Speak Up. Show Up.

Ep #177: Trust & Sabbatical

February 13, 2023 08:00 - 25 minutes - 31.7 MB

Showing up and sharing your voice can be scary. It takes courage and trust. I’ve been researching the ways and layers of trust and have found it to be really helpful to see all the ways trust serves - and lack of trust can hurt - our impact and leadership. In this episode, I explore three layers of trust and how they have been a part of my own journey of leadership. From trusting myself, to trusting others, to seeing that there is something much bigger than me that is infinitely ...

Ep #176: How to Make Boring Content Interesting

February 06, 2023 08:00 - 23 minutes - 28.5 MB

In the presentation skills training I facilitate, I’m often asked the question: What do I do if my content is just boring? The truth is, your content can’t be boring or no one will pay attention - it’s just the facts. The good news is - there is no inherently boring content! There is only content that hasn’t been crafted in a way that engages that particular audience. This applies to presentations as well as emails, conversations with clients, business partners and your kid...

Ep #175: Are you Meant for TED? Part 2

January 30, 2023 08:00 - 28 minutes - 35.1 MB

In the second episode of this two-part series, we cover tips on how to find the RIGHT kind of TEDx event for your goals. I also share essential differences between a TEDx talk and a keynote speech or other kinds of presentation. From how to craft a compelling Big Idea to specific guidance on brainstorming, this episode will be an excellent companion as you craft your TED talk - as well as help you get on the TED or TEDx stage. Building on last week’s episode dedicated to helping ...

Ep #174: Are You Meant for TED?

January 23, 2023 08:00 - 24 minutes - 30.3 MB

There are many awesome ways to share your ideas on stage. That said, there is something special about speaking on a TED or TEDx stage - especially for people who are on a mission to change the world with their message. It makes sense. TED events tend to offer beautiful stage experience and production, and it’s pretty cool to be a part of an event with strong ethical guidelines that is designed to ignite ideas and engagement with the audience. The mystery comes in when aspiring speakers t...

Ep #173: How to Choose the Right Story

January 16, 2023 08:00 - 20 minutes - 25.7 MB

Story is magic for creating connection. When you tell a story that shows the people you want to serve that you get what they are experiencing, have been there yourself (or helped another person go through it), and come out the other side, you are a beacon light for them. This is why I call your Story of Transformation your Beacon Light Story. The truth is, though, you’ve been through a lot of transformations. Any time you go from one place to another, weathering the difficulties ...

Ep #172: 5 ESSENTIALS of High-Impact Leadership

January 09, 2023 08:00 - 31 minutes - 37.6 MB

Why do some people get out in the world big and powerful with their message, and others hold back? In my 15 years working with leaders of businesses, I know for sure that it’s not their credentials, expertise or experience. In fact, I know way too many brilliant, highly educated, remarkably experienced people who have not made the impact they could make in the world. Even with the best message and tons of support, something gets in the way. 10 years ago, on a walk in the woods wi...

Ep #171: About Regret

January 02, 2023 08:00 - 20 minutes - 26 MB

Stepping into leadership requires that we make decisions often. Whether it’s when and how to share our ideas so they have the greatest impact or how to respond when someone disagrees with our approach, there are choices to be made at every turn. Sometimes those decisions feel quite high stakes, such as letting a team member go or doing a sales presentation for a potential new big customer. Of course, we are whole humans - not just leaders - and there are plenty of decisions to ...

Ep #170: Your Vision & The Ocean Wave

December 26, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 27.1 MB

This time of year can be full of special occasions, sparkly lights and delights, and possibly extra time off. And it may have none of those things for you. Whether or not you celebrate holidays this time of year, there is a good chance you are thinking about the big annual transition from one year to the next. This might mean looking over your previous year and bringing forth lessons that will serve you in the next one. Or, maybe it’s just about dreaming and strategizing your new goal...

