Path To The Main Stage Podcast

*Path to the Mainstage Podcast* is the ultimate podcast for aspiring and professional speakers. Hosted by Li Hayes, a seasoned speaker agent and coach, she and her co-hosts share expert insights, strategies, and real-world advice to help you master your craft, captivate audiences, and land high-profile speaking gigs.If you’re ready to take your speaking career to the next level, this is your roadmap to success!

Path To The Main Stage Podcast is a business podcast hosted by LI Hayes, with 43 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

LI Hayes hosts Path To The Main Stage Podcast, a business show with 43 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #10

  S4 Ep. 10: Diana Castro - Elevate Your visibility and brand as a speaker

  Aug 3, 202644 minS4

  Elevate your visibility and brand as a speaker! Learn how to create effortless, impactful content that amplifies your message—and turns your passion into career momentum. In this value-packed episode, content expert Diana Castro joins Path to the Main Stage to demystify the process of building a standout presence, from nailing your image to mastering the content creation cycle. Discover strategic tips for identifying your audience, completing the client journey “circle,” and producing a speaker reel that opens doors. Get practical advice for leveraging every platform, building an email list that’s your own personal stage, and designing authentic social content—without burnout. Diana shares her proven frameworks on content clarity, batching a year’s worth of material, and the importance of presenting yourself as the professional you aspire to be (with just the right amount of polish). Plus, you’ll hear why showing your human side creates the strongest speaker-audience bond, and how overcoming fear of rejection leads to deeper business connections. Episode Highlights: 00:00: The journey to becoming a successful speaker & content visibility 02:00: Making content creation easy—for you and your audience 05:27: The three essential legs of effective content 07:34: Completing the client circle & building business from your content 12:16: Why your image is your professional asset 15:26: Authenticity vs. polish—finding your balance on camera 19:33: Investing in the right speaker reel (and what not to do) 22:01: How emerging speakers can create their own stages 27:04: Producing a year of content in days (batching strategies) 33:33: Building connection through personal storytelling and lifestyle 38:05: Delegation, posting strategies, and picking your platforms 41:22: Diana’s advice for new speakers—trust the process, enjoy the ride

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #9

  S4 Ep. 09: Build a Successful Speaking and Coaching Career

  Jul 27, 202641 minS4

  Start, grow, and love your coaching business—without endless funnels or burnout! Learn how to turn your personal expertise into a thriving coaching practice while cutting your hours, clarifying your message, and focusing on what actually generates results. In this energizing episode, discover James Allen’s “Income Intersection” framework to pinpoint your profitable niche, build genuine client connections, and avoid the costly distractions that stall most new coaches and speakers. Whether you’re just beginning your speaking journey or looking to build a more impactful coaching career, you’ll find proven strategies to maximize your productivity, attract paying clients, and design a business you truly enjoy. The conversation focused on moving beyond the hustle-and-grind mentality—revealing how efficiency, authentic client interaction, and smart priorities lead to more freedom and greater fulfillment. One concept discussed was the power of small stages and authentic offers, while a key theme that emerged was how clarity and authentic connection outshine slick tech or fancy marketing materials. Episode Overview: 00:00: Introduction and the realities of building a speaking/coaching business 02:03: What you really need to succeed (hint: not endless funnels or products) 05:38: Discovering your profitable expertise: the “Income Intersection” framework 10:56: Do less, earn more—the mindset and habits for efficiency 14:40: Productivity principles for building a six-figure business in 20 hours/week 23:12: Structuring your talk: the simple “hook, story, framework” method 30:06: Call-to-action strategies without “selling from stage” 36:28: Advice James would give his younger self and how to start taking action 39:04: How to connect with James and wrap-up

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #8

  S4 Ep. 08: Will AI Replace Keynote Speakers?

