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

Have you ever shared deep moments with someone, only to be introduced as "just a friend"? Welcome to modern dating, where love is undefined, commitment is blurred, and “situationships” thrive on ambiguity. With research, humor, and real-life insights, Shubhi dives deep into how social media and modern relationship dynamics are shaping our emotional well-being. Are we truly happy with today’s dating culture? And where do we go from here?Shubhi is a final-year psychology student. She has assisted many university professionals on quantitative and qualitative research projects. As psychology is one of her many strong suits.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

What really happens when someone wins the lottery? In this thought-provoking TEDx talk, a former financial adviser to the UK National Lottery winners shares powerful, behind-the-scenes stories of sudden wealth. From life-changing joy to personal crisis, these real-life accounts reveal how money can test values, relationships, and identity. Over 25 years, the speaker advised winners from all walks of life—some spent wisely, others lost everything, and a few made truly meaningful choices. With over 36 million UK adults playing the lottery each year, this talk asks: what would you do if you won? And more importantly—how are you already spending your most valuable resources: time and money? Matt is the founder of local BCorp, Altor Wealth. In a previous life he worked with former operator of the National Lottery Camelot to prevent their winners from making big money mistakes. This gave him a unique insight into whether money ever makes us truly happy. Matt passionately believes that life is about connection and supports local community work through his Foundation. In his spare time, he is a father to two promising young adults. 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

What if the spaces we inhabit every day—homes, hospitals, workplaces—are shaping us more than we realise? In this thought-provoking talk, Dr Sarah Green explores how physical and digital environments impact our mood, behaviour, and well-being. From childhood dens to post-Covid workspaces, from beach holidays to hospital waiting rooms, space is never neutral. It whispers, nudges—and sometimes shouts. With insights from design thinking and spatial philosophy, this talk invites us to see space as a co-author in our lives. If we shape it with empathy and intention, we can transform not just how spaces look—but how they make us feel. "Sarah believes passionately that design can make a difference to everyone’s quality of life and has dedicated her 32-year career to this, both as a practitioner working creatively with large and small companies and as academic in the field of brand strategy and marketing. She founded local business Birdhouse studio to share this belief with over 200 children every week and has also had her own colourful print and jewellery work exhibited in galleries across the UK. Her personal passion and research area is interior design, and the how spaces around us can support our well-being. Sarah now teaches media and communications with a specialism in advertising at University of the Arts London. " 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