What makes a TEDx talk stand out?

When I set out to craft my TEDx Talk, I knew I didn’t want to just tell a story—I wanted to deliver a message that mattered. In this solo episode—the first in a short series I’ll be doing on crafting and presenting  a TEDx Talk—I take you behind the scenes of how I shaped an idea that resonated with TEDx organizers and audiences alike.

From refining my focus to structuring my arc, I share the exact strategies I used to turn personal experience into a talk that got accepted—and got seen.

Whether you’re applying to give a talk or shaping one you’ve already booked, this episode offers tools to help your TEDx Talk truly land.

In this episode:

• What TEDx organizers look for (and what to avoid)
• Why your talk needs an idea—not just a personal story
• Tips for blending story, research, and message
• The three teaching tenets Estelle builds her talk around
• Why circling back to your opening creates resonance

Watch on YouTube 

And if you haven’t yet—please watch my TEDx Talk:
🎥 How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

In this bold and funny talk, I share how a chaotic moment with Thomas the Tank Engine became the spark for my message on standing out—on the page and beyond. 

For other solo episodes, check out this one, this one, this one , this one and this one

About Estelle 

Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a “Best Book for Writers” by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she’s written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

Student Work

Congrats to my former NYU student Davina Sambeth for her beautiful and evocative “Where I’m From” poem on Alyson Shelton’s site. This was a class exercise that resulted in Davina submitting her poem to Alyson for the series. Here is the link to listen/watch

Here is episode #125 with Alyson on Freelance Writing Direct where she talks about the “Where I’m From” project.

✨ Explore More:
📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook
📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras. Latest post Stop Counting Your Words. Start Shaping Your Story and  How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen
🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips 

Follow Estelle:
📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky