I Like That Story

Jeff Gould (“America’s Storyteller”) sits down with Thadeus Amadeus Giedd for a conversation that starts light—misheard names, funny mix-ups, and Jeff’s signature “JEFFARDY” question board—and gradually deepens into faith, leadership, fatherhood, and the power of living with intention. Thadeus, the longtime organizer behind TEDxSiouxFalls, shares what he believes makes a truly great TEDx talk: it’s not a lecture—it’s a story arc. The best speakers don’t try to cram in everything they know; they deliver one unforgettable insight, one unexpected moment, and one powerful takeaway in just 15 minutes. From there, Thadeus opens up about the ideas shaping his life right now—especially his love for Stoicism (Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca) and how he’s combined its virtues—courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance—with what he believes Stoicism lacks most: love. For Thadeus, letting Christ into his life didn’t replace the discipline of Stoicism—it completed it. The conversation also turns personal as Thadeus ta