Why rock bottom is the best place to start | Brandy Woods-Smith | TEDxThird Ward
In this unforgettable TEDx Talk, Brandy Woods-Smith shares how hitting rock bottom became the foundation for her biggest breakthrough. “Rock Bottom is the Best Place to Start” is a bold and deeply personal message that’s igniting conversations around resilience, reinvention, and rising stronger. If you've ever felt stuck, broken, or like your story was over, this talk will show you how to turn your lowest moments into your greatest comeback. Watch it, share it, and prepare to be transformed. Brandy Woods-Smith is a charismatic and passionate educator, entrepreneur, speaker, and consultant. She is known as a thought leader, change agent, community developer and to many she is hailed the Millionaire Midwife.Ms. Woods-Smith attended Jarvis Christian College in East Texas. She finished her Master in Education Administration in 2005. After serving the public school system for 13 years, Woods opened Imagine Me Academy in 2013 and now has multiple locations.In her quest to help other aspiring entrepreneurs achieve success, she founded Powerhouses United and Childcare Millionaires, business incubators designed to give education, resources and teaching financial literacy to entrepreneurs.Believe BIG! Expect BIG! Do BIG! is the mantra she lives by. Woods says, “Although BIG is not the most eloquent word, it gets the vision across clearly! With belief in my heart, the work of my hands, and the words in my mouth. I will accomplish what I am commissioned to do: Motivate! Educate! Produce! 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
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- 12:23How to make sense of your negative thoughts | Dr Yasmine Saad | TEDxOltrarnoYour mind can be your greatest ally, or your harshest critic. But what if those persistent negative thoughts aren't your enemies after all?In this illuminating TEDx psychology talk, Dr. Yasmine Saad, an award-winning NYC psychologist, reveals why traditional approaches to negative thoughts, ignoring them, accepting them, or replacing them, often keep us stuck in internal struggle. Her innovative Inner Message Approach™️ shows how negative thoughts hold hidden wisdom about your desires, challenges, and motivations.Discover practical techniques for self-awareness, mental clarity, and transforming your relationship with negative thoughts. Using relatable stories, Dr. Saad illustrates how decoding your thoughts can lead to psychological insights, mindset shifts, and personal growth.Known as "The Wise Psychologist," Dr. Saad is the founder of Madison Park Psychological Services, where her insights inspire a team of top-tier psychologists delivering holistic, multicultural care. Recognized on Inc 5000's 2024 list, Madison Park is a leader in innovative mental health services.Having shared stages with icons like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Shefali, and Les Brown and honored by Forbes alongside Tony Robbins, her work in mental health has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including CNN, Forbes, and USA Today, which praised her as a "visionary" who is "redefining how we understand the human mind."Ready to turn your inner critic into an ally? Watch now to uncover the hidden wisdom within and transform your potential. Dr. Yasmine Saad is an award-winning NYC psychologist and 2x international best-selling author. Known as “The Wise Psychologist” and honored by Forbes alongside figures like Tony Robbins, Dr. Saad is celebrated for her Inner Message Approach™️. This transformative method helps individuals decode thoughts and emotions to overcome negative patterns and unlock their true potential. USA Today described her as a “visionary”: “Dr. Yasmine Saad is redefining how we understand the human mind, combining wisdom and revolutionary techniques. Her unique approach transcends conventional boundaries, making her one of the leading figures enriching the world of psychology today. “As the founder of Madison Park Psychological Services, Dr. Saad heads an elite team of the top 5% of psychologists, offering specialized holistic care to a multicultural clientele, blending ancient Eastern wisdom to address modern Western challenges.As an internationally acclaimed speaker, she has shared stages with icons like Deepak Chopra, Dr. Shefali, Les Brown, and others. Her groundbreaking insights have been featured in 100+ media outlets, including CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, Fox, and more, solidifying her reputation as a leading psychology and personal development authority.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
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- 17:22Why You Should Be a Puzzle Nerd | Marcy Tivol & Hillary Miller | TEDxGunnHighSchoolThe co-founders of Solving Fun, Hillary Miller and Marcy Tivol, encourage embracing one's inner puzzle enthusiast and delves into the joy of solving puzzles. They differentiate between mere questions and puzzles, emphasizing the creative thinking involved in the latter. They highlight various types of puzzles from popular apps to everyday life scenarios and discuss the satisfaction of overcoming challenges. Collaborative problem-solving and creative learning methods are underscored, along with practical tips to enhance puzzle-solving skills. The speech culminates with an invitation for the audience to explore new puzzle types and solve them together. Marcy Tivol, Solving Fun, Co-Founder Marcy Tivol is a complete puzzle nerd with a passion for creative thinking. She is celebrated as both an award-winning advertiser and a brilliant puzzle designer. Her unmatched ability to focus creativity has led to the development of captivating and mind-bending puzzles that challenge and delight enthusiasts worldwide. Her exceptional puzzle designs have been published in the New York Times and the MIT Mystery Hunt. As a co-founder of Solving Fun, she continues to push the boundaries of puzzle and game design, inspiring joy and intrigue with their solvers.Hillary Miller, Solving Fun, Co-Founder Hillary Miller brings a wealth of experience in education from her 20+ years teaching in Austin, Texas, and in the California Bay Area. As a former teacher and administrator who struggled to find resources to meet students’ needs while also sparking joy in learning, Hillary co-founded Solving Fun, LLC in 2020. She now spends her days creating puzzles, activities, and games focused on collaboration, perseverance and creative problem solving. She is also currently pursuing her PhD in Career and Technical Education. 