Captivate the Mic: Master Public Speaking & Video, Build Confidence and Boost Visibility – Details, episodes & analysis

Send us a text

This is the teaser to the main event where Elaine and Tracie take a deep dive into the concept of "Worthy" and why so many people struggle with it.
As two heart centered, hustling fierce females who've been through a lot, share parts of their stories, laughing at the craziness of life, you will leave feeling uplifted and inspired to take action with the rest of your day!

Tracie Root is a dynamic speaker, coach, and bestselling author who transformed her life after personal tragedy. Following the loss of her partner to cancer and  facing the strain of solo parenting, she left corporate life to create a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey. With over a decade of experience, she empowers women to take BOLD action through her coaching, masterminds, and immersive retreats for women leaders. As founder of The Gather Community, she shifted to online events in 2020, fostering a thriving community of business leaders. Based in Santa Cruz, CA, Tracie lives with her husband, teens, and their dog.

https://www.TracieRoot.com/links

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

In this episode, Elaine shares some of her favorite speaking tools and tips. There is so much goodness for a new speaker, a wanna be speaker and for someone who's been speaking for years. 

Elaine shares her humor tips to help make any audience chuckle and even howl with laugher. And she shows you that you don't have to be the one up there telling jokes. There are lots of ways to bring light and laughter to your talks, your coaching, your webinars and more. 

Please share this episode with a friend who needs to laugh more!

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

If you need a laugh, you've got to check this episode out!

Heather Zeitzwolfe and Elaine share some of their crazier NYC stories fromwhen they both moved to the city, even though it was at different times, the themes were familiar. 
And Yes, I really worked a P Diddy Party at a restaurant where I worked....you'll have to listen to get all the details...

Heather has had many careers and businesses and podcasts. 
Currently she's on a mission to help 1 million people in adopting and maintaining a healthy, affordable, plant-based diet. 

"Compassion starts on our plates because we are what we eat!" - Heather Zeitzwolfe

As the Savvy Frugal Vegan, I aim to disrupt the status quo and encourage others to think differently about their diet, ethics, and environmental impact. I want to raise people's awareness of where their food comes from. My dream is to enlighten others to avoid eating anything that has a mother.
Check out Heather's Website and her YouTube Channel.

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

In this episode, Iris and Elaine share their near death experiences and how lucky they are to be alive and how they both might have had help from the other side. 
We'd LOVE to know what you think and if you've had anything close like this happen to you! It is that Spoooooky time of year too!

Iris Goldfeder is the owner and chief bottle washer for GasStoveCreative, which is is a full-service, holistic marketing company. We provide custom, boutique work for small, local businesses in the Lafayette, Indiana, area and beyond. We provide marketing and consultation services to small business owners who are lacking the time, skill-set, and resources needed to successfully market their business.
We specialize in brand marketing, traditional marketing services, podcast production, video production, animation, and more.

Iris shares part of her amazing entrepreneurial journey with some laughs along the way. She is about as real and raw as they come which makes people fall in love with her authenticity and her as a human being!
You're in for a treat when you listen to this spooky, cool episode!

MY MOTTO IS: “If you’re not online, you’re not an option!” (this is a pending ™)
To Learn more about Iris, visit her Website
Listen to her podcast, The Cook Book Podcast
Follow Iris on social media- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

Sherry Sutton knows personal branding. Her superpower is delivering the best of business growth strategy alongside her ability to hold space and help audiences excavate their true selves, uncover their magnetic message, and show up authentically – all without feeling dorky, spammy, or overwhelmed.

She’s a magnetic speaker who has shared her vast knowledge in a TEDx Talk and on her successful podcast Bosses With Baggage. Her deeply personal talks take audiences on her journey from a chronic people pleaser who appeared to have it all, to losing it all to addiction, and her rise as a deeply authentic entrepreneur dedicated to helping others find their authentic voice.

Sherry has a master’s degree, an executive MBA, studied marketing at Yale, and spent nearly 30 years working in strategic, omnichannel marketing for everyone from start-ups to multi-billion dollar international conglomerates.

Elaine and Sherry have been laughing together as business besties ever since they met a few years ago. Elaine had the privilege of supporting and coaching Sherry with her famously authentic, life changing TedX Talk this past January in Frisco, TX.
Join them as they pull back the curtain on prepping and all the "before" things that happen before a big TedX talk. You will laugh while you learn and walk away inspired to take action for your next big hairy goal!

Learn more about Sherry on her Website and YouTube Channel.

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

Elaine and Sherry have been laughing together as business besties ever since they met a few years ago. Elaine had the privilege of supporting and coaching Sherry with her famously authentic, life changing TedX Talk this past January in Frisco, TX. 
Join them as they pull back the curtain on prepping and all the "before" things that happen before a big TedX talk. You will laugh while you learn and walk away inspired to take action for your next big hairy goal!

