TEDx Talks

Jhanvi Patel shares how Oklahoma Votes, a student organization, dramatically increased voter registration by addressing three key barriers: complexity, irrelevance, and disillusionment. By meeting students where they are, making voting personally relevant, and building genuine relationships, they helped 9% of the student body register to vote.

Lt Col Manoj Kumar Sinha argues that modern definitions of success as individual achievement are a dangerous lie that leads to societal conflict. He advocates for redefining success as contribution to collective well-being, drawing from ancient Indian wisdom that viewed the world as one family.

Francesca O'Connor argues that workplaces consistently reward 'brilliant assholes' - charismatic, high-performing individuals who achieve results while leaving emotional damage in their wake. She explores why we enable this toxic brilliance through psychological biases and proposes micro-interventions to broaden our definition of workplace excellence.

Gala Díaz Langou argues that widespread disaffiliation and loss of belonging represents humanity's biggest threat, as declining trust and cooperation leave us ill-equipped to face 21st century challenges. She advocates for rebuilding connections through small acts of service and attention to others as a survival strategy.

Sleep researcher Diego Golombek argues that sleep is a powerful treatment for multiple health benefits, but modern society creates 'social jet lag' by forcing schedules that conflict with our biological clocks. He proposes viewing sleep through three lenses: sleep capital, sleep health diplomacy, and creating circadian-friendly cities.

Neuroscientist Adolfo García presents AI-powered speech analysis as a revolutionary tool for early Alzheimer's detection. His research team has achieved over 90% accuracy in detecting Alzheimer's by analyzing speech patterns, offering a fast, affordable alternative to traditional diagnostic methods that could democratize early detection globally.

Guadalupe Nogués explores how traditional communication rituals like sharing mate can foster better conversations in our increasingly connected but disconnected world. She argues that despite technological connectivity, we need intentionally designed contexts and rituals to create meaningful dialogue and rebuild trust between people.

Rakhshanda Jalil, speaking at her former college at age 62, encourages students to find their voice through reading, knowledge acquisition, and remaining open to learning throughout life. She emphasizes the distinction between information and knowledge, advocates for interdisciplinary education without rushing through degrees, and shares how translation became her pathway to a writing career spanning 51 books.

Nina Mago, speaking from lived experience, explains how epilepsy affects millions globally but argues that stigma and discrimination create even greater costs than the medical condition itself. She advocates for collective awareness as the solution to break down barriers that prevent people with epilepsy from accessing care, education, employment, and relationships.

Modern Karema, who grew up in rural Uganda and is now an education director, argues that while Uganda has achieved education equity through increased access, quality remains poor in rural schools due to inadequate financing, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of facilities. He advocates for better financing and infrastructure to ensure rural children receive the same educational opportunities as urban children.

Kangere argues that traditional education systems, particularly in Africa, are failing to prepare children for the future by suppressing creativity and not teaching holistically. He presents Sbururu school's model that combines academics, vocational skills, arts, and yoga through project-based learning to develop complete, confident learners.

Thomas Curto, a 21-year-old mathematical engineering student who was entirely homeschooled, argues that alternative education gave him ownership over his learning and the ability to develop authentic self-regulation. He challenges the common conflation of education with traditional institutions, emphasizing that homeschooling provided him time to discover his identity without constant external measurement.

Dr. Pooja Dubey Pandey discusses how India's agricultural waste problem, particularly crop residue burning, can be transformed into an opportunity using fungal biotechnology. She proposes using mycelium and enzymatic processes to convert crop stubble into nutritious mushrooms, simultaneously addressing pollution, malnutrition, and rural unemployment.