Apply to Speak

Take the stage, tell your story,

& DESTIGMATIZE FAILURE FOR US ALL.

Speaker applications close June 1st, 2024. The final speaker lineup will be announced in July of 2024.

Apply to speak

Feast your peepers on

the logistical deets of

what speaking entails.

‘Round these parts, transparency is our way of life.

✹ № 1 ✹

DELIVER A 7-MINUTE

TOAST TO FAILURE

This is an in-person speech to an audience of 200 fellow freelancers, business owners & humans. Slideshows are actually discouraged, and the name of the game is honesty.

Even if your failure doesn’t have a shiny bow slapped on top, we still want to hear it. These are never-before-heard stories of itchy vulnerability that inspire other folks to try.

Apply to speak

✹ № 2 ✹

GET YOURSELF TO

DENVER, COLORADO

Because we’re a national nonprofit that donates our annual profits in support of suicide prevention, we’re unfortunately unable to pay you for your time, or reimburse you for your travel expenses. (It’s a big goal of ours!)

That said, your travel expenses are likely tax deductible as a charitable donation. The Failure Ball happens on October 12th, 2024.

Apply to speak

✹ № 3 ✹

MENTORSHIP WITH

THE MIKE GANINO

Every official speaker is granted completely complimentary 1:1 mentoring sessions, and a final story rehearsal with our resident Storytelling Director & Board Member, Mike.

This is a rare opportunity to work with the man named Top 30 Speakers by Global Guru — all while you drill down into the vulnerable meat of the story you want to tell most.

Apply to speak

— PSSST! —

You’re also gifted free admission to the entire weekend — like the VIP Meet & Greet, Failure Ball, and Afterparty — for you and a guest of your choosing. This usually clocks in at $600, and we’re pleased as peaches to be able to offer this up for all speakers.

Meet your Storytelling

Director, Mike Ganino

"Mike Ganino" is often the name whispered backstage at some of the biggest events, conferences, and meetings after someone asks the keynote speaker who just delivered magic "what's your secret weapon?"

And while secret weapon is cute — it doesn't help with SEO. So you might call him a public speaking coach, but most think of him as The Keynote Director.

He helps great speakers become the hottest headliners by working with them on their stage presence, performance, and storytelling. He works with professional speakers, bestselling authors, and the titans of industry; and he has been found around the hallways of organizations like Adobe, Netflix, Disney, American Century Investments, Caesars Entertainment, and the American Heart Association directing their teams in delivering transformational presentations.

Now he’s here to mentor you.

SEE HIS UNPARALLELED WORK

Iffens you apply…

Know that you’re among the ranks of

remarkably accomplished speakers

who’ve taken the stage in past years.

We’re talking Emmy Award-Winning producers, recipients of Allure’s Best of Beauty Award & actors who’ve taken the silver screen by storm — plus everything in between.