The Toastmasters Podcast #297: What Happens When Toastmasters Give Youth Voices a TEDx Stage – CeCe Espeut
Apr 15, 2026
CeCe Espeut, a two-time TEDx speaker, former U.S. Marine, and five-time Distinguished Toastmaster who leads TEDx Miramar Youth. Talks cover mentoring teens onto a TEDx stage. She outlines a one-mentor-per-student model, adapting coaching for teenagers, handling parental involvement, and the surprising depth of student topics. She also reflects on mentor growth and future plans for repeating the program.
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How TEDx Miramar Youth Was Born
- CeCe Espeut created TEDx Miramar Youth by inviting students of speakers to test whether speaking parents produce better young speakers.
- She recruited students, mentored them through Toastmasters' youth leadership elements, and watched each deliver successful TEDx talks.
Mentor One Student Per Toastmaster
- Use a one-to-one mentoring model combining Pathways mentoring and the youth leadership program for deeper development.
- Assign one Toastmaster per student and blend Pathways level-two mentoring with youth leadership exercises for sustained growth.
Adapt Coaching For Teen Needs
- Coaching teens requires empathy, open communication, and parental transparency to maintain safety and trust.
- CeCe mandated Zoom sessions with open doors and parent access, which reduced risk but sometimes made coach feedback more delicate.