Failure Was The Best Thing to Happen to Me | Lori Rogers | TEDxParkland
What if the very thing we run from—failure—is the key to unlocking our greatest breakthroughs? In this compelling TEDx talk, Lori Rogers, also known as Chef Lorious, shares how personal and relational failures became the unexpected catalyst for transformation in her life.With vulnerability, humor, and deep insight, Lori walks us through her journey—failed relationships, missed opportunities, and the painful patterns that forced her to stop, reflect, and rewrite her life’s narrative. Rather than breaking her, failure gave her vision. It gave her language. It gave her the courage to build something real—from the inside out.Lori’s powerful story challenges the notion that failure is something to avoid. Instead, she reframes it as a teacher, a mirror, and a sacred invitation to discover who we truly are.As a culinary entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of the women’s ministry Imperfect Good Girls, Lori blends her passion for food, faith, and storytelling to inspire women to embrace grace over perfection. She is the creator of Jam Vino, a line of gourmet wine-infused jams, and the author of Calibama Cooking: Classic & Contemporary Comfort Food, celebrating her Southern roots and California upbringing.Lori has appeared on national television including Good Morning America, The View and Good Morning Texas, and continues to encourage women to laugh a little, slay a lot, and live with purpose. Lori “Chef Lorious” Rogers is a celebrity chef, cookbook author, and influencer known for her signature "Calibama Cooking," blending California and Alabama flavors. With her warm, down-to-earth style, Chef Lorious has captivated home cooks and professionals alike through her recipes and cooking shows. She is also the creator of Jam Vino, the first wine-infused jam, inspired by her Southern roots and California’s wine country that won a coveted spot in Walmart stores. A sought-after TV personality, Chef Lori has appeared on Good Morning Texas, Good Day DC, Good Day Philadelphia, and GMA among others. Chef Lori Rogers is an accountant by training and an astute businesswoman who loves to inspire others to embrace their uniqueness and let go of the past in order to realize their full potential. 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
- 11:18Ghosts of the mountain: snow leopard conservation | Rose Henderson | TEDxFountainbridgeInsight into the conservation of snow leopards in our changing world Rose is a curious and passionate student who is deeply interested in the interplay between culture and conservation, and how this relationship evolves in modern times. Her talk will explore the challenges facing snow leopard conservation and delve into the intricate balance between local communities and wildlife in the Himalayas, highlighting the complex interplay between cultural traditions and modern environmental pressures and the critical role that local communities play in shaping the future of these elusive creatures. 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
- 9:15The importance of active feminism | Emily Mann | TEDxFountainbridgeAn exploration of why being an active feminist is important. Emily is a S4 pupil in Edinburgh. She is a member of her school’s feminist society and her speech will be about the importance of becoming an active feminist. She hopes that her audience will walk away inspired by the potential of feminism and how we can all help create a better and more equal future. 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
- 4:27Tailors Are Superheroes: Here’s Why | AMINA DARMA | TEDxNTICAbujaYouthAt just 9 years old, Amina Darma, a Primary 4 pupil at NTIC Kaduna, takes the TEDx stage to deliver a powerful reminder: fashion is more than style—it’s a force for good. In this imaginative and inspiring talk, “Stitch by Stitch: How Tailors Help Save the World,” Amina explores the often-overlooked world of tailoring and design. She explains how tailors transform discarded fabric into wearable art, drive sustainability through upcycling, and help express identity across cultures. With stories of local designers like Adejoke Lasisi and Madam Adeola Lateef, Amina makes a compelling case for why we should all start seeing tailors not just as craftsmen—but as superheroes of society. Her message is clear: fashion is a valid, impactful career path, and it’s time we respected it as such.A fashion lover 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
- 18:18Thinking your way through Life's Plot Twists | Clara Doran | TEDxFountainbridgeWhen life does not go as expected an exploration into thinking through the twists. Dr Clara Doran, a St George’s alumna, cares about your brain. After graduating from Newcastle University in 2002 aged 22, she started work as a medical doctor in the North East of England before returning to Edinburgh in 200. Specialising in General Practice, she worked in both NHS and Private Practice for 20 years. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2013 and following this, she has become passionate about brain health and understanding more about how we can live longer, happier lives. After studying Functional Medicine with the US based Institute of Functional Medicine and Sleep Medicine from Edinburgh University, she founded Noggin The Brain People. A keen writer since childhood, her self-narrated memoir “Doctor, Interrupted- from Doctor to Patient and Back Again” was published October 2024. Clara’s second book “Heads Up-How to look after your brain so it will look after you”, will be published in the UK and US in May 2025. 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
- 12:03How to be hopeful in the face of climate change | Rosie Zisman | TEDxFountainbridgeAs we consider climate change, a consideration of the hope that can be found. Rosie is one of the vice school captains at Boroughmuir high school and is currently studying advanced higher physics, Graphic communications and higher photography. She is the Goal Keeper of the school’s senior hockey team and has been a committed member of the school’s eco committee for 5 years, and this past year has been helping run it. Rosie’s future plans include taking a year out to travel and study German, before going on to university to study Product Design Engineering. 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
- 14:50Seeing into the future: is a bionic eye possible? | Ione Fine | TEDxFountainbridgeDoes technology offer us a way offering sight? An exploration of the possibility and how it could be attained. Ione Fine is a St George’s alumna and a Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her research examines perceptual learning and brain plasticity with an emphasis on the effects of blindness and building better sight recovery technologies – ‘bionic eyes’. Her current research focusses on building computational ‘virtual patients’ to help us predict whether or not a sight-recovery technology is likely to provide useful vision to patient. 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
