Tom KrieglsteinFounder, Global Keynote Speaker, Swift Kick Leadership · Founder and Award-Winning Keynote Speaker at Swift Kick Leadership

Shonda Rhimes' Dartmouth Opener: Funniest Commencement Moments

Name: Shonda Rhimes' Dartmouth Opener: Funniest Commencement Moments
Uploaded: 2025-06-06T23:53:55+00:00
Duration: 1 min 35 s
Channel: Tom Krieglstein
Description: In this excerpt from Shonda Rhimes' commencement address to Dartmouth's class of 2014, the acclaimed TV writer openly admits her dread of public…

6 Jun 2025 · 2 min

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1:35

In this excerpt from Shonda Rhimes' commencement address to Dartmouth's class of 2014, the acclaimed TV writer openly admits her dread of public speaking. She describes the physiological panic—dry mouth, racing heart, fear of passing out or vomiting—then humorously neutralizes those fears by stating them aloud. Rhimes emphasizes that she prefers writing for others to speak, even joking about hiring Ellen Pompeo or Kerry Washington to deliver the speech, only to be warned by her lawyer that forcibly moving a celebrity across state lines would attract FBI attention. The tone is self‑deprecating, conversational, and comedic, using personal vulnerability to connect with the graduates.

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Good morning and congratulations to the Dartmouth graduating class of 2014. So this is weird. Me giving a speech in general. I do not like giving speeches. Giving a speech requires standing in front of large groups of people while they look at you, and it also requires talking. I can do the standing part. Okay. But the you looking and the me talking, I am not a fan. I get this overwhelming feeling of fear, terror, really dry mouth, heart beats super fast. Everything gets a little bit in slow motion, like I might pass out or die or poop my pants or something. I mean, don't worry, I'm not going to pass out or die or poop my pants. Mainly because just by telling you that it could happen, I have somehow neutralized it as an option. Like, as if saying it out loud, cast some kind of spell where now it cannot possibly happen. Vomit. I could vomit. See, vomiting is now also off the table. Neutralized it. We're good. Anyway, the point is, I do not like to give speeches. I'm a writer. I'm a TV writer. I like to write stuff for other people to say. I actually contemplated bringing Ellen Pompeo or Kerry Washington here to say my speech for me, but my lawyer pointed out that when you drag someone across state lines against their will, the FBI comes looking for you.