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
- 8:30The Complexities of Multilingualism: It's Simpler Than You Think | Urzsula Jachimowicz | TEDxUoNIn her inspiring TEDx Talk, Urszula shares a powerful message about the beauty and accessibility of language learning. As a final-year student at the University of Nottingham, studying Modern Languages and Translation, Urszula brings together her deep passion for Russian, Spanish, and the written word to show us that language is more than just communication. It is connection, identity, and possibility.With a love for Russian literature, poetry, and the rhythms of multilingual life, Urszula invites us into a world where words build bridges. Her goal is to empower others to embrace the challenge of learning a new language, and to break down the fears that often hold us back. In this talk, she shares her own journey through multilingualism. Not as a perfect, polished speaker, but as someone who understands the struggle and joy of starting from scratch.This is more than a talk about vocabulary and grammar. This is a story about curiosity, culture, and confidence. From moments of confusion to breakthroughs in understanding, Urszula reflects on the process of learning languages not as a burden, but as a deeply human adventure.She challenges the way we see language learning. Encouraging us to approach it not as a distant academic task, but as something joyful, achievable, and essential in our increasingly connected world. Through honest reflection, practical tips, and a clear vision for what is possible, Urszula opens the door to multilingualism for everyone.Urszula’s mission is to inspire bold learners, bridge cultural gaps, and help us realise that with patience, playfulness, and purpose, we can all find our voice in another language. Because the most meaningful conversations begin when we dare to speak. Urszula is a final-year student of Modern Languages (Russian and Spanish) and Translation at the University of Nottingham. She has a particular passion for Russian language literature and poetry, as well as secondary language acquisition and constructed languages.In her talk she will focus on demystifying multilingualism and making language learning more accessible and achievable. As a multilingual person herself, Urszula aims to offer deeper insight into what it truly means to be multilingual discussing the process of language acquisition and how surprisingly simple it can be.Her goal is to inspire others to learn a second language and encourage them not to be afraid of acquiring new skills. She also hopes to provide British students with a better understanding of what life is like for their international peers. 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
- 16:55Re-Oceaning: A Sound that Unites Us All | Coco Francavilla | TEDxDaltVilaWhat if the Ocean was not just a distant horizon, but a part of who we are? Sound artist and composer Coco Francavilla invites us on a journey of Re-Oceaning—a call to reconnect with the Ocean, ourselves, and the world around us through sound. Blending science, storytelling, and music, she reveals how the Ocean’s rhythms mirror our own—and how truly listening to its voice can awaken a deeper sense of connection and responsibility. Through personal experiences, underwater soundscapes, and a live sonic performance, Coco invites us to reimagine our bond with the Ocean—not as something separate, but as a vital part of our existence. Because when we listen, we remember: everything is connected. And when we remember, we act. The Ocean has a voice. It’s time to listen.• Music Written Performed & Composed by Coco Francavilla (wider-sounds.com - MusicForTheSea.org) • Visuals : Stanisslao Cantono di Ceva www. linee.it • Mastering: Rafael Anton IIrisarri BlacknollStudio • ¨Galaxy in Her Eyes¨ Whale Image Photo by Rachel Moore rachelmoorephoto.com | IG: @moore_rachel • Ocean & Cetacean Footage contributed by Karim Iliya via Kogia kogia.org • Additional Soundscapes recordings courtesy of Tursiops Association & INMAR - University of Cádiz • Satellite Images of Earth Source: JMA Himawari-8/9, accessed on 03/25 registry.opendata.aws/noaa-himawari • Orion Galaxy Visual : Courtesy of Camille Boudin from the film Children of the Universe Coco Francavilla is a multi-faceted artist, composer and sound engineer based in Ibiza, where she founded WIDER SOUNDS recording studio and MusicForTheSea.org, an NGO bridging electronic music with marine conservation. With 20+ years in the industry, her evocative music has captivated audiences at Sonar, Mutek and Glastonbury. Known for collaborations with icons like Tricky, she has toured with Afterlife and scored films and trailers like Blade Runner 2049. Through her work, Coco invites us to reconnect with ourselves, nature and the ocean believing in music’s power to inspire positive change. 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
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