Sometimes, when I hit \u201cplay\u201d on a podcast, I have to admit I am left wondering if the host ever considered learning a bit more about how to speak and communicate effectively. After all, most of us aren\u2019t born with a microphone in hand and natural talent for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

But when I sat down to interview the National Speakers Association\u2019s Rhette Baughman (CRO) and Thom Singer (Podcast Host), I knew I\u2019d be talking with pros. They didn\u2019t disappoint.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Future Is Here\u2014and They Got an \u201cEarful\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

The NSA\u2019s audio-publishing journey started out with a series on cassette tape. Every month, members of the National Speakers Association waited with anticipation for the new tape to arrive. Then, it evolved into a CD\u2026 and eventually, into <\/span>Speakernomics<\/span><\/i> with host Thom Singer!<\/span><\/p>\n

But the move was strangely controversial. With an audience that skews older, the NSA \u201cgot an earful\u201d about their move, as my grandmother would say.<\/span><\/p>\n

The pushback didn\u2019t discourage Rhette at all. He went all in, adding Clubhouse to the plan, too!<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing Beyond the Membership<\/b><\/p>\n

As the NSA looked to shift into podcasting and reach a younger demographic (because who\u2019s even got a CD player in their car these days?), their goal was to develop a show that would be a resource for more than just their members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Speakernomics<\/span><\/i> is for anyone who uses the spoken word for business:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
• speakers,<\/span><\/li>\n
• trainers,<\/span><\/li>\n
• podcasters,<\/span><\/li>\n
• consultants,<\/span><\/li>\n
• coaches,<\/span><\/li>\n
• event planners,<\/span><\/li>\n
• schools and teachers,<\/span><\/li>\n
• and, of course, professional speakers!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  They moved from monthly content releases to weekly (it\u2019s obviously a little bit easier to publish an mp3 than ship a CD in the mail), utilizing a model that allows them to quickly address trends, news, and anything affecting the world of professional speaking.<\/span><\/p>\n

  This creation and innovation moved them toward expanding the audience the NSA can reach, so they can share their decades of knowledge and experience with even more people.<\/span><\/p>\n

  The Art and Business of Speaking<\/b><\/p>\n

  Speaking requires a balance of art and business to succeed. For so many who want to be speakers, NSA is <\/span>the<\/span><\/i> go-to resource.<\/span><\/p>\n

  And that\u2019s the approach Thom keeps in mind with every episode.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

  No industry jargon. No insider \u2018baseball\u2019 that outsiders don\u2019t understand. Everything is broken down into plain English and distilled into actionable, implementable steps for listeners.<\/span><\/p>\n

  Am I Interested in This? (Got Two Tips?)<\/b><\/p>\n

  As Thom planned out the structure for the podcast, he wondered, <\/span>\u201cWhat if we give our guests an opportunity to \u2018wow\u2019 the audience from the start?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

  How could they grab the listener’s attention and help each listener know for sure whether the episode was something they were interested in?<\/span><\/p>\n

  Thom had a great solution. The first question he asks, before the interview begins: <\/span>\u201cWhat are your two tips?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

  The interviewee then gets to shine by revealing his or her best strategies or tactics, and the audience members can figure out right away if the episode is a good one for them or if they should skip to the next.<\/span><\/p>\n

  Speakernomic<\/span><\/i>\u2019s schedule is packed full of interviews with working speakers (translation: they aren\u2019t just teaching you how to do it\u2014they\u2019ve actually done it!) who share a gold mine of their best, real-world speaking experience and wisdom.<\/span><\/p>\n

  Looking for <\/b>Crazier<\/i><\/b> Things<\/b><\/p>\n

  Usually, when I ask about the types of guests a podcast host is looking for, the answer is a list of big names. But I laughed when Thom and Rhette shared their guest goals with me:<\/span><\/p>\n

  Yes, they want Tony Robbins (someone make an intro\u2014and tell them you read about this in <\/span>Podcast Magazine<\/span><\/i>\u00ae).<\/span><\/p>\n

