In this engaging talk, Laurel Pearson, a geneticist and faculty member at Penn State, invites us to reflect on the power of human connections. Through her personal experiences and innovative teaching, she explores how understanding our shared ancestry can bridge divides and foster empathy. Laurel discusses how, despite our differences, humans share 99.9% of our DNA, and how cultural and social connections help shape who we are. She also highlights the impact of technology on human interaction and challenges us to step away from digital disconnection by building real, meaningful relationships. This talk encourages us to reconnect with each other and appreciate the commonalities that unite us all. Laurel Pearson is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Anthropology at Penn State, she is also a member of the Liberal Arts Sustainability Council advisory committee. She received her BA in anthropology from Louisiana State University and PhD in genetics from Penn State. Her research interests include human variation, health disparities and her work centers greatly around anthropology and the holistic qualities of a liberal arts education to discuss our role in building a sustainable future. She lives in the village of Pine Grove Mills with her husband, daughter, two cats, a dog, and a few chickens where she enjoys gardening and cooking. 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