Finding Speech Topics in Unusual Places

Finding a topic for your upcoming speech can be a daunting task. You might have run out of ideas or want to speak about something new. Despite the challenge, speech topics can be found anywhere, with some of the best ideas coming from the most unusual places. Below, Toastmasters share the creative ways they have come across speech topics.

Mail Problems

An unexpected speech came from what most people consider trash.

My unique speech idea came when I griped about all the senior citizen junk mail I’ve received. It then occurred to me I had “Mail Problems.” There were advertisements from a funeral home, a request to participate in an Alzheimer’s disease study, and others. The sarcastic comments flowed from my mind, and it turned into a speech that has entertained over 20 clubs as I took it on the road.

The bottom line is that I found my best speech in materials usually tossed as garbage.

Ernest Raynor, DTM • Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

Burger Love

The most unique way I came across a speech idea was when I was picking which burger my son and I wanted to try during Burger Love. PEI Burger Love is a month-long celebration of Island Beef through one-of-a-kind culinary creations on Prince Edward Island in Canada. However, choosing a date to go eat a burger with my son proved challenging with our schedules. I soon realized I was using my negotiation skills when picking a date and time, which burger we both wanted to try, whether we would each eat a burger or split one, and who would pay. It was one of my favorite speeches to date!

Anne Doucette, DTM • Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

 

The Chicken Soup of Life

It all started with a bowl of chicken soup. My sister was working from home due to COVID restrictions. One day, she seemed on the brink of exhaustion, working for extended periods without pause. Taking frequent breaks and never skipping meals was an essential component of my work strategy. I asked her to take a five-minute break and enjoy the hot soup I had prepared. However, several hours later, the soup was on the table, cold and untouched.

Several years later, my sister called and advised me to follow the Pomodoro Technique, which involves taking a five-minute break after 25 minutes of work. It was the same thing I had suggested to her years ago. So, the chicken soup became a theme for my speech, which not only introduced the idea of the Pomodoro Technique, but also suggested that advice will be heard only when the listener’s heart is ready to accept it.

Sumam Joseph • Kochi, Kerala, India

 

Finding Speech Inspiration on the Flight Deck

Speech ideas surround us every day and everywhere! My family had the opportunity to take a direct flight from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Anchorage, Alaska, on a military KC-135 jet. The two boys pictured, Memphis Denali and Maddux Kodiak, had the trip of a lifetime. They each had the opportunity to explore and ask the crew questions while in flight. They were also invited to sit with the pilot on the flight deck once the jet was on the final approach to the runway. We then went on a sightseeing adventure throughout Alaska for 10 days in July. Photos of Alaska cannot explain the pristine, majestic, and beautiful landscape scenes, but I was able to use this trip as motivation for my speech.

Sheila Ulrich • Hartington, Nebraska

 

Lessons From the Attic

During a vacation to my parents’ place, my son, curious about my childhood, insisted on seeing my old photos. As I flipped through the pages of dusty albums from my parent’s attic, I found my school report cards with my history marks. Seeing that instantly transported me back to a particular incident as a teenager.

I was 14 and full of misplaced confidence, sauntering into a history exam with a head full of battles and dates. I was ready to ace it until I saw my friend, in a puddle of tears and panic. I fashioned chits with the important dates and information I had studied and passed them to her because, apparently, cheating was my way of showing empathy. The day the report cards were handed out, my confidence crumbled. My teacher said, “History might repeat itself, but let’s not repeat this performance in exam hall.” I can still hear my classmates’ laughter as I tried to disappear under my desk.

As I shared this story with my son, I realized it wasn’t just a tale of a schoolgirl. It was a lesson in empathy, friendship, resilience, and mental wellbeing. And just like that, I had the perfect idea and message for my next speech.

Aparna Rajan, DTM • Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 

Reaching the Summit

On December 23, 2023, I completed a challenging 72 kilometers (almost 45 miles) Himalayan trek, a feat that seemed unimaginable to me just a year ago. In January of that year, I had struggled to reach the summit of the Kedarkantha mountain due to poor stamina. However, I refused to let that setback define me. I embarked on a year-long journey of strength training and cardio at the gym, focusing on building my endurance and resilience.

Fast-forward to December, I became the first woman to reach the summit of the Sandakphu Phalut trek. I shared my journey with my fellow Toastmasters at the Technopark Toastmasters club, delivering a motivational speech that inspired many to begin their own training and trekking adventures.

Rajeswary Sreedevi • Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

 

Reflecting on My Hair Journey

It’s amazing how the best ideas come out of unexpected places. I have two kids, and I often remind my elder son, Arthav, that I am also his friend. One day as I was combing my hair, Arthav said, “If you are my friend, please do your hair as my friends do. Either cut it short or make two braids with ribbons on them.” Hearing him, I reflected on my journey since childhood—how our school would make us comb two braids with ribbons, how my banking job demanded half-tied sleek hair, and now the busy schedule that requires a top quick bun. However, one style I love the most is letting my hair loose. Letting my hair down always gave me a sense of relief and freedom. These hair styles reflect my entire life journey. So, I thought why not focus my Ice Breaker speech on my hairdos.

Smriti Shrestha • Butwal Toastmasters Club, Rupandehi, Nepal