Speaking To Expand

In this episode, Monica Massey shares her journey from a high-powered C-suite executive at a $20 billion organization to building a professional speaking and consulting business. She breaks down the realities of becoming a paid speaker, what actually works, what does not, and why talent alone is not enough to get booked. From networking over coffee to building a credibility stack, Monica offers pr...

What would you do if doctors told you to go home and die? Eric Drew was diagnosed with a terminal form of leukemia and given no hope. After failed treatments at top U.S. hospitals, he refused to accept hospice as his only option. Instead, he leveraged his Silicon Valley mindset, global network, and relentless determination to find a life-saving stem cell treatment overseas. In this powerful conver...

What if your pain became the reason you built wealth? Amber McCollum is a real estate investor, private money lender, entrepreneur, and emerging public speaker who scaled her business 100x in just five months, while working a 9-to-5 and living with multiple sclerosis. In this powerful conversation, Amber shares: How losing her father reshaped her financial mission Why end-of-life care changed her...

Podcasting is often dismissed as oversaturated, but is that actually true? In this episode of Speaking to Expand, host Ryan sits down with podcasting expert Carl Richards to break down what really drives podcast success today. From why most podcasts fade out after a few episodes to how speakers and entrepreneurs can use podcasting as a long-term credibility engine, this conversation reframes what...

Speaking is one of the fastest ways to expand your confidence, clarity, and growth. In this episode, Conway Bown explores the idea of speaking to expand, how developing your ability to communicate clearly and confidently can transform how you show up in life and work. This conversation looks at the deeper connection between voice and personal expansion, and why so many people unknowingly limit the...

Speaking isn’t just about being heard, it’s about who you become in the process. In this episode, Matt Robinson explores how speaking acts as a catalyst for personal expansion, confidence, and clarity. Rather than treating public speaking as a performance skill, Matt reframes it as a growth practice that shapes identity, presence, and self-trust. We discuss: -Why speaking accelerates personal grow...

Speaking to Expand explores how using your voice strategically can unlock growth in your influence, opportunities, and personal impact. In this episode, Chris Widener breaks down why speaking isn’t just about communication, it’s about expansion. Expansion of mindset. Expansion of reach. Expansion of the opportunities available to you when you’re willing to step up and share your message. Whether y...

What if speaking wasn’t about being heard, sounding confident, or getting it right, but about expanding who you are ? In this episode, Anne Boysen explores the deeper function of voice and expression, reframing speaking as a practice that shapes your identity, nervous system, and capacity to take up space . Rather than treating communication as performance, Anne invites us into a more embodied app...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with neurofeedback therapist and global speaker Lynette Louise for a raw conversation about what it really takes to turn your life story into a speaking career. In this episode, Lynette opens up about raising six kids (four with special needs), why she hesitated to speak at first, and the unexpected emotional cost of sharing your truth on stage. Her story didn’t j...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with Dan to talk about how burning out at a dream job turned into a complete transformation of life and purpose. In this episode, Dan shares the story of leaving a 20‑year BBC career after a panic attack, why success as the world defines it almost cost him everything, and how coaching and speaking gave him a new mission to help others avoid the same path. The Spea...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with event planner Rachel Marie to reveal what really goes on behind the scenes when speakers get booked for events. In this episode, Rachel shares why most speakers pitch the wrong way, what event planners actually look for, and how being yourself can open doors to the stages you’ve been dreaming of. The SpeakingToExpand podcast, hosted by Ryan Brady, features va...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with Michelle Petties to explore how a deeply personal story can grow into a full-time speaking career. In this episode, Michelle shares her journey from decades of food addiction to the TEDx stage, the fear she had to face before ever stepping on stage, and how telling her story opened doors she never imagined – from books to workshops to a thriving speaking busi...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with transformational coach and global speaker Daniel Aaron, who shares the simple rule that changed how he books paid speaking gigs and why most coaches and entrepreneurs get this part wrong. In this episode, Daniel unpacks how his “divine whack” moment shifted his mindset, what he looks for in any audience, and how real spiritual alignment attracts more clients...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with former Disney Executive Lee Cockerell, who shares how he went from managing 40,000+ cast members at Disney World to coaching leaders and speaking around the world. In this episode, Lee opens up about the risks he took, the lessons Disney taught him about people and performance, and why he built the Cockerell Academy to keep teaching long after retirement. The...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with TEDx organizer and coach Darryll Stinson, who shares the single piece of advice that transformed how he approaches speaking — and turned rejection into his biggest advantage. In this episode, Darryll breaks down how he went from arguing in the car to landing his first TEDx talk, why selling solutions (not speeches) changed everything, and the mindset shift ev...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with TEDx organizer Anouk Rizzo, who shares what makes TEDx feel different in Europe and why the brand still carries an air of exclusivity. In this episode, Anouk breaks down how she built a TEDx event in France, the cultural tension between elitism and accessibility, and what it really takes to make big ideas feel relatable for everyday people. The SpeakingToExpa...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with sales expert and speaker Scott Schilling, who shares what 3,000+ talks have taught him about selling without feeling like a salesperson. In this episode, Scott reveals why the best speakers don’t pitch, they serve, connect, and build trust first. He breaks down the mindset shift that led to over $25 million in sales, and the one mistake most speakers make whe...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with strategist and storyteller Chris Hood, who shares how he turned public speaking into a client-generating engine, without chasing stages or pitching services. In this episode, Chris breaks down how one well-placed talk (and one book) led to real consulting deals, why intention beats self-promotion, and how the best business development strategy might just be t...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with design leader and TEDx coach Bob Baxley, who shares the surprising truth behind every unforgettable talk: it’s not about slides, it’s about story. In this episode, Bob breaks down why the best speakers connect emotionally, how he prepares talks for both billionaires and kids, and what it really takes to create a moment people won’t forget. The SpeakingToExpan...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with transformational speaker and coach Antone Wilson, who shares the one discipline that completely shifted the trajectory of his life. In this episode, Antone opens up about the mindset he built after hitting rock bottom, how structure unlocked his confidence, and why discipline is the foundation of true freedom, both on stage and in life. The SpeakingToExpand p...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with Alessio Toniolo, a high school senior who got rejected by TEDx three times and then went on to organize his own TEDx event. In this episode, Alessio shares how he went from overlooked to in charge, what most people get wrong about TEDx, and why your age or resume doesn't matter nearly as much as your idea. The SpeakingToExpand podcast, hosted by Ryan Bra...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with comedian-turned-corporate keynoter Greg Schwem, who shares the story of a single joke that nearly ended his set and ended up shifting his entire career. In this episode, Greg unpacks the real risk of using humor in professional settings, why laughter creates lasting connection, and what every speaker can learn from a well-timed punchline. The SpeakingToExpand...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with Izdihar Jamil, the TEDx organizer of Huntington Beach, to unpack her powerful journey, from getting rejected multiple times as a speaker to eventually building her own TEDx event from the ground up. In this episode, she shares what it really takes to step into leadership, how she trains her speakers like elite athletes, and the one belief every aspiring TEDx...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with Bob Canepa, a veteran speaker booker who’s been the gatekeeper for thousands of events over the past 40+ years. Bob shares the hidden rules most speakers never hear, why he rejects 90% of pitches, what separates a “good” speaker from a great one, and how to actually land more stages. If you want to get booked, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss. The...

TEDx Speaker Ryan Brady sits down with high-performance coach and culture consultant Alexis Carpenter, who shares how getting let go after 12 years in corporate leadership led her to discover her true calling. From navigating foster care to leading 50-person teams, Alexis shares how her voice became her greatest asset and how she now helps organizations shift culture by putting people first. The S...