NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker's personal religious views, experiences, and understanding. Several claims about the nervous system’s response to physical and spiritual danger warrant further scientific investigation. 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.pdfWhat if your body can’t tell the difference between spiritual danger and physical danger? In this TEDx talk, resilience coach and former pastor Emily Hedrick shares how fundamentalist belief systems can train the nervous system to treat spiritual doubt as a life-threatening emergency. With honesty and clarity, she names what so many have silently carried: the effects of religious trauma—and how we begin to recover when we finally listen to the body. Emily Hedrick is a resilience coach, author, and former pastor who specializes in helping people recover from religious trauma and chronic shame. With a background in theology and a deep understanding of attachment theory and trauma recovery, Emily bridges the gap between intellectual insights and practical tools for healing. Her work invites individuals to reconnect with their bodies, rewrite harmful narratives, and build meaningful, authentic connections. Emily’s latest book, How to Treat Your Body Like a Sacred Text, offers a transformative approach to addressing shame and reclaiming agency. Through coaching, writing, and community-building, Emily is dedicated to creating spaces where vulnerability meets growth. 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: 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.pdfWhat if technology could level the playing field for small businesses and street vendors? In this insightful talk, Kavitha Palancha explores how ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) is breaking barriers and bringing digital empowerment to those who need it most.Sharing real stories of transformation, she calls on entrepreneurs to innovate for impact, using platforms like ONDC to create solutions that drive meaningful change. The future of commerce is inclusive, digital, and full of possibilities, and we all need to take it further to ensure it is for the greater good. Kavita Palancha pursues her dream of making financial inclusion a reality with an unparalleled passion. As the co-founder of MAKSPay, she is bridging the gap between financial institutions and underserved communities, using her skills and experience to improve services and create opportunities for people who are often left out of the financial system. Kavita believes in using simple, innovative ideas to help communities and bring positive change, driving institutional growth along with transforming lives. 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: While some viewers may find this helpful as a complementary approach, please do not look to this talk for mental health advice. This talk only represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of technology use and related health impacts, which warrants further scientific investigation. 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"How often do we really stop and think about how all this screen time is affecting us?" That’s the question I want to ask today. We live in a world where screens dominate nearly every moment of our lives—phones, laptops, tablets, TVs. But while we scroll, swipe, and stare, something else is happening behind the scenes. In this talk, we’ll take a closer look at how screen time is quietly shaping our minds, our relationships, and our overall well-being—and what we can do to take back control. Dr. Alikhan, a board-certified pediatrician and President of the Fort Bend Medical Society, practices at Texas Family Pediatric Group, teaches at UH College of Medicine, and is recognized for her leadership in pediatrics. 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: Please do not look to this talk for medical advice. This talk only represents the speaker's personal spiritual views and understanding of pain, healing, and addiction, which some viewers may find stigmatizing. 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.pdfThrough her own story of living through all kinds of pain, Brianne shares the revelations that helped her heal. Мother, wife, writer, facilitator, and healer - Brianne Hovey knows pain profoundly. Her journey began at 12, after losing her mother. Her healing path started in massage school and expanded into aesthetics and health coaching. Her passion for wellness led her to build a multi-million-dollar business. Yet, she realized that external success couldn't bring her the inner fulfillment she craved, prompting a deeper journey inward. A mother of four, Brianne adopted her youngest child six years ago in what she calls her "calling." The experience was deeply emotional, forcing her to confront whether she deserved such a blessing. In 2016, after losing her second parent to cancer, Brianne faced burnout. Living in Hawaii with her family, she founded Soul Truth Collective to help others heal and grow. Her creation, the Daily Awareness Card Deck, has since become a transformational tool for many. Brianne believes in miracles, unconditional love, and laughter as the best medicine. 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

Katy Wright advocates a practical change in reading education: starting with lowercase sounds to simplify learning. She emphasizes hands-on methods like sandpaper tracing to make reading more effective and engaging for children, aiming for improved literacy outcomes, and a more sound approach.#worldbookdaySponsored by the Fund for Experience One, TEDxUniversity of Montana Western provides a multidisciplinary forum for academic minds to gather and exchange ideas worth sharing. Speakers selected to present at TEDxUniversity of Montana Western are directly connected to the local community or have topics that support Montana Western’s mission and values. TEDxUniversity of Montana Western showcases the diversity and academic fortitude of our institution while providing a venue for speakers to submit their research to a global network.This conference was filmed in front of a live audience on March 23, 2024 in the Beier Auditorium. Learn more about TEDxUniversity of Montana Western by visiting www.umwestern.edu/tedx-umw/ or www.umwestern.edu.Katy Wright is a National Board Certified Teacher and has a Master’s Degree in Montessori Education from St. Catherine University. Wright is a founding member of Improv Mining Company, co-produces an annual education-themed sketch comedy show, and is proud to have worked with Grandstreet Theatre, Helena Symphony, Helena Theatre Company, and Raven’s Feather over the years. Wright hopes to earn her doctorate in Educational Leadership and work in national public education policy in the near 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

What lessons can be learned from professional athletes that come from humble beginnings? Dr. Barbara Lash explores the experiences of athletes, what can be learned from professional sports teams, the impacts of assumptions, and how we can unite differences by learning about the world around us a little bit at a time, through bite-sized breadcrumbs. Barbara Lash, PhD, is a wife and mother with original research on Black geographies and how athletes are represented in the media. She's also the author of two books: If You Died Today, Would You Live On? Your Legacy Needs Your Attention; and Athletes and the Media: Bridging the Gap.Dr. Lash has trained and consulted for several professional athletes and for companies and organizations including the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Hanes Brands, Wells Fargo, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders and Charlotte Hornets. Barbara now works as a Communications & Engagement Specialist in the Office of the Vice Chancellor within the Division of Research. 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