TEDx Talks

500 Million Streams Started in Silence | Udit Saxena | TEDxIMTGhaziabad

Jun 3, 2026

Udit Saxena left a 9 LPA engineering offer to sit alone in a room with a Yamaha synthesizer. Then COVID hit, and the music industry froze for months. This talk traces what happened in between: not a breakthrough moment, but a slow, repetitive climb made mostly in private; showing up in silence, long before the world was listening. He calls it silence, refinement, and intent. Udit Saxena is a Mumbai-based music director, singer, and composer. Self-taught and eight years into a career he chose over a stable salary, his project Mausiq has crossed 150 million streams in India and 500 million globally. He has been nominated at the Radio Mirchi Freedom Awards and CMA, and in 2025 represented India at Doroga Na Yaltu in Russia. 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

How microorganisms keep our planet alive | Nathalie Eiris Henriksen | TEDxOdense

Jun 3, 2026

The tiniest forms of life hold the fate of everything else. From the air we breathe to the balance of entire oceans, microorganisms are constantly working to keep Earth stable. This talk reframes them not as threats, but as essential partners. Protecting them is not optional, it is survival. Marine Microbiologist 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

2 mots : 1 équilibre  | Isabelle Dréan Rivette | TEDxPantheon Assas

Jun 3, 2026

Exister, c’est l’équilibre entre qui l’on est et ce que l’on fait… entre nos 2 mots intérieurs et leurs échos extérieurs Quand on l’a intégré tout peut commencer Alors trouver vos deux mots et Exister ! 3 ouvrages 2 continents 1 conviction : l’humain d’abord. Isabelle Drean-Rivette est une juriste au parcours rare : avocate, magistrate, chercheuse, auteure. Elle ne fait pas que juger des actes : elle révèle ce qui les provoque. 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

Nature's lessons on work and life | Rikke Louise Fage-Fjord | TEDxOdense

Jun 3, 2026

Imagine your work life following the natural rhythm of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This talk explores how pausing, reflecting, and regenerating can transform the way we lead and collaborate. Learn why slowing down is the ultimate path to lasting impact. Social Anthropologist 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

Make The Polluter Pay | Alexander Holm | TEDxOdense

Jun 3, 2026

Everything we rely on looks free until it disappears. Clean air, food, water, stability. This talk uncovers the hidden value of nature and how half the global economy depends on it. Then it makes a bold case for charging those who treat it as expendable. Biologist 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 grief taught me about life | Anna Sunesson | TEDxLegnano

Jun 3, 2026

”When you find yourself in the dark valley and it feels impossible to ever rise again. The hope is not gone. By sharing my journey of losing my baby and touching the depth of grief and then my way back. I hope to encourage you to never give up on life. And in that place, where the power of human connection, choice and moving beyond emotions become the key ingredients, You slowly rise again. The darkest moments become a gift that leads to transformation to loving deeper and being more alive. When you decide to not escape or stay stuck, life awaits you on the other side of the bridge.” English Language Teacher Insegno lingua inglese come spazio di incontro tra culture, identità e possibilità. Credo che imparare una lingua significhi attraversare confini interiori prima ancora che geografici. In aula lavoro per creare fiducia, curiosità e rispetto reciproco, perché ogni parola nuova è un ponte tra ciò che siamo e ciò che possiamo comprendere degli altri. Motto Tratta gli altri come vorresti essere trattato. 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

