Can we trust what we see and hear anymore? Filmmaker/author Kyle Vorbach was living his dream life— or at least he made it look that way on social media with the use generative AI. Join Kyle as he talks about the living on the edge of reality, and through the use of magic, demonstrates why we need to question everything. Kyle’s career began after a battle with cancer showed him life’s too short to NOT do what he loves. He’s since worked tirelessly, making high-impact, high-concept films, using music, comedy, and technology to bend genres and push boundaries. His most recent short film, Somewhere In Between, premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Festival and his most recent documentary, a provocative social stunt about the advent of AI called How I Faked My Life With AI, opened the Cinema & AI symposium at the 2023 CogX Festival in London. This led Kyle to author his first book, Pandora’s Code: Decrypting the History, Benefits, and Dangers of AI, and launch his brand-new podcast exploring this cutting-edge field. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Ever wondered why reaching your goals might not be the key to happiness? In this TEDx talk, Jamie shares a captivating personal story, inviting you to rethink success and find peace in the continuous pursuit of your dreams and aspirations. Unlock the secret to genuine success as Jamie reveals the unexpected journey of self-discovery and resilience that challenges conventional notions. Jamie has been on a sprint searching for happiness through achievement since her mom passed, reaching societal milestones of success at a young age including: getting a master’s degree, 6-figure job, loving marriage, beautiful home, 2 dogs, and notable accomplishments in her business. Feeling no different than she did before accomplishing everything, she found that her definition of success has been wrong the entire time. She believes that as a society we need to redefine what success looks like as this is where peace truly lies. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Did you know human performance can improve by over 500% through flow? After 20 years in the education and healthcare sector, burned out despite her mastery of play, Acey Holmes explored the neuroscience behind this peak performance phenomenon. She uncovered play's essential yet overlooked role in catalyzing flow via a cyclical framework anyone can access. Acey shares the journey of rediscovering playfulness to avoid hustle culture and achieve healthy optimal experiences and a fulfilled life. Acey Holmes is the founder and CEO of BoredLess, a company that helps professionals rediscover the power of play. With a background in pediatric speech pathology, Acey has studied and experienced how play can enhance learning, creativity, and well-being for children and adults alike. With a cliche pandemic pivot, Acey decided to follow her passion for playfulness and help companies spice up their culture. She now works with solopreneurs, teams, and organizations to design playful experiences that spark innovation, collaboration, and joy. Acey is also a speaker, coach, and consultant who shares her insights and expertise on playful work design, based on the neuroscience of play. She is on a mission to spread the message of play to the world through her TEDx talk. Acey believes that play is not only fun, but also essential for human development and happiness. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Explore how our physical and mental environments crucially shape our identity and actions, drawing on Kurt Lewin's equation for behavior. By delving into the dynamics of these environments and the factors of behavior, we uncover strategies to subtly influence and optimize human behavior and happiness. This approach allows for transformative changes in individuals, often without their conscious awareness of the underlying shifts occurring. Paul Hylenski is an accomplished Aerospace Manufacturing Business Leader with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Beyond his technical expertise, Paul is passionate about leadership and human dynamics. He has implemented psychological safety and social engineering principles to create environments where people can thrive. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Want more happiness in your life? Feeling scared to take a risk? Watch this inspiring TEDx talk uncovering how happiness lies on the other side of fear. Happiness expert, Rob Dubin leans on his own survival and adventure story to show you why it’s important to take calculated risks and how to conquer your fears so that you can find deeper happiness than ever before. Rob Dubin is an award winning filmmaker who traveled the world making TV programs and commercials for Fortune 500 companies. He is also a serial entrepreneur who created multiple 7 figure businesses. Rob has spent 25 years studying human happiness and fulfillment in countries throughout the world and now he gives back by teaching courses in happiness. He works with organizations to increase employee happiness increase engagement, reduce resignations and combat quiet quitting. Rob is a keynote speaker who combines life lessons with the science of human happiness to deliver sound strategies audience members can implement immediately to build team engagement and become happier people themselves. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

