How a Single Word CAN Rebuild Your Life | Risa August | TEDxJeffersonU
Risa August faced a brain tumor diagnosis that upended her identity and life as an athlete. In this powerful TEDx talk, she reveals how one question, “What CAN I do?” sparked a 1,845-mile bike journey and a radical reinvention. Her story shows how to reframe adversity, reclaim agency, and turn setbacks into purpose. Risa August is an award-winning author, speaker, and transformational coach who turned a brain tumor diagnosis, a cross-country bike journey, and the unraveling of a former life into a story of radical reinvention. With a foundation in the modality of Gestalt and an inherent calling for patient advocacy, Risa is redefining the doctor-patient dynamic and reframing the language we use around healing. In her talk, Risa declares that sometimes the most life-changing shifts begin with one small word and the courage to believe in it. Through her creative and coaching work, she empowers others to transform adversity into purpose, and reminds us that thriving is always possible. 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
More from TED
- 12:28I人的中二电台 | Xing Wu | TEDxShahe Street你是“i人”还是“艺人”?武星,一个害怕镜头却敢于追逐热爱的歌手,用“中二”脑洞对抗世界的严肃。 在这个总是要求我们合群的世界,他分享了如何勇敢做自己,如何找到属于自己的时区:中二不是缺点,而是热爱的延伸。 只要保持好奇,每个人都可以在自己的小角落闪闪发光。 音乐唱作人 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
- 13:14The Next Big Thing is still Human | Shashikanth Jayaraman | TEDxVelammal Global SchoolIn a world obsessed with technology, disruption, and the race to automate, we risk forgetting the one force that has always driven real progress - people. This talk explores why the future of work, leadership, and society will not be defined by machines alone, but by the choices, empathy, and creativity of humans. Drawing from experiences of building HR Sangam, a community of minds, and leading transformations in business, the talk reminds us that the next big thing isn’t a gadget or an algorithm - it’s us. Shashi is a dynamic, high energy HR leader blending strategy and execution with over 23 years of experience in managing global workforces across BPO, BFSI, Retail, Automobile, IT Services, Edtech, Consulting and Start-ups in organisations like ABN AMRO Bank, Reliance Retail, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, TVS & Sons among others. Ran a successful start-up offering Fractional HR Consulting & Advisory services working extensively with start-up founders and CXOs on transformational journeys. As the founder & convenor of HR Sangam, Shashi is an avid networker and the curator of various HR community initiatives. Outside of work, he pursues interests in spirituality, books and travel His active pro-bono engagements include teaching HR at B schools, speaking in various industry and academic forums, mentoring of young HR professionals and Coaching Start-up founders Recipient of various awards for performance, excellence and leadership from past employers and industry bodies. 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