In this episode, I share something that happened on my way to vote that stopped me in my tracks — three words spoken so flatly, so matter-of-factly, that I couldn't stop thinking about them for the rest of the morning.   "I'm just here."   Those three words revealed something I think a lot of us are doing without even realizing it, and it's quietly costing us more than we know.   Tune in to discover: What "I'm just here" actually means, and why it's not the same as being tired, burned out, or introverted What it costs you every single time you drift into autopilot — in your leadership, your speaking, and your life Four concrete ways to come back to full presence, even when you've been going through the motions for a long time More from Tricia  Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com

Today, I am joined by the amazing Linda Lorelle.   Linda is an Emmy- and Gracie Award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, speaker, moderator, and host of the award-winning podcast Our Voices Matter. As Co-founder of the democracy project, Civil Dialogues, she travels the country creating a safe space for Americans to engage with each other about difficult issues affecting the country.   In this episode, Linda and I explore what it truly means to listen across the divide, and why that might be the most important skill any of us can develop right now.   When you tune in, you'll discover: The importance of listening with curiosity rather than judgment to bridge divides Why creating safe spaces for difficult conversations isn't just idealistic — it's essential to democracy How looking at where we are now through a historical lens is both grounding and hopeful Linda's current favorites: Books: If I Ruled the World by Amy Dubois Barnett and How Not To Use AI by Abi Awomosu, Speaker: Maya Angelou, and Podcast: Fresh Air More from Linda Lorelle Substack: https://lindalorelle.substack.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-lorelle  More from Tricia  Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

In this episode, I share exactly what happened when Live Nation — the world's largest live entertainment company — came to my contact form, and what it revealed about what it really means to treat speaking like a business.   The speakers who will be on the biggest stages next year are building their assets right now. The ones who aren't? They're already missing the window.   Tune in to discover:   Why having the right assets in place is the difference between a decision-maker moving on in two seconds and reaching out to book you How far in advance the speaking industry actually books, and why most speakers are pitching too late  What it truly means to show up like a pro and the one question you can ask yourself right now to find out if you're ready More from Tricia  Join me LIVE for my Free Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com

Today, I'm joined by an amazing friend and thought leader, Kristin Thomas.   Kristin is the Founder and CEO of Marble Collective, an AI-powered platform that connects, amplifies, and centralizes the digital legacies of remarkable women leaders so they can inspire, be role models, and create impact at scale. Backed by 300 women leaders and 70+ investors, Marble launches publicly this fall.   In this episode, we'll explore: How resilience and adaptability shape entrepreneurial success Why listening is as powerful as speaking for influential voices The importance of following people, not just platforms, to create deeper connection Kristin's current favorites: Book: Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Speaker: Dr. Jane Goodall, Podcasts: Venture F, The Angel Next Door, & The Big Talk More from Kristin Thomas Website: http://marblecollective.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinthomas_  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-thomas-1092a01b    More from Tricia  Get your copy of my latest book, Being Smart is Stupid Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

In this episode, I explore one of the most quietly destructive forces in any business relationship: doubt.    Drawing on John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt: A Parable, I examine what happens when doubt takes root between people in professional relationships.    I also look at the moment when business relationships shift from relational to transactional, why defending yourself against doubt rarely works, and why naming the doubt is the most powerful thing an influential voice can do.   When you tune in, you'll discover why:   Doubt doesn't introduce new information — it reframes existing information Naming doubt openly is what saves or ends a relationship Influential leaders don't wait for doubt to resolve itself; they bring it into the light It's important to distinguish between doubt that serves growth and doubt that destroys relationships (and how to do this) More from Tricia  Grab your copy of my new book, Being Smart Is Stupid Join me LIVE for my Free Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com

Today's guest, Natalie Tincher, is the founder of BU Style and a certified image consultant. Since 2010, she's partnered with hundreds of clients, collaborated with corporations, and served as the global stylist for a major news network.    As host of the Wear Who You Are podcast and a frequent voice in outlets like Business Insider, the Associated Press, InStyle, and Forbes, Natalie is known for her joyful, empowering approach to personal style.   In this episode, we'll explore: Why style serves as your "first voice" before you even speak The way that clothing affects performance, and why removing the cognitive load of style decisions enhances high performance  How to use style as a tool for confidence and authenticity  Her current favorites: Book: The Mastery of Love, Speaker: Michelle Obama, and Podcast: Good Hang More from Natalie Tincher Instagram: @natalie_tincher  Website: https://www.bu.style/  More from Tricia  Go from idea to stage-ready with me inside The Big Talk Academy Mastery Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

In this episode, I share a powerful personal story about reaching out to a friend who used derogatory language on social media.    Rather than ignoring it or publicly calling him out, I chose a third path — a private, loving, curiosity-driven conversation that led to a genuine shift in my friend's thinking.   Join me as I break down three key lessons for communicating across the divide: Lead with curiosity, not correction — a well-placed question opens doors that criticism slams shut. Be willing to be taught even when you're the one trying to teach — being truly heard is what makes someone willing to listen. Love is not weakness — approaching hard conversations with love and grace is the most advanced communication skill a leader can possess.   This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to influence hearts and minds, navigate difficult conversations, and use their voice as a force for genuine connection rather than division. More from Tricia  Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

Today, I'm super excited for you to hear from Beth Norcross. You may remember Beth from Episode 737, which dropped in March. In that conversation, we talked about building resilience through nature. With extensive training and experience in both spirituality and ecology, Beth is a writer, speaker, and spiritual nature guide who invites people into deep, intimate relationships with their Earth kin.  She founded the Center for Spirituality in Nature and co-wrote Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees with Leah Rampy. In Beth's big talk, "Do We Really Love Nature?", she explores: Why, despite saying we love nature, we often treat the natural world as existing solely to serve us How to show our love for nature through intentional daily decisions The systemic changes we need to make collectively Why spending time observing nature's needs creates deeper connection and kinship   More from Beth Norcross Her first appearance on The Big Talk podcast in Episode 737 Her big talk, "Do We Really Love Nature?" Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beth.norcross.9/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-norcross-4a566832/  Her book, Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees     More from Tricia  Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

Today, I'm joined by an amazing alum of The Big Talk Academy Mastery, Lee Powers. You may remember Lee from Episode 741 that released in April, where I featured her big talk, "A Nurse's Awakening from a Coma: Lessons Learned from Being the Patient." Lee is a nurse, speaker, and advocate with decades of experience. After surviving a patient assault that left her on a ventilator in the ICU, she founded ICUiCare™ to humanize critical-care recovery through education and advocacy, empowering patients, families, and healthcare teams to solve complex health challenges and rebuild lives.   In this episode, we'll explore: The value of pharmacogenetic testing in preventing medication complications The number of ICU survivors affected by Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), and why more people aren't talking about it How medicine often operates on a one-size-fits-all approach, and how you can become a better advocate for your healthcare Her current favorites: Book: Man's Search for Meaning and Speaker: Tricia More from Lee Powers Her first appearance on The Big Talk podcast in Episode 741 Website: https://leepowersrn.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-powers-rn-bsn-034845337/    More from Tricia  Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

In a world increasingly reliant on AI, in-person mentorship for speakers has never been more essential.   Using my NYC intensive, The Big Talk Live, as the backdrop, I walk through what three days of hands-on stage work actually look like and why this is what you need to gain momentum in your speaker journey.    In this episode, we'll explore: What AI can and can't do for you as a speaker Why growth for most speakers isn't a content problem — it's a performance problem  How to develop your stage presence as a speaker Why working together in person could transform your speaking career More from Tricia  Book a call with me to explore working together Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com