Theme: Renaissance

Renaissance is a French word meaning rebirth or new beginning. At its core, the concept of Renaissance is characterized by a renewed emphasis on humanism, a philosophical stance that places human beings and their capabilities at the forefront of intellectual inquiry and creative expression. The Renaissance period was a time that led to the revival of classical learning and propelled society out of the Middle Ages. TEDxCU’s 2024 theme aims to rekindle the fire of intellectual curiosity and creative exploration, drawing inspiration from an era that celebrated human potential in all its forms. TEDxCU wants to hear from community members who are blending tradition with innovation to tackle contemporary challenges in our changing world. Our talks will celebrate the timeless spirit of human curiosity, creativity, and progress and represent a variety of fields and perspectives. Inspired by the transformative era of the Renaissance, this TEDxCU event gathers thinkers, visionaries, and change-makers from diverse fields to explore how the essence of rebirth continues to shape our modern world.

Macky Auditorium
1595 Pleasant St
Boulder, Colorado, 80309
United States

Ankit Sharma

Renewable Engineer

Ankit Sharma is a renewable engineer specializing in 24/7 solar + storage solutions, microgrids, and mindful leadership. He holds a bachelors in mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, a Masters in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado and is a licensed electrical engineer. Ankit loves working on technical, high impact projects that spur social change. He has conducted focus groups for improved charcoal stoves in East Africa and spent a summer cycling across the US. Outside of work, Ankit finds joy in travel, crafting and exploring 14ers with his son in sunny Colorado.

Brad Fanestil

Medical Doctor

Dr. Brad Fanestil is a board-certified Internal Medicine doctor with 30 years of primary care and hospital experience. Throughout his career he saw patients come into his exam room and into his hospital with problems that didn't always respond to medications and procedures. In 2018 he started reading about the new neuroscience and discovered that anxiety, chronic pain and many other hard-to-treat medical conditions are nothing more than learned behaviors in the nervous system - habit loops in the neural circuitry of the brain. Most of his patients have seen dozens of doctors and other healthcare practitioners without relief. Now, using the tools of Mind Body Medicine, Dr. Fanestil teaches people how to rewire the neural circuitry of anxiety and chronic pain.

Carrie Barry

Boxing Coach

Coach Carrie Barry, a 10-time National Champion and former Captain of Team USA, brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the ring. Proudly serving in the US Army with the WCAP Boxing Program. With a degree in Sports Medicine she's a well-rounded expert in athletic development. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Carrie established a non-profit boxing club in Boulder, Colorado, aiming to make boxing accessible to all.

Chris Magee

Student and Entrepreneur

Chris Magee is a student at the University of Colorado Boulder and is from Utah. Chris is the founder of @hugyourfriendz, and aims to spread nationwide positivity and connection. His major is strategic communication with a business minor and a certificate in entrepreneurship.

Donna Mejia

Professor and Artist

Donna Mejia is an educator, artist, author, and curator in love with our planet’s many cultures. After a global career in professional dance, she dove deeply into integrative studies of subjects most western institutions weren’t yet discussing: trauma sensitive approaches and somatic interventions and healing, the equal importance of cultural preservation alongside cultural remixing and innovation, and culturally robust and intersectional models of embodiment, contemplative practices, expression, and interoception. She has often said “The sacred and the profane coexist very peacefully in my world!” She serves as the inaugural Chancellor’s Scholar in Residence for Health and Wellness at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder.

Kate Nam

Student and Pace Setter

Kate Nam is a young adult navigating her future and daunting choices of life. She is a gap year kid turned college student figuring out what paths she wants to take in a realm of seemingly endless choices. Coming from high school burnout to discomfort in silence, she struggled with trying to figure out what exactly she wanted to put her time and effort into. Through basking in the discomfort of pause and internal reflection, she more confidently makes life changing decisions and finds value in pace changes. Now currently at the University of Colorado Boulder, she has found happiness in the realm of discomfort and encourages others to reframe life’s pace changes to their advantage.

Lindsey Granger

Journalist and Television Host

Lindsey Granger is a seasoned journalist and television host, often seen by many on NewsNation and as a frequent guest host of The View. She owns a multimedia production company, LG Productions, which has developed content for Buzzfeed, ELLE Magazine, REVOLT TV and a variety of other outlets. Lindsey has crafted her own journey — creating TV series, writing for magazines and often appearing on a wide range of programming from MSNBC to a worldwide travel series, 'World of Travel.' She oftens shares her story of having absolutely no connections in the media industry and landing a seat at the same tables as her idols. Lindsey spent the early years of her career producing for NBC News, covering major events like the Royal Wedding of Prince William & Kate Middleton and the 2012 Republican and Democratic National Conventions. She is also an International Radio and Television Society fellowship recipient.

Naia Ormaza Zulueta

Ph.D. Student and Environmental Rights Researcher

Naia Ormaza Zulueta is a PhD student at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her work mainly analyzes environmental human rights and how these are intertwined with climate change. She is a current postgraduate “la Caixa” fellow, has collaborated with the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and holds a double B.Sc. in Physics and Electronic Engineering and an M.Res. in Methods and Models of Quantitative Economics.