Narda Pitkethly created a system that profoundly simplifies learning how to read. Watch how her system reduces illiteracy and many of its negative consequences. Narda Pitkethly moved to Japan after college and discovered the Japanese had created a simple method of learning to read, called Hiragana. Through their method, Narda learned to read Japanese in a week. Within three months, her comprehension allowed her to communicate freely in her home city of Fukuoka.
In 1988 Narda moved from Japan to Sun Valley because the small community and year-round outdoor activities enticed her. An accomplished glassblower, she often travels to Boise to create works of art.
When her daughter was identified as a challenged reader in the first grade, Narda discovered that English is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn to read, even for native speakers. Narda analyzed the English alphabet to understand why it is so difficult (1 in 4 children grow up without learning to read). She organized the letters in the same way the Japanese organized their Hiragana characters. Narda reveals an approach to the English language you have never seen before. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Russ Altman uses computer technology to explore how our genes affect the ways our bodies respond to drugs.

A Stanford professor of bioengineering, genetics and medicine, Altman leads Simbios, an NIH Center for Biomedical Computation, and holds a BA from Harvard College, an MD from Stanford Medical School and a PhD in medical information sciences from Stanford. Altman received the U.S. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and Stanford Medical Schools graduate teaching award. He chairs the Science Board advising the Food and Drug Administration and is a founder of Personalis Inc.

The Opioid Crisis has been more than two decades in the making. It’s time for us to move from problem to solution. We have to look at the major forces that are tragically taking more lives daily and get to the root cause. A public call for help! Dr. Manal Fakhoury is President and CEO of Fakhoury Leadership International, with over 30 years of non-profit and leadership experience, she serves on many community and national boards.
Manal is also a consultant pharmacist, inspirational speaker, coach, trainer, and mentor. Undergraduate, and doctorate from the University of Southern California, an MBA from Webster University. Manal has been recognized with many professional and community awards including Person of the Year, Pharmacist of the year and recently Communicator of the Year. Manal was honored to participate in the Climb of Hope and summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in January 2014. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Following a near death-like experience this popular physician and medical journalist realized that her past conditioning was causing her to live an inauthentic life that created depression and anxiety. She dug deep into her shadow to overcome low self-esteem, learn to love herself and transform her entire life. In this inspiring talk at TEDxIUM, Dr. Andrea Pennington shows how we can learn who we really are — or who we were meant to be — by examining our biology, our personality and temperament and ultimately discovering our unique Soulprint to break free from social conditioning that creates self-loathing and self-rejection.

Dr. Andrea Pennington is the Founder and President of Pennington Empowerment Media. An integrative medical doctor, acupuncturist and Positive Psychology coach, she empowers people to go from “surviving to thriving” by embracing their strengths and talents and sharing them with the world in a powerful way. As an investigative journalist she produces television programs and documentaries about the soul and science of wellness, longevity and optimal living. Dr. Pennington provides values-based brand development consulting for individuals and small companies who wish to make an impact in the world through digital and broadcast media.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event 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)

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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences.

In this talk, Tai Lopez reminds us that everyone wants the good life, but not everyone gets the good life because not everyone is willing to do what it takes.

Self-awareness has countless proven benefits — stronger relationships, higher performance, more effective leadership. Sounds pretty great, right? Here’s the bad news: 95% of people think that they’re self-aware, but only 10-15% actually are! Luckily, Tasha Eurich has a simple solution that will instantly improve your self-awareness. As a third-generation entrepreneur, Dr. Tasha Eurich was born with a passion for business, pairing her scientific savvy in human behavior with a practical approach to solving business challenges. As an organizational psychologist, she’s helped thousands of leaders improve their effectiveness, from Fortune 500 executives to early-stage entrepreneurs. Her new book, Insight, reveals the findings of her three-year research program on self-awareness, which she calls the meta-skill of the 21st century. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speakers personal views and understanding of meditation and spirituality. Weve flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf

Anthony Metivier, memory expert and creator of the Magnetic Memory Method used a simple process of «self-inquiry» to help him overcome years of mental distress that imprisoned him in a “manic-depressive” identity, and almost took his life. bring peace of mind and focus, and free ourselves from negative thinking. Using the secular translations of ancient Sanskrit by Dr. Gary Weber, Anthony shares the two most powerful and immediate tools self-transformation. They are easy to remember and anyone can use them to create focus on the present moment and experience instant freedom from negative thinking.

For more ways to combine simple memory exercises with mindfulness, find Anthony on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIwC3d4CRjrrQdaqZaNBpA
www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIwC3d4CRjrrQdaqZaNBpA Anthony Metivier is the founder of the Magnetic Memory Method, a systematic, 21st Century approach to memorizing foreign language vocabulary, dreams, names, music, poetry and much more in ways that are easy, elegant, effective and fun. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Your words are what matter; they are the art form that gets people to give you what you want and gets people to comply. Here Evy shares some tips, tricks and techniques to help you be the best communicator you can be.

Evy Poumpouras is former Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service and an on-air contributor for CNN, NBC, CBS, and FOX regarding interview and investigation techniques. In addition to her fraud investigations, she has provided presidential protective detail for President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, and many more.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

Changing the game in Education through the eLearning Game Changer aims to deliver better opportunities to one million Western Cape learners, and requires deep commitment to the success of a project that places the learner front and centre, driving systemic transformation in the way that government delivers to its client.

Penelope Anne Tainton is a dynamic, proactive presence in the South African government and political arena. In her current position, working in the Delivery Support Unit of the Department of the Premier, Penny leads the progress and delivery of two of the Western Cape Government’s Game Changers, namely eLearning and the After School Programme.

An involved citizen of South Africa, Penny is passionate about extending her services to areas of society where she can make a difference, bring about positive change and realise improved standards. A major driver in her work is finding innovative solutions to the inequalities that remain in society, and most particularly in the child’s experience in education.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx