TEDxDuluth speaker Kelly Jahner-Byrne is a best-selling author, seasoned speaker, and lifelong Minnesotan who blends humor, directness, and warmth to get people moving past fear into real action. Her talk centers on how decisions - not just intentions - create momentum, clarity, and confidence, especially when imposter syndrome is whispering that you do not belong.​

I. From Imposter Syndrome to Taking the Stage

Kelly traces her TED journey back to Tim Urban's, Inside The Mind of the Master Procrastinator, she once watched. The talk mentions feeling like an imposter when invited to give the talk and she remembered it was “funny, humorous, interesting - and real.” She recognized the same doubts in her own audiences: that nagging “imposter monster” feeling of “How did I get here?” that research suggests it affects most people.​

She works with franchisees, women’s groups, business audiences, and at her own HOW Conference, always returning to a core message: fear and doubt are usually not a lack of talent, but a lack of action. Applying to TEDxDuluth, getting rejected multiple times, and applying again became her own proof that action beats paralysis - even when the email says, “We have gone in another direction.”​

II. Decisions Are Cumulative

Kelly’s framework is built around momentum, clarity, confidence, and action. She agrees that growth is not a single dramatic leap but “a hundred decisions spread across your months and years,” and she adds a key twist: decisions are cumulative.​

Her TEDxDuluth talk will open the day - literally the first talk on the program - making her message about that first bold step a fitting launch for everything that follows. She jokes that she’ll either set “a really great limbo bar to walk under or step over,” but her real goal is simple: a few raised eyebrows, some laughs, sincere applause, and people feeling genuinely inspired to move.​

III. Connection as the Real Outcome

Although her talk is about action, Kelly returns again and again to connection as the deeper point. She hopes attendees will:​

• Come with an open mind, open heart, and “open contact book.”​

• Meet new people: students, business leaders, emerging speakers. Then create relationships that extend beyond the event.​

• Use the unscripted moments between talks as much as the talks themselves: those hallway conversations where future internships, collaborations, or friendships begin.​

Kelly believes humans “now more than ever” need to be in connection with other humans, not just with their screens. She sees TEDxDuluth as a place to lean on and lean into one another, remembering that “we’re more alike than we are different” and that most of us want the same basic things.​

IV. Networking on Purpose: PSA and the Three P’s

Kelly is practical about networking; she wants people to arrive with a plan, not just drift. Her favorite tool is the simple PSA:​

• P - Plan: Who do you need to meet personally? Who do you need to meet professionally?​

• S - Serve: Who did you just meet that you could introduce to someone else, showing you are a giver, not only a taker?​

• A - Action: Follow up. Send the email, schedule the coffee, and ask for the informational interview. “The fortune is truly in the follow-up.”​

She pairs PSA with the three P’s for in‑person events: pockets, pen, phone.​

• Free your hands (pockets) so you can actually shake someone’s hand and appear open.

• Carry a pen to jot notes on a business card if you don’t have your own.

• Use your phone sparingly as a tool for contacts - not for scrolling.​

On TEDxDuluth day, she suggests treating your phone like a secondary tool: keep it away unless you are exchanging information. Scrolling at an event like this, she argues, is “missing the boat” compared to engaging with the humans in front of you.​

V. Managing Your Phone, Protecting Your Focus

Kelly has a self-described “love–hate” relationship with her phone. As a speaker, coach, publisher, and conference host, she can literally work from anywhere on it, but she has learned that if you do not manage your phone - it will manage you.​

Her own habits include:​

• Putting the phone out of sight during meetings and Zoom calls so notifications do not pull her attention.

• Leaving it alone on Sundays and treating it as a tool, not a human.

• Signaling respect in person by saying, “Let me just shut this off and put it away so I can focus,” which instantly changes the tone of the interaction.

When someone leaves their phone buzzing on the table, she sees it as a subtle message that the device is competing with the person in front of them. For her, a strong connection requires eye contact and undivided attention; the phone can wait.​

VI. “You Don’t Need a New Year, Just a New Morning”

Kelly’s closing message is about hope and timing. By early February, many people have already drifted from their New Year’s goals, but she reminds them: “You don’t need a new year, you just need a new morning.”​

Most life‑changing decisions are not made on January 1; they happen on some ordinary date that later becomes meaningful. Her advice for TEDxDuluth attendees:​

• Decide what you want to get out of the day - learning, a new contact, a fresh sense of direction.​

• Show up ready to listen, connect, and act.

• Extend “an extra helping of grace” to others and yourself, especially in a tense political and cultural climate.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

Kelly is excited about the future, especially for young people, and sees events like TEDxDuluth as places where ideas, opportunities, and relationships intersect. She hopes that people leave not only with inspiration, but with concrete next steps - and a few new names in their contact list to walk alongside them as they take action. Go behind the scenes: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Daud Khan brings a thoughtful, quietly curious energy to the stage. A recent St. Cloud State University graduate in engineering management and a program manager in healthcare, he talks about transition not as a one‑time event, but as a way of moving through life with openness and intention.​

I. Bridging Business and Engineering

Daud began his academic journey in business administration, studying accounting, project management, entrepreneurship, and innovation. When it came time for graduate school, he did not want to repeat the same content in a standard MBA; he wanted technical skills without having to become a pure engineer.​

Engineering management caught his attention because it bridges business and engineering:​

• It is not heavily mathematical like a traditional engineering degree.

• It is not purely theoretical like much of business school.

• It blends technical understanding with business acumen and opens doors to roles in operations, supply chain, process improvement, and management.

II. Choosing Flexibility Over Specialization

A core theme in Daud’s story is his belief in flexibility. As a child, his ambitions bounced from astronaut to teacher to politician to doctor before he landed in business, and that early restlessness eventually became a deliberate strategy.​

He pushes back on the criticism of being “Jack of all trades, master of none.” In his view:​

• Having multiple competencies gives you options when one field becomes saturated or unstable.

• A broader skill set reduces direct competition with thousands of people all chasing the exact same job.

• Flexibility lets you pivot between roles - operations manager, supply chain analyst, process engineer, program manager - rather than getting stuck in one narrow track.​

For Daud, engineering management was never about a single, rigid career path; it was about building a toolkit that keeps him adaptable.​

III. Starting From Scratch in a New Country

Daud’s TEDxDuluth talk focuses on his experience of arriving in the United States and discovering that this was not a short trip, but the beginning of a new life chapter. Everything was unfamiliar: the people, the systems, the weather, the social norms.​

He describes several layers of adjustment:​

• Climate: Coming from a country where winter temperatures hover in the 70s and 80s (and rarely drop below the 50s), Minnesota’s cold and snow were a shock. The milder winters of 2023 to 2024 gave him time to acclimate before facing heavier snow more confidently later.

• Independence at home: Back home, having house help from people who handle laundry, dishes, cleaning, driving, and gardening is common. In Minnesota, he did those tasks for the first time, moving from “comfort zone” to self‑sufficiency until laundry and basic cooking became routine instead of foreign.

• Food: He missed the Pakistani cuisine and found only a few Asian restaurants nearby, settling for simple “survival cooking” while his cravings gradually eased as he focused more on health, diet, and the gym.

Perhaps the hardest transition, though, was homesickness and building a new social world. In Pakistan, staying out late with friends or striking up conversations with strangers is normal; in Minnesota, he found people quieter and more contained within established friend groups. There were moments when he questioned whether he had made the right decision and considered going back, wrestling with fears about failure, jobs, and uncertainty.​

IV. From Uncertainty to Stability

Despite those doubts, Daud’s story is one of gradual stabilization. After completing 30 credit hours in his master’s program, he landed a full‑time job as a program manager at a healthcare company.​

He loves that his work lets him help people and “give back to society” while using the mix of technical and managerial skills he set out to build. The job is also a concrete example of the flexibility he values: an engineer by degree, working in healthcare operations rather than a traditional engineering sector.​

V. Faith, Nonfiction, and Seeing the Bigger Picture

Daud’s outlook on transition is deeply connected to his spirituality and his reading habits. He considers himself religious, but emphasizes that his beliefs come not from blind faith alone but from extensive reading in nonfiction, especially science, physics, human history, and philosophy.​

Thinking about the vastness of the universe and the nature of time helps him reframe his own problems as “this tiny,” making life’s transitions feel more manageable and reminding him that “what’s meant for us always finds a way to us” as long as we keep trying.​

Fiction does not appeal to him much; he respects those who enjoy it, but his curiosity pulls him instead toward frameworks that help him question systems, notice overlooked details in daily life, and see his own journey in a wider context.​

VI. Traveling Solo and Learning to Belong

Before moving to the U.S., Daud had already traveled solo to several countries, seeking out conversations and cultural experiences rather than just tourist sights. He prefers solo travel because it gives him independence: he can linger where he wants, follow his own curiosity, and fully absorb local cultures.​

That traveler’s mindset - observing, asking questions, and adapting - has shaped how he approaches his life in Minnesota. Over time, the new country feels less alien, chores have become normal, and Minnesota winters no longer seem impossible. His talk traces this arc from uncertainty to a sense of belonging, and how everyday transitions - learning laundry, navigating a new city, managing homesickness - add up to a much larger transformation.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

On the TEDxDuluth stage, Daud will share a personal, grounded look at transition from home to abroad, from student to healthcare program manager, from comfort zones to cold climates and unfamiliar cultures. His goal is not to present a grand theory, but to show how embracing flexibility, staying curious, and trusting that effort plus faith will carry you forward can help anyone move through life’s changes with a little more courage and perspective. Go behind the scenes: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Kim Harms brings a warm, steady presence to some of life’s hardest topics on grief, aging, and what it means to leave a real legacy. A retired dentist, former first female president of the Minnesota dental association, and now proud “Grandma/Nana” to six grandchildren, she speaks with disarming humor and deep gentleness about living fully in what she calls the “fourth quarter” of life.​

I. Legacy as Resilience, Love, and Laughter

Kim’s TEDxDuluth talk, fittingly titled “We’re Not Dead Yet,” centers on the question of what to do with the time that remains and what to pass on to those who will outlive us. For her, legacy is less about achievements and more about teaching resilience, kindness, love, relationship‑building, and the capacity for joy in the face of loss.​

She talks openly with her grandchildren about death and dying, not to burden them, but to prepare them. Kim wants them to miss her, of course, but more than that, she wants them to “flourish when I’m gone” to use her life as a foundation, not a weight, and to remember her with gratitude for what they shared rather than being trapped only in sorrow.​

II. Learning Joy in What Remains

Kim has lived through profound losses, including the deaths of a child and her husband, and she does not sugarcoat the long, difficult climb out of grief’s “pit.” She stresses that healing takes years, not days, and that there is nothing easy or tidy about it.​

What changed her perspective was learning to find joy in what remains:​

• Reframing loss from “I no longer have this” to “How fortunate that I had this love at all,” whether that was 19 years with a child or 44 years with a spouse.

• Noticing the friends, community, and relationships still present, even as the circle narrows with age.

• Choosing, day by day, to look for what is good, where she can still make a difference, even if it is “just” through small kindnesses.

She describes joy as something that comes back like a boomerang: extend love and encouragement, and it returns to you, often in unexpected ways.​

III. Rwanda, Forgiveness, and Perspective

One of the most powerful parts of Kim’s story is her work with Books for Africa and the libraries she helped establish in Rwanda in honor of her son. Through that work, she helped bring nearly 350,000 books and around 70 libraries to the country, and in the process, she met women who had survived the 1994 genocide.​

In Rwanda, she witnessed:​

• Tutsi and Hutu widows who had lost everything often at the hands of neighbors who were learning to live, work, and even dance together again.

• A priest who insisted both groups come into the same room for support, leading to cooperatives where women from both sides shared income, childcare, and daily life.

• A national commitment to reconciliation, forgiveness, and justice has helped make Rwanda one of the safest, most peaceful countries in its region today.

Standing among women who had endured atrocities yet still expressed joy, gratitude, and welcome, Kim realized she could also find a way back to joy after her own losses. She calls the Rwandan women some of the best grief counselors she could have ever had.​

IV. Marriage, Embers, and Everyday Grace

When Kim speaks about her 44‑year marriage, it is with both realism and tenderness. She notes that, built into “till death do us part,” is the simple truth that a successful marriage usually ends with someone becoming a widow or widower.​

Her advice for long relationships is characteristically down‑to‑earth:​

• Lower your expectations; especially unspoken ones that no one could possibly meet.

• Give each other a lot of grace, recognizing that most mistakes are not malicious but human.

• Guard against contempt, which she sees as one of the most corrosive forces in any relationship.

She loves the image of love maturing from a spark into an ember; not as flashy, but hotter, steadier, and more sustaining over time. And she is clear that each additional year with someone who truly cares about you is a gift, especially as illness and aging complicate daily life.​

V. Purpose in the “Fourth Quarter”

Kim jokes that one upside of getting older is that “nobody expects anything of you,” so almost anything you do exceeds expectations. After retiring from dentistry, she began writing books and speaking not about teeth, but about grief, purpose, and aging well.​

She sees purpose not as a grand public mission, but as something available to everyone:​

• Making breakfast for someone.

• Encouraging a frazzled worker instead of snapping at them in a slow lunch line.

• Being the person in your “tribe” who adds steadiness, humor, and kindness.

Kim believes people have an inherent worth regardless of their productivity. In her view, a day can be truly meaningful even if it looks “ordinary” from the outside, as long as the people around you feel more seen and loved because you were there.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

On February 6th, Kim will step onto the TEDxDuluth stage to share more of her talk, “We’re Not Dead Yet,” weaving together stories of family loss, marriage, and late‑life reinvention. She hopes to encourage people of all ages to talk honestly about death, to build resilience before life demands it, and to “stay in the game” while they are here living boldly, loving generously, and fighting their way out of the pit whenever it tries to pull them back down. Go behind the scenes: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Katie Mednick blends sharp entrepreneurial instincts with a grounded, reflective approach to leadership. After founding and selling a successful railroad tech company, she is now building a spiritual self‑care and meditation app while using value-based leadership as her compass for what comes next.​

I. From Railroads to Tech Exits

A year ago, Katie was the CEO and founder of a SaaS company serving the railroad industry, a space she freely admits is “super old school.” Her company, Rail Tasker, focused on people safety and compliance - helping railroads manage training, certifications, and on‑the‑job checklists through modern software tools.​

The path there was anything but linear:​

• She started as a solo consultant under the name Spark Training Solutions, using her background in instructional design and regulatory affairs to help railroads tackle complex training regulations.

• She reinvested consulting revenue into the first software module - a simple on‑the‑job training checklist - without knowing if it would grow beyond that.

• Before the first module was finished, three of the largest railroads signed contracts, and the product expanded as customers asked, “Can you solve this problem too?” on their employees’ iPads.​

Looking back, Katie says that if she had fully understood how big the undertaking would become, she might have hesitated. But by following “the breadcrumbs of a good idea” one step at a time, she built something far larger than her original vision.​

II. Knowing When to Let Go

Katie grew up watching both grandfathers run their own businesses and initially promised herself she would never start a company after seeing how hard it was. When she did eventually find one, she also quietly promised herself something else: to be willing to let go while things were good, not just as a last resort.​

She imagined potentially selling around 2027 or 2028, but a strategic buyer approached much earlier: a global railroad software vendor eager to enter the North American market. What convinced her to say yes was not just the financial offer, but alignment:​

• The buyer had about 50 employees - large enough to be established, small enough to feel human.​

• She respected the acquiring CEO and felt strongly aligned on values.​

• She believed both her employees and customers would be well cared for and that the acquisition made strategic sense for everyone involved.​

For nearly a year, she held two realities at once: fully committed to leading her company day‑to‑day, while also preparing emotionally and strategically to let it go if the deal was right. That process required courage, self‑trust, and a belief that she could reinvent herself even before she knew exactly what the next chapter would be.​

III. Alumah and the Inner Work of Leadership

After the sale, Katie didn’t step away from tech; she redirected it. Her new company, Alumah, is a spiritual self‑care and meditation app rooted in the very practices she relied on as a leader. An early “MVP of the MVP” launched in late December, and she hopes to have the fuller MVP live around the time of the TEDxDuluth event.​

Alumah is, in her words, “close to my heart” and an extension of the inner work she did to lead well:​

• Ongoing self‑reflection on how her personal growth affected her ability to support her team.

• A weekly relationship, for over five years, with a therapist‑coach who helps her see blind spots and navigate challenging decisions.

• Using her core values as a practical filter for choices, especially under pressure.​

For Katie, leadership and personal growth are inseparable; Alumah is her way of sharing tools that helped her with others who are navigating demanding roles and lives.​

IV. People First, Community, and Growth

Katie’s leadership philosophy is built around three simple, memorable values she wrote down even before hiring her first employee: people first, participate in community, pursue growth.​

These values show up in how she:​

• Prioritized cultural fit and long‑term care for her employees and customers when evaluating a buyer.

• Talks about success as something built with teams and clients, not by a single “visionary” founder.

• Acts on feedback from trusted people who will tell her what she needs to hear, not just what she wants to hear.

She also credits her education for shaping this view. At Metro State, she designed her own undergraduate degree in managing a diverse workforce, combining gender studies, ethnic studies, management, and sociology. Later, she earned a graduate degree in training and development from UW-Stout, focusing on how people learn and how to design effective learning inside organizations. Those threads - equity, learning, and systems - eventually converged in her work as both a founder and a leader.​

V. Embracing Change Without a Master Plan

One of Katie’s most relatable traits is her honesty about not having a tidy master plan. She followed what interested her - diverse workforce studies, training design, regulatory work in railroads - and only later saw how those pieces fit together.​

She describes an early TEDxDuluth idea she had called the “paradox of success”:​

• To succeed, you often have to go “all in” on an idea.

• At the same time, you must stay flexible enough to pivot, admit you were wrong, and change course when reality teaches you something new.

Standing “ten toes down” while also riding the wave, as you put it together, is the skill - being committed without wearing blinders. That philosophy shaped her company’s evolution, her decision to sell, and even her approach to writing her TEDxDuluth talk, which she originally drafted just for herself as a way to reflect on what she had done and what she wanted to share.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

Katie’s TEDxDuluth talk will dig into value-based leadership - how it actually looks in practice, why it doesn’t always match the usual leadership stereotypes, and what it means to “live yourself into new ways of thinking” rather than just think your way into new habits. She will also use vivid analogies from railroading to illustrate her ideas, connecting a very old industry to very current questions about growth, change, and integrity.​

Her hope is that people leave not just inspired, but equipped: more willing to follow the breadcrumbs of a good idea, more confident about letting go when it is time, and more grounded in values that can carry them through whatever their next chapter looks like. Go behind the scenes: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Heather Poduska brings the energy of a seasoned performer and the grounded wisdom of someone who has lived many creative lives. An operatic and cabaret vocalist who coined her own DIVA mindset, she talks about presence, artistry, and agency with the ease of someone who has been on stage - literally and figuratively - since childhood.​

I. From Gospel Grooves to German Opera

Heather’s musical story started in a small-town church with a surprisingly bold music program. By age 13 or 14, she was the church pianist in an all‑woman musical team that jammed out gospel tunes for Sunday morning services.

As a senior in high school, she earned a competitive congressional scholarship to Germany - not for music, but for an exchange focused on politics and government. Even so, she found a touring opera singer at a U.S. Army base in Karlsruhe and rode the train there for voice lessons, deepening her classical training while meeting Bundestag members and learning how another country funds and values the arts. She saw her first opera in Germany and discovered how “you sneeze and hit a theater” in places where opera and classical music are heavily supported.​

II. Why the Arts Matter More Than We Admit

Heather is unapologetically passionate about the importance of the arts. She points out that European countries like France and Germany invest public money in opera and theater, helping keep tickets affordable and houses full for world‑class performers like Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson.​

To anyone who treats art as a luxury, she offers a simple thought experiment:​

• Imagine the pandemic with no recorded entertainment - no streaming, no silly videos, no playlists.

• Imagine weddings, Super Bowls, or funerals with no music, no performances, no shared creative expression.

Music, she argues, is woven into every major moment where humans grieve, celebrate, and remember. It sets the tone, moves the body, and helps people process feelings that words alone cannot reach.​

III. The Voice as an Athletic Instrument

Heather talks about singing with the same seriousness an Olympic coach might use for elite athletes. Classical singing is highly technical and intensely physical: the entire body becomes the instrument, coordinating muscles, bones, and breath so the voice can be both strong and free.​

Key aspects she highlights:​

• Operatic singers must project over full orchestras or fill large halls with no amplification, even on very soft notes.

• Technique is about organizing the body so some areas hold the right tension while others, like the throat, stay relaxed.

• Life constantly interferes: sleep, food, weather, arguments, illness, and parenting can all affect the voice.

Her own career has meant balancing real life with vocal care, sometimes joyfully passing on late nights to protect a performance, and other times choosing to live fully and accept the tradeoffs. She has grown to deeply respect other styles too from rock, pop, and musical theater recognizing they require different but equally demanding techniques and forms of storytelling.​

IV. Redefining “Diva” as Power and Poise

The word diva has a complicated reputation, especially for women, often used to dismiss someone as difficult or demanding. Heather has spent years reclaiming and reframing it through her “Diva Life Show,” where she interviews musicians, designers, conductors, luxury experts, and more, and always ends with one question: What does diva mean to you?​

The answers have helped shape her own DIVA mindset:​

• A diva is not about tantrums; it is about being fully embodied and powerful in your own life.

• A true diva believes they deserve a big life and knows they can pursue it without harming others.

• One response she loved: “A diva never rushes.” A diva doesn’t scramble; she enters the room knowing things will get done and that she has her own back.​

For Heather, this mindset is especially potent with age. She describes it as one of the blessings of getting older: becoming less rigid, more appreciative of different paths, and more committed to moving through the world with a kind of calm, earned authority.​

V. How Music Shapes Mood, Identity, and Growth

Heather sees music as both vibration and environment; something that literally resonates in the body and quietly shapes how people move through the world. She notes that everything we surround ourselves with art on the walls, people we spend time with, shows we watch, playlists we keep, feeds the brain and emotions.​

In her own life:​

• She uses different playlists for running and lifting weights, choosing tracks that either push her hard or keep her steady, depending on what she needs.

• She is intentional about when to lean into sad songs to access buried feelings, and when to avoid music that would drag her mood down.

• She sees music as a tool for processing emotions, especially for people who struggle to feel fully present with their own sadness, joy, or grief.

At the same time, she is careful to emphasize boundaries, especially when listening to what her kids have on; sometimes the healthiest choice is to say, “I can’t listen to that right now.”​

VI. Developing the DIVA Mindset

Heather talks openly about how her own perspectives have evolved over time. She used to be more “snobbish” about classical technique, assuming it made other styles trivial by comparison. Trying to sing in other genres herself changed that, as she realized how hard it is to move convincingly between opera, musical theater, and lighter styles.​

This shift mirrors a broader kind of maturity:​

• Recognizing that what is “best” in art is often subjective and contextual.

• Appreciating passion and craft wherever they appear, whether that is in a perfectly spun aria, Willie Nelson’s gravelly storytelling, or Axel Rose welcoming us to the jungle.

She sums up one of her favorite lessons from her father, now 98 and a lifelong runner: “The slowest guy in the race is faster than the critic screaming from the sidelines.” For Heather, that quote captures both the DIVA mindset and her own path - keep showing up, keep moving, and let the critics sit in the stands while you live the life that is actually yours.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

On February 6th, Heather will dive deeper into the DIVA mindset: where it came from, how tension and technique shaped her career, and how anyone, not just performers, can claim a more powerful, embodied role in their own life. She will explore what it means to stop rushing, own your presence, and own your “instrument” with intention and flair. Get behind the scenes access: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Ted Stephany lives at the intersection of sharp thinking and quiet courage. As a seasoned business leader and negotiator now stepping further into professional speaking and consulting, he brings a calm, intentional presence to one of the most uncomfortable parts of being human: speaking up when it really counts.​

I. From Negotiation Table to TEDxDuluth Stage

Ted spends his days in high‑stakes negotiations on tough conversations, confrontations, and conflict that would make many people freeze. Over time, he noticed a pattern: smart, capable leaders routinely avoid advocating for themselves or their ideas, even when the cost of staying silent is high.​

That gap is what pulled him toward the TEDxDuluth stage. Rather than giving yet another technical talk on negotiation tactics, he chose to focus on something more universal: why people struggle to speak up, and how a single courageous ask can change a career, a community, or a moment on a playground.​

II. Why We Don’t Speak Up

Ted sees the roots of silence in both biology and social conditioning. On one side is the nervous system’s instinct to avoid risk and stay safe; on the other is the learned habit of going along to get along, not “rocking the boat,” and people‑pleasing.​

He gives examples across ages and settings:​

• At work: avoiding a difficult conversation about a flawed project, an unhealthy team dynamic, or a risky decision.

• In families: children upset on the playground, but terrified to tell a friend, “That hurt my feelings.”

• In professional life: nurses or junior staff deferring to senior voices even when something feels off, simply because the other person has more status.

In Ted’s view, these moments are not trivial. They are the points where trust, safety, and good outcomes are either strengthened or quietly undermined.​

III. Practicing Conflict, Not Perfecting It

Despite his background, Ted is quick to admit that even he still has moments where he thinks, “Maybe I should bite my tongue.” He emphasizes that confidence is not a switch you flip once; it is something you practice, like law or medicine.​

His own career has required repeated, deliberate asks:​

• Initiating hard conversations in negotiations where the other side might concede too much; simply because they are uncomfortable pushing back.

• Going to his own manager to say, “I want this role. I think I’m ready. What do we need to do over the next six months to get me there?” instead of waiting for promotion to magically appear.

He encourages others to see asking as a skill that grows with use. The first conversation will not be perfect, but each one makes the next easier.​

IV. Leaders Remember What It Took

Ted is clear that speaking up is not about barging in or tearing people down. It is about standing in discomfort long enough to make your perspective heard thoughtfully.​

He points out that:​

• The leaders you might be intimidated by starting where you are.

• Research shows we often rate colleagues who speak up as more leader‑like.

• Many executives respect people who voice concerns or ideas because they remember learning to do that themselves.

Your job title may not say “leader” yet, but your willingness to ask hard questions and raise your hand is one of the ways future leaders are recognized.​

V. The Stories That Stick

True to his love of TED, Ted keeps a well‑stocked mental library of talks and stories that shape how he sees communication. He mentions favorites like Amy Cuddy’s body‑language talk, Tony Robbins’ high‑energy appearance, and a powerful talk on “what we’re getting wrong about nonprofits,” all examples of ideas that linger long after the video ends.​

He also shares a story about Cleveland’s theater district in 1972, days away from being demolished for a parking lot. A restorer named Ray Shepardson did not have millions of dollars, but he did have the courage to ask city officials for 48 hours and a chance to prove there was still an audience. A single weekend show turned into a two‑year run, saved the theaters, and created the largest theater district in the U.S. outside New York. For Ted, it is a vivid example of what one well‑timed ask can set in motion.​

VI. Butterflies as a Good Sign

Part of what makes Ted’s personality stand out is his mix of seriousness and humor. He talks about negotiating complex contracts by day and then laughing about his “professional negotiator” status evaporating at home when his daughters refuse to eat their vegetables.​

Underneath the jokes is a simple philosophy:​

• Butterflies in your stomach mean you are alive and that you care about what comes next.

• You may never feel totally cozy with that nervousness, but you can recognize it, name it, and move forward anyway.

He describes everyday confidence not as loudness, but as being comfortable in your own skin, listening more than you speak, and asking thoughtful questions. That calm, deliberate rhythm shows up in how he talks, how he negotiates, and how he plans to show up on stage.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

When asked to boil his talk down to one line, Ted puts it this way: “There’s a big wonderful life out there waiting for you if you’re willing to get a little uncomfortable and make a courageous ask.”​

On February 6th, he will walk the audience through why those asks feel so hard, how to approach them with intention rather than bravado, and what can change in careers, teams, and personal lives when people stop staying silent. Check out behind the scenes: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Bree Johnson wants people to stop treating burnout and workplace harm as “just part of the job” and start seeing them as signals that something deeper needs attention. Drawing on 15 years inside the legal world and now as an entrepreneur and CEO, she helps people separate who they are from what they do - and build healthier relationships with work.​

I. From “Recovering Employment Lawyer” to Work Recovery

Bree is an attorney by training who jokingly calls herself a “recovering employment lawyer” after allowing her law license to lapse. She spent years in C‑suite roles, founded her own employment law firm, and handled daily intake calls from people reporting workplace harm - often 10 to 15 calls a day with the same painful patterns.​

Over time, she realized the traditional legal system was mostly reactive, stepping in only after damage was done. Her current work shifts to a proactive approach she calls work recovery: helping people prevent “work wounds” when possible and heal them when they appear, so they are not reliving the same toxic patterns every few years in a new job.​

II. You Are Not Your Job

One of Bree’s core insights is about identity. She describes how deeply her own sense of self became tied to the label “lawyer” and how disruptive it felt internally to walk away from that title.​

From childhood, many people are asked over and over, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” a question that subtly trains us to believe “I am what I do.” Bree’s philosophy pushes back on that:​

• What you are is separate from what you do.

• Your worth is not determined by your role, title, or output.

• Untangling identity from work creates a protective barrier against deep work-related harm.​

She emphasizes that this separation is not about disengaging from meaningful work, but about refusing to let your entire self rise and fall with your job.​

III. Micro Breaks, Nervous Systems, and Real Rest

Bree talks about the power of micro breaks - short, intentional pauses that are not just “phone scroll time.” She points to research showing that non‑scroll breaks help reset the nervous system and improve mental and physical health, regardless of job type.​

She encourages people to:

• Use small gaps in the day (between calls, before meetings, during lunch) for grounding activities like walking, breathing, or reading something nourishing.​

• Notice how often breaks default to numbing behaviors like social media rather than true recovery.​

For herself, Bree has a non‑negotiable daily 60‑minute walk, regular meditation, and daily breathwork practice, and she notices a real difference in clarity and focus when weather or life interrupts those routines.​

IV. Beyond Hustle Culture: Human-Centered Work

Bree is candid about the limits of current “wellness at work” trends. She sees many corporate wellbeing programs as thinly veiled productivity tools: framed as caring for employees, but designed primarily to squeeze more output from the same hours.​

Her alternative vision:

• Put human experience at the center and trust that better wellbeing naturally supports better work, rather than the other way around.​

• Empower individuals to reclaim small pockets of time for themselves without always justifying it by business benefit.​

• Recognize that humans are not “widgets” on an assembly line; the industrial‑era model of managing people with stopwatches does not fit a modern, service‑ and knowledge‑based economy.​

As AI and automation accelerate, Bree believes being deeply and fully human critical thinking, creativity, emotional awareness will be what truly sets people apart.​

V. Work, the Future, and Holding Your Ground

Looking ahead, Bree expects major shifts in how societies define and structure work, from four‑day work weeks and improved parental leave in some countries to intensified “hustle culture” and return‑to‑office mandates in others. She notes that some envision a future where working becomes more like gardening, something some people do and others do not and warns that social systems will need to adapt to avoid widening poverty and health inequities.​

In that uncertainty, she sees work recovery as a kind of root system: a way to build inner resilience and clarity so people can navigate rapid change without losing themselves. The stronger those internal roots, the more capacity someone has to shape systems rather than be crushed by them.​

Go Behind the Scenes

If you want to hear Bree expand on that “work might become like gardening” idea and how AI, social safety nets, and human-centered workplaces could reshape our future watch the full, unfiltered Zoom conversation here: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Laila Miller wants people to stop waiting to “earn” their worth and start choosing it. Drawing on her experience as a longtime speaker and as a commodities trader used to managing risk, she brings a grounded, practical lens to a topic that often stays abstract: how you actually see yourself.​

I. Why a TEDxDuluth Stage for Self-Worth

Laila was inspired to apply for TEDxDuluth after watching a friend speak years ago and seeing how one clear idea could ripple outward. Self-worth, she says, is universal. Whether someone lives in a small town or a major city, almost everyone wrestles with feeling “enough.”​

She believes many of us are taught that worth is something we earn through achievements, titles, or approval. Her message flips that: self-worth is something you decide and choose, and that decision quietly reshapes the direction and purpose of your life. When you see yourself differently, you show up with more confidence and are more willing to take action.​

II. Moving From Talk to Action

Laila acknowledges that it is easy to stay in the “talking about it” phase of self-worth. Mental blocks, criticism, or silence from people you expected to cheer for you can all chip away at confidence.​

Her approach is two-fold:​

• Shut out negative noise: recognize that some people will put you down or go quiet when you succeed, and intentionally limit how much power their voices have in your mind.

• Feed your inner voice: spend time alone, read encouraging and educational books, listen to podcasts that build you up, and focus on your own purpose and goals.

Over time, she says, training your mind with better input makes hurtful comments bounce off more easily and succeeding in the things you set out to do becomes evidence that you were “more than enough” all along.​

III. The Power of a Small Circle

While self-worth starts internally, Laila is clear that supportive people matter. She talks about the importance of finding even one “safe person” and the way our inner circle naturally narrows with age to a few trusted friends.​

Those are the people who:

• Walk with you through hard times.

• Cheer loudly for your wins.

• “Hold your hands up when you get tired.”​

Not everyone will stay forever, some friendships fall away, but she sees that as part of life’s chapters changing, not proof that you are unworthy. The goal is not a huge social roster, but a small group that genuinely has your best interests at heart.​

IV. Social Media, Comparison, and “Fasting” From the Feed

Laila views social media as a double-edged sword for self-worth. On one hand, it helps her stay in touch with family in Italy, Norway, and across states, and it gives her a platform to encourage others. On the other hand, it can become a relentless highlight reel where “everyone is rich, beautiful, and has it all together,” making it easy to feel like your own life is going nowhere.​

To protect her mindset, she sometimes takes what she calls a fast from social media to intentionally step away when it becomes too much. Her advice is especially pointed for younger people: do not compare yourself to strangers online. The only meaningful comparison is with yesterday’s version of you and the growth you can see over time.​

V. Titles, Loss, and Life’s Chapters

A powerful part of Laila’s perspective is her distinction between who you are and what you do. She notes that athletes who retire or leave due to injury, for example, often say they feel lost without the identity of “pro” attached to their name. When titles or achievements disappear, anxiety and depression can quickly follow if worth has been tied only to performance.​

Laila argues that:​

• You are not your job title, your role, or your accomplishments.

• You were “born with a gift within you,” and that core identity stays even as chapters end.

• Roles like daughter, spouse, or partner may change or be marked by loss, but the love, growth, and lessons from those relationships come with you into future chapters.

Her own experiences with divorce and with preparing for the eventual loss of a parent shape this view. For her, life is a story where some chapters close and new ones begin, but the earlier pages still count and still belong to who you are becoming.​

VI. Kindness, Service, and Feeling “Enough”

Laila sees helping others as both a purpose and a quiet way to reinforce self-worth. She talks about simple acts like paying for someone’s groceries or leaving a heartfelt note and a gifted pair of favorite sunglasses for a stranger having a hard day. How those moments fill people with unexpected joy!

Kindness, she says, is something everyone understands, echoing a favorite Mark Twain quote: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” In her view, you never know what someone is carrying, so acting with kindness not only lifts others but also reminds you that you have something valuable to offer.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

For those coming to TEDxDuluth, Laila’s invitation is simple: arrive with an open heart and open mind. Her talk on self-worth is designed not just to inspire, but to spark real inner searching and concrete change.​

She hopes attendees walk away seeing themselves differently as less of a collection of titles and more as people who can choose their worth, write new chapters, and support others along the way. For the full and unfiltered conversation between Laila and me: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Melissa Fors Shackelford has spent her career using marketing to support people rather than just sell to them. With more than 20 years in healthcare and a focus on mental health and addiction, she sees communication as a way to reduce stigma, build trust, and help individuals and families find the care they need.​

I. Mission-Driven Work in Healthcare

Melissa describes herself as a mission and purpose driven professional who has consistently sought out roles in healthcare, allowing her work to directly support people’s wellbeing. In mental health and addiction especially, she has seen how stigma keeps many from getting help, which is why she speaks and writes often about naming that stigma and challenging it openly.​

For her, marketing in this context isn’t about spin; it’s about making services visible and approachable so people and families feel safer reaching out.​

II. Purpose, Values, and the “North Star”

A central theme in Melissa’s thinking is the relationship between purpose and values.​

She frames them this way:​

• Purpose is your “North Star” - what brings meaning to your life and gets you up in the morning.

• Values are what you believe is important and function as the roadmap that helps you move toward that North Star.

Melissa encourages people, especially those early in their careers, to take time for self-reflection so they can name both. Once you’re clear on your own purpose and values, she says, you can seek out organizations that genuinely align and “interview” them just as much as they interview you. That alignment, when it happens, is what she calls “gold” for both employees and employers.​ 

III. Marketing as a Force for Good 

Beyond stigma, Melissa is deeply interested in purpose-driven and ethical marketing, and how culture and values should shape everyday decisions. She has built much of her public speaking around topics like:​

• How to build trust in your marketing.

• How organizational culture and clearly defined values can guide communication choices.

• The ethics of using AI and balancing efficiency with honesty and transparency.

She notes that AI can either help or harm trust depending on how it is used, and she urges leaders to anchor AI decisions in their purpose and values rather than chasing whatever is “hot” at the moment. In her view, marketing is fundamentally “talking to other people,” and it becomes most powerful when rooted in empathy and respect rather than manipulation.​ 

IV. Small Steps and Courage Over Fear

Melissa sees fear, especially fear of failure, as a major reason people hesitate to act on their values. She stresses that most meaningful change starts with small, manageable steps rather than dramatic, all-or-nothing moves.​

She shares how an early decision to move overseas right after college, despite the risk and uncertainty, became a touchstone for her confidence later. Looking back on that experience reminds her she can handle big changes and helps her push through fear in new situations. She encourages others to do something similar: recall past moments of courage as evidence that they can take the next step too.​

V. Loneliness, Connection, and Real Life vs. Curation

Melissa also touches on the current loneliness epidemic, which she finds especially striking in a time when technology makes it so easy to connect across distance. She sees a tension between our digital tools and our emotional reality: video calls and social platforms can connect us, but over-reliance on them and constant comparison to others’ carefully curated lives can deepen isolation.​

For her, two things help counter that trend:​

• Investing in in-person, real-world relationships.

• Engaging in work and causes that align with your purpose so your days feel meaningful, not just busy.

When people know what fills them up and take even small actions in that direction, she believes, they are less likely to slip into apathy or endless scrolling.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

At TEDxDuluth, Melissa will explore how clear purpose, aligned values, and ethical, trust-centered marketing can change not only organizations but also how individuals feel about the work they do. She will invite attendees to think about their own North Star, how their values guide daily choices, and how tools like AI can be used in ways that honor, rather than undermine, human connection.

If you watch the full Zoom clip, you will be able to see Melissa and I nerd out over how we both think marketing is meant to be a tool helping others. That tests and grows your capacity for empathy. Link to full unfiltered conversation: [Link to full Zoom Interview.]

