TEDx Talks

Ecouter la maladie quand elle murmure et non plus quand elle crie | Agnès MARTINEC | TEDxSaclay

Jul 2, 2026

Et si la solution n’était pas de mieux voir la tumeur, mais de détecter la maladie avant qu’elle ne devienne visible ? En analysant une couche d’information biologique encore peu exploitée — les modifications chimiques portées par les produits de dégradation des ARN circulant dans le sang — cela devient possible. Lire ces signaux faibles avant la tumeur ouvre une nouvelle façon de penser le dépistage, pour agir plus tôt et peut-être changer le cours d’une vie. Agnès Martinec cumule plus de 25 ans d’expérience dans le développement et la production de dispositifs de diagnostic in vitro. Directrice des Opérations et cofondatrice associée de CYBERNA, elle accompagne la structuration et le développement de solutions innovantes, notamment pour la détection ultra-précoce des cancers. À la croisée de la science, de l’innovation et de l’humain, elle est animée par une conviction forte : construire ensemble. 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

NEXUS ERGO SUM : Réapprendre à se connecter à la terre et aux vivants | Frédéric REVOL | TEDxSaclay

Jul 2, 2026

Paysan, agriculteur biologique et distillateur, Frédéric questionne l'un des grands récits qui guide nos sociétés depuis des millénaires : celui d'une humanité engagée sur une trajectoire de progrès, de performance et de croissance, persuadée d'être séparée du reste du vivant et de pouvoir façonner le monde pour elle-même, jusqu'à en dépasser les limites. Son installation en agriculture biologique pour produire ses whiskys marque une véritable crise existentielle qui l'amène à réinterroger cette posture prométhéenne. En prenant ses distances avec l'agro-industrie, il découvre que la fertilité de sa ferme comme la qualité de ses whiskys sont le fruit de l'alliance d'un vaste écosystème – sols, micro-organismes, champignons, faune et flore – dont il est lui-même l'un des protagonistes. Son expérience lui révèle que la réussite ne naît ni de la seule volonté humaine ni de la maîtrise de la nature, mais des relations écologiques et des conversations sensibles que nous entretenons avec le vivant, y compris avec des êtres dont nous ignorons souvent jusqu'à l'existence. Ingénieur agronome et économiste de formation, Frédéric a d’abord consacré sa carrière à l’étude des enjeux d’écologie et des territoires. Convaincu que les modèles ne suffisent pas à comprendre le vivant, il choisit de devenir paysan et reprend une ferme de montagne dans les Alpes. Il la convertit à l’agriculture biologique et développe une approche agronomique frugale, fondée sur les équilibres écologiques. Fondateur du Domaine des Hautes Glaces, il crée des whiskies d’exception conçus comme des grands crus, révélant l’expression d’un territoire vivant. Son parcours l’a conduit à une conviction : la transition écologique se joue autant dans nos choix intimes que dans nos innovations, en réconciliant savoir, sensibilité et vivant. 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

S'organiser et prendre soin du vivant sans l'autorité de l'État | Juliette DUQUESNE | TEDxSaclay

Jul 2, 2026

Pour préserver le vivant, l’État est souvent perçu comme la solution pour contrer les méfaits du capitalisme mais ne serait-il pas une partie du problème ? L’enjeu : construire un quotidien, ensemble, autour des gestes de subsistance tels que se nourrir ou se loger. À travers le monde et l'histoire, les expériences à différentes échelles ne manquent pas : écolieux, coopératives, peuples autochtones … Construire son autonomie tout en créant des mécanismes de solidarité est une piste à explorer ! Autrice, conférencière, journaliste indépendante spécialisée dans les thématiques écologiques, Juliette publie en 2025 : Autonomes et solidaires pour le vivant. S’organiser sans l’autorité de l’État (Le Bord de l’eau, Prix du livre engagé pour la planète du festival du livre de Mouans-Sartoux). Elle a également créé une collection de livres (avec Pierre Rabhi, les Presses du Châtelet) : Carnets d’alerte ainsi qu’un podcast et un média du même nom: www.carnetsdalerte.fr. 6 livres ont été publiés : Pour en finir avec la faim dans le monde ; les semences, un patrimoine vital en voie de disparition ; les excès de la finance ou l’art de la prédation légalisée ; l’eau que nous sommes ; vivre mieux sans croissance ; L’humain au risque de l’intelligence artificielle. Auparavant, elle a travaillé dix ans pour le journal de TF1 où elle enquêtait déjà sur les problématiques écologiques. Pour en savoir plus : www.julietteduquesne.fr ; www.carnetsdalerte.fr. 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

Génération Z : habiter le monde autrement | Elisabeth Soulié | TEDxSaclay

Jul 2, 2026

La génération Z, déroute. Née au tournant du millénaire, Social Native, qui est-elle vraiment? Pourquoi bouscule-t-elle à ce point les schémas de pensée des générations précédentes? Comprendre ses comportements, ses représentations et ses attentes n’est-ce pas une nécessité pour apprendre à vivre ensemble et ne pas manquer le rendez-vous avec le monde qui vient ? Anthropologue diplômée de l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) et coach formée à Metasystème, Elisabeth Soulié développe son expertise de la génération Z au travers de terrains ethnographiques et de publics très divers: en Seine Saint-Denis au coeur d’un lycée professionnel, au sein d’un institut de santé en zone rurale, à Paris et en province auprès de collectifs de jeunes activistes, dans des tiers-lieu de travail et incubateurs de start-up. 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

Lumière sur l’ordinateur quantique : la prochaine compétition commence | Valérian GIESZ | TEDxSaclay

Jul 2, 2026

De Deep Blue aux nouveaux modèles d’intelligence artificielle, de la microélectronique aux processeurs quantiques, cette conférence raconte la transition de l’arrivée de l’ordinateur quantique tout en faisant le parallèle avec d’autres technologies. Grâce à de nouvelles technologies photoniques, ces calculateurs ouvrent la voie à une capacité de calcul inédite. A nous d’adopter cette nouvelle intelligence pour rester dans la partie. Valérian Giesz est cofondateur de Quandela, entreprise européenne de référence dans le domaine du calcul quantique photonique. Ingénieur diplômé de l’Institut d’Optique et docteur en photonique, semi-conducteurs et technologies quantiques, il œuvre au croisement de la science, de l’industrie et de l’entrepreneuriat afin de faire émerger une nouvelle génération de supercalculateurs quantiques fondés sur les technologies photoniques, ainsi que des solutions concrètes issues de ces avancées. Il a également contribué à la création de la French Tech Paris-Saclay.nouvelles solutions concrètes. Il a contribué à la création de la French Tech Paris-Saclay. 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

Borrowed Belief | Ashwin Mushran | TEDxIMTHyderabad

Jul 2, 2026

No dream is ever truly your own, actor Ashwin Mushran reveals the hidden hands behind every "solo" success, from a mother's simple sentence that funded his acting career to a stranger's thank-you message seven years after a single phone call. Through a health scare that nearly cost him his breakout film role, he unpacks what he calls "borrowed belief", the courage others loan us when we can't find our own, and makes the case for passing it forward. Ashwin Mushran is known for memorable roles in Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Fashion, and Life in a... Metro, films that showcased his range as an actor and his instinct for bringing depth to every character he plays. But his storytelling doesn't end on screen. Over the decades, he has carved a unique niche as one of India's most prolific voice-over artists and digital storytellers, lending his voice and creative vision to a wide spectrum of platforms and formats. A powerful storyteller both on screen and beyond, Ashwin brings decades of creative insight to every project he takes on, spanning film, voice, and digital media, and reflecting a career built on constant evolution and reinvention. 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

Being Right is Not Enough | Anam Naz Nawaz | TEDxRue Saint Guillaume

Jul 2, 2026

Why do facts so often fail to change minds? Drawing on personal experience, behavioral science, and powerful real-world examples, Anam Naz Nawaz unpacks the hidden reason arguments backfire, and what to do instead. She introduces a three-step approach for entering difficult conversations in a way that builds understanding instead of resistance. Anam Nawaz is a political researcher whose work is informed by lived experience across Pakistan, Syria, and France. She focuses on polarization and prejudice, examining how identity and belonging shape the ways societies fracture and connect. After a decade of experience in corporate communications and marketing across diverse cultural contexts, she broadened her work into political research, bringing a sharp focus to how narratives and perceptions structure division and cohesion in public 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

