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).

Charleston Music Hall
37 John St
Charleston, South Carolina, 29403
United States

Adam Tanious

Dr. Adam Tanious became interested in cardiovascular medicine in college at Johns Hopkins University and as a medical student at Michigan State University. He started his dedicated vascular surgery training at the University of South Florida and then completed his training at Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital, concurrently earning a Masters of Medical Science in Clinical Research. Dr. Tanious’ interests in business and entrepreneurship lead him to earn his MBA during his current tenure as faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina where he also holds the title of Associate Program Director of the Vascular Surgery Residency

Amber Ludeman

Amber Ludeman, Partner at Charleston's leading digital marketing firm Matchstick Social, believes that remote work is killing relationships. Amber graduated from Wofford College in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in English Literature and from College of Charleston with a master's degree in English Literature in 2012. She founded Matchstick Social in 2013, which is currently located in West Ashley.

Ann Marie Adams

Ann-Marie Adams is a highly experienced and accomplished Business & Communication Studies instructor at the University of South Carolina Beaufort with over 25 years of experience in communication, education, and the nonprofit sectors. She shares insights on public forums, digital literacy, and communication because she believes these are all critical components to framing social and economic opportunities for every member of society.

Ben Towill

Ben is an English-born restaurateur and career adventurer, based in Charleston, South Carolina. Ben and his wife Kate launched their hospitality brand Basic Projects in 2015. Most recently, he completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000-mile nautical race across the Atlantic Ocean, which raised over $150K for Greenheart, a local food nonprofit. Ben’s passions for healthy, inspired living and sustainable food systems drive the mission of Basic Projects as the company continues to create an ever-expanding collection of unique spaces, experiences, and products that inspire people to live better.

Emily Curtis

Emily Curtis is a soulful singer-songwriter with a captivating southern flair. Since bursting onto the local music scene in 2015, she has enchanted audiences with her guitar skills and smooth vocals, following in her father's footsteps. With a crowd-funded EP and a collection of singles under her belt, Emily's tracks have been signed to sync catalogs for prestigious publishers including Concord Music Publishing and Koze Music. Emily wowed audiences at the Charleston Spiegeltent alongside Grammy winning artists Charlton Singleton and Quiana Parler, and performed at the Riverfront Revival music festival curated by Darius Rucker in October 2023. Her all-female band caught the attention of Garden and Gun Magazine, leading to a feature in the magazine's online performance series, "Back Porch Sessions".

Erin Kienzle

Erin Kienzle has spent 20 years on TV as a reporter, meteorologist and TV host. When not on-air, she's on stage as a fundraising auctioneer raising money for non-profits across the Southeast.

Herb Frazier

As an author, a journalist who has witnessed major international events, and a Charleston native, Herb Frazier believes that spreading ukweli – the Swahili word for truth – about the Black experience is the only path to racial healing. Herb has edited and reported for five daily newspapers in the South. Since 2011, he’s been spreading ukweli through talks at colleges, churches, libraries and civic organizations across South Carolina. What he’s witnessed is that audiences become more sympathetic and less resistant to social change once they learn the truth about what it means to be a Black person in America today. Building on his experience in traveling the world, Frazier wants to amplify his and others’ learnings so that racial healing can happen here in Charleston.

Jeannelle Perkins-Muhammad

Dr. Jeannelle Perkins-Muhammad is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with two decades of experience addressing the systemic racism that impacts the mental and emotional health of Black couples. She holds a BA in organizational communications, a Masters degree in marriage and family therapy, and a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision. The author of, Into-Me-See, her work navigates the complexities of the psychological effects of racism, offering insights and solutions for overcoming the challenges that contribute to high divorce rates among Black families.

Jon Pangia

Jon Pangia has over 30 years experience in healthcare that includes time as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, public health volunteer in the Peace Corps, hospital nurse tech, emergency physician, Medical Director, and executive overseeing clinical applications of Artificial Intelligence programs. His professional training includes: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Board Certification in Emergency Medicine, Masters of Business Administration, and Masters of Artificial Intelligence.

Jordon Benton

Jordan Benton, a graduate of the School of the Arts and College of Charleston, moves with seeming abandon and obvious joy, reflecting her family’s history of music and dance that has influenced her.

Julie Walker

Julie is a certified genetic counselor who received her BS in Genetics and Psychology from the University of Georgia and earned her MS in Genetic Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. After a few years in clinical practice, Julie made the transition into industry work where she could have a larger impact on patient care by directly educating healthcare providers about the power of optimizing healthcare through personalized medicine. She spent over a decade working for leading molecular diagnostic companies as a field-based genetic counselor supporting commercial teams before stepping into her current role as an Associate Director of Marketing. In addition, she is a consultant offering leadership and professional development training and an avid volunteer within the genetic counseling profession.

Kubby Culbreth

Kubby Culbreth, founder of Wide Awake Life Coaching and Stop Light Observations, has lived a life that many can only dream of. As a young musician, he performed to sold-out crowds nationwide, collaborating with stars like Ed Sheeran. Yet, like 86% of the United States, he was still unhappy and searching for answers. After facing personal tragedy, Kubby embarked on a worldwide journey, discovering the transformational distinctions between joy and happiness. At Wide Awake Life Coaching, he uses the power of joy to empower the modern youth and unlock their full potential in our comparison-driven digital age.

Melissa Milanak

Dr. Melissa Milanak is a licensed clinical psychologist and a globally recognized sleep expert renowned for her expertise in stress, trauma, and other factors influencing sleep. She founded MIND Impact Consulting, LLC, and serves as a keynote speaker on sleep and its impact on workplace effectiveness, stress, anxiety, and well-being. With consistent dedication since 2018, Dr. Milanak delivers insightful talks, including a TEDx Talk on sleep and optimal performance in Charleston, SC, in April 2024. Dr. Milanak earned her PhD in clinical and community psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by postdoctoral training at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She is currently an Associate Professor at MUSC’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, where she provides clinical services, directs continuing education, and conducts federally-funded research. Notably, she played a pivotal role in establishing MUSC’s Resiliency Clinic, offering support to healthcare workers during the pandemic.

Nina Richards

Nina Cano Richards, Esq., immigrated to Charleston, SC, from Bolivia as a young child with her family in search of the American Dream. Inspired by the challenges immigrants face as New Americans, Nina dedicated her legal career to representing immigrants, their families, and their employers through representation in and out of the courtroom. Acknowledging a need for systemic solutions to address the challenges faced by new Americans, Nina also co-founded Spanglish Consulting to help build bridges across language barriers, improve community engagement, and create inclusive spaces to facilitate integration in our communities.

Peter Kfoury

Peter Kfoury has brought the concept of the American melting pot to life through his music. Of Lebanese descent, Peter immersed in his songs the influences of jazz, pop, blues and even funk along with his Middle Eastern/North African roots.

Stephanie Mackara

Stephanie is an author and a business owner with an academic background is in psychology and the law which heavily influences my investment and client-centric business model. She believes we need to prioritize financial wellness in the same way we prioritize our physical, mental and emotional wellness. Our past experiences define our money personalities and influence our relationship with money, often to our detriment. Instead of focusing on the traditional methods, we need to rethink and reexamine how we relate to money through mindfulness. Her goal is to empower individual and families to prioritize their financial wellness so they can live a more purpose-driven life.

Taiko Charleston

Since 2009, when the first group of students gathered under the direction of Tracy Bush, a diverse community of drummers have emerged to make music and honor the roots of the art form. Having grown in popularity in Charleston and the southeast, it has been rewarding to keep up with the interest within the area and numerous requests for performances, workshops, residencies and artistic collaboration.

Vikki Matsis

Vikki Matsis is the President and co-founder of Media Reform, SC, the nonprofit organization that brought commercial free Ohm Radio 96.3FM to Charleston’s airwaves in 2015. She has her masters degree in public administration and her bachelor of science in psychology from the College of Charleston. She is also a NOLS Alaska graduate, holds her permaculture certification with the Permaculture institute of Northern California and in 2016 was voted one of Charleston’s 50 Most Progressive.