
Do you have a story you want to share with the world, but aren't sure it's worth telling? I believe that every story has a purpose, but how you tell it will impact how it's received. In today's episode, I'm sharing four things to remember in order to properly tell your story! Monetizing Your Story (:49) Paid Speaking Engagements (:58) Publishing Books (1:02) Finding Your Story (1:30) One Single Experience Can Write Two Completely Different Stories (4:44) 4 Things to Remember about Storytelling (6:01)
This Episode’s One Liner: "We can’t always control our experiences, but we can always write our story." (8:21) Workshops: Book Pop Workshop Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! | |||
| 6: 2 Things You Need to Become a Paid Speaker | 28 Sep 2020 | 00:08:40 | |
Are you ready to turn your speaking gigs into more than just a hobby? Turn it into income and add professional speaker to your bio! In today's episode I'm sharing the two things that you need to start doing in order to transition from free speaker to paid speaker. How to Transition from Free Speaking to Paid Speaking (2:38) 2 Questions to Ask Yourself (3:03)
Asking for Money (5:12) Ask: "What is your speaker budget?' vs. "Do you have a speaker budget?" 2 Things You Need to Become a Paid Speaker (5:38)
This Episode's One-Liner: If you want to speak and get paid to do it, think of how your story serves, then sell it. (6:08) Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 5: How to be Proactive Instead of Reactive in Your Business | 20 Sep 2020 | 00:09:39 | |
Are you approaching the tasks in your business proactively or reactively? If you're treating your business like a game of pinball, where you're just doing what you can to ensure you don't lose the ball, you're being reactive. Instead, consider ways you can treat your business like a game of bowling, where you're always focused on the strategy of knocking down the pins. Listen in as I share three ways you can leave the game of pinball that you're playing in your business behind and implement the strategy of bowling! Are you ready to make an impact and income by writing non-fiction books? Sign up for my 5-day conference for women where we'll build a community and challenge you to share your story! Sign up for the Write the Dang Book Conference >> Bowling as a Strategy in Business (1:57) Three Ways to Bowl Instead of Pinball (2:44)
The Episode’s One-Liner: Our destiny is not an uncontrollable future. It’s an active decision to write our own story. Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why You DON'T Get That Dopamine Hit When You Cross the Finish Line | 11 Nov 2024 | 00:11:20 | |
I recently read a study on dopamine that completely changed how I look at my work and life. It initially shocked me, but then I realized why it makes sense. ---- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| 4: How to Publish Your Non-Fiction Book | 13 Sep 2020 | 00:18:06 | |
I believe that everyone has a story to share on their experiences in life and business! With the self-help genre booming right now, I'd love to help more women authors line the shelves at Target! If you have something to say, I want to help you get it on paper and published! In this episode, I'm sharing the five things you need to think about when publishing your non-fiction book! Meeting Bob Goff (4:18) Before Publishing Chasing the Bright Side (2:48) Using Your Story to Help Others with Their Story (6:09) 5 Things to Think About when Publishing Your Non-Fiction Book: (6:22) 1. Think of your book idea as a before/after point for a reader. 2. What do you want to be known for? 3. Your book should be similar enough to some of your favorites, but different enough to stand out. 4. Don't write your whole book, write your proposal. 5. Your book is your business card. The Episode’s One Liner: All of your experiences (good, bad, and funny) add up to a story, and the value in every lesson is the story that goes with it. What story will you tell? (14:41) Links: instagram.com/jess_ekstrom Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 3: Which Ambition Type Are You? | 07 Sep 2020 | 00:15:40 | |
Is your ambition fueled by positivity? I’ve come to realize that ambition comes in two forms, inspired and anxious. Not only can you feel a difference in these two types of motivation, but you can also see a difference in the end result. In this episode, I’m sharing about these two types of ambition and what each approach is fueled by. Morning Productivity (1:20) Two Types of Ambition: (4:57) Inspired ambition - Inspired ambition comes from alignment. We get this burst of energy when we feel like we have something to say or something to create that aligns with our deeper calling. Anxious ambition - Anxious ambition comes from lack of worthiness. We do more because we feel like we’re not enough. We believe the more boxes we check the better we’ll feel, but that’s never the case. The Anxious Way: (8:10) 1. Comparison 2. Money 3. Titles 4. Approval The Inspired Way (9:15) 1. Belief in better 2. Self-confidence 3. Detachment from outcomes The Episode’s One Liner: Instead of asking yourself: “Am I doing enough?’ Instead, ask yourself: “What am i doing this for?” (10:11) Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 2: What Camping Taught Me About Leadership | 07 Sep 2020 | 00:07:47 | |
Camping was never really my favorite adventure as a child, but my family went ALL THE TIME. As an adult, I’ve grown to love camping — I mean, I live full-time in an airstream these days. Looking bad on all of the camping and hiking adventures from the past, I’ve realized that camping has actually taught me a really valuable lesson on the type of leader I want to be. Listen in as I share the two types of people you can be in life, as compared to those you would encounter while on a hiking trail. My Camping Story (1:09) Two types of people that you cross coming back the other way on the hiking trails. (2:07) 1. the person who says nothing, but maybe you get a friendly nod. 2. the person who stops and tells you what’s ahead on the trail. Being the person who stops and tells you what’s ahead on the trail: (2:59) If I see a bear- I’ll tell you. If I went left and should have gone right- I’ll let you know. If I did something that worked- I’ll share the steps with you. If I did something that I NEVER WANT TO DO AGAIN- I’ll also give you that heads up. If I find reasons to celebrate- I’ll invite you to do the same. The Episode’s One Liner: No matter where you’re at in your journey, believe that you’re just getting started. (3:47) Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 1: 3 Steps to Pursue Your Business Ideas | 07 Sep 2020 | 00:16:26 | |
Do you have a business idea you’ve been sitting on, but want to explore? In this very first episode of Business on the Bright Side, I’m discussing three steps you should take right now to pursue your idea! Listen in as I share how I approached launching Headbands of Hope in college, even before I knew anything about business. Let’s launch your idea! 3 Steps to Pursue Your Business Ideas: (3:24)
Creating your special to-do list: (4:22)
Building a ladder (8:08)
The Episode’s One Liner: (10:41) Don’t worry about winning the Super Bowl, just get the first down. Looking for the transcript? Head to businessonthebrightside.com to review transcripts from each episode! | |||
| Balancing Personal Ambitions with Family Dynamics, with Dr. John Delony | 06 Nov 2024 | 00:44:27 | |
As a speaker, you always want to reach the point of high-flying careers that take you worldwide, but that also means taking you away from your family. This raises the question, "Can speakers really have it all?" Can we prioritize our careers, marriages, partnerships, and kids at the same time? Today, Dr. John Delony gives us his tips. --- --- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| How are You Measuring Your Progress? | 04 Nov 2024 | 00:07:13 | |
In our culture, "Making it" usually means being an Oprah or Sara Blakely, appearing on a reality TV show, or discovering a scientific formula that lets you speak to your dog. Most of us (including me!) won't make it big time. But I still have something to offer that people find value in. And so do you. So, how do we measure our progress to maximize our potential and the value we give others? ---- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| How Fear of Inadequacy Can Lead to Becoming a World-Class Speaker with Therese Gopaul-Robinson | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:30:10 | |
Therese Gopaul-Robinson knew it was time for a raise. She asked for a meeting, practiced her speech, and had her PowerPoint presentation ready to go. It was time to take the next step in her career. But she didn't get her raise in that meeting - she was let go instead. Today, Therese shares her journey to becoming a world-class keynote speaker, which was initially filled with rejection and fear of inadequacy but ultimately led to her finding her first gigs. --- Therese Gopaul-Robinson is a Keynote Speaker and Healthcare Consultant who's obsessed with helping women in leadership.
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| Is Easy Access to Knowledge Harming Your Motivation? | 28 Oct 2024 | 00:10:58 | |
Imagine you had an assistant that could fit in your pocket and tell you any information you desired. "How many stars are there in the galaxy? How do I make a sourdough starter? What does it mean when something uploads “to the cloud"? Well you do have that assistant - your phone. Having all that knowledge at our fingertips is convenient, but does this convenience stop us from acting like students, being beginners, and trusting ourselves? Perhaps access to all this information is a primary reason for killing our motivation.
---- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| Resilience, Imposter Syndrome and Becoming the Boss with Lindsey Epperly | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:30:37 | |
Lindsey Epperly has grown her travel business from a one-woman operation to a team of 80 (!!). It has been on the Inc 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, and Lindsey seemingly has it all. And yet, even with her success, Lindsey still encounters imposter syndrome - especially when (despite the accolades) she feels like her business is failing. Through her experiences, she realized the common pitfall of equating self-worth with success, a challenge familiar to many high achievers in today's hustle culture. However, Lindsey's perspective shifted as she began to see imposter syndrome as a sign of stepping out of her comfort zone, using it as a motivational tool to turn obstacles into opportunities. And here's what she learned in the process. --- Lindsey Epperly is the CEO of JetSet World Travel and host of Who Made You the Boss? Podcast.
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| Overcoming Anxiety in Public Speaking | 21 Oct 2024 | 00:14:32 | |
Did you know that most folks are more scared of public speaking than they are of sharks? It’s crazy, but it also makes sense! Whether it’s Jaws or facing a live audience, your body reacts to nerves similarly—it’s just a biological thing. In this episode, I'm sharing tips on how to ease your nerves before a speaking engagement, whether on stage as a keynote address, in a meeting, or at a wedding. I’ll walk you through quick tricks, like using peppermint and box breathing to calm yourself in the moment, and why making eye contact is a game changer. So the next time you step on stage, you'll have the confidence to own it.
Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| The Reality of Passive Income with LaShonda Brown | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:29:38 | |
You know that passive income everyone raves about, where you wake up to find a couple thousand extra dollars in your bank account? Surprise! It turns out it's not as easy as it seems! Today’s guest, Lashonda Brown, a tech educator and founder of Bootstrap Biz Advice, explains that passive income takes years of hard work and system-building. So, what should you do, and how can YouTube help?
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| My TEDx Talk | The Secret to Great Public Speaking (No, It's Not Confidence) | 30 Jun 2025 | 00:03:59 | |
I recently had the opportunity to step onto the red dot at TEDx Sugar Creek Women, and I was surrounded by so many amazing speakers. For eight years, I've been refining my thoughts on public speaking, and it really just all culminated in this eight minute talk - The Secret to Great Public Speaking (No, It's Not Confidence). Here's a sneak peek, and for the full video, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT2q1YKZQPE. And of course I'd love it if you left a review and comment! | |||
| How RV Life Taught Me to 'Try It On' | 14 Oct 2024 | 00:07:04 | |
Over a bowl of popcorn shrimp a few months after our wedding, my husband and I decided to put our apartment up for rent and take off in an RV and travel the country. We did something we now call “try it on.” We had questions about finances, mail, and skincare routines, but we went for it anyway. And here's what happened.
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| Creating a Morning Routine That Works for You with Tiffany Lanier | 09 Oct 2024 | 00:29:33 | |
What's your morning routine? You’ve likely come across countless reels and TikToks suggesting that you meditate each morning, cultivate gratitude, practice mindfulness, work out, time-block your day, drink 100 ounces of water, fast, prioritize self-care, and read a few pages from your book. And then reality sets in, and you've got to feed the baby, pack lunches, or take care of that client fire. So, what should you do to get your mind and body right to start your day? Are you ready to revamp your morning? Take Tiffany’s 5-day morning challenge! ----
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| Ready or Not, Just Start | 07 Oct 2024 | 00:06:50 | |
When we look at successful businesspeople, we assume they had a clear business plan, were surrounded by helpful resources, and confidently started marching toward their dreams. The reality is that most businesses probably started like my first business.
I had no idea what I was doing, but I just pressed start. And I learned that it's ok to learn by failing. ---- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| Creating Meaningful Workshop Experiences with Katie Quesada | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:29:12 | |
Ever wonder about the differences between workshops and keynotes? Katie Quesada, keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and storytelling consultant, believes workshops are not about teaching but guiding participants to discover their insights. In today's episode, Katie shares how to design and deliver workshops that help individuals and teams become “story collectors,” using their personal and brand narratives to forge deeper connections. Discover her core philosophy of "stories over stuff" in structuring a workshop, which may inspire you to create your own. ----
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| Using The Word "Yet" To Frame Our Progress | 30 Sep 2024 | 00:07:11 | |
We usually see things as black and white, especially when trying something new. Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| How to Find Speaking Opportunities through Networking, with Chelsea C Williams | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:23:52 | |
How can we as speakers expand our networks to meet some amazing people and, probably more importantly, secure speaking engagements? We need to be strategic about our networking efforts. But what exactly does that mean, and what are the steps we should be taking to get our names out there more. Today, Jess is joined by Chelsea C Williams, and she has some tips! In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| My Signature Keynote Live: Innovation and Motivation That Lasts | 23 Sep 2024 | 00:26:39 | |
In today’s special episode, I share a keynote showcase of one of my talks from Inman Connect, one of the most extensive speaking engagements in the real estate industry. You've listened to my food for thought to start your week. Now, tune in to hear some of the principles I discussed in the podcast during my signature keynote! Sidenote: We highly recommend watching Jess's keynote on YouTube to see her practices in action!
Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| Facing Fears and Opening Up Onstage with Coach Kiah | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:28:59 | |
Getting up on stage and feeling confident about yourself, it's one of the biggest challenges we face on stage. Because we're not perfect. We're not robots. We'll flub from time to time. So what do we do about that? Today, Jess and Coach Kiah Twisselman talk about embracing imperfections and projecting confidence on stage. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Quotes to Remember:
---- (00:05:16) "Embrace vulnerability to unleash your power." (00:09:04) "Facing fears in public speaking leads to empowerment." (00:12:06) "Confidence in speaking comes from embracing your style." (00:19:01) "Choose self-acceptance over societal beauty standards." (00:21:24) "Your speaker identity shapes thought leadership impact."
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| What Comedy and Parenting Taught Me About the Beginner's Mindset | 16 Sep 2024 | 00:08:01 | |
Perfectionists are good at a lot of things, but they are not good at being beginners. Does that sound like you? Yeah me too, until I was a beginner at two things that challenged me and changed my mindset - being a mom and stand-up comedy. Here's what it taught me.
Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| How to Set Boundaries and Thrive in Speaking with Dr. Cassandra LeClair | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:33:02 | |
Before becoming a Mic Drop Academy alum, Cassandra was already well-versed in public speaking as a communication expert and professor at Texas A&M University, but now she had the tools to make her goal of becoming a keynote speaker to fruition.
---- ---- (00:01:03) Transforming Public Speaking into Engaging Storytelling (00:07:12) Navigating Rejection and Self-Worth in Monetization (00:08:23) Embracing Rejection: Path to Speaker Success (00:11:21) Overcoming Self-Doubt Through Positive Self-Image (00:18:06) Effective Communication Through Setting Boundaries
Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||
| Is Cancel Culture Actually Working? | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:37:22 | |
Are you struggling to maintain relationships with people you love, even when you disagree on fundamental issues? This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her good friend, Brit Barron, a speaker, DEI consultant, and author of Do You Still Talk to Grandma? Brit's work offers a much-needed guide for navigating the increasingly polarized world we live in, helping us find common ground and connection even when perspectives diverge. Brit and Jess discuss our divided society, examining why it feels harder than ever to see eye to eye. They challenge the tendency to categorize people into "good" or "bad" boxes and instead champion the power of nuance, where love and disagreement can coexist.
About Brit Barron: Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| You'll Never Miss What's Made for You | 09 Sep 2024 | 00:09:24 | |
We've all faced it before: the dreaded FOMO. Sometimes, it feels like a double-edged sword. You don't want to miss any chances, but saying yes for the sake of saying yes can lead to quick burnout. In this episode, Jess shares a mantra that helped silence her FOMO, and hopefully, it will do the same for you. ----
Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop. | |||
| Redefining Masculinity, and the Power of Authenticity, with Antonio Neves | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:37:10 | |
Antonio Neves saw a problem: he couldn't find the right content for balancing personal growth and family relationships, especially as a man in today's society. So he decided to do something about it by founding the Man Morning newsletter, a platform dedicated to inspiring men to start their day with purpose and intention. Learn tips on self-improvement, on-stage speaking, stepping out of your comfort zone, and prioritizing emotional well-being to lead a more fulfilling and enriched existence. --- (00:03:08) Celebrating Accomplishments for Personal Growth (00:17:14) Celebrating Value and Empowerment in Males (00:23:05) Man Morning Meetings for Emotional Release (00:23:06) Emotional Support for Men: Man Morning Gatherings (00:28:07) The Power of Authenticity in Presentations --- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop | |||