Do you have an idea worth spreading?
The mission of TEDxSouthlake is to be a catalyst for positive change, opening minds with inspiring ideas.
Our goal is to present talks on issues that matter to our community and to spark meaningful dialogue that leads to real change.
Apply to be a speaker at TEDx Southlake 2025, taking place on November 9th, 2025. TEDx is an independently organized event, licensed by TED, and dedicated to amplifying ideas that inspire, challenge, and unite us.
As we enter our sixth year, our 2025 theme is "Written Together: The Ideas Among Us." This theme is a powerful reflection of the times we’re living in—a reminder that the stories we share and the ideas we cultivate are not created in isolation, but co-authored by the communities, cultures, and connections around us. In an age where polarization often dominates headlines, this theme calls us back to collaboration, to listening, and to the impact of shared understanding. Now more than ever, we need ideas that don't just belong to one voice, but resonate through many. Let’s write the next chapter—together.
If you have a clear, compelling idea that ties into this theme — and you can share it in 12-15 minutes of talk — we invite you to apply. As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to submit a short video- no more than 2 minutes- presenting your idea.
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Notifications Sent by: May 31, 2025
If selected for the next round, you may choose to work with a speaking coach to help refine your talk. While TEDxSouthlake does not provide in-house coaching, applicants may be referred to Global Speakers Circle (GSC) — a nonprofit community that supports idea-driven speakers.
A few things to know:
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Coaching is optional but encouraged if your talk needs development.
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GSC offers a 16-session coaching experience (each session is 45 minutes).
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Coaching costs are the speaker’s responsibility.
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Participation in coaching does not guarantee a spot at TEDxSouthlake 2025.
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If referred after July/August, coaching may not be completed in time for this year’s event. However, it could prepare you for a future TEDx or other speaking opportunity.
We’re excited to hear your idea — and we can’t wait to see how you interpret Ideas Among Us. Apply now and bring your voice to the TEDxSouthlake stage.
What to expect
FAQ
What is TEDx (and How Is It Different from TED?) TED is a global nonprofit devoted to "ideas worth spreading." TED Talks are short, powerful presentations on science, culture, and human experience. TEDx is a local, independently organized event licensed by TED. We follow TED's rules and values, but this is our community's stage. We have the chance to spotlight the voices and ideas that will resonate right here in Southlake and ripple outward. TEDx is: Non-commercial (no sales or promotion) Rooted in evidence and clarity Focused on one powerful idea per talk Driven by volunteers and community
What is a TEDx Talk? A TEDx Talk is a showcase for speakers presenting great, well-formed ideas in under 18 minutes (note for TEDxSouthlake we are requiring talks be 12-15 minutes). Why under 18 minutes? This short talk model works, since it only demands the audience’s attention for a short period of time, decreasing the chance of minds wandering or daydreaming about lunch. In fact, some of our greatest TED Talks have been as short as 5 minutes long! What is a great, well-formed idea? It can actually be one of two things: Something that’s new and surprising; an idea or invention that your audience has never heard about. A great basic idea (that your audience has maybe already heard) with a compelling new argument behind it that challenges beliefs and perspectives. In other words, an idea isn’t just a story or a list of facts. A good idea takes certain evidence or observations and draws a larger conclusion.
What Makes TEDxSouthlake Special? As Uma Devireddy, our founder, often shares, TEDxSouthlake is unlike any other TEDx event in the world. We are: Cross-generational – Our speakers, leaders, and planning teams span both youth and adults. Legacy-driven – It began as a way to help children find their voices and has grown into something bigger—connecting generations through storytelling, leadership, and impact. Grounded in community – Many of our speakers are right here in Southlake or nearby, and every person on stage is deeply vetted and supported. Focused on clarity + connection – The best TEDx talks take something complex and make it accessible and easy for everyone to understand (and spark new ideas!).
Types of TEDx Talks When searching for speakers, you can keep in mind these seven different types of talks — not every speaker’s talk has to be exactly the same. The big idea The talks that make one or two very strong points, and it’s important. The tech demo An onstage look at some clever new invention that the speaker was a part of creating. The performance Music, dance, magic, puppetry, or some other performance to captivate your audience. The artist’s statement In these talks, artists showcase their art and explain the meaning and process behind what they create. The “dazzle with wonder” These talks are mainly about the amazement of science and discovery. The small idea These talks are not about one big, world-changing idea, but instead a very engaging take on an interesting topic. The “issue” talk These talks expose your audience to an issue that they may not otherwise know much about.
What a TEDx talk is NOT TEDx talks are not motivational speeches. TEDx talks are not just storytelling about a personal journey. If you are including your personal story, it must lead to a new surprising idea or concept to qualify for consideration. TEDx talks are not a promotional opportunity to showcase your company or brand. TEDx talks are not religious or political.
TEDx Fact-Checking Guide What is fact-checking, and why does it matter? Fact-checking means going through a script’s empirical claims — basically, anything that can be verified in the real world — and making sure that they are as accurate as possible. There are real consequences to the talks you produce, since people will often change their behavior based on a talk that they watch. So, you want to be sure you are not accidentally sharing misinformation or disinformation on your TEDx stage. It protects the reputations of you, the speaker, the event, and TED at-large.
