Frappe Ash is an innovative Indian rapper who emerged from a middle-class army family in Dehradun, transforming his architectural studies in Delhi into a passionate hip-hop journey. His stage name, inspired by frappe coffee and Pokémon's Ash, symbolizes his cool, authentic musical style.Collaborating with Yungsta in the duo FULL POWER and engaging with the Spit Dope community, Frappe Ash is dedicated to expanding hip-hop culture beyond metropolitan boundaries. His music represents a raw, unfiltered narrative that bridges small-town experiences with urban artistic expression, making him a distinctive voice in the Indian hip-hop scene. Frappe Ash is an innovative Indian rapper who emerged from a middle-class army family in Dehradun, transforming his architectural studies in Delhi into a passionate hip-hop journey. His stage name, inspired by frappe coffee and Pokémon's Ash, symbolizes his cool, authentic musical style.Collaborating with Yungsta in the duo FULL POWER and engaging with the Spit Dope community, Frappe Ash is dedicated to expanding hip-hop culture beyond metropolitan boundaries. His music represents a raw, unfiltered narrative that bridges small-town experiences with urban artistic expression, making him a distinctive voice in the Indian hip-hop scene. 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

Imagine living in the fast lane, but each month, you find yourself in a collision you didn’t see coming. The airbags deploy, the crash unfolds, but the wreckage isn’t external—it’s within.Sarah’s talk navigates the wild ride of Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Dysfunction (PMDD), a little-known yet powerful condition that turns each cycle into a physical and emotional chaotic crash, testing patience, relationships, and even identity.Sarah explores what it’s like to face the monthly wreckage, find strength in the skid, and ultimately learn to steer through the storm. Sarah is a spiritual engineer, transformational coach, and the creator of K3Uk Coaching. Her passion lies in empowering individuals to break free from limiting beliefs and discover their true potential. Through her innovative methods, like the Reverse Engineer Design (R.E.D.)™Method and Core Belief Decoding (C.B.D.)®, Sarah guides clients through deep personal and professional transformations.Overcoming her own challenges has fuelled her commitment to helping others reconnect with themselves, redefine their purpose, and manifest their deepest desires. 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 may be thinking you’re not gifted storyteller. Here’s a bonus secret. No one is. Storytelling is not a gift you’re given it’s a skill you pursue. Every great storyteller works hard at it. “I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here.” For a writer like Taylor Swift, a crumpled up piece of paper is an idea that seemed good to start with, but just didn’t work out. That line was written by someone who crumpled up plenty of pieces of paper to get where she is. All great storytellers do. Rolling Stone named Joe one of 100 "people who are reinventing America" in 2009. He's an MIT physics PhD, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, and a leading expert on climate solutions, communication, and storytelling.Time magazine called him "The Web's most influential climate-change blogger" and named him "Hero of the Environment″ for his work at the Climate Progress blog he founded in 2006. Over 12 years, Joe published over 2000 posts and wrote thousands of headlines. The real-time feedback he received on headline click-through rate, time on page, likes, shares, and tweets helped him test the best storytelling strategies to see which ones went viral. CNN host Van Jones has called Joe "the communicator's communicator." He is the author of 11 books, including "How to Go Viral and Reach Millions" and "Language Intelligence: Lessons on Persuasion from Jesus, Shakespeare, Lincoln, and Lady Gaga.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 shares how he became alcohol free and how others may explore this option through Dry January or a workplace challenge. Steve shares how he became alcohol free and how others may explore this option through Dry January or a workplace challenge. As an industry expert, he is a national speaker on retirement issues.Steve’s other passion is working with nonprofits, helping them to deliver on their mission and to fundraise. He serves on multiple boards and holds various leadership positions in the greater Akron, Ohio area. In addition, he is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and serves local and national organizations.He is the creator and host of the 2024 CAPTRUST Alcohol Free Challenge. Due to the success of this challenge Steve is assisting other companies in running this program in 2025. Steve and his wife Holly live in West Akron and have two children who are currently in college, Charlotte, and Charlie.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#dryjanuary

Much time and effort goes into animal rescue each year, but Kimo Pokini asserts that the future of animal welfare depends on pet retention. He shares an approach that recognizes the wellbeing of pets and their people is deeply connected, making caring for both the key to relieving pressure on shelters and rescues as well as building a more compassionate, resilient society.Kimo Pokini is a co-founder of Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering, a nonprofit that aims to keep pets and people together in times of crisis. His journey is depicted in the award-winning film “Kimo and Jazz”, and he has appeared on podcasts with NPR and Dog Save the People. Kimo is currently a member of AARP-Utah’s Executive Council. Alongside his husband Stanley, they provide full-time caregiving for their elderly parents and their rescue dog, Kubo.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

NOTE FROM TED: We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. 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.pdfIn a passionate talk, Michelle Lissoos champions accelerating UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 through innovation and technology. Her focus: revolutionising education delivery, especially in marginalised communities. Lissoos argues that expanding access isn't enough—we must transform how we educate. Through iSchoolAfrica, her brainchild, Lissoos tackles educational challenges with tech solutions like personalised learning and AI. She calls on all stakeholders to embrace this paradigm shift, envisioning a world where every child accesses high-quality education. Lissoos emphasises that this isn't just about better schooling—it's fundamental to creating a more equitable world. Her message: transforming education is key to unlocking Africa's potential. Michelle Lissoos, a 20-year veteran in educational technology integration, champions tech empowerment for all. She leads iSchoolAfrica, supporting 100,000+ vulnerable learners, including those with disabilities, to thrive in the digital world. Her expertise spans roles as Director of iStore Education, Director of Learnthings, and lead participant on the Nepad e-commission 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