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Most authors never consider the speaking stage, but according to Jess Ekstrom, it might be the most powerful income stream they're missing.
In this episode, Ricci sits down with Jess Ekstrom, Forbes Top Motivational Speaker, founder of Headbands of Hope, and creator of Mic Drop Workshop, to break down exactly how authors (yes, even fiction authors!) can turn their stories and expertise into paid keynote speaking careers.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why the "you're either a speaker OR an author" myth is dead wrong, and how doing both makes you better at each
- How fiction authors can build keynote careers even when they're not speaking to other authors
- The "transformation promise" framework, the one question that unlocks your entire speaking pitch
- How to find speaking gigs and build inbound opportunities through LinkedIn and social media
- What speaking actually pays, from beginner rates ($500–$5K) to seasoned speakers ($35K+)
- The halo effect: how speaking can drive book sales (80% of Jess's first book sales came from stages)
- Why community is the secret weapon for building a sustainable speaking career
Jess also shares details on her new book, Making It Without Losing It (out May 2026), and the upcoming Mic Drop Workshop Boot Camp starting April 20th.
Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.
The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.
© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Creators and Guests
What is The Written Word Podcast?
A podcast for authors who want to build successful writing careers. Each episode explores the business and craft of being an author, with practical strategies for selling more books, growing your audience, and navigating the publishing world. Presented by Written Word Media.