The fastest way to become a better, more bookable speaker may be to stop waiting for the perfect paid gig and start getting on more stages.
After four decades of speaking, hosting events, selling from stage, and coaching entrepreneurs like Kelly, Ken Krell has experienced the wins, failures, technical disasters, and awkward moments that ultimately build a confident speaker. He challenges the belief that every speaking opportunity needs to come with a fee, explaining how the right no-fee stage can generate leads, sales, experience, relationships, referrals, and future bookings. Ken also shares why authenticity matters more than trying to imitate another speaker's style, how experience teaches you to recover when things go wrong, and why event organizers remember speakers who promote, arrive early, stick around, and make their lives easier. Most importantly, he encourages speakers to put more “oars in the water” by asking for opportunities, getting on podcasts, making their speaker identity visible, and taking action instead of endlessly preparing to take action.
We dive deep into:
✅ Why speaking for free can actually make you more money
✅ The power of revenue-sharing models (and how to do it right)
✅ Why confidence beats perfection every time on stage
✅ How to bounce back from total flops (including Ken’s story of selling zero at an event 😳)
✅ What event planners really want from speakers
✅ Why most speakers aren’t landing gigs — and how to fix itKen also shares some juicy behind-the-scenes stories, including:
💡 Running digital events during COVID
💡 His new AI-powered mental wellness project: Alex Listens
💡 Why staying after your speech might be the smartest move you makeWhether you're new to speaking or looking to level up your gig game, this episode is a masterclass in speaking with heart, authenticity, and strategy.
Ken also introduced us to his passion projects:
💙 AlexListens.com — an AI-powered digital companion to combat loneliness.
It’s designed for veterans, seniors, LGBTQ+ folks, teens, and anyone who needs to be seen with love. No sales. Just support.
He also runs:
- DailyHug.com – Free daily inspiration, no strings attached
- PrideNomadLetter.com – A newsletter for LGBTQ+ digital nomads
For direct inquiries: support@seagrassmedia.com
Resources
Mistakes Speakers Make and How to Fix Them is a practical mini-course designed to help speakers of all levels identify and overcome the common pitfalls that can hinder their success. Drawing on insights from Kelly Woodhouse’s "Landing the Gig" podcast interviews and her extensive experience as a TEDx and keynote speaker, and bestselling author, this course provides actionable strategies to enhance your speaking impact, open doors to new opportunities, and boost your revenue.
This mini-course is Free for 14-days and after that it will be $199. If you consume it in the 14-day period, then you can keep it forever. https://app.hiro.fm/channel/mini
About Kelly:
Kelly Woodhouse is an award-winning international speaker, bestselling author, publisher, and coach. A burn survivor since the age of 2 on 75% of her body, she transformed a story of near death into one of resilience and triumph. From being called the “scar-faced girl” to gracing the TEDx stage twice, Kelly’s journey has inspired millions worldwide. Her documentary Still Beautiful aired on TV, and her Goalcast video surpassed 10 million views.
Global TV named her one of the Most Inspirational People of 2020. You must ask yourself HOW? How did the scar-faced girl find the strength in her scars? Goalcast Video on fb which has received over 10 million views: https://www.facebook.com/dailygoalcast/videos/566114747146421/
https://www.KellyWoodhouse.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyfalardeau/
https://www.facebook.com/kelly.woodhouse.2025/
https://www.youtube.com/@KellyWoodhouse2
TEDx talk - U.G.L.Y. is Still Beautiful: https://youtu.be/KMBZvjetRqQ?si=V61xjiCxI5tNBL0F
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Music Credit
Our sincere thanks to Raquel Soto for generously allowing us to use "Raise Your Voice (Ink And Impact Awards Theme Song)" as part of this podcast. We are grateful for the opportunity to feature this inspiring music and appreciate her support of the show.