A Practical Guide for Speakers, Creators & Communicators

Here is a guide to help you illuminate what speaking topics seem interesting for you. Check out these prompts and see what you could start talking about today.

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1. Start With What You Know

The easiest and most compelling topics come from experiences, knowledge, and skills you already have.

Ask Yourself:

• What do people ask me for advice about?
• What subject could I talk about for 10 minutes without preparing?
• What experiences have shaped who I am?

Examples of Topic Seeds:

• A challenge you overcame
• A skill you’ve mastered
• A lesson you learned the hard way
• A hobby or passion that changed your life

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2. Identify Your Emotional Sparks

Your strongest topics often have emotional weight.

Look for feelings like:

• Joy → What makes you light up?
• Anger → What change do you want to see?
• Curiosity → What fascinates you?
• Compassion → What pain do you want to ease for others?

Why This Works

Emotion is the fuel of storytelling—it makes the topic meaningful to both you and your audience.

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3. Explore Moments That Changed You

Great stories come from turning points.

Reflect on:

• A moment you made a big decision
• A time you felt completely stuck
• A person who changed your perspective
• A mistake that taught you something valuable

Transformation = Topic

Where there is transformation, there is a story worth telling.

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4. Use Topic Discovery Prompts

These prompts help you uncover meaningful topics quickly.

Prompts:

• “The moment I realized ___.”
• “I used to believe ___, but now I know ___.”
• “One experience I’ll never forget is ___ because ___.”
• “People don’t know this about me, but ___.”
• “If the world listened to me for one minute, I’d say ___.”

Write freely—don’t judge or edit your answers. The topics will reveal themselves.

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5. Look at Your Lived Experience as a Library

Your life contains endless topic sources.

Categories to Explore

• Childhood stories
• Work or career lessons
• Relationships and communication
• Failures and recoveries
• Adventures or travel
• Identity, culture, or heritage
• Health, wellness, or mindset
• Creativity or passions

Pick one story from each category. You’ll end up with a powerful topic list.

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6. Consider What You Want to Teach

Great speeches teach, inspire, or illuminate something.

Ask:

• What do I wish more people understood?
• What message do I feel called to share?
• What problem can I help someone else solve?

Your core message can guide your topic choices.

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7. Identify Who You’re Speaking To

A topic becomes powerful when it’s relevant to your audience.

Think About:

• What challenges they share
• What they’re afraid of
• What they want to achieve
• What they need to hear

Audience + Personal Truth = Effective Topic

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8. Use the “Story Gold Test”

Any topic can turn into a strong speech if it passes these three tests:

✔ 1. Is there emotion?

If it makes you feel, it will make them feel.

✔ 2. Is there a lesson?

Even a tiny insight makes it meaningful.

✔ 3. Is there a specific moment?

Stories need moments, not generalities.

If your idea checks all three boxes, it’s gold.

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9. Turn Your Ideas Into a Topic List

After exploring your experiences, emotions, and lessons, create a simple list like:

• “How failing my final exam taught me resilience.”
• “What my grandmother taught me about leadership.”
• “Why starting over at 40 was the best thing I’ve ever done.”
• “The moment I realized I was enough.”
• “The three mistakes I made that changed my career.”

Aim for 10–20 topic ideas—more will emerge as you speak.

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10. Choose One Topic to Develop First

Pick the topic that feels:

• Most exciting
• Most meaningful
• Most emotionally alive
• Most aligned with your voice

Then begin shaping it into a story or speech.

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Conclusion: Your Life Is the Content

You don’t need to search outside yourself for topics—your stories, lessons, and voice are already enough.
This guide helps you uncover them and share them with clarity, confidence, and purpose.