#117 Book your first TEDx Talk in 90 days with Adam Lewis Walker

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Do you have a big idea that you want to share with others? Have you always wanted to share it on the TEDx stage? Adam Lewis Walker is a TEDx speaker and author who helps authors, coaches, & speakers book their first TEDx talk!

In this episode, we ask Adam about his journey as an athlete, how he booked his first TEDx talk, and how he helps others do just the same! Listen now to learn how to craft the idea for your first TEDx Talk, how to avoid the mistakes many entrepreneurs make along to way, and how you can do so in just 90 days!

Ina Coveney
An amazing treat for everybody. It is Adam Lewis Walker. How are you, Adam?

Adam Lewis Walker
I’m really good. Really looking forward to this interview, meeting, catch-up—it’s brilliant. Yeah.

Ina Coveney
This is gonna be amazing. So, Adam, can you please tell everybody: what is it that you do right now, and who do you help?

Adam Lewis Walker
I help fellow authors, coaches, and speakers land their TEDx talk in 90 days to skyrocket their impact through the Talk Accelerator method. And I love it. That’s what I’m all about.

Ina Coveney
And that is why I say "fellow coaches and speakers," because that’s basically me. I know we may have podcasted before where you spoke about a similar topic. Yeah, so that’s it, really—that’s what you’re all about. But, as we’re going to dig into, I know you didn’t grow up thinking that this was what you wanted to do. There have been many twists and turns, right?

Adam Lewis Walker
Yeah, it’s always evolving, always a work in progress. But no, that’s what I’ve been doing for quite a few years, and I absolutely love it. We’re going to talk about that because I know that every single person in your audience is impacted by this. I know that TEDx is on so many people’s dream lists. In fact, if I showed you my vision board right now, TEDx is on it. So, this is a topic that everybody cares a lot about.

Ina Coveney
What I care about right now is how you got here. And your story—I mean, I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to have been an Olympic contender back in the 2000s. So, let’s start there. How did you become an athlete?

Adam Lewis Walker
Growing up, as long as I can remember, I was just kind of obsessed with the Olympics. That whole ethos of mind, body, and spirit—the Olympic ideal—I loved watching the Olympics and seeing all these random events.

Ina Coveney
Was there a particular sport that you loved watching?

Adam Lewis Walker
I loved track and field, or athletics as most of the world calls it. But yeah, track and field. Basketball as well—that was my first love. But I was in the wrong country. Growing up in England, basketball was definitely a lower-class sport there. It’s not like in the U.S. I had to convince friends to play on the team just to make a team at my school.

Ina Coveney
That’s kind of funny because you ended up in pole vaulting, and height is important for that, too. That didn’t stop you there, though.

Adam Lewis Walker
Yeah, well, there’s a few key things. What I like about pole vault is that you need a little bit of an X factor. In most sports, it’s handy if you’re seven feet tall or have long levers. In pole vault, there’s a mental side to it—it’s about commitment. It’s a tight-knit community, and it attracts a certain type of person.

Ina Coveney
So, August 2008. Tell us what happened at the UK Challenge.

Adam Lewis Walker
Yeah, so I’m not trying to paint a picture that I was top-ranked or anything—it was definitely an underdog situation. The UK Challenge final was built up of the top ten in the UK based on performance that year. I got into that competition, which was a good result for me. But the conditions were terrible—horizontal rain, flooded run-up, and a soaked track. It was dangerous.

Ina Coveney
What happened?

Adam Lewis Walker
I went for it, but my heel hit a puddle, and I tore my ACL, dislocated my knee, and damaged the meniscus. It was Olympic qualification year, and everything changed in that moment—not how I hoped.

Ina Coveney
You mentioned in your TEDx talk that you went through depression during rehab. What was that like, and what was the tipping point to get out of it?

Adam Lewis Walker
Initially, I was focused on getting back, but as time passed, the surgeon told me to think about just playing basic sports with my kids someday. That was a reality check. It made me reassess everything.

Ina Coveney
Where did the idea for "Awaken Your Alpha" come from?

Adam Lewis Walker
I had to reclaim my identity and step up. In 2013, I co-authored a book, and that led to deeper conversations about success. I wanted more of that, so I started a podcast as an elaborate research project for a future book. That’s how "Awaken Your Alpha" started.

Ina Coveney
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be on TEDx but feels stuck?

Adam Lewis Walker
It starts with mindset—commit to becoming a TEDx speaker. Then, focus on developing your idea. Not every TEDx event is a good fit, so be intentional about where you apply.

Ina Coveney
You’ve been very generous with your time. Where can people find you?

Adam Lewis Walker
You can find me at ayalpha.com. My podcast, "Amplify Your Mission," has resources for authors, coaches, and speakers. Connect with me on social media and in our Facebook group.

Ina Coveney
Thank you so much, Adam. You’re the best!

Adam Lewis Walker
Thank you! Appreciate your time.

Let the BINGE begin

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