Courage Is the New Authority | Markus Eilers | TEDxTUDarmstadt

Jul 2, 2026

A talk about finding authority through courage, clear communication, and the willingness to show up authentically. Markus Eilers once lived the life of a content software architect — until the financial crisis forced him into the unknown. Practically overnight, the world he had built collapsed, and he had to confront something he’d always avoided: approaching strangers, starting conversations, persuading. That uncomfortable necessity became a revelation. Markus realised that communication is not just a skill — it’s survival, it’s growth, it’s the bridge that carries ideas into the world. Today, his greatest joy is helping others step beyond their fears and discover that authority doesn’t come from titles, but from the courage to connect. 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

Building Better Humans Through Big Science | Pradeep Ghosh | TEDxTUDarmstadt

Jul 2, 2026

A perspective on how science, diplomacy, and human collaboration can move progress beyond national and cultural boundaries. Dr. Pradeep Ghosh journey abroad as a young student began with strangers who welcomed him like family — a kindness that revealed to him the power of human connection. Today, as a nuclear engineer and leader of international cooperation at one of Europe’s largest BigScience projects, he brings that same belief into the world of science and diplomacy: that breakthroughs aren’t only about technology, but about people working together. 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 butler training teaches organisations about hospitality | Vincent Vermeulen | TEDxUHasselt

Jun 29, 2026

If your company has a customer service department, it is already too late. In this TEDx talk, Vincent Vermeulen reveals the crucial difference between service and hospitality. He shares how the discipline and attention to detail of a butler can elevate any business and, more importantly, how we can bring the human connection back to our organisations. Vincent is the founder and director of School for Butlers and Hospitality. He is already the fourth generation of a family that has dedicated its life to working in the hospitality and service sector. His family’s experience in this field is simply unrivalled in Belgium. His relationship with the world’s greatest luxury establishments also means that the school can open doors that remain closed to all others. He has worked in various Michelin-star restaurants, trained and worked as a butler in London and led hospitality and service departments in a number of multinationals. He is first and foremost a customer experience expert and consults for organisations and companies worldwide. 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 price of feeling wanted | Dr. Rita Renee | TEDxRobinson Road

Jun 29, 2026

What are we willing to sacrifice just to feel chosen, accepted, or needed? In this powerful talk, Dr. Rita explores how the deep desire to feel wanted can lead us to settle for unhealthy relationships, compromise our values, and lose sight of our self-worth. By uncovering the hidden cost of seeking validation from others, she offers a path toward healing, healthy boundaries, and discovering that true worth begins from within—not from someone else's approval. Dr. Rita Renee is an International Keynote Speaker, Author, Voice Strategist, and Executive Leadership Coach who helps women and leaders come out of their silence, lead with clarity, and show up with authority without losing themselves. She holds advanced degrees in leadership, business, theology, and counseling, including a Ph.D. in Leadership and Organizational Development, an MBA in Management, and graduate training in Practical Theology and Clinical Theocentric Psychology. Through her speaking, coaching, and transformational teaching, Dr. Rita equips audiences to own their voice, clarify their message, and lead with confidence, courage, and purpose. 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

Your Permission to Create Art Again | Esther Conter & Veda Bartringer | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Jun 29, 2026

It almost seems like we live in a society where creating art feels reserved for the “chosen few”, those who have studied art and therefore earned the permission to create it. Many tell themselves that they simply aren’t creative, but is there even any truth in that? What if the permission to create something artistic isn’t found in the outside world, but within ourselves? (@esther.conter.theatre / @veda_redhead) Esther Conter helps people unlock their creative potential, find inner clarity, and reconnect with their authentic voice. Blending artistic expertise, mindfulness, and education, she bridges performance, personal growth, and conscious awareness. As a performer, speaker, and educator, she empowers others to express themselves with confidence and authenticity. Veda Bartringer is a Luxembourgish guitarist and composer exploring the intersections of iazz, classical, and world music. Across a range of proiects - from an intimate guitar duo to a jazz quartet to an octet blending a jazz ensemble with a string quartet - she always seeks authenticity, connection, and freedom in sound. Veda crafts a musical universe where jazz becomes a vehicle for storytelling, and each note resonates with curiosity and emotion. 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 We Tell Graduates is Upside Down | Loïc Maller | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Jun 29, 2026

You walk into a room and forget why you came in. Psychologists call it the Doorway Effect. Loïc Maller thinks it might be the key to how we treat an entire generation. We have built a culture that celebrates the decided and worries about the uncertain. So when young people finish school, we rush them through the first door they find. In this warm and personal talk, Loïc argues for the opposite: the courage to stand still in the corridor, try the doors, and find out who you actually are before choosing one. I am Loïc Maller, a Luxembourgish media design student at the Rheinische Hochschule Köln, passionate about creating and functional design. I have collaborated on projects for the WDR and the Universität Bonn, bringing ideas to life. I aspire to deliver thoughtful and honest design, always looking for new creative challenges. 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 illusion of originality | Lyra Wells | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Jun 29, 2026

