July 10, 2025

Why I Don’t Cold Pitch (And How I Actually Book Stages)

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Why I Don’t Cold Pitch (And How I Actually Book Stages)

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“Heather, how in the world do I book more stages?!” It’s the #1 most asked question I get from you all.

You see the advice everywhere—hustle, send a million cold pitches, fill out every speaker application you can find. But what if that whole approach just feels…icky and completely wrong for you? 

Spoiler alert: I don’t cold pitch. At all.

Yep, I said it. I never cold pitch. So if I’m not cold pitching…what am I doing? 

In this week’s episode of The Ramble Refinery, I’m telling you exactly what works—and how I land podcasts and stages without feeling pushy or fake.

You’ll hear:

  • Why cold pitching doesn’t align with how I’m wired (and might not work for you either)
  • The difference between transactional relationships vs. the truly transformational connections 
  • The two types of speaking business models (hint: knowing yours matters)
  • My “Warm ‘Em Up” strategy — how I turn cold contacts into warm relationships and hot opportunities (think: dating for your biz)
  • How to nurture these connections and build a sustainable ecosystem of referrals and invites

This episode is a real, no-BS look at how I’ve built my speaking career by focusing on real connections. My hope? It gives you permission to stop following “shoulds” and start building a speaking strategy that’s 100% YOU. 

Tune into Episode 244: Why I Don’t Cold Pitch (And How I Actually Book Stages)

→ Listen to the full  episode on Apple Podcast or Spotify

→ Read the episode transcript 

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

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🎧 Episode 219: Hate Networking? Graceful Tactics To Grow Game Changing Relationships

🎧 Episode 215: The Power Of A Signature Talk: Saying Yes & Staying Visible (Even When You’re Swamped!)

🎧 Episode 209: Speak for Free? When to Say Yes (or Gracefully, No)

🎧 Episode 224: Why Aren’t More People Doing Sales Calls?

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