Behind the Curtain: My Journey Preparing and Delivering My TEDx Talk
When I first got the email in October 2024 inviting me to give a TEDx talk, I felt a flood of emotions — excitement, disbelief, gratitude... and fear.
Could I really capture something as deep and urgent as collective healing in just a few minutes?
Would I be able to tell the truth about messy, painful growth — not just in theory, but from my own lived experience?
What followed was a journey of preparation, reflection, and transformation that stretched me in ways I never expected.
On February 22, 2025, I stood on the TEDxMint Street stage and delivered Messy, Painful, Necessary: The Work of Collective Healing — a message that wasn’t just for the audience, but for myself.
Preparing for a TEDx Talk: More Than Memorizing a Script
People often imagine preparing for a TEDx talk is just about writing a good speech and memorizing it.
But if you're speaking about something as raw and real as healing justice and collective liberation, the preparation runs much deeper.
For me, it wasn’t just about crafting words — it was about doing even more internal work:
Getting brutally honest about my own healing journey
Naming the discomfort that comes with accountability and growth
Owning the ways we are all implicated in collective healing — and collective harm
Letting go of perfectionism and trusting the message would land as it needed to
There were days the process felt exhilarating.
And there were days I wondered why I ever said yes.
But every rehearsal, every rewrite, every vulnerable moment sharpened the talk into something that felt true.
Standing on the Red Carpet: Fear, Freedom, and Fire
When February finally came, I felt ready... and terrified.
Standing on the iconic TEDx red dot was surreal.
All the preparation, all the heart work, all the doubts — they were right there with me.
But so was something bigger: a fire, a deep knowing that this message wasn’t about being perfect. It was about being real.
As I spoke about the messiness, the pain, and the absolute necessity of doing collective healing work, I could feel the energy in the room shift.
This wasn’t just my story. It was ours.
In that moment, fear gave way to freedom.
Why This Talk Matters Now More Than Ever
We are living in a time where healing is often marketed as an individual, polished experience.
But real healing — the kind that leads to liberation — is political, communal, and deeply uncomfortable.
My TEDx talk, Messy, Painful, Necessary: The Work of Collective Healing, is a call to remember:
Healing is not linear.
Justice is not optional.
Growth demands vulnerability, courage, and collective accountability.
As therapists, activists, artists, and community members, we can't afford to treat healing like a solo project.
We are in this together — and the work is ongoing.
If you haven’t seen the talk yet, you can watch it here:
Watch the TEDx Talk
The Movement Beyond the Stage: Join Us at Troublemakers
If this message resonates with you, the journey doesn't end with the talk.
Together with other healers, artists, and activists, I co-founded Troublemakers.art — a community space where we resist, create, and heal boldly.
Troublemakers is for those who know that good trouble isn’t just a moment — it’s a way of life.
It’s a space where healing and justice meet creativity, care, and collective action.
We’re currently welcoming founding members, and we would love for you to join us.
Learn more and join the movement here:
Join Troublemakers.art
Let’s heal.
Let’s disrupt.
Let’s build something revolutionary — together.
