The Laylee Emadi Podcast — For Speakers, Coaches, and Course Creators

When most business owners think about growth, they usually think about marketing. They think about social media, speaking engagements, email funnels, paid ads, podcasts, partnerships, and networking. Rarely does a book make the top of the list. But what if a book isn’t just a book? vWhat if it’s a lead-generation tool, a client nurturing […] The post 237: Why Self-Publishing Might Be the Most Unde...

What if the most effective sales strategy isn’t pitching harder, but building trust first? In this episode, I’m breaking down three different ways speakers and educators can sell from the stage, including the method I personally use to consistently generate strong ROI from speaking engagements without delivering a hard pitch. I walk through the pros […] The post 236: Selling From the Stage: How Sp...

It’s no secret that the real magic of a conference doesn’t just happen on stage, but also in the coffee line, late-night lobby chats, and the brave conversations in between. Today, we’re joined by Dawn Richardson to recap the 2026 Creative Educator Conference! We talk about what felt different this year, why creating safe spaces […] The post 235: Recap of the 2026 Creative Educator Conference ft....

Sometimes the most aligned thing you can do in business is pause. The Creative Educator Conference is just weeks away, and I need to give it my full attention. Instead of stretching myself thin, I’m taking a brief hiatus from new podcast episodes over the next couple of months. Listen in as I share how […] The post Taking a Short Podcast Break—Join Me at The Creative Educator Conference appeared f...

How do you make networking not feel gross? In this episode, I chat with my friend and Creative Educator Conference alum Angelica Pompy about the art of intentional relationship building at live events. If you’ve been at an event with Angelica, you know she has networking down to a science! Angelica shares how she’s used […] The post 234: Event ROI Starts with Relationships: Strategic Networking fo...

As a long-time podcast host (and even longer-time podcast guest), I can respect the work that goes into creating a show and hosting interviews. Recently, the trust in this process was broken by hosts that simply didn’t value my time or honor the systems of podcasting. In today’s episode, I sit down with my own […] The post 233: How to Protect Your Reputation as a Podcast Host & Guest (Systems, Bou...

Ever wonder what really goes into setting intentional, aligned goals as a creative entrepreneur? In this episode, I’m giving you a transparent look behind the scenes at how I’m approaching 2026. We’ll take through what worked in 2025 and the challenges I’m not dragging into the new year. Listen in as I share my personal […] The post 232: Behind the Scenes: What I’m Building (and Letting Go of) in...

If you’ve ever wondered whether your voice is really valuable enough to be paid for, consider this episode your wake-up call. Tomasha Suber shares a behind-the-scenes insight that most speakers wish they had when starting out. Speaking is not just a visibility play—it’s a revenue strategy and your voice is an asset. Want to become […] The post 231: Your Voice Is Your Most Valuable Asset with Tomas...

Instagram growth without the gimmicks? Yes, please. In this episode, Shannon McKinstrie brings a refreshing perspective to marketing, ditching the “hot take” culture and helping people show up online in ways that feel human, ethical, and effective. We dive into what types of posts convert, how to overcome content paralysis, and why the “rules” of […] The post 230: Instagram Marketing That Doesn’t...

A safe space is necessary, but a brave space changes everything. In this snack-sized episode, I’m sharing a powerful moment from a conversation I had with Christina Olivarez inside the Sought-After Speaker System. Christina breaks down why it’s not enough to just create safety, but you have to create courage. Her event goes beyond inspiration […] The post 229: The Power of Brave Events for Entrepr...

Retreat hosts aren’t just booking a speaker, they’re inviting you into the most intimate room they’ve built. That changes everything. In this final episode of our speaker selection series, I’m pulling together my favorite clips from interviews with incredible retreat hosts inside my course, the Sought-After Speaker System. This time, we’re zeroing in on retreats: […] The post 228: What Retreat Hos...

Want to know what really happens after you hit submit on your speaker pitch? It’s easy to feel like your application disappears into a void, but today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the process that Conquer Live hosts take. I sat down with Jamie Fiscer and Heather Leicy to uncover what goes on behind […] The post 227: The Speaker Selection Process: What Event Organizers Look for in Speaker App...

