Episode 211: Behind the Scenes of TEDx: Building Impact and Humanizing the Stage [featuring Mikki Gates]
Description
In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Mikki Gates, a global HR leader, TEDx organizer, and advocate for authentic leadership. Mikki shares powerful lessons about imperfection, community, and the impact of sharing our stories.
Here are 3 key takeaways:
- Perfection Isn’t the Goal—Progress Is: Whether you’re hosting a TEDx or launching a business, you’ll make mistakes and pivot. Embrace feedback, refine your process, and remember: It doesn’t have to be perfect to be impactful.
- Our “Messy” Human Side Inspires Others: When we own our mistakes—whether that’s losing your train of thought on stage or dealing with a tech glitch—we model authenticity and give others permission to show up as they are.
- Perspective Unlocks Gratitude: Mikki’s upcoming TEDx talk explores dignity, privilege, and learning from global experiences. Sometimes, what we take for granted—like access to bathrooms—can be life-changing for others.
More about Mikki:
Mikki Gates is a global HR leader, TEDx organizer, and SHRM chapter president with a passion for reimagining the future of work. She blends bold ideas with real-world experience from more than 50 countries to inspire leaders to "human up" and create workplaces & experiences where people thrive. She is also a lover of escape rooms and roller coasters.
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikkigates
–––––––––––––––––––––
🎙️Listen to more episodes of the All Things Private Practice Podcast
🎙️Spotify
🎙️Apple
▶️ YouTube
🗨️ Join the free Empowered Escape FB Community
🗨️ Join the free All Things Private Practice FB Community
–––––––––––––––––––––
Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad, Alma, & All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats!
Thanks to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.
✨ Alma
Thanks to Alma for sponsoring this episode.
Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.
✨ All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats
All Things Private Practice has some amazing retreat experiences coming up in 2025 and 2026.
We have two retreats in Queenstown, New Zealand. The first is for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs from March 1st to 8th, and the second retreat, Beyond Private Practice, focuses on moving beyond one-on-one therapy and creating alternative income streams from March 15th to 22nd.
Spaces are limited, so check the links to sign up today. Doubt yourself, do it anyway!
- Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs in Queenstown, New Zealand: allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-neurodivergent
- Beyond Private Practice in Queenstown, New Zealand: allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-income-streams
Mentioned in this episode:
Alma
I want to thank Alma for sponsoring this episode.
Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details, and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.
All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats
All Things Private Practice has some amazing retreat experiences coming up in 2025 and 2026. Join us in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit from July 14th to 17th, 2025! We have an incredible lineup of 12 speakers and offer 12 MBCCEs. If you're a leader or aspiring to start a group practice, join our Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete, from September 6th to 11th. In 2026, we have two retreats in Queenstown, New Zealand. The first is for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs from March 1st to 8th, and the second retreat, Beyond Private Practice, focuses on moving beyond one-on-one therapy and creating alternative income streams from March 15th to 22nd. Spaces are limited, so check the links to sign up today. Doubt yourself, do it anyway!
Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit in Scotland: https://www.empoweredescapes.com/scotland-july-2025-summit
Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete: https://www.empoweredescapes.com/greece-retreat-2025
Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs in Queenstown, New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-neurodivergent
Beyond Private Practice in Queenstown, New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-income-streams
Resilient Mind Counseling
It's Patrick. Some of you may know that I own a group therapy practice in North Carolina, Resilient Mind Counseling. We specialize in supporting the Neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, and Black, Brown, and Asian communities online and across North Carolina. We also have limited in-person openings at our offices in Asheville and Cary. We really love working with clients who are coming to terms with both Autism and ADHD discoveries later in life or questioning, as well as the intersections of race, gender, identity, and orientation. All of our therapists have lived experience and identify as AuDHD, Autistic, or ADHD. Our team of affirming therapists offers a safe, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, inclusive, and accessible space where you can show up exactly as you are—no masking, no judgment, and no need to make eye contact, just real connection and healing. We accept most commercial insurances like Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, Aetna, and Med Cost, as well as self-pay options. We currently have openings for new clients. Visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com. You can also text or call our HIPAA-compliant phone line at (828) 515-1246, or email us at scheduling@resilientmindcounseling.com.
The Receptionist for iPad
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
From new patients faced with an empty lobby and no idea where to find their therapist to clinicians with a session running over time and the doorbell ringing, some of

![Episode 211: Behind the Scenes of TEDx: Building Impact and Humanizing the Stage [featuring Mikki Gates] Episode 211: Behind the Scenes of TEDx: Building Impact and Humanizing the Stage [featuring Mikki Gates]](https://s3.castbox.fm/c6/43/1d/cec58003372e59b023860479137201ffca_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 214: Turning Infertility Pain into Purpose: Relatable Care and Community [featuring Kendra Vargas] Episode 214: Turning Infertility Pain into Purpose: Relatable Care and Community [featuring Kendra Vargas]](https://s3.castbox.fm/b6/03/1e/7fea271b19bb80927a5b4937fdaee53c38_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 213: Healing Relationships and Capturing Moments: ADHD-Entrepreneur Style [featuring Ariel Shumaker-Hammond] Episode 213: Healing Relationships and Capturing Moments: ADHD-Entrepreneur Style [featuring Ariel Shumaker-Hammond]](https://s3.castbox.fm/4b/9b/4b/be3d9872c9c4df22576f3c469ffc5de22d_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 212: Teaching Graduate Courses with a Therapy Degree [Featuring Danni Biondini] Episode 212: Teaching Graduate Courses with a Therapy Degree [Featuring Danni Biondini]](https://s3.castbox.fm/45/94/cc/36ab57105032188bf449e897f23d2ca268_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 210: Redefine Resilience and Stop Waiting For Ready [featuring Arielle Jordan] Episode 210: Redefine Resilience and Stop Waiting For Ready [featuring Arielle Jordan]](https://s3.castbox.fm/c6/28/d1/98802957a2047f040623f3d29580fbf0e8_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 209: Turning Special Interests Into Income as a Therapist [featuring Shaelene Kite] Episode 209: Turning Special Interests Into Income as a Therapist [featuring Shaelene Kite]](https://s3.castbox.fm/f3/e9/9a/bb48461fa137dc0b324adc8298eb29e73b_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 208: Accessible and Inclusive Clinical Trainings for Therapists [featuring Jamie Roberts] Episode 208: Accessible and Inclusive Clinical Trainings for Therapists [featuring Jamie Roberts]](https://s3.castbox.fm/d3/15/dc/0a66e56bb6929d139a4673b632c9f78914_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 207: Building Back Stronger: Tattooing, Writing, and Diversifying After Disaster [featuring Chris and Daisy Chavers] Episode 207: Building Back Stronger: Tattooing, Writing, and Diversifying After Disaster [featuring Chris and Daisy Chavers]](https://s3.castbox.fm/e6/c0/7d/91d7967eeb83827754b1069feab669baae_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 206: Court-Proof Your Private Practice: Handling Subpoenas [featuring Brittany Bate] Episode 206: Court-Proof Your Private Practice: Handling Subpoenas [featuring Brittany Bate]](https://s3.castbox.fm/dc/41/69/55b344c66f15c42c70722609e420c797dd_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 205: Managing the Unseen: How Invisible Disabilities Impact Entrepreneurs [featuring Destiny Davis] Episode 205: Managing the Unseen: How Invisible Disabilities Impact Entrepreneurs [featuring Destiny Davis]](https://s3.castbox.fm/a0/30/4f/66e217cf87c335f2af2b210ba06be00ecf_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 204: From Therapy to Coaching: New Impact and Identity [featuring Priyanka Rao] Episode 204: From Therapy to Coaching: New Impact and Identity [featuring Priyanka Rao]](https://s3.castbox.fm/ca/08/1c/57d1f1a1a08feb339faa49fc85f9c29b7a_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 203: Growing Up Twice After Adult Autism Discovery [featuring Elena Carroll] Episode 203: Growing Up Twice After Adult Autism Discovery [featuring Elena Carroll]](https://s3.castbox.fm/16/2f/1a/204799d7ed40c45bf12ed6f915e31a5df6_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 202: Building Racial Literacy and Having Hard Conversations [featuring Dr. Nathalie Edmond] Episode 202: Building Racial Literacy and Having Hard Conversations [featuring Dr. Nathalie Edmond]](https://s3.castbox.fm/c8/ca/89/8402751c95af0064a2238c91fdf1d9c14c_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 201: Letting Go of Shoulds and Diversifying Income Streams [featuring Gabrielle Juliano-Villani] Episode 201: Letting Go of Shoulds and Diversifying Income Streams [featuring Gabrielle Juliano-Villani]](https://s3.castbox.fm/ff/1b/1e/5101ffb0000fc89aa21a7d91620a1bea87_scaled_v1_400.jpg)

![Episode 199: Leaning Into Uncomfortable Conversations: Curiosity Over Conflict [featuring Michael Ashford] Episode 199: Leaning Into Uncomfortable Conversations: Curiosity Over Conflict [featuring Michael Ashford]](https://s3.castbox.fm/2e/6f/13/c465f643b5199db05d03eff0d71a32ef0d_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 198: Navigating Neurodiversity and Culture: ADHD, Autism, and Indian Women [featuring Vinita Menon] Episode 198: Navigating Neurodiversity and Culture: ADHD, Autism, and Indian Women [featuring Vinita Menon]](https://s3.castbox.fm/dc/8b/4e/a09fc750b7e62f357be37534067d94cae9_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 197: Private Practice Lessons in Growth, Grit, and Authenticity [featuring Alicia Murray] Episode 197: Private Practice Lessons in Growth, Grit, and Authenticity [featuring Alicia Murray]](https://s3.castbox.fm/11/f4/e7/0d9cafa9bf76321afc609e3da2a288463f_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 196: Discover the Spectrum of Self-Esteem—Unlearn the BS [featuring Donna Oriowo] Episode 196: Discover the Spectrum of Self-Esteem—Unlearn the BS [featuring Donna Oriowo]](https://s3.castbox.fm/e2/3f/76/9f39af94b3944d21ee910f2c30991bd288_scaled_v1_400.jpg)
![Episode 195: Centering Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Group Practice [featuring Erica Smith] Episode 195: Centering Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Group Practice [featuring Erica Smith]](https://s3.castbox.fm/06/08/6b/4dcec70d3b7debd0fd057e18d60159923b_scaled_v1_400.jpg)


