What do a kingfisher, a hazard light and a waffle iron have in common? A creativity technique called Forced Connections, which leads to break through innovations. Brainstorming and coming up with new ideas is easy, we do it every day. Or so we think. The truth is we barely scratch the surface with our ”more of the same ideas”. We fall extremely short with quantity and quality of really good ideas. We miss the mark on really good innovations, because “More of the Same” does not break into big time innovation. Time to shift ideation gears with Dr. Roger Firestien and find out how to use a really simple ideation tool called ‘forced connections’. Not a new technique and certainly not a secret to those who work in the field of creativity, marketing or the business of creating ‘new and different’. However, new to most of us. Game changer. Creativity changer. Innovation changer. Dr. Firestien is an associate professor and senior faculty member at the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State and President of Innovation Resources, Inc. He is the author of six books, including Leading on the Creative Edge and Why didn’t I think of that? His expert views on creativity have been reported in Fast Company, Forbes, Investor’s Business Daily and The New York Times. When Roger is not traveling, he lives in Buffalo, New York, and regularly works cattle on the SK Hereford Ranch near Medina, 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

What happens when your body shuts down, and no test or prescription can explain why? For years, I searched for answers in medicine, but the real solution came when I finally listened to the whispers of my own body. This talk reveals how tuning into those subtle signals can transform health, identity, and the way we care for ourselves. www.willowmindhealth.com #TEDxSanDiego #TEDx #Healthy #wellbeing #Listen #transform Dr. Whitney McFadden started her career with deep admiration for her father, a passionate psychiatrist, and her mother, an astronomer who instilled in her a love for science. She delved into molecular and cell biology at University of California Berkeley and later pursued medical education to HHUCSD. Driven by a research passion, she completed psychiatry residency alongside a deep study of neuroscience, studying brain cells. After graduating, she worked at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Genetics with Dr. George Church studying genetics neurosciencr. she began to explore nutrition, hormone health, and treatments in the nervous system. She immersed herself in these fields not only for her personal healing, but also to make a profound impact on those around her. After seeing patients transform their own lives with these innovations, she saw a huge opportunity to share with those committed to living their life healthy, powerfully, and passionately. www.willowmindhealth.com 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

Loneliness is everywhere - but it doesn’t have to win. In this TEDx San Diego talk, Amanda Black, global community builder and founder of The Solo Female Traveler Network, the world’s largest community for women who travel solo, shares how grief, solo travel, and the spark of a shared first can change the way we connect. After leading hundreds of experiences across all continents, she’s seen how one moment of courage can open the door to adventure, belonging, and lifelong friendship.Discover resources on building community, traveling with purpose, and joining her events here: https://meetamandablack.com#TEDxSanDiego #TEDx #Connection #Loneliness #SoloFemaleTravel #Community Amanda Black is a serial entrepreneur, community strategist, and founder of The Solo Female Traveler Network—the largest women-only travel community in the world with over 600,000 members. She’s built multimillion-dollar brands, been featured in Forbes, Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure, and led transformational retreats and international tours across 30+ countries.But her real work goes deeper than travel. Amanda designs intentional, connection-driven experiences—from remote villages to local backyards—where women feel safe enough to show up, be seen, and belong. She also teaches others how to create brave, community-centered spaces that spark lasting transformation.More at MeetAmandaBlack.com 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