What do event hosts actually look for when they book speakers? I sat down with 10 powerhouse event hosts who not only curate stages, but often speak on them too, and asked exactly that. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain to bring you their top 10 tips. These aren’t just theories; they’re what […] The post 226: 10 Insider Tips from Event Hosts on What Makes a Speaker Stand Out appeared f...

It’s not just what you say on stage—it’s how you show up in the room. In this snack sized episode, Joanna Waterfall shares what really makes a speaker memorable from a host’s perspective. Spoiler: it’s not just a killer keynote. Joanna gets real about the importance of showing up authentically before, during, and after your […] The post 225: How to Show Up and Stand Out as a Speaker ft. Joanna Wat...

Are unpaid speaking gigs worth it or a complete waste of your time? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a question that every industry educator and speaker eventually asks: “Should I take the stage if I’m not getting paid?” You’ll hear from powerhouse speakers and event hosts like Jordan Gill, Elizabeth Henson, […] The post 224: Are Unpaid Speaking Gigs Worth It? appeared first on Lay...

Ever wondered why some speakers get paid and others don’t? This episode spills the truth. In this honest, behind-the-scenes convo with Christina Olivarez, founder of Hustle + Socialize, we dig into what it really takes to build a sustainable event—especially when it comes to speaker pay. This is a raw and real look at how […] The post 223: How Conference Budgets Impact Who Gets Paid (And Who Doesn...

Money talk is always juicy, especially when it comes to speaker fees. In this behind-the-scenes episode, I’m doing something different: I’ve interviewed multiple event hosts to get their real, unfiltered takes on how they approach speaker compensation. Whether you’ve ever wondered why some gigs are unpaid or what kind of value you can still gain […] The post 222: Creative Industry Speaker Pay: The...

If you’ve ever thought, “I just need more followers to get booked”—this one’s for you. Followers don’t equal stages. In this snack-size episode, I’m sharing a powerful moment from my full interview with Kristina Bartold of High Vibe Women, available exclusively inside the Sought-After Speaker System course. Kristina has reviewed countless speaker applications, and she’s […] The post 221: Why Audie...

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after you hit “send” on a speaker pitch, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on speaker selection with real, raw insights straight from event hosts themselves. As part of my Sought After Speaker System course, I interviewed multiple hosts […] The post 220: What Conference & Event Hosts are Looking for in Sp...

You never know who’s watching and that’s exactly why showing up and sharing your expertise matters more than you think. In this snack-size episode pulled from my full interview with Frances Ledgewood, we explore how a casual conversation turned into booking her first speaker for her retreat. When you’re simply generous, curious, and collaborative, it […] The post 219: You Never Know Who’s Watching...

What if I told you that setting up your email right now could make or break your Black Friday sales? Building a solid Black Friday email strategy isn’t just about flashy sales and countdown timers—it’s about groundwork: authentication, deliverability, segmentation, warming—and planning ahead. In this episode, Dawn Richardson of Flodesk joins us to share what […] The post 218: 5 Email Marketing Tac...

If you’ve ever launched a course, membership, or product and wondered why your people aren’t engaging with the resources you worked so hard to create, this snack-size episode is for you. Pulled directly from a live Q&A inside the Educators Lounge, this conversation with Tayler Cusick-Hollman reveals what really goes on after the sale. During […] The post 217: Maintaining Member Retention & Engagem...

Ever wonder how conference speakers actually get chosen? I’m pulling back the curtain with one of the most sought-after event hosts in the creative industry. In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Kellie Penn, founder of The Reset Conference, for a candid conversation about how speaker applications are reviewed, what makes someone stand out, […] The post 216: Behind the Scenes of Conference Spea...

Ever feel stuck trying to decide if your membership should be monthly, six-month, or annual? In this snack-sized episode, I’m sharing a real coaching moment from inside The Educators Lounge where we unpack how to confidently set your membership commitment length and how to communicate it so potential members feel supported, not trapped. This conversation […] The post 215: How to Choose the Perfect...

From $40K a month on Etsy to $1.3M a month in coaching and education, Dylan Jahraus has figured out what works for her audience. I met Dylan Jarris at a mastermind in Nashville, and within five minutes, I knew her story needed to be on this podcast. She’s an e-commerce powerhouse with 13+ years of […] The post 214: How Dylan Jahraus Built a $1 Million Per Month Coaching & Education Business appear...