Public speeches about health draw attention because the topic affects everyone. How to eat healthier, what types of diets work, good exercise programs, disease prevention, quitting smoking and cancer screenings are all good topics for a public speech. Other topics on health include rising healthcare costs, nursing shortages, how to care for an aging parent and choosing the right vitamins. Health topics also allow for good storytelling; connecting a story about a personal battle with cancer, how a person quit smoking or the struggles of losing weight gives the speaker more credibility and makes the speech more believable. Government research and studies provide good resources and statistical data.
Almost everyone looks to save money where they can, and topics about money help people penny pinch, save money for the future and learn how to spend money wisely. Speech topics include saving money at the grocery store, shopping at consignment stores, using coupons and getting good deals online. Audiences can also hear money topics about investments in stocks, investing in a 401K program and paying off credit card debt. A speaker can be a financial planner or a stay-at-home mom responsible for the family budget, and the speaker should know the audience so as to not confuse people with a lot of math or percentages.
Environmental issues include topics like clean water, population pollution, our nation's oceans, landfills and clean energy. Topics can be national or local, especially if a community is facing an environmental issue, like what do with a waste treatment plant or the expansion of a landfill. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and similar agencies in each state are good resources for information. These topics often become political given the solutions offered by politicians to solve them; solutions from these groups depend on the opinion (and the party) of the politician.
Education topics largely depend on the audience. Speeches including how to get into college, how to pay for college and succeeding in college are all good topics for high school students. Topics about time management, knowing how to get along with a roommate and building a resume during college suit those already in school. Other topics in education include trends in education, careers, homeschooling, cyber schools and online education. In speeches to parents, topics can include how to deal with a difficult teacher, healthy foods for a child's lunch and bullying.