The world is constantly in a state of chaos—from an unexpected crisis at work to the personal high stakes of having a baby during a global pandemic. How do you find the calm confidence needed to navigate those moments when you feel most exposed?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Caitlin Gardner, a veteran crisis communications expert who is the founder of Blooming Communications. Caitlin's professional life involves helping Fortune 500 companies communicate with calm maturity during crises. Her personal life, however, includes having a baby at the peak of the 2020 pandemic while her husband lost his job—a high-stakes moment that uniquely prepared her for the work she does today.
Caitlin shares how to apply the lessons learned in the delivery room to the boardroom, giving you the practical tools to handle unexpected public scrutiny, internal high stakes, and even the double-edged sword of going viral.
Tune in for:
About Caitlin Gardner:
Caitlin Gardner is the Founder of Blooming Communications, a strategic communications consultancy. She is an expert in high-stakes communications, reputation management, and crisis preparedness, helping clients bring "calm confidence" to moments of unexpected chaos.
Resources & Links:
Have you ever confused a bigger salary with a richer life? What if the key to getting what you truly want isn’t a better tactic, but a deeper understanding of your own values?
In this Amplify episode, Jess sits down with negotiation expert Kathryn Valentine, a former McKinsey consultant with an impressive background featured in Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal. Kathryn's journey started with a high-stakes failure—a negotiation so bad it ended with a security escort. Still, that experience led her to discover that proper negotiation is a valuable tool for life design, not just a means to secure a salary bump.
Kathryn reveals how to identify your true currency (it’s often not money), the critical research that proves women significantly underestimate their market value, and the simple questions you can ask to strip away societal expectations and define your own "rich life."
Tune in for:
About Kathryn Valentine:
Kathryn Valentine is a negotiation expert, speaker, and former McKinsey consultant. Her work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal, and she advises companies such as JPMorgan Chase. She is dedicated to equipping women with the tools to negotiate for their richest life.
Resources & Links:
Have you ever questioned if you should quit your career to focus on family, only to realize that constant self-doubt is draining energy you could use elsewhere? What if continuing to work is not just a financial necessity, but a vital investment in your own identity?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Hazel Sy, a Fortune 500 executive, board member, and powerful advocate for working parents. Hazel shares the moment her childcare plan fell through, the panic and guilt that followed, and the eventual mindset shift that allowed her to thrive as both a dedicated professional and a devoted mom.
Hazel opens up about the emotional journey of creating her viral TED Talk, the shocking financial reality of childcare, and the surprising ways that conscious parenting techniques can make you a more intentional and connected leader at work.
Tune in for:
About Hazel Sy:
Hazel Sy is a Fortune 500 executive, a board member, a highly requested speaker, and an alumnus of Mic Drop Academy. She is a passionate advocate for working parents and a living example of how intentionality and purpose can allow you to thrive in both your professional and personal life.
Resources & Links:
Watch Hazel's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE-PN4i-eAE
Have you ever secretly loved being underestimated? That feeling of having nothing to lose and everything to prove. But what happens when you start to succeed, and that pressure of being watched threatens to sabotage your progress?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her dear friend, author, and speaker Mary Marantz, whose new book Underestimated explores how to break free from the fears that hold us back. Mary gets candid about her journey, from being told by a high school teacher that she wouldn't make it, to the destructive cycle of perfectionism and self-sabotage that comes with success.
She shares how she's learned to embrace a new kind of fuel for her ambition and why she believes the very act of facing fear means you're about to do work that truly matters.
Tune in for:
About Mary Marantz:
Mary Marantz is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur whose work empowers people to unlock their purpose and do the work they were put on this earth to do. She is a New York Times bestselling author of Dirt and Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots, and her newest book is titled Underestimated.
Resources & Links:
Amy Porterfield really wanted freedom, flexibility, and autonomy in her career.
She entered the digital course industry, which allowed her to work from home while still making money. Starting small, her first course made just $267, but she pulled in over $100 million in revenue through tweaks and relaunches.
How did she do it? How can you leverage digital courses to balance work and family life and generate income while being present for your family?
Let's find out!
And if you’re ready to take the first steps yourself, Amy is breaking it all down inside her brand-new Course Confident Bootcamp. Over 5 days, she’ll walk you through 4 simple steps to turn your talk or story into a course—without the overwhelm.
It all starts September 11.
👉 Join Course Confident for $47
This is a replay from Aug 28th, 2024.
