Rejected From TEDx: How I Turned a No Into a Yes

Everyone sees the finished TEDx talk — the red carpet, the polished nine minutes on stage. Almost nobody sees the first time the speaker applied and got a no. In this episode of Brave Moves, Julie DeLucca-Collins shares the real story behind becoming a TEDx speaker, including her first rejected application and what she did next.Julie breaks down why a rejection from one specific TEDx event isn't a verdict on your message or your worth — it's information about one specific fit, with one specific curator, at one specific moment. She talks about choosing to apply to a different event instead of giving up on the stage altogether, and why the talk that eventually got a yes was built on the exact same message she believed in the first time around. This episode is an honest look at resilience, reframing rejection, and what it actually takes to keep showing up for your own visibility.In this episode:The story behind Julie's first TEDx application and rejectionWhy one no is a data point, not a verdictWhat changed between the failed application and the successful oneHow to reframe rejection without losing your messageWhy visibility requires finding the right room, not proving your worthThis week's Brave Move + free Thought Leadership AssessmentIf you loved this episode, text me and let me know what you though. Support the showJoin the CommunityBrave Moves is a daily confidence and personal growth podcast for ambitious women, women entrepreneurs, and leaders who are ready to overcome self-doubt, build resilience, and take bold action in business and life. Each short, practical episode blends mindset science, decision-making psychology, and real-life stories to help you strengthen your confidence, rewire negative thought patterns, and create meaningful forward momentum.If you are navigating career pivots, burnout, reinvention, or leadership growth, Brave Moves gives you the tools to think differently, act bravely, and design a future aligned with your values and vision. Because confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build, one brave move at a time.Liked this episode? Share it with your midlife woman, entrepreneur friends!Love this show? Let us know how we helped you increase your confidence by leaving a review.For more about me and what I do, check out my website.If you’re looking for support to grow your business faster, be positioned as an authority in your industry, and impact the masses, schedule a call to explore if you’d be a good fit for one of my coaching programs.Fo...