The Making of my TEDx Talk – Part 1

I’m excited to say I’ve checked off an item on my bucket list –

Give a TEDx talk

I’d wanted to give a TEDx talk since I opened Noreta Family Medicine in Columbia, almost 6 years ago, both because I enjoy public speaking, and because I knew Direct Primary Care was an idea worth sharing! I blindly applied to be a speaker at TEDxCongaree Vista 3 days before the deadline, in September 2025. I wasn’t procrastinating, but simply didn’t find out about it until 3 days before the deadline! Although my passion for Direct Primary Care made filling out the application easier, it was still a busy weekend!

A few weeks later, I was invited to an online interview, where I was asked to “pitch” my idea to the TEDx organizers, who were University of South Carolina students. I have to admit that I had some reservations about a group of college students running this event, but spoiler alert, they ended up doing a GREAT job! A few weeks later, in November, I found out I was accepted as a speaker, and then we were off to the races!

My first task was a surprise – I found out that all of my fellow speakers and I were going to class! Once every few weeks, we would get together and bounce ideas for our talks off of each other. Thankfully, our group was collaborative, friendly, intelligent, and diverse! There was an escape room owner, golf instructor, and mayor to name just a few, but we were all focused on one goal – helping each other express how we are making positive changes in our Midlands community. I came away from each class feeling truly inspired!

One of our first assignments was to read Talk Like TED. Sure, I read it, but I was instantly intimidated. I kept remembering a line from the book that said a TED talk should be the best talk of your life. I took that to heart, and writer’s block set in, which lasted for a few months. However, a guardian angel was about to come my way.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “The making of my TEDxCongaree Vista talk!