TEDxDuluth speaker Melissa Fors Shackelford has spent her career using marketing to support people rather than just sell to them. With more than 20 years in healthcare and a focus on mental health and addiction, she sees communication as a way to reduce stigma, build trust, and help individuals and families find the care they need.​

TEDxDuluth speaker Dayna Del Val has spent much of her life in front of people - as an actor, nonprofit CEO, and now as a coach helping others show up with confidence. Her TEDxDuluth talk, though, isn’t about speaking at all; it is about the quiet, disruptive power of silence in a world that never stops buzzing.​

I. A Life on Stage, A Message About Quiet

Dayna’s background spans more than 45 years of acting, 30 years as a professional actor, and a long tenure leading a nonprofit before launching her coaching work, Audaciously Visible. She helps people who already have something to say learn how to say it better and command the spaces they walk into.​

She is quick to point out that content alone is not enough. Most of us have sat through talks where the material was good, but the delivery lost us, while someone with “moderate” content but a strong presence lingered in our minds. For Dayna, that kind of presence is closely tied to the deeper inner clarity that can only come from making space for quiet.​

II. Living Through a Crisis of Noise

Dayna believes we are living in a “crisis of noise.” Between podcasts, music, streaming, social media, and constant notifications, almost every gap in the day risks being filled by sound or scrolling.​

That saturation, she says, drowns out the inner voice “trying to give us direction, trying to help us uncover what’s next.” Even simple moments like going for a walk are often framed as chances to “be productive” by consuming more content, rather than opportunities to hear nature or our own thoughts. Silence becomes uncomfortable, in part, because it is where our “deepest, truest, and most honest” thoughts tend to surface.​

III. Breaking the Productivity Habit

One of Dayna’s main points is that silence rarely happens by accident. The moment someone sits down to write, think, or simply be still, everything around them suddenly seems urgent - the dirty refrigerator becomes a crisis, or the inbox starts calling. She names this for what it often is: resistance to doing the harder inner work.​

Her suggestions are intentionally practical and small-scale:​

• Leave your phone at home for a walk and resist the urge to fill the time with a podcast.

• Commit the first 15 minutes of your day to external quiet with no music, news, or notifications.

• Turn off the TV before bed instead of falling asleep to a timer.

• Consider a short solo retreat or even a quiet afternoon away from your usual environment to interrupt old habits.

Like any habit, making space for silence takes practice, but Dayna insists it is learnable and accessible.​

IV. Listening to the Internal Compass

In 2020, Dayna went on a solo retreat that became a turning point. In the stillness, she realized she was meant to leave her job and bring this work about presence, purpose, and silence to more people. That insight did not lead to a dramatic walkout; instead, she stayed in her role for two and a half more years, gradually building her next chapter alongside her day job.​

She describes this process as listening to an internal compass:​

• Silence reveals what you already suspect about what needs to change.

• Intuition “will rarely lead you astray,” though it may guide you through some murky water before things make sense.​

• Big shifts often unfold through small, consistent steps, not instant reinvention.​

For Dayna, purpose is less about becoming a cultural icon and more about refusing to drift through life on autopilot. That purpose might look “small” from the outside like a nurse sitting with patients who have no visitors, but its impact can be enormous.​

What to Expect at TEDxDuluth

On February 6th, Dayna will explore how intentional silence can “disrupt your life” in the best possible way. She will invite the audience to question a culture that measures worth in likes, followers, and overnight success stories, and instead pay attention to the quiet, long-game work of becoming more present and purposeful.​

If you watch the full Zoom conversation, you will see her gently validate choices like deleting TikTok when the noise becomes too much and offer concrete ideas for carving out quiet even in a busy, connected world.​Watch the full, unfiltered conversation here: [Link to Full Interview]

TEDxDuluth speaker Enrique Velázquez talks about leadership in a way that feels practical and down-to-earth: take care of people first, and trust that the results will follow. His path from high-tech global operations to public service is less about heroics and more about noticing what feels meaningful and choosing to lean into it.

I. From Tech Deadlines to Community Work

Before working for the City of Minneapolis, Enrique spent years in high tech, managing customer experience and complex engineering projects around the world. One project in particular required him to help several countries run their first free elections after a sales team signed a deal they didn’t fully understand.

He jokes that he had “six months or democracy was going to fail,” but what stuck with him wasn’t just the pressure - it was how quickly the company moved on to the next revenue target after the elections went well. That moment didn't make him a savior; it just made him realize he wanted his day-to-day work to line up better with his own values. He chose to pivot toward work where the primary outcome was community wellbeing rather than just profit.

II. Growing Up as an "Ambassador Kid"

Enrique grew up in a military family that moved often, living in places like Panama, parts of Europe, and Southeast Asia. He attended kindergarten in three different countries while navigating German, English and Japanese while interpreting for my parents who spoke only Spanish. By the time we were stateside again, I had attended nearly a dozen schools.

Because his parents were from Puerto Rico and learned English later in life, he and his sister often helped with language and day-to-day logistics. He thinks of that role as being an “ambassador” more than anything else - learning how to listen, how not to assume, and how to represent his family and country as respectfully as he could. Those same skills show up now when he’s working through disagreements in neighborhoods, trying to get people to a shared vision without pretending he has all the answers.

III. Vision as a Compass, Not a Map

Enrique returns often to the importance of a clear vision. He describes vision not as a rigid, step-by-step plan, but as a compass that points toward a shared destination without dictating every turn. When he leads teams, he likes to sketch a maze with a clear start and end point, but with a blank middle:

• The Start: Where the team is now.

• The End: The shared vision or outcome.

• The Blank Middle: The space for team members to design the path, make decisions, and develop new skills.

His role is to support the team with tools and encouragement, rather than prescribing every move. As he explains it, if leaders prescribe every step, "you’re not going to grow."

IV. Regulatory Services, But Human

Today, Enrique is the Director of Regulatory Services for the City of Minneapolis, overseeing everything from animal care and traffic enforcement to housing inspections and the city’s response to unsheltered homelessness. On paper, that can sound pretty stiff, but he talks about it in everyday terms: people, homes, and how to keep things safe without forgetting that real lives are involved.

He shared one winter story about a burst pipe in an apartment building on New Year’s Eve that forced residents to evacuate. His department had to enforce safety rules, which understandably upset people, but some staff later showed up at a fundraiser and quietly chipped in to help residents with costs. For Enrique, that isn’t heroic; it is just what neighbors do when they’re able.

V. Tiny Homes and Shared Streets

Enrique is also involved with Sacred Settlement efforts - ideas that look at tiny home clusters as one option for people who are chronically homeless. These communities would mix residents who have experienced homelessness with volunteers who haven’t, so support grows out of everyday interactions, not formal programs alone.

The focus is less on grand solutions and more on small, steady changes that make life a bit more livable, such as:

• Affordable, dignified shelter in small, intentional communities.

• Everyday proximity to supportive neighbors who see residents as equals.

Go Behind the Scenes

In the full Zoom conversation, Enrique tells a story that fits his low-key style: he walked into an Amtrak station with $100, asked the clerk to "pick a direction," and ended up in St. Paul with no plan and no place to stay. Fellow passengers helped him find a couch to crash on and a convenience store job within a day - a very "Minnesota nice" welcome that still makes him laugh.

Watch the full, unfiltered clip here: [Link to Full Zoom Interview.]

This week, we had the privilege of sitting down with Ryan Reichert, a speaker for the upcoming TEDxDuluth event, to discuss his journey through the military, recovery, and redefining what it means to be successful. What began as a conversation about my own college graduation quickly evolved into a powerful discussion about life's vectors, true wealth, and the deceptively simple steps to transforming your world.

I. Defining the Vector: Success Beyond the Job Title

The interview started with a relatable moment, “the universal struggle with technology,” as Ryan wrestled with his camera while I mentioned I was in my final week of college, graduating with a degree in management and marketing. That small moment opened a deeper conversation about modern anxieties around career, purpose, and what “success” really means.

Ryan’s advice is not the typical, linear career plan you might expect from a retired Lieutenant Colonel. He outlined his high-achieving past with 23 years in the Army, a Master’s degree, and building the risk management division for Polaris, which was then contrasted with alcoholism, prescription drug addiction, and divorce.

“I have a different approach today... I was going to be a financial advisor. You know, I have a [worthless] criminal justice degree from the University of North Dakota... and to me, I think all of it is finally maybe paying off...”

That “[worthless] criminal justice degree,” as he jokingly calls it, is now a source of quiet pride. Today, he uses it to mentor veterans coming out of Hennepin County jail for drug and alcohol-related offenses, meeting them where they are and sharing his own arrest story from nearly 30 years ago.

“You never know where you're going to get directed in life... My business, like, you know, it ebbs, and it flows... I get scared, right? Like, I gotta be in control... And it's like, did you eat today? Yeah, so, do you really need 1,000 bucks in here?”

His focus has shifted from net worth to self-worth. He openly rejects the old dream of the 5,000 square-foot house and luxury car; today, success is being “happy, joyous, and free.” His advice to anyone starting a new phase is simple: don’t live by your parents’ or partner’s expectations. If a part-time job pays the bills so you can pursue what you love, that counts as success.

Ryan also challenges the quiet trap of overthinking. Drawing on his military and risk-management background, he warns against “analysis paralysis” and urges people to move when they have enough information, not perfect information. Instead of waiting for 90 or 100 percent certainty, he aims for “about 70 percent,” trusting that clarity comes from taking the next right step, not from standing still.

This mindset is relevant for anyone hesitating to make a big decision, but especially so for a new graduate, like myself. Don’t let life's big decisions trap you in “analysis paralysis.” Moving forward is full of unknowns, but each courageous step forward reveals more of the path.

II. Recovery as Daily Practice

Ryan’s ability to mentor others is rooted in his commitment to recovery, which he calls “the greatest gift I've ever been given.”

“It’s one of those to me today, that I know the price tag that it cost. So I do get emotional about that because I don't want to hurt people today, and I did. I hurt a lot of people.”

He credits his father, a recovering alcoholic and Vietnam veteran, sober for over 40 years, for normalizing the process. As a kid, he watched his dad head to meetings every Monday night, not as a secret, but as a rhythm of life.

When Ryan surrendered to his own addiction a few years ago, he committed to 90 meetings in 90 days, using his military discipline to build a new structure.

“It was just part of my... it's like going to college biology or, you know, math... I just, I locked in.”

Today, recovery is less a finish line and more a framework he chooses daily. He still attends meetings and has taken on roles like treasurer and secretary, giving his intense energy somewhere healthy to land. That same discipline shows up in his habits of writing, even on his birthday, getting to the gym before dawn, and channeling his “work hard, play harder” mentality into running, sauna camp, and cold plunges instead of self-destruction.

