What TEDx Organizers Look for in Selecting Speakers with Nick Rogers and Liam Rogers

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

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable