What if being naturally gifted wasn’t the secret to success? In this deeply personal and inspiring talk, a writer, marathon runner, and musician reflects on a life shaped by hard work, persistence, and an unshakeable belief in the power of learning. Through stories of childhood struggles, rejection letters, and transformative experiences, he challenges the myth of innate talent and reveals the real key to mastery: embracing the process of growth, one imperfect step at a time. Discover how reframing failure, pursuing relentless practice, and loving the journey can help you unlock your potential—whether or not you’re a “natural.”Ernesto Burden is the publisher of the New Hampshire Group publications at Yankee Publishing and rose through the media as a writer and digital technologist. The author of two novels, he is also a marathon runner and singer/guitarist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Theater from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.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

Professor Iain White was the final speaker, contemplating ongoing research challenges and how policy, funding, and research are intertwined, before ending with a compelling quote: "Every disaster movie begins with a scientist being ignored" Iain White has been Professor of Environmental Planning since 2013 and is currently the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Impact. Prior to this he was the Director of the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology at the University of Manchester in the UK.He was previously the Associate Dean Research for Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Science (2020-23), a Hallsworth visiting Professor at the University of Manchester, UK (2018-2019) and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia (2019-2022) and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester (2022-2024). In 2020 he won the University of Waikato Vice Chancellor's award for Research Excellence and in 2021 the New Zealand Planning Institute John Mawson Award of Merit. He is also the Co-Chair of the Australasian Cities Research network and was previously Chair of the Hamilton Arts Trust, which designs and organizes the successful BOON Street Art festivals. He is currently New Zealand's National Contact Point for the European Union Horizon Europe programme for 'Climate, Energy, and Mobility'.He is the author of four books. 'Environmental Planning in Context' (2015) with Palgrave and 'Water and the City' (2010) published by Routledge. His most recent books are: The Routledge Companion to Environmental Planning (2019), with Prof Simin Davoudi (University of Newcastle, UK), Prof Hilda Blanco (USC Price, US), and Richard Cowell (University of Cardiff, UK); and Why Plan? Theory for Practitioners (2019) with Prof Graham Haughton (University of Manchester, UK). He has over 50 peer reviewed articles or book chapters.He has led or co-led over 20 research projects, many of which are within multi-million dollar programmes. These awards have come from a number of sources: research councils, the European Union, government agencies, NGOs, the Asia-Pacific network and the private sector. He is currently leading teams of researchers in the National Science Challenge: Resilience to Natures Challenges ($40m, 2019-2024), Natural Hazards Commission ($450,000, 2024-2026) and also the MBIE Endeavour project 'Reducing flood inundation hazard and risk across Aotearoa-New Zealand' ($15.5m, 2020-2025).To support this approach he is also active in science communication and engagement. He is a TEDx speaker and often presents to stakeholders, chairs public debates, and has frequently been interviewed by the press, including for The Guardian, BBC TV, BBC Radio, TVNZ, Stuff, The NZ Herald, The Spinoff, Dominion Post, The New York Times, and RadioNZ. 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

You can’t be an environmentalist and eat meat. Or drive. Or fly. Or… can you? This TEDx talk challenges the perfection trap — and offers a more hopeful path forward.In this thought-provoking talk, Irina Gerry unpacks the paralyzing weight of climate guilt — and how the pursuit of perfection is actually hurting the climate movement. Through powerful storytelling, surprising truths, and a refreshing dose of optimism, she introduces a new kind of climate hero: the Imperfect Environmentalist.Why guilt doesn’t drive change. Why food choices hit harder than facts. Why progress beats perfection.This is the mindset shift we need to build a better, cleaner, more human future.#climatechange #sustainability #environment #climateaction #progressnotperfection #TEDx #TEDIrina is a purpose-driven entrepreneur on a mission to drive widespread adoption of healthy and sustainable ways to feed the world. Her experience spans the gamut from large multinationals like Procter & Gamble and Danone, where Irina led product innovation on Silk and So Delicious brands, to early-stage food tech startup Change Foods, which is creating real dairy without the cows using precision fermentation. As a founding member and Chair of the Board of the Precision Fermentation Alliance, Irina catalyzed change in the broader food industry by advocating for innovation beyond the status quo. Irina holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. 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 someone told you that a story could save a life? In healthcare, we rely on charts, numbers, and test results, but what gets lost in the data is the patient’s voice. Nurses, more than anyone, are the translators of human experience, turning fragmented symptoms into full narratives that can change the course of care.Dr. Jitana Benton-Lee explores Narrative Medicine, a practice that sees storytelling as a powerful clinical tool. Through fast-moving visuals and rhythmic narration, Dr. Benton shares real moments where a nurse’s ability to listen, interpret, and advocate made the difference between a missed diagnosis and a lifesaving intervention.But this isn’t just about healthcare. Storytelling is how we make sense of the world. It’s how we build trust, find meaning, and make change. The ability to hear, understand, and retell someone’s story is what allows us to form deeper connections—not just in hospitals, but in our daily lives. What stories aren’t we listening to—and what might happen if we did?Because in nursing and in life, medicine heals the body, but stories heal the person. The more we learn to listen, the better we can care—for our patients, for each other, and for ourselves. Dr. Jitana Benton-Lee is a distinguished nurse leader, educator, and health equity strategist with over 25 years of experience transforming healthcare through advocacy, inclusive leadership, and systems innovation. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University, where her research explores psychological safety in the nurse-patient relationship and the life-altering impact of silence in clinical care. Jitana is the Founder and CEO of Cultured Remedy, a health equity consulting firm, and an Associate Professor of Graduate Nursing at Northern Kentucky University. Her professional path spans clinical care, executive nursing leadership, higher education, and health equity-focused entrepreneurship. 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

Graduate student and U.S. military service member Hannah M. Galicia speaks to those working in male-dominated fields by focusing on gender issues in the military. Female soldiers struggle to have the same access to military social spaces when compared to their male counterparts. This social barrier often causes female soldiers to take one of two personality pathways: be bold, confrontational, or even aggressive, or be reserved, inconspicuous, and submissive. Although these personality traits are extreme examples, they are often seen in the personalities of female soldiers who fit into military culture. This is especially true when examining roles that are traditionally masculine, such as drill sergeants and infantry units. As a female soldier, and Galicia has personally witnessed other female soldiers overexerting themselves to gain access into military social spaces. For example, it is common for female drill sergeants to be the most aggressive and loud of all drill sergeants. These behaviors attempt to communicate that gender does not matter in the military, but it is also an effort to fit in or even prevail over male counterparts. Why do female soldiers feel the need to brutalize their personality, just to gain access and acceptance into military social spaces? Galicia asks us to consider the strengths of traditional feminine personalities and attributes, rather than assuming we must adapt to be more like our male counterparts in male-dominated fields. Hannah M. Galicia is a dedicated military service member and awarded Ph.D. student at Texas Woman’s University. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2022 with a Masters of Science in Criminological Theory and Research. With an interest in high-control environments and identity, Galicia challenges the common status quo of "that’s just the way it is" by not only inspiring, but demanding change. Her drive to improve the military was recognized in 2025 when the National Guard Association of Texas awarded her $4,000 to conduct research on state activation missions and mental health. She is a primary analyst and public speaker in military environments, and hopes to transition her work to the civilian realm. Galicia is inspired about giving a voice to the 1% who serve, often overlooked and underrepresented in academic research. Additionally, she hopes to inspire all women working in male-dominated career 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