Making It with Jess Ekstrom

Latest Episodes:

23. More Doors Open When You Take the Opportunity Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

When Jess was in college, she applied for an internship with NBC’s Today Show…and got it. In the back of her mind though, she was pretty sure she only got the job for a nefarious reason.

But did that really matter?

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Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

22. Creating Confidence On Stage, with Heather Monahan Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Today we explore what many of us struggle with - the power of confidence and self-belief. The trick is that confidence is a muscle we can work on every day, and we can create a strong foundation from within.

Join us as Jess chats with Heather Monahan, who shares her transformation story from sales manager to successful keynote speaker, while emphasizing the value of authenticity and aligning personal stories with industry problems.

She also shares her tips on visualization and positive affirmations for public speaking success.

Heather Monahan is a Top 50 Keynote Speaker in the World 2022, TedX Speaker, Podcast Host of Creating Confidence, 2X Best-Selling Author (Confidence Creator and Overcome Your Villains) and the CEO of Boss in Heels.

[02:53] Confidence is the key to speaking success.

[05:48] How a lost job led to intrinsic confidence.

[10:56] Caring enough or caring too much?

[17:26] How research, asking questions, and solving problems leads to increased revenue.

[23:29] Investing in yourself and declaring your worth.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

21. Your "NO" Era Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

There are so many great reasons to embrace your “Yes” era. Saying yes to as many opportunities as you can fit into your day. Taking the job, taking the trip, going to the conference, joining the club and showing up to as many things as possible. And with each experience that you have, you walk away with more knowledge about yourself, the world, and your place in it.

But maybe now it’s time for your “No” era.

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Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

20. Having the Guts to Face Your Fears, with Natalie Franke Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

Whenever we step on stage, we’re making a courageous choice to be there and share our authentic selves with the audience.

But what does it mean to be gutsy?

Today, Natalie Franke shares her personal journey of facing a brain tumor diagnosis and infertility, while building her career.

Jess and Natalie emphasize the continuous learning process of courage and the significance of self-reflection and embracing change. They also discuss the power of vulnerability, community support, and the value of integrity in personal and professional growth.

Natalie Franke is the Head of Community at Flodesk and author of Gutsy: Learning to Live With Bold, Brave, and Boundless Courage.

[00:02] Courage looks different for everyone.

[03:20] Evolution of Natalie’s struggles and gutsiness.

[06:16] How Natalie changed her perspective on courage.

[10:13] Fear is natural but keep moving forward.

[12:56] The impostor syndrome advantage.

[18:46] Finding authenticity in breaking free.

[23:49] Building your inner circle.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

19. Is There Room for Everyone at the Top? Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Whenever you have reached any level of success, it helps others (and yourself) to be transparent about the messier early days.

Today, Jess shares a story about a speaking event early in her career where she was picked up in a limo, and it seemed like an “I Made It!” moment.

But instead, she was quickly reminded that not everyone was rooting for her success.

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Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

Speaking While Female: Are We Making Progress? Dana Rubin Has Thoughts Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Women’s voices have been suppressed for hundreds of years. Is it any wonder that we’re still facing a gender pay gap? We’re making progress, but we still have a long way to go.

Today, Dana Rubin joins the podcast to explore the evolution of women's voices in history and the importance of inclusive communication. She discusses the need to document and share women's speeches, as well as showcasing diverse speeches.

It’s time to amplify all voices for diverse perspectives - through effective communication strategies, the power of authenticity, vulnerability, and adapting speech to connect with audiences.

Dana Rubin is the author of “Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women", and founder of the Speaking While Female Speech Bank.

[01:56] Men's voices dominate history, where are women's?
[03:48] History lesson: Women were silenced, but spoke up.
[08:35] How we can support women to stand up and speak
[10:50] Including men in the conversation
[13:16] The power of the pause
[14:57] Overriding stereotypes
[17:04] Embracing emotions and authenticity

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

17. The First Speech I Ever Gave Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

Today, Jess takes us back to the first speech she ever gave. Fifth grade graduation at Cornelius Elementary School.

Kids typically don't fear public speaking or sharing what's on their mind because they haven't been taught to think about what others are thinking of them. They haven't been taught that that maybe limits exist or maybe I'll fail.

So how did it go for Jess?

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

16. Avoiding Burnout and Keeping the Meetings with Yourself, with Dr. Lorneka Joseph Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Lorneka Joseph found herself in the hospital after pushing too hard, and she uncovered a hard truth - she needed to slow down or stare directly at a premature death.

Today, Lorneka and Jess discuss the importance of prioritizing self-care and well-being for high achievers. They share insights on setting boundaries, recognizing red flags of neglecting personal health, and integrating self-care into daily routines.

It’s not easy, but we can all learn how to be ambitious without sacrificing our physical and mental well-being.

Dr. Lorneka Joseph is a Pharmacist, Motivational Speaker, Life and Wellness Coach for high achievers and organizations redefining work and wellness.

[01:00] Introducing Dr. Lorneka Joseph
[04:30] How do we strike a balance of being an ambitious person, but not at the expense of our physical and mental wellbeing?
[08:30] “Without our health, we're absolutely nothing.”
[12:45] Red flags showing you’re not prioritizing self
[17:00] How can we unlearn productivity in a wellness-focused way?
[19:00] Dr. Lorneka’s stress-induced anxiety attack
[22:45] “ Just because I have the ability to do something, it doesn't mean that I have the capability to do something.”

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

15. When I Approached Burnout, a Horrible Thing Happened Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Today, Jess shares a story about what happened to her physically when she was full steam ahead in her work and completely neglecting self-care.

If you’re barreling toward burnout, you’ll want to listen to this, as Jess shares some tips to help you get off the hamster wheel to something that resembles more of a work-life balance.

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.

14. Is Anyone Really a Natural at Speaking On Stage? Perfecting Your Craft, with Rachel DeAlto Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

What does it mean to be a natural at speaking? Or is that the wrong question, because being a natural at speaking is a load of crap?

Speaking can be taught, speaking can be learned, and we have to learn it somewhere. So when you see someone that is up on stage, so effortlessly sharing their story, or it seems like they have all the confidence in the world, you know what? They have had insecurities before. That happens with anything. If we work at it, we mess up.

Our guest today is Rachel DeAlto, and seems like someone who can be so effortless on stage. But that’s not the reality.

Rachel DeAlto is a relatability and communication expert, motivational keynote speaker, and author of relatable: How to Connect with Anyone, Anywhere (Even if it Scares You).

[01:30] “Rachel clearly isn’t capable of doing this.”

[05:11] Reflecting on past mistakes

[08:22] “The house is built. It's time to live in it. It's time to enjoy it.”

[10:57] Relatability in relationships and personal growth.

[13:10] Speaking relies on relatable stories, not AI.

[18:02] Building one-to-one connections.

[00:20:15] "My signature story is about a cat allergy."

Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence, and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.