How role-playing games affect us emotionally | Ralf Mayenberger | TEDxYouth@BWYA
When we play tabletop role‑playing games, we don’t just control characters we become them. In this talk, Ralf explores emotional bleed, the powerful phenomenon where a player’s emotions, values, and experiences begin to overlap with those of their character, lingering long after the game session ends. Drawing from RPG storytelling, psychology, and personal insight, he examines how stepping into another identity can shape our real‑world feelings, relationships, and sense of self. The talk reveals both the risks and rewards of emotional bleed and how it can lead to burnout or confusion, but also to empathy, healing, and self‑discovery. Ultimately, Ralf invites us to rethink role‑playing not as escapism, but as a deeply human act that shows how stories and the characters we inhabit can change who we are. Ralf is an avid gamer, game creator, and RPG enthusiast with a deep passion for tabletop role‑playing games. He values the collaborative storytelling and strong sense of community that RPGs create, and he especially enjoys bringing people together through shared play. Beyond the table, Ralf is fascinated by the overlap between role‑playing games and the real world, exploring how game mechanics, decision‑making, and narrative shape human behavior and understanding. 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
- 17:51Rozbroić WSTYD, który odbiera kobietom głos | Karina Barszczewska | TEDxWarsaw WomenPrzez lata dr n. med. Karina Barszczewska rozmawiała z setkami kobiet, które cierpiały w ciszy. Te historie pozwoliły jej postawić ważne pytania: • Dlaczego dorosłe kobiety, zamiast mówić vulva używają określenia „okolice intymne”? • Dlaczego badanie sromu nie jest częścią rutynowej wizyty ginekologicznej, przez co miliony kobiet cierpią z powodu braku diagnozy? • Dlaczego brak ochoty na seks staje się powodem poczucia winy? • Dlaczego przyjemność sprowadza się głównie do pochwy, która odgrywa rolę drugoplanową? W swoim wystąpieniu lekarka odważnie obnaża prawdę, zabierając widzów w poruszającą i inspirującą podróż. Przerywa milczenie i nazywa rzeczy po imieniu - bez wstydu. Dr n.med. Karina Barszczewska jest specjalistką ginekologii i położnictwa, w trakcie drugiej specjalizacji z seksuologii. Autorka bestsellerowej książki „BEZ WSTYDU. O zdrowiu intymnym i seksualności kobiet”, prelegentka na międzynarodowych kongresach, w tym prestiżowym IMCAS w Paryżu. Szkoleniowiec i ekspertka z zakresu ginekologii regeneracyjnej, doceniana przez pacjentki licznymi nagrodami i nominacjami, w tym Hipokrates, Wszechmocne, a także influencerka z misją. Wyróżniona na liście 100 osób wspierających edukację seksualną przez magazyn Forbes i Fundację Sexed Ani Rubik. Pomysłodawczyni projektów Konferencja Kobiety dla Kobiet i Camp na Obcasach. Autorka profilu "medycyna na obcasach", jednego z najpopularniejszych edukacyjnych profili w Polsce, gdzie dzieli się wiedzą i inspiruje kobiety do życia bez wstydu. 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
- 7:40Struggles of a Teenager | Simar kaur | TEDxBDSIS YouthThe talk is an emotional voyage into the heart of teenage turbulence— unpacking the ache of fitting in, the weight of expectations, and the yearning for authenticity—while weaving stories of pain, hope, and transformation into a roadmap for embracing one’s true self. I am a dream‑chasing teenager who walks the tightrope of school pressures, identity quests, and heart‑aching expectations. Living through sleepless nights of self‑doubt and sunrise moments of hope has forged an intimate bond with the raw, pulsating struggles of adolescence, inspiring me to turn my own stormy journey into a beacon of empathy and resilience for fellow teens. 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
- 8:18Absence of Presence | Chhavi Verma | TEDxBDSIS YouthThe talk focuses on how today’s youth, despite having access to opportunities, knowledge, and connectivity, often remain mentally absent from their own lives. It explores the impact of distraction, overcomplication, and constant digital engagement, and emphasizes presence as a practical skill that leads to clarity, growth, and meaningful living Chhavi Verma is a 17-year-old Grade 11 Commerce student with an interest in business and youth development. Personal observations and experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown helped shape her understanding of attention, awareness, and conscious living. Her proposed TEDx talk, “Absence of Presence,” reflects her perspective on how modern youth often remain disconnected from the present despite living in abundance. 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
- 17:50Danser pour lutter contre l’exclusion | Pauline Terestchenko & Chloé Louisin | TEDxLaRochelleAvec le slogan Share What Art Gives, Chloé Louisin et Pauline Terestchenko propagent la danse comme un vecteur de lien social, outil politique, qui libère et rassemble. Pauline et Chloé se rencontrent en 2018 dans un cours de danse. De leur expérience naît une conviction : la danse n’est pas qu’une performance, c’est un langage universel, qui permet de trouver sa place dans une société qui divise et exclut. En 2020, ce rêve devient S.W.A.G. Studio, un projet où danse et intégration sont intimement mêléesPauline et Chloé se rencontrent en 2018 dans un cours de danse. De leur expérience naît une conviction : la danse n’est pas qu’une performance, c’est un langage universel, qui permet de trouver sa place dans une société qui divise et exclut. En 2020, ce rêve devient S.W.A.G. Studio, un projet où danse et intégration sont intimement mêlées 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
- 10:22Beyond Algorithms: Finding True Happiness | Iris Wang | TEDxWHBC YouthIris reflects on how artificial intelligence has quietly become part of students’ everyday lives—from learning and planning to creating and communicating. Through personal stories and relatable examples, she questions whether AI-driven convenience truly makes us happier. Iris argues that real happiness comes not from perfect results, but from human connection, personal effort, and the courage to find one’s own path. Her talk encourages young people to use AI as a tool for growth, not a replacement for meaningful experience. Iris Wang is a student thinker and emerging speaker exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, human emotion, and happiness. With a strong interest in technology and philosophy, she examines how AI shapes modern life—not only in efficiency, but in meaning. Through personal storytelling and thoughtful reflection, Iris invites audiences to reconsider progress and rediscover the irreplaceable value of human connection, struggle, and creativity. 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
- 7:49Who Defines Our Happiness in the Age of Artificial Intelligence? | Nicole Yang | TEDxWHBC YouthIn an age where artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how we connect, feel, and seek validation, Nicole asks a fundamental question: who defines our happiness? Through quiet observation, personal reflection, and real-life moments, the speaker examines how AI can offer comfort and companionship—while also influencing how happiness is measured and performed. Rather than rejecting technology, the talk invites audiences to reconsider the balance between algorithmic approval and inner recognition, and to reflect on how authenticity, self-awareness, and human connection remain essential in an AI-driven world. Nicole reflects on how artificial intelligence shapes our emotional lives and our understanding of happiness. Through quiet observation and personal moments, she explores how AI offers comfort, connection, and validation—while also influencing how we measure and perform happiness. Her talk invites audiences to reconsider who defines happiness in an algorithm-driven world, and encourages young people to reclaim inner recognition, authenticity, and emotional awareness in the age of intelligent machines. 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
