S02 E01: GRETA - NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Mar 31, 2025

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

How Do You Stand Out When You're Small & Quiet?

Greta Thunberg started a global movement and her words have inspired millions of young folks to speak truth to power and act, but she's a reluctant influencer who doesn't want the spotlight. As I work through Penguin's Green Ideas Series as part of a 20 books in 20 days challenge, I'm starting with book 1 - a short book containing excerpts of Greta's speeches.

In this short episode I share a couple of thoughts on this book and what makes Greta so remarkable - not just what she says, but when ashe says it. The timelines of her rise to significance are astonishing. Listen to this short episode and you'll see why.

EPISODE LINKS

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

When Greta Thunberg gave her first TEDx talk in Stockholm, she didn’t command the stage with sweeping gestures. She didn’t vary her tone with any theatrical flair. She was nervous and anxious. She stood still. Her voice was quiet. Her delivery was flat, almost monotone. And by every traditional public speaking rulebook, she broke all the “shoulds.”

But what she said—moved the world.

Greta doesn’t show up to entertain.

She shows up to tell the truth.

Her speech wasn’t polished. It was pure.

It wasn’t performative. It was purposeful.

She didn’t try to be engaging. She tried to be heard.

And she was. By millions.

Greta’s story reminds us that powerful communication doesn’t require charisma, confidence, or perfect posture. It requires courage.

You don’t need to be loud to be listened to.

You don’t need to be smooth to be sincere.

You just need to mean it.

So if you’ve ever felt too awkward, too anxious, too introverted—or simply too different—to speak up, remember Greta. Her voice have never followed the rules. It rewrote them.

[RULES]

I’ve just started a 20 day challenge to read 20 books in 20 days from Penguin’s Green Ideas series. As I was reading the first book of the Greta’s book, I was just left with an overwhelming belief that your voice matters. Your story can change everything.

Even if it shakes. Even if it stumbles. Even if it’s quiet.

Especially then.

Everything you need to know is in the title.

“No one is too small to make a difference.”

Greta’s book in the series contains excerpts of her speeches. But as someone who studies speeches for a living, some of Greta’s speeches are not easy to read – or to listen to.

I’d like to play you one now. Bear with me.

This is the opening 2 minutes of her first ever public speech TEDxStockholm – an 11-minute speech given on 24th November 2018 - just 96 days after she started her “Friday’s for Future” solo school strike outside the Swedish Parliament on 20th August 2018.

[GRETA TEDxSTOCKHOLM]

She gave that talk less than 100 days after first deciding to take a stand.

A shy, autistic girl, who just decided that despite her age, background or experience – was was going to take a stand do something that she believed in.

Not only that – she didn’t even have any influence. It’s not like she had famous influencer friends, a celebrity mum or dad, media following her or any money to promote her cause – she just sat down on her own, with a sign, her school bag, a bottle of water and some sandwiches – determined to do that every Friday until the Swedish government agreed to fall in line with the Paris Agreement (a landmark treaty created in 2016 and signed by countries who would agree to work together to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees C.). By 2018 it was clear to Greta that Sweden wasn’t doing what it promised, so she decided to take a stand

In fact, if you go on Greta’s Instagram and scroll back to 20th August 2018, you’ll notice that not only was it written in Swedish, but it wasn’t formatted well and didn’t contain any hashtags. Greta had no idea what she was doing on social media. She just wanted to do something.

She wants the spotlight but she doesn’t want fame.

In her speeches she’s said many time, “Don’t listen to me – listen to the science.”

She shines her light on the science and not herself.

And I think that’s what makes her special.

Because just 110 days after Greta stood on that red circle to give her talk, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Think about that.

Think about how much we want conditions to be perfect before we decided to do something.

Greta went from an anonymous school striker to a keynote speaker in 96 days.

And then she went from an awkward keynote speaker to Nobel prize nominee in 110 days.

How does that make you feel about what is possible in 100 days?

She became the catalyst of a whole movement which inspired millions of young people around the world to do something.

She was the right person, with the right message, at EXACTLY the right time.

Bill Gates once said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”

In her wildest dreams I don’t think Greta could have imagined the impact that her quiet voice would have, but as I read the speeches in this little book, I am blown away by the idea that “No one is too small to make a difference” is not just the title of a book – it’s a philosophy for activists, and purpose-driven leaders everywhere that no matter how little influence or experience you think you have – your words can create ripples in a pond which you can’t even imagine how many people they could affect.

And I think that’s the thing.

Agree with her or vilify her..

She’s not a confident speaker, but she’s a brilliant writer.

The titles of her speeches say more than many other people’s entire speeches:

· Wherever I Go I Seem To Be Surrounded By Fairy Tales.
Cathedral Thinking
I’m Too Young To Do This
You Can’t Simply Make Up Your Own Facts
You’re Acting Like Spoiled Irresponsible Children
We Will Not Allow You To Surrender On Our Future
The People Are The Hope
Hope

So let me leave you with a gorgeous montage of some of Greta’s words, put together by one of my favourite bands The 1975.

Until next time…

Tell Stories That Matter.

The Truth in Ten is a cross between a podcast series and a storytelling masterclass. Each short episode shines a light on a different inspirational leader; someone who shared a short story which changed the world in some way. This is a show for anyone who wants to make a difference by sharing their story.