TEDx is one of those stages that so many people aspire to.

After being part of the speaker curation and coaching team for TEDxOrlando, I can tell you that there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes that most people never see.

In this episode, I’m joined by experienced TEDx organizers Nick Rogers and Liam Rogers, who have spent the past decade reviewing applications, selecting speakers, and shaping talks that make it onto that iconic red dot.

We take you behind the scenes of what actually happens when your TEDx application is reviewed—what stands out, what falls flat, and what separates the speakers who make it to the red dot from those who don’t.

If TEDx is on your vision board, this conversation will give you a much clearer—and more honest—picture of what it really takes.

We talk about:

• Why originality matters more than expertise (and what that really means)
• The biggest mistakes speakers make in their applications—especially with AI
• How to balance your personal story with a powerful, idea-driven message
• What TEDx organizers are actually listening for in interviews
• The surprising role of coachability and why it can make or break your chances

About My Guests: Nick Rogers and Liam Rogers have been organizing TEDx events for the past ten years, first in the UK and now for TEDxOrlando. Liam is a creative entrepreneur and founder of Story Circle, a storytelling-led company spanning live events, consultancy and original productions, from podcasts to films to video games. Nick is a communicator, strategist and operator with a career that spans politics, crisis management and creative leadership.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/468/

TEDxOrlando website: https://tedxorlando.live/

Nick’s TEDx talk: https://youtu.be/AaKsb9UhZuo?si=nYRcUGT2Vyd3prH1

Story Circle: https://storycircleconsulting.com/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Work with Speaking Your Brand to develop your TEDx application and signature talk = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/work-with-us/tedx-coaching/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Nick Rogers (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickrogersldn/
• Liam Rogers (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamrogershq/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 361: How to Land a TEDx Talk
• Episode 352: 7 Things the Best Speakers Do: My Takeaways from TEDWomen
• Episode 329: From Compelled to Take Action to TEDx Speaker
• Episode 98: Expanding Your Personal Story into a Universal Message

I’ve worked with a lot of speakers over the years, but Andy Nunn brings something truly unique to the stage. He’s a mentalist turned keynote speaker who knows how to captivate an audience.

In this episode, Andy and I talk about what it really takes to evolve from entertaining an audience to transforming them.

Because getting laughs, applause, and “that was amazing!” is one thing… but creating a keynote that actually changes how people think and act is a completely different skill.

Andy shares his journey from performing magic and mentalism to working together to build a thought leadership keynote, including what surprised him, what challenged him, and what finally clicked.

We also get into the behind-the-scenes of shaping a talk that’s not just engaging, but structured, clear, and impactful (and yes, still includes some mind-blowing moments).

If you’ve ever wondered how to go from being “good on stage” to being truly bookable as a keynote speaker, this conversation will give you a whole new perspective.

Andy and I talk about:

• Why being entertaining isn’t enough—and what audiences actually need from a keynote
• The biggest mindset shift from performer to thought leader
• How to turn audience engagement into meaningful transformation
• What it takes to structure a keynote that works at 30, 45, or 60 minutes
• The role of storytelling and personal experience in building a powerful talk

About My Guest: Andrew (Andy) Nunn is a sought-after speaker for leading organisations including Google, Amazon, SAP, Sony, and Ralph Lauren, where he delivers interactive keynotes that spark self-awareness, connection, and change. Andy’s reputation as a speaker grew from his acclaimed TEDx talk, “Seeing Is Believing,” which explored how perception shapes trust, decisions, and performance. His sessions aren’t lectures. They’re immersive experiences where audiences don’t just learn about mindset and bias, they feel them in real time. A professional mentalist with over 20 years on stage, Andy has performed and spoken for thousands across Australia and internationally. His talks fuse science with storytelling to reveal how tiny shifts in perception can create massive results in leadership, communication, and culture.

About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/467/

Andy’s website: https://www.andrewnunn.com/

Andy’s TEDx talk: https://youtu.be/BZWzcuIkD0c?si=KXqJEGD6wvaXbgvJ

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Work with us to develop your keynote talk = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/work-with-us/coaching/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Andy Nunn (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/andythementalist/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe with Julia Korn
• Episode 361: How to Land a TEDx Talk with Carol Cox
• Speak with Confidence series

Resilience isn’t something you build in the moment—it’s something you build long before you need it.

In this episode, I’m joined by one of my clients, Wendy Romeu, founder and CEO of Alluvionic, to talk about what happened when her business was suddenly put to the ultimate test.

But this isn’t just a conversation about leadership; it’s about story.

Wendy shares how she took a deeply personal and emotional experience and turned it into a powerful talk that resonates with audiences.

We unpack how to know when you’re ready to share a story, how much detail to include, and why the specifics—not just the summary—are what create real connection.

We also talk about the internal shifts required to step into your voice: trusting that your story matters, allowing yourself to be seen, and delivering your message in a way that truly moves people.

If you’ve been holding back from sharing a personal story—or wondering how to turn your experiences into thought leadership—this episode will show you what’s possible.

Wendy and I talk about:

• How to know when you’re ready to share a personal story on stage or in your content
• Why the details of your story—not just the headline—are what create connection and impact
• How to turn a real-life experience into a compelling, structured talk
• What it takes emotionally to share vulnerable stories with an audience
• How storytelling transforms your message from information into true thought leadership

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/466/

Wendy’s company’s website: https://alluvionic.com/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Work With Speaking Your Brand = https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/work-with-us/coaching/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Wendy Romeu (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyromeu/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 464: Why Your Story Matters - Even When You Don’t Feel Ready with Tiffany Hawk
• Episode 337: Sharing Your Story as a Catalyst for Transformation with Karen Keene