You may have had an experience, a situation, a life event that caused you to change how you looked at the world or led to a new understanding of how something is wrong and needs to be changed. Your personal story can have a powerful impact on an audience. But, for it to spark a movement, to cause others to change, to cause systems to change, you need to expand your personal story into a universal message. This is especially true for TEDx talks and keynotes. I had posted in the Speaking Your Brand Facebook group about a month ago looking for some willing participants to do on-air coaching calls. (Not a member? Join for free.) My guest today, Dr. Nicole Rochester, sent me an email with her idea for a TEDx talk and I loved it. Nicole is a physician (pediatrician by training) who left clinical medicine a year ago to launch a health advocacy and consulting company. You’ll hear in this episode what prompted her to start her company and how that has led to her idea for a TEDx talk. It was a pleasure talking with Nicole and you’ll hear the process we went through to take her personal story and expand it into a universal message. We come up with a really clear spine for her talk - and a single word that serves as a powerful metaphor for the change she wants to see and how it can happen. About My Guest: Dr. Nicole T. Rochester is a board-certified pediatrician, Clinical Assistant Professor, and the CEO of Your GPS Doc, LLC, an innovative company that helps aging individuals, those with chronic illnesses, and their family caregivers navigate the healthcare system through education, empowerment, advocacy, speaking, and consulting. While helping to care for her late father, who had multiple chronic illnesses including dementia, Dr. Rochester witnessed the disjointed healthcare system from the other side of the stethoscope and gained invaluable insight into the plight of patients and their caregivers. On many occasions, it was only because of her medical expertise that her father received the care he needed and deserved. She realizes that most patients and families do not have access to this “inside knowledge” and has made it her personal mission to make this information widely available. The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals create their signature talks and gain more visibility to achieve their goals. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power: on stages, in businesses, on boards, in the media, in politics, and in our communities. Check out our coaching programs and workshops at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com. Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/98 Visit Nicole’s website at http://www.yourgpsdoc.com/. Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Join the free Speaking Your Brand community at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/join/ or text the word SPEAKING to 444-999. Sign up for a Strategy Session at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/strategy. Ready to create your TEDx talk or signature talk? Email me at [email protected] or click here to schedule a call. Say hi to me on Instagram and Twitter: @CarolMorganCox. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts and leave a review! Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 24: What It Takes to Do a TEDx Talk with Tammy Lally Episode 56: How to Become a TEDx Speaker with Tamsen Webster Episode 60: [Coaching] Finding Your Presentation's Spine and Why It Absolutely Needs One with Joanna Sapir Episode 91: Visibility Works: From Local Speaking to TED.com to a Book with Tammy Lally JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.