The real reason relationships feel harder than ever isn't because of a gender war - it's because we're navigating modern love with outdated relationship maps designed for function-based, rather than connection-based, partnerships. Kristal DeSantis cuts through the noise of polarizing gender wars to offer modern couples what they really need: a roadmap for building strong, lasting bridges to connection and a shared future of love. Drawing from years of clinical experience, she reveals the “4 S’s of Safety”—Self-Awareness, Stability, Self-Regulation, and Self-Expression—as the essential skills for lasting relationships. Her message is clear: love isn’t luck or chemistry—it’s a skill we can all learn to build deeper, safer, and more authentic connections.Kristal DeSantis is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in Austin, Texas, who specializes in helping individuals and couples build emotionally connected relationships. She is the author of STRONG: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man and works at the intersection of gender dynamics, emotional intelligence, and relationship 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

When I was nine years old, I lost my best friend. At twenty-one, I lost my dad. Through grief, music, and memory, I discovered the surprising power of nostalgia — not just as a longing for the past, but as a way of choosing hope and healing in the present.In this heartfelt TEDx talk, I share stories of love and loss, the songs that carried me through, and why I believe every moment can be prepared as a future memory. Because when we live intentionally, nostalgia doesn’t just look backward — it fuels joy, empathy, and optimism for what’s ahead.✨ Nostalgia can keep you alive. And glad to be alive.? Listen to my music: [www.girlnamedtom.com] ? Follow along: [@girlnamedtom @bekahliechty]#TEDx #Nostalgia #Healing #Grief #Music #RebekahLiechty Bekah Liechty is a singer and songwriter who shares music with her brothers in the sibling trio Girl Named Tom. After winning NBC’s The Voice as the show’s first-ever group champion, Bekah went from singing in her small hometown of Pettisville, Ohio, to performing on an arena tour with Pentatonix and headlining theatre tours across the country.For Bekah, music is more than performance—it is connection. Her voice, both tender and powerful, carries stories of love, loss, and healing. She believes in the gift of nostalgia: how songs can take us back, hold us in the present, and help us imagine what’s ahead.Whether on stage before thousands or in the quiet of songwriting, Bekah leads with honesty and heart. Her artistry invites listeners to feel deeply, to remember fully, and to find beauty in the moments that shape 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

When technology makes something more efficient, it doesn’t just make our lives easier — it reshapes how we act, what we value, and which choices quietly disappear. This talk moves from everyday objects to artificial intelligence to explore how even the simplest tools shape who we become. And as AI becomes more woven into daily life, the values and power of those who build it quietly shape the horizons of our choices With over 20 years of experience in digital transformation in major Norwegian companies, Elisabeth Austad Asser brings a rare combination of technological insight and ethical depth. She holds a PhD in AI and Ethics and is the author of The Power of Technology: How AI Tempts, Seduces and Holds Power — and What We Can Do About It (2025). She has served as Director of Sustainability in one of Norway’s largest banks, working at the intersection of technology, ethics, and societal responsibility. A sought-after speaker and prominent public voice, she contributes actively to national debates on artificial intelligence and its impact on society. Her work explores how technology shapes human behaviour, redistributes power, and transforms the choices available to us — and what it will take to ensure a future aligned with human values. 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

When words are not enough, rhythm becomes our shared language. Through sound and story, Idd Aziz reveals how music connects us across cultures, identities, and experiences. Idd Aziz is a Kenyan-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music is rooted in African tradition and shaped by a global journey.He began performing at the age of 13 and was touring internationally by 15. Over the years, Idd has developed a unique sound that blends voice, percussion, flute and guitar into powerful, genre-defying performances. His work bridges cultures and connects audiences through rhythm, energy and emotional presence.Whether on large festival stages or in intimate settings, Idd’s goal remains the same: to use music as a tool for connection, awareness and joy. 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

Robert Reed explains how diverting waste from landfill and instead composting it is our biggest opportunity to improve the way society handles waste. It positively impacts climate while helping farmers improve their crop yields. Robert Reed is an environmental advocate who serves as a spokesman for Recology, a leader in sustainable waste management and a pioneer in recycling and curbside composting programs.Before joining Recology, Robert spent a decade working as a journalist for daily newspapers, earning a California Newspaper Publishers Association Award for his reporting on environmental issues.Since 1993, Robert has been leading Recology’s outreach and education initiatives, playing a key role in helping San Francisco become the first major city in North America to implement curbside food scrap collection for composting, a program that has the potential to change the way the world does garbage.Robert has welcomed delegations from more than 135 countries, including government officials, business leaders, and environmental experts, all eager to see San Francisco’s industry-leading recycling and composting programs firsthand.As part of his community service, Robert has volunteered with Zero Waste France and delivered composting presentations in 35 cities across France. He assisted national officials in developing plans to launch food scrap composting in Paris and hosted the French Senate’s environmental committee in San Francisco. His efforts contributed to France passing a national law requiring every municipality, serving 68 million citizens, to make composting accessible and convenient for residents and businesses.Robert has been invited to speak at major international events, including the first Zero Waste Conferences in Paris and Montreal, and has appeared in five documentary films, notably Tomorrow, which screened in French theaters for 42 weeks and has been viewed by audiences around the 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