Jett Puckett is a Penn alumnus, devoted father, and social media star. Jett was the youngest person in the JD/MBA program at Wharton and UPenn Law, and since graduating, worked to become an owner of a mergers & acquisitions firm. He is well known on social media appearing by his wife Campell “Pookie” Puckett as they generate billions of views with their social media company, alongside owning their own fashion company. Their videos bring genuine love and positivity across all platforms, and they never fail to brighten their viewers’ days.Jett is changing the game—leading with love, authenticity, and unwavering positivity. With their genuine storytelling and heartfelt moments, their videos do more than entertain—they uplift and brighten millions of people’s days. He believes in using his platform to change traditional media and to encourage more creators to be beacons of light.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

As one of the world’s most migratory groups of animals, shorebirds play a vital role in coastal protection and connecting us to a global ecosystem. With an eye for conservation, Dr. Abby Sterling challenges our choices and how they impact the habitats that surround us. Dr. Sterling serves as the Director of Manomet’s Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative, dedicated to preserving shorebird populations along the Atlantic Flyway by increasing public attention to the Southeast. She earned her PhD studying shorebirds from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. 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

Marine professional, Ischa Vingle shares about the beauty and fragility of the Appalachian mountains. In 2024, Hurricane Helene impacted the region is ways that may change it for our lifetime and beyond. After traveling around the world discovering the seas, Ischa returned home to educate the world. Growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, Ischa was drawn to the sea. With the love of water and everything in it, she began adventures all over the world. As with all cycles of life, Ischa returned to the mountains and discovered the underwater world of the Appalachian Mountains. She is the founder of Mountains to Sea Scuba Adventures, Nixi Aquatics and is an avid Biodiversity Educator sharing her love of the rivers, oceans and seas with the world. 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

Advances in genomic technologies are enabling us to screen newborns for a greater number and range of conditions. But with fewer limits on what is technically possible we need to consider what is ethically sound, before it's too late to go back. In this fascinating talk, bioethicist Associate Professor Danya Vears explores the challenges involved in navigating the future of newborn screening. Danya Vears is an Associate Professor in Ethics and Professionalism at Deakin University where she teaches bioethics and research methods to medical students. Prior to this role, she was a Principal Research Fellow and Team Leader at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. She also holds an honorary guest professor position at KU Leuven in Belgium where she completed her first postdoctoral fellowship position.Prior to completing her PhD in bioethics, Danya trained as a genetic counsellor which she believes shapes the way she thinks about the world and therefore her research. Danya’s research uses empirical (predominantly qualitative) and theoretical methodologies to explore ethical issues relating to implementing genomic technologies across a range of settings, including diagnostic genomic sequencing for rare disease and genomic newborn screening.Danya serves on both national and international professional bodies, such as the Human Genetics Society of Australasia and Global Alliance for Genomics and Health. She is also on the Policy and Ethics Committee and the Scientific Program Committee of the European Society for Human Genetics. 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 the greatest survival skill isn’t resilience—but connection? In this soulful and stirring talk, re-wilding facilitator and Alone Australia winner Gina Chick shares how a single moment of pure connection can leap from heart to heart to light the world. Gina Chick is a rewilding facilitator, adventurer, writer and speaker.Gina was one of ten participants of the first series of Alone Australia, made by iTV and screened on SBS in 2023. After 67 days of unforgettable moments of searing vulnerability, Gina was the last person standing, and the second woman to win an Alone solo challenge. Her determination, passion, and love of the natural world endeared her to more than 5.5 million people around Australia. Gina's articles have been published in The Guardian, news.com.au, Mamamia and SBS online.Her first book, We Are the Stars, published in 2024 by Simon & Schuster, is a bestselling memoir of love, connection and the glorious power of letting go.https://www.instagram.com/gigiamazonia 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