Ep #169: Your Hell Yes Business with Jessica Miller

December 19, 2022 08:00 - 38 minutes - 45.6 MB

There is no branding, strategy or re-vamp of your website that will create even half the impact that simply connecting in with your own excited energy in your business will bring. Struggling in business and wondering what to do to solve business problems is normal, but the information about how to get back on track with your business plan and success is so confusing. Your business success and enjoyment is dependent on your Hell Yes energy. It’s essential. Unfortunately, there i...

Ep #168: How to Be Strategic in Storytelling with Marsha Shandur

December 12, 2022 08:00 - 44 minutes - 52.8 MB

Story has become a buzzword in the business world. While we know we need to tell more stories, and to do it strategically, it’s still mysterious for many how to do that effectively. There’s no better way to learn the art and best practices of storytelling than to talk with THE storytelling expert, Marsha Shandur OF Yes Yes Marsha. In this episode, you’ll learn: The best way to start a story to captivate the attention of your audience Cool science around why story is so compelling...

Ep # 167: Creating Your Story Garden

December 05, 2022 08:00 - 25 minutes - 31.4 MB

The moment you need a story - in crafting a speech, a current conversation, writing your book, for example - is the hardest moment to come up with a great story. Knowing that story is a compelling way to bring a concept to life, to draw in attention or to make your content even more memorable, you’ll want to have a rich treasure chest of story at the ready. This is where your story garden comes in! There are ways to invite your brain to bring forth stories from your past...

Ep #166: How to Tap Your Full Freedom Expression

November 28, 2022 08:00 - 27 minutes - 34 MB

When you know you are called to use your voice, expertise, and message to serve in our world, that desire can burn strong, even hot at times. It’s not just about saying the thing, telling the story… it’s about feeling fully expressed when you do it. And yet, especially for women and others who are marginalized in power in our society, we are taught all the ways we should be careful, stay smaller, and not make other people uncomfortable when we speak on stages, share our message on pod...

Ep #165: 3 Ways to Get Anyone's Attention

November 21, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 28.9 MB

In order to make a difference with your message, you’ve got to get the attention of the person or people you want to impact. Whether you’re delivering a TEDx talk, a keynote speech or having a difficult conversation with your partner or teenager, the fundamentals of getting attention are the same. Using examples from working with 8th graders creating TED style talks and working with geniuses who are overflowing with brilliant ideas (and these are not mutually exclusive, of course), yo...

Ep #164: Burnout & Taking a Sabbatical with Joanna Denton

November 14, 2022 08:00 - 44 minutes - 53 MB

It feels amazing to be in the flow of doing great work. Sometimes it’s hard to stop - to step away long enough to have a proper meal or get a full night’s sleep. And for short bursts of time, this can be just fine, if it doesn’t happen too often. When you spend too much time working, especially under a great deal of stress, it can be hurtful to your mental and physical health. The fact that our society inappropriately values hustle and overworking means burnout is way more comm...

Ep #163: Kris McGuigan on Being Courageous & Real in Her Book & Speaking

November 07, 2022 08:00 - 37 minutes - 44.6 MB

There is a difference between being an expert speaker and a transformational speaker. They aren’t mutually exclusive - some of our most influential thought leaders show up in both capacities. Kris McGuigan knows how to weave expertise and transformation together with mastery, and that’s a real gift. She’s the perfect person to listen to and learn from about making your way in the speaking and thought leadership world with authenticity and commitment. When I met Kris just under ...

Ep #162: The Magic of Mastery

October 31, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 36.1 MB

You know that jaw-dropping feeling when you watch a musician hit those impossible notes, or play that unbelievably complex piano piece… that sense that something even bigger and more magical than practice and great training is at play. This is when we use words like: “born for this” “they’re a natural” “supernatural” to describe what we are experiencing. Very often what we’re experiencing is mastery - the magic of mastery. Mastery is when a person has honed, practiced, i...

Ep #161: How Executive Coach Jill Griffin Makes a Powerful Impact Sharing Her Story

October 24, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 39.2 MB

The most common type of question I get is: How did they do it? How did they get the 5-figure speaking gig? How did they land the interview in the media or on that amazing podcast? What does it take to really, truly build a business and/or meaningful impact on your story and expertise? The answer to that question is as varied as the people asking - and living out that story. There are some key things that need to happen, though. You need to be willing to share yourself,...

