S3 Ep 00: Welcome to Season 3

Are you tired of being told there’s a shortcut to a thriving speaking career—only to find out it’s really about the hustle and grind? In this energetic kickoff to Season Three of Path to the Main Stage, host Li Hayes pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to make it to bigger and better stages. Discover why you can’t skip the foundational steps—even if you wish someone could just “be your agent” and hand you gigs!Key highlights of the episode include:Li Hayes shares the all-too-common phone call she receives weekly from emerging speakers looking for the easy button—and why the reality is different.A preview of powerhouse guests this season, including Christina Daves (media attention expert), Lamar Tyler (process & branding whiz), and two back-to-back deep dives with AJ Harper on writing and marketing a book.Real talk about the importance of building your foundation as a speaker before chasing the spotlight, plus why social proof and media presence matter.Encouragement for new listeners to go back to Season One—because, asLi Hayesinsists, the advice is evergreen!Get ready to embrace the journey, build solid skills, and learn actionable strategies that will propel your speaking career forward—no shortcuts, but a lot more effective hustle.Episode Overview with Timestamps:[00:00:00 Intro Announcer sets the stage: The journey to success as a professional speaker.[00:00:21] Li Hayes welcomes listeners to Season Three and shares the recurring "can you be my agent?" question.[00:01:28] The “real” podcast subtitle: You’ll have to hustle and grind (but learn to do it effectively).[00:01:36] Sneak peek at the season’s expert guests—Christina Daves, Lamar Tyler, and author coach AJ Harper.[00:02:14] Why books matter for speakers, and what “prescriptive nonfiction” is really about.[00:02:43] Building the essential foundational elements to get recognized and booked.[00:03:11] Invitation to listen back to previous evergreen episodes.[00:03:31]Outro Voiceover: Where to connect, how to subscribe, and words of encouragement to keep moving toward your main stage.