Speak Boldly Showcase Is Not TED, TEDx, or The Moth—And That Is Exactly the Point
- Lorraine Connell
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
When people hear "storytelling stage," they often think of TED, TEDx, or The Moth.
And for good reason.
These platforms have changed the way we share ideas and stories. They have created opportunities for people to educate, inspire, and connect with audiences around the world.
But Speak Boldly was created with a different purpose.
Speak Boldly is not about
finding the most groundbreaking idea.
finding the most polished speaker.
finding the person with the most impressive background.
It is about finding the person behind the story.
The Difference Between a Topic and a Story
I have experienced the TEDx world from multiple perspectives—as a TEDx speaker, an attendee, and someone who has applied to speak at TEDx events.
One thing I have learned is that those stages are often built around the idea.
The topic matters.
The concept matters.
The information being shared matters.
Speakers are selected because the idea they are presenting is something the audience needs to hear, understand, or think differently about.
And that is incredibly valuable.
TED and TEDx have created a space where ideas can spread and conversations can begin.
But Speak Boldly asks a different question:
Who is the person behind this story, and why does their voice matter?
The Story Behind the Story
The Moth has built a beautiful community around the belief that everyone has a story.
We share that belief.
There is power in recognizing that every person carries experiences that have shaped who they are. Stories create connection. Stories remind us of our shared humanity. Stories help us realize we are not the only ones who have struggled, questioned, or felt alone.
But Speak Boldly was created with a specific purpose: to cultivate courage for women and female-identifying speakers to share the stories they have often been afraid to tell.
Because the truth is, many of us have learned to stay quiet.
We have been told we are too much.
Too emotional.
Too sensitive.
Too dramatic.
We have worried we won't be believed.
We have questioned whether our experiences are important enough to share.
We have been taught to compete instead of support one another.
And over time, those messages can silence the stories that most need to be heard.
A Space Where Women Can Be Fully Human
Speak Boldly Showcase exists because there are stories that rarely make it to a stage.
Not because they aren't meaningful.
Not because they don't matter.
But because sharing them requires a level of vulnerability and courage that many people have never been given the space to develop.
Before stepping onto our stage, speakers often share fears like:
"What will people think when they hear this?"
"Will this hurt my family?"
"I've never told anyone this before."
"I didn't think my experience was important enough to share."
"What if people don't believe me?"
These fears are real.
And they are exactly why this platform exists.
Speak Boldly is a place where women can tell the truth of their experiences without needing to make them smaller, easier to digest, or more comfortable for others.
It is a place where vulnerability is not weakness.
Where emotion is not something to apologize for.
Where lived experiences are not dismissed.
Where stories that have been hidden can finally be brought into the light.
The Courage to Be Heard through Speak Boldly Showcase
A Speak Boldly speaker is not chosen because they have the perfect story.
They are chosen because they have a meaningful one.
The goal is not performance.
The goal is connection.
Because when one woman finds the courage to share her truth, someone else often finds the courage to acknowledge their own.
That is the power of Speak Boldly.
Not simply giving women a microphone.
But creating a space where they believe they deserve to use it.
Comments