NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for mental health advice. This talk only represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of video game therapy, trauma, and healing which remains an ongoing field of study. Several theories discussed lack sufficient scientific support. 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/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfIn her talk, Dr. Sara discusses the visionary exploration of how video games are reshaping the future of therapy. By bridging the gap between entertainment and mental health, she demonstrates the immense potential of technology to enhance well-being. She inspires hope for a more interactive and personalized approach to therapy, one that can reach and resonate with people in unprecedented ways. Dr. Sara Roldan is a Guatemalan-born therapist, educator, author, and speaker who is dedicated to empowering individuals to transform their lives by reclaiming their stories. With over 20 years of advocacy for inclusion and a decade of clinical expertise, Dr. Roldan merges her cultural heritage, modern therapeutic techniques, and the power of fandom culture to create innovative and accessible pathways to healing. Her passion is to help people feel empowered through their own narratives, encouraging them to see themselves as the heroes of their journeys. Her own experiences—shaped by her background in performing arts, education, and her journey as an immigrant—drive her commitment to making others feel seen, heard, and capable of thriving. Her work is a powerful call to transformation, inspiring individuals to embrace their power, overcome adversity, and become the heroes of their own stories. 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: This talk only represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of urban planning, the brain and behavior. Several claims have not been tested experimentally and currently lack scientific support. 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/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfWalking has numerous benefits– and yet so many American cities are not designed to be walkable. By unpacking the science behind walkable cities, Craig Lewis shares factors that impact how we interact with urban environments. When we consider the science, we not only can turn an ignored alley into a place where warm memories can be created, but we can also be better, happier people. Craig Lewis is Placemaking Practice Group Manager at Arcadis, managing planning, landscape architecture, mobility, and urban design studios across the US and Mexico. For more than 30 years, he has used an inter-disciplinary approach to plan and implement the growth and regeneration of urban places across the globe that are more livable, equitable, and sustainable. As a practitioner and researcher, he has been studying how the physical characteristics of places affect our mental and physical well-being across a wide range of contexts– from global cities to local main streets. Pulling data from a variety of sources, Lewis works with clients around the world to create places of enduring economic and emotional value.He lives in Davidson, NC where he and his wife have raised 4 children to appreciate the beauty in great urban places and the value of walking. He recently completed his second term as the chair of the Design Review Board for the Town of Davidson. 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

From his early culinary career to leading NYU Langone’s Cooking for Wellness program, Chef Jeff shares how food can be more than comfort or nourishment—it can be healing. Jeffrey Held is the Health System Director of Culinary Operations at NYU Langone Health. 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

Fueled by 150 bananas, Paul Cheese has cycled across the UK in search of as many sounds as he can find. The result? A soundtrack that embodies the diversity of the British Isles. Featuring crop sprinklers, basketballs, power stations and an ice cream van, this is the story of how over 11,000 sounds became 1 incredible song. Paul Cheese is a musician, music producer and sound artist based in Lamberhurst, Kent.He can be found in front of his mixing desk working with top recording artists at the studio, on stage performing solo or with his band. Or on a bicycle carrying 45kg of recording equipment on the hunt for inspirational places to write and record music. He has written and recorded in locations around the world, from the tops of mountains, to deep underground, the Grand Canyon, to the Australian bush, ice caves to pill-boxes, old places, new places and even underwater.When not at his studio or on stage, Paul works with individuals who have an acquired brain injury, implementing creative approaches aimed at fostering positivity and on developing cognitive function and creative music experiences. 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

Shogo O’Connor challenges the misportrayal of sumo wrestling in America through humor and personal experience. Born and raised in New York City, Shogo is a junior at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, and he loves it!. At TEDxDeerfield, Shogo will talk about Sumo, an elegant but vicious sport. Unfortunately, they don’t offer Sumo at Deerfield, so he wrestles folk style at school which is the next best thing.Shogo was named after a famous skateboarder in the 70's and skated for a lot of his childhood until he busted his two front teeth. Then, he took up the violin because it was safer. He doesn't play much anymore, but he can probably still squeak out Vivaldi's Winter.Thumbnail image originally posted to Flickr by Gusjer at https://www.flickr.com/photos/20244534@N00/5402557500 licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.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 can democracy defend itself without compromising its values? In his Talk, Ulrich Wagrandl explores legal principles and philosophical debates to tackle the ongoing question: Is it democratic to silence anti-democratic voices? He reveals how democracies can protect freedom while embracing diverse opinions.Ulrich Wagrandl is a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Teaching Fellow at Vienna's University of Economics and Business. He did his PhD on the concept of militant democracy - a democracy that is willing to defend itself - in Austrian Constitutional Law. In his research, Ulrich focuses on the fundamental questions of public law and their historical and philosophical roots. Currently, he is working on his Habilitation thesis on the freedom of occupation (the right to choose one's job and to conduct a business). He remains deeply interested in the future of liberal democracy and the many ways it can stay resilient.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