Grow Your Public Speaking Business

Hosted by Wendi McNeill

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May 2026

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Hosted by Wendi McNeill, Founder of Charli Jane Speakers® since 2002 ************** Visit our FREE speaker community at www.SpeakingBizCommunity.com I help Speakers who are struggling to grow their business and get booked by providing growth strategies and speaking opportunities so they can achieve a booked speaking schedule.

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May 31, 2026Episode 1957 min

#195 - Stop Waiting to Be Discovered: How to Build a Real Speaking Pipeline

Stop Waiting to Be Discovered: How to Build a Real Speaking Pipeline For years, while I was building Charli Jane Speakers, my husband was on the road climbing cellular towers, gone for weeks at a time. I was home holding the fort, building something, and waiting for the season to shift. What that season taught me is that hope is not a strategy. Purposeful, consistent action is what moves things forward. And it's exactly what builds a speaking pipeline. In this episode, I'm talking about the shift from waiting to building and the simple pipeline approach that has helped speakers go from invisible to consistently booked over 24 years. In this episode: Why getting ready and getting booked are two very different seasons What a real speaking pipeline actually looks like The Dream 25: How to build a targeted, reachable opportunity list How to reach out with warmth and specificity instead of cold generic pitches Your doable momentum move starts your Dream 25 this week Ready to go deeper? Inside Charli Jane Speakers Club, our AI-powered Booking Strategist Tool researches real opportunities and returns organizer contact details so your pipeline is always full of the right people. 👉 charlijane.com

May 18, 2026Episode 1947 min

#194 - The One Sentence That Gets You Booked

The One Sentence That Gets You Booked There was a season in my life when everything fell apart. And what I remember most isn't the hard part, it's the moment I got quiet enough to hear what was actually true. One direction. One next step. That clarity became the foundation of everything I've built since. I think about that season every time I work with a speaker on their messaging. In this episode, I'm talking about the one sentence that makes event planners stop, pay attention, and say yes, and the three things it needs to do to actually work. In this episode: Why most speakers have a clarity problem, not a confidence problem The three-part formula for a bookable positioning sentence Why specificity is the key that unlocks consistent bookings How to sit with your message until what's true emerges Your doable momentum move, write your sentence today Free Resource 🎁 Ready to pitch your sentence to real stages? Grab my free list of 50 Events Looking for Speakers — real opportunities actively seeking speakers right now, and the best way to step into our world. 👉 https://charlijane.com/call-for-speakers Ready to go deeper? Come join us inside the Charli Jane Speakers Club. We help you find your message AND give you AI-powered tools (found nowhere else in the industry) to research real opportunities and pitch with confidence. 👉 charlijane.com Keep Inspiring,

May 3, 2026Episode 1938 min

#193 - Why Broad Topics Don't Book Stages

Why Broad Topics Don't Book Stages ... And What to Say Instead I've been thinking about Africa lately. Growing up, my parents ran mission trips, and what I watched them do every single time was get specific. This village. This well. This need. That specificity is what got things done. And it's exactly what gets speakers booked. In this episode, I'm talking about why broad topics keep talented speakers from getting hired and the simple, specific shift that changes everything. In this episode: Why event planners need specificity, not generality The difference between a topic that floats and one that stops the scroll How to identify who you're really for and what problem you solve Why "marketer first, speaker second" starts with your topic The doable momentum move you can make on your message this week Free Resource: Ready to pitch your message to real stages? Grab my free list of 50 Events Looking for Speakers. Real opportunities actively seeking speakers right now, and the best way to step into our world. https://charlijane.com/call-for-speakers Ready to go deeper? Come join us inside Charli Jane Speakers Club, where we help you nail your message AND give you AI-powered tools to find real opportunities and pitch with confidence. https://charlijane.com/charli-jane-speakers-club

April 19, 2026Episode 1928 min

#192 - Does Your Speaker Bio Pass the 60-Second Hireable Test?

