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