  Jul 20, 202641 minS4

  Future-Proof Your Speaking Career with AI, Positioning, and Human Connection Learn how to stay ahead as a professional speaker in an AI-driven world! In this engaging episode, Li Hayes sits down with renowned “Tech Humanist” Kate O’Neill to tackle the burning question: Will AI replace speakers? You’ll find out why dynamic, deeply human skills remain irreplaceable—and how the best speakers adapt to emerging technology without losing their voice. Explore the secrets behind meaningful positioning (hint: why “two-word” positioning will set you apart), practical ways to use generative AI and research tools to level up your content and audience outreach, and how to stand out in both live and hybrid events. Kate shares her tested framework for finding your “X factor” as a speaker, why authentic relationship-building is your greatest asset, and how to keep your message relevant in a rapidly changing world. Highlights include how to blend technology with heart, future-ready tips for content creation and delivery, and the importance of presence—onstage and online. Whether you’re navigating virtual formats, trying to break the “2%” speaking barrier, or looking to keep your career thriving for the next decade, you’ll walk away with fresh insights, actionable advice, and renewed confidence. Episode Overview with Timestamps: 00:00: Introduction—big questions facing speakers in an AI era 01:41: Are speakers at risk of being replaced by bots? 03:14: The “seven badgers in a trench coat” problem with future of work and speaking 04:46: Why the best keynote speakers are irreplaceable—and what parts are automatable 05:47: Positioning: one-word vs. two-word (and why it matters more now) 07:35: The resilience of live events post-Covid 10:14: Hybrid, virtual, and in-person events in a climate-conscious world 13:20: How to use generative AI in content creation responsibly 17:22: Keeping your unique voice and trust in an AI-powered world 20:19: Practical examples of using AI tools for industry research and outreach 23:53: Should you add more tech to your talk? How to balance customization and universality 28:51: The importance of NSA’s Influence conference for speakers 30:07: Kate’s actionable “triple-circle” positioning strategy 34:08: Sneak peek: Kate’s upcoming book on thriving in a weird, fast-changing world 36:26: The one thing Kate would tell her younger self—and why relationships matter most 40:03: Closing inspiration—keep showing up on your path to the main stage

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #7

  S4 Ep. 07: Crafting Speaker Websites with Lauren Pibworth

  Jul 13, 202648 minS4

  A standout speaker website isn’t just about showing off — it’s about proving your value and making it crystal clear why planners should choose you. Whether you’re building your first site or refreshing an existing one, knowing exactly who you’re marketing to and how to make their decision easy is crucial. In this insightful episode, Li Hayes sits down with Lauren Pibworth, a veteran speaker marketing expert, to uncover what truly matters most on a speaker’s website. Expect blunt, real-world advice on crafting a powerful promise statement, avoiding common contact mistakes, making your site AI-friendly, showcasing real (not fake) stage presence, and ensuring your story delivers value – not just inspiration. Fast-paced, practical, and full of tough love, this episode is a blueprint for any speaker ready to book better gigs. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Episode Introduction: Why speaker websites matter02:37 The website as your “home” and proving credibility05:05 Must-have components for a winning speaker website07:20 The #1 starting point: Clarity on audience and offering10:14 Turning your story into a marketable solution13:29 Differentiating between audiences: buyers vs. attendees14:09 Crafting a powerful promise statement vs. just listing topics19:28 What must be above the fold on your site21:32 Contact information dos and don’ts26:22 Why forms are overrated (and risky!)31:15 Additional homepage elements: logos & sizzle reel33:13 Sizzle reels: Don’t fake it—show the real you38:03 Crafting your bio (and why AI won’t save you)40:06 What to include on topic and speaking pages41:43 Making your website AI-search friendly43:29 What meeting planners need and why45:43 Lauren Pibworth’s #1 advice for starting out47:31 Closing remarks and where to learn more

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #6

  S4 Ep.06: Healing Speaker Burnout with Cait Donovan

  Jul 6, 202638 minS4

  Learn how to heal and avoid speaker burnout. On this episode of Path to the Main Stage, Li Hayes welcomes burnout expert and keynote speaker Cait Donovan, who unpacks the hidden dangers of burnout—how it sabotages your mind and career—and delivers practical, science-backed strategies to reclaim your focus and effectiveness. Discover why burnout is more than a mindset issue, how small acts like "peeing when you need to pee" can strengthen your emotional regulation, why resentment is actually your superpower, and how speakers can set boundaries to avoid falling into the resentment trap when booking gigs. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, frantic, or stuck in a loop of giving too much with too little in return, this candid conversation will give you actionable tips and a positive path forward. Episode Overview 00:00 Introduction and Cait Donovan's background 02:09 Burnout defined by the World Health Organization 04:52 How stress physically changes your brain 06:30 The medical vs. mental aspects of burnout 07:11 Early warning signs and why burnout is hard to prevent 08:57 Difference between stress and full burnout 10:04 Yoga nidra and foundational self-care techniques 13:32 The power of interoception and listening to your body 14:30 Cait Donovan's podcast: Fried the Burnout Podcast 15:52 Step-by-step recovery and the role of resentment 16:21 Patterns that lead to burnout in speakers 18:13 Early stress responses: fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and "tend and befriend" 22:15 Why your network is your best resilience tool 24:28 How resentment signals what needs to change in your business 29:33 The resentment-generosity continuum and pricing for speakers 32:41 Tuning into your body and true self-awareness 35:49 Signs you're heading for burnout and when to get support 37:09 Cait Donovan's advice for her younger self and the permission to ask for help 38:15 Episode wrap-up and key takeaways

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Path To The Main Stage Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.