What if the most powerful act of resistance isn’t loud or public—but intimate, embodied and ancient? In this soul-awakening TEDx talk, Sepideh Eivazi—an Iranian-born visionary, immersive experience designer, trauma-informed breathwork practitioner, and mental health activist—guides us from silence to self-reclamation through the radical power of breath.At 20 Sepideh fled Iran with her 17-year-old sister in search of freedom. What she discovered was that true liberation isn’t geographical—it’s physiological. A body conditioned to shrink and disappear, especially in a repressive environment, can only hold trauma, But, as explained in this talk, the body has within it an awesome blueprint for its own healing . .One raw, trembling breath changes everything.Rooted in ancestral wisdom and somatic intelligence, this talk reframes breath as a radical protest in a world addicted to numbness, performance and disconnection. With poetic storytelling and lived defiance, Sepideh reveals regulation not as self-care, but as revolution—and dares us to ask:What if your next breath… was your rebellion?Sepideh Eivazi is a revolution in motion. An Iranian-born visionary, a trauma-informed mental health activist, immersive event architect, and founder of Dawn of the Earth—a purpose-driven platform weaving somatic breathwork, tea rituals and ancestral wisdom to reawaken the human spirit.As a psychedelic integration practitioner and member of Global Wellness Institute’s Breathe Initiative, Sepideh is redefining how we gather—transforming events into portals of remembrance, regulation, and collective awakening. Her mission: to rupture numbness, restore connection, and leave every soul she touches moved and seen.A 2025 Smart Meetings Hall of Fame inductee, Smart Speaker, 40 Under 40 honoree, and Meetings Today Trendsetter, Sepideh’s impact spans global stages and publications including Poosh, The Purist, Skift, Women to Watch, IMEX, and MPI. Her groundbreaking activations include wellness roadshows with Caesars Entertainment and a somatic pre–Met Gala ritual with Morphe and Dripology. 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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- 12:26The silence after the whistle: Grieving the game that raised you | E. Josiah Kenty | TEDxAlabasterWhat happens when the final whistle blows—and the game doesn't call you back?For athletes, the end of a career isn't just about leaving the field—it's about losing a structured identity that shaped discipline, emotional regulation, and purpose. In this powerful TEDxAlabaster talk, E. Josiah Kenty explores what really happens when sports, the "parent" that raised so many athletes, is suddenly gone.This talk challenges the idea of a "Plan B" after sports and reframes the transition as something deeper than a career change. With raw personal stories of injury, leadership, and resilience, E. Josiah reveals why athletes—and anyone who has lost a central identity—must learn not to replace the game, but to translate its spirit into new arenas of life.If you've ever wondered what comes after the game, or struggled with letting go of something that defined you, this talk offers a new perspective and language for the journey forward.Watch now to discover how athletes can live the spirit of the sport forever—without ever needing to play again.#AthleteIdentity #LifeAfterSports #TEDx #TEDxAlabaster #EJosiah E. Josiah Kenty is a former Division I athlete who turned his toughest injury — and toughest life pivot — into a platform for change. After battling back from devastating knee injuries at Murray State University, E. Josiah realized that the real championship wasn’t on the field — it was off it. Today, he’s a 2x award-winning educator, dynamic speaker, and the author of OVERTIME, where he teaches athletes how to build real success after the final whistle. With partnerships ranging from Walmart to universities nationwide, E. Josiah empowers a generation to own their story beyond the jersey. As Founder of his own brand and Lead Facilitator for the Financial Freedom Project, he’s on a mission to embed leadership, resilience, and financial literacy into the next wave of champions. His message is simple but unapologetic: the scoreboard doesn’t define you — your next move does. 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
- 7:15How dance helped me become a better student | Genie (Wenyu) Tang | TEDxValenciaHighSchoolThe Secret of Transferable Skill Sets RevealedThe past, present, and future are all integral to who you are, and it's time to connect the wires in your brain in the right way. Don't walk through life passively; channel what you already know into fuel for chasing the life that you want. Through consistency and a meticulous process, open your mind up to the possibility of training your brain to tackle life in a brand new approach. Genie is a senior at Valencia High School with a passion for exploring the intersection of business, economics, and psychology. Outside of school, she loves indulging in opportunities such as research positions and internships to expand her skill set. She is dedicated to advocating for socio-economic equality in organizations such as the California Association of Student Councils, along with analyzing research at the USC Los Angeles Behavioral Economics Laboratory. Genie has a deep commitment to reshaping business practices to prioritize integrity, responsibility, and sustainable growth. In the future, she will be pursuing economics and statistics as her major in college. Through her dedication to combining the insights from economics and her personal experiences, Genie Tang is determined to drive change in both social reform and the business 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
