{"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":"Keys to Thriving as a Professional Speaker with Brian Lord","slug":"keys-to-thriving-as-a-professional-speaker-with-brian-lord","published_at":"2025-10-21T10:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882/keys-to-thriving-as-a-professional-speaker-with-brian-lord","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/e7f8caa4-040a-4d82-a414-200de973dffb.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","audio_url":"https://pdst.fm/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/rss.art19.com/episodes/e7f8caa4-040a-4d82-a414-200de973dffb.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","summary":"“When downselling, it’s really good to say, ‘Who is above me, and who is below me?’ And then also find out, looking laterally, who do you compete against? Who is within a similar fee range?...Who can I refer that might fit along that axis.” In this episode, Grant Baldwin teams up with industry insider Brian Lord of Premier Speakers Bureau for a conversation about what it takes to succeed as a speaker. Brian’s insight is simple: know your place in the market, nurture real relationships, and don’t underestimate the power of referrals. Brian shares his “speakers matrix” concept, challenging every speaker to map out who’s above, below, and alongside them in terms of fees and content. Why? Because networking up and down this axis isn’t just smart, it’s essential. Those connections bring in gigs you’d otherwise miss and make sure you’re not flying solo in the business. Brian’s biggest reminder is to not get lost in the latest trends. AI may be hot, but your authentic message and consistently fresh content are what keep you booked and relevant. And always, always deliver value offstage because event planners love a speaker who’s great to work with, not just to watch. Moreover, if you’re an independent speaker, these strategies matter even more. The takeaway from this episode is to focus on building your network, referring others, and adapting as the industry evolves. Impact and bookings come from meaningful relationships, not complicated tactics, because it’s human connection that grows your career, one conversation and one referral at a time! You’ll learn: The role of a speaker as a message bearer Understanding down-sells and up-sells Effective networking and referral strategies Creating variations of your core service Emotional separation from your “product” The “Free marke…","meta_description":"“When downselling, it’s really good to say, ‘Who is above me, and who is below me?’ And then also find out, looking laterally, who do you compete against?…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2784,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-speaker-lab-podcast-454882/episodes/keys-to-thriving-as-a-professional-speaker-with-brian-lord/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/keys-to-thriving-as-a-professional-speaker-with-brian-lord.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}