This powerful talk shares how we can help resettled refugees acclimate faster so that they can thrive and contribute to their host country sooner. Also how we, as communities and individuals, can provide supplemental mental health support for refugees when they experience depression and the shock of having to restart their new lives. Nhi shares 3 ways, in addition to mental health resources, that we can help legally resettled refugees integrate faster: community support, individual support, and refugee contribution. Mediator and Author of Soles of a Survivor, Nhi understands what it is like to be a refugee as well as the struggles and triumph that come with it. Several anthologies including Kentucky Women: Two Centuries of Indomitable Spirit and Vision, Colorado Public Radio, and Harvey Brownstone Interviews have profiled her harrowing journey as a child refugee who escaped war-torn Vietnam in search of the American Dream. Her memoir has been featured in various media, including being on the front cover of the 2022 Colorado Country Life magazine and the Jewish Book Council. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Higher education is ripe for disruption--its product hasn't changed much in the last 50 years but its costs have risen exponentially. In this fast-paced and funny talk, Professor Steven Hayward shows us how it's possible to cover a whole semester in one week.

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Steven Hayward is a Professor of English at Colorado College. In addition to having directed the documentary feature The Block Plan, which won "Best Picture" at the 2022 Helsinki International Educational Film Festival, he is a founding member of IBILTA (the International Block and Intensive Learning and Teaching Association),and has published four books of fiction, including the Canadian national bestseller Don’t Be Afraid. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

All too often, ambitious professionals reach their goals only to find themselves overworked, exhausted, burned out, and resentful. Working hard and pushing our limits is necessary for growth, but not when it’s at the expense of our health and happiness. In this talk, Dr. Liz Aguirre shares the key steps she took to become more energized, and more productive and achieve greater success while ending the burnout trap once and for all. Dr. Liz Aguirre is a physician and entrepreneur who has reinvented herself multiple times. Growing up in poverty taught her the importance of grit and hard work which served her well as she worked to obtain her medical degree. However, like many healthcare professionals she struggled with professional burnout. Through a renewed commitment to self-care and self-compassion she was able to heal and has found herself leading others to do the same. Dr. Aguirre is a graduate of The University of Texas San Antonio, completed her medical degree at Texas A&M College of Medicine and her internal medicine residency at Baylor Scott & White in Texas. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

We think happiness comes from meeting other people's expectations, but really it comes from creating our own. In this relatable and humorous talk, Certified Chief Happiness Officer, Tia Graham inspires us to make intentional choices about how we spend our time. After decades of working with leaders and organizations, Tia argues that putting happiness first is the path to fulfillment and career success. Tia Graham is the Founder of Arrive At

Happy, a sought-after international speaker,

#1 best-selling Amazon author, and

consultant on positive psychology and

employee engagement. She is the host of

The Arrive At Happy Leaders Show, a speaker at the annual World’s Happiness Summit, and a Certified Chief Happiness Officer. Tia has multiple certifications in the science of happiness, leadership coaching,

and neuroscience.

Along with her company, her insights have been featured in Forbes, CNN, CBS, Fast Company, NPR, and Thrive Global, to name

a few. She has worked with dozens of global companies such as Hilton Hotels, Hewlett Packard, Four Seasons, and The American

Heart Association to elevate team engagement and drive bottom line results.

Prior to founding her company, Arrive at Happy, Tia successfully led sales and marketing teams for 14-years at luxury hotels in Hawaii, New York City, Istanbul, and Los Angeles for brands such as W Hotels,

Westin, and The London. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Do you hate the idea of networking and building professional relationships? If you want to find a job, get a promotion at work, or have that entrepreneurial spirit to start a business then you need other people. But networking can leave you feeling slimy. Dr. Daniel Hallak teaches you how to network with people in a way that doesn’t leave you feeling gross. Daniel shares personal stories, the psychological science behind authentic relationships, and the key questions that separate greedy transactional consumers from generous relational investors. Nothing gets Dr. Daniel Hallak more excited than the opportunity to build authentic relationships and develop leaders. As the Chief Commercial Officer at WiLD Leaders, he is known for bringing energy and research-based practices that make a difference. Daniel has spent 15 years developing leaders as an expert facilitator, executive coach, and strategic advisor. He has been a recruiter at Microsoft, a Career Management Consultant at Right Management Consultants and built leadership programs at Slalom, an award-winning consulting firm. He’s served as a professor, and advisor at three higher education institutions. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

The fear of public speaking, whether in front of large or small groups, is extremely common. While many people experience this fear, it can be managed and overcome with practice and time. Mariama Whyte not only shares her personal journey in a unique and compelling way, but she offers an accessible and empowering framework for people to begin trusting their own voices so they can fully express themselves with confidence, authenticity, and impact wherever they are. Mariama Whyte is a singer, songwriter, actor, speaker, coach and ebook author from

Cleveland, OH. She has performed in the Broadway National Tours of The Lion King and The

Color Purple, and on several regional theatre and music stages. As a speaker, she combines

dynamic storytelling and singing to enrich her audiences and coaches individuals to communicate and perform with confidence and presence. Mariama has released various music projects as an independent recording artist and is excited to release her new album,

"Hey You It's Me” in 2023. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Why is it so hard to let go? Why is it so hard to follow the leader? How much faster could you achieve your goals if you did so right away?

In this dynamic TEDx talk, Ruben gives examples from his Olympic career and shares how to get yourself to trust, let go and follow your leader’s or coach’s’s advice right away so you can reach your goals faster than you ever thought possible.

Ruben is the first person to ever compete in four Winter Olympics in four different decades. Since 2002 he’s spoken for over 100 Fortune 500 companies about leadership and peak performance. He’s been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, Time Magazine, BusinessWeek, Forbes and Success Magazine. His books on success principles have been translated to over 10 languages.

Connect with Ruben Gonzalez on LinkedIn @Ruben-Gonzalez-Olympian

#leadership #coach #olympics

This talk was given at TEDxManitouSprings with the theme ‘Movement’ using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Ruben is a four-time Olympian in the sport of luge. Since 2002 Ruben has spoken for over 100 of the Fortune 500 companies on leadership, success, and taking advantage of change. His bestselling books have sold over 300,000 copies and have been translated to over 10 languages.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

You have more power than you think to influence the way people feel at work, at home, and in your community. In this inspiring talk, Heather R Younger explains how you can take consistent and compassionate action to not only uplift those around you but also improve their sense of wellbeing and worth. Heather Younger is a best-selling author, international speaker, consultant, adjunct organizational leadership professor, and facilitator who has earned her reputation as “The Employee Whisperer.” Her experiences as an entrepreneur, manager, attorney, writer, coach, listener, speaker, collaborator, and mother all lend themselves to a laser-focused clarity into what makes employees of organizations and companies—large and small—tick.

Heather founded Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and leadership development consulting and training firm, to inspire others by teaching the kind of caring leadership that drives real business results.

Heather hosts the weekly podcast Leadership With Heart, and she is the author of The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty hit the FORBES Must-Reads list and is a go-to source for HR professionals and organizational leaders seeking insight into their organization’s dynamics. Her book, The Art of Caring Leadership was released on April 13 2021. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

The words we use can either create enormous walls of isolation or build beautiful bridges of understanding. In this inspiring talk, Audrey May Prosper, a long-time advocate against domestic violence shares both personal and professional insight from her journey while also offering two simple ways to shift the narrative around domestic violence from one that is destructive to one that is restorative -- so we can do advocacy differently and truly nurture healthier communities. A talk to share. As the Founder of the National Domestic Violence Collaborative, Audrey finds meaningful and proactive ways to do advocacy differently by focusing on the roots in order to produce healthy fruits. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

According to psychology research, the pursuit of happiness has actually made us unhappier. In this inspiring talk, Shari Alyse explores how our focus on 'being happy' has disconnected us from ourselves, and shares a roadmap on how to find your way back to yourself and your joy. Shari Alyse, “America’s Joy Magnet”, is an Inspirational Speaker, Best Selling Author and Joy Consultant. Shari’s deep commitment to others is motivated by her own journey through childhood sexual abuse and other childhood traumas. At 7, Shari found herself having to use her voice on a witness stand to testify against the man who had abused her. After years of trying to outrun her pain, she chose to courageously face it and her healing journey began. Shari now uses her voice to speak around the world on finding your joy through self-acceptance, self-compassion and positive mindset. Shari has been featured in numerous media outlets and has produced and hosted multiple online TV and radio shows. She has reached millions with her inspirational videos, speaking, coaching and writings. Her book, Love Yourself Happy, quickly became a #1 New Release and International Best Seller. Shari believes that in the radical acceptance of ourselves, we truly can lead a joy-filled life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What do exploding soda bottles, thru-hiking the stunningly beautiful 500-mile Colorado Trail, and ancient Native American curses all have in common? CHEMISTRY! As a chemistry educator, Ryan Johnson has encountered many people who have "chemistry PTSD", due to negative experiences in the classroom. Through experiential education, mountains, and some twists on chemistry experimentation, he believes he has the answer to fighting the STEM stigma in the Colorado outdoors. Ryan Johnson is a high school and college chemistry educator from Manitou Springs, CO. He has served as the Board President of the Colorado Association of Science Teachers, spoke and presented research at many chemistry education conferences, and has published research in chemical modeling and engaging students with unique and fun approaches to chemistry. When he’s not sharing his passion for chemistry in the classroom with his students, he can often be found running or hiking the mountain trails near his house with his dog, Kuiper, or rock climbing at some of his favorite crags nearby. His happiest places are backpacking in the beautiful Colorado wilderness with his daughter Fiona, and watching the sunset over Pikes Peak from his porch swing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A talk that challenges everyone to look beyond esthetic and embrace individuality rather than encompassing immediate judgment.

Coming from a world that often criticized rather than celebrating individuality, Pepper Medina fought a solo battle early on, slowly changing the minds of people who at first glance judged him based solely on his looks. Pepper Medina started his career behind a small makeup counter. In the beauty industry, Pepper learned the repercussion against anyone who was and looked different. With a lack of support and resources against blatant homophobia, Pepper fought against the resistance and broke boundaries along the way. Pepper has supported the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on empowerment, self-love, respect, and awareness. With all of his experience and a never-ending rebel heart spirit, Pepper continues to ask questions on his incredible journey. Inspired by people who have endured resistance for just being themselves, Pepper is writing his first book based on his story of survival in a world that made him feel inferior and unwanted. Always an optimist, Pepper continues to fight for equality, freedom and helping people understand the beauty of diversity. Along with his childhood best friend, Pepper is now an ally in one of the most anticipated new restaurants in Old Colorado City, "Westside Cantina." This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What would your life look like if it were more whole, and what does that have to do with leading? After 25 years of studying the real journey of leaders, I can say with certainty that just like our world, every leader has a story of both brokenness and redemption, and aspiration for wholeness. A reformation in our preparation of leaders requires us to see them as human, and see them whole. Named among the top 30 most influential I-O Psychologists and featured in Forbes, Dr. Rob McKenna is the Founder of WiLD Leaders, Inc., the WiLD Foundation, and creator of the WiLD Toolkit - a scalable and repeatable system for whole and intentional leader development. He is a scientist, entrepreneur, and educator with a calling to support the courageous and sacrificial leaders doing important and impossible things. His clients include the Boeing Company, Microsoft, Heineken, Foster Farms, Alaska Airlines and Children’s Hospital. He is an international speaker and author of numerous articles and chapters on leadership character, calling, effectiveness, and sacrifice. He served as the Chair of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Seattle Pacific University and is the author of Composed: The Heart and Science of Leading Under Pressure, and Dying to Lead: Sacrificial Leadership in a Self-Centered World. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