III. From Brotherhood to Humanism

Ryan’s story is also about transforming a deep need for belonging. Growing up in tiny Hoople, North Dakota, he joined every sport he could, from football, basketball, track, baseball, and golf; just to be part of a group. When an injury sidelined him, that isolation fed into early prescription drug use and taught him how easy it is to hide pain behind performance.

The military became the ultimate answer to that longing for connection: 5 a.m. formations, saluting the flag, working out together, and serving downrange as a tight-knit team.

“It’s the dynamic of you spend so much time together every, you know, every day... it’s just 24/7 like you're doing everything together. And so, yeah, it's hard when you stop that.”

Losing that intensity after retirement was jarring, but recovery communities and new collaborators have taken up that role. Ryan now sees his own story reflected in a broader loneliness epidemic through cutting across age and gender. He believes people need intentional “third spaces” like gyms, parks, faith communities, and coffee shops to stay grounded. The digital world, in his view, is neither enemy nor savior; it becomes what we make of it. After all, this conversation between Duluth and Corcoran happened because two strangers decided to say “yes” to a video call.

IV. The Six Steps: Activating Those Around Us

Ryan’s humanism comes to life through his six-step method, the heart of his TEDxDuluth message. The acronym that guides him is FOCUS: Faith, Opportunity, Consistency, Unconditional Kindness, and The Standard.

Alongside FOCUS, he teaches a simple six-step courtesy practice anyone can use to “activate” the people around them: smile, make eye contact, say “please,” say “thank you,” say “excuse me,” and say “I’m sorry” then repeat them all day long. These sound basic, but he treats them as deliberate tools for dignity.

On the road, he notices how easy it is to disappear behind earbuds at 5 a.m. on the way to the hotel gym.

“I find myself doing it too... And I gotta, like, be like, nope, not till I get to the gym, I'm putting that phone away... you might come in contact with somebody, and it might change their day.”

He cherishes his quick morning exchanges with “Maria,” the apartment worker he passes after his workout. A shared smile and “good morning” have become a small ritual he genuinely looks forward to, and he worries a bit when she is not there.

He even uses these steps at home, often reminding his aging father to add a “please” when asking for help. It is not about correcting him; it is about activating mutual respect.

“If my smile and my eye contact, my please, my thank you, my excuse me, and my I am sorry. Changes their direction, one degree, one degree. Yeah, it's enough, you know, that they at least stick around for another day, kind of thing... We don’t know.”

That uncertainty is the point. We never really know what someone else is carrying, or how much a small act of kindness might matter. Ryan Reichert’s life is a testament to perseverance, not because he lived flawlessly, but because he learned to master his inner life and turn his pain into a practical roadmap for connection.

When he steps onto the TEDxDuluth stage, Ryan won’t just be sharing a story of survival; he’ll be inviting all of us to trade perfection for action, isolation for connection, and politeness for a daily practice of unconditional kindness.

The Full Conversation: Go Behind the Scenes

The full, unedited Zoom clip of the chat with Ryan is available here: Link to Full Zoom Interview. Watch the full clip, and you’ll get a peek at when I tell Ryan not to worry about the video quality because the plan was to use the audio file only at first! 

Over the past few weeks, we've introduced the organizers of TEDxDuluth and the core philosophy of Igniting Personal Development. Now, we are thrilled to introduce one of our speakers: Mazz Marry, Chair of the School of Science at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Mazz is a brilliant plant biologist and academic leader, but our conversation quickly moved beyond his professional titles to the most pivotal, personal event of his life. His talk is a story of achieving professional success while facing a private struggle.

Mazz's talk is a powerful exploration of how the tools used for survival in addiction recovery are, in fact, the most essential tools for authentic, honest, and effective leadership in any field.

I. The Road to the Awakening

When asked what motivated him to apply for a TEDxDuluth talk, Mazz was candid. It wasn't about seeking recognition for his academic field; it was about the profound, life-saving story he now had a duty to share:

"I have a story, I hope I have a story you want to listen to, and my story can help you."

Mazz shared his chilling, "blind luck" journey to sobriety. His rock bottom wasn't a slow realization; it was a physical emergency resulting from alcohol dependence, but a dramatic turn of events that led to a medically induced coma.

"I fell on the ice one day and got taken to the ER... I went into withdrawal, and they had to put me in a medically induced coma for six days. When I woke up and was sober, I had my first thought of, 'I might have a problem.'"

Mazz was no longer able to live in denial; this experience forced him into Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He revealed a sobering truth about his path: he is in the very small percent of people who went once, got sober, and stayed sober. This statistic underscores his belief that you must learn the lessons of recovery before fate forces your hand.

II. The Power of Silence and Co-Creation

Following years of denial, where he refused to listen to loved ones, Mazz committed to a long period of silence in recovery.

"I spent so many years not listening to people telling me, 'Hey dude, you have a drinking problem.' I needed to listen to people. So I listened to everything."

This period of forced silence lasted a year; Mazz realized this radical act of taking space was the secret to true co-creation in leadership. By stepping back and listening, you allow others to contribute their knowledge and ideas, rather than micromanaging or pretending to have all the answers.

"We don't know. We're just trying to make something better. You think about it and say, 'Let's give it a go.' We don't know. We're trying to fix. There's no answers at this point. We're just trying to make something better."

The power of this collaborative approach is embracing uncertainty and moving forward by combining different knowledge sets; a direct lesson from his recovery journey.

III. Leadership from the Recovery Manual

For Mazz, recovery and leadership became intertwined. After getting sober, he realized he could be a leader because the principles he learned in recovery were directly transferable to managing people, challenges, and organizations.

He plans to strip away the academic jargon often found in leadership training:

"Some leadership books are just... you get lost in the weeds... I just thought, well, let's just break it down to stuff that I know that works that's helped me."

The Rule of Honesty: No More "But"

One piece of advice from his time in treatment has become a cornerstone of his talk: the prohibition against using the word "but" when discussing his mistakes or intentions.

"She said, I never want to hear the word 'but' out of your mouth ever again... In here, you're going to listen, and you're never going to say the word 'but' in a sentence again, and give me some excuse. And, you know what? Almost nine years later, I've never done it."

The challenge is simple: what you say after "but" is the only thing that matters. True honesty requires eliminating the excuses and accepting the core truth.

IV. Braving It Until You Make It

Mazz strongly rejects the philosophy of "fake it 'til you make it," viewing it as inauthentic and damaging. Instead, he advocates for "brave it 'til you make it" which is coming at every challenge with courage, honesty, and a willingness to collaborate.

He argues that great leaders and individuals must admit when they don't have the answer:

"The most helpful, honest and scariest thing you can do as a leader is just to say, 'I don't know.' Let's work on this together and see if we can work it out."

This is the vulnerability that transforms. It breaks the cycle of denial and creates space for shared success.

“You are not a leader until you're lost.”

Don’t be afraid to make a decision. The worst thing you can do is nothing. If you make a mistake, pivot.

Ticket Launch is 12/19: Don't Miss This Talk!

Mazz Marry’s message is a masterclass in self-discovery, leadership, and the relentless courage required to face your true self. The insights he shares could be the moment that compounds into a lifetime of personal and professional growth for you.

As Mazz reminds us, "Every saint has a past, and every sinner deserves a second chance."

Listen to the Full Interview

Hear the full, uncensored conversation with Mazz Marry: [Full Zoom Interview]

We’ve spent the last few weeks diving into the philosophy of TEDxDuluth, focusing on Igniting Personal Development to achieve professional growth. But what happens when you step away from the daily grind and make space for an aha moment?

We sat down with Christian Koelling, a Twin Ports Rotaract Advisor and Director of Men's Hockey Operations at UMD, whose background in sports and community service drives the organizational precision of the event. Despite meeting only moments before, the conversation quickly became a personal look at the value of making time for growth.

I. The Unexpected Depth of the Conversation

Christian's perspective, shaped by 18 seasons in hockey operations and nearly two decades as a Harbortown Rotarian, challenges the notion that being busy equates to being better. He stresses that the event's true power lies in the human connections made in the downtime.

The conversation highlighted a key truth: you don't have to know someone for long to connect.

• On the Initial Connection: "I give them [the students] all the credit... the students thought this would be something that would be able to highlight, certainly sharing ideas and just an event that our town could use, and I think it's a great way to bring people together."

• On Finding Common Ground: "I just think if individuals are deliberate about reaching out their hand and saying hello, and starting a conversation, I think there'll be plenty to talk about... Hopefully, not only benefiting from the presentations themselves, but it's our aim that there will be some connections made where people can get an additional benefit through that."

II. The Teamwork and Operations Mindset

Christian is quick to credit the executive team (Star, Kadie, and Mark) for the heavy lifting, but his background provides the critical insight into why dedicating a full Friday to this event is essential for professional organizations.

The Idea: Making Space for the "Aha" Moment

Christian argues that in our day-to-day lives, we are all "just getting through what needs to get done," but that this routine suffocates the potential for breakthrough.

"I think it's really important that people carve out time to make themselves better. And if you can attend this event, and if you leave with just one aha moment where something hits you, or you can view things differently, or if you can change a habit, or do something to benefit yourself; that's just going to compound over your life."

He emphasizes that you have to make space for it, and TEDxDuluth is intentionally creating that space.

Making a Weekend of Growth: The UMD Connection

Christian confirms the strategic scheduling of the Friday event to encourage tourism and extended stay. And for any hockey fans looking to combine their intellectual growth with some high-octane entertainment, he offers a perfect weekend agenda:

"I'll throw in a plug, you know, just as Director of Hockey Operations for the Bulldogs, we have North Dakota in town that weekend. So, any hockey fans that want to catch TEDxDuluth on Friday and then come to the Bulldog game, that's a nice little agenda for the weekend."

Why Businesses Should Invest:

Christian is passionate about seeing the local business community utilize TEDxDuluth as a development tool:

• The Liberating Insight: "I'd really love to see the business community grab a hold of it as a way to help develop their staff and their workforce. There'll be a lot of not-industry specific [training], and I think it's a great opportunity for businesses to get behind it and send their people and give their employees that opportunity to grow, which will just strengthen their organization."

III. The Value of Investing Time in Yourself 

The theme of Igniting Personal Development is rooted in navigating the major transitions of life. Christian shares that his most significant growth came during times of uncertainty, when he was forced to make decisions or do soul-searching.