Costruire relazioni vere | Andrea & Nevio Zucca | TEDxLegnano

Jun 3, 2026

In questo talk, Andrea e Nevio Zucca ci accompagnano dentro una riflessione profonda sulla distanza che separa la semplice connessione dall'unione autentica. Nati e cresciuti a Trieste, attraverso la loro storia di fratelli e imprenditori nel mondo del marketing, mostrano come condividere un cognome o un lavoro non basti per sentirsi davvero uniti. La vera unione, spiegano, è una scelta quotidiana: la responsabilità di proteggere un legame anche quando sarebbe più facile allontanarsi. Nel loro percorso umano e professionale hanno trasformato le differenze in una risorsa, sviluppando una visione fondata sul valore della relazione, della responsabilità e della costruzione condivisa. Imprenditori Nevio Mi occupo di marketing da oltre venticinque anni e accompagno le imprese nei loro percorsi di crescita. Credo che, come in un grande vino, anche nel business contino metodo, tempo e passione. Unisco visione strategica e sensibilità umana, convinto che le relazioni siano il vero capitale di ogni progetto. Andrea Da oltre trent’anni affianco imprenditori e manager nello sviluppo del loro business. Lavoro sulla costruzione di strategie solide e sostenibili, aiutando le aziende a trovare posizionamento e direzione. Credo in una visione condivisa, capace di unire competenze diverse verso un obiettivo comune. Motto Una visione, insieme. 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 Balloon Theory of Luck | Alexander Wakim | TEDxJamhour

Jun 3, 2026

In this talk, Alexander Wakim challenges the way we perceive luck through what he calls “The Balloon Theory of Luck.” Drawing from successes in international case competitions and consulting, where he was often labeled as “lucky”, he explores how repetition, pressure, and unseen volume gradually negate luck in the eyes of others. The talk reframes luck not as something inherited, but as something merited through consistency, volume, and the willingness to keep going long before the “pop” of success becomes visible to others. Alexander Wakim is a consultant passionate about human behavior, performance, and personal growth. His experiences in international case competitions and consulting shaped his interest in the unseen volume of work behind confidence, composure, and success. 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

Ci vuole coraggio per diventare chi sei | Marilù Fiore | TEDxLegnano

Jun 3, 2026

In questo talk, Marilù Fiore ci accompagna in una riflessione sul peso delle aspettative, delle etichette e della paura di scegliere. Attraverso la sua storia personale, racconta cosa significa essere “figlia di”, cercare il proprio valore oltre un cognome e trovare il coraggio di scegliere chi diventare. Head of Marketing & Social Impact Mi occupo di marketing e impatto sociale, con uno sguardo attento all’equità e alla leadership femminile. Credo che tra ciò che ereditiamo e ciò che scegliamo di trasformare nasca la nostra autenticità. Lavoro per coniugare crescita economica ed empatia, perché un’impresa solida non può prescindere dall’intelligenza umana. Il futuro non si eredita: si sceglie. 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

Why our exams need to change | Hannah Gee | TEDxRoyal Tunbridge Wells

Jun 3, 2026

What happens when a bright, capable child is told they have failed, again and again? In this talk, Hannah Gee, founder of Fairer Exams, challenges the way traditional exams measure young people and asks whether the system is failing the very children it is meant to serve. Hannah Gee is the founder of Fairer Exams, a parent-led campaign calling for a fairer way to assess young people who struggle with traditional exams. Her campaign began after her son, who is dyslexic, repeatedly missed GCSE English and Maths passes by tiny margins. After discovering that around seven in ten young people with SEND also leave school without passing both English and Maths GCSE, Hannah began campaigning for practical reform so that more children can leave school with confidence, dignity and recognised qualifications. 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 Part of Success Nobody Films | Vedansh Sharma | TEDxIMTGhaziabad

Jun 3, 2026

A million followers took seven years. Vedansh Sharma started making videos in school, when YouTube was just becoming a real thing in India. No virality, no applause but underneath, something was happening. He was learning how to tell a story. This talk is about that slow, uncelebrated process, and the shift from thinking of himself as someone trying to create, to actually becoming a creator. Vedansh Sharma is an actor, content creator, and storyteller, one half of the creator duo Dasoham alongside his brother Ishan. Together, they have spent seven years experimenting in public-relatable comedy, satire, social commentary, cinematic short films; crossing one million followers on Instagram in 2025. The number, as Vedansh is quick to say, is not the point. Content creation is his film school. The goal has always been film. 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 Courage to Cut | Vaani Chugh | TEDxIMTGhaziabad

Jun 3, 2026

Eight crores burned, investor sheets full of "no," and a brand that looked like it was growing while quietly bleeding cash. Vaani Chugh built D'chica Essentials through persistence, then had to reckon with the fact that persistence was the problem. This talk is about what she calls subtractive courage: the harder, less celebrated work of cutting what no longer serves you, even when it once made you successful. Vaani Chugh is Co-Founder and Director of D'chica Essentials, a women's essentials brand built around comfort and dignity in intimate care. She began her career in journalism at Star News, IBN7, and TV Today, then moved into marketing consulting before founding D'chica. The business is now profitable. Getting there required burning through those eight crores, a round of layoffs, and a willingness to dismantle what wasn't working. 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 my grandmother knew | Loic Brachet | TEDxINSEAD

Jun 3, 2026

What if the best solutions to climate change are not always invented in labs, but rediscovered from the wisdom of communities? In this TEDx talk, Loïc Brachet explores how traditional practices, from reusing cooking oil to wind-powered shipping, offer practical lessons for today’s energy transition. His message is simple: sometimes, the most powerful intelligence is not the newest, but the oldest. Loic started his trading career in Paris in 2001, and ended up in biodiesel. Not the glamorous commodity. But he built something lasting with it. He built Repsol's Asian biofuels origination business from the ground up in Singapore, led Hartree Partners' APAC biofuels desk, and today heads biofuels trading at Aramco Trading Company — where he architects FuelEU Maritime and IMO Net Zero strategy for one of the world's largest energy companies. His core insight: in biofuels, regulations don't just shape the market — they are the market. The traders who win aren't those with the best models. They're the ones who read the regulatory landscape and move first. Loic's talk breaks down how compliance obligations become commercial positions, and what the shipping, aviation, and energy industries must do now to stay ahead of the decarbonisation curve. 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

Why grown-ups need to play | Sean Turner | TEDxRoyal Tunbridge Wells

Jun 3, 2026

Everyday, we face a pressure to get things done, quickly and efficiently. Why don't we take more time, and give ourselves the opportunity to play? Theatre director Sean Turner shares in his TEDx talk why some of the best moments come when we're given the freedom to fool around - and how we can all say "Yes and", instead of "Yes but" a little more often. Sean is a multi-award-winning theatre director whose work has been enjoyed in the West End, New York and across the world. He is also the co-founder of Kidsbury, an imaginative role play village for children. He lives in Tunbridge Wells with his wife and their daughter. 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 Climate Crisis Has an Access Problem | Pragya Gupta | TEDxIMTGhaziabad

Jun 3, 2026

Most environmental conversations happen in boardrooms or policy documents, written in language that keeps the majority out. Pragya Gupta spent years inside those rooms, first at Bain and Company, then at Sattva Consulting, before deciding that the problem wasn't just carbon emissions. It was access. This talk is about building a movement that doesn't ask people to already understand it. Pragya Gupta is Co-founder of Project Purple Planet, a climate action initiative that reaches over 3 million viewers on YouTube through content in Indian Sign Language. She began her career advising in the Energy and Natural Resources sector at Bain and Company, later working on environmental initiatives at Sattva Consulting. The shift from consultant to advocate wasn't accidental. It came from a simple observation: the people most affected by the climate crisis are rarely the ones shaping the response. 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

A Brief History Of AI | Ram Thilak | TEDxINSEAD

Jun 3, 2026

What if AI is not the beginning of a new revolution, but the latest chapter in a story humanity began 70,000 years ago? In this thought-provoking TEDx talk, the speaker explores how human intelligence has always evolved by extending itself through shared tools, stories, rituals, and technologies. From the alphabet and the printing press to libraries, the internet, and now artificial intelligence, every generation has feared that a new tool would weaken the human mind. Ram Thilak doesn’t just build AI systems, he builds the organisational conditions that make AI stick. As Head of Data, AI & Automation at Suntory Beverage & Food, he leads a global function spanning data engineering, automation, and an AI Centre of Excellence. Over a decade in applied AI across automotive, FMCG, manufacturing, and financial services, he has traced the frontlines of enterprise adoption: standing up the region’s first data science practice at Mercedes-Benz, scaling AI from zero to 50+ data scientists and 25 deployed products at Inchcape, and applying smart manufacturing AI at HP and Hyundai. A regular partner to CIOs, CEOs, and CFOs, he works closely with Singapore’s AI ecosystem to advance applied AI across the region. He holds an INSEAD EMBA and a master’s from NUS, and has been named to the INSEAD AI 50 and recognised with the Vision Award at CDO Vision Singapore 2026. 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