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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop
Have you ever felt like you're not what meets the eye, with a deep, complex backstory hidden behind a seemingly successful exterior? What if the most difficult parts of your past, the ones you tried to escape, are actually the secret ingredients to your greatest triumphs and your most powerful message?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Adam Tanaka, a founder and speaker who has built and sold companies and now teaches others how to unlock their most creative selves through the power of play. Adam's journey is far from linear and his seemingly picture-perfect success story is built on a childhood filled with trauma and chaos, where a game of hide and seek was an act of survival.
He opens up about his "normal," which included a mother struggling with addiction, his heroic act of saving her from a house fire at age 15, and how that trauma unknowingly followed him into adulthood. Adam shares how his success led to one of his darkest moments, what truly saved his life, and the powerful framework he created to ensure he and others always have a community to fall back on.
Tune in for:
About Adam Tanaka:
Adam Tanaka is a founder, speaker, and advocate for the power of play. With a background in building and selling companies, Adam's mission is to help people move from rigid, "hustle culture" to a more creative and connected way of working and living. He is the founder of a kids' brand, cavehousesupply.com, and an author.
Resources & Links:
Have you ever felt completely lost in your career, only to find that your most challenging experiences became your greatest assets? And how can AI, often seen as a threat to creativity, actually unlock your most authentic stories?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Patrice Poltzer, co-founder of My Story Pro AI, a storytelling and AI strategist, and a former award-winning producer for The Today Show. Patrice has a somewhat non-linear journey - from the grit of door-to-door book sales and navigating a toxic startup culture after leaving her dream job, to more unexpected pivots and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Plus Patrice talks about her "lost twenties" - and why they were foundational to her success.
Tune in for:
About Patrice Poltzer:
Patrice Poltzer is the co-founder of My Story Pro AI, a storytelling and AI strategist, and a former award-winning producer for NBC's Today Show. With a unique blend of media expertise and entrepreneurial grit, Patrice empowers individuals and businesses to leverage AI as a tool for deeper self-discovery and more authentic, impactful storytelling.
Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
Do you sometimes feel like your creative well has run dry? In a world increasingly dominated by AI and efficiency, how do we protect and cultivate our unique human spark?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Natalie Nixon, PhD, a renowned creativity expert, innovation strategist, and author, famously dubbed the "Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite." Natalie shares profound insights on how to reclaim your inherent creativity, understand its real-world ROI, and navigate the evolving relationship between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence.
Drawing inspiration from childhood wonder, Natalie and Jess explore how our natural creative impulses often get "disciplined" by traditional education and societal norms. You'll learn why "getting lost on purpose" can be a powerful catalyst for new ideas and how leveraging AI can actually amplify, rather than stifle, your human creativity.
We tackle:
About Natalie Nixon, PhD:
Natalie Nixon, PhD, is a global expert in creativity, innovation, and the future of work. She advises leaders on how to make their organizations more nimble and innovative through her unique approach to applied creativity. As a speaker, strategist, and author of The Creativity Leap, Natalie empowers individuals and teams to unlock their creative potential and drive tangible results. She is also launching her new book, Move, Think, Rest, in 2025.
Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
Are you tired of feeling like you have to be inauthentic to be liked? Do you struggle with setting boundaries and advocating for yourself, fearing it might damage your relationships?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her dear friend, Kwame Christian, a top-booked negotiation keynote speaker and host of the #1 podcast, Negotiate Anything.
Kwame shares a deeply personal and formative childhood story that shaped his journey from people-pleaser to negotiation expert, revealing how his early experiences led him to compromise himself for the sake of being liked. He explains how this common "people-pleasing pressure" can actually damage the very relationships we're trying to protect.
You'll discover:
About Kwame Christian
Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A. is the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute (ANI) and a leading voice in the field of negotiation. He hosts the #1 negotiation podcast, Negotiate Anything, and his TED Talk has garnered over 600,000 views. He is also a LinkedIn Top Voice and the author of Finding Confidence in Conflict and How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race. Kwame's mission is to make the world a better place, one difficult conversation at a time.
Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
I recently had the opportunity to step onto the red dot at TEDx Sugar Creek Women, and I was surrounded by so many amazing speakers.
For eight years, I've been refining my thoughts on public speaking, and it really just all culminated in this eight minute talk - The Secret to Great Public Speaking (No, It's Not Confidence).
Here's a sneak peek, and for the full video, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT2q1YKZQPE. And of course I'd love it if you left a review and comment!
Are you struggling to maintain relationships with people you love, even when you disagree on fundamental issues?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her good friend, Brit Barron, a speaker, DEI consultant, and author of Do You Still Talk to Grandma?