Does Your Speaker Bio Pass the 60-Second Hireable Test? I was sitting with my coffee this morning, thinking about a member I worked with years ago, talented, gifted, and I couldn't figure out why the bookings weren't coming. We looked at her bio together, and I realized immediately: it was written for her, not for the planner. In this episode, I'm talking about the 60-second hireable test, what event planners are actually doing when they land on your page, and the three things every bookable bio needs to do fast, clearly, and confidently. After 24 years running Charli Jane Speakers and watching what gets speakers booked (and what quietly costs them stages), this is one of the most doable momentum moves you can make right now. In this episode: Why event planners scan instead of read, and what that means for your bio The 3 things every bookable bio must do in 60 seconds The shift from writing your story to solving the planner's problem Why this one fix can change your entire booking season Free Resources: Want to start finding real stages right now? Grab my free list of 50 Events Looking for Speakers. These are real opportunities actively seeking speakers, and it's my favorite way to welcome you into our world. 👉 https://charlijane.com/call-for-speakers Join our 20k speaker group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakthroughpublicspeakers Ready to go deeper? Come join us inside Charli Jane Speakers Club, where we help you get your brand assets working AND give you AI-powered tools to find opportunities and pitch with confidence. 👉 https://charlijane.com/charli-jane-speakers-club

April 5, 2026Episode 1918 min

#191 - Your Speaker Page Is Costing You Bookings — Here's the Fix

Episode Title: Your Speaker Page Is Costing You Bookings — Here's the Fix I grabbed my coffee this morning and started scrolling through speaker websites — and I kept landing on the same feeling. So close. But not quite there. Beautiful pages, talented people, but something was quietly working against them. In this episode, I'm talking about the gap between a page that looks professional and a page that actually converts — and the small, fixable things that make all the difference to a busy event planner who's deciding in seconds whether to reach out or move on. After 24 years running Charli Jane Speakers, I've watched this pattern more times than I can count. The good news? Every single thing I'm talking about today is completely fixable — and you don't need a rebrand or a big budget to do it. In this episode: Why event planners close your tab without ever reaching out The gap between "looks professional" and "feels hireable" The most common fixable mistakes on speaker pages Why clarity converts better than impressive every single time What doable momentum looks like for your speaker page right now Free Resource 🎁 Ready to start finding real stages while you polish your page? Grab my free list of 50 Events Looking for Speakers — real opportunities actively seeking speakers right now, and the best way to step into our world. 👉 https://charlijane.shop/speaking-gigs/ Ready to go deeper? Come join us inside Charli Jane Speakers Club — where we help you build brand assets that work AND give you AI-powered tools to research opportunities and pitch with confidence. 👉 https://charlijane.com/charli-jane-speakers-club Keep Inspiring, Wendi xo

March 15, 2026Episode 19011 min

#190 Talk Title Formulas That Meeting Planners Actually Book

Talk Title Formulas That Meeting Planners Actually Book If your talk title sounds broad, meeting planners skip it — even if your talk is fantastic. In this episode, you’ll get 5 talk title formulas (plus examples) to make your promise crystal clear and instantly more bookable. What You’ll Learn (bullets) Why “good” talks get ignored (it’s usually the title and outcomes) The difference between a topic title vs an outcome title How to add “the room” (who it’s for + when it’s used) so it fits an agenda 5 proven talk title formulas you can reuse forever How to write outcomes planners can copy/paste into an agenda Quick Wins (for listeners who want the shortcut) Do these 3 things today: Swap vague words (“inspiring,” “powerful,” “transformational”) for a clear result Add the room (who it’s for and where it’s used) Write 2–3 outcomes that sound like takeaways, not themes Links and Resources Read the blog post: http://charlijane.com/190 Download the Talk Title & Outcomes Builder Grab the free list of 50 events looking for speakers Speaker One-Sheet Starter Kit Join Breakthrough Public Speakers (FB group)

March 1, 2026Episode 18914 min

#189 - The 7 Things Meeting Planners Look for in 60 Seconds (So Your One-Sheet Gets More Replies)

