Professional speaking is one of the highest paying careers with the lowest barrier to entry - yet few succeed in ever making it to a main stage.

Path to the Main Stage is here to pull back the curtain on the world of professional speaking. In this debut episode, host Li Hayes reveals the real secrets to breaking in, standing out, and lasting in an industry that’s both dazzling and daunting.

Episode Highlights:

• The Shocking Truth About Speaking: Discover why professional speaking offers one of the lowest bars to entry—and the highest payoffs—of almost any industry out there.
• Why Most Speakers Fail: Li shares hard-hitting insights about why a whopping 90% of would-be speakers give up within five years and what it really takes to survive and thrive.
• Finding Your Speaker Type: Are you an edutainer, teller, teacher, seller, or talker? Learn the unique strengths of each type of speaker, why knowing your category is crucial, and how event planners think—so you can match your strengths to the right stages.
• Li’s Unlikely Journey: Hear Li’s personal story of career reinvention, from corporate downsizing to managing successful speakers and becoming an in-demand consultant for emerging talent.
• The Real Business of Speaking: Why great stage presence isn’t enough, and how mastering sales, contracts, branding, and networking shapes sustainable success.
• A Behind-the-Scenes Look: Get the inside scoop on how major events select their speakers—and how understanding your audience and value can set you apart.

Whether you’re still dreaming of your first stage or hungry for your next big break, this kick-off episode is full of practical, actionable insight you won’t want to miss. Listen, take notes, and step forward on your own path to the main stage!

Timestamped Overview

00:00 "Emerging Speaker Coaching and Placement"

04:52 Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Business

07:52 Transitioning Job Responsibilities

09:53 Building Success Through Relationships

13:08 "Identifying Your Speaker Type"

16:45 "Motivational Speakers and Learning"

21:21 Finding a Purposeful Keynote Speaker

24:17 "Edutainers in Leadership & Motivation"

29:12 "Understanding Your Speaker Role"

30:00 "Path to Main Stage Success"