In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Hogg Memorial Auditorium
2300 Whitis Ave
Austin, Texas, 78705
United States

Alexis Kashar

Attorney, Entrepreneur, and Producer

Alexis Ander Kashar is an attorney, entrepreneur, and producer with a focus on the intersection of accessibility in technology and sports. She grew up in a multi-generational Deaf family that encouraged her interest in civil rights and accessibility from an early age. Alexis graduated from the University of Texas School of Business in 1989 and the University of Texas Law School in 1992. She is also a member of the Friar Society. For over two decades, Alexis practiced civil rights and special education law in the private sector with a focus on accessibility. She is the founder of Love Sign and recently launched the first ever ASL licensed merchandise line with the NFL for all 32 clubs and is also a producer of the ASL performances at the Super Bowl this year. Alexis was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve on the United States Access Board. She is also a Board Trustee for the New York School for the Deaf and resides in Westchester, New York with her husband.

Bavu Blakes

Scholar Emcee, Author, and Educator

Originally drawn to Austin, Texas, for journalism, Bavu found fame as a regional rap artist, making history as the first emcee in the city to have a song officially added to daytime commercial radio. His musical prowess, with collaborations with Grammy-winning producers like Adrian Quesada and Gary Clark Jr., earned him recognition, including "Bavu Blakes Day" declared by Austin Mayor Steve Adler in 2015. Blakes serves his wife, Dr. Tifani Jones Blakes, and their two children. He and his 12-year-old son co-authored El's Mirror, a picture book and reflective tool for families, parents, mentors, leaders, and educators of children.

Caroline Rose

Public Speaker and Motivational Storyteller

Caroline Rose, a nationally recognized public speaker, and motivational storyteller delivers compelling stories from her three separate battles with her highly aggressive, incurable stage IV cancer. Caroline understands the universal struggles that come with trying to live life to the fullest, even in the face of fear and uncertainty and is passionate about helping people to recognize the beauty of life, even in the darkest moments. Today, Caroline is enjoying her thirteenth year of living cancer-free. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, and enjoys life as a wife and a mom to her two teenage children and two four-legged fur babies. Caroline travels the country, speaking to approximately 10,000 to 15,000 people yearly. Her message of hope resonates universally, especially today. The world is craving hope, and Caroline is happy to be the one to provide it.

Dr. Heather Morgan

Chief of Staff and Strategy at Alamo Drafthouse

Recently named one of the Top 50 Women in Global Cinema, Dr. Heather Morgan has spent her career putting the principles of Industrial-Organizational psychology to work within all facets of the entertainment industry. Having spent over a decade in executive roles with some of the industry’s most prominent theatrical exhibition companies, her expertise spans leadership development, operational excellence, content acquisition, strategic partnerships and business development. She has been featured in numerous publications and podcasts including Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Boxoffice Magazine, Celluloid Junkie, Ticket to Ride, Exploring Potential, and more. She is currently serving as Chief of Staff & Strategy with Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas as well as President of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, making her the first female to hold the position in the charity’s 80-plus year history.

Dr. Nahid Siamdoust

Journalist, Author, and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin

Nahid Siamdoust has been writing about Iran for over twenty years. She is an assistant professor of media and Middle East studies at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of *Soundtrack of the Revolution: The Politics of Music in Iran* (Stanford, 2017). Nahid earned her Ph.D. from Oxford, was a Yarshater Postdoctoral Associate at Yale, and a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School. She was an Iran correspondent for *Time* and a Middle East correspondent for *Al Jazeera International*. Her recent work appears in *The New York Times*, *New Lines Magazine*, *Foreign Policy*, BBC, and NPR. In 2023, she launched the podcast “Woman, Life, Freedom: All in on Iran” about the 2022/23 uprising. She is currently working on a book about publics and the politics of joy in Islamic Iran.

Dr. Richard Reddick

Inaugural Senior Vice Provost and Dean of the Undergraduate College at The University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Richard J. Reddick is the inaugural Senior Vice Provost and Dean of the Undergraduate College at The University of Texas at Austin. He previously served as Associate Dean for Equity, Community Engagement, and Outreach in the College of Education and was a professor in Higher Education Leadership. His roles included Assistant Director of the Plan II Honors Program and courtesy faculty in African and African Diaspora Studies. He was also a fellow at the Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis and a Visiting Associate Professor at Harvard. Dr. Reddick is the Faculty Co-Chair for Harvard's Institute for Educational Management and teaches in its Institute for Management Leadership in Education. He received the 2021-2022 President’s Award for Global Learning (PAGL) and holds a B.A. from UT Austin and master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard.

Kareem El-Ghayesh

Founder of KG BBQ

Kareem El-Ghayesh, originally from Cairo, Egypt, cultivated his love for cooking at a young age, inspired by family gatherings and with his mother in the kitchen. Despite a career in banking after graduating from Cairo University in 2009, his passion for food persisted. A transformative trip to Austin in 2012 sparked his obsession with barbecue, leading him to experiment with smoking meats at home. In 2016, he left banking and moved to Austin, Texas, immersing himself in the city's culinary scene. Enrolling in culinary school at Austin Community College and working at establishments like Kerlin BBQ, Valentina’s, Lamberts, and Salt & Time, El-Ghayesh honed his skills and infused his Egyptian heritage into his cooking. After hosting private dinners and pop-ups for years, he opened KG BBQ in October 2022, blending traditional Texas barbecue with Egyptian flavors in dishes like his signature brisket rice bowl.

Kathy Terry

Co-Founder of P-Terry's and Philanthropist

Kathy Terry challenges the common narrative of prioritizing financial success in the early years only to seek deeper meaning and purpose later in life. Through her and her husband’s journey of building a fast-food burger chain for almost two decades, Kathy illustrates the power of leading with compassion and having an unwavering commitment to their vision. This approach not only allowed them to find purpose and significance but paved the way for their ultimate success.

Melody Afkami

CEO of Melody DanceFit

Passionate about the transformative power of dance, Melody Afkami pioneered Melody DanceFit, transforming traditional fitness. Her humorous and inspirational approach has reached millions online. Melody DanceFit was the first in Austin to use concert venues and bars instead of studios, growing from ten-person classes to sold-out events with over a hundred attendees. Melody has cultivated a following hooked on her message of self-acceptance, joy, and transformation. Emphasizing women empowerment and philanthropy, her company donates to the international nonprofit Dress For Success. Afkami has been named ClassPass "Instructor Of The Year" four consecutive years and has taught at international conferences and festivals, including SXSW and ACL. She has collaborated with companies like Lululemon, Facebook, Bumble, and Google. Melody's mission is to demystify dance and help people unlock their inner power, as evidenced by her viral YouTube video 'Havana,' which has over 40 million views.

Merlin Tuttle

Ecologist, Wildlife Photographer, and Conservationist

Merlin Tuttle is an ecologist, wildlife photographer, and conservationist renowned for over 60 years of work studying and preserving bats. His efforts have made Austin a global leader in demonstrating bats as valuable and safe neighbors, with his birthday, August 26th, declared Merlin Tuttle Day by Mayor Steve Adler. He founded Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation in 2014. Previously, he led Bat Conservation International for nearly 30 years before leaving in 2009. MTBC offers the world’s finest bat photo gallery and up-to-date responses to exaggerated disease concerns about bats. At age 82, Tuttle remains dedicated to educating the public about the vital roles of bats. His work has been featured at Harvard University, the British Museum, and in major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and National Geographic. His global efforts span from Brunei and Bulgaria to Brazil, Chile, and beyond. For more information and to support his work, visit MerlinTuttle.org.