TED TALKS, 

When she was 19, Amy Purdy was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. As a consequence, she lost both her legs below the knee - as well as her spleen, kidneys and the hearing in one ear.  Yet, she became professional snowboarder – winning two back-to-back world cup gold medals, while also appearing as a competitor on "Dancing with the Stars".
In this powerful TED talk, she speaks about how she drew inspiration from life's obstacles:


http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_purdy_living_beyond_limits#

 


http://www.ted.com/playlists/226/before_public_speaking


THE ABOVE LINK CONNECTS TO 8 TALKS TO LISTEN TO BEFORE PUBLIC SPEAKING:

Playlist (8 talks): Before public speaking…
  • Julian TreasureHow to speak so that people want to listen
    Have you ever felt like you're talking, but nobody is listening? Here's Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-to's of powerful speaking — from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy. A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful.
     Watch later · 203 comments 
  • Amy CuddyYour body language shapes who you are
    Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.
     Watch later · 1822 comments 
  • Joe KowanHow I beat stage fright
    Humanity's fine-tuned sense of fear served us well as a young species, giving us laser focus to avoid being eaten by competing beasts. But it's less wonderful when that same visceral, body-hijacking sense of fear kicks in in front of 20 folk-music fans at a Tuesday night open-mic. Palms sweat, hands shake, vision blurs, and the brain says RUN: it's stage fright. In this charming, tuneful little talk, Joe Kowan talks about how he conquered it.
     Watch later · 113 comments 
  • Melissa MarshallTalk nerdy to me
    Melissa Marshall brings a message to all scientists (from non-scientists): We're fascinated by what you're doing. So tell us about it — in a way we can understand. In just 4 minutes, she shares powerful tips on presenting complex scientific ideas to a general audience.
     Watch later · 329 comments 
  • Simon SinekHow great leaders inspire action
    Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers ... (Filmed at TEDxPugetSound.)
     Watch later · 1596 comments 
  • Sebastian WernickeLies, damned lies and statistics (about TEDTalks)
    In a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek analysis, Sebastian Wernicke turns the tools of statistical analysis on TEDTalks, to come up with a metric for creating "the optimum TEDTalk" based on user ratings. How do you rate it? "Jaw-dropping"? "Unconvincing"? Or just plain "Funny"?
     Watch later · 274 comments 
  • Megan WashingtonWhy I live in mortal dread of public speaking
    Megan Washington is one of Australia's premier singer/songwriters. And, since childhood, she has had a stutter. In this bold and personal talk, she reveals how she copes with this speech impediment—from avoiding the letter combination “st” to tricking her brain by changing her words at the last minute to, yes, singing the things she has to say rather than speaking them.
     Watch later · 128 comments 
  • Clint SmithThe danger of silence
    "We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't," says poet and teacher Clint Smith. A short, powerful piece from the heart, about finding the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice.