Making It with Jess Ekstrom

For bestselling author Sarah Hoover, motherhood wasn’t blissful. It was brutal. Her postpartum depression hit like a tidal wave, pulling her into the darkest year of her life - and no one had warned her. Today, Jess sits down with Sarah to talk about the abrupt whiplash of parenthood—from the identity crisis, the rage, the silence, and the slow process to recovery. Sarah’s book The Mother Load has...

If you’ve ever looked at confident people and thought, “That could never be me,” this episode might flip your whole narrative. This week, Jess sits down with Selena Rezvani a LinkedIn Top Voice, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of Quick Confidence, to dismantle the myth that confidence is something you’re born with. Spoiler: it’s not. It’s something you build , one rep at a time. Selena shares...

 In this episode, Jess Ekstrom is joined by Molly Fletcher, a former top sports agent and now one of the world’s most sought-after keynote speakers, to talk about what confidence really looks like behind the scenes. From protecting your energy to saying “yes” to the stage, Molly shares practical advice on how to step into your power and show up with purpose. (even when self-doubt creeps in!)  Moll...

In today’s competitive workplace, being a standout means being a professional guru and making a memorable presence. In today's episode, Lorraine will share proven strategies to help you stand out, gain influence, and create a presence that makes you truly unforgettable. Fortune 500 companies, including Amazon, Zoom, Cisco, and McKinsey & Company, have adopted Lorraine's frameworks. With hundre...

Fear has a sneaky way of keeping us stuck. It takes many shapes and forms, like going after a new opportunity, negotiating a raise, or speaking up for ourselves. In this episode of Amplify with Jess Ekstrom , Jess sits down with author, speaker, and former Google exec Jenny Wood to talk about how to move through fear and unlock more success, joy, and courage in your career. Jenny shares stories fr...

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 av...

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 s...

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 .

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. --- Dr. John Delony is a mental health expert who offers guidan...

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? --...

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...

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,...

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 pi...

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...

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? --- Ra...

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...

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. S...

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 gross or net meant. When asked, "How is your business structured?",  I would respond, "Strongly."  A five-year plan - heck, ev...

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 bra...

We usually see things as black and white, especially when trying something new. So, how can we shift that mindset?  There's just one word you can add to remind yourself: it's not that we're not there; it's that we're not there yet. 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 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: How...

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 se...

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: The Power of Vulnerability : Coach Kiah share...

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.  ---- Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom. Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence ,...

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. She talks with Jess about her journey after Mic Drop, sharing tips for aspiring speakers on what to know, how to handle rejection, and why setting boun...