Ep #160: Anti-Fashion & Authentic Style with Elsa Isaac

October 17, 2022 07:00 - 41 minutes - 49 MB

As we grow in our careers, influence and leadership, our opportunities to shine and serve bigger audiences increase substantially. It’s both a natural part of the process and one that can catch us off guard with the new things we need to consider and learn. One of those things we come up against is how to present ourselves physically at these larger visibility opportunities. There are so many things to consider what to wear and how to show up depending on whether there will be photos,...

Ep #159: When You're Mean to Yourself

October 10, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes - 25.2 MB

It’s common for us to think that telling ourselves we aren’t good enough will motivate us to do better work, perform better. And interestingly, there is some truth to that. Research does show that people who are realistic about what they need to do to perform at their highest level are likely to perform better than those who are overconfident. That said, being mean to ourselves is never helpful. When we go from a clear, focused plan for improvement to berating ourselves and telling ou...

Ep #158: How to Handle Mean People

October 03, 2022 07:00 - 28 minutes - 34.5 MB

Whether you are standing in front of an audience or trying to navigate the grocery store, you are going to deal with people who aren’t happy. Sometimes these people will be mean. They will say things and do things that are unkind, unfair and not generous. Especially when it’s your job to care for an audience, or handle a meeting - or teach your kids how to handle hard situations, you want to handle these people who are being mean in a way that causes the least harm to everyone involve...

Ep #157: How to do a Walk & Talk

September 26, 2022 07:00 - 18 minutes - 23.7 MB

You walk around this world with so many stories, ideas, brilliant ways of expressing what you have to say… and sometimes it can be hard to access all of that great content. We’ve all had the experience of sitting at our computer screen, staring at a blank page - or stuck mid sentence on an idea that just won’t flow all the way through. This is when a walk and talk can be magic! In this episode I share with you ways I’ve used a Walk and Talk and simple steps so you can start doi...

Ep #156: Speak Up Show Up

September 19, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 31.4 MB

Sometimes speaking up is easy. But much of the time, it can be nerve-racking. What will people think? Will I say it right? Should I even be talking about this? The cool thing is, you get to use your voice any way you want. And I want you to feel so much freedom in that. Whether it is speaking on stages, having difficult conversations at work, communicating with your kids or sharing your needs or frustrations with your partner… showing up with love and honesty is magic. In this e...

Ep #155: The shadow side of positivity

September 12, 2022 07:00 - 26 minutes - 26.1 MB

Many of us share our messages and stories of inspiration from stages and in books because we want to help others see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. To let them know they aren’t alone in whatever struggle they are experiencing and that they can live the life they really want. This is beautiful and important, this promise of hope. And also, it can be hurtful. Our stories and our messages - in speeches, in our book writing, in our social media shares - must be...

Ep #154: 10 Things I Say Almost Every Day As a Speaking Coach

September 05, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 28.9 MB

There are fundamental messages that I see as the most helpful ones to reveal the most authentic, powerful speaking and thought leadership in my clients. I’ve found that great speaking is way less about how to craft a great talk following someone’s formula, how to tell a story with jaw-dropping vivid action (though that can be awesome), or how to deliver your keynote or TEDx talk with perfect hand gestures and movement on stage - and so much more about releasing everything in the way o...

Ep #153: How to Get Unstuck

August 29, 2022 07:00 - 28 minutes - 28.1 MB

If you’ve been an entrepreneur, business owner or leader or, really, a human, for any period of time, you know what it feels like to be stuck. Whether it’s finding clarity in our message, deciding where to go next with our business, looking for great stages for your keynote speeches or Signature talk, there is plenty for our brains to get caught up on. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of tools that are designed to help you get unstuck. Many of them are helpful, at least tem...

