In this episode, I sit down with Cesar Cervantes – an expert speaker coach, TEDx mentor, and former stand-up comedian – to dive into the real behind-the-scenes of landing, writing, and delivering a TEDx talk that actually makes an impact. 🎯

You will learn:

Caesar’s origin story from comedy clubs to the TEDx stage
The key difference between TEDx talks and keynote speeches
How to pitch your TEDx idea and what organizers actually look for
Why structure is everything — and how to make your message stick
Smart ways to practice (and avoid common mistakes)
How humor can be integrated naturally, even if you’re not “funny”
Tips for building a keynote that books more speaking gigs
A sneak peek into Cesar’s new book Great Speech

Timestamps & Highlights:

23:47 – 23:56: How do you add humor to a speech?

23:56 – 24:10: Don’t try to be funny from the start — find the right moments to insert humor.

24:10 – 24:24: It depends on your natural sense of humor and personality.

24:56 – 25:12: There are two key ingredients to humor: surprise and superiority.

25:31 – 25:45: Surprise is when the audience didn’t expect that twist. Superiority is when something is better or smarter than something else.

25:45 – 26:03: A great book, Comedy Writing Secrets, breaks humor into 5–7 joke types.

26:03 – 26:05: Once you know the structure, you can write jokes intentionally — not just by instinct.

Connect with Kim Rittberg:

🎁 FREE DOWNLOAD: The Truth About Impostor Syndrome No One Tells You – Click here

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▶️ Subscribe to Kim’s YouTube Channel to make better videos that convert: http://youtube.com/@kimrittbergcontent

🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Exit Interview Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/8M8_nMAF

🌐 Visit Kim’s website for free resources and coaching programs: https://www.kimrittberg.com

Connect with Cesar Cervantes:

Cesar Cervantes: https://www.cesarcervantes.tv/subscribe

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/speaktedx

Cesar’s Book GREAT SPEECH book

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