Brit's work offers a much-needed guide for navigating the increasingly polarized world we live in, helping us find common ground and connection even when perspectives diverge.
Brit and Jess discuss our divided society, examining why it feels harder than ever to see eye to eye. They challenge the tendency to categorize people into "good" or "bad" boxes and instead champion the power of nuance, where love and disagreement can coexist.
We also explore:
About Brit Barron:
Brit Barron is a speaker, DEI consultant, and author of the book Do You Still Talk to Grandma?, which offers a compassionate framework for navigating difficult conversations and maintaining relationships across differences. Her work encourages empathy, nuance, and genuine connection in an increasingly divided world.
Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed by the endless "shoulds" and unsolicited advice coming your way?
This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with her good friend, Dr. Sarah Glova, a keynote speaker, writer, researcher, and unapologetic truth-teller. Her viral talk, "Stop Giving Women Advice," is backed by science, and when Jess saw the title, she knew she had to have her on the show.
Sarah thoroughly examines why unsolicited advice isn't just annoying – it can actually reinforce power imbalances, stifle confidence, and make women feel like they’re always playing catch-up. She reveals how her personal experience as a new wife, new mom, and new business owner led her to research the power dynamics of advice-giving. You'll hear about the fascinating studies showing who gives and receives advice, and how the act of giving advice can fuel a sense of power in the giver, often at the expense of the receiver.
We also explore:
About Dr. Sarah Glova:
Dr. Sarah Glova is a keynote speaker, writer, and researcher known for her insights on communication, leadership, and personal development. Her work challenges conventional thinking and empowers individuals to navigate complex professional landscapes with confidence and clarity. Her TEDx talk, "How to Achieve Your Goals with a Single Page," has garnered over 200,000 views, offering a powerful framework for focus and simplification.
Resources & Links:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
For bestselling author Sarah Hoover, motherhood wasn’t blissful. It was brutal. Her postpartum depression hit like a tidal wave, pulling her into the darkest year of her life - and no one had warned her.
Today, Jess sits down with Sarah to talk about the abrupt whiplash of parenthood—from the identity crisis, the rage, the silence, and the slow process to recovery. Sarah’s book The Mother Load has been resonating with women across the country, because it tells the truth so many are scared to say out loud.
Jess and Sarah talk about:
Resources & Links:
The Mother Load by Sarah Hoover: https://www.amazon.com/Motherload-Episodes-Brink-Motherhood/dp/1668010135
Watch Sarah on the Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/sarah-hoover-talks-the-motherload-postpartum-depression-more-229965381509
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
If you’ve ever looked at confident people and thought, “That could never be me,” this episode might flip your whole narrative.
This week, Jess sits down with Selena Rezvani a LinkedIn Top Voice, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of Quick Confidence, to dismantle the myth that confidence is something you’re born with.
Spoiler: it’s not. It’s something you build, one rep at a time.
Selena shares the uncomfortable story of being pushed into public speaking before she was ready and how that terrifying blur of a moment unlocked a career she never saw coming. She talks about the hard truth of over-preparing, why winging it is a form of self-sabotage, and how to turn stage fright into fuel.
You’ll also hear:
About Selena Rezvani
Selena is a speaker, author, and leadership consultant whose work focuses on helping women and marginalized professionals show up with more confidence and self-advocacy. She’s the author of Quick Confidence, Pushback, and a LinkedIn Learning instructor, reaching millions with her content on leadership, confidence, and communication.
Resources & Links:
Read Selena’s Book – Quick Confidence: https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Confidence-Authentic-Connections-Yourself/dp/1394160941
Watch her TEDx Talk – "Interrupting gender bias through meeting culture": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX3GuacF6l8
Catch her daily content – Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn @selenarezvani
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
In this episode, Jess Ekstrom is joined by Molly Fletcher, a former top sports agent and now one of the world’s most sought-after keynote speakers, to talk about what confidence really looks like behind the scenes. From protecting your energy to saying “yes” to the stage, Molly shares practical advice on how to step into your power and show up with purpose. (even when self-doubt creeps in!)
Molly Fletcher is a trailblazing former sports agent who spent nearly two decades negotiating contracts for the world’s top athletes and coaches, earning her the nickname "the female Jerry Maguire." Today, she’s a keynote speaker, author of The Energy Clock and Dynamic Drive, and host of Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Known for her powerhouse presence on stage, Molly speaks globally on peak performance, leadership, and building confidence through action.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Molly:
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
In today’s competitive workplace, being a standout means being a professional guru and making a memorable presence.