TEDx Content Guidelines TED offers speakers a platform to provide information directly to millions of people around the world. It’s a responsibility we take seriously. First and foremost, that information has to be accurate at the time of publication. If a talk does not follow the Content Guidelines or Copyright Guidelines and the organizer chooses to upload the talk, TEDx reserves the right to add an editorial flag describing how the talk falls outside the guidelines or to decline its publication. All TED and TEDx talk must follow: No commercial agenda No political agendas or inflammatory rhetoric No religious agenda No bad science No Bad Science TED and TEDx are platforms for showcasing and explaining genuine advances in science that are backed by research. Scientific claims by speakers should be based on data that has survived scrutiny by experts in the field. Speakers should be transparent about the basis for any factual claims, and the scientific evidence for them. The consequences of pseudoscience can be especially severe, and speakers should not misuse scientific language to make unsubstantiated claims. Claims made using scientific language should: Be testable experimentally Have been published in a peer-reviewed, respected journal Be based on theories that are also considered credible by experts in the field Be backed up by experiments that have generated enough data to convince other experts of its legitimacy Have proponents who are secure enough to acknowledge areas of doubt and need for further investigation Not fly in the face of the broad existing body of scientific knowledge Be presented by a speaker who has the right scientific qualifications Show clear respect for the scientific method and scientific thinking generally. Claims made using scientific language should not: Be so obscure or mysterious as to be untestable. Be considered ridiculous by credible scientists in the field. Be based on experiments that can not be reproduced by others. Be based on data that do not convincingly corroborate the experimenter’s theoretical claims. Come from overconfident advocates. Use over-simplified interpretations of legitimate studies. Include imprecise vocabulary. (Phrases like “quantum consciousness,” personal “energy fields,” “crystal healing”, and the like, should be considered major red flags.) Abandon evidence-based thinking or be dismissive of the
TEDx Speaker Expectation by TED Speaker fees and ineligible speakers: TEDx events may neither pay nor charge speakers. Sponsors of the TEDx event cannot be speakers and can never present from the stage. Organizers cannot be speakers at TEDx events to which they contribute. No commercial agenda: Speakers cannot promote their own products, books, or businesses, or those of a company which employs them. Talks can only feature technology, product demos, or books that inform an idea presented in a talk. Copyright: Every talk’s content must be in compliance with copyright law. Speakers must inform you beforehand of any third-party material that will be used in their presentations and seek written permissions to copyrighted materials when applicable. TED cannot assist with this process nor act as a consultant on individual cases. Read these Copyright Guidelines to ensure as speaker you clear everything with permission before we record your TEDx talk. Talks are thoughtful, not divisive: No talks with an inflammatory political or religious agenda, nor polarizing “us vs them” language. TED and TEDx seek to build consensus and provide outside-the-box thinking, not to revisit familiar, unresolvable disputes on these topics. Speaker content guidelines: All talks should comply with TEDx Content Guidelines and Copyright Guidelines. If a talk does not follow the Content Guidelines or Copyright Guidelines, organizers have the discretion to withhold the talk. TEDx organizers must inform both TED staff and the speaker(s) that they have made this decision, along with their reasoning. If a talk does not follow the Content Guidelines or Copyright Guidelines and the organizer chooses to upload the talk, TED reserves the right to add an editorial flag describing how the talk falls outside the guidelines or to decline its publication.
TEDxSouthlake Expectations Our 2025 Speakers will be expected to: Deliver the talk in-person in Dallas at the Frontier of Flight Museum in front of a live audience. Deliver a 12-15 minute talk without slides. Be collaborative, open to feedback, authentic, and reflective in the journey to preparing the talk. Commit and respect to TED Talk guidelines and TEDx Logan Circle speaker expectations. Commit to prioritizing a high quality talk delivery and preparation. Learn about Southlake and the surrounding Dallas community.
How to Prepare for Your TEDxSouthlake Talk TEDxSouthlake is a cross-generational, community-rooted event designed to elevate bold ideas and unexpected voices. We welcome passionate, thoughtful, and engaging individuals who are ready to share one clear idea worth spreading—an idea that’s deeply personal, broadly relevant, and beautifully told. We are especially proud of our unique legacy: TEDxSouthlake began as a way to help young people find their voice and has since grown into a space where generations connect through storytelling, insight, and impact. Whether you are a first-time speaker or a seasoned storyteller, we’re here to help you bring your idea to life on stage. Before You Apply Please take a few minutes to review the following expectations: Honor TED and TEDx Rules Your talk must be non-commercial, non-political, evidence-based, and focused on a single, clearly expressed idea. TEDx talks are not motivational speeches or product pitches—they are powerful, idea-centered stories that can shape how we think, act, or feel. Understand the Theme Every TEDxSouthlake event has a central theme. It’s not a topic limit—it’s a creative invitation. Make sure your idea resonates with the year’s theme and can spark something new in others. Share Your Connection to Southlake We prioritize voices from Southlake and surrounding communities. Whether you live here, work here, have a story rooted here, or simply want to contribute to this community no matter where you are—tell us why this stage matters to you. Ask Yourself: Why Me? Why Now? You may have an amazing story or insight—but what makes this the right time, and you the right person, to share it on a TEDx stage? We know how much care, thought, and work goes into pitching a great talk and we’re honored by your interest. Please understand that our curation team receives a large number of applications and we deeply value every idea submitted. Finally, remember: TEDxSouthlake is entirely volunteer-run. We do this because we believe in the power of ideas, storytelling, and this community. Thank you for considering being part of something meaningful. We can’t wait to hear what you have to share!