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Who spoke?
Editor's Pick: Sam Watson is the 2024 Paris Olympics speed climbing world record holder and bronze medalist. He teamed up with Albert Ok, his coach, for a duo talk. Known for their dynamic relationship and innovative training methods, they dive into what it takes to break records and push the body to its limits.
Editor's Pick: Felony Misdemeanor is a Denver-based drag queen with almost 25 years of experience and the drag mother of Denver’s House of Misdemeanor. Felony shares how the art of drag has helped her find herself—both in and out of drag—and how it’s empowered her with confidence, professional success, and a found family.
Kylie Sambirsky is a senior at CU studying psychology. She has aphantasia, a rare condition that prevents her from visualizing mental images. She talks about how aphantasia can be reframed as a strength, rather than a deficit.
Rev. Dylan Thomas Doyle is a PhD candidate in Information Science at CU and a Unitarian Universalist minister. He speaks about the role of AI in transforming our understanding of death and dying. He explores how we can design “grief bots” that heal, not harm, by using ethical principles to support those navigating loss.
Marwa Yacouti is a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering at CU. She explores the powerful lessons from the Apollo 13 mission and highlight how those challenges became valuable learning points for aerospace engineers, shaping how we approach the unknown.
Dr. Matthew King is the visionary CEO of Our COMMON Foundation—a Boulder-based incubator empowering non-profits to create positive change locally and globally. He dives into the future of capitalism—exploring its current challenges and reimagining it as a system built on empowerment, not just profit.
Laureal Boston is a local Boulder bartender who’s redefining what it means to serve. In an era of increasing isolation, genuine connection has never been more vital. Drawing from her experience as a bartender and leader in the hospitality industry, Laureal explores how the simple acts of service—listening, noticing, and making others feel seen—can transform lives and build deeper relationships.
Carolus Vitalis is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at CU. Carolus is using synthetic biology and automation tools to accelerate genetic circuit design and biological discovery. In his talk, he’ll explore how biological anomalies—often seen as obstacles—can actually drive innovation, with AI playing a key role in developing new genetic systems.
Rodrigo Salgado Vallarino is our 2025 Student Voices Competition winner. Through his life, he experienced firsthand what it means to be an immigrant and the profound, often unseen, impact immigrants have on society. In his talk, he shares insights on how immigrants thrive in foreign countries and how we can all embrace their resilience to grow and succeed together.
TEDxCU 2025: Anomaly
In a world governed by norms and standards, anomalies disrupt the expected patterns, challenging our perceptions and pushing the boundaries of what we consider "normal." But what if anomalies are not to be feared, but celebrated? What if they hold the keys to innovation, progress, and deeper understanding?
Join us at TEDxCU as we delve into the intriguing world of anomalies. From the smallest quirks to the grandest deviations, we will explore how these outliers shape our reality, redefine our perspectives, and inspire us to think beyond convention. Through captivating talks and thought-provoking discussions, we will unravel the mysteries of anomalies and discover the profound lessons they offer for humanity.
Whether in science, technology, art, or society, anomalies invite us to question, to wonder, and to embrace the unknown. They remind us that true progress often emerges from the fringes, where anomalies thrive and possibilities abound. Together, let's embark on a journey of discovery and reimagine what it means to be normal in an extraordinary world.
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