Ep #152: Meant for TED

August 22, 2022 07:00 - 31 minutes - 30.8 MB

The idea of delivering on a TED and TEDx stage is so exciting to many in the speaking and thought leadership world. Understandably - it’s the place where brilliant ideas are shared. It garners respect and credibility. It can also feel very mysterious, how to get on a TED or TEDx stage. In Meant for TED, I do my very best to dissipate some of the mystery so that you can find, apply and have the greatest chance of getting a big happy YES to your application. In this episod...

Ep #151: You Can Do Anything You Want

August 15, 2022 07:00 - 28 minutes - 28.2 MB

Our brain loves to tell us that we have to get it “right.” We can spend many hours, days, weeks overthinking our next moves: Naming your business How to title your upcoming keynote speech Where to tell a story in our presentation or book If it’s okay to take a retreat while your partner takes care of home and kids or pets or other things You name it! We get caught up in over-thinking because our brain is telling us we’re not safe if we get it wrong.That we will waste time or ...

Ep #150: Where Freedom Lives

August 08, 2022 07:00 - 30 minutes - 30.2 MB

It’s easy to think that we’ll get to experience peace and freedom when we get some circumstances handled in our life and work. Maybe it’s: Business success Get on a TEDx stage Be a highly paid speaker Getting our house in order Finally managing our time well An easy flow of money Lots of other things! The truth is, none of those things are the source of peace or freedom. And while we may nod our heads when we hear this, we actually forget it all the time (me too). I...

Ep #149: 10 Things People Have Said That Changed My Life

August 01, 2022 07:00 - 34 minutes - 33.1 MB

What we say matters. What others say to us matters. In this episode of Becoming Unleashed, I share my 10 Things People Have Said That Changed My Life list and give some additional backstory about each item. The invitation is for you to look at your own life and experiences. What are 10 Things others have said to you that have created shifts - or maybe leaps - in your life path? Whether you are wanting to get on more stages, share yourself more freely when you are speaking on sta...

Ep #148: Soulful Time Management with Ulrika Brattemark

July 25, 2022 07:00 - 35 minutes - 34.4 MB

Leading a company or your own small business means wearing many hats and juggling a lot of priorities on any given day. It can feel overwhelming. Add to that a desire to share your voice and message far and wide for the greatest impact - through speaking, writing books, or any of the ways we show up and shine in service of our business - and it’s easy to get paralyzed. Which is why we need good time management systems. But we all know that the issue of overwhelm isn’t fixed by ...

Ep #147: 10 Things I’d Tell My Younger Self

July 18, 2022 07:00 - 26 minutes - 26.3 MB

In January of 2022, I realized I was feeling super leashed up on social media. I had a lot of thinking about what I should and shouldn’t say or share on social platforms. In conversations with dear friends, I was lovingly challenged to let go of any thinking about what I should share and just say all the things I was wishing to say but thought I couldn’t. This is how the 10 Things Project was born. As I think about the process of becoming unleashed so we can share our voice, speak wit...

Ep #146: Where Are You On the Path to Radiant Leadership?

July 11, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 25.3 MB

Some of us are called to share our stories, lessons learned and expertise in service of others. We feel this call at the center of us. It starts as a glimmer. If we choose to nurture this glimmer into a spark, we can stoke that spark all the way into being a recognized leader in our industry. After working with well over 1,000 speakers and leaders, the path to this kind of Radiant Leadership has become powerfully clear. There are five phases, each with their own characteristics, miles...

Ep #146: The Two MOST Essential Elements of Crafting a Talk

July 11, 2022 07:00 - 23 minutes - 23.7 MB

Public speaking gets wrapped in such mystery for so many of us. The fact that most people get very nervous before they speak makes it feel like something magical when a person loves public speaking, or when they appear confident and clear in their delivery. The truth is, great speaking comes with practice and excellent preparation (like so many things). And the key is knowing HOW to prep and practice well. Knowing what’s most important, especially when you don’t feel like you have a l...