Sherry Sutton knows personal branding. Her superpower is delivering the best of business growth strategy alongside her ability to hold space and help audiences excavate their true selves, uncover their magnetic message, and show up authentically – all without feeling dorky, spammy, or overwhelmed.

She’s a magnetic speaker who has shared her vast knowledge in a TEDx Talk and on her successful podcast Bosses With Baggage. Her deeply personal talks take audiences on her journey from a chronic people pleaser who appeared to have it all, to losing it all to addiction, and her rise as a deeply authentic entrepreneur dedicated to helping others find their authentic voice.

Sherry has a master’s degree, an executive MBA, studied marketing at Yale, and spent nearly 30 years working in strategic, omnichannel marketing for everyone from start-ups to multi-billion dollar international conglomerates.

https://youtu.be/qllhPMGkQL8?si=MH2-6vGl-0jqdszq

https://linktr.ee/sherrysutton

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

Captivate the Mic with Elaine Williams is THE podcast for coaches, speakers, authors, lawyers and really anyone who speaks under pressure who wants to master the art of captivating speaking. 

This podcast is for you if you are looking to craft compelling stories, develop a charismatic voice, expand your executive stage presence and have fun while doing it!

Our multiple award-winning host and her guests will give you, the aspiring captivating speaker, the tools you need to maximize your creativity and breakthrough mindset barriers surrounding your speaking and on camera skills. You will get tips and insider secrets we have learned to raise the power of your content and the quality of your performance and delivery.  
 
 This podcast focuses on strategies that will help you to:

-Become a masterful story teller

-Boost your confidence on stage and on camera

-Be able to create vivid pictures for your audiences

-Craft stories that are compelling and have people leaning in for more

-Learn how to use your voice to have more vocal variety & charisma

-Authentically connect with any audience fast

-Always be entertaining, educational and inspiring

-Learn how to use humor to get more related

-Know the pro tips to be ready for lights, camera, action

Your award-winning host, Elaine Williams shares her professional speaker and performer insights with fun banter and energy. She was recently nominated for Speaker of the Year. 

Elaine is a video performance coach, keynote speaker, speaker coach, best-selling author and comedian who has over a decade of experience working with entrepreneurs to build confidence and a captivating presence on camera and with public speaking to get their message out in the world with authenticity, ease and humor. 

In this podcast, you will hear interviews with expert guests who share how they started on their business and creative journeys and the important lessons they learned to get where they are today. You will hear from experts who have been in business for over a decade, experts who have turned their creativity into successful businesses, and experts who have overcome incredible obstacles and have lived to laugh and talk about it. 

After each guest expert shares their captivating story, together we will review the nuances of what really worked during their delivery so that the listener will walk away with writing and performance tips.

There will be inspiring takeaways from every interview that you can immediately apply to your speaking and on-camera journey. We dive into mindset lessons as well as practical growth strategy lessons.

Be ready to get powerful, actionable tips, and strategies that you can use to grow your presence in your niche. Through this podcast, you will grow your skills as a storyteller, writer, performer, content creator, interviewer, and business person.

We believe your voice is powerful, your story needs to be told, and there is someone out there who will be inspired because you dared to share your story!

If you are looking for a commu

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

📝 Show Notes Summary

In this powerful episode, Elaine welcomes her first male guest to Captivate the Mic — master trainer, leadership consultant, and communicator Ron Reich. Together, they explore what leadership truly looks like in 2025 and how the best leaders today are creating space, safety, and culture from the inside out.

Ron shares wisdom on how to handle emotionally charged situations using his “PRD Model” (Pause, Reflect, Decide), and offers strategies for building psychological safety, even in blue-collar or high-turnover environments. From feedback stories to leadership blind spots, this conversation is rich with actionable insight and surprising depth.

💡 Key Takeaways

• PRD Model: Pause, Reflect, then Decide — a powerful tool for responding vs. reacting
• **Why “What’s NOT Changing” is vital during times of transition
• **The real difference between managing and leading
• **How feedback (even the tough kind) can sharpen your leadership if you listen deeply
• **Why top-down culture-building often fails — and what works instead
• **Creating psychological safety starts before the training even begins
• **How to invite quieter team members to contribute without forcing them

🔥 Pull Quotes

• “We don’t talk enough about what’s not changing — that’s where the anchor is.”
• “Leadership isn’t about talking more. It’s about creating the space so others feel safe enough to speak.”
• “You know you’re leading well when you can sit back and drink tea.”
• “Great cultures aren’t dictated. They’re co-created.”

Ron Reich – Leadership Expert | Executive Coach | Corporate Trainer

Ron Reich is a seasoned leadership consultant and executive coach with over 28 years of experience in training design, development, and facilitation. He specializes in cultivating high-performing leaders through impactful leadership and management development, executive coaching, supervision training, and dynamic team-building experiences.

With a deep understanding of organizational behavior and communication dynamics, Ron is known for creating safe, transformative learning environments where individuals and teams thrive. His engaging facilitation style and practical, real-world insights have made him a trusted partner for companies across a wide range of industries.

A lifelong learner and voracious reader, Ron stays at the forefront of leadership trends, research, and best practices through his daily habit of reading articles, newsletters, and books. He brings that curiosity and rigor to every training session and coaching conversation, helping clients evolve with purpose and precision.

Elaine and Ron have been colleagues and friends for years. They both LOVE personal development and the unlimited possibilities of human potential and all things leadership!

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

📝 SHOW NOTES:

In this heartfelt and wildly inspiring episode of Captivate the Mic, Elaine sits down with her brilliant, badass cousin Melissa Williams—a 10-time world champion equestrian, ranch owner, and lifelong horse whisperer.

Melissa shares jaw-dropping stories from the show ring (think Olympic-level Saddlebreds and flying horses on “Air Force One” 🐴✈️), growing up with horses in Canada, and what it really takes to compete—and win—at the highest levels.

But this conversation is more than trophies and ribbons.

It’s about:

• How the messiest moments shape the strongest leaders
• Why horses are powerful mirrors for how we show up in life and leadership
• The deeply healing and intuitive connection between women and horses
• And the incredible leadership retreat Elaine and Melissa are co-hosting in May!

Together, they’re bringing their wisdom, humor, and heart to a transformational 4-day retreat for women leaders ready to step into deeper authenticity, clarity, and power—guided by horses, nature, and their own embodied presence.

✨ This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• What horses can teach us about leadership and emotional intelligence
• Why authenticity beats perfection every time
• What it feels like to lose… and come back stronger
• How to lead from your presence—not your performance

📅 Interested in the retreat?

It’s happening May 7-10, 2025 at Melissa’s breathtaking ranch in California.

🌄 Horses. Leadership. Nervous system resets. Real transformation.

👉 Link to Join Us

🎥 Watch for Q&As and sneak peeks on YouTube and social

🐎 Connect with Melissa:

Want to know more about Melissa, her ranch, or her powerhouse real estate and production work? Check the links in the show notes below.

🧲 P.S. If you’re an expert who knows you need to be more visible—especially on video—Elaine can help you create short, powerful content that captivates and converts. Let’s chat!

📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Melissa’s hilarious “no pressure” welcome

06:45 – Growing up with horses (and surviving Alberta winters)

13:20 – Lessons in discipline, heartbreak, and winning

27:50 – Saddlebred history & battle moves on horseback

36:00 – The healing power of horses & emotional attunement

48:10 – Flying horses, million-dollar show rings & Louisville

1:08:15 – From failure to world champion: Melissa’s comeback story

1:16:00 – A sneak peek at the Leadership + Horse Whispering Retreat

1:24:00 – Why this experience will shift how you lead forever

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!

Send us a text

In this inspiring and jam-packed episode of Captivate the Mic, Elaine Williams sits down with the phenomenal PR guru, Jill Lublin. Known for her expertise in media, kindness, and visibility, Jill shares golden nuggets of wisdom for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and anyone looking to make an impact.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

•The power of kindness circles and how they foster connection, growth, and positivity.

•Why 30 minutes of visibility-building activities each week can transform your career.

•How to create the “I’ve heard of you somewhere” effect and keep your message top of mind.

•Tips for leveraging holidays and trending topics to pitch your unique message.

•How Google Alerts can uncover golden PR opportunities like World Kindness Day.

Jill also shares behind-the-scenes stories about working with Jack Canfield, how she’s reinvented her signature PR bootcamps into her Media Mastery Intensive, and why consistency and persistence are the secret sauce to lasting PR success.

🎁 FREE GIFT: Jill is offering listeners a complimentary Publicity Action Guide and access to her free publicity masterclass. Don’t miss this opportunity to dive deeper into her proven strategies!

👉 Grab it now: JillLublin.com/guide

💬 Favorite Quotes from the Episode:

•“Your message matters.” – Jill Lublin

•“Keep showing up – that’s the key to PR success.” – Jill Lublin

🌟 Resources Mentioned:

•Join the Kindness Circles

•Jill’s book: The Profit of Kindness

•PR Training: Media Mastery Intensive

Connect with your Host, Elaine Williams:
Check out Captivate the Mic Podcast on Elaine's YouTube Channel
Check out the Captivate the Crowd Website
Follow Elaine on Social- LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Want to schedule a free chat with Elaine? Click here to book a zoom date!