  But they\u2019re also looking for <\/span>\u201cpeople doing crazy things on social media.\u201d<\/span><\/i> Or crazy things in the speaking world. Or crazy things in the event world (hello Covid-inspired creativity!).<\/span><\/p>\n

  You can\u2019t help but love an association that isn\u2019t taking itself too seriously, while still delivering seriously valuable content.<\/span><\/p>\n

  No suits required for an interview here. Just crazy effective strategies and ideas to share. It\u2019s no wonder the podcast\u2019s reach is growing so quickly!<\/span><\/p>\n

  What\u2019s Coming in 2021?<\/b><\/p>\n

  I had to ask the question no one in the speaking space is excited to discuss: <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s been a weird year or two here. What do you see as the future for professional speakers, when events aren\u2019t happening, and we don\u2019t know when they\u2019ll be back?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

  And Thom and Rhette were candid:<\/span><\/p>\n

  \n
  • It may be another year or two before we see in-person events come back strong again.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • 2019 set records for the business of live meetings. It will bounce back.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The opportunities are still out there, if you know where to find them (consider virtual opportunities, too).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    But what was more interesting to me was their advice for speakers:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
    • Diversify your revenue streams–add coaching, training, or consulting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      And if you\u2019re already listening to <\/span>Speakernomics<\/span><\/i>, you know that\u2019s exactly what they\u2019re sharing\u2014tips around:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
      • Adding multiple streams of revenue to your speaking business.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Repurposing your content and streamlining your marketing.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Improving your sales skills and conversations.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Developing your own coaching business around your expertise.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Creating an online course.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Licensing your content to others.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Building mastermind groups and peer support.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Getting paid for every \u201cstage\u201d you step on\u2014in more ways than you can imagine!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Did I mention the show\u2019s tagline is <\/span>\u201cSpeak, Get Paid, Repeat\u201d<\/span><\/i>? It fits.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Clearly Professionals<\/b><\/p>\n

        And then, Rhette and Thom took the fifth:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u201cI refuse to say.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

        I had asked them an easy question\u2014what is their favorite episode so far? They were clearly prepared for it and took a diplomatic approach\u2026 in fact, they changed the question!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        (I remember being taught this strategy in public speaking classes\u2014answer the question you wish the interviewer had asked, if you don\u2019t like the one actually asked. I just don\u2019t usually get that flipped on me! Pros, right there.)<\/span><\/p>\n

        Their most <\/span>downloaded<\/span><\/i> episode so far is \u201cYour Worst Critic with Denise Jacobs – Episode 7.\u201d (I suspect their favorite might be \u201cFocus Your Business with Sylvia Henderson – Episode 1,\u201d but that\u2019s just a guess from our discussion. Go listen to both.)<\/span><\/p>\n

        And It Flows Back into Everything<\/b><\/p>\n

        Rhette shared that they\u2019ve been surprised how much the podcast, and Thom himself, have influenced the way NSA approaches other aspects of their business.<\/span><\/p>\n

        They\u2019ve taken Thom\u2019s \u201ctwo quick tips\u201d idea and now use it to introduce stage speakers during their conferences. They\u2019ve also shifted their descriptions to incorporate podcast-style summaries that spotlight the valuable content they\u2019re sharing through all their channels.<\/span><\/p>\n

        If there\u2019s one big takeaway from the moves the National Speaker Association is making, it\u2019s that leveraging new technologies and moving into new channels is more than a marketing and visibility play.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Podcasting can grow your business in more ways that you realize.<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        July 2021 Issue<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Sometimes, when I hit \u201cplay\u201d on a podcast, I have to admit I am left wondering if the host ever considered learning a bit more about how to speak and communicate effectively. After all, most of us aren\u2019t born with a microphone in hand and natural talent for it. But when I sat down to interview the National Speakers Association\u2019s Rhette Baughman (CRO) and Thom Singer (Podcast Host), I knew I\u2019d be talking with pros. They didn\u2019t disappoint. The Future Is Here\u2014and They Got an \u201cEarful\u201d The NSA\u2019s audio-publishing journey started out with a series on cassette tape. Every month,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10551,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[295,1228,1223,1224,1225,1227,1226],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n