Making the Shift from Performer to Keynote Speaker with Andy Nunn

I’ve worked with a lot of speakers over the years, but Andy Nunn brings something truly unique to the stage. He’s a mentalist turned keynote speaker who knows how to captivate an audience.

In this episode, Andy and I talk about what it really takes to evolve from entertaining an audience to transforming them.

Because getting laughs, applause, and “that was amazing!” is one thing… but creating a keynote that actually changes how people think and act is a completely different skill.

Andy shares his journey from performing magic and mentalism to working together to build a thought leadership keynote, including what surprised him, what challenged him, and what finally clicked.

We also get into the behind-the-scenes of shaping a talk that’s not just engaging, but structured, clear, and impactful (and yes, still includes some mind-blowing moments).

If you’ve ever wondered how to go from being “good on stage” to being truly bookable as a keynote speaker, this conversation will give you a whole new perspective.

Andy and I talk about:

• Why being entertaining isn’t enough—and what audiences actually need from a keynote
• The biggest mindset shift from performer to thought leader
• How to turn audience engagement into meaningful transformation
• What it takes to structure a keynote that works at 30, 45, or 60 minutes
• The role of storytelling and personal experience in building a powerful talk

About My Guest: Andrew (Andy) Nunn is a sought-after speaker for leading organisations including Google, Amazon, SAP, Sony, and Ralph Lauren, where he delivers interactive keynotes that spark self-awareness, connection, and change. Andy’s reputation as a speaker grew from his acclaimed TEDx talk, “Seeing Is Believing,” which explored how perception shapes trust, decisions, and performance. His sessions aren’t lectures. They’re immersive experiences where audiences don’t just learn about mindset and bias, they feel them in real time. A professional mentalist with over 20 years on stage, Andy has performed and spoken for thousands across Australia and internationally. His talks fuse science with storytelling to reveal how tiny shifts in perception can create massive results in leadership, communication, and culture.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/467/

Andy’s website: https://www.andrewnunn.com/

Andy’s TEDx talk: https://youtu.be/BZWzcuIkD0c?si=KXqJEGD6wvaXbgvJ

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Work with us to develop your keynote talk = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/work-with-us/coaching/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Andy Nunn (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/andythementalist/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe with Julia Korn
• Episode 361: How to Land a TEDx Talk with Carol Cox
• Speak with Confidence series

Join us for our three-day speaking retreat, happening in February 2027, in Downtown Orlando, Florida.

You'll create and refine high-impact Signature Stage Segments - the kind that set you apart as a speaker; practice onstage multiple times with our expert coaching and feedback; and professionally film your dynamic segments in front of a warm, supportive audience so you have edited video and a speaker reel to show event organizers what you can do.

Our retreat is limited to 12 women, so get all the details and request your place at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/.

Early bird pricing is on for a limited time.