"I think those are the times where I've had the most growth in my life, when maybe things weren't going well, or maybe when something needed to change... I think that's a transformative time in anyone's life."

For Christian, involvement in the community is a source of purpose and enjoyment.

"Being able to be involved in something that's bigger than yourself... and hopefully make a difference in other people's lives."

His final, most personal piece of advice, revealed during a moment of spontaneous conversation about public speaking, is a simple rule for both speakers and attendees: Be real and be prepared.

"Don't self-deprecate. ... When the speaker gets up there and goes, 'Oh, this is my first TED Talk, and I'm really nervous, so bear with me,' it's like, 'Oh, you didn't seem nervous - now I'm noticing it.'"

Be present, be prepared, and be confident in the value you bring to the room.

FINAL COUNTDOWN: Ticket Launch Announcement

We are just days away from releasing the full speaker lineup and launching ticket sales! Don't miss the chance to be part of the inaugural TEDxDuluth experience.

Visit the official website to volunteer, or join the email list for updates.

Check us out on LinkedIn @TEDxDuluth 

Listen to the Full Interview

Experience the spontaneous conversation that inspired this post: [Link to audio file.]

Last week, you heard from our organizer, Star, about the philosophical engine and deeply personal motivation behind TEDxDuluth. This week, we sat down with co-organizer, Kadie, to move from vision to reality, discussing the intense logistics, the crucial role of the Duluth community, and the personal reward of seeing an idea brought to life.

Kadie is the digital architect and administrative backbone of the event, ensuring that every speaker, ticket, and schedule detail aligns perfectly with the big-picture goals.

(You can find the full audio recording of this interview available with this Link to the Audio File.)

I. The Co-Organizer’s Role: Vision Meets Reality

While Star is the visionary - the CEO and dreamer - Kadie is the administrative force that makes the vision executable. She defines her role as the necessary check on ambition.

"Star is the face of things that are going on, like going to our conferences and spreading the word. Whereas I’m more of that community-focused person where I’m making sure that our scope is within the community, and when we’re planning the event, what that kind of looks like - more administratively to have a successful event."

Kadie’s background coordinating large-scale events at Duluth’s Glensheen Mansion taught her that a smooth event requires meticulous start-to-finish planning, from the initial inquiry to the final cleanup. She brings that critical, realistic perspective to TEDxDuluth.

"I kind of like to say, I’m the ‘Dream Killer’, but sometimes, like there’s a lot of things going on and I’m like, do we have the capacity to do that? Because Star has so many good ideas."

Her job is to bridge the creative ideas to the concrete constraints: venue capacity, budget, and the sheer labor required. She is the essential voice ensuring the experience you get on February 6th, 2026, is flawless and focused.

II. The Community Connection: Why Duluth?

Kadie highlights that TEDxDuluth is designed not just to take place in Duluth, but to celebrate and elevate the region. The decision to host on a Friday is intentional:

"It's to give people that time to maybe stay the whole weekend and explore and see what Duluth has to offer, because not only are the views incredible, but the people are really great too."

The team recognizes that many attendees - even those from the Twin Cities area - have never fully experienced the vibrant culture, art, and natural attractions of the Northland. The event is positioned as a gateway to Duluth.

Bridging the Personal and Professional: The event itself reflects the concept Kadie learned during her Rotary International Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference work: people are seeking something beyond their daily routine.

"You know, [extracurriculars and/or sports] are your whole life growing up, and you’re going to take out of that what was meaningful to you, what do you want to continue to do?"

TEDxDuluth offers that opportunity: It's a dedicated day to step away from the daily grind and reflect on where they want their lives and careers to go next.

The Power of the Idea (and the Lollipop)

The ultimate goal, Kadie explains, is the ripple effect - the tiny moments of connection and insight that have massive long-term impact. She shared a well-known TED Talk story that embodies this power:

"It’s essentially titled ‘Lollipop Moment’ [Drew Dudley TEDxToronto: Leading with Lollipops] and it kind of puts into perspective where we’re like really into our autopilot and we’re just doing our jobs... but this girl essentially had a [stranger] hand her a lollipop and he made a funny joke, and her and the guy ended up getting married." The speaker was invited to their wedding, and he doesn't remember this life-changing moment for the two other people involved.

The point is, you never know which piece of information or which small interaction at TEDxDuluth will change a life or launch a career. That single moment - that powerful idea - is why the effort is worth it.

III. The Final Push – Your Chance to Join the Effort

With the vision established by Star and the logistical planning led by Kadie, TEDxDuluth is now entering the final, crucial stage of activation. This event is built by volunteers, and its success is dependent on the community's participation.

Kadie, who has been volunteering and leading community projects since high school, reinforces that giving back is its own reward.

"I’m not really doing it for any reason other than, I’m like, this is really cool and I’m growing my skills, but also other people get to benefit from it."

The Call to Action is Now

• Tickets are Launching Soon: You have heard the mission, the philosophy, and the commitment of the two organizers. The time to guarantee your seat is here.

• The Power of Serendipity: Come to the event ready to engage - to find your lollipop moment, meet your next collaborator, and discover the idea that sparks your transformation.

Listen to the Full Interview

For more insights into Kadie’s perspective on event planning and community building, listen to the complete audio: [Link to audio file.]

The Ultimate Reminder

As Kadie shared, we are often trained to constantly look ahead, but great moments happen when we pause and focus on the now:

"Enjoying the moment that you’re in... The future will be there. What can you control right now?"

Invest your time in the present and join us on February 6th, 2026!

In our previous posts, we outlined the TEDxDuluth vision: delivering Inspiring Ideas for your professional development through a focus on Igniting Personal Development. Now, we're taking you to the core of that vision by sitting down with our organizer, Star Gump, to find out why they decided to bring a TEDx event to Duluth.

The interview revealed that this event is far more than a passion project; it is the philosophical and personal culmination of Star’s academic work, community service, and a hard-won lesson about the true meaning of balance.

(You can find the full audio recording and transcript of this interview at the bottom of the page.)

I. The Spark - Service Above Self 

Star is a student at UMD, but their commitment to the community began long before college. It started with Rotary, the global service organization whose motto is "Service Above Self."

Star was heavily involved in community work, including restructuring the Rotaract Club (the youth version of Rotary) at UMD. For a time, their service looked like many small, focused events - volunteering at local organizations like the Lake Superior Zoo. But, Star realized there was a way to create a bigger impact.

“I realized that if you only have a few people show up, that's not making as much of an impact as one big event that brings the community together,” Star explained.

The goal crystallized: instead of many small efforts, Star wanted to create a singular, large-scale platform where local ideas could be amplified to inspire hundreds. TEDxDuluth became the logical next step - a mechanism to maximize the impact of ideas and elevate the community’s collective potential.

"TEDxDuluth is kind of an extension of that [community work] to put on one event that inspires many people. I want to bring professional development to everybody, not just the people who are in suits... [let’s] bring people's personal growth into the picture as well."

The event, therefore, is rooted in the belief that the greatest service we can offer the community is a dedicated space for profound thought and intellectual growth.

II. The Interdisciplinary Mindset - A Tipi of Ideas

What makes Star’s approach to curating the event so unique is their academic foundation. Star didn't choose a standard major; they pursued an Interdisciplinary Studies degree at UMD called Creative Community Empowerment. This custom degree combines three distinct fields: 

1. Philosophy: The "Why." It drives the search for core meaning and challenges conventional wisdom.

2. Geographic Information Systems (GIS): The "Where." It provides the technical skill to analyze the context—the community, the landscape, and the data.

3. Journalism: The "How." It provides the structure for effective, concise storytelling and communicating complex ideas to a broad audience.

Star used the analogy of a Tipi to describe this work: you need all three poles (Philosophy, GIS, and Journalism) to hold up the structure of a truly powerful and well-rounded idea.

This interdisciplinary approach is the intellectual core of the event. It ensures that the talks you hear on February 6th will not be siloed—they won't be pure business jargon, nor will they be solely academic theory. They will be connected and comprehensive, blending the "why" with the "where" and the "how-to-share."

This is also how Star views diversity and inclusion through intersectionality:

"It's the iceberg that we can see underneath... everyone's a little blob [of experience], some of our experiences are the same, some of them are different, but they all work together to kind of build up society."

This means TEDxDuluth will showcase ideas that come from complex, intersecting personal histories, not just visible demographics, making the conversations richer and more relatable to everyone.

III. The Personal Engine - Finding Balance After Burnout

The event's theme, Igniting Personal Development, is incredibly personal to Star, stemming from a challenging experience with burnout and mental health. This is the authentic heart of the event’s mission.

Star shared a story from their freshman year at UMD, where they threw themselves into every opportunity - a classic example of confusing busyness with productivity.

“I signed up for not every club I was interested in, but a lot, and I took an active role in all of them,” Star recalled. This led to a serious burnout and going into inpatient care due to their Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which can be intensified by stress and overcommitment.

That difficult experience forced a necessary period of re-evaluation and growth, which led to Star being taught a vital concept that they now use to manage their energy: The Spoons of Energy.

The Spoons of Energy

The analogy is simple yet profound: you start every day with a limited number of "spoons" or units of energy. Every activity - a challenging work task, an intense conversation, even managing stress - costs a spoon. If you spend too many spoons too quickly, you crash.

The lesson? Intentionality over volume. You must strategically manage and conserve your spoons for the activities that provide the most personal and professional value.

This concept is why the TEDxDuluth theme focuses on the personal side of growth. Star wants every speaker to deliver an idea that helps attendees manage their own "spoons," avoid burnout, and make smarter, more sustainable decisions—because that’s where true, long-term professional success begins.

IV. The Vision for Duluth - A Lasting Staple

What does Star ultimately hope to achieve for the community? They aim to establish a stable, central professional gathering - a fixture on the Duluth calendar that endures for decades.

Duluth is, as Star puts it, "the biggest small town," a place where natural beauty draws people in and community keeps them here. But that community needs a central hub where professionals, students, and thinkers can consistently gather to exchange high-level, actionable ideas.

