In Depth Bio

Robin Shear is a TEDx and global joy speaker, author, and likely the only joy coach you will ever meet. She will bring laughter and purpose back to your burned-out audience! She helps depleted givers cultivate joy so they can give from a place of fullness and lead effectively again. She uses her Joy, NO MATTER WHAT™ 5-point framework to lay a foundation that will keep audiences in giving and thriving mode.

Why would TIME Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Psychology Today want to interview a speaker from a one-horse town with a single flashing yellow traffic light? Because Robin’s message of how to choose joy when life’s messy is universal. While many of Robin’s report cards read “Robin talks too much,” her former teachers are now among her biggest fans. Her speaking clients have included TEDxDetroit, MPI, PCMA, CEMA, Northstar Meetings Group, Northwestern Medicine, National Head Start Association, National Organization of Human Services, Emergency Care Specialists, Pure Michigan, Affordable Housing Connections, The Detroit Economic Club, The Attorney’s Resource Conference, Michigan Bankers Association, Michigan Nursing Summit, Michigan Municipal Risk Management Association, WIC, and many others. Robin recently enjoyed sharing joy from stage at a conference in South Africa.

Robin is known for bringing a party with a purpose: Her presentations are fun and engaging, but with memorable audience interaction and actionable takeaways. Attendees regularly declare they have never laughed that much at a conference, and they walk away inspired to take action that enriches their lives – and, because joy is contagious, the lives of others. Participants often state, “I’ve never had that much fun learning!” Several planner and audience testimonials have been given.

Why does Robin want your attendees to have more joy? Cue the music, here comes the backstory: Sharing her exuberance was natural for Robin until she faced several hidden issues and her zest for living became a choice. Within a 4-year span, she attempted 26 distinct treatments for chronic pain, was diagnosed with PTSD after 20 years of night terrors, had a gut health condition, found one of her most important relationships in a nearly severed state, and suffered a head injury that took 21 times longer to heal than doctors predicted. Yet, God brought joy in and through the mess.

Her book, Messy Joy™: How Joy Can Begin Before Your Difficulties End, chronicles her journey, but it doesn’t stop there. With over 200 journal questions, it helps readers know how they can find joy when their own circumstances are difficult. Within weeks of its release with no formal launch plan, Messy Joy™ was named a #1 New Release on Amazon. As part of Robin’s personal journey back to joy, references to her faith are included, and Robin has spoken to several corporate, government, nonprofit and association audiences with rave reviews, discussing faith from stage only when requested. Messy Joy™ is applicable to all who would like a guidebook to more joy in life, keeping the momentum going long after any event ends.

Robin has served in many roles, including registered dietitian teaching at the college level and running a private practice specializing in eating disorder treatment, youth pastor and developer of two vibrant youth programs, and activity staff at senior living communities for people with dementia. She found that infusing joy was the key to improving life for each of these populations.

Robin is the president-elect of the National Speakers Association – Michigan. She was named ITA Group’s Trending Speaker, PCMA Leading Class Speaker, pc/nametag’s Top 5 Event Influencer, and the NSA-MI Chapter Member of the Year. She and her husband find joy in making memories with their two adult children, their spouses, and their baby granddaughter.