- 18:244 strategies to balance professionalism & authenticity | Steven Stumph | TEDxFPTUniversityHCMCThrough his personal story during an international work trip, Steven Stumph revealed the fear and inner conflict of having to conceal his true identity to ensure safety. He illustrated how queer professionals often “code-switch” - altering language, behavior, even appearance to survive in workplaces where authenticity could cost one’s career or freedom. Steven outlined four common strategies: selective concealment, identity separation, communication and appearance shifts, and prioritizing work over self. His message is: to go all the way in a global career requires more than skill; it calls for a fairer world and organizations that truly listen, empathize, and create space for authenticity. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Steven Stumph is a former collegiate athlete at the University of Southern California. Steven has a passion for traveling, taking him to all 50 U.S. states and over 126 countries.His time as an admission counselor and recruitment manager at USC has taken him to over 20 countries to speak and learn from people of varying backgrounds. Over the past three years, Steven has worked on his Doctorate of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California.With over a decade of experience in academic innovation, DEI, and gerontology, Steven uses storytelling, scholarship, and grand narratives to challenge how we define professionalism, identity, and belonging. As a queer higher ed leader and advocate for older adults, especially in the LGBTQ+ community, he amplifies the narratives of professionals navigating visibility, and those that must conceal their authentic identities. 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
- 17:03Οι ζωές των άλλων | Μανόλης Θεοδωράκης | TEDxUniversityofCreteΠόσες όψεις μπορεί να έχει ένας άνθρωπος; Στην ομιλία του, ο Μανόλης Θεοδωράκης μας ταξιδεύει από την προσωπική του πορεία και τις καλλιτεχνικές του αναζητήσεις, μέχρι τις πιο κρυφές πλευρές της ταυτότητας και του προσανατολισμού. Με θάρρος και ειλικρίνεια, μιλά για την αποδοχή, την ελευθερία και την ανάγκη εκπαίδευσης σε μια κοινωνία που συχνά φοβάται το διαφορετικό. O Μανόλης Θεοδωράκης σπούδασε υποκριτική στην Ανωτέρα Δραματική Σχολή «Ίασμος» του Βασίλη Διαμαντόπουλου και τζαζ χορό στο «Jacob’s Pillow» στην Βοστώνη με υποτροφία. Έχει συμμετάσχει σε πολλές θεατρικές/musical παραστάσεις καθώς επίσης και σε παραστάσεις σύγχρονου χορού. Κατά τη διάρκεια της καριέρας του έχει συνεργαστεί με καταξιωμένους σκηνοθέτες και χορογράφους.«Το τροπικό πουλί» είναι ένας μουσικός θεατρικός μονόλογος που έγραψε, σκηνοθέτησε και ερμήνευσε ο ίδιος. Επιπλέον, έχει επιμεληθεί την κινησιολογία και τις χορογραφίες σε θεατρικές παραστάσεις, ενώ ασχολείται και με την κατασκευή θεατρικών κοστουμιών και την τέχνη του make-up.Τα τελευταία χρόνια επίσης, δραστηριοποιείται επαγγελματικά και με το Drag Performance, κάνοντας shows σε μουσικές και θεατρικές σκηνές μέσα από την drag περσόνα του, Mary Sunshine. 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
- 18:05Αποκαλύπτοντας το αόρατο | Γιώργος Τσερεβελάκης | TEDxUniversityofCreteΟ Δρ. Γιώργος Τσερεβελάκης μας ταξιδεύει στον μαγικό κόσμο των μικροσκοπίων — εξερευνώντας την εξέλιξή τους, τις βασικές αρχές τους και τις ισχυρές εφαρμογές τους στη σύγχρονη επιστήμη και την πολιτιστική κληρονομιά. Παράλληλα μοιράζεται πληροφορίες για την προσωπική του πορεία στον θαυμαστό αυτό κόσμο, προσκαλώντας μας να ανακαλύψουμε το αόρατο: να δούμε και να ακούσουμε το φως σε μικροκλίμακα. Ο Δρ. Γιώργος Τσερεβελάκης, είναι μέλος του Εργαστηριακού Διδακτικού Προσωπικού (ΕΔΙΠ) στο Τμήμα Βιολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης και επιστημονικός συνεργάτης στο Ινστιτούτο Ηλεκτρονικής Δομής και Λέιζερ του ΙΤΕ.Σπούδασε Φυσική στο Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης και στη συνέχεια εξειδικεύτηκε στις σύγχρονες οπτικές και οπτικοακουστικές απεικονιστικές τεχνολογίες, εστιάζοντας την έρευνά του στην παρατήρηση σύνθετων βιολογικών διεργασιών σε μικροσκοπικό επίπεδο.Σημερα, τα ερευνητικά του ενδιαφέροντα στρέφονται στην εφαρμογή καινοτόμων απεικονιστικών και φασματοσκοπικών μεθόδων, όσον αφορά τη διάγνωση και συντήρηση έργων πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς, καθώς και στην παρακολούθηση διαδικασιών καθαρισμού τέτοιων ανεκτίμητων αντικειμένων μέσω της χρήσης λέιζερ. 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
- 13:01Ability Takes You to the Top, Character Keeps You There | Demetrios Mallios | TEDxUniversityofCrete“Ability takes you to the top, but character keeps you there.” In this talk, Demetrios Mallios reveals why talent alone is never enough — and how integrity, humility, and resilience become the foundation of lasting success. A powerful reminder that what we achieve matters less than who we choose to be. Demetrios Mallios is an investor and entrepreneur. He has more than 30 years of experience in areas such as investment banking, private equity, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance.He is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Aeon Group, Inc., a diversified company engaged in sectors including technology, life sciences, real estate, natural resources, and telecommunications. 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