You're not bad with money | Monica Dragnescu | TEDxRoyal Tunbridge Wells

Jun 3, 2026

Have you ever felt an invisible loyalty to how you spend your money? In this TEDx talk, Monica Dragnescu challenges the popular belief that people fear being broke. Instead, she explores the identities and patterns that can make financial success feel more threatening than failure. Monica Dragnescu has spent more than 25 years working with business owners and their numbers. Starting her career in accounting, she became fascinated by a question that spreadsheets could not answer: why do intelligent, capable people keep repeating the same financial and business patterns, even when they know better? Monica noticed people often repeat the same financial and business problems in different forms, even when they have the knowledge to avoid them. Her work explores the hidden patterns that shape money, leadership, growth, and success, helping people understand why lasting change requires more than strategy alone. 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 Women the Banks Turned Away | Raman Wadhwa | TEDxIMTGhaziabad

Jun 3, 2026

A woman named Nirmala Devi once sat outside a mud house in Chitrakoot and cried because she didn't have 150 rupees for her child's school fees. A bank manager told her, "We don't open accounts for people like you." Today, she chairs a dairy company with an annual turnover of 625 crore rupees. Raman Wadhwa has watched this happen across India, at a scale most people don't track, and this talk makes the case that rural women are not the country's welfare problem. They are its most capable builders. Raman Wadhwa is Director at DAY-NRLM, the Ministry of Rural Development's National Rural Livelihoods Mission, one of the largest poverty reduction programs in the world. An IMT Ghaziabad alumnus from the Batch of 1998, he has spent more than two decades helping shift India's approach to rural poverty from handouts to enterprise. His work spans policy design, women-led producer companies, and institutional systems that have put over 12 lakh crore rupees in bank linkages into communities the formal economy had written off. 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

When a Dream Breaks, Meaning Begins | Gyan Prakash | TEDxIMTGhaziabad

Jun 3, 2026

Seven years of work ended in a colour vision test. Gyan Prakash grew up in Bihar's Kosi belt, where the dream was never about ambition, it was about keeping the family together. The Merchant Navy was that plan. One failed medical check took it away in under a minute. He spent the next eleven years in engineering, moving forward without knowing why, until a fellowship year in a small Uttarakhand village gave him a different kind of answer. Gyan Prakash leads the SBI Youth for India Fellowship, the SBI Foundation's flagship rural development program. Over fifteen years, he has worked with communities that rarely feature in policy conversations, mentoring more than 500 fellows across 200 villages. He came from the corporate world. He stayed for the work. 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

AI is Out-Working Us. Here’s How We Fight Back | Parin Mehta | TEDxINSEAD

Jun 3, 2026

For many leaders, the office is a stage, and the corporate strategy is a script. We spend years performing a version of ourselves that we think the world demands. We end up wearing "persona masks" to hide our deepest fears of irrelevance or inadequacy. But as artificial intelligence begins to out-process and out-work even the most dedicated humans, the "Grinder" persona is no longer just exhausting: it is becoming obsolete. In this talk, a former tech operator turned investor and executive coach explores how the rise of AI is an invitation to deepen our uniquely human capacities for judgment, self-compassion, and presence. By shifting our focus from "doing" to "being," we can start building and creating wonderful businesses born from deeper human relationships and high-quality decision-making. Parin coaches and invests in founders and builders of private + public businesses. His philosophy is to help CEO and Founders unlock their psychological inner game to break down bottlenecks and barriers to growth. He draws on his own previous leadership experience in venture building and in scaling Silicon Valley tech companies internationally across Asia, Europe and the US. Parin prioritises partnering with leaders who share his core values around curiosity, growth, freedom, simplicity and fun. He also loves boxing, learning languages and visiting new countries with his young family. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from INSEAD. He shares his learnings and observations from this work at coachparin.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

Share Your Scars, Not Your Wounds | Anna Ong | TEDxINSEAD

Jun 3, 2026

We are living through a trust recession. Not a financial one — a human one. In a world of AI-generated content, curated highlight reels, and polished personal brands, nothing feels real anymore. And when nothing feels real, trust collapses. In this talk, Anna Ong argues that the antidote to the trust recession is not better communication strategy. It is radical honesty — specifically, the kind that comes from sharing your scars, not your wounds. Drawing on her journey from painfully shy banker to the founder of Singapore’s largest live storytelling show, Anna makes the case that the stories we are most afraid to tell are the ones that build the deepest trust. And that in the age of AI, showing up as a fully human, imperfect, real person is not a vulnerability. It is your greatest competitive edge. Anna Ong is the founder of WYSH, a leadership communication consultancy, and the creator of What's Your Story Slam, Singapore's largest storytelling show. An INSEAD MBA alumna with 15 years in financial markets, she now coaches senior leaders across Asia and the Middle East on executive presence, narrative, and the art of communicating live — when the stakes are high and there's no script. 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

Escaping the Script You Were Given | Sandeep Dwivedi | TEDxJaipur National University

Jun 3, 2026

In this talk, I share how breaking conventional thinking, embracing education, and stepping beyond fear helped me transform my journey from a humble background into a path of growth and opportunity. Through personal experiences, I highlight why challenging self-imposed limitations, taking calculated risks, and turning ideas into action are the true keys to unlocking our potential and creating meaningful change in life. My name is Sandeep Dwivedi, and I am the founder of Acharya Institute in Bilaspur. I started Acharya Institute with a simple but powerful belief — that students from smaller cities deserve the same quality of education, guidance, and opportunities as students in the biggest metropolitan areas. 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

Thank You For Your Service Is a Comma, Not a Period | Madhuri Govindu | TEDxApex

Jun 3, 2026

For many veterans, military service doesn't end when they take off the uniform—it simply enters a new chapter. In this inspiring talk, Madhuri challenges us to rethink what it means to support those who have served. Through personal stories and practical insights, they reveal why gratitude alone isn't enough and how meaningful opportunities, community, and purpose can help veterans thrive long after their service ends. Madhuri Govindu is a licensed professional counselor, award-winning author, and Counseling Today contributor focused on trauma, veterans advocacy, and amplifying veterans’ voices. Through her clinical work and advocacy, she has helped thousands of veterans recover from PTSD, MST, CPTSD, and moral injury while working to bridge the civilian-veteran gap. Her work explores the emotional impact of military service, transition, and the invisible struggles many veterans face after leaving the military. In her TEDx talk, Madhuri challenges society’s understanding of gratitude and service, reframing what meaningful support and healing should look like beyond “thank you for your service. 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

From Struggles, We Rise | Ms. Navjot Kaur | TEDxPURC Ludhiana

Jun 3, 2026

Life rarely follows the script we write for it. When you think all is going right, life goes left. For athletes emerging from the grassroots, uncertainty is part of the journey. Success is only one goal away, yet still out of reach. While many know the saying 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade', this speaker chose a different path—she threw the lemons back even harder and refused to back down. Her story is of perseverance through setbacks, challenges, and unexpected turns. More than a tale of motivation, this is a testament to grit, resilience, and the strength to keep moving forward when giving up seems easier. A cornerstone of the Indian Women’s Hockey team and a two-time Olympian, she represents the new face of Indian sports—one that is not just about physical prowess, but about an unbreakable psychological will. Known on the world’s biggest sporting stage for her explosive speed and tactical brilliance, she has navigated the expectations of a nation and the physical demands of her craft with a grace that can only come from someone who has mastered the art of starting over, stronger every single time. As one of the premier contributors to India's Olympics dreams, Ms. Kaur is someone who understands that the path to greatness is rarely a straight line. It is a series of gruelling cycles—of ends and beginnings, of defeats and rediscoveries. 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

Belonging Begins With Safety | Jess Patz | TEDxFranklin

Jun 3, 2026

NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal views and understanding of the nervous system, stress, and autoimmune disease. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf There are times when life presents obstacles that we strive to overcome. Jess Patz is a speaker and community advocate whose work focuses on how individuals and systems build connection, resilience, and sustainable engagement. She has spent years working alongside survivor-serving initiatives, observing how people seek belonging, and why so many feel disconnected even within active communities. Jess brings a systems-level perspective to conversations about identity, leadership, and collective responsibility, translating complex social dynamics into clear, accessible ideas. Her work challenges commonly held assumptions about strength, resilience, and belonging, inviting audiences to rethink how communities are formed and sustained. Known for her ability to blend insight with practical reflection, Jess speaks nationally on topics that encourage deeper connection, shared ownership, and long-term community health. 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