No one is born a toxic leader but anyone can easily become one. It’s time we take the shame off of the toxic traits we all have and become aware of the three primary symptoms that can lead us into toxic leadership, so we can address our own. When we do, we build stronger relationships, establish trust and transparency, and set the path for positive change in ourselves, our teams, and our work cultures. Raj Subrameyer is a tech career strategist focusing on how people can navigate their way through the digital space to have positive life and career transformations. He is passionate about helping professionals maximize their opportunities and discover their zone of genius. He uses his experience in the tech industry to research, speak and write about how we can embrace technology and become full-on digital citizens. He is a sought-after speaker at various conferences and has been featured in numerous podcasts and publications, including Entrepreneur, Authority Magazine, Career Addict, InfoQ, Thrive Global, Addicted2Success and The Good Men Project. He is also the author of the best-selling book “Skyrocket Your Career.” His areas of expertise include the human impact of technology, career advancement, leadership, productivity and entrepreneurship. In his spare time, he loves traveling and enjoying craft beer. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What would it mean if each of us took risks without fear of failure? It would mean that we lived a courageous life without any regrets — learning lessons that we would have never learned if we only thought about taking the first step of taking our own training wheels off our childhood bicycles. Elizabeth Domangue (School District Superintendent) says, “A 'no' does not mean never," and she learned this important lesson at a young age. Elizabeth has had a wide range of professional experiences in education, including teaching, supervising student teachers, mentoring school and district leaders, collaborating to develop service-learning experiences, and leading. Additionally, she has extensive knowledge of best practices in the areas of pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, leadership development, and evaluation.

Elizabeth received her Doctorate in 2009 from Louisiana State University (with a focus on pedagogy and achievement motivation theories in the context of school experiences). She is an instructional leader who consistently leans into her Core Beliefs—All Means All, Leadership Matters, It Is About People, and Lead Towards a Shared Vision. As a published author and an invited presenter, Elizabeth has addressed national and state level audiences on topics ranging from culturally responsive practices, service-learning experiences, teacher effectiveness, social emotional learning, and school safety and security. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Far more common ground exists between you and those with whom you disagree than you may believe, but finding it requires a different approach to your conversations. Podcaster and independent journalist, Michael Ashford, shares stories and insights from his exploration on what it takes for us to uncover common ground so that in turn we might co-create new, better solutions together. I’ve been a communications and marketing executive in the software space for more than a decade now building and leading teams at companies large and small. But before my marketing career, I was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. My years as a journalist helped me hone my interviewing skills and taught me just how important listening and asking follow-up questions is to understanding the full, real story. As a podcaster and author, I am focused on exploring how we find common ground despite our differences and disagreements at a time when it is increasingly harder to do so.

I’ve interviewed professional athletes and Olympians, CEOs and entrepreneurs, pilots and authors, TV stars and actors, doctors and Ivy League professors, all in an effort to better understand and share how we get beneath the emotionally charged societal landscape and better connect with the humans around us. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Space is driving today’s era of access and opportunity with every community, infrastructure, and aspect of modern life reliant on space technologies and innovations. But ultimately what does it offer you and your life, and what’s next? Listen, learn and explore how the frontiers of space relate to you and what roles you can play in pioneering what’s next for life on Earth and beyond. Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role overseeing Space Foundation's three primary divisions: Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What would it be like to be truly at peace — where you no longer feel like you have to fight to be seen and the specter of disharmony no longer creeps in the shadows? For too many of us, we seek peace internally and isolate ourselves from the discomfort of the outside world. But true peace is actually found when we create uncommon connections with people we don't agree with or understand. Michael Ashford is the Director of Marketing at a Denver-based software company, The Receptionist, as well as a podcaster and independent journalist. He has spent years researching leadership, conflict communications, and how to overcome political and social polarization in an effort to chart a path to help us bridge divides and find more common ground. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for health advice. This talk contains a discussion of sexual abuse which may be upsetting to some viewers. This talk represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of trauma and health. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/t...

At the age of 32, Vivian Cobb started experiencing random, bizarre, and intense symptoms that doctors could not explain. She was finally diagnosed with Conversion Disorder. In this deeply personal talk, Vivian examines the history of the disorder, describes her experience living with this disorder while keeping it a secret and explores the emotional/physical connection that can ultimately define health and wellbeing. Vivian Cobb is a multipreneuer. She has an extensive range of entrepreneurial adventures under her belt. She co-owned with her first husband a successful video and film production company in Dallas, Texas for 12 years. Moving to Colorado and to the real estate industry, Vivian has owned her boutique real estate brokerage, Cobb Real Estate, in Colorado Springs for 20 years. Vivian’s latest passion is that of an emotions advocate, understanding how important it is to embrace emotions rather than hiding from them. This role evolved through the devastating loss of her second husband. Simultaneously, she lost her home, her money and her buying power. Vivian is on a mission to inspire others to deal with their emotions (not stuff or numb them) through any adversity present in the workplace or their personal lives. She has authored an adult coloring book, “Negativity Clouds Truth” and is currently writing her second book, “Playing In the Deep Work” due to be published by the end of 2022. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What are the questions you have in life stopping you from being great during your time on this earth? What are the answers you need to seek in order to be someone else's hero? In this talk, Audrey highlights the biggest decision of her life, the decision to become a kidney donor, and the decision process she took in order to confidently say YES to living organ donation. Audrey is a local artist and business leader in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. In 2019, she made the decision to donate her kidney to a friend, and since then, has become passionate about living kidney donor education. Audrey is a graduate of the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs with a degree in Business Management, and a minor in Entrepreneurship. She has lived in Colorado almost all of her life and is devout in helping local residents navigate the kidney donation process. In her free time, she is either playing in the mountains with her family, or she is at her piano creating music. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

NOTE FROM TED: Some viewers may find elements of this talk to be distressing. This talk contains a discussion of suicide. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/t...

How would you react if you received the heart-wrenching and raw voice mail Kristen Christy received from her son when he attempted suicide? Kristen shares the devastating aftermath of her first husband’s suicide after deployment and the two sides of HOPE – for those in crisis and the ones around them who love them. Kristen Christy, known as America’s Resilience Speaker, was named the 2018 AFI Air Force Spouse of the Year, a 2019 Top 30 Women Military Influencer, a 2020 Remarkable Woman finalist, and a 2021 Force for Change awardee. She is an international speaker and a subject matter expert on suicide prevention and resilience.

Kristen is a co-sponsor of the new 9*8*8 Suicide Prevention Lifeline; creator of National Resilience Day – March 4th & Conquer your disappointments, insecurities, and adversities; a President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) Ambassador with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs; and an advisor to the Dept. of the Air Force on Resilience.

She continues the search for her missing son. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Have you ever felt imposter identity syndrome? What do you do when your life story takes a turn for the worse and you realize that your accomplishments and successes have created limiting beliefs, a false identity, and even shame?

Despite achieving a Ph.D., an honorary doctorate, multiple degrees, and being at the peak of success, Dr. MelindaJoy Mingo found herself homeless living in her car. In this rich story-filled talk, she shares her journey of being afraid to embrace her true self, debilitating perspectives, and the solutions she courageously took to move from unhealthy attachments and shame to a fulfilled, purpose-driven life. MelindaJoy Mingo has a powerful and inspiring life transformative story that spans from her living in the streets as a homeless person to traveling the world as a widely sought out speaker both nationally and internationally.

More incredible than her story of overcoming life challenges such as being kidnapped at gunpoint, or almost losing her sight as a teen, is her incredible joy and passion for life!

She speaks openly and genuinely about her personal `identity reset’ journey of learning to value and love herself beyond her accomplishments.

MelindaJoy has a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Education, is the founder of Significant Life Change Transitions Coaching, is an equity and inclusion specialist, a professor, and is the author of `The Colors of Culture – The Beauty of Diverse Friendships’. She has a mission of helping others to understand their value, worth, and dignity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

12 years into her post-college professional life, Meredith Masse found herself commuting 1.5-hours each way, every day, 5 days a week to a job thought she should love. But truly did not. After another dozen years, she figured out exactly what every professional woman needs to define for herself in order to stop shoulding and start choosing. In this engaging talk, Masse shares the 3 things that are key to creating a work life you'll love. Meredith Masse spent the first 15+ years of her professional life chasing jobs that her resume said she could do but that, she had an inkling, didn't really... fit. After two dozen years she finally figured out why and now has to help other professional women accelerate toward a work life they'll love. Since then, Meredith has coached professionals -- especially women -- seeking to transform their work lives into powerful experiences that allow them to do what they do best, serving something that's meaningful to them, in places that need to them to be 100% authentic. She is passionate about filling our workplaces with employees, managers, and leaders who are on fire -- who model and demonstrate the kind of world they demand to live in. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx