Booking the perfect speaker often comes down to one thing: timing. We keep track of exciting speaker updates so that you can anticipate the latest trends, topics, and rising stars to bring to your next event.
Whether starring in major film releases, launching new podcasts, or taking center stage at marquee events, these notable names are currently making headlines. Here\u2019s a look at six speakers who are currently in the news and bringing fresh stories, perspectives, and energy to audiences everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jonathan Bailey<\/a>\u2019s summer is shaping up to be a major one. The \u201cBridgerton\u201d star leads the cast of \u201cJurassic World Rebirth,\u201d which has already cleared $600 million<\/a> at the global box office. It\u2019s the latest in a string of high-profile roles for the Emmy-nominated actor, who also appears as Fiyero in \u201cWicked: Part One\u201d and will reprise his role in \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d later this year. Known for his range across stage and screen, Bailey returned to the West End this year in \u201cRichard II.\u201d This marks yet another milestone in an already record-setting year for this talented performer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keke Palmer<\/a> continues to show just how versatile a modern entertainer can be. Her latest album, \u201cJust Keke,\u201d<\/a> dropped in June and adds to an already packed resume that includes\u00a0 hosting her podcast, \u201cBaby, This is Keke Palmer,\u201d running her own digital content platform, and starring in major film and television projects. A former child star who broke out in \u201cAkeelah and the Bee,\u201d Palmer has steadily evolved her career with standout roles in \u201cNope,\u201d \u201cHustlers,\u201d and the game show \u201cPassword,\u201d which she\u2019s hosted since 2022. She\u2019s also earned multiple Emmy wins and recently published her second book, \u201cMaster of Me<\/a>,\u201d blending memoir and self-help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shane Gillis<\/a> is riding a wave of momentum in the comedy world. Fresh off hosting the 2025 ESPYS<\/a>, Gillis continues to draw attention with his unique stand-up style. He\u2019s the co-creator and star of \u201cTires,\u201d a Netflix comedy series that follows a misfit crew at a struggling auto shop, and one half of the long-running \u201cMatt and Shane\u2019s Secret Podcast.\u201d Gillis gained early recognition through sketch work on \u201cGilly & Keeves\u201d and his viral YouTube special \u201cLive in Austin,\u201d which has racked up millions of views. He has earned himself spots on major platforms like \u201cThe Joe Rogan Experience\u201d and “The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rebecca Lobo<\/a> remains a key voice in women\u2019s sports nearly two decades after retiring from professional basketball. This summer, she returned to the broadcast booth as a commentator for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game<\/a>, part of her long-running role as an analyst for ESPN\u2019s women\u2019s basketball coverage. Lobo first rose to national prominence in the 1990s, leading UConn to an undefeated championship season and later joining the inaugural class of WNBA players. She went on to win gold with Team USA at the 1996 Olympics. She has since been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including Naismith and the Women\u2019s Basketball Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John O\u2019Leary<\/a>\u2019s life story is about to reach new audiences on the big screen. \u201cSoul On Fire,\u201d a feature film<\/a> based on O\u2019Leary\u2019s childhood survival of a devastating explosion, is set for theatrical release this October. Burned over 100% of his body at age nine and given less than a 1% chance of survival, O\u2019Leary has spent decades turning tragedy into inspiration. His motivational speaking, bestselling books, and \u201cLive Inspired\u201d podcast have made him a sought-after voice on resilience and perspective. Speaking at more than 100 events annually, O\u2019Leary engages audiences across industries with stories of courage, healing, and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steve Burns<\/a> is stepping into a new role as a podcast host with \u201cAlive\u201d set to premiere in fall 2025 with Lemonada Media. Best known as the original face of \u201cBlue\u2019s Clues,\u201d Burns became an unexpected touchstone for a generation, reappearing in 2021 with a heartfelt anniversary message that quickly went viral. That moment of reconnection helped inspire his next chapter: a weekly podcast<\/a> exploring themes like identity, loneliness, masculinity, and what it means to stay human in a complicated world. Each episode of \u201cAlive\u201d will feature honest conversations with guests, building on the trust and emotional accessibility that defined Burns\u2019 early career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re interested in learning more about booking one of these speakers or exploring other ideas, AAE Speakers<\/a> is here to help. Contact us<\/a> today to get started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Booking the perfect speaker often comes down to one thing: timing. We keep track of exciting speaker updates so that you can anticipate the latest trends, topics, and rising stars to bring to your next event. Whether starring in major film releases, launching new podcasts, or taking center stage at marquee events, these notable names […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":25884,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[262,270],"tags":[699,673,179,2108],"class_list":{"0":"post-25883","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-speaker-spotlight","8":"category-in-the-news","9":"tag-event-planning","10":"tag-speaker","11":"tag-speakers","12":"tag-trending-speakers"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Speaker-Spotlight-Top-6-Trending-Speakers-in-July-2025-c.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25883"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25888,"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25883\/revisions\/25888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allamericanspeakers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Keke Palmer releases a brand new album<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Shane Gillis rides the 2025 ESPYS momentum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Rebecca Lobo is a major voice for WNBA All-Star Game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. John O\u2019Leary\u2019s life story inspired a new feature film<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Steve Burns, icon of \u201cBlues Clues\u201d launches a new podcast for grown ups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n