Ep #145: Natural Leadership with Dr. Sweta

July 04, 2022 07:00 - 44 minutes - 42.4 MB

An essential element of becoming unleashed is knowing that we are leashed up in the first place. In this rich, engaging conversation with Dr. Sweta Chawla, we get to hear her story of going from a traditional, academic, high-achieving background to where she is today, living and working in her brilliance. Going from Pharmacist and professor to Leadership Coach helping leaders, entrepreneurs and other professionals step into their own Natural Leadership (in the work and their life) was...

Ep #144: Where Are You On the Path to Radiant Leadership?

June 27, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MB

Some of us are called to share our stories, lessons learned and expertise in service of others. We feel this call at the center of us. It starts as a glimmer. If we choose to nurture this glimmer into a spark, we can stoke that spark all the way into being a recognized leader in our industry through keynote speaking, TEDx talks, writing books, and just showing up to serve with our voice. After working with well over 1,000 speakers and leaders, the path to this kind of Radiant Leadership h...

Ep #143: 5 Myths About Thought Leadership

June 20, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 25.7 MB

According to many people who try to preserve our patriarchal system, the term “thought leader” must be bestowed upon anyone who wants to carry that name. Of course, this is bullshit. In this episode of Becoming Unleashed, Michelle shares 5 myths she’s seen shared in various forms around what it takes to be a genuine Thought Leader. The trouble with these myths is that they only serve to keep brilliant, heart-fueled people quiet. And we need the brilliant, heart-fueled people to be louder ...

Ep #142: When Being Seen Feels Hard

June 13, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 25.6 MB

Speaking on stages, submitting your book draft, even hitting “publish” on that social media post takes courage, a willingness to be seen, noticed, and possibly judged. It’s what makes doing these things too much for many people. When you are called to serve with your stories and expertise, you actually have to show up and be seen. To some degree, most of us get used to it, even if it isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes, though, being seen can feel especially hard. Maybe you’ve decided ...

Ep #141: Getting Paid to Speak

June 06, 2022 07:00 - 31 minutes - 30.8 MB

The vision and dream of being a paid speaker is an exciting one. If you see yourself on a stage, inspiring and serving audiences all over the country or world, you are not alone - and it’s SO possible for you! But, it’s not the only way to be a paid speaker. In this episode, Michelle shares the glory and not so glorious aspects of being a paid speaker, especially when there is travel involved. While travel can be time consuming and full of frustrations at times, it’s also a beautiful be...

Ep #140: How to Get What You Want More Often

May 30, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 25.6 MB

Whether you work at an organization and need to do regular presentations as part of your job or you are a thought leader crafting TEDx talks and keynote speeches, the struggle is often similar: how do you get people to pay attention and then take action on your ideas? You might wonder: How do I say it in a way that makes them care? Why is it so hard to get their attention? My topic is inherently boring - there’s no way to make them care or pay attention! Well, the answer t...

Ep #139: You Don’t Have to Be an Expert to Be a Speaker

May 23, 2022 07:00 - 22 minutes - 22.3 MB

This past week, I had yet another conversation with a brilliant client who is concerned they aren’t expert enough to take a stand for their ideas. I am so committed to blowing up this idea into oblivion because it keeps so many brilliant people quiet! And here’s the thing, it’s not like I don’t get it. Ohhhh do I get it. I spent six years staying quiet and small in my work because deep down, I didn’t believe I was good enough to take a stand for my message. In this episode, I broaden the...

Ep #138: Have more FUN sharing your message

May 16, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes - 20.3 MB

It’s easy to get caught up trying to create perfect, high-impact content. You hear things like, “Your content must be epic or it won’t get attention.” But that’s simply not true. In fact, the more fun you have sharing your message, the more often you will share it and the more people you will reach. In this episode, I share: A story about the time I stayed up until 4am trying to make things “perfect” - and how it didn’t make any difference in the outcome at all (except to exhaust me...

Ep #137: Being a Beacon Light

May 09, 2022 07:00 - 22 minutes - 22.3 MB

There is a way of shining in this world that is so full of service that many lives will be changed. Sharing your story, speaking on stages, interviewing on podcasts, writing your book, showing up on social media… these are all ways of being a beacon light of hope. In this episode, Michelle Barry Franco shares her own life-changing experiences thanks to beacon lights of hope she has magically come upon. You’ll also learn: What it means to be a Beacon Light How to set the foundatio...

