章平達以一場馬拉松為起點，帶出一個簡單卻深刻的信念：當我們在雨中、在石子路上、在載滿人的車中，依然堅持一步一步地跑，正是在練習「即使環境不理想，我們仍有選擇前進」的能力。他相信，每一粒沙都可能看見整個世界──換言之，即便你看似微小、看似不起眼，只要你願意朝著目標前行，就能把自己放大為影響力。在他職場的故事裡，這種信念被具體化：當公司機器出了問題，他說服廠商不要選擇退貨，而是讓公司多兩台備案機器，這一決策使他穩住了台灣市場，展現了「面對困難，我們不只是接受，也提出選擇」。他也提到，在台灣市場起步不被看好、公司本身也不願意投入時，他用堅毅的態度、持續的行動爭取到台灣成為其全球據點之一。他從跑道轉到企業，也讓觀眾看到：跑不是為了刷新時間，而是讓你在「選擇前進」的瞬間，確定自己的步伐與節奏。那條跑道—或許在雨中、也許在顛簸的石路上—其實是人生的縮影。在演講尾聲，他呼籲每個人：當你面對困境、當機器出錯、當環境不看好，不要把「被動接受」當作唯一答案。你可以選擇前進、你可以選擇要求更多、你可以跑出屬於自己的軌跡。因為從那一粒沙的視角看，世界並不那麼遙遠，而你的選擇，正是讓你站到全球舞台上的起點。 For Pengtat Cheong, running a marathon has never been about medals or records. It has been about persistence — running through rain, uneven stone roads, and heavy traffic, day after day, without giving up. Each step reminds him of a truth he carries into both life and leadership: even when the path is uncertain, we always have a choice to move forward.He often says that a grain of sand can reflect the entire world — meaning that the smallest perspective can hold infinite possibilities if we are willing to look closely. This idea guides not only his running but also his business philosophy: within every challenge lies a chance to choose differently.In his professional journey, he once faced a critical moment when the company’s machines malfunctioned. Instead of returning the equipment as expected, he convinced the manufacturer to let them keep it and add two more units as a contingency plan. That decision stabilized the business and built long-term trust. Later, when headquarters hesitated to invest in Taiwan, he stood firm, believing in the market’s potential and his team’s capability. His persistence eventually turned skepticism into confidence and opportunity.Through these experiences, Cheong draws a parallel between running and leadership. The road may be long and rough, but the rhythm you create — one steady step after another — becomes your power. Each decision, like each stride, is an act of choice and belief.In the end, he invites everyone to remember: when faced with difficulty, don’t accept circumstances as the only answer. You can choose to move, to persist, to redefine the path ahead. Because from the perspective of a single grain of sand, the entire world can come into view — and that view begins with one step forward. 章平達以一場馬拉松為起點，帶出一個簡單卻深刻的信念：當我們在雨中、在石子路上、在載滿人的車中，依然堅持一步一步地跑，正是在練習「即使環境不理想，我們仍有選擇前進」的能力。他相信，每一粒沙都可能看見整個世界──換言之，即便你看似微小、看似不起眼，只要你願意朝著目標前行，就能把自己放大為影響力。在他職場的故事裡，這種信念被具體化：當公司機器出了問題，他說服廠商不要選擇退貨，而是讓公司多兩台備案機器，這一決策使他穩住了台灣市場，展現了「面對困難，我們不只是接受，也提出選擇」。他也提到，在台灣市場起步不被看好、公司本身也不願意投入時，他用堅毅的態度、持續的行動爭取到台灣成為其全球據點之一。他從跑道轉到企業，也讓觀眾看到：跑不是為了刷新時間，而是讓你在「選擇前進」的瞬間，確定自己的步伐與節奏。那條跑道—或許在雨中、也許在顛簸的石路上—其實是人生的縮影。在演講尾聲，他呼籲每個人：當你面對困境、當機器出錯、當環境不看好，不要把「被動接受」當作唯一答案。你可以選擇前進、你可以選擇要求更多、你可以跑出屬於自己的軌跡。因為從那一粒沙的視角看，世界並不那麼遙遠，而你的選擇，正是讓你站到全球舞台上的起點。For Pengtat Cheong, running a marathon has never been about medals or records. It has been about persistence — running through rain, uneven stone roads, and heavy traffic, day after day, without giving up. Each step reminds him of a truth he carries into both life and leadership: even when the path is uncertain, we always have a choice to move forward.He often says that a grain of sand can reflect the entire world — meaning that the smallest perspective can hold infinite possibilities if we are willing to look closely. This idea guides not only his running but also his business philosophy: within every challenge lies a chance to choose differently.In his professional journey, he once faced a critical moment when the company’s machines malfunctioned. Instead of returning the equipment as expected, he convinced the manufacturer to let them keep it and add two more units as a contingency plan. That decision stabilized the business and built long-term trust. Later, when headquarters hesitated to invest in Taiwan, he stood firm, believing in the market’s potential and his team’s capability. His persistence eventually turned skepticism into confidence and opportunity.Through these experiences, Cheong draws a parallel between running and leadership. The road may be long and rough, but the rhythm you create — one steady step after another — becomes your power. Each decision, like each stride, is an act of choice and belief.In the end, he invites everyone to remember: when faced with difficulty, don’t accept circumstances as the only answer. You can choose to move, to persist, to redefine the path ahead. Because from the perspective of a single grain of sand, the entire world can come into view — and that view begins with one step forward. 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

從那一天起，當瑋杰發現自己再也拿不起最喜歡的玩具車，他的世界也悄悄改變。手部肌肉的漸進萎縮，讓他在成長過程中被同學取了「大小手」的綽號，也讓他不得不面對一個殘酷的現實——未來的身體會越來越不聽使喚。然而，家人從不願意承認他是身障者；瑋杰也一度希望自己「和別人一樣」。直到有一天，他看見一群身障者揮動著球棒、疾奔球場——那畫面像極了現實版的 X 戰警：快速、靈活、有力。那一刻，他第一次看見「不同」也可以如此強大。接觸棒球後，他重新定義了「位置」這個詞： 不是在場上的守備點，而是在生命裡找到屬於自己的舞台。之後的十多年，他不僅創立了中華民國身障棒壘球協會，讓更多身障者能站上球場，更推動台灣與國際接軌，建立比賽規章與資源系統；他也走入社區與學校，讓年長者、女性、甚至那些「以為自己不能打棒球」的人，都能重新拿起球棒，體驗運動的自由與尊嚴。最後，瑋杰邀請大家一同上場—— 因為在這個球場上，不論身體如何，每個人都能找到屬於自己的節奏、自己的力量、自己的「位置」。It all began the day Pan Wei-chieh realized he could no longer lift his favorite toy car. The gradual atrophy of his hand muscles brought uncertainty and pain, earning him the nickname “Big and Small Hands” among classmates. His family never acknowledged him as a person with a disability, and for years, Wei-chieh himself longed to be “just like everyone else.”Everything changed the day he saw a group of players with disabilities hitting baseballs with lightning speed and precision — like real-life X-Men, moving beyond their physical limits. For the first time, he saw that being different could also mean being powerful.Baseball became his turning point. It taught him that finding one’s “position” isn’t just about where you stand on the field — it’s about discovering where you belong in life.Over the following years, he founded the Chinese Taipei Association of Adaptive Baseball and Softball, creating opportunities for people with disabilities to play and compete. He built bridges with international leagues, standardized rules, and opened the game to new groups — including seniors, women, and anyone who once thought they couldn’t play.In this talk, Wei-chieh invites everyone to step onto the field — to embrace their differences, find their rhythm, and play the game of life with courage and joy. 社團法人中華民國身障棒壘球協會 | 創始人暨理事長 翻轉影像有限公司 | 監製/導演 戰神身障棒球隊 | 領隊/選手 運動人Sportizen | 專欄作家 國立臺灣藝術大學電影系研究所 | 學生• Founder and President, Chinese Taipei Association of Adaptive Baseball and Softball • Producer / Director, Reversal Films Co., Ltd. • Team Leader and Player, Warrior Adaptive Baseball Team • Columnist, Sportizen • Graduate Student, Department of Motion Picture, National Taiwan University of 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

What happens when the person fighting to fix the mental health system is quietly falling apart inside it? In this candid and compelling talk, former federal official and longtime advocate Lisa M. Gomez shares the untold story behind the polished speeches and public wins: the unraveling that no one saw. While leading national efforts to expand mental health access, she was silently living with her own mental health challenges - and the stigma and bias woven into the very system she was trying to mend. With humor, honesty, and a few frayed edges, Lisa invites us to look at what it can really cost to speak out, lead change, and to show up when the system you’re mending doesn’t always know how to hold you. This is a story for anyone who’s ever tried to stay stitched together while holding the world together for others. Lisa served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security in the U.S. Department of Labor during the Biden-Harris Administration, from when she was confirmed by the Senate in 2022 through the end of the Administration. She was responsible for leading the agency that has regulatory and enforcement authority over all private employment-based employee benefit plans, covering more that 150 million American workers, retirees, and their families. Lisa was recognized for leadership in regulations involving retirement security, surprise medical billing, price transparency, access to mental health care, worker ownership and other projects and priorities. Lisa is a frequent speaker, often sought by the press, industry and advocates. She founded LMG Collaborative Consulting Solutions and provides comprehensive public policy and other consulting services in all aspects of employee benefits, 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

嚴敏最初對紐約的想像，僅止於航程的長度與時差的差距。那是一段他以為遙不可及的距離——台灣飛往美國最遠的一般航程，幾乎要跨越半個地球。直到真正踏上這座城市，他才明白，「距離」不只是地理上的遠，而是機會與想像之間的鴻溝。他看見紐約舞台上的無限可能，也同時感受到亞洲音樂在此的缺席。那時，中央公園的 SummerStage 舞台上沒有亞洲聲音，沒有台灣的旋律。嚴敏決定去挑戰那個「不可能」。他開始提案、寫信、奔走，用三年的時間向主辦單位證明：台灣音樂值得被聽見。就在他歷經無數次拒絕與疫情的考驗後，“Taiwanese Waves 台灣之夜” 終於在 2016 年登上了紐約中央公園。那一夜，台語、華語、客語、原住民族語與嘻哈節奏一同迴盪在紐約的夏夜天空。觀眾跟著節拍合唱〈不了情〉，那片草地成了屬於華人的卡拉 OK，屬於台灣的驕傲舞台。從此，台灣音樂不再只是地方性的文化，而是世界對話的一部分。對嚴敏來說，這段歷程改變了他對「距離」的定義。紐約與台灣不再隔著太平洋，而只隔著一首歌的時間。他說，那首歌是從拒絕開始，從堅持延伸，最終化成連結世界的旋律。在演講的最後，嚴敏邀請所有聽眾一同上場。因為人生的每個舞台，都在等著我們不再害怕被拒絕的那一刻。當我們選擇開口、選擇行動、選擇讓自己的聲音被聽見，距離就會消失，而音樂——或那份勇氣——就會開始流動。 In the beginning, all Mia Min Yen knew about New York was its distance — the longest regular flight from Taiwan to the United States, a place half a world away, with a time difference of several hours. That was how she defined the gap between the two cities: in miles and hours. But when she finally arrived in New York, she realized that the true distance was not measured by geography — it was the space between what is possible and what is allowed.She saw endless creativity and opportunity in New York, yet also noticed something missing: there were no Asian sounds on its stages, no echoes of Taiwan’s music in its parks. So she began to challenge that absence. For three years, she pitched, wrote, and persisted — and each time she was told no. Still, she refused to let rejection define the limits of what could be done.In 2016, after years of determination and a global pandemic that nearly silenced live music, Taiwanese Waves finally debuted on the SummerStage in Central Park. That night, voices from Taiwan — in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and Indigenous languages — rose through the warm New York air. Hip-hop beats met traditional melodies. And when the crowd joined together to sing “Unforgettable,” the park transformed into a vast open-air karaoke, a space where cultures intertwined and distance disappeared.For Mia, that moment redefined what “distance” means. The space between Taipei and New York was no longer measured in miles — it had become the length of a song. That song began with rejection, grew through resilience, and became a bridge of understanding between two worlds.In closing, she invites everyone to step onto their own stage — to face rejection not as a wall but as a doorway. Because when we dare to be heard, to act, and to share our voices, the world listens. And in that moment of courage, distance fades — and music begins. 物子巡演工作室負責人 創作歌手9m88 經紀人 紐約中央公園 Taiwanese Waves 台灣之夜策展人• Director, WUZI Touring Studio • Manager of singer-songwriter 9m88 • Curator of Taiwanese Waves – Taiwan Night at Central Park, New York 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

Ancient wisdom still speaks to modern medicine — if we are willing to listen. Dr. Anthony Wong bridges East and West, showing how Traditional Chinese Medicine offers insights for holistic well-being in today’s fast-paced world.Some of the best innovations are rooted in timeless truths. Anthony Wong Wei Bing is the Founder and Lead Practitioner of Xing Lin TCM Centre and Guest Lecturer at the IMU University. With over 20 years of experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine, he is passionate about integrating TCM with Western medicine to address chronic illnesses and inspire holistic healing. A frequent speaker at international conferences, Anthony continues to mentor future practitioners, carrying forward wisdom that heals and inspires. 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

We stand at the most extraordinary moment in the history of learning. AI can now accelerate learning by years in just weeks, finally solving one of the most difficult challenges teachers face in meeting the needs of individual learners. But the breakthrough algorithms and the technology that we use each day comes with an unexpected cost. Former Minneapolis Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Emily Puetz reveals how the technology that is revolutionizing learning is simultaneously creating an epidemic of disconnection and loneliness among young people. Through personal stories, groundbreaking research, and an intimate look inside innovative schools, Emily shows that the future of learning isn't about choosing between efficiency and humanity—it's about wisely discerning through both. Emily Puetz is a strategist, systems thinker, and lifelong learner working at the intersection of innovation, education, and regeneration. As co-founder of Ideas2Impact, she helps schools, nonprofits, foundations, government agencies across the U.S, design transformative learning environments and navigate complex change. With over 30 years of experience, she’s led initiatives from launching new school models to building a new state-wide leadership talent pipeline. In addition to improving graduation rates and increasing childhood readiness as Chief Academic Officer of the Minneapolis Public Schools, she has led leadership training and change management for over 50 learning institutions and social impact organizations. 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