S3 Ep. 09 - Getting the Reps and Embracing the Grind with Todd Bertsch

Level up your speaking journey with actionable advice on finding your niche, embracing the grind, and connecting with any audience!Learn how to navigate the early stages of your professional speaking career as Todd Bertsch joins co-host Li Hayes for an honest and motivating conversation. Discover the importance of focusing on a single niche, why getting "reps" matters far more than getting paid early on, and how to hone your message for real impact. Hear practical tips for building stage-side leads, maximizing audience interaction (including Todd’s signature dance bit!), and preparing for the unexpected with a speaker survival kit. You’ll get clear guidance on crafting a referable keynote, balancing customization, and leveraging feedback to grow.Todd shares candid stories about the hustle, the difference between speaking to audiences who “want to be there” versus those who “have to be there,” and how to build resilience when things go wrong. Whether you’re just starting out or ready for bigger stages, you’ll walk away empowered to embrace the grind, respect the craft, and find your own spark.Episode Overview:00:00 Introduction and Todd’s background01:19 Finding your niche and building early experience04:39 The grind: getting reps vs. getting paid08:46 Honing your message and storytelling10:34 Audience-centric speaking13:14 Interaction techniques (including Todd’s dance routine)18:12 Gifts, main stage dynamics, and stage-side leads23:09 Studying the audience and getting quality feedback26:39 Conference vs. corporate audiences29:00 Getting reps and learning from stand-up comics30:06 Customizing vs. crafting your core talk35:47 Speaker survival kit and handling technical issues45:32 The importance of speaker reels and video46:38 Todd’s advice for day-one speakers48:03 Closing thoughts and encouragement