Episodes

  • Be Yourself at All Times

    Be Yourself at All Times
    Oct 31 2024
    On this week's episode of Own the Microphone, Bridgett McGowen welcomes Terí Donelson Visit https://www.teridonelson.com/ for more information about Terí’s offerings. Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Own Who You Are

    Own Who You Are
    Oct 17 2024
    On this week's episode of Own the Microphone, Bridgett McGowen welcomes business owner, author, and woman who supports other women building culture, Dr. Nadia Brown. Bridgett and Dr. Nadia Brown discuss what Dr. Nadia Brown speaks on, trusting yourself, working through the nerves, showing up on stage as yourself, and more! Visit https://thedoyenneagency.com/about to learn more about Nadia's offerings and to order her books. 1:00 How did Dr. Nadia Brown find herself in this industry? Is this what she always wanted to do? 5:30 Tips for women in sales. 9:10 What is one of Dr. Nadia Brown's favorite topics to speak on? 16:13 Flourish 19:20 How does Dr. Nadia Brown work through the nerves? 26:21 A question for Bridgett. 33:50 One last tip on how to own the microphone. Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Live Up to Your Words

    Live Up to Your Words
    Jun 6 2024
    On this week's episode of Own the Microphone, Bridgett McGowen welcomes speaker, author, and founder of the Mental Conditioning movement, Elliot Allen. Bridgett and Elliot discuss hwo Elliot got to where he is today, understanding conversation, how Elliot uses his voice in his different careers, building your mindset, and more! 1:11 How did Elliot Allen end up in the speaking universe? 5:22 Advice to shy, introverted people. 11:20 How did Elliot Allen get into the speaking topic of mental fitness? 17:08 Differences between Elliot Allen's first and most recent presentation. 24:00 A question for Bridgett. 30:00 One last tip on how to own the microphone. Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Successes Impress, Failures Inspire

    Successes Impress, Failures Inspire
    May 9 2024
    Don’t wait for inspiration, you have to schedule it. You have to show up everyday with the expectation of a new idea. Travis Hardin is a leadership speaker and mentor to purpose seekers, and Travis believes that success is great, but failure is a true inspiration. Bridgett McGowen:https://www.bridgettmcgowen.com/ Guest: Travis Hardin LinkedIn https://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/travishardin 2:12 How Travis Hardin get into public speaking and how he rejected it at first because of his first love and passion: baseball 4:19 Travis is a great example of how honing your speaking skills can help you become more than just a one-dimensional professional. Travis Hardin: “What do I want them to see? That’s how you become better at x, y and z. You want to be a good example. People do what people see, so you 5:25 Don’t wait for inspiration, you have to schedule it. 8:01 What do you do when technology fails? What do you do when your expectations on a public speaking engagement change? Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. 9:39 You have to place the value on the people that are there to listen to you. 11:45 Technology does not come close to what a person can bring to a presentation. 13:07 What else do we need to know to make sure our presentation is the best that it can be? 13:43 Travis Hardin: "Todays celling is tomorrows floor." Travis Hardin likes to think of todays accomplishments as a starting point for tomorrow. Todays best is no good tomorrow. 16:20 So many people stop moving up, and stop progressing because they did one good thing. You cannot stop after one accomplishment, you need to use that to set your next goal even higher. 18:21 How does Travis Hardin get past the fear of standing in front of a crowd and speaking in front of people? 20:36 Travis Hardin: "Once you take the front of that room, it's all about telling your story and adding value to the people." 24:51 You must start somewhere and learn from the past in order to progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • People See You Before They Hear You

    People See You Before They Hear You
    May 2 2024
    Founder of Tish Times Networking and Sales provides tips and insights into her world of teaching small business owners, solo entrepreneurs, and sales professionals to increase income. Tish shares great advice and always remember "You are more powerful than you realize!" Bridgett McGowen: https://www.bridgettmcgowen.com/ Guest: Tish Times LinkedIn Twitter https://www.tishtimes.com/ 1:50 Profitable networking, maximizing networking experiences and having powerful self conversations 2:21 What is it about networking that scares people? 2:30 Tish Times: “People have this impression that they have to perform once they walk into a network setting” 5:15 How Tish delivers bad news, and discussions that most people want to avoid. 8:05 What role does attire and clothing play in public speaking? How important is appearance? 8:32 Tish explains that you need to be an extremely proficient speaker for people to see past what you are wearing. Tish Times: “People will see you before they hear you.” 11:16 Tish tells a story about a time that she saw a female speaker who was wearing just jeans and a t-shirt, so she immediately lost interest in what the woman had to say. Once the woman began speaking she was able to “turn off her eyes and open up her ears.” 13:43 What is something your audiences would be surprised to find out about you? 14:50 “Stage is my safe place”. 16:12 Tish shares a few things thar help her with nerves and how she helps herself become centered 17:09 “I am” statements 18:35 Strategies on how to create amazing and eye catching slides for presentations 20:35 You have to learn to trust yourself and not your slides 21:43 You are more powerful than you realize Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Embrace Pain to Avoid Suffering and Gain Freedom