We’ve never had more freedom to express ourselves, yet our identities increasingly come from the same online templates. This talk explores how trends, algorithms, and digital culture shape who we become and asks whether or not authenticity is still possible in this online era. 17-year-old student at the Lycée Athénée de Luxembourg studying the IB curriculum, interested in the Humanities and Social Sciences. She plans to study Law or PPE while also enjoying music and science. 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

Explosively sour: An intro to food R&D | Chris Clarke | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Jun 29, 2026

Dr Chris Clarke takes you on an eye watering tour of the scientific kitchen that is Food R&D. It’s not just food, it’s the taste of decades of research, development, adventure and exploration. Enjoy an appetiser exploring the science of sour and fizzy confectionary that will leave your tastebuds tingling. Dr Chris Clarke is a physicist, teacher and TV scientist with an insatiable appetite for all things edible. Specialising in the structure and texture of food, he makes regular UK and international TV appearances, helping bust food myths, breaking pointless world records and occasionally blowing up moons. 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

How to make the most of university | Bradley Ladewig | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Jun 29, 2026

What if the most valuable part of higher education is not the degree, but the transformation it makes possible? Drawing on his own journey across countries, disciplines and opportunities, Bradley Ladewig argues that higher education changes lives when we dare to move beyond our comfort zone. Bradley Ladewig is a professor, engineer and academic leader whose career has taken him across five countries. A passionate advocate for higher education, he works at the intersection of science, innovation and leadership, helping students and institutions use learning as a force for personal and societal transformation. 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 masks we wear | Zora Krstić | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Jun 29, 2026

Some of the most important parts of who we are begin as performances. Confidence. Courage. Even the way we see ourselves. But where is the line drawn between becoming someone, and pretending to be someone? Zora is a 13-year-old student at a Lycée in Luxembourg She is passionate about both the natural and human sciences. She has become increasingly interested in the ways we shape our identities and respond to the expectations surrounding 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

Be crazy enough to create your own luck | Sabrina Kaufmann | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Jun 29, 2026

Most people don't fail because they aren't talented enough. They fail because they never start. Drawing from her journey as a professional manga artist, Sabrina Kaufmann shows how taking imperfect actions can build confidence, create opportunities, and help you stop waiting for permission to pursue what truly matters to you. A mangaka and creative entrepreneur, Sabrina illustrates manga and designs her own brand of girly clothing and stationery, Himesama. Passionate about education, she has been teaching manga classes throughout Luxembourg since 2011 and supports aspiring artists on YouTube to inspire and showcase the real life of a freelance artist. 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

Goals Don't Achieve Themselves | Maleshia McGinnis | TEDxRobinson Road

Jun 29, 2026

Success isn't built on good intentions—it's built on consistent action. In this inspiring talk, Maleshia challenges the belief that setting goals is enough and reveals the mindset, discipline, and daily habits that turn aspirations into achievements. Audiences will leave empowered with practical insights to stop waiting, start doing, and create meaningful progress toward the life they envision. Maleshia “Mel” B. McGinnis is an attorney and best-selling author with 25 years’ legal experience. Mel is the owner of MPowered Sports & Entertainment, LLC, a consulting company that assists athletes, artists and executives with their business needs. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book “Reflections of Life, A Collection of Poetry, Prose and Images,” and co-author of the Amazon best-seller “Mindset First Money Second: The Things I Did to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck...for Good.” Mel has been a featured poet in spoken word showcases throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, including the House of Blues in Dallas. A Louisiana native, Mel earned her Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Mel is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, and The Links Incorporated. She is happily married to financial literacy expert, Major (Ret.) JB McGinnis, and lives by the motto“success is intentional, so do it on purpose.” 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 change you make is never just about you | Ana María Gaono | TEDxRobinson Road

Jun 29, 2026

Every personal transformation creates a ripple effect. In this talk, Ana explores how the choices we make to grow, heal, and lead don't just change our own lives—they influence our families, communities, and future generations. Through powerful storytelling and personal insight, she reveals why the courage to change yourself may be one of the greatest gifts you can give others. Ana María Gaona is a leadership strategist and next chapter advisor who spent three decades leading teams through high-stakes transitions in healthcare and public service. Her work guiding organizations through complex change is what now grounds her perspective on what transformation actually asks of people. In 2022, she retired early, choosing possibility over predictability. That choice led her to co-found Two Peacocks Travel and Flores de Juanita, and to the TEDx stage, where her talk, "Change Is Never Just About You," traces four generations of her family, from her parents' immigration from Mexico and Spain, to her own choice to leave a career built over those same three decades, to her daughter's fearless next chapter, to her five-year-old granddaughter who asked for luggage as a birthday gift. Ana's belief: change isn't something you survive. It's something you follow, and every time you do, you quietly rewrite what's possible for whoever is watching you next. 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

How to stop surviving and start living | Helsa Thompson | TEDxRobinson Road

Jun 29, 2026

For many people, life becomes about simply making it through the day. But there comes a moment when surviving is no longer enough. In this talk, Helsa explores how to move beyond merely coping with life's challenges and begin living with intention, purpose, and hope. Through personal insight and practical wisdom, she challenges audiences to stop settling for survival and start embracing the life they're capable of creating. Helsa Thompson is a wellness entrepreneur, educator, and equity advocate working at the intersection of wellness, belonging, and justice. As Founder of The Aura House, a sanctuary providing safe, healing spaces for BIPOC communities, she built a movement. Born from her journey overcoming chronic fatigue, anxiety, and burnout, the studio empowers others to take control of their physical, mental, and emotional health. She also serves as Program Manager of L&D at Yoga Alliance, driving accessible programming globally. A TEDx speaker, Helsa weaves personal storytelling with evidence-informed tools for resilience. Driven by the belief that wellness is a birthright, she co-founded Black Boys Meditate with her sons to introduce mindfulness to underrepresented youth. Certified in yoga, meditation, Somatic practices, and Sound Healing, Helsa uses movement, breath, and stillness to help release trauma and promote nervous system regulation. 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

How to stop being your own biggest bully | Tyler Ryan Hall | TEDxRobinson Road

Jun 29, 2026

The loudest bully in our lives is often the voice inside our own heads. In this talk, Tyler explores how negative self-talk shapes our confidence, decisions, and potential—and shares practical strategies to silence the inner critic, build self-compassion, and become our own greatest supporter. Tyler Ryan Hall is The Identity Architect and founder of TRH Creative Group who helps mission-driven people stop shrinking, master their message, and build the identity to live bigger. In this TEDx talk, Tyler introduces the Bully Voice™ — the internal voice shaped by shame, rejection, embarrassment, and unwanted exposure. Through a deeply personal story of being bullied in a high school locker room, he reveals how painful moments from the past can become an identity we carry for years, quietly shaping our confidence, visibility, relationships, work, and purpose. Using his AEIOU Self-Mastery Framework—Acknowledge, Expose, Introduce, Own and Upgrade—Tyler shows how to separate from the voice that keeps us small and consciously create a new identity rooted in self-trust, courage, and congruence. His core belief is simple: You were not born to shrink. You were born to live bigger. 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

Say Yes Before It's Easy | Tamar Greene | TEDxSUNY Oswego

Jun 29, 2026

Some of the most important opportunities in life arrive before we feel ready for them. Drawing from his journey from a shy student in Rochester, New York, to performing on Broadway, Tamar Greene shares how growth often begins with a simple but difficult choice: saying yes. Through personal stories of uncertainty, risk, and unexpected opportunities, he explores how embracing discomfort can open doors we never imagined and lead us toward a more meaningful life. Tamar Greene is a dynamic artist and educator currently playing George Washington in Broadway’s Hamilton. A classically trained pianist and opera singer, Tamar’s artistry spans multiple genres, from classical and jazz to reggae, gospel, and R&B. His career has taken him across the United States and internationally, with performances that celebrate both technical mastery and storytelling. A first generation American from Rochester, NY, Tamar’s journey from shy child to Broadway stage has been shaped by resilience, teachers who believed in him, and his own willingness to say yes to opportunities that stretched him. Beyond performance, he serves as a clinician and mentor to emerging artists, guiding them to find confidence in their voice and courage in their choices. 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 You Need 51% of Your Own Life | Anush Aslanyan | TEDxYerevanSalon