This event is Star's contribution to strengthening the economic and intellectual roots of the Northland, signaling that Duluth is a place where innovation is not just happening, but is actively celebrated and organized.

The Ultimate Takeaway

When asked for a final thought, Star brought it all back to the most critical resource we have: time.

“If time is the meaning of life, then time is your life. Essentially if it is the meaning of life, how you spend your time is your choice, because sadly, death is inevitable.”

TEDxDuluth on February 6th, 2026, is an invitation to invest your time in a day that is truly about your choice—a choice to step away from the busyness and invest in ideas that will redefine your life.

Ready to Invest in Your Time?

We are just days away from releasing the full speaker lineup and launching ticket sales! Don't miss the chance to be part of the inaugural TEDxDuluth experience.

Visit the official website to volunteer, rsvp, or join the email list for updates.

Check us out on LinkedIn @TEDxDuluth For more insights into Star’s philosophy on leadership, inclusion, and the speaker selection process, listen to the complete audio and scratch transcript.

In our previous updates, we laid out our foundation: the mission to deliver Inspiring Ideas for your professional development and our core theme of Igniting Personal Growth.

But a TEDx event is more than just a list of talks; it’s a living, breathing experience powered entirely by passion. If the mission is the blueprint, the people - our organizers, our volunteers, and our audience - are the architects.

Today, we want to introduce you to the dedicated volunteers who make this vision possible and define what the TEDxDuluth experience truly means for you.

Part I: The Duluth Difference - A Curated Experience

What sets TEDxDuluth apart from a lecture series or a standard professional conference? It is the careful, collaborative labor that ensures the entire day is focused on intellectual engagement and community connection.

1. Ideas are Just the Start: Speakers

We invest significant resources into the production quality of our stage. This isn't just for the cameras—it's for you. We design the visual and acoustic environment to ensure that every idea, whether big or subtle, is delivered with maximum impact and clarity. You will be sitting in a space optimized for singular focus, allowing the ideas shared to genuinely resonate without distraction.

2. The Power of Serendipity: Breaks

The true magic of TEDx often happens in the lobby. We intentionally curate our breaks to facilitate unexpected connections:

• Curated Spaces: We design interactive areas, thoughtful catering, and comfortable seating arrangements specifically to encourage conversation between attendees from wildly different disciplines.

• The Idea Exchange: The person standing next to you in the coffee line might be the CEO, the student, the artist, or the scientist who can help you implement the idea you just heard on stage. If you would like to meet the speakers after each session, you can buy a VIP ticket!

3. Lasting Value: Your Professional Toolkit

You will leave the event not just feeling inspired, but equipped. The ideas presented are selected because they are actionable. They are designed to fit immediately into your professional toolkit, giving you new frameworks for leadership, creativity, and resilience.

Part II: The People Behind the Ideas: Meet Your Organizers

TEDxDuluth is a labor of love run by individuals who believe in the Northland's potential. We are volunteering our time because we are committed to seeing our community thrive through the power of shared knowledge.

Star - The Visionary and Event Strategist

Star serves as the overall event lead, focusing on our macro-strategy. Driving the event's theme and speaker selection resonates deeply with the community's needs and upholds the global standards of the TED platform. They are focused on the long-term impact of TEDxDuluth:

"We want to empower the community with an igniting toolkit that will transform into a flame of action, causing change in their life and their community!” - Star 

Kadie - The Outreach Lead and Experience Curator

Kadie is responsible for the quality control, logistics, and community engagement. Her passion lies in organizing the grassroots efforts that turn abstract plans into a tangible reality through curating the minor details to create impact:

"There are so many wonderful people living in Duluth and the surrounding areas, curating a new experience where we can all connect to share our stories, differences, and new ideas is something anyone could get behind.” - Kadie

Part III: Your Role - Completing the Circuit of Ideas

As organizers, we design the stage, but Ambassadors and Attendees complete the circuit. This is an invitation for you to move from an observer to an essential contributor.

The Call for TEDxDuluth Volunteers

The day of the event runs smoothly because of our dedicated Volunteer team. If you are passionate about community, professionalism, and seeing great ideas succeed, we need your help!

Volunteer roles are divided into key support functions:

• Registration & Welcome: Be the first friendly face, quickly checking in guests and distributing badges/event programs.

• Guest Experience (Ushers): Ensuring quiet and respectful seating flow inside the theater to protect the speaker's focus and the video recording quality.

• Break Facilitation: Keeping the networking areas clean, energetic, and helping attendees connect during intermissions.

• Logistics Support: Assisting the production team with set-up, small errands, and managing backstage areas.

Volunteers receive free entry to the portions of the event they are not working, an official shirt, and a certificate of service for their professional portfolio. This is your chance to meet the organizers and speakers while supporting a world-class event.

The Call for Attendees

• Clear your calendars for February 6th, 2026, as this is an all-day event(9am-5pm), with the option to attend a singular session, attend 2 sessions, or attend all day!

• Buy tickets in advance to ensure your spot! More details to be released soon.

Ready to Act?

We are just days away from announcing our first batch of speakers and opening ticket sales! Don't rely on luck - get the inside track.

Visit the official website to volunteer, rsvp, or join the email list for updates.

Check us out on LinkedIn @TEDxDuluth 

This post is our opportunity to pull back the curtain, share the profound commitment of our organizing team, and clarify the vital role we play in bringing "ideas worth spreading" to the Northland.

Part I: What is TEDx, and Why Duluth?

We've all been inspired by the iconic talks on TED.com - those short, powerful speeches that change the way we see the world. But TEDxDuluth is something beautifully different; it's local, independent, and deeply personal.

The "x" Factor: Independently Organized, Community-Driven

The "x" in TEDx stands for "independently organized TED event." This is the key difference that makes our event unique:

• A Local Lens on Global Ideas: While the global organization curates TED Conferences, TEDx events are run by local volunteers, licensed by TED, and built from the ground up to reflect the unique spirit, challenges, and brilliance of their specific communities. We are not bringing a pre-packaged event to Duluth; we are curating a stage from Duluth, for Duluth.

• The Power of Proximity: The ideas discussed on our stage are directly relevant to life in the Northland, from our economy and environment to our culture and challenges. When a speaker shares a profound idea, the person sitting next to you might be the innovator who can help you implement it in your business or neighborhood.

• A Gathering, Not Just a Viewing: A standard TED Talk is a digital experience; TEDxDuluth is a live, shared experience. We create the space for deep, in-person discussions, networking, and the spontaneous collision of ideas that truly sparks change.

Our Mission: Ideas Worth Spreading, Locally Sourced

At the event's core, the mission of TEDxDuluth is to create a platform that elevates the innovators, thinkers, and change-makers of our region. We are committed to fostering a culture of curiosity and intellectual generosity by:

1. Challenging the Status Quo: Presenting new and provocative ideas to push our community beyond conventional thinking.

2. Connecting Disciplines: Bringing together speakers from technology, art, science, business, and social activism to show how different fields can collaborate to solve complex problems.

3. Inspiring Action: Moving the audience beyond mere inspiration to feeling equipped and motivated to apply these ideas in their own professional and personal lives.

Part II: Our Theme, Our Values, and The Personal Journey

The organizing team didn't choose our theme casually. The theme is a guiding star which shapes every speaker's choice and event detail.

The Guiding Theme: Igniting Personal Growth

Our theme dives into the personal engine. We believe that lasting professional success is impossible without intentional personal growth.

• The Link Between Self and Success: Our speakers will share ideas that redefine everything from productivity and resilience to ethical leadership and creativity. The ultimate purpose is to equip you with the mental frameworks and courage needed to tackle both your career goals and your life goals.

• More Than a Seminar: We are not simply offering career advice. We are presenting ideas that challenge your core beliefs, refine your decision-making processes, and re-energize your commitment to your personal well-being—all of which are necessary for high-level professional achievement.

Our Core Values: The TEDxDuluth Mission

Our entire team is aligned around three core values:

1. Intellectual Generosity: The ideas shared must be freely given, unbiased, and focused purely on the benefit of the community. We strictly adhere to the TED rules: no commercial, religious, or political agendas. The focus is solely on the idea.

2. Local Authenticity: We celebrate the unique character, landscape, and people of Duluth (and the surrounding Minnesota community). Our event experience, from the stage design to the networking spaces, will be authentically Northland.

3. Inclusivity: Great ideas can come from anywhere. We are dedicated to building a stage that is genuinely diverse—in ethnicity, profession, background, and life experience - to ensure that the ideas presented reflect the full spectrum of our community's brilliance.

Part III: What We Need From Our Community

TEDxDuluth is a reciprocal event. We are curating ideas for you, but we need your help to amplify the impact. This is where you move from an audience member to a co-creator of community change.

1. Participate: Invest in the Ideas (Ticket Sales)

This is our simplest and most immediate ask. Unlike standard conferences, TEDx is designed to be affordable and accessible. Purchasing a ticket is not just buying a seat; it is directly funding:

• The Venue & Experience: Creating a comfortable, inspiring environment that facilitates networking and deep conversation.

• Production Quality: High-quality video and audio recordings that meet TED's standards and live on forever on YouTube, showcasing Duluth to the world.

2. Amplify: Spread the Word and the Mission

• Become an Advocate: Share our speaker announcements, blog posts, and ticket information on your professional networks. Tell your colleagues, friends, and local leaders why these ideas matter.

• Engage Online: Comment on our posts. Tell us which themes or topics you are most excited about. Your engagement helps us reach more people organically.

• Join the Ambassador Program: Inspired by the work we’re doing? We are always looking for passionate volunteers who can dedicate a few hours to simple outreach tasks, from posting flyers to sharing event details within their clubs or organizations. Contact the event Organizer, Star via star@twinportsrotaract.org for more details.

3. Reflect: Carry the Ideas Forward

The true measure of a TEDx event's success is not the applause on the day of the event, but the action taken in the weeks and months afterward. We invite you to come prepared not just to listen, but to reflect on which idea you will take home and put into practice; whether it transforms your career, your volunteer work, or your community.

Join us on February 6th, 2026. This event is for you, and its success is dependent on you. Let’s make TEDxDuluth a testament to the power of a single, well-formed idea to truly change the Northland.