{"podcast":{"title":"The Speaker Lab Podcast","slug":"the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882","podcast_index_feed_id":454882,"rss_url":"https://rss.art19.com/the-speaker-lab-podcast","website_url":"https://art19.com/shows/the-speaker-lab-podcast","image_url":"https://content.production.cdn.art19.com/images/2c/ce/0f/5c/2cce0f5c-c25c-4ec1-83b6-f1b22b259e8a/5be90ff2e4148eff82740edd1e07035eed13b2e742a922bee20c53404e275e41c9a9c4983fb1f690632d0b24a5f76c6413d28616c74c72f37221807461f57496.jpeg","author":"The Speaker Lab","episode_count":639,"summary":"Want to learn how to get booked and paid to speak — consistently? The Speaker Lab podcast features business tactics, speaking tips, and insider strategies from TSL CEO Dan Irvin, The Speaker Lab coaches, and some of the world's most successful speakers. You'll learn how to find speaking gigs, build relationships in your industry, negotiate higher speaker fees, and grow your speaking business. Every week, this podcast will give you key insights and practical advice from speakers who have been there and done that and can help you take the next step in your speaking journey. Whether you’re just getting started as a paid speaker or you’re a veteran speaker looking to build and grow your business, The Speaker Lab Podcast is here for you!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-09T22:19:38.585210+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882"},"episode":{"title":"Building Your Off Ramp: From Corporate to Full-Time Speaking with Velera Wilson","slug":"building-your-off-ramp-from-corporate-to-full-time-speaking-with-velera-wilson","published_at":"2026-01-20T11:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882/building-your-off-ramp-from-corporate-to-full-time-speaking-with-velera-wilson","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882","url":"https://pdst.fm/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/rss.art19.com/episodes/9316caa9-23c7-4d73-80eb-73276525ca3b.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/rss.art19.com/episodes/9316caa9-23c7-4d73-80eb-73276525ca3b.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","summary":"“Sometimes in today’s society, there’s a pressure to do entrepreneurship the right way. Others have the Instagram businesses that everybody makes look good, but I think everyone has their own particular situation and scenarios.” Welcome to another episode of The Speaker Lab Podcast ! In this episode, host Grant Baldwin welcomes speaker and author Velera Wilson, a remarkable leader who candidly shares her journey from corporate executive to building a thriving full-time speaking business. Velera opens up about the pivotal moments that led her to pursue her passion, from years of speaking in executive roles and nonprofit associations, to leaping into an unexpected corporate layoff. She discusses the behind-the-scenes reality: building her “off ramp” while juggling executive responsibilities, the importance of being selective with dream-sharing, and developing the grit to keep moving forward despite doubts and dry spells. Through her story, Velera reveals practical strategies for anyone considering a similar path: how to parlay your existing skills and network into new opportunities, why having a book is helpful but not essential to get booked, and the necessity of treating speaking like a business. She also emphasizes the need for community, highlighting the crucial role The Speaker Lab played in providing mentorship, camaraderie, and real-world advice about the unpredictable cycles of this industry. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just contemplating your first paid gig, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom on marketing yourself, managing your mindset, and designing a transition that fits your life and goals! You’ll learn: Managing hesitation from financial insecurity Analyzing the value of writing a book versus focusing on speaking gigs Financial considera…","meta_description":"“Sometimes in today’s society, there’s a pressure to do entrepreneurship the right way. Others have the Instagram businesses that everybody makes look goo…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2310,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882/episodes/building-your-off-ramp-from-corporate-to-full-time-speaking-with-velera-wilson/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882/building-your-off-ramp-from-corporate-to-full-time-speaking-with-velera-wilson.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}