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

Dr Sudarsan Tamang is not your typical scientist. A nanotechnology researcher by training, a community builder by heart, and a record-breaking runner by spirit, Dr. Tamang blends science, activism, and art into one seamless, purpose-driven life. Recognised as a Youth Icon by the Election Commission of India and founder of Project Life, his work came into national focus during the Teesta flash floods in 2023 where he led from the front—literally. His story reminds us: the most meaningful breakthroughs don’t just happen in labs or on podiums, but on the long, uphill paths we choose to take for others. Dr Tamang, recognized as a Youth Icon by the Election Commission of India, he is the founder of Project Life, promoting healthy living and community support—most notably during the 2023 Teesta flash floods. He is a nanotechnology scientist from Darjeeling, combines science, social impact, and the arts.A passionate long-distance runner, he has won the Darjeeling Police 10K (2022) and Tata Steel Kolkata 10K (2023), and placed second in the Ageas Federal Kolkata Half Marathon (2021). He holds a spot in the India Book of Records for running 185 km from Gangtok to Gurudongmar at 17,800 feet, and completed the K2G ultra-run from Kolkata to Gangtok. Also a prolific songwriter, Sudarsan has penned over 60 songs for Indo-Nepali rock bands. 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

Lloyd Lindley Jr. confronts an uncomfortable truth: our education system, in its current form, is rigged. Not just against students, but against entire communities. Education has long been touted as the great equalizer, but how can it be, when some children enter school with every possible advantage, and others enter with none? When two schools, just miles apart, are worlds apart in opportunity, what does that say about the fairness of our system?This issue matters because it is a ticking time bomb. The future of our economy, society, and democracy is being shaped in classrooms where equity is often an afterthought. Students in underfunded schools—most of whom are Black, Brown, and low-income—are systematically denied the tools they need to succeed, not because they lack the potential, but because the system is designed to fail them. If we do not address this now, we are perpetuating cycles of inequality that will echo for generations. This isn’t just an issue we can discuss; it’s one we must solve. Now. Lloyd Lindley Jr. is a nonprofit leader and PhD student in Educational Leadership committed to dismantling the systemic inequities baked into public education. A member of The PhD Project and recipient of the Alpha Kappa Alpha South Region Community Leader Award, Lloyd speaks from both lived experience and scholarly insight. Raised in an under-resourced community, Lloyd has seen how the zip code you’re born into can determine your educational outcomes. He’s mentored students who couldn’t read, who lacked even the basics, and who were left behind by a system that was never built for them. His TEDx talk, “The Education System is Rigged,” is a call to action—for equity, for justice, and for rebuilding a system that works for every child. Attendees can expect to walk away inspired to take action, armed with both data and heart-centered insight to advocate for real, systemic change. 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

Many of us grew up hearing the phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." The saying, which dates back to the 1800s, was primarily taught to children as a means to defend and respond to inevitable verbal attacks. Fast forward to today, we know two things: 1) Broken bones tend to heal, and 2) words do hurt, diminish, and often influence how certain individuals or groups are perceived.Valois J. Vera, Disabled Poet, Author, and Cultural Worker, shares his vast experience and knowledge on the impact of language; specifically, how language can stamp stigmas and stereotypes on both the individual self as well as the global community of Disabled people.How does language reflect and promote views of ableism? How has the vocabulary of disability evolved? How does language impact access? These primary questions are explored through the vehicles of poetry, personal anecdotes, and professional experiences. Valois J. Vera is an award winning Poet, Author, and Cultural Worker based out of so-called Denton, TX. His work in uplifting and amplifying Disabled culture and community, serving on several prominent boards and commissions, and facilitating workshops, roundtable discussions, and has served as guest lecturer at a variety of colleges and universities. While his journalism work can be found in New Mobility Magazine, Latino Rebels, and Rooted in Rights, his poetry published by Spoonie Press, Mollyhouse, and American Graveyard: Calls to end Gun Violence, Vol.I, and other collections. He is Founder of Thunder and Lightning Poetry Collective, to amplifying and uplifting Disabled BIPOC and Disabled Queer Poets. His impact as a Disabled artivist garnered him the 2023 Art Spark Texas Lynn Marie Johnson Media Arts Award and the 2024 AAPD Paul G Hearne Emerging Leader Award. Valois is a former competitive sailor, youth softball coach, and finalist in the Noble Elementary 3rd grade spelling bee. 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