Visual storytelling is an ancient art form, our ancestors looked at the stars and saw bears and hunters. That’s what filmmaking is, it’s telling a story in pictures. Last year, 82% of internet traffic was video. Let’s examine why that matters for business, for organizations, for you & me. Eric Hunsaker is a filmmaker specializing in content strategy and audience development. He not only creates compelling projects but also ensures they reach the audiences who will be most impacted. Without formal film school training, Eric built his career by working on sets with top directors, actors, and creative teams. His first job in film involved cleaning the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., for the famous Forrest Gump scene where Tom Hanks meets Jennie. He later transitioned into producing and directing, discovering the emotional power of real people sharing their stories through documentary filmmaking. Today, he leads a production company in Northern Virginia that focuses on short-form, documentary-style films for organizations, associations, and businesses looking to connect with audiences through authentic storytelling. 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 a simple nasal swab could reveal how pollution is impacting my brain in real time? In this talk, I share how I’ve been exploring the use of RNA data to uncover early signs of bodily inflammation caused by immediate environmental exposure. I’ll take you through my journey of building a tool that combines gene expression with real-time air quality data, helping people understand the hidden health costs of pollution. And I’ll explain why I believe the future of public health might begin at the molecular level and what we, as a society, can do to save ourselves and our planet. Saanvi Uppalapati is a rising high school senior from Virginia with a passion for ethical AI, environmental health, and innovation. She has conducted research on sustainable machine learning, presented at national science fairs and energy conferences, and is currently building tools to connect pollution exposure to brain health using RNA data. Outside of school, she loves baking, playing the flute, and photography, as well as volunteering at nonprofit organizations that motivate young girls to pursue computer science. 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

The world is a place of constant change. For me, staying relevant has never been about just keeping up it’s about choosing how I grow. In this talk, I’ll share how cultivating learning as a lifelong habit has helped me navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence. It’s created a steady rhythm within the noise of constant motion. A rhythm that grounds me and shapes who I become. Jason Balser is a technology leader who has spent his career helping organizations solve complex problems and orchestrate meaningful change. He believes that asking the right questions is more powerful than having all the answers and that the best solutions are often the simplest ones. 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

I’ve spent my life turning vision into ventures, merging my personal passion with purpose-driven leadership. From my early roots in a family of entrepreneurs to building one of the fastest-growing technology firms serving the U.S. government, my journey reflects a deep belief: real innovation happens when business ambition aligns with mission.In this TEDx talk, I explore how identifying market opportunities is just one part of the equation. Lasting impact comes when we anchor those opportunities in service, values, and a relentless commitment to people. Whether you’re launching a startup or leading at scale, I want to share a blueprint for building with both head and heart. Gautam Ijoor is the founder and CEO of Alpha Omega, building mission-focused solutions that ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in national security, federal financial, health, space and science through AI, cybersecurity, digital modernization. A 2025 finalist for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year, Mid-Atlantic, he led the company's growth from $500,000 to $214M in 9 years and acquired two new businesses on the same day in January 2025. A humble leader and passionate advocate for education and service, he mentors students, women, and minority-owned small business owners. As a Board Member of ChildHelp, he is dedicated to actively combating and preventing child abuse and neglect worldwide. 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

Solutions and tools are profoundly different. Tech is sold to us as “solutions”: things that supposedly solve our problems for us. By taking control from us, however, so-called solutions solve nothing. Instead, they disempower us and foster dependency. Tools, however, grant us control. They empower us, build our capacities, and put us in charge. By equipping us to solve our own problems, tools make us the solutions we need Peter Norton is an associate professor at the University of Virginia, specializing in the history of technology and transportation. He is the author of Fighting Traffic and Autonorama, and a leading voice on sustainable, equitable urban mobility. A recipient of multiple teaching awards, Norton frequently speaks on the social impacts of high-tech driving and car-centric city planning. 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

In this talk, I share my journey through burnout, injury, and the painful decision to leave the soccer team that shaped my identity. Stepping away from comfort forced me to embrace uncertainty and in doing so, I discovered that growth often begins where familiarity ends. This story invites you to see change not as loss, but as a powerful path to resilience and self-discovery Shalika Kothuri is a rising freshman with a fervent passion for sports medicine and soccer. As a patent holder and dedicated researcher, she is committed to pioneering advancements in athlete health and injury prevention. Shalika’s work bridges her love for science and sport, inspiring her to explore innovative solutions that support athletic performance and wellbeing. Beyond her research, she is an avid soccer player who embraces the sport’s teamwork and discipline, fueling her drive to make a meaningful impact in the field of sports medicine. 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