Theme: Navigating The Unknown - to create a world worth having.

TEDxKC tickets go on sale 10 AM, June 12: https://tickets.kauffmancenter.org/22856

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
1601 Broadway Blvd.
Muriel Kauffman Theater
Kansas City, Missouri, 64108
United States

Clancy Martin

Author, Professor, Suicide Preventer

Clancy Martin, Ph.D., is professor of philosophy at UMKC. His research covers the ethics of social and behavioral health, especially in the areas of suicide prevention and the treatment of addiction, and the use of storytelling as part of the therapeutic process. He has published more than 10 books on a variety of subjects, mostly philosophical, including two novels. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wal Street Journal, Ethics, Journal of the History of Philosophy, Harper's, and dozens of other magazines, journals, and newspapers. His work has been optioned for movies and television and has been translated into more than 30 languages, and he has won a Guggenheim Fellowship, among other fellowships and awards.

Eric Gottesman

Artist, Guggenheim Fellow, Activist

Eric Gottesman teaches, organizes, writes, and makes artworks in concert with other people. His work addresses nationalism, migration, structural violence, history, and intimate relations. His projects question accepted notions of power and, by engaging communities in critical self-reflection and creative expression, propose models for repair. Eric's work is always collaborative; he has never made an artwork alone. He is a mentor in the Arab Documentary Photography Program in Beirut, Lebanon. Eric has presented his art projects at health conferences and universities, in government buildings, on the televised opening of the NFL season, on Indigenous reservations, in post-war rubble, and at museums.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Filmmaker, Documentarian, Series Streamer

Gabriela Cowperthwaite has been directing both documentaries and narrative films for over 20 years, rising to prominence with the 2013 release of "Blackfish," which examined the plight of orcas and their trainers at SeaWorld. "Blackfish" quickly became one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time. In addition to being shortlisted for an Academy Award, "Blackfish" was nominated for a BAFTA, a Broadcast Critics' Awards, and an International Documentary Association Award, and won the Satellite Award for Best Feature. Gabriela helmed "Children of the Underground," an FX/Hulu series. The series was nominated in 2023 for an Independent Spirit Award for best documentary series. Gabriela's latest documentary "The Grab," a geopolitical thriller, follows a shadowy world of powerful entities who are grabbing up the world's food and water while we all look the other way. "The Grab" opened TIFF in 2022 and was hailed as the "holy sh*t documentary of the year."

Gary Staab

Paleoartist, Naturalist, Maker

Gary Staab interned at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the British Museum of Natural History in London while also pursuing a customized degree in art and biology at Hastings College. Gary worked as a sculptor for seven years at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science before becoming a freelance artist in 1996. Since then, Gary has worked for several notable clients, including the National Geographic Society, The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Discover Magazine, the BBC, Eyewitness Books, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Gary's works have been displayed in over 50 museums worldwide. A Fellow of the National Sculpture Society and The Explorers Club of New York, Gary's accolades include being a five-time recipient of the Vertebrate Paleontology Award for Excellence in Paleontological Art and a three-time recipient of awards from The Society for Animal Artists. He has also received the silver medal from the National Sculpture Society.

Heather Berlin

Neuroscientist, Professor, Science Communicator

Dr. Heather Berlin is a neuroscientist, a clinical psychologist, and an associate clinical professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in NY. She explores the neural basis of impulsive and compulsive psychiatric and neurological disorders with the goal of developing novel treatments. She is also interested in the brain basis of consciousness, dynamic unconscious processes, and creativity. Heather hosts the Nova series "Your Brain" on PBS, where she explores the latest research on the neural basis of consciousness. She previously hosted "Science Goes to the Movies" on PBS and Discovery Channel's "Superhuman Showdown." She makes regular appearances on "Startalk" with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and has appeared on the BBC, History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, and TED.

Jenn White

Journalist, Podcaster, Radio Host

An award-winning journalist and podcast host, Jenn White has worked in public radio since 1999. White hosts "1A," a nationally syndicated daily news program from WAMU and NPR. "1A" is NPR's fastest-growing weekday show. It's carried on more than 460 stations around the country and reaches at least 4.5 million listeners weekly. Jenn previously hosted WBEZ's local two-hour midday show, "Reset." She is also a familiar voice on several WBEZ podcasts, including "Making Oprah," "Making Obama," and "16 Shots" which chronicled the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald and the trial of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke.

Jonathan Jiang

NASA Scientist, Climatologist, Galactic Communicator

Dr. Jonathan H. Jiang is a distinguished scientist with extensive experience in climate science and astrophysics, particularly in studying the occurrence rates of extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI). He serves as a senior research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, where he has led pivotal research projects since 1999. An expert in the statistical estimation of ETI occurrence rates in the Milky Way Galaxy, Jonathan's research is instrumental in exploring the probabilities of intelligent life beyond Earth. His work integrates insights from the Drake equation and examines factors influencing the longevity of intelligent species, emphasizing the critical role of self-destruction rates. Leveraging his interdisciplinary expertise, Jonathan aims to inspire collective action toward a sustainable and thriving future.

Lee DeWyze

Musician, Singer, Songwriter

Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Chicago, Lee DeWyze's journey into the spotlight began at a young age, honing his craft in his local scene, before catapulting to fame as the winner of "American Idol" Season 9. Having written four records, each blending indie and commercial appeal, Lee has firmly established himself as a prominent figure in the singer-songwriter scene. Whether he's on stage, in the studio, or weaving his melodies into the fabric of beloved films and television shows, Lee continues to leave an indelible mark on the music landscape, enchanting listeners with his emotion-fueled songs and authentic, honest storytelling.

Marcus Lewis

Brass and Boujee (performance)

Brass and Boujee is a collaboration between trombonist and arranger Marcus Lewis and emcees Kemet the Phantom and Kadesh Flow. Combining hip-hop and big band jazz sounds, Marcus arranges the original songs of both emcees to create a blended sound that draws in fans of jazz, hip-hop, and beyond. Following the release of their self-titled debut album, "Brass and Boujee," the group charted at #15 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and peaked at #1 on the iTunes Jazz Charts.

Michael Zedek

Religious Scholar, Author, Affirmative Thinker

Michael Zedek is rabbi emeritus of two outstanding congregations, The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah (greater Kansas City) and Emanuel Congregation of Chicago. In September of 2021, Michael accepted the position of rabbi-in-residence at Saint Paul School of Theology, a United Methodist Seminary. The rabbi is a frequent presenter on themes related to spirituality for professional groups around the world, including South Africa, Israel, Russia, Poland, the former Yugoslavia, Thailand, Italy, and Hong Kong. Michael has earned a significant profile in the interfaith community, serving as founder and host of "Religion on the Line," a radio program that recently concluded a 29-year-long run. He is also the author of a number of articles for professional and popular journals, as well as the book "Taking Miracles Seriously: AJourney to Everyday Spirituality."

Nate Hofer

Artist, Musician, Peacemaker

Nate Hofer is an artist blending photography and music. Born in Nigeria to Mennonite conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War, his art reflects a deep commitment to peace. Inspired by his Cold War upbringing in the Midwest, Nate explores issues of arms control and disarmament through aerial photography of decommissioned missile silos and solo ambient performances on the pedal steel guitar. His work has been recognized with awards like the 2021 Global Peace Photo Award and membership to the Atomic Photographer's Guild. Nate's 2024 debut album EP, "Decommissioned" recorded in a former Kansas missile silo, has garnered recent national attention on NPR.

Rich Kelleman

Entrepreneur, Environmentalist, Pet Savior

Rich Kelleman is the Founder and CEO of Bond Pet Foods, a Boulder, Colorado-based startup that's working with precision fermentation to make meat proteins like chicken, turkey and fish without the animal for the pet food industry. Before diving into the world of pets and food tech, Rich was a VP and director at some of the world's most respected advertising agencies, including Crispin, Porter + Bogusky, FCB, and Fallon McElligott, where he led brand strategy for Burger King, P&G, Kellogg's, and Coca-Cola, among others.

Sasha Hamdani

Psychiatrist, Author, ADHD Expert

Dr. Sasha Hamdani is a board-certified psychiatrist and ADHD clinical expert. She is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate. Sasha has worked closely with the White House and surgeon general's team to speak out about mental health awareness, and she was recognized by Harvard as a public health leader in 2023. She also has a robust social media following on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube (@thepsychdoctormd), where she provides evidence-backed information and dispels stigma around all facets of wellness.