What if the worst thing that ever happened to you became the reason you succeed?
In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with speaker, storytelling coach, and emotional clarity guide Brian Drury to talk about how your biggest pain can shape your greatest platform. From the power of emotional shifts on stage to building a life that feels as good as it looks, Brian shares the exact mindset, habits, and healing practices that helped him turn rock bottom into the foundation for an intentional, fulfilling life.
Whether you’re an aspiring speaker, a high achiever chasing meaning, or someone ready to slow down and reconnect with your truth, this conversation will ground, challenge, and uplift you.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
✓ What separates a great speaker from a good one
✓ How to use your rock bottom as a catalyst for finding your purpose
✓ The difference between overdelivering and resonating
✓ Why storytelling isn’t about you, it’s about service
✓ Why your intuition is important, and why you should stop ignoring it.
📌 In this episode, we talk about:
– Brian’s 3 top lessons for graduates starting out
– His raw story of hitting emotional, physical, and professional burnout
– The one mentor who changed everything for him
– The difference between information and emotional connection
– How grief shaped his ability to lead with clarity and compassion
– Why slowing down is the secret to true success
🧠 Who is Brian Drury?
Brian is a globally respected speaker, emotional clarity coach, and founder of the Speaker’s Lab. He’s trained 1,000+ people to tell transformational stories and believes the most powerful message you can deliver is the one rooted in truth and service. His viral speech “The First Time I Saw My Dad Cry” touched over 20 million hearts on Facebook alone. Brian’s journey is one of depth, resilience, and leading with heart.
📚 Check out The First Step by Brian Drury https://a.co/d/gJl6ZVe
In this episode:
00:00 Welcome Brian Drury to The SMARTA Podcast
00:45 Top 3 lessons for graduates starting out today
06:30 How to know when you’re truly listening to your intuition
11:00 Why you can’t logic your way to fulfillment
17:40 What separates people who thrive from those who plateau?
25:30 How to create emotional connection as a speaker
33:30 How his lowest point became his turning point
40:00 Meeting his mentor and what it changed in him
46:00 What makes a good speaker vs. a great speaker
51:00 Why emotional shifts matter more than information
54:45 What changed between his first and most recent speech
01:02:00 Tips to slow down and stop overdelivering
01:06:50 Advice 17-year-old Brian wished he had
01:12:20 Why holistic success matters more than external success
01:17:20 The importance of rest, presence, and perspective
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