“You’ll get great exposure” sounds flattering until you do the math. We’re pulling back the curtain on what presenting really looks like in the mental health world, from play therapy trainings to association conferences, and why so many speakers quietly lose money while trying to build a name. We talk candidly about the culture of “pay your dues,” the unspoken expectations baked into continuing education events, and how the profession’s hush hush approach to money keeps new presenters guessing.
We also get specific about the real costs that rarely make it into the conversation: hours of prep and research, travel and lodging, meals, airport transfers, and the income you miss when you cancel client sessions to be on a plane. We name the privilege required to absorb those expenses and the way gender shows up when women set boundaries, ask for a speaker fee, or request accommodations. If you’ve ever wondered what’s reasonable to ask for, how to respond to “we don’t have the budget,” or what it means when an event wants to record your training and keep selling it, we give you language you can use.
Our goal is simple: help you become a stronger presenter with a shorter learning curve and a clearer sense of your worth. If you’re building a speaking career in mental health education, listen, share this with a friend who’s starting out, and then subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what you wish someone had told you before your first talk.
A Hero's Welcome Podcast © Maria Laquerre-Diego & Liliana Baylon