Could one hug really change your day? Angela Pennella shares the inspiring journey behind her project Hugs in the Wild—an experiment in kindness that shows how a simple, unexpected hug can spark stories, bridge divides, and transform strangers into friends. Through touching encounters and surprising discoveries, Angela reveals the profound ripple effect of human connection. Her mission is both simple and powerful: to remind us that sometimes, all it takes is one hug to recharge the human heart and change everything. Watch to discover how something as ordinary as a hug can become extraordinary.Website - www.5HCollective.com Website - www.theofficialhugdealer.com YouTube Channel - angie_pennella15 Instagram - 1. angie_pennella15 2. theofficial_hugdealer Facebook - Angela Pennella #TEDxSanDiego #TEDx #AngelaPennella #HugsInTheWild #Kindness #Connection #Experiment #Hugs #Love Achiever, Believer, Survivor, Angela is a woman who reaches for the stars and dreams BIG, no matter what curveball, or truck in her case, may hit her! Angela’s "Don’t Stop Believing" attitude helped her survive an almost deadly car accident in 2002 when a reckless driver hit her head-on. She suffered severe head trauma, had over 1,000 stitches to her face & body, in addition to a lacerated liver, punctured lung, and many other internal injuries. Drawing upon her physical and mental inner strength as a standout athlete (Division 1 college volleyball Captain), she found courage to fight through a year-long rehabilitation to survive the horrific event. Against all odds, she got back on her feet to build a very successful career in medical device sales and started a real estate business. After being given a second chance in life, she felt a responsibility to inspire others to make an impact on the way they live their life everyday! Inspirational Speaker & Coach. www.AchieverSyndrome.com 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 are not really here. At least, not in the way we think.What you see, taste, touch, and feel isn’t direct reality—it’s your brain’s reconstruction.Neuroscience calls this the active inference model: at best, we’re perceiving reality, not living it. But it doesn’t stop there.As psychology, Indigenous wisdom, and Taoism all echo, we are also perceiving ourselves—the “self” isn’t solid, it’s a construct - shaped by lived experiences, survival patterns, and beliefs. What we call personality is, in fact, a looping script.The truth is, we are not confined by these perceptions. Once we see them for what they are, we uncover the potential to move beyond them—and live a life beyond limitations, and far more boundless.In just over six minutes, Paul weaves modern neuroscience, Indigenous knowledge, and Buddhist philosophy to reveal why we get stuck in life. Paul Vincent has pushed the limits of human performance in ways few attempt. As an expedition athlete, he raced hundreds of miles through jungles and deserts, across countries and continents surviving on little more than an hour of sleep a day.His curiosity about the human spirit led him to earn a Master’s in Human Performance and a PhD in Psychedelic Studies, and intense initiations with Indigenous lineages - Huni Kuin (Brazil), Wixárika/Huichol (Mexico), Arhuaco (Colombia), Pygmy (Gabon), Ai Cofan (Ecuador) - that included 4 day Shamanic plant medicine journeys and non-stop 24 hour wilderness treks.For over two decades, Paul has coached Olympians, entrepreneurs, and prepared lead actors for blockbuster films including Mission Impossible, Star Wars, Black Panther, Blade Runner, and Star Trek. His work bridges science, Indigenous wisdom, and Taoist practice—Using ancient and modern wisdom to guide people beyond survival patterns into lasting fulfillment. 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

Design isn’t just about pretty rooms or stylish furniture it’s about how the spaces around us quietly shape who we are.In this talk, Prernaa Mangla, Creative Director and Founder of MWM Spaces, opens up about her 20-year journey of interior designer growth. From being the only Fine Arts student in her class to building a team of 100+ people and completing 500+ projects, she’s seen how a well-thought-out space can completely change the way we live and connect with each other.Through real stories of challenges, unexpected wins, and the lessons she’s learned from designing homes, offices, restaurants, and more Prernaa shows how design isn’t just about making things look good. It’s about creating places that make us feel, think, and grow. Prernaa Mangla is a visionary Creative Director at MWM Spaces, a renowned interior design company based in Gurgaon, India. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for innovative design, Prernaa has been instrumental in shaping the aesthetic identity of numerous spaces. Her expertise spans a wide range of projects, from residential to commercial, each infused with a unique blend of functionality and creativity. As a creative leader, Prernaa inspires her team to push boundaries and explore new possibilities in interior design. Her dedication to delivering exceptional results has earned her a reputation as a talented and forward-thinking designer. On stage, Prernaa will share her insights on the power of design to transform spaces and lives, offering a glimpse into her creative process and the stories behind her most notable projects. 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