A New Chapter For TSL + The Future of the Speaking Industry with Dan Irvin

Mar 25, 2026

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"So you can speak to it from a very professional level of here's what I'm seeing right now, grassroots, I'm in it, I'm doing the thing. And that's what makes this transition of you taking over and leading TSL really, really exciting. Because again, you're on the front lines, you're doing the thing."

WE'RE BACK.

Welcome to a very special episode of The Speaker Lab podcast! Today, Grant Baldwin is here to share a massive update about the future of TSL and talk about the future of the speaking industry.

After more than a decade building The Speaker Lab into one of the most trusted resources for aspiring professional speakers, Grant is passing the baton — and today, he's here to talk about it with the person taking the reins: Dan Irvin.

Dan isn't new to the TSL world. He's been with the company for over five years, has hosted hundreds of webinars, and personally enrolled nearly 500 students into the program. But more than that, he's a full time professional speaker himself (who is right now in a stretch of doing ten paid gigs in ten weeks!). He knows this world from the inside out, both as a coach and as someone actively speaking to dozens of audiences every year.

But what's important isn't just the future of TSL — it's also the future of the speaking industry as a whole. Dan and Grant believe that right now is an incredible opportunity for paid speakers, and they're here to tell you why — and how you can take advantage.

In this conversation, Grant and Dan get candid about the transition, reflect on what's made The Speaker Lab work, and tackle the question many speakers are asking right now: what does AI actually mean for this industry?

You’ll learn:

Why Grant Baldwin is passing the reins of The Speaker Lab after 10+ years — and who's taking over
How Dan Irvin went from corporate COO to full-time speaker
Why Dan believes speaking is AI-proof — and the 3 reasons human speakers can't be replaced
How AI is changing the speaking business (efficiency tools, not stage replacement)
Why information alone won't grow your speaking career — and what actually will
How to design your speaking business around your own life and goals
A sneak peek at a $900,000 speaking partnership story coming in the next episode
And much, much more!

"The Speaker Lab honestly changed my life. It changed my family's life. We want to continue to be that impact for other individuals and other families. And we know that when we really serve speakers well, they can go out and have a massive impact on audiences all over the place."

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