Kelly McGonigal
Harness the power of movement to create happiness, meaning, and connection with Kelly McGonigal, speaker, health psychologist, and lecturer.
California, United States
Enquire Now
Send us your event details
.svg){kind=icon}
Kelly is the author of several books, including the international bestseller "The Willpower Instinct," "The Upside of Stress," and her latest, "The Joy of Movement." Her newest book explores how movement is essential to happiness and humanity, arguing that exercise should be a source of joy rather than a chore. Through a blend of science and storytelling, she explains how movement is linked to basic human joys like self-expression and social connection and how it combats modern issues such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Her 2013 TED talk, "How to Make Stress Your Friend," is among the 20 most-viewed TED talks, with over 31 million views. At the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, Kelly co-authored the Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training and researches how social connection can enhance health, happiness, and resilience.
Kelly has consulted for various non-profit organisations and industries, bringing evidence-based well-being strategies into workplaces, healthcare, education, technology, and community outreach. In her free time, she advocates for animal rescue and volunteers as an adoption counsellor for Best Friends Animal Society.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Physically active individuals are happier, with a stronger sense of purpose and more gratitude, love, and hope. They feel more connected to their communities and are less prone to loneliness and depression. These benefits span all ages, socioeconomic levels, and cultures. In this talk, Kelly McGonigal will explain how physical activity fosters resilience, belonging, and meaning in life, covering biological, psychological, and social aspects. Attendees will learn why exercise enhances joy and social connection.
Stress is unavoidable, but is it always harmful? Stanford psychologist and award-winning author Kelly McGonigal, offers a surprising new perspective, revealing the benefits of stress. According to the latest science, stress can make us smarter, stronger, and more resilient, and even strengthen close relationships. Attendees will learn how to cultivate a mindset that helps them thrive under stress and simple strategies to transform their stress response, improving health and wellbeing.
According to the American Psychological Association, Americans cite “not enough willpower” as the top barrier to achieving their goals. Kelly McGonigal of Stanford University, author of “The Willpower Instinct” and “The Neuroscience of Change”, reveals that willpower is a trainable instinct. She shares scientific insights on what willpower is, why everyone possesses it, and how to develop it. Attendees will learn practical strategies for enhancing focus, self-control, and overcoming common willpower challenges.
Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of "The Willpower Instinct" and "The Neuroscience of Change", explores why change is challenging and how to succeed. She reveals that common strategies like stress, self-criticism, and guilt often hinder progress. Instead, she advocates for mindfulness, self-compassion, and social support as keys to lasting change. Attendees will learn practical, science-based strategies for initiating change, managing an overwhelmed brain, overcoming setbacks, and maintaining motivation.
Stanford University health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of “The Willpower Instinct” and “The Neuroscience of Change”, delves into the latest neuroscientific and psychological insights on behaviour change. She explains the three facets of willpower— “I won’t” power, “I will” power, and “I want” power—and how they can transform habits. Attendees will learn why stress undermines change, how to foster control and hope, and strategies for enhancing patient compliance and behaviour change, making willpower more effective and contagious.
Featured Projects
.svg)
Book
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
- If you'd like to book one of our expert speakers, email us at hello@peptalk.com, send us a chat message or give us a call, and we’ll help you out.
- We’ll take your event details — topic, audience, budget, date, and location — and create a custom speaker proposal for you within 48 hours.
- If you already have someone in mind, that’s okay too; just let us know their name! Even if they aren't listed publicly on our website, we have a huge network and work with almost everyone.
- Once you've reviewed our speaker propsal and have selected and expert shortlist, we'll double check availability and fees with your chosen expert.
- You're welcome to have a chemistry call with the speaker before making the final decision, too.
- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
If you notice something that needs attention or have any queries regarding an expert speaker profile, feel free to email us at experts@getapeptalk.com, and we’ll be happy to assist.