We talked about the way gender stereotypes harm girls, but what is their effect on boys? In this powerful and deeply personal TEDx Talk, NYT bestselling author Francesca Cavallo (Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls) invites us to rethink the stories we tell our sons — and how those stories shape the men they become. After years empowering girls through storytelling, Francesca realized she had never truly trusted boys the same way. That insight sparked a journey into gender, shame, tenderness, and the emotional prisons we build around boys. Drawing from psychology, anthropology, and classic fairy tales, she reveals how the culture of domination we assign to boys mirrors the culture of submission once imposed on girls — and what we can do to break both. Want to raise emotionally healthy boys? Want to rewrite masculinity from the inside out? This talk is for you. Francesca Cavallo is the co-author of the global bestseller Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and the creator of Stellar Stories for Boys of the Future, the first collection of fairy tales that reframe masculinity for children. Her books have sold over 8 million copies in 50+ languages. 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: Please do not look to this talk as a substitute for mental health advice. This talk only represents the speaker's personal approach to and understanding of healing, trauma, and emotion. Several claims lack 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.pdfSome of us had a healthy upbringing but many of us did not, causing loneliness and a sense of disconnection. At some point many of us made a promise to ourselves to be different from our parents but we didn’t know how. In this talk I share how to break unhealthy cycles, reclaim our authentic selves and build deep and meaningful relationships with our children, partners, family and friends laying the foundation for a healthy inter-generational village. Julie Marrast is a Parent Emotional Healing Coach. She is a Certified Heal Your Life® Coach and the founder of Parenting Through Feeling and the HERO LIFE HAPPY® Experience, Helping parents shift from power struggles to meaningful connection with their children (4 years). Julie is a best-selling author of the book Different Than your parents. She is also a 300+ YYT certified, Vinyasa Yoga teacher, a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, and a Certified Yin Yoga Teacher, and Julie is a Candidate for Certification as a Hand in Hand Parenting Instructor. She also has a diploma from Seneca College, North York, Canada. 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 questioning the universe's edge as a child in Athens to leading America's premier particle physics laboratory, Dr. Lia Merminga shares her remarkable journey through the world of scientific discovery. She weaves together her uncle's physics legacy, her former role as Fermilab's first women director, and an ambitious international quest to understand existence itself. Dr. Merminga reveals how the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) unites 1,400 scientists worldwide in the search for fundamental truths about matter and antimatter, showcasing how global collaboration tackles humanity's biggest questions, such as “why do we exist?”, through cutting-edge physics and engineering.#ParticlePhysics #QuantumPhysics #Neutrinos #Fermilab #DUNE #WomeinScience #InternationalScienceDr. Lia Merminga is a Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Distinguished Scientist, a fellow of the American Physical Society, Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Women in STEM, and a graduate of the first cohort of Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oppenheimer Energy Science Leadership Program. She has served on and led numerous international scientific committees. Dr. Merminga was the first female Laboratory Director at Fermilab where she is overseeing the development and execution of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), a first-of-its-kind experiment to unlock the mysteries of neutrinos. This program represents the largest international experiment ever built by the DOE on U.S. soil. Ultimately, it will help us get closer to answering the really big questions; such as, why does the universe, and—by extension—humankind exist?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

Self-care isn’t just manicures and massages. It’s about developing a TRUE connection to yourself so that you know what YOU need, what YOU want, and deeply KNOW that you are worth having that. Self-care IS the air we all need to breathe. we’re not just helping ourselves, we change how we show up for our families, our communities, and yes, the world. Kathy Love is a TEDx speaker, author of My Self Care Sh*t: The Workbook & My Self Care Sh*t: The Workbook-Military Edition, My Self Care Sh*t: The Coloring Book, Chief Community Officer of The Outlier Project, contributing author in the Standing O! book series, self-care coach, entrepreneur, mother & more. 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 mindfulness and well-being change corporate culture? Petra has had a rich career in the world of HR and corporate culture. She currently works at Red Hat, where she focuses on improving the well-being and mental health of employees. Before that, she worked at Google, where she led the recruitment team. She is a certified mindfulness trainer and actively promotes conscious leadership and burnout prevention in companies. She is also involved in improving the work environment and supporting the implementation of wellness programs. 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

Director of FabLab Brno and VIDA! Science Center, popularizer of technology and STEM educationTomáš is the head of FabLab Brno – the first open digital workshop in the Czech Republic – and also heads VIDA! Science Center – the largest science center in Moravia.His mission is to bring modern technologies closer to young people and inspire them to discover the world of technology. He was at the birth of the mobile classroom FabLab University, which brings 3D printing and other technologies directly to schools. He also coordinates initiatives connecting universities, companies and the public sphere with the aim of supporting interest in technical fields.How to make science and technology mainstream? And why do we need popularizers who can sell out stadiums? Tomáš will focus on this at TEDxBrno. Director of FabLab Brno and VIDA! Science Center, popularizer of technology and STEM educationTomáš is the head of FabLab Brno – the first open digital workshop in the Czech Republic – and also heads VIDA! Science Center – the largest science center in Moravia.His mission is to bring modern technologies closer to young people and inspire them to discover the world of technology. He was at the birth of the mobile classroom FabLab University, which brings 3D printing and other technologies directly to schools. He also coordinates initiatives connecting universities, companies and the public sphere with the aim of supporting interest in technical fields. 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