Ep #136: The Sure Fire Way to Squash Creativity

May 02, 2022 07:00 - 21 minutes - 21.5 MB

My client had flown in for a VIP day to get her Rooftop Message Talk crafted all in one day. I love these days together because the creative energy is off the hook! Even though it's called a VIP day, we actually start our work together a week or two prior, with questionnaires and exploring branding, messaging and offerings. All kinds of details so that on our VIP day we can dive deep fast. We spent the entire day exploring her stories, playing with messaging and refining her offerings. Th...

Ep #135: High Profile Speaking & Becoming Unleashed

April 25, 2022 23:22 - 24 minutes - 24.4 MB

There is no more powerful way to change a lot of lives at once than authentic, powerful speaking. High-profile speaking is also a beautiful opportunity to practice full presence and deeply real expression. In this episode we talk about Surrendered Speaking and the value of committed and thorough prep and then fully letting go on stage, whether the stage is virtual or in-person. We also cover the steps to Unleashed High Profile Speaking: CELEBRATE the opportunity!! Enjoy imagining yoursel...

Ep #134: Why it's so hard to say what you want to say

April 18, 2022 07:00 - 26 minutes - 32.8 MB

If you struggle to say what you really want to say, you are not alone. And the thing is, it's not your fault. It's actually built into our patriarchal system that you question yourself and stay smaller and quieter. When we shine a light on this, though, we have a chance to step away from this system. It's time for you to bring the fullness of your voice into all areas of your work and your life. We start that process in this episode!

Ep #133: Say Hello To Becoming Unleashed!

April 12, 2022 00:00 - 14 minutes - 18.7 MB

Get ready for a whole new conversation about public speaking, writing your book, and sharing your voice in every way! After a 10 month hiatus, our podcast has a new outfit. We are Becoming Unleashed. In this episode you'll get a high level overview of the essential elements of releasing the barriers that get in the way of using your voice and set forth a vision for brilliant conversations to come. You can find all podcast episodes at MichelleBarryFranco.com/Podcast.

Ep #132: When There is No Question in Your Mind

June 21, 2021 07:00 - 14 minutes - 20.3 MB

Over the last 13 years of my work, I’ve had the amazing opportunity of working with many thought leaders and speakers all across the spectrum. And there’s something I’ve noticed only recently as the common thread running between them, something that makes them the most impactful and profound speakers: they have no question in their minds that their message is going to make a difference. Now, I want to clarify that they are all human, which means they experience doubt and uncertainties abou...

Ep #131: How to Say “I Don’t Know” with Confidence

June 14, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 31.6 MB

Anyone who has had to present information to a group of people will tell you how much anxiety can come from getting asked a question that you don’t have the answer to. My friends, it is okay to own not having all the answers and invite the brilliance in the room to contribute to the collective. Tune in today, as I share a structure tip for public speaking that will allow your audience to walk away with the core message and happy bliss needed to keep right on task! Get full show notes and...

Ep #130: Is It Worth Your Attention?

June 07, 2021 07:00 - 18 minutes - 25.2 MB

A recent experience inspired me to ask myself “Why is this podcast worth your attention?” In answering, I discovered what I want this show to be for you... and some questions for you to consider when honing in on what your communication is about to better understand the experience of your audience. In today’s episode, we explore what the purpose of our communication is as it pertains to creating a podcast, webinar, or Facebook Live. Though perhaps all you need is to be reconnected with tha...

Ep #129: Your Words Are Currency with Amber Williams

May 31, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 67.2 MB

We discuss ways to discover the real purpose behind your business. Because when you know your purpose you can create content with clarity and are able to practice your brand voice for added success. Amber asks you critical questions about your beliefs in order to help you create a brand promise that can orient you in all aspects of your business. You are going to gain so much from listening in today, I know I have! Get full show notes and more information here: https://michellebarryfranco....

Speak Up. Show Up.

Episodes