Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

In this episode, I sit down with Teri DeLucca for a candid conversation about what really happens behind the scenes in the speaking industry, from getting your first speaking engagements to negotiating fees, navigating “pay-to-play” conferences, and building the confidence to take bigger stages.

Teri shares how she went from feeling intimidated and unsure if she belonged on stage to becoming an in-demand speaker traveling across the country. 

We talk openly about the realities many speakers face but few discuss publicly: speaking for free, undercharging, the gender pay gap in speaking fees, networking with other speakers, and learning to see speaking not as performance — but as service.

We also dive into Teri’s new AI platform, Luma, a human-centered AI “thinking partner” designed to support educators and leaders with communication, stress management, organizational culture, and decision-making. Plus, she shares exciting news about becoming a finalist for a grant funded through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on women and AI innovation.
If you’ve ever wondered:
How speakers actually get booked
When to speak for free (and when not to)
How to raise your speaking fees with confidence
What event organizers don’t tell speakers
How AI is changing leadership and work
Or whether you really have what it takes to speak…
…this conversation is for you.

About Our Guest: Dr. Teri DeLucca is a developmental psychologist and the founder of Impact Early Education, which equips leaders with strategies that improve outcomes for children, teams, and businesses. She holds a dual PhD and previously worked as a research scientist specializing in teacher-child interactions and early intervention in neurocognitive and social-emotional development. Dr. DeLucca has successfully operated schools, reducing staff turnover, strengthening school culture, and driving sustainable growth. In addition to her work in education, she speaks nationally to corporate organizations and women’s groups on personal leadership, communication, resilience, and coaching strategies. She is a published author, award-winning researcher, speaker, and recognized leader in the industry.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. 

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/474/  

Teri’s website: https://impactearlyed.com/ 

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Connect on LinkedIn:
Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
Teri DeLucca (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-teri-delucca-46b296200/  
Related Podcast Episodes:
Episode 338: Escaping the Expert Trap: From Academic Presenter to Sought-After Speaker with Teri DeLucca

I love when I stumble across someone I know doing something big—and that’s exactly what happened with today’s guest.
I spotted one of our Thought Leader Academy grads Kim Foster on YouTube…with a video that had over 1.5 million views. Naturally, I wanted to know how she did it!

In this episode, Kim and I dig into what it really takes to grow a YouTube channel that drives visibility, trust, and clients.

She shares how consistency, smart content strategy, and paying attention to your audience can completely change the trajectory of your brand.
We also talk about her recent TEDx talk, her upcoming book, and why identity, not willpower, is the real key to transformation.

If you’ve been thinking about YouTube, speaking, or stepping more fully into your thought leadership, this conversation will give you a lot to think about.

About Our Guest: Dr. Kim Foster is an MD-turned–reinvention expert, author, and TEDx speaker who helps people change their lives by changing who they believe themselves to be. After 20 years practicing medicine, Kim left her career to build a global platform teaching the science of identity transformation. Her work blends behavioral psychology, personal development, and wellness, and she develops digital education programs that help people redesign their inner blueprint and build lives that actually reflect the person they’re becoming. Her thriving YouTube channel has grown to more than 250,000 subscribers and her forthcoming book, Redesigning You (June 2026), explores how to shift the beliefs and stories that shape behavior and destiny. Kim’s mission is to empower people to reinvent themselves at any age and step into who they were meant to become.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. 

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/473/  

Kim’s website: https://drkimfoster.com/ 

Kim’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KimFosterMD 

Kim’s book: https://drkimfoster.com/book 

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Connect on LinkedIn:
Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
Kim Foster (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkimfoster/ 
Related Podcast Episodes:
Episode 357: Create Real Change by Shifting Your Identity to Who You Want to Be with Kim Foster

What makes a motivational talk actually stick, long after the applause?

In this audio from our Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand live show, you’ll experience powerful, real-time signature talks from three of our recent Thought Leader Academy grads Kimberly Brock, Susana Alvarez, and Teresa Phillips.

Each blends personal story, practical frameworks, and a clear message that moves beyond inspiration into action.

Hear how each speaker:
Uses personal turning points to create emotional connection
Translates their experiences into clear, teachable frameworks
Balances heart + strategy so the audience feels and learns
Invites the audience into reflection and real change
If you’re working on your own signature talk or want your message to resonate more deeply, this session will show you what “motivational speaking with substance” actually looks like in practice.
We also have a roundtable discussion about what they’ve learned from being in the Thought Leader Academy and what’s next for them as speakers and thought leaders.

You can watch the video at https://youtube.com/live/dzS1lEkZu-k.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. 

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/472/ 

Watch the video at https://youtube.com/live/dzS1lEkZu-k

Kimberly’s website: https://www.kimberlybrock.com/ 

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Apply for our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Connect on LinkedIn:
Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
Kimberly Brock = https://www.linkedin.com/in/startwithkimberlybrock/ 
Susana Alvarez = https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanaalvarezsrprojectmanager/ 
Teresa Phillips = https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-phillips-01249720b/ 
Related Podcast Episodes:
Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You

What separates a good talk from a true thought leadership talk?
It’s not just the story; it’s what you do with it.

In this audio from our Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand live show, you’ll hear powerful 10-minute signature talks from two of our recent Thought Leader Academy grads Heather Beebe and Lauren Yankoff, each transforming personal experience into clear, actionable frameworks.

Hear how they:
Turn real-life challenges into compelling audience entry points
Reveal the deeper problem most people are missing
Introduce simple, memorable frameworks that guide action
Move from story → insight → transformation
If you’ve ever wondered how to go from “telling your story” to delivering a talk that positions you as a thought leader, this session will show you exactly how it’s done.
We also have a roundtable discussion about what they’ve learned from being in the Thought Leader Academy and what’s next for them as speakers and thought leaders.

You can watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5XgfQgtW5s. 

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. 

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/471/ 

Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5XgfQgtW5s 

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Join our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Connect on LinkedIn:
Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz
Lauren Yankoff = https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-yankoff/ 
Heather Beebe = https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbeebe/ 
Related Podcast Episodes:
Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You

We’re pulling back the curtain on the speaker industry. If you’ve been scrolling lately, you’ve probably seen the promises: guaranteed TEDx talks, booked-out speaking calendars, five-figure fees overnight. It’s tempting. It’s also where a lot of people get burned.

We share the biggest red flags we’re seeing—from “guaranteed” results to high-pressure sales tactics—and why those shortcuts rarely lead to the outcomes you actually want.
We also break down the truth about paying to get a spot on a TEDx stage (including what the rules actually say), speaker bureaus, and those offers that land in your inbox sounding just a little too polished.

But this isn’t just about what to avoid—it’s about what actually works.

We talk about how to build a speaking platform that’s aligned, sustainable, and profitable—without chasing every opportunity or outsourcing your voice. 

This includes how to think about visibility, why relationships matter more than cold outreach, and how to focus on the quality of speaking engagements instead of just the quantity.

If you’ve been wondering whether you’re “missing something” or if there’s a faster way to grow your speaking, this episode will give you clarity - and probably save you some money too.
Because the real path to becoming a sought-after speaker isn’t a shortcut, it’s a strategy.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/470/ 

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Our Become Bookable workshop: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable/ 

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Attend our 1-day Speaking Accelerator Workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/ 

Connect on LinkedIn:
Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/ 

Related Podcast Episodes:
Episode 468: What TEDx Organizers Look for When Selecting Speakers
Booked Without Burnout series
Episode 396: Creating a Signature Talk that Attracts Paid Speaking Opportunities