Episode 042
When You Lose Everything.. and You Gain Yourself with Nona Prather
What happens when a “painfully shy” woman loses her job, sells her house, packs up her family (and two dogs), and starts a business from a 300-square-foot RV?
Turns out, she finds her voice — and helps hundreds of speakers find theirs, too.
Nona Prather used to be the quiet one. The behind-the-scenes girl. The “don’t call on me” kid who hated public speaking and avoided the spotlight like it was contagious. But then 2020 hit like a wrecking ball. Nona and her husband both lost their jobs. Instead of spiraling, they sold everything, moved into an RV with their daughter and two fluffy-but-not-so-small dogs, and started over.
From campground Wi-Fi and seven-minute showers to running a successful speaker booking agency and getting up on stage herself, Nona's story is a masterclass in midlife reinvention — the kind that starts with “why not?” and ends with “watch me.”
“I was the only one telling myself I couldn’t do it. And then I thought – what if I’m wrong?”
Connect witH NONA:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nona-prather-b5663010a
- Website: speakerelevation.com
Timestamps:
00:00 – From Painfully Shy to Paid to Speak
01:28 – Job Loss, an RV, and a Family on the Road
03:02 – The Pandemic Shakeup That Changed Everything
04:04 – Starting a Business in 300 Square Feet
06:02 – Growing Up with a Professional Speaker Dad
08:02 – Helping Niche Experts Build a Speaking Career
09:17 – Stress, Dogs, and the Realities of RV Life
12:20 – What You Learn From 5-Minute Showers
14:04 – Breaking Free from Shyness and Self-Doubt
16:10 – Saying Yes to Speaking… Even When It’s Terrifying
19:24 – When You're Out of Options, You Get Brave
22:42 – Embracing the Chaos and Growing from It
23:08 – Confidence After 40 (and Embarrassing Your Teen)
27:10 – The Truth About the Speaking Industry
28:34 – The Riches Are in the Niches, Bitches
31:44 – Finding Your Expert Lane and Owning It
34:59 – The Steakhouse Strategy: Sell One Signature Dish
36:37 – For Anyone Who Feels Stuck: Just Start
40:19 – Walking Away from the Wrong Clients
44:10 – Shaking Off the Criticism and Owning Your Worth
49:11 – Boundaries Are the New Superpower
51:17 – Chestnuts, Boundaries, and Doing Things Your Way
53:22 – Want to Speak? Here’s How to Work with Nona