How To Have Fun On A Huge Stage

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​Expert's Panel with Justin Bogardus of Nature Rx
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I went out and got the best of the best for you.

I spoke with experts, doctors, and spiritual teachers.

I asked these high achievers about their fears and how they move through them to live the life they love.
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"Justin, Tell us about  time you felt anxious" 

Before going on stage in front of 3000 people following the heavy hitters John Kabat Zin and Byron Katie - I felt extraordinarily nervous. 

I was on a raised stage, and it was a giant conference room, so there was this sea of people. It kind of looked like the ocean horizon ... and I was staring into an abyss.

I had previously done a talk for Ted- X. With the Ted - x crowd I felt like i could really connect with individual people, but in this crowd I didn't know how. At Ted I was running on such high adrenaline that I didn't even feel the effects of the mezcal shots I did before speaking. 

I felt like I was  floating head, but when I told my first story, introduced myself as a filmmaker/contemplative psychologist and explained that it meant I was a more or less just a "Type A Buddhist" everyone laughed. I felt so relieved. 

I then felt a little bit more relaxed. I will say that I was so nervous I don't really remember speaking - but people said I did a great job. 

 Bringing humor to my talks relaxes me but when a joke lands flat it can feel even worse up there.... ​

When I spoke at the World Conservation Conference alongside Jane Goodall, I made a specific point to enjoy myself and remember that I was there to have fun.

I didn't even need the two shots of mezcal that I took before my Ted talk.

This time, I was there to have fun. ​

"What are three ways you soothe yourself before speaking?" 

1. Stretching 

I stretch before I give talks. I stretch especially my lower body to feel my energy of my body grounding.

When I am nervous my energy raises higher and higher in my body, so much so that when I am super nervous I can become a floating talk box. 

2. Tie Those Shoes Tight  

I tie my shoes really tight. 

Why!?

Because it helps me feel grounded and stable. I can feel my feet on the floor. I got that tip from a slam poet.

3. Self Talk & Mental Imagery 

I remind myself that I want to have a good time. If I am having a good time its more likely that other people will have a good time and if they don't it doesn't matter because..... 

I am having  good time!

 I imagine people I really care about in the crowd or that they are there if I am at a networking event. It makes me feel like I can be myself and relax. 

What's new and upcoming with you? 
How can readers connect with you? 

Justin is speaking at Boulder Earth Week on April 19th at 6:30 pm about the importance of using humor to connect people to the environmental movement. He will make you laugh. To get tickets click here. 

He is currently fundraising for a bigger Nature Rx Kids project to get little ones connected to the outdoors. 

If you want to contribute to or sponsor upcoming projects go to info@naturerx.org or go to www.nature-rx.org ​

Does Nature Have a Marketing Problem?​

Justin Bogardus's is a filmmaker and speaker. His film career was rooted in New York City for over a decade, producing award-winning documentaries and television about wrongful convictions and post-conviction DNA exonerations. In 2010, he moved to Boulder, Colorado to open his own production companies. In 2015 Bogardus launched the award-winning NatureRx series (Mountainfilm 2015), a hilarious satire that explores the cure to society’s ills: a deeper connection and relationship to nature. The effectiveness and innovativeness of Bogardus and his storytelling has led to several worldwide speaking engagements about how to better market nature and social causes. In 2016 Bogardus was a featured speaker at TEDxVail, Wisdom 2.0 (sharing the main stage with Russell Simmons, Prince Ea, Eileen Fisher, Ram Das, Jack Kornfield, Jon Cabot-Zinn, CEOs of Google/Yahoo), and the IUCN World Conservation Congress (sharing the stage with Jane Goodall, speaking about next generation engagement), along with other speaking events.