Jun 29, 2026

In this talk, Anush Aslanyan shares a personal journey toward independence and belonging. Through stories of growing up with a disability, she reflects on how choosing your own path, even when it feels difficult or uncertain, can transform not only your life, but the people and systems around you. Her talk explores the idea that true independence is not isolation, but finding the confidence to claim your “51%” and show up as yourself. Anush Aslanyan is the Co-founder of the NGO “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities” and the social enterprise “EREOstyle.” Her initiatives are aimed at empowering people with disabilities and creating inclusive employment opportunities. In 2019, she launched the “EREOstyle” initiative, which produces souvenirs while creating job opportunities for people with disabilities. She also founded the YouTube channel “The Philosophy of Disability with Anush Aslanyan,” where disability-related topics are discussed in an honest, positive, and often humorous format. Anush has participated in several international leadership programs, including the Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) organized by Mobility International USA, the Swedish Institute Leadership Lab, and the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. Department of State. 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

Bad Gals Run The Stage: Inequality in the Music Industry | Natalie Nicholas | TEDxPorthtowan Women

Jun 28, 2026

DJ, festival founder, and rave culture advocate, Natalie Nicholas, traces the history of women in DJ culture from its origins in the Black and queer communities of Chicago, New York, and Detroit and asks why so many of those women's contributions have been quietly, systematically erased. She brings that history into the present day, examining the structural barriers including unconscious bias, unpaid domestic labour, the very real cost of online visibility, and how that keeps women off festival stages and out of the rooms where decisions get made. But this talk goes deeper than line-ups and systemic oppression. It reaches back to ancient times when priestesses who played the frame drum not as entertainment, but as spiritual technology. It draws on research into the ritual power of music and collective gathering and presents the idea of the DJ not just as performer but as shaman, guiding the energy of a space, generating awe, connection, and transformation. Natalie Nicholas is a DJ, event producer, and music advocate based in Cornwall. Performing as DJ Natz, she is the founder of Freestyler Events, the grassroots event brand behind the annual Kernowtopia festival. She is also the founding director of Amplify, an organisation that uses electronic music to inspire and engage young people. Her work sits at the intersection of music, community, and advocacy, with a particular focus on creating visibility and opportunity for women and gender-diverse artists in spaces not traditionally built for them. In this talk, she draws on her own experience behind the decks, in the classroom, and on the festival field to examine the structural forces that keep women out of electronic music and to make the case for why that needs to change. 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

Rethinking DEI for Europe | Laurent Muzellec & Olamide Obadina | TEDxTrinityCollegeDublin

Jun 27, 2026

Around the world, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion—DEI—has become the dominant framework for addressing fairness and representation. Yet DEI was born in a very specific context: the American civil rights movement and the United States’ unique racial history. Today, that same framework is facing unprecedented pushback in its country of origin. Nearly half of American voters supported an openly anti-DEI presidential candidate, and major corporations are downsizing or abandoning DEI departments. What was meant to promote inclusion has paradoxically become a source of division, antagonising large segments of society and failing to generate broad-based legitimacy. Despite this backlash, Europe has rapidly imported DEI language, tools, and assumptions—with little questioning of whether they fit our cultural traditions, institutional systems, or social realities. Europe’s universalist heritage, from Enlightenment humanism to the post-war integration project, emphasises shared citizenship and common humanity over identity-based categorisation. This offers an opportunity: rather than adopting a framework that is losing traction in the U.S., Europe can develop its own model for social cohesion. In this talk, we introduce EUP: Equity, Unity and Pluralism a framework that aligns with European values while addressing the shortcomings of DEI. EUP preserves individual freedoms, promotes fairness without enforcing equal outcomes, and rebuilds civic unity at a time of growing societal fragmentation. It provides a constructive, context-appropriate alternative that could become a European standard—other continents should similarly adapt the DEI framework to their own histories and cultural foundations. This talk reframes the debate and offers a hopeful path forward for a cohesive European future. Laurent Muzellec is the Dean of Trinity Business School at Trinity College Dublin and a scholar whose work explores digital transformation. As Dean, he has overseen initiatives promoting fairness and transparency within a diverse academic community, giving him practical insight into how inclusion is implemented on the ground. He is a keen advocate for access programs based on socio-economic criteria such as the Trinity Access Program. Having lived and worked in the USA and multiple European contexts, Muzellec has a background in political science. This vantage point informs his argument that Europe needs its own approach to social cohesion, rooted in its universalist traditions and civic values. Olamide is a Trinity First Class Global Business graduate, DEI researcher, and emerging voice on entrepreneurship, equity, and systems change. She is a DEI Laidlaw Scholar and a JP McManus All Ireland Scholar. Much of her work is shaped by a curiosity about who our systems are designed to serve…and who they leave behind. Olamide explores how entrepreneurship shape access to opportunity. Through research, consulting, and leadership roles, she has examined the often-invisible structures behind female leadership, access to capital, and network advantage and how these forces quietly determine outcomes. Her work challenges traditional diversity approaches, focusing on redesign over representation, showing that inclusion requires new frameworks, clearer metrics, and honest conversations about power. She is deeply involved in community-building and mentorship. Through research and storytelling, Olamide argues that change happens when systems are redesigned, not merely diversified. 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

