What can a rat teach us about being human? Neuroscientist Kelly Lambert shares her research on joy and anticipation through the lens of small but remarkably intelligent mammals: rats. From teaching them to drive tiny cars—yes, drive—to studying their joy when anticipating positive experiences, she invites us to explore how happiness can be sparked through what she calls “behaviourceuticals.” Through her research, we find that enjoying the journey rather than only the destination may just be built into our DNA.Kelly Lambert is the Trawick Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Richmond, where she investigates experience-based neuroplasticity and teaches neuroscience. She has about 85 scholarly publications and has written 2 neuroscience textbooks and 3 popular books, including Lifting Depression, The Lab Rat Chronicles, and Well-Grounded. She is currently writing Wild Brains: Translating Adaptive Mental Health Strategies from the Bush to the Bedside. Lambert received the 2008 Virginia Professor of the Year award, the 2018 Career Achievement Award from the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, and the 2024 Science Educator Award from the Society for Neuroscience. Her research on links between physical effort and emotional resilience has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and her rat-driving studies have appeared in over 1,500 news stories worldwide, including Netflix’s The Hidden Lives of Pets and CBC’s Rat City.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

Steve Papa shares a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at how real innovation is built—not through hype or luck, but through curiosity, endurance, and commitment. From walking out of Harvard Business School to build with MIT’s earliest internet pioneers, to scaling Endeca into a foundational data platform acquired by Oracle, he reveals the lessons learned from decades of building ahead of demand. Looking forward, Steve argues that AI is transforming not just software, but the very mindset of creation—and that the future belongs to builders who stay deeply engaged with reality. Steve Papa is a technology founder, investor, and builder known for creating category-defining companies at the intersection of software, data, and communications infrastructure.Previously, Steve founded Endeca in 1999 and served as its CEO until its acquisition by Oracle in 2011 for a reported $1.1 billion—Oracle’s sixth-largest acquisition at the time. Endeca pioneered Guided Navigation, one of the most influential search innovations of its era, and its technology became foundational across ecommerce, enterprise analytics, and national security. Prior to acquisition, Endeca reached $750 million in cumulative revenue, served 700 customers globally, and built a team of over 500 based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Earlier in his career, Steve was part of the original MIT $50K team that helped create Akamai, worked on the early infrastructure business at Inktomi, and held roles at Teradata and Venrock, the Rockefeller family’s venture capital firm. He holds a BS in Operations Research and Economics from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.Today, Steve is an active founder, investor, board member, and mentor, supporting companies across software, mobile, and telecommunications. He also serves on advisory boards at Harvard’s Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship and Princeton’s Keller Center, continuing his commitment to building technologies—and teams—that endure.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

This opening crystal bowl performance invites the audience into presence through sound, vibration, and resonance. The frequencies guide the body into a calmer state, creating spaciousness for reflection and curiosity as the day begins. Vickie Gould is a sound and energy healer, author, and founder of Life Changing Energy, a global education platform certifying sound and energy practitioners around the world. A Master Herbalist and Reiki Master, her work blends science, spirituality, and nervous system regulation to support holistic wellbeing. Her courses have touched over 30,000 students worldwide and is known for making healing accessible, grounded, and practical for both new and seasoned practitioners. 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

Beginning to exercise can be a difficult task for many, but why? Drawing on her psychology and research background, Danielle Garbarino dives into both cognitive and biological reasons why incorporating physical activity into one’s life can be so challenging. Through this light-hearted journey, she introduces some possible solutions to make the daunting task of exercising a little bit easier, while also recognizing and accepting why it’s difficult. Adding physical activity into your life is life-changing, so let’s start talking about why it’s so hard! Danielle Garbarino is a Senior Honors Psychology student, with minors in Theatre and Biology, at Sam Houston State University. She has experience in the Pharmacology & Neuroscience Lab and the Cognition Lab at SHSU. She actively volunteers with Compassus Hospice, providing administrative help as well as direct patient care. Yoga is a big part of her life and she loves sharing its benefits. Garbarino has a long-time passion for both physical and mental health. She plans to attend graduate school in Behavioral Neuroscience. 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. La-Toya Scott’s talk explores how we navigate the twists and turns that shape our lives. Too often, we are taught to measure success by how closely we follow a single, predetermined path, even when life refuses to move in a straight line. This talk invites anyone who has questioned their direction, struggled with uncertainty, or faced an unexpected detour to see those moments differently. Drawing from her own experiences, Scott shows how change, disruption, and redirection can offer clarity about who we are and what matters most. Rather than treating detours as setbacks, she reframes them as opportunities for growth and renewal. Audiences who may be in the middle of their own pivot will leave with reassurance that it is not only okay to change course, but that strength and possibility often emerge most clearly in the pivot itself. Dr. La-Toya Scott is an Assistant Professor of African American Literature and Culture at Sam Houston State University. A first-generation scholar, she holds a Ph.D. in English and is the author of the forthcoming book, In Hush to Harbor (Rutgers University Press). Her research centers on Black literature, feminist thought, and cultural history, with particular attention to the creation of safe spaces across physical and digital worlds. Beyond the academy, she is the founder of In-House Scholar, a digital platform with thousands of followers where she translates complex histories and theories into accessible, public conversations. She has published articles, presented her work internationally, and is deeply committed to mentoring students. Dr. Scott's career reflects her passion for bridging scholarship and community, encouraging resilience, creativity, and critical engagement at every stage of learning. 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

Ms. Angel Konthoujam's talk explores how true development remains incomplete without gender equity at its core. Drawing from real experiences in grassroots development, it highlights how empowering women alone is not enough unless social structures, decision-making spaces, and power dynamics change. The talk invites us to rethink development as a shared ecosystem where equity, not charity, creates resilience and lasting impact. Angel Konthoujam is a Gender Equality Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmBH, with nearly a decade of experience in advancing gender- responsive environmental and development initiatives. Her work spans agricultural resilience, rural development, and immunization programmes. At GIZ, she currently supports two projects: strengthening gender-responsive forest ecosystem management in North India, and a transnational coastal restoration initiative across the Sundarbans delta in India and Bangladesh. Angel holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge and is a recipient of the Cambridge Chevening Scholarship and the Nehru Trust for Cambridge University Award. Previously, she served as Gender Technical Advisor for India and Bangladesh at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and as a Gender and Equity Consultant with Gavi in Geneva and UNICEF in 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