In today's episode, Lorraine will share proven strategies to help you stand out, gain influence, and create a presence that makes you truly unforgettable.
Fortune 500 companies, including Amazon, Zoom, Cisco, and McKinsey & Company, have adopted Lorraine's frameworks. With hundreds of thousands of LinkedIn followers and a reputation as a LinkedIn Top Voice in workplace communication, she knows what it takes to build influence and visibility in the modern workplace.
About Lorraine K. Lee
Lorraine K. Lee is an award-winning keynote speaker, best-selling author, and founder of RISE Learning Solutions. She specializes in helping professionals enhance their presence, influence, and impact in the modern workplace. With over a decade of experience as a founding editor at tech firms like LinkedIn and Prezi, Lorraine has developed a deep understanding of effective communication and leadership.
Her book, Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career (Wiley, 2025), encapsulates her expertise in professional development. Lorraine is also a respected instructor at LinkedIn Learning and Stanford Continuing Studies, where she teaches courses on topics such as executive presence and virtual communication. Her insights have been featured in major publications, including CNBC, Forbes, and Fast Company.
Lorraine's journey into public speaking began in 2021, and following a layoff in 2022, she launched her own company, RISE Learning Solutions. Through this platform, she offers training and consulting services to organizations aiming to empower their teams. Her work has positively impacted professionals at companies like Zoom, Amazon, Cisco, and McKinsey & Company. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in workplace communication, Lorraine inspires individuals to take control of their careers and stand out.
Keep up with Lorraine!
Website: lorraineklee.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lorraineklee
X (formerly Twitter): @lorraineklee
Instagram: @lorraineklee
Facebook: facebook.com/lorrainekleespeaking
To see the LinkedIn Live, check it out here! https://www.linkedin.com/events/creatinganunforgettablepresence7303073852949958657/theater/
Fear has a sneaky way of keeping us stuck. It takes many shapes and forms, like going after a new opportunity, negotiating a raise, or speaking up for ourselves.
this episode of Amplify with Jess Ekstrom, Jess sits down with author, speaker, and former Google exec Jenny Wood to talk about how to move through fear and unlock more success, joy, and courage in your career.
Jenny shares stories from her 18 years at Google and her new book Wild Courage, including how chasing a stranger off the New York City subway helped her rethink what it means to take bold action. Jess and Jenny also discuss negotiation tips, communication tricks, and the hidden power in words we’ve been taught to shy away from—like "obsessed" and "manipulative."
So, have you ever held yourself back with a “what if"? Or watered down your ask before you even sent it?
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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Resources & Links:
Rate & Review: Enjoying Amplify with Jess? Rate us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and leave a review to help more people discover the show!
Follow Jess on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-speaker-author/ - to stay up to date with her LinkedIn Live series, where these episodes originate.
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
Public speaking can feel overwhelming, but small changes can make a huge impact. In this episode of Amplify with Jess Ekstrom, Jess sits down with keynote speaker and generational workforce expert Lindsay Boccardo to break down the subtle shifts that can take your speaking from good to great.
Lindsay shares practical insights on how to engage your audience, bring the right level of energy, and avoid sounding like a phony game show host. They discuss how to turn up the dial on your presence in an authentic way, why confidence comes from preparation, and how even minor tweaks in gestures and posture can make a difference.
If you’ve ever struggled with how to sound engaging without feeling like you’re putting on a performance, this episode is for you!
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Whether you're stepping onto a keynote stage or leading a team meeting, these tips will help you show up with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
Resources & Links:
Rate & Review: Enjoying Amplify with Jess? Rate us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and leave a review to help more people discover the show!
Follow Jess on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-speaker-author/ - to stay up to date with her LinkedIn Live series, where these episodes originate.
Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
Kelsey O'Connor was a D1 student-athlete at North Carolina State University until she suffered a traumatic brain injury that abruptly ended her athletic career. Her journey of recovery and overcoming immense was the basis of her commencement address that went viral on TikTok and Facebook with over 40M (million) views.
In our season 3 finale, Kelsey tells her story and how it led her to become a sought-after public speaker
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Kelsey O'Connor's Speech: https://www.kelseyoconnor.net/videos/v/beyondperformance
Life Beyond Labels Podcast: https://sportsepreneur.com/welcome-life-beyond-labels-podcast/
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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.
Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop
I recently read a study on dopamine that completely changed how I look at my work and life.
It initially shocked me, but then I realized why it makes sense.
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Rate Amplify on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Jess Ekstrom.
Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.
