In his TED Talk, “Get Your Maverick On,” Jay Gross challenges listeners to break free from conventional expectations and embrace their authentic, trailblazing selves. With passion and humor, he shares personal stories and hard-won insights about the power of showing up boldly, taking risks, and leading with heart. It’s a call to action to live unapologetically, think differently, and create impact by being the maverick you were meant to be. “After a motorcycle accident in 1986 crushed the 7th thoracic vertebrae in my back and left me less than a ¼ of an inch from being paralyzed from my chest down, I take each day as a gift. While I was recuperating for six months, my Mom mentioned how I would be a good teacher and how the neighborhood kids flocked to me when I was outside to learn football plays and hear me tell stories. It stuck. I recently retired after 30 years of teaching at Shepherd High School, and 34 days later accepted a position teaching Speech/Debate at Morley Stanwood High School. I am still being told countless times my stories make learning relate, and make it easier to understand. My name is Jay Gross, and I am an English, Speech, & Debate teacher. I also teach as an adjunct professor of English and Speech at Montcalm Community College and am currently teaching at St. Louis High School for dual enrollment. 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
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- 11:14Adding life to our years through longevity medicine | Hishamuddin Badaruddin | TEDxSingaporeWhat if the key to a longer, healthier life isn't found in more medicine, but in better timing? In this talk, Dr. Hisham invites us to rethink ageing itself. Drawing from decades of clinical insight and the cutting edge of longevity science, he explores how small, intentional choices can stretch not just our lifespan, but our healthspan. More than just extending years, his vision is about deepening the quality of each one. He advocates for a refreshed medical system where vitality, clarity, and purpose last longer than we thought possible. Dr. Hishamuddin Badaruddin is a longevity medicine doctor and founder of Bartley Clinic, where he helps people live longer, healthier lives through personalised, preventive care. He is a pioneer in democratising healthspan optimisation, and advocates for making cutting-edge medical insights accessible to all. A certified longevity physician and thought leader in digital health, Dr. Hisham champions a future where medicine is proactive, not reactive. 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
- 13:24The lost legacy of letterpress | Yao Yu Sun | TEDxSingaporeIn this talk, Yao Yu invites us to rediscover the beauty of slowness, of precision, of ink meeting paper. Yao Yu stumbled into the world of letterpress through dusty warehouses and aging machines.These relics speak of a time when words were pressed into permanence, not just pixels. More than nostalgia, his work is a reminder: that even in an age of digital speed, there is something worth saving in the weight of type, the press of history, and the stories still imprinted in print. Yao Yu is a traditional letterpress educator and founding member of the International Association of Printing Museums (IAPM), he is the quiet force behind TYPESETTINGSG, an initiative devoted to reviving the endangered craft of movable type printing in Singapore. Through salvaged printing blocks, forgotten typefaces, and hand-cranked machines, Yao Yu documents and preserves the tactile history of a medium that once shaped how we read, think, and remember. 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
- 8:17Being heard in the music industry | shazza - | TEDxSingaporeBeliever in the power of music to create unity in diversity, shazza endeavours to create moving arts that transcend traditional boundaries and connect people on a deeper, emotional level. Crucially, shazza is a champion of the representation of minorities in the music scene; her early childhood experience of not seeing music industry figures that looked like her has spurred her on, rather than deterred her from wanting to pave the future of music. Rising singer-songwriter shazza’s firm belief in unity in diversity is the driving force behind her commitment to championing art and representation, and has led her to win the Young Achievers award which is testament to her dedication and excellence in the field of 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
- 13:06Hep C: The Curable Virus that We Aren't Curing | Maggie Beiser | TEDxTuftsHepatitis C is the most common blood-borne virus in the United States and a leading cause of liver disease and related health-care costs, but a decade into having simple, effective cures, we continue to lag far behind in the World Health Organization’s goal for elimination. Maggie Beiser discusses the approach they are taking at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program to bring dynamic and responsive hepatitis C treatment to the marginalized populations that need it most. Maggie Beiser (class of ’03, history and community health) is an adult nurse practitioner at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where she provides primary and specialized HIV, hepatitis C, substance use, and gender care for people experiencing homelessness. The BHCHP hep C treatment program she founded in 2014 has treated over 1500 individuals and was recognized by the International Network on Hepatitis and Health in Substance Users in 2021 as the most innovative HCV program for people who use drugs in North America. In 2023 Maggie was appointed to the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, HCV and STD Prevention and Treatment. Day to day she sees patients and leads the HCV team’s educational, research, and advocacy efforts focused on eliminating hepatitis C among people experiencing homelessness in Boston. 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
- 6:41The art of quitting to win | Kathryn Sparrow | TEDxDeerfieldI QUIT! I bet each and every one of us has said that - or wanted to say that - at some point. From my point of view, quitting isn’t the opposite of winning; it’s the gateway to achieving the life you truly want. podcast host & coach and public speaker from New York City, based in North Central New Jersey. With a diverse background as a news-radio personality, public relations specialist, and experienced home buyer and seller, Kathryn brings a unique perspective to her coaching and speaking engagements. Her TEDx talk, "The Art of Strategic Quitting: Redefining Quitting as a Framework for Success," draws from both her personal and professional experiences to challenge conventional wisdom around quitting. Kat advocates for quitting as a strategic decision—a powerful tool for growth, success, and fulfillment. With her wealth of expertise and engaging communication style, Kat is passionate about inspiring audiences to view quitting not as failure, but as a purposeful step toward achieving greater success. 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
- 17:08La comicità come linguaggio universale | Nicola Virdis | TEDxCagliariNel suo coinvolgente intervento Nicola Virdis ci accompagna in un viaggio tra risate, linguaggi e connessioni profonde. Comico, artista circense e performer internazionale, Nicola ha mostrato al pubblico quanto la comicità sia un linguaggio che supera ogni confine: culturale, geografico, linguistico. Attraverso i suoi iconici personaggi — tra cui il celebre nerd anni '80 — e con un carisma capace di emozionare e far riflettere, ci ha ricordato che comunicare non significa solo parlare, ma saper ascoltare, osservare e connettersi. Durante i suoi viaggi in giro per il mondo, dalla Spagna alla Romania, dalla Francia alla Germania, Nicola ha sperimentato sulla propria pelle quanto il linguaggio non verbale e l’empatia possano diventare strumenti di relazione potentissimi. Il suo saluto finale in decine di lingue è un messaggio potente: la comunicazione ci unisce tutti, ovunque siamo. Finalista di Italia’s Got Talent 2019, con milioni di visualizzazioni grazie al tormentone “Turn Around” e vincitore del Golden Buzzer, oggi Nicola continua a far sorridere e riflettere con il suo stile inconfondibile. Nicola Virdis, artista sardo capace di comunicare senza parole, attraverso il potere dell'espressione e del gesto. Comico, artista di circo contemporaneo, docente per l'Accademia Cirko Vertigo e clown dottore per la Fondazione Dottor Sorriso, Nicola avanti da oltre 20 anni una missione chiara: far ridere, emozionare e connettere le persone anche attraverso il linguaggio non verbale. Il suo personaggio, il nerd nostalgico degli anni '80, ha conquistato il pubblico di Italia's Got Talent 2019, dove con il tormentone "Turn Around" ha raggiunto milioni di visualizzazioni, il Golden Buzzer e il terzo posto in finale. Ma il suo talento non si è fermato ai confini italiani: Spagna, Francia, Germania e Romania hanno applaudito la sua comicità universale, dimostrando che "non importa cosa fai, ma come lo fai". 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