How Conformity Drives Social Trends | Kaleda Denton | TEDxNewEngland

Jun 26, 2026

What drives large-scale social changes like trends, fads, and collective behavior? Two powerful forces are conformity and anti-conformity: the desire to fit in and the urge to stand out. By modeling these individual-level choices and scaling them up to the population level, we can begin to understand how small decisions accumulate in surprising ways to shape the trends you follow, the customs you adopt, and even the opinions you hold. Kaleda is an evolutionary biologist who holds an Omidyar Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Santa Fe Institute. Her research explores how both genetic and non-genetic processes—such as epigenetics, development, and culture—shape evolution. A former Stanford Graduate Fellow, she combines theoretical and empirical research to understand significant evolutionary transitions and the emergence of cooperation, leveraging her expertise in gene-culture co-evolution and her collaborations with leaders in evolutionary biology. 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 life-saving act nobody sees | Kate Fisher | TEDxBrisbane

Jun 26, 2026

What would you say if you were given 10 minutes to say goodbye to your child? Kate Fisher knows the answer. A rare autoimmune condition left her daughter critically ill, and the treatment keeping her alive depends entirely on blood and plasma donated by strangers. When supplies ran low, treatment was delayed — with devastating consequences. Drawing on both lived experience and her work as a health sociologist, Kate explores a surprising contradiction: while blood donation saves millions of lives, it remains one of the least visible acts of care in modern society. Through her global advocacy initiative, Milkshakes for Marleigh, she has worked to make the impact of blood donation visible by connecting donors, recipients and communities through storytelling. Kate examines the consequences of life-saving acts being invisible — and why understanding this may be critical to the future of blood donation. Kate Fisher is a health sociologist and global blood donation advocate whose work explores altruism, health systems and the unseen networks that sustain life. She is the founder of Milkshakes for Marleigh, a movement addressing critical blood shortages by amplifying the voices of blood recipients, and making visible the impact of anonymous donors. Kate’s work is grounded in lived experience, shaped by her daughter’s survival following repeated life-saving blood-derived treatments. Through research, storytelling and advocacy, she examines how generosity operates within modern healthcare systems — and what happens when it is taken for granted. By making gratitude visible and stories shareable, Kate’s work invites a deeper understanding of the quiet acts of humanity that keep families together, often without recognition or reward. 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

Human rights vs innovation | Janna Araeva | TEDxRoyal Holloway

Jun 26, 2026

Three questions to ask yourself when you are inventing new technology. Creating something new is always an exciting and intriguing process, but does a new technology or creating is going to be beneficial for the whole society, or only strengthen the inequality? What questions should we ask ourselves before taking a step forward in developing something revolutionary? Janna is a feminist activist, a producer and a feminist writer from Kyrgyzstan, who is dedicated to promoting human rights through film and TV. She is currently doing her Master’s degree at Royal Holloway’s Producing Film and TV course. 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 Only Winning Move | Eason Leung | TEDxRoyal Holloway

Jun 26, 2026

The talk explores a fundamental question of our time: if machines can replicate intelligence, what truly makes us human? Through real-world examples and cultural references, I intend to argue that the real question is not what AI will become—but what we might lose if we forget what makes us human. Eason Leung is a master's student in Royal Holloway, majoring in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, with an academic background in social sciences, sociology and international studies. Growing up in Hong Kong and now studying in the United Kingdom, he brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to how systems and technologies reshape human behaviour. His work explores the intersection of intelligent systems and society, with a particular focus on what it means to be human in an age increasingly defined by artificial intelligence. 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