The Big Talk with Tricia Brouk

Tricia opens up about being a "quick start" — someone who thrives on initiating, building, and creating across multiple fields — and pushes back against the common advice to niche down and pick one lane. Drawing from the Kolbe Index, which measures how you instinctively take action, she makes the case that a multidisciplinary life isn't a sign of being scattered; it's what makes you uniquely valuable to the people you serve.

She illustrates this by walking through her own diverse career: decades as a professional dancer and choreographer, filmmaker, three-time author, podcast host of 10 years, and founder of three companies (The Big Talk, Brooke Moves, and The Wise Leopard). The turning point came when a friend asked her to direct a TEDx talk — despite having zero experience in professional speaking, she applied her theatrical directing instincts and treated it like a one-woman show. That single "yes" launched a seven-figure speaking company.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• The five disciplines Tricia brings to every coaching client: The Dancer (reads body language and physical tension), The Choreographer (stage space, movement, and blocking as meaning), The Writer (narrative structure and the earned ending), The Director (holding the whole picture), and The Producer (turning ideas into reality)
• How a single "yes" to direct a friend's TEDx talk — with zero professional-speaking experience — became the seven-figure Big Talk company
• Why quick starts are great at starting but not always finishing, and how building the right team around your instincts (not against them) is the real unlock
• A challenge to write down every discipline you've ever practiced and what each one taught you — proof it's a competitive advantage, not evidence you're scattered

More from Tricia

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Lama Justin von Bujdoss has spent decades studying and teaching Vajrayana Buddhism — from his teenage certainty that he'd become a monk, through study in India and Nepal, to years as a chaplain inside the NYC Department of Correction, to co-founding the Yangti Yoga Retreat Center in rural Western Massachusetts. In this conversation with Tricia, he talks about the Buddhist nun who served as his root teacher and taught him he didn't need to become someone else to be worthy of his own practice, the discipline of dark retreat and what it reveals about fear, memory, and the mind, and why he's come to believe that his life "is not mine to own."

In this episode, we'll explore:

•

What drew Justin to Buddhism as a teenager, and how his root teacher — a Buddhist nun — reshaped his understanding of who he already was

•

The practice of dark retreat: what actually happens across days (sometimes weeks) in total darkness, and the insights that can emerge from it

•

Why Justin believes "my life is not mine to own," and what that means for showing up in service of others

•

How to stay in relationship with people who see the world differently from you, instead of retreating into sameness

•

The quiet power of a single kind word — and why we never know how far it travels

More from Lama Justin Von Bujdoss

Website: https://www.yangtiyoga.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/repadorje/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/justin.von.bujdoss

More from Tricia

Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Weekly Masterclass

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Visit my website at https://triciabrouk.com/

In this episode, I'm sharing exactly what it takes to show up as a masterful podcast guest, and why this is more important than you may think for your speaking career.

A guest spot is not a casual favor you're doing for someone. It's a speaking gig, and the hosts who book the best stages all talk to each other.

Tune in to discover:

•

Why every podcast guest appearance is an audition for your next opportunity, and what's actually at stake when you treat it like anything less

•

The five things masterful guests do before they ever hit record — from tech to environment to material preparation

•

How showing up ready turns one podcast appearance into five more

More from Tricia

Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Weekly Masterclass

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Visit my website at https://triciabrouk.com/

In this episode, I'm joined by my dear friend and an alum of The Big Talk Academy Mastery, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor.

Dr. Diane is a speaker, educator, and podcast host who helps leaders connect playful learning and empathy to support a creative culture for collaborative problem-solving. With 30+ years of experience in classrooms, children's museums, and college lecture halls, she brings a lifetime of wonder, curiosity, and play to everything she does.

During our conversation, we explore:

•

Why play is not just for children, and what it actually looks like for adults navigating grief, leadership, and a world that keeps getting heavier

•

How rest, nature, and giving yourself generous timelines can unlock creativity in ways that pushing harder never will

•

Why your unique voice and point of view are what make your talk irreplaceable — even when someone else has already spoken on your topic

•

Dr. Diane's current favorites: Book: Adventure in the City of Stories, Speakers: Steve Spangler, Vanessa Brantley Newton, and Tricia Brouk, and Podcast: IMO with Michelle Obama

More from Diane Jackson Schnoor

Her previous appearance on the podcast in Episode 750

Website: https://www.drdianeadventures.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdianeadventures

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-jackson-schnoor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdianeadventures/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCntXM_ffikNoSqwrASAggeA

More from Tricia

Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Weekly Masterclass

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Visit my website at https://triciabrouk.com/

In this episode, I'm sharing one of the most underrated skills in coaching, directing, and leadership — and it's probably not what you think.