Meeting planners do not read your one sheet. They scan it. In this episode, I’m walking you through the 7 things planners look for fast so your one sheet feels clearer, more credible, and easier to say yes to. What You’ll Learn What planners are deciding in the first minute The 7 elements that make a one-sheet feel bookable The most common one-sheet mistake that quietly kills replies How to make your one sheet easier to scan and easier to book Quick Action Step Open your one sheet and scan it like a planner. In 60 seconds, can you find: Your one-line promise Your talk titles with outcomes Your proof How to book you If any of those are hard to spot, that is your fix list. Links and Resources Read the blog post: https://charlijane.com/189 Free list of 50 events looking for speakers https://charlijane.com/call-for-speakers Speaker One Sheet Starter Kit: https://charlijane.samcart.com/products/onesheet-starter-kit Join Breakthrough Public Speakers https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakthroughpublicspeakers If you want your one sheet to look hireable fast, grab the Speaker One Sheet Starter Kit. Then choose one fix from today’s episode and update it before you send your next pitch.

February 22, 2026Episode 1889 min

#188 - How to Write a Speaker Pitch Email That Gets Opened

How to Write a Speaker Pitch Email That Gets Opened If you’ve been pitching yourself for speaking gigs and hearing crickets, the problem might not be your topic; it might be how you’re showing up in the inbox. In this episode, I break down a simple 3-part speaker pitch email formula that helps meeting planners actually open your email, read it, and respond. You’ll learn how to write a subject line that gets opened, an opening line that builds instant connection, and a short pitch that makes it easy to say yes … without writing a novel. What You’ll Learn Why generic subject lines get ignored (even if your talk is great) A simple subject line structure that signals relevance fast How to start your email without leading with “Hi I’m a speaker…” The “about them” opening line that builds trust instantly How to pitch your talk without dumping your whole bio and links The easiest next step to invite (without sounding pushy) The 3-Part Pitch Email Formula Subject Line: Personal + Specific Opening Line: Make it about them (prove you did your homework) Value and Next Step: One clear outcome with an easy reply prompt Resources Mentioned 1. Pitch Templates (grab them here): https://charlijane.com/pitchpackbundle 2. Free list: 50 Events Looking for Speakers Right Now: https://charlijane.com/call-for-speakers Want to Connect + Get More Speaking Leads? Join my Facebook speaker community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakthroughpublicspeakers Quick Ask 😊 If you found this helpful, share this episode with a speaker friend who’s been hearing crickets and tell me inside the Facebook group what subject line you’re going to use next.

November 3, 2025Episode 18710 min

#187 How to Find Paid Speaking Gigs in 2025

How to Find Paid Speaking Gigs in 2025 (Even If You’re Just Starting Out) Feeling stuck waiting to get picked for your next speaking gig? In this episode, Wendi McNeill of Charli Jane Speakers shares five proven strategies to land paid gigs in 2025, even if you’re brand-new to the industry. Discover where to find real opportunities, how to pitch with confidence (not pushiness), and what simple materials help you stand out to planners. You’ll also get a free resource, 50 Events Looking for Speakers Right Now, so you can start pitching today. Grab your free list: https://charlijane.com/call-for-speakers Resources mentioned: Pitch Like a Pro | Speaker One-Sheet $7 Starter Kit Breathrough Public Speakers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breakthroughpublicspeakers

October 20, 2025Episode 18611 min

#186 - The #1 Mistake New Speakers Make With Their Bio (And How to Fix It)

The #1 Mistake New Speakers Make With Their Bio (And How to Fix It) 🎙 Episode Summary If you're pitching yourself as a speaker (or avoiding it altogether), your bio could be the silent dealbreaker. In this episode, I break down how your speaker bio plays a crucial role in getting noticed by event planners, and what to do if it's falling flat. Plus, I’ll share easy ways to streamline your pitch process and start landing more opportunities with clarity and confidence. This is a practical, no-fluff episode … let’s get you moving forward! A weak bio doesn’t just hurt your pitch … it keeps you stuck and silent. Resources Mentioned: Meet Bobbi – Your personal bio-building sidekick. (powered by AI) Grab the Pitch Pack Pro – Email + DM scripts that help you pitch without the stress. Land Your Next Gig Challenge - A 3-day challenge to help you find, pitch, and land your next speaking gig fast. 50 Events looking for Speakers! Join My Free 20k Speakers Facebook Group Connect With Wendi: Website: https://charlijane.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlijanespeakers