Independent Experts Academy · Get Paid for What You Know
The Independent Experts Academy

You're an expert.
It's time you got paid like one.

A 24-week accelerator that turns your expertise into consulting, training, and retainer income — without waiting to be discovered, and without giving a cut to anyone.

Built on a survey of 4,830 experts across 110 countries — and the exact system that generated $1.3M from free speaking engagements.

76.5%
of experts earn under $25K a year from their expertise
48.6%
have no proactive pipeline of clients at all
1.3%
use a CRM to manage their opportunities
3
retainer clients is all it takes to hit $5–6K/month

Being brilliant was never the problem.
Being unknown is.

You've got the expertise. The frameworks. The results. What you don't have is a predictable system to turn all of it into paying clients. Most experts wait to be discovered — and wait, and wait. The ones who get paid build a system instead.

The Shift

Speaking is the marketing. The contract is the business.

We don't teach you to chase speaking fees or go viral. We use speaking, podcasts, and writing as channels to land the work that actually pays.

The old way

  • Wait for a booking agent or bureau to find you
  • Chase one-off speaking fees
  • Give away a cut of everything you earn
  • Hope someone in the audience hires you
  • Start from zero after every gig

The Academy way

  • Build a pipeline you own and control
  • Land $2–3K/month retainer contracts
  • Keep 100% — no bureau, no cut taken
  • Convert every room into clients by design
  • Compound credibility with every engagement
The System · Powered by the SpeakerFLYWHEEL™

24 weeks. Four phases. One outcome.

A step-by-step build, sequenced by what's practical — so you start reaching out in week one and never feel scattered.

PHASE 1Weeks 1–6

Become the obvious choice

Clarify who you are, build the proof that makes you un-substitutable, and start your first outreach — through research and interviews, not cold sales.

You build: your number, framework, diagnostic, and authority profile.
PHASE 2Weeks 7–12

Fill your pipeline and close

Turn reaching out into booked conversations, and conversations into signed contracts. Email is the engine — and we actually teach you how to close.

You build: outreach engine, CRM, discovery-call skill, and proposals.
PHASE 3Weeks 13–18

Speak to sell, then prove it

Use stages — paid, free, even ones you pay for — as marketing that lands contracts. Then turn every engagement into proof that makes the next sale easier.

You build: a sell-structured talk, capture system, and case studies.
PHASE 4Weeks 19–24

Stack revenue and scale

Add recurring income, raise your rates, and put the engine on autopilot — so three clients becomes $10K/month and beyond.

You build: your offer ladder, certification, community, and systems.
Built for the age of AI

When anyone can ask a chatbot, proof is your moat.

"Why pay you when I can just use AI?" is the question every expert now faces. The Academy makes your expertise un-automatable — with original research, documented results, lived judgment, and relationships no model can replicate.

Who It's For

For experts ready to get paid for what they know

Independent consultantswho want a predictable pipeline instead of feast-or-famine.
Fractional executivesturning hard-won experience into retainer relationships.
Coaches & advisorsready to move from one-off sessions to high-value contracts.
Corporate experts going independentbuilding the business they've always known they could.
Authors & thought leaderssitting on a book or framework they've never fully monetized.
Speakers tired of the bureau modelwho want to keep 100% and own their audience.
No bureau. No cut taken.

Your relationships, your bookings, your revenue — all yours, always.

Systems beat talent

Experts who build a system get paid. Experts who wait to be discovered don't.

Credibility compounds

Every talk, review, and case study makes the next client easier to win.

"The speaking industry gave you one way to get paid. You deserve five. I built this system to generate $1.3M from free engagements — now I'm handing experts the exact playbook."

Ron Story Jr. · Founder, SpeakerHUB & the Independent Experts Academy

From the cohort

Experts, getting paid

"[Add a real member quote here — a specific result, like the first retainer signed or a five-figure contract landed.]"

[Name], [What they do]

"[Add a real member quote here — focus on the transformation from scattered to systematic.]"

[Name], [What they do]

"[Add a real member quote here — speak to confidence, pipeline, or income.]"