    Embrace Pain to Avoid Suffering and Gain Freedom
    Apr 25 2024
    Brian Bogert learned the hard way. That's why he implores others to do the same. Brian found true growth in challenging himself outside of his comfort zone. Bogert brings his personal story of growth and development into his presentations and believes embracing your inner vulnerabilities is an underutilized tool in the public speaking arsenal. Learn. Grow. Challenge. Repeat the cycle over again. Bridgett McGowen: https://www.bridgettmcgowen.com/ 1:54 How do you get everyone’s attention and then keep it throughout the entirety of the presentation. Bogert on what the audience is thinking when you start a presentation: “Does this person have credibility, do they have expertise, do they have relevance and is there something that I can connect with and relate to.” 3:12 The most important thing to know with public speaking, more important than what you say and how you say is, how you resonate with people’s emotions. 3:55 What if you are giving a presentation with a company deck? How do you add life and personality into a scripted presentation? Bogert: “Too many people depend on the script and don’t actually speak from the heart and believe in what they’re doing.” 6:40 What got Brian Bogert into public speaking? How did he find an interest in it? 7:35 A personal story from Brian on nearly losing his life and how it opened his mind to not just speaking and being engaging but the ways to be engaging. Brian Bogert: “What’s important is that we pause and be aware of the lessons we can extract from our stories 12:07 How Brian learned to embrace pain without suffering. 12:50 The world is wrong for telling you to avoid pain. Embrace pain in order to avoid suffering and gain freedom. 16:34 Look at the moments in your life of the most profound growth...where did that growth come from? Did it come from pain? Rarely do massive growth moments from when everything is easy. 17:50 What might seem like our own stories that are not distinct or unique can actually be great lessons to pass along to others. 18:15 Why you should challenge yourself to share your personal growth with others. 19:08 Do you ever get nervous as a speaker? How do you manage nerves when speaking publicly? 19:45 Breathing strategies that are scientifically proven to reduce stress before speaking. 22:22 In public speaking you can measure everything you do through impact. 23:20 Don’t misplace nervousness for being bad at public speaking. When nervousness turns into anxiety, then it can be a problem, but nervousness is not indicative of failure in public speaking.” 24:10 How do you stay on top of your game? How do you ensure that you stay polished? 25:02 Why you should study other speakers...you’ll pick up on things the best speakers do. 29:36 Best way to get in touch with Brian: BrianBogert.comYou can also check out a free resource from Brian: Nolimitsprelude.comWhich includes a roadmap for the things you need to think about and consider when putting together a presentation. 31:15 The thing that keeps most people from taking action is: Fear 32:50 If you want to Own the Microphone, become aware of what’s keeping you from getting on stage. Show notes: Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway Bogert’s Bullets YouTube Page Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Use Negative Energy as a Springboard to Positive Action

    Use Negative Energy as a Springboard to Positive Action
    Apr 18 2024
    Kevin is an expert in leadership development; Micro-prenerurship and small business start-up strategies. He is also a personal and professional branding coach and mentor. On today's episode Kevin and I discuss finding confidence in public speaking, what to do when technology fails or the unexpected happens and why the smallest details matter the most when it comes to public speaking. Kevin and I have a combined 60 years of professional speaking experience, so we have literally seen it all! 1:58 How do you find confidence in public speaking, even if you are inexperienced, or don’t have an overly impressive resume. 3:16 How you should start in public speaking: finding a mentor or coach 4:06 The importance of passion in public speaking. “It really comes down to knowing yourself.” 6:45 Dig Deep: what does this mean and how you can use it to impact people through public speaking. What is it that lights a fire within you? 7:39 What’s the best way to get a presentation going? How do you get people going? What’s the best approach to trying to win over an audience and how do you start it? 9:05 The importance of storytelling in your presentation. 11:30 How do you positively engage an audience when you have bad news? What’s the best way to convey news that is not positive? “Many people don’t realize how many great companies started during an economic downturn. What a great inspirational story. But you wouldn’t know that unless you study the history of business and business development.” 15:13 What do you do during a presentation when technology fails? “I go into every presentation with the assumption that my technology is going to fail.” 15:40 A story from Kevin Mavers on preparedness and what you should do when technology fails. 19:10 The importance of preparedness and getting to your presentation site early enough to ensure you have all contingencies accounted for. 21:40 The importance of paying attention to the smallest details and how all of the most seemingly minute details being ironed out can lead to overall success in public speaking. 24:55 In the modern world, where Zoom communication and audio/visual communication through digital means, ensure your surroundings represent you and your message. Show notes: Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiencesl Kevin’s offering a 30-minute initial consultation to discuss your micro-preneurial dreams and 50% off the regular price for attendance in the 12-week Micro-preneurial Apprentice Program. You can find Kevin on the major social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. KLMaevers@Maevers.biz 307.222.4909 Please make sure that you mention that you heard Kevin on the Own the Microphone Podcast. Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • Take Up Space

    Take Up Space
    Apr 4 2024
    On this week's episode of Own the Microphone, Bridgett McGowen welcomes TWO guests from Vital Voice Training, Casey Erin Clark and Julie Fogh, who blend the toolbox of the professional actor with frameworks for embracing one’s speaking voice all over the country. Bridgett, Casey, and Julie discuss going out of your comfort zone, difficult audience members, common mistakes that speakers make, how to keep you audience engaged, and more! 1:00 How did Casey and Julie know they were able to empower others by using their voices? 9:30 One of the biggest mistakes speakers make when using their voice. 16:50 What should someone keep in mind to make sure that their message is recieved? 25;50 Favorite memories coaching at Vital Voice. 30:45 Questions for Bridgett. 37:30 Your voice can bring you joy. Listen and Subscribe to the Own the Microphone Podcast with Bridgett McGowen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins