Episode 602: Speak With Confidence, Earn With Purpose: How to Make Your Voice Your Income with Jess Ekstrom
Jan 12, 2026
Have you ever felt that little tug that says, “Maybe I could speak… but who am I to do that?” In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author and top keynote speaker Jess Ekstrom, and I can tell you this conversation will completely shift the way you think about your story, your confidence, and your potential on stage.
Jess and I talk about what building a life-first business looks like when you’re juggling toddlers and travel, how she learned to confidently charge her worth, and why speaking has become one of the most powerful visibility tools in her business. She also shares the framework she teaches thousands of women inside Mic Drop Workshop and the mindset shift that helps you step out of self-doubt and into true impact.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your story is “big enough,” or if speaking could actually work for you, this episode will help you see that you already have everything you need, you just need to claim it.
Today you’ll hear:
- 03:35 – What a life-first business looks like for Jess in this season of motherhood
- 06:10 – How becoming a parent pushed her to finally charge her value as a speaker
- 07:10 – The “Gig Scorecard” she uses to decide which speaking opportunities are truly worth it
- 10:48 – Her process for uncovering the through-line in your story (even if you don’t think you have one)
- 12:56 – The vulnerable moment she started sharing on stage that changed the way audiences connected with her
- 14:48 – Why speaking becomes a launchpad for book deals, media opportunities, and new revenue
- 16:20 – The first step she recommends if you want to start speaking this year
- 19:00 – Her mantra before big events and the mindset shift from spotlight to lighthouse
- 26:11 – The advice she’d give her younger self about evolving, pivoting, and worrying less about what people think
CONNECT WITH JESS:
Website: www.jessekstrom.com
Instagram: @jess_ekstrom
January Speak on Stage Bootcamp: https://micdropworkshop.spiffy.co/a/bootcamp/5805
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