We recently had the chance to connect with Jenn Espinosa-Goswami and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Jenn, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I feel very proud of running the very first in person Fearless Women summit here in Minneapolis. Fearless Women is an event created by One Woman, a women’s empowerment company out of Canada. While I spoke on their virtual stage back in 2022, I decided to host a local event.
As a speaker coach, I’ve been content to show up on other peoples’ stages for the past 15 years. As an event organizer, I’ve developed an entirely new appreciation for the sheer amount of work and logistics involved, especially when coordinating with 11 speakers, 2 sponsors, and 4 vendors. I’m proud not just of how much effort I put, but also how many amazing women across the Twin Cities not just attended, but embraced the mission behind this event.
The owner of One Woman, Sharla Brown, also attended and spoke on my stage, which was a bonus for this first-time event. She hadn’t attended an event live in 3 years, and I’m grateful she was able to be at my event.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jenn, and I help speakers grow their impact and income on stage or behind a microphone. As an ICF certified coach with over 300 hours of client hours, and an international speaker myself, I bring a unique focus on creating a speaker journey that is meaningful and profitable.
I built my entire company, Weightless, by sharing my own personal health story of losing 100 pounds in one year. The idea behind Weightless is the things that hold us back aren’t necessarily due to gravity, but to our own lack of belief in our ability to make a difference. Public speaking is a bold way to be seen and heard, and once you’ve shared your story on stage, you recognize that nothing (not even gravity) can hold you down.
I became a speaker coach because I noticed a significant gap in the industry. Either coaches help you with delivering one presentation (aka signature speech) really well, or they help you with building the business side of speaking. Very few coaches do both, and rarely in 1:1 formats. I believe there’s a stage for everyone, and work with industries and stages that go beyond the traditional keynote at a large event. Every speaking journey is unique- I help you create a speaker booking system while ensuring that your signature speech is a repeatable, bookable experience that event planners will gladly pay for.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a morbidly obese kid, I was bullied by strangers and sometimes even family members. Consequently, I thought that anyone who saw me would dismiss me or make fun of me. I became very good at hiding in plain sight- by keeping quiet and being the smart and useful kid at school. I rarely spoke up, except within a trusted circle of friends.
It wasn’t until I first shared my story of being “The Loser” that I felt heard and acknowledged. This was several years after I lost 100 pounds, and most of the audience that day wasn’t aware that I used to be morbidly obese. In a way, this was my first time admitting the “former” Jenn, and my mentor told me it inspired her to change her own lifestyle.
Being a speaker is a humbling experience, because someone in your audience will hear and absorb your message. Even though I’ve regained quite a bit of weight since that time, I feel most comfortable on stage. It’s much harder to keep quiet these days!
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I have several defining wounds.
First, being bullied for my body. I have since made peace with my body- both through weight loss, and acknowledging my own inner strength.
Second, being misunderstood. I always felt a bit out of place in my own family, as I had different interests and inclinations. I studied abroad, married a foreign national, and have always been open to other cultures, religions, and ways of understanding. Today, I’m part of a neurodivergent family, which has its own challenges with communication. I address this through seeking to understand first, and finding common ground. It doesn’t hurt that I also started therapy in 2022, and am an avid and curious reader.
Third, job loss. I spent the first 16 years of my professional life in the mortgage industry, and left it as a Certified Fraud Examiner. Learning and personal development were extremely important to me, so it was quite a blow to lose my job in the way I did. However, that opened up the door to entrepreneurship, which was never a goal of mine back in college. I also am grateful for my Master’s Degree, which my company had paid for. The benefits of being my own boss are many, and I work with the most amazing clients.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I find this question interesting, especially in a world that creates artificial images, voices, videos and people.
Yes, what you hear and see from my public persona on video, PR, and social media is the real me. I’m a very direct and open person who also has a private life.
I create my own content, say what I mean, and show up sometimes very raw and real. That doesn’t mean that I will say everything that’s on my mind, or share my vulnerabilities.
When someone puts themselves out there very publicly, it comes with the understanding that you get to choose what and when you share. Nobody is required to share parts of their story that aren’t for the public.
I also am very sensitive to my childrens’ wishes for sharing pictures online, as they have chosen their own path with going public. They’re more private than I am.
If you Google me, you’ll find plenty of content to binge. There aren’t too many people with my unusual name.
As a person with a moon and rising in Sagitarrius, I love sharing ideas, traveling and connecting with great minds. I balance this with my sun in Scorpio, which is the more private and emotional side of me.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m doing something I love in an environment that inspires my creativity.
Sometimes, this is when I’m on stage delivering my message to a room full of engaged leaders.
Sometimes, this is kayaking or sitting on a lake in Minnesota or the upper peninsula of Michigan.
Sometimes, this is diving into a board game, coloring or a puzzle with my family on a Saturday evening.
As an introvert, I also prefer times of solitude in order to recharge. This could look like meditating, journaling, or simply driving or biking to a new destination.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.weightlesschronicles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennspingo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jego3
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JenniferEspinosaGoswami
- Other: https://linktr.ee/jennspingo
