Lessons From Prepping a TEDx Talk

Real-world tips for anyone with something to say—whether onstage, in a meeting, or making a toast at your cousin’s third wedding

Big news: I’m giving a TEDx talk this October!

I’ve always wanted to do one. So a few months ago, I went down a TEDx rabbit hole and searched every upcoming event on their website.

There were talks happening all over the world—Dubai, Dublin, Dakar…
But I applied to the one an hour from my house.
Because dreams are important… but so is not spending $1,700 to talk for 12 minutes.

Each TEDx has its own theme, and this one is Building Bridges.
Perfect. My specialty is creativity, and creativity is all about connecting things that don’t usually go together—ideas, people, perspectives. Easy fit. I’ve spent my career building bridges… and occasionally burning them, too.

The organizers have been amazing. Usually I’d wait until the last possible second to prepare and then pull an all-nighter fueled by caffeine and pure panic. But they’ve kept us on track with regular assignments—and this strange concept called “deadlines.”

We’ve been turning in things like:
✅ Our big idea in one sentence
✅ A personal story that illustrates the idea
✅ An entire draft of our talk
✅ Rehearsal videos to get feedback on delivery, tone, and body language
✅ Rewrites that incorporate Pathos, Ethos, and Logos (aka: heart, credibility, and logic—not the founding partners of a Greek law firm)

Honestly? It’s been great. I’m learning a lot.

And weirdly, it’s reminded me of something I did way before I ever dreamed of stepping onto a TEDx stage…

Story Time

In college, I basically created my own version of TEDx—minus the headset mic and big red dot.

I launched a class called Cal’s Greatest Hits, where each week I invited a different professor to share their all-time favorite lecture. We had:

• A neuroscientist who dissected Einstein’s brain

• A senior advisor to the Governor of California

• The world’s leading expert on folklore

• And one time… the chef from my fraternity (don’t ask—last-minute cancellation, and he gave a surprisingly detailed lecture on cooking LSD in a commune kitchen)

The class started with 30 students and ended with over 300.
Largely because it was two easy units, pass/no pass.

But also because when people share what they love and their one-of-a-kind expertise, they light up.
And that kind of passion? It’s contagious.

That’s the kind of energy we should all strive for—whether it’s a lecture hall, a TEDx stage, or any room where we want to be heard.

HomePlay: Tips for Any Talk

No matter your audience—clients, coworkers, or confused strangers on the subway—here are a few tips I’m finding helpful:

• Start with a Hook: What’s your big idea? What’s the one sentence you want people to remember? If you can coin a catchy phrase—even better. Sticky is memorable.

• Tell a Story That Illustrates It: One clear, vivid story beats 10 vague examples. If people feel it, they’ll remember it.

• Sketch a Rough Outline: Don’t over-script right away. Start loose so you can speak naturally and find your rhythm.

• Audio First: Record yourself and listen back. Yes, it’s weird. But it helps you catch where you ramble, lose steam, or start sounding like a monotone NPR host explaining soybean futures.

• Then Film Yourself: Watching it back will sting a little—but it’s the fastest way to sharpen your tone, pacing, and delivery.

• Repeat Your Big Idea: Like in stand-up, repetition helps things land.
  Callbacks = laughs. Or nods. Or a well-timed “mmm.”

• Tie It in a Bow: Loop back to where you began. It’s satisfying, elegant, and makes it seem like you totally had a plan.

More to come as the talk shapes up. For now, here’s the flyer—because apparently this is really happening.

If you’re working on a talk, pitch, or big idea of your own and want more tips, hit reply. Always happy to help.

And if you ever need a guest speaker who used to cook acid on a commune… I know a guy.

Cheers to your creativity,
Gil

P.S. Wanna connect about a TV project?
Need a speaker for your next big event?
Looking for someone to discuss soy futures with?
Hit me up at gil@gilrief.com or visit my site.