It's not a strategy, technique, or even experience. It's detachment.

Tune in to discover:

•

Why you don't need to fix things when a client falls apart in front of you, and what to do instead

•

How to stay the steady anchor in the room when everything around you is unraveling, without going cold or checking out

•

Why kindness and high standards are not opposites, and how holding both at the same time is what actually rebuilds someone

More from Tricia

Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Weekly Masterclass

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Visit my website at https://triciabrouk.com/

Today, I'm so excited to welcome back my friend and thought leader, Jason van Orden.

You may remember Jason from Episode 461 that aired in September of 2022, where we talked about becoming a thought leader in your industry. Or, if you're a long-time listener, you may have heard our conversation on how to stop robbing yourself of your best work in Episode 128, which aired in 2017.

Jason serves established experts who keep hitting the same growth ceilings. He finds and removes what's keeping them stuck without losing what makes their work valuable, allowing them to help more people, create sustainable income, and enjoy a business that supports their life without consuming it.

In this episode, we'll explore:

•

Why AI is not here to replace your creativity or thought leadership, and how to use it as a thinking partner that amplifies your unique genius instead

•

The real reason most people aren't getting results from AI, and the five key areas where experts and thought leaders fall short

•

How cognitive offloading frees you to stay in your zone of genius, and why the opportunity cost of not organizing your ideas has never been higher

•

Jason's current favorites: Book: Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, Speaker: Zohran Mamdani, and Podcast: The Rest Is Science

More from Jason Van Orden

His previous appearances on the podcast in Episode 128 & Episode 461

His free gift to our community, https://jasonvanorden.com/claude

Website: https://jasonvanorden.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonvanorden

More from Tricia

Read my Letters on Leadership, Influence & Love on Substack

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In this special episode, I had the honor of sitting down with the authors of Unedited: Women's Stories of Truth, Identity, and Transformation That Shape Leadership — a powerful collection produced by Maria DeLorenzis Reyes and published by The Big Talk Press.

Each woman in this book was given a label at some point in her life that caused her to stop trusting herself. Labels such as bossy, divorced, too much, or you can't. The labels were all different, but the journey was the same, and this conversation is about the courage it took to put those labels down.

Tune in to discover:

•

Why the stories we carry in silence are far heavier than the ones we tell out loud, and what becomes possible when we finally speak them

•

How community, belonging, and being truly seen by others is what makes transformation not just possible, but sustainable

•

What it means to stop living an edited version of yourself, and why the unedited version is the one that leads, heals, and gives others permission to do the same

More from Tricia

Publish your book with The Big Talk Press

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Today, I'm joined by my dear friend, Big Talk Academy Mastery alumna, and keynote speaker, Rhona McBain.

Rhona is the creator of the Creative Intelligence OS — a framework that explores how creative intelligence functions as the operating system of origination, helping people work with creative energy and process to shape identity, direction, and what they create.

In this episode, Rhona and I explore:

•

Why creativity isn't reserved for artists and musicians, and how to recognize the creative energy that's already flowing through your life and work

•

How our environments, surroundings, and relationships are constantly shaping our ability to express ourselves, and what to do about it

•

What it truly means to fuel your creativity from the inside out, and why presence is the most important creative tool you have

•

Rhona's current favorites: Book: Through Two Doors at Once, LeadHERship: Inspiring Women Leading with Purpose, and anything by David Sedaris, Speaker: Brené Brown, and Podcast: The Diary of a CEO

More from Rhona McBain

Website: http://www.rhonamcbain.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhona-shand-mcbain/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhonamcbain_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhona.mcba

More from Tricia

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This week, we are celebrating 10 years of The Big Talk Podcast, and I am so grateful you are here for it!

Ten years. Over 700 episodes. Not a single week missed.

In this special anniversary episode, I reflect on what a decade of showing up has taught me — not just about podcasting, but about consistency, trust, and what it truly means to keep your word.

Tune in to discover:

•

Why consistency is the most valuable currency you can build in your career, and what 10 years of never missing a week actually proves

•

Why waiting until you feel ready is the one thing guaranteed to keep you from ever starting

•

How the promises you make to yourself are just as sacred as the ones you make to your audience, your clients, and your team

More from Tricia

Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk

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Today, I'm joined by the remarkable Jackie Graves, an English and Creative Writing Professor, Soul Voice Activator, and a beloved member of The Big Talk community.

Jackie spent 20 years helping thousands of students find their voices and transform their lives. Now, she helps visionaries liberate their voices so they can step out and change the world. And her own story of reclaiming her voice is one you won't want to miss.

In this episode, we'll explore:

•

What it truly means to be a light worker, and why you may already be one without knowing it

•

How childhood silence and trauma can shut down your soul gift, and what it takes to reclaim it

•

What soul voice activation is and why connecting your creativity, your power, and your expression may be the most important thing you do as a leader and speaker

•

Jackie's current favorites: Book: Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Speaker: Malcolm X, and Podcast: Erika Alsborn's podcast, "Yes, Please"

More from Jackie Graves

Her free gift to our community: Activate Your Voice Meditation

Website: http://www.jackiegraves.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.graves.10

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiegraves510/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiegraves510/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jackiegraves

More from Tricia

Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk

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In this episode, I deconstruct Steven Spielberg's new film Disclosure Day — which I happened to see on the Fourth of July, on the 250th anniversary of this country, in a theater in New York City.

The timing was unplanned. The way it landed was not.

Tune in to discover:

•

Why integrity is simpler than we think, and why we so often talk ourselves out of it anyway

•

What withholding truth has to do with division, and how speakers and leaders do this more than they realize

•

Why the last word of the film stopped me cold, and what it means for anyone who wants to use their voice to unite rather than divide

More from Tricia

Publish your book with The Big Talk Press

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Today, I'm joined by an amazing friend and speaker, Maria DeLorenzis Reyes.

Maria is an executive leadership coach who specializes in challenging conventional norms and fostering cultures of belonging and high performance.

As CEO and Founder of Training Innovations and MDR Brands, she has transformed over 1,600 companies, delivered over 5,800 presentations and trained 400,000+ people. Her extensive knowledge and speaking skills make her a sought-after coach, consultant, and speaker.

Maria is also the creator and host of the "Finding the Upside" podcast and TV series. Her book, Unedited: Women's Stories of Truth, Identity, and Transformation That Shapes Leadership, is for anyone who has let a label hold them back from standing fully in who they are.

In this episode, we'll explore:

•

Why true belonging in the workplace starts with hospitality and treating every person with equal care, attention, and welcome

•

What it truly means to be a rebel leader and why that's a good thing

•

How to lead with integrity, and why values mean nothing without the actions and behaviors to back them up

•

Her current favorites: Book: Being Smart Is Stupid and The Art of Contemplation, Speaker: Michelle Obama, and Podcast: The Curiosity Shop

More from Maria

Her previous appearance on the podcast in Episode 714

Website: http://mariadr.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariaDeLorenzisReyes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariadelorenzisreyes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themariadr/

More from Tricia

Publish your book with The Big Talk Press

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In this episode, I share something that happened on my way to vote that stopped me in my tracks — three words spoken so flatly, so matter-of-factly, that I couldn't stop thinking about them for the rest of the morning.

"I'm just here."

Those three words revealed something I think a lot of us are doing without even realizing it, and it's quietly costing us more than we know.

Tune in to discover:

•

What "I'm just here" actually means, and why it's not the same as being tired, burned out, or introverted

•

What it costs you every single time you drift into autopilot — in your leadership, your speaking, and your life

•

Four concrete ways to come back to full presence, even when you've been going through the motions for a long time

More from Tricia

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Today, I am joined by the amazing Linda Lorelle.

Linda is an Emmy- and Gracie Award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, speaker, moderator, and host of the award-winning podcast Our Voices Matter. As Co-founder of the democracy project, Civil Dialogues, she travels the country creating a safe space for Americans to engage with each other about difficult issues affecting the country.

In this episode, Linda and I explore what it truly means to listen across the divide, and why that might be the most important skill any of us can develop right now.

When you tune in, you'll discover:

•

The importance of listening with curiosity rather than judgment to bridge divides

•

Why creating safe spaces for difficult conversations isn't just idealistic — it's essential to democracy

•

How looking at where we are now through a historical lens is both grounding and hopeful

•

Linda's current favorites: Books: If I Ruled the World by Amy Dubois Barnett and How Not To Use AI by Abi Awomosu, Speaker: Maya Angelou, and Podcast: Fresh Air

More from Linda Lorelle

Substack: https://lindalorelle.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-lorelle

More from Tricia

Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop

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In this episode, I share exactly what happened when Live Nation — the world's largest live entertainment company — came to my contact form, and what it revealed about what it really means to treat speaking like a business.

The speakers who will be on the biggest stages next year are building their assets right now. The ones who aren't? They're already missing the window.

Tune in to discover:

•

Why having the right assets in place is the difference between a decision-maker moving on in two seconds and reaching out to book you

•

How far in advance the speaking industry actually books, and why most speakers are pitching too late

•

What it truly means to show up like a pro and the one question you can ask yourself right now to find out if you're ready

More from Tricia

Join me LIVE for my Free Monthly Workshop

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Today, I'm joined by an amazing friend and thought leader, Kristin Thomas.

Kristin is the Founder and CEO of Marble Collective, an AI-powered platform that connects, amplifies, and centralizes the digital legacies of remarkable women leaders so they can inspire, be role models, and create impact at scale. Backed by 300 women leaders and 70+ investors, Marble launches publicly this fall.

In this episode, we'll explore:

•

How resilience and adaptability shape entrepreneurial success

•

Why listening is as powerful as speaking for influential voices

•

The importance of following people, not just platforms, to create deeper connection

•

Kristin's current favorites: Book: Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Speaker: Dr. Jane Goodall, Podcasts: Venture F, The Angel Next Door, & The Big Talk

More from Kristin Thomas

Website: http://marblecollective.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinthomas_

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-thomas-1092a01b

More from Tricia

Get your copy of my latest book, Being Smart is Stupid

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In this episode, I explore one of the most quietly destructive forces in any business relationship: doubt.

Drawing on John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt: A Parable, I examine what happens when doubt takes root between people in professional relationships.

I also look at the moment when business relationships shift from relational to transactional, why defending yourself against doubt rarely works, and why naming the doubt is the most powerful thing an influential voice can do.

When you tune in, you'll discover why:

•

Doubt doesn't introduce new information — it reframes existing information

•

Naming doubt openly is what saves or ends a relationship

•

Influential leaders don't wait for doubt to resolve itself; they bring it into the light

•

It's important to distinguish between doubt that serves growth and doubt that destroys relationships (and how to do this)

More from Tricia

Grab your copy of my new book, Being Smart Is Stupid

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Today's guest, Natalie Tincher, is the founder of BU Style and a certified image consultant. Since 2010, she's partnered with hundreds of clients, collaborated with corporations, and served as the global stylist for a major news network.

As host of the Wear Who You Are podcast and a frequent voice in outlets like Business Insider, the Associated Press, InStyle, and Forbes, Natalie is known for her joyful, empowering approach to personal style.

In this episode, we'll explore:

•

Why style serves as your "first voice" before you even speak

•

The way that clothing affects performance, and why removing the cognitive load of style decisions enhances high performance

•

How to use style as a tool for confidence and authenticity

•

Her current favorites: Book: The Mastery of Love, Speaker: Michelle Obama, and Podcast: Good Hang

More from Natalie Tincher

Instagram: @natalie_tincher

Website: https://www.bu.style/

More from Tricia

Go from idea to stage-ready with me inside The Big Talk Academy Mastery

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In this episode, I share a powerful personal story about reaching out to a friend who used derogatory language on social media.

Rather than ignoring it or publicly calling him out, I chose a third path — a private, loving, curiosity-driven conversation that led to a genuine shift in my friend's thinking.

Join me as I break down three key lessons for communicating across the divide:

•

Lead with curiosity, not correction — a well-placed question opens doors that criticism slams shut.

•

Be willing to be taught even when you're the one trying to teach — being truly heard is what makes someone willing to listen.

•

Love is not weakness — approaching hard conversations with love and grace is the most advanced communication skill a leader can possess.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to influence hearts and minds, navigate difficult conversations, and use their voice as a force for genuine connection rather than division.

More from Tricia

Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk

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Today, I'm super excited for you to hear from Beth Norcross. You may remember Beth from Episode 737, which dropped in March. In that conversation, we talked about building resilience through nature.

With extensive training and experience in both spirituality and ecology, Beth is a writer, speaker, and spiritual nature guide who invites people into deep, intimate relationships with their Earth kin.

She founded the Center for Spirituality in Nature and co-wrote Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees with Leah Rampy.

In Beth's big talk, "Do We Really Love Nature?", she explores:

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Why, despite saying we love nature, we often treat the natural world as existing solely to serve us

•

How to show our love for nature through intentional daily decisions

•

The systemic changes we need to make collectively

•

Why spending time observing nature's needs creates deeper connection and kinship

More from Beth Norcross

Her first appearance on The Big Talk podcast in Episode 737

Her big talk, "Do We Really Love Nature?"

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beth.norcross.9/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-norcross-4a566832/

Her book, Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees

More from Tricia

Claim your spot for my two-day virtual masterclass, The Art of The Big Talk

Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop

Explore my content and follow me on YouTube

Follow me on Instagram

Connect with me on Facebook

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Visit my website at https://triciabrouk.com/