APB Weekly: A Newsletter Featuring Industry Insights, Speaker Spotlights & More! (April 7)
07 Apr 2026
Here’s what’s shaping conversations this week:
Industry Insights
Current trends, expert insights, and best practices across the speaking industry.
Define the Goal Before the Search
Before diving into speaker options, take a step back and define what success actually looks like. The goal of your program should shape every decision that follows.
Are you looking to leave your audience with meaningful, actionable takeaways? Or is the priority to drive attendance with a recognizable headliner? Both are valid, but they lead you down very different paths.
When buyers start with the goal instead of the name, the entire selection process becomes more focused, strategic, and aligned with the impact they want to create.
Takeaway: A defined goal turns options into decisions.
Speaker Spotlights
Timely highlights, notable achievements, and impactful voices shaping today’s conversations.
Laverne Cox & Chase Strangio are leading powerful conversations on visibility, advocacy, and the future of civil rights through their TIME100 Talk. Their dialogue highlights the urgency of storytelling and representation in shaping cultural and legal progress.
+Learn more about Chase Strangio
National Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month is driving a broader conversation around understanding, inclusion, and the value of diverse ways of thinking. Today’s leading voices are helping reframe autism and neurodiversity—shifting perspectives and encouraging more inclusive environments across organizations and communities.
+Learn more about APB’s neurodiverse speakers
Michael Easter is reimagining the wellness space, bringing a fresh, curiosity-driven approach to health through his work in podcasting and storytelling. His perspective challenges conventional thinking and resonates with audiences seeking practical, modern approaches to well-being.
+Learn more about Michael Easter
This Week’s Rave Reviews
Event feedback, audience reactions, and magical moments from the stage.
Kevin Pearce connected deeply with college students during a recent campus event in recognition of Neurodiversity Week, delivering a keynote centered on perseverance and optimism that sparked thoughtful discussion and meaningful one-on-one conversations—an indication of the lasting impact his story creates.
Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt delivered a standout keynote at a luncheon focused on successful aging—exploring how to live life to the fullest, embrace change, and promote wellness through every stage of life. As the client shared, “Helen knocked it out of the ballpark and is the best speaker we’ve ever had.”
Dr. Esther Choo delivered a powerful keynote for an audience of over 500 higher education professionals, focused on advancing health equity and addressing systemic disparities. Organizers described her session as one of the strongest in recent years, with overwhelmingly positive feedback and a lasting impact on the overall conference experience.
Every week we’re inspired by the ideas, voices, and moments that move audiences forward.
At APB Speakers, we’re proud to help organizations bring those moments to life.