[Name], [What they do]
What's Included

Everything you need to build the business

Live group coaching every week for the full 24 weeks
The complete IEA curriculum — build, implement, test
Worksheets & templates for every session
The SpeakerHUB platform — your profile, CRM, and outreach tools
A private community of experts on the same path
Coworking sessions to do the work alongside peers
Every session recorded — never fall behind
A 90-day post-program plan to keep growing
Enrollment

Your investment

The Independent Experts Academy
$3,997
or 12 payments of $139/month
24 weeks of live coaching & curriculum
Full SpeakerHUB platform access
Community, coworking & recordings
Every worksheet, template & tool
Apply for the next cohort

Cohorts are limited. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

Questions

Before you apply

Do I need to be a professional speaker?
Not at all. Speaking is just one of several marketing channels we use to get you in front of buyers. This program is about getting paid for your expertise — through consulting, training, and retainer contracts. The stage is a means, never the goal.
What if I'm just getting started?
The system works whether you're starting fresh or scaling an existing practice. In week one you'll set your number, define your niche, and begin reaching out. You build and pitch in parallel — no long "get ready" phase.
Won't AI replace consultants like me?
Proof, judgment, accountability, and relationships are exactly what AI can't replicate — and we build all four. AI resilience is a core part of the curriculum, not an afterthought. In the age of AI, the experts with documented results win.
How much time does it take each week?
One live coaching call plus focused implementation time. The whole point is a business you can run in around 10 hours a week — and every session is recorded if you miss one.
What makes this different from a speaker bureau or course?
No bureau takes a cut of your work — you keep 100%. And unlike a course you watch alone, this is live coaching with implementation, community, and the tools built in. You don't just learn it; you build it.

Stop waiting to be discovered.

The next cohort is filling now. Apply today and start building the business your expertise deserves.

The platform for experts who are serious about getting paid for what they know.
Independent Experts Academy · Powered by the SpeakerFLYWHEEL™
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FAQ

Everything You Need to Know About SpeakerHUB

What is SpeakerHUB?

SpeakerHUB is a visibility and outreach platform for speakers and experts.

It combines:

- A professional SpeakerPAGE that acts as your electronic press kit (EPK)

- A leads database (podcasts, associations, conferences, media)

- Simple tools for outreach, follow‑up, and lead capture

So you can be your own agent and run a repeatable SpeakerFLYWHEEL instead of waiting to be discovered.

Everyone starts with a full‑featured trial so you can actually use the tools and feel the system working with your own pitches and responses.

We’re not a speaker bureau or booking agency; we give you the tools and leads so you (or your VA) can run the system.”

How does SpeakerHUB help me book more speaking opportunities?

SpeakerHUB helps you in three ways:

1. You look bookable in one click.

Your SpeakerPAGE is structured like an EPK, highlighting topics, audiences, past stages, proof, and contact info – exactly what planners and podcast hosts look for when they compare speakers.

2.You stop waiting and start pitching.

With SpeakerLEADS and SpeakerGPT, you follow a simple weekly rhythm:

- Pitch targeted podcasts, associations, conferences, and media

- Track replies and follow‑ups in SpeakerCRM

- Use SpeakerQR to capture leads from rooms and interviews

3.You run the SpeakerFLYWHEEL.

Over time, the system is built to support a cadence like:

~1 podcast a week

~1 association talk a month

~1 conference a quarter

~2 articles a year

We can’t promise specific bookings, but we give you everything you need to consistently create and convert opportunities instead of hoping someone finds you.

What if I do everything and still don’t get any invites?

If you use all the connects in your account for 90 days – sending pitches, following up, and replying – and you don’t get invited to a single podcast, stage, small group, or large group, we’ll refund your subscription.

The guarantee covers invites, not bookings or speaking fees.

We don’t control your calendar, your topic choices, how you negotiate, or any event’s budget, so it wouldn’t be honest to guarantee bookings or revenue.

Once you’re invited, your calendar, sales skills, market, and the event’s budget determine what happens next. Our job is to get you into real conversations; your job is to turn them into revenue.

Will event planners actually discover me on SpeakerHUB?

Some will – and we treat that as a bonus, not your main strategy.

Here’s how discovery really works:

- Your SpeakerPAGE often ranks on the first page of Google when someone searches your name or topic.

- Event planners can also search our directory if they’re actively looking for speakers.

But the core value of SpeakerHUB is:

- Making you look credible and clear when anyone finds you, and

- Giving you the tools to reach out directly to decision makers every week.

We don’t want you refreshing a profile and praying. We want you running a simple outbound system (the SpeakerFLYWHEEL) so you create your own opportunities on demand.

Is SpeakerHUB for both new and professional speakers?

YES. SpeakerHUB is for any speaker that wants be their own agent including:

- Keynote speakers who want a clean EPK and more chances to be seen and chosen

- Experts, authors, and founders who use speaking and podcasts to get clients

- Coaches and consultants who want speaking to drive real business, not just fees

- Emerging speakers who are ready to start pitching podcasts and associations instead of waiting on invites

You do not need a bureau contract or a certain number of past gigs to start. You just need a topic, a basic offer or message, and willingness to do light, consistent outreach during your trial.

Are the contacts in SpeakerHUB verified?

Yes. Our SpeakerLEADS data is curated and updated on an ongoing basis.

We maintain:

- Millions of podcast, association, conference, and media records

- Contact details and context (where available) for the people behind those stages

No database is perfect or static because organizers change roles, events rebrand, etc. So we actively work to keep records current and remove bad data.

Most importantly, we give you a system (filters, scripts, tracking) so you’re not just blasting a list, you’re running targeted, respectful outreach to relevant decision makers.

How do I know this works?

We built SpeakerHUB around real usage and results, not theory:

Our speakers have booked thousands of meetings and stages – from TEDx talks and associations to conferences and corporate training – using the same system.

You can see dozens of recent wins (screenshots, case studies, and video testimonials) right on this page and in our “Recent Results” section.

We can’t guarantee your outcomes because your niche, message, experience and follow‑through matter. But we can guarantee you’ll have the same tools, map, and process our winning users and booking agencies are actually using.

Does SpeakerHUB provide training or support?

Yes. You’re not left alone with software.

You’ll get onboarding resources, best-practice guides, and access to help articles and SpeakerCOWORKING sessions so you can hear how others are making the most of their profiles and tools without feeling overwhelmed.

We give guidance on:

- How to set up your SpeakerPAGE and first outreach campaigns.

- Live and recorded trainings showing how to use SpeakerLEADS, SpeakerGPT, and SpeakerCRM to run the Flywheel

- Support resources (help center, examples, templates) to shorten your learning curve

We want you to succeed during the trial, not guess. The goal is that by the end of your trial you’ve sent real pitches and gotten real replies, not just clicked around.

How is SpeakerHUB different from a speaker bureau or other directory?

3 Key differences:

1. We don’t take a cut of your fees: Organizers contact you directly; you keep 100%.

2. We’re not a gatekeeper: Bureaus usually represent a small, curated roster and pitch them to clients. We give you the data and tools to pitch yourself.

3. We’re not just a “list and wait” directory: Your SpeakerPAGE is your EPK and search‑friendly home base. SpeakerHUB unlocks leads + tools so you can run proactive outreach. The directory and search traffic are a bonus, not the only plan.

In short: a bureau tries to get you booked; SpeakerHUB helps you get yourself booked with the same systems agencies use behind the scenes.

Can SpeakerHUB help with AI tools like ChatGPT or other “AI search” systems?

Yes, in two ways:

1. SpeakerGPT (built‑in AI)

- Helps you draft bios, talk titles, and personalized pitches that sound like you

- Turns your ideas into ready‑to‑use outreach messages and page copy

- Speeds up all the “boring writing” so you can stay consistent

2. AI visibility & search

- Your SpeakerPAGE is structured so that Google and AI tools can easily understand who you are, what you speak on, and where you’ve appeared.

- As AI assistants increasingly answer questions like “Who are the best speakers on burnout for teachers?” they rely on structured, trusted sources – which is exactly how we designed SpeakerPAGES.

You don’t have to be “good with AI” to benefit; we bake it into the platform for you.

Is there still a free plan?

Yes – but it’s not where you start.

Everyone begins with a full‑featured trial so you can experience the SpeakerFLYWHEEL with your own pitches, leads, and replies.

When your trial ends, you can:

- Keep the full engine on a paid plan, or

- Downgrade to a free SpeakerPAGE plan that keeps your EPK and basic visibility live.

Think of the free SpeakerPAGE as your living EPK safety net, not the main tool that will get you booked.

SpeakerHUB is the engine you use to be your own agent and finally take control of when and where you get booked.

What happens when the trial ends?

At the end of your trial, you have 2 options:

1. Stay on a paid plan

- Keep your SpeakerPAGE, SpeakerLEADS, SpeakerCRM, SpeakerGPT, and SpeakerQR running.

- Continue using the SpeakerFLYWHEEL to proactively grow your visibility and bookings.

2. Downgrade to a free SpeakerPAGE

- Keep your basic SpeakerPAGE EPK live on SpeakerHUB so you still look credible when someone searches your name or follows an old link.

- Lose ongoing access to leads and advanced tools until you’re ready to upgrade again.

You’re never “locked out” of your presence. Your page remains. The decision is simply whether you want to keep the full engine running or just maintain your EPK for now.