Brain Frames: My Trick for Hard Things | Chace Zhang | TEDxYCYW Shanghai Youth

Jun 3, 2026

Chace explains how “Brain Frames” help him use his strengths to manage difficult tasks, save mental energy, build confidence and better understand himself as a learner. Chace is a Year 3 student in Shanghai. He has a strong passion for Mathematics and enjoys working with numbers, as well as being an enthusiastic reader. At school, he enjoys spending time with his friends, whether visiting the sensory room during recess, or playing and exploring on the playground. He loves art and drew all the pictures on his slides on his own. His interest in understanding himself more deeply. 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

Our Great Migration with AI | Elsa Ou | TEDxYCYW Shanghai Youth

Jun 3, 2026

Elsa’s talk uses the image of the Great Migration in Africa to explain how humans and AI can work together in the future. She compares humans to zebras, who watch carefully and guide the way, and AI to wildebeest, which bring speed and strength. Her message is that AI can be powerful and helpful, but people must use wisdom and care to make sure it is used safely and for good. Elsa is a Y2 YCIS student who loves reading and sharing ideas through writing and drawing. She also enjoys playing football with her friends and building creative structures with Lego. She loves to inspire others to be curious and thoughtful; and encourages others to use AI as a powerful and safe helper. 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

My Reading Journey: From Boring to Book Lover | Ricky Shu | TEDxYCYW Shanghai Youth

Jun 3, 2026

This talk tells the story of a child, Ricky, who once thought reading was boring and believed he was simply not good at it. After struggling and nearly giving up, a simple moment with a friend made him question that belief. He realised that he did not actually hate reading; he just did not understand it yet. This shift in thinking changed everything. Through his story, he encourages others not to give up on things that feel difficult, because sometimes the problem is not that you cannot do it — you just have not learned how yet. Ricky is a seven-year-old student who has lived in both Canada and China. He is a big fan of reading and loves both fiction and nonfiction books. He enjoys history, astronomy and geography. He often reads about ancient civilisations such as the Egyptian Pyramids and Emperor Qin Shi Huang, as well as simple archaeology. He also loves learning about dinosaur fossils and special natural stones. In his spare time, he enjoys logical reasoning novels and comics. Reading allows him to explore the world and broaden his horizons. 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 Future Needs "Repair" Skills, Not Just "Replace" Habits | Owen Huang | TEDxYCYW Shanghai Youth

Jun 3, 2026

Owen’s talk, The Future Needs ‘Repair’ Skills, Not Just ‘Replace’ Habits, shares the story of his Pokémon eraser-crumb vacuum. When it stopped charging, he did not want a replacement — he wanted to fix it. With his dad’s help, he identified and solved the problem, learning patience, creativity and responsibility while reducing waste. He explains why a “repair-first” mindset is better than a “replace-first” one, and encourages students and families to adopt a simple rule: when something breaks, do not throw it away immediately. Instead, ask, “Can it be repaired?” In doing so, you may also learn a new skill. Owen is a trendy ten-year-old Year 5 learner. He is obsessed with creative drawing, Naruto and cool science facts. He loves to wander, uncovering the magic of the world through immersive reading and thrilling travel adventures. 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

Three Ways Cats Can Help with Mental Health and Stress | Ai Yi | TEDxYCYW Shanghai Youth

Jun 3, 2026

The speaker talks about how being a cat owner can improve mental health and quality of life. She discovered that cats can reduce stress and wanted to learn more about how caring for them could help people improve their mental wellbeing. Yi is a Grade 4 student known for her curiosity, humour, and thoughtful perspective. She is diligent and responsible, consistently putting effort into her learning and personal growth. Yi brings kindness and positivity to those around her, creating meaningful connections with her peers. Always willing to try new ideas, she embraces challenges with confidence and an open mind. Her enthusiasm for learning and her willingness to explore make her a promising young voice ready to share her ideas on the TEDx stage. 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