What if the biggest limits in your life were the ones you set yourself? In this inspiring talk, Amber Uhler shares how the simple act of writing down your goals sparked her transformation and empowered her to take bold steps toward the life she truly wanted. From personal breakthroughs to building resilience and confidence, Amber shows how clarity and intention can help anyone rewrite their story. Amber Uhler is Mrs. Universe USA 2025, a TEDx speaker, and a passionate advocate for resilience, women’s empowerment, and drowning prevention. After a life-changing wake-up call in 2021, Amber lost 160 pounds, transformed her mindset, and committed herself to helping others break free from the limits holding them back. She played a pivotal role in passing Florida legislation to provide free swim lessons for children under five and has made over 150 public appearances promoting confidence, purpose, and community action. In her TEDx talk, “Shedding Limits,” Amber inspires audiences to rewrite the stories they tell themselves and take bold steps toward the lives they truly want. This October, she proudly represented the United States at the Mrs. Universe pageant in Manila, Philippines. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Colin Mitchell uncovers a remarkable moment in Nova Scotia’s history when American billionaires nearly consolidated all the province’s universities into a single institution. Through deep research and storytelling, he highlights how local communities and institutions like Acadia, St. FX, and King’s College resisted, preserving their unique identities. This talk celebrates resilience, collaboration, and the importance of protecting diverse educational communities in the face of outside pressures. Colin Mitchell uncovers a remarkable moment in Nova Scotia’s history when American billionaires nearly consolidated all the province’s universities into a single institution. Through deep research and storytelling, he highlights how local communities and institutions like Acadia, St. FX, and King’s College resisted, preserving their unique identities. This talk celebrates resilience, collaboration, and the importance of protecting diverse educational communities in the face of outside pressures. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Colin Mitchell is a proud Nova Scotian, natural storyteller, and shameless idealist. He is passionate about making government work better for people, with experience in politics and policy at all levels across Canada. Colin connects people and their ideas by helping them shape and share their stories. He is a historian, public servant, tour guide, experienced TEDx speaker, and is currently writing a book on the rich and complex history of Acadia University. Colin holds a Master of Philosophy in International Relations and Politics from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics from Acadia University. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Matt Thomson explores the transformative power of stillness in our fast-paced, always-on world. Drawing from personal experiences, family history, and moments of loss, he invites audiences to reconnect with the pauses—the “space between”—that allow us to breathe, belong, and live authentically. This talk inspires reflection on presence, mindfulness, and the importance of slowing down to nurture ourselves and those around us. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Matt has been described as a blend of Ted Lasso, Robert Munsch, Michael Scott, and Fred Penner - equal parts heart, humour, and humanity. A father, husband, leader, and author, he co-founded Placemaking 4G to help organizations rethink how they hire and support their people. He speaks openly about mental health and the messy, meaningful work of leadership. A Mount Allison graduate and former football player, Matt helped launch a student-athlete mental health initiative. He’s also a proud alum of the Wallace McCain Institute’s Entrepreneurial Leaders Program and leads with curiosity, care, and intention—creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and heard. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Max Medyk shares his journey from struggling with complex immigration systems as a teen to creating AI tools that simplify life-changing processes for thousands. Through stories of personal hardship and real-world applications of AI in healthcare, education, justice, and finance, he illustrates how AI can empower people rather than replace them. This talk challenges common fears and reframes AI as a bridge to opportunity for everyone. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Max Medyk is an AI innovator and cross-media influencer with over 400,000 followers, known for delivering reliable, source-based information through tech and media. As the founder of ImmigrateAI Global, he built one of Canada’s first AI platforms for legal help, used by thousands of immigrants. Max collaborates directly with decision-makers at all levels of government to ensure accurate information reaches the public. His work has been featured by Global News and recognized by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What if the most powerful thing you can build in the age of AI… is something with heart? In this deeply personal and energizing talk, entrepreneur and global startup coach Tash Jefferies shares her journey from a shy, book-loving girl in public housing to a founder who has helped over 1,200 entrepreneurs across 10 countries build tech solutions that actually make money — and a difference. She weaves in the legacy of her mother’s resilience and three life lessons that shaped her destiny. With AI tools making innovation faster than ever, Tash challenges us to remember what machines can’t do: connect, care, and carry a story. Her message? Solve real problems. Build boldly. And above all, keep some of your heart in everything you create. Tash Jefferies is a 4-time founder, global startup advisor, TEDx speaker, and best-selling author. A Resident Mentor with 500 Global and Anchor Mentor with a16z, she has coached 1200+ startups across MENA, Asia, Europe, and North America. With a background in biology, sales, and consulting, she helps companies unlock product-market fit and build scalable growth engines. Named one of the “33 Badass Black Womxn in Silicon Valley,” her mission is to empower diverse founders to thrive and lead boldly. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What if the pieces of your life that feel broken, misfit, or misunderstood were actually what made you whole? In this deeply personal talk, the speaker shares her journey as a Black, neurodiverse woman navigating multiple intersections of identity across continents, cultures, and generations. From childhood in Germany and Canada to raising a neurodiverse child, she explores how understanding her own mosaic mind—a tapestry of experiences, challenges, and resilience—revealed a strength and wisdom she never knew she had. Through reflection, courage, and the power of writing, she invites us to embrace our intersections, honor our differences, and insist on being seen. Missy Searl wears many hats — Executive Director of Period Equity Alliance, Provincial Coordinator of NSANSF, business consultant, and all-around community cheerleader. She’s powered by passion, purpose, and a love for helping people thrive. With a flair for adult education, DEIA design, and global training, Missy’s career has taken her from local boardrooms to international classrooms. She’s served with CEED, Oceanview, AWENS, and more — always with heart. When she’s not leading change, she’s cheering on her sons and grandkids, loving life with husband Stuart (37 years strong!), or dreaming up her next bold idea. Missy lives to uplift and inspire. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Danella Calina challenges the idea that we must choose between science and the arts. In her talk, Brain and Heart: The Myth Between STEM and the Arts, she explores how embracing both intellect and creativity can lead to resilience, innovation, and wholeness. Drawing on her experiences as a performer, student, and founder of the STEM-Arts Fusion Society at Dalhousie University, Danella shows how integrating multiple passions can help individuals and communities thrive. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Danella Calina is a neuroscience student, performer, and multidisciplinary creator who challenges the idea that science and artistic self-expression must be separate. Through her social media platform, @princess.danella, she encourages others to embrace their inner royalty and express themselves boldly through fashion. By romanticizing academia in pink, Danella blends science, fashion, and femininity to break down stereotypes about women in STEM fields. As the founder of the STEM-Arts Fusion Society at Dalhousie University, she advocates for creativity, duality, and interdisciplinary innovation. Whether in the lab, onstage, or online, Danella inspires others to redefine what success looks like. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Dr. Ashley Margeson explores why wellness isn’t just about doing more—it’s about connection, presence, and the small actions that create lasting change. Drawing from her work as a naturopathic doctor, she shows how burnout isn’t solved by routines, supplements, or workouts alone, but by cultivating relationships, community, and rhythms that sustain us. Through stories, science, and practical insights, she reveals how small, consistent acts of care—like a note, a shared coffee, or a mindful pause—can ripple outward to transform our lives, workplaces, and communities. Dr. Ashley Margeson, ND is a recovering perfectionist who’s redefining what it means to be well in a world that rarely slows down. As a clinician, speaker, and wellness advocate, she bridges the gap between performance and burnout — helping people protect their energy while holding onto what matters most. She hosts The Superwoman Code, is COO of Cornerstone Naturopathic, and has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and The Globe and Mail, making her a trusted voice for high-achievers seeking energy that’s sustainable. Her message is simple: wellness isn’t a finish line. It’s the scaffolding that makes everything else possible. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Dr. Denise Daley explores how true workplace wellness goes beyond free fruit Fridays and mindfulness apps. Drawing on her experience in research and media, she shows how personal, intentional, and inclusive wellness strategies—rooted in People, Programs, and Policy—can reduce burnout, increase engagement, and transform organizational culture. Learn how sustainable wellness is not a perk, but a high-impact investment in your team and your business’s future. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Denise Daley is a Pharmacognosist, Wellness Consultant & Advocate with over 15 years in research and academia. She holds degrees in Biotechnology, Nutrition, Botany, as well as a PhD Biochemistry, with a research focus on diabetes and hypertension. An award-winning innovator and educator, Dr. Daley has been recognized as Young Scientist of the Year, Graduate Scholar and the recipient of a Health & Wellness Innovation Award and the University President Award for Research & Innovation. Through talks that blend data with heart, she inspires action across health, environment, and education bridging science, nature, and entrepreneurship to design science-validated wellness ecosystems. Dr. Daley empowers individuals and organizations to improve health and productivity through sustainable evidence-based solutions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

When war reaches your homeland, empathy stops being an idea and becomes a heartbeat. Journalist and humanitarian Olesya Shyvikova shares her powerful journey from Crimea to Nova Scotia, and back to the frontlines of Ukraine. Through her story of loss, resilience, and the kindness of strangers, she explores how trauma fragments the soul—and how collective compassion can bring those pieces home. A moving reflection on the invisible bridges between people, places, and pain, this talk reminds us that kindness is not weakness—it’s the architecture of peace. Olesya Shyvikova is a Ukrainian-Canadian journalist, filmmaker and social entrepreneur. A former war reporter turned humanitarian, she has directed award- winning documentaries and launched initiatives supporting veterans, children and elderly in conflict zones. Olesya is the CEO of a tech startup developing life-saving AI solutions, and the founder of Chiron, a trauma recovery center for Ukrainian veterans in Nova Scotia. Her work brings together storytelling, innovation, and compassion to create impact where it's needed most. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What does it really mean to be transgender in Canada’s most gender-diverse province? In this powerful and deeply personal talk, advocate and community leader Mica Daurie shares her lived experience as a trans woman navigating identity, belonging, and resilience in Nova Scotia — where one in every 200 people identifies as trans or non-binary. Drawing on her work in public service and advocacy, Mica reveals the invisible barriers trans and gender-diverse people still face in employment, healthcare, and leadership, and calls for true solidarity rooted in understanding, action, and empathy. Her message is a reminder that inclusion is not just policy — it’s personal, and it starts with how we choose to see one another. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mica Daurie is a 2SLGBTQIA+ community advocate and thought leader with years of experience in spaces like government public service, before turning to a career in grassroots advocacy. Mica is a radical forward thinker who has brought difficult and thought-provoking conversations to every space she's been in. Her work is approached from her lived experience as a queer transgender woman raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mica serves on the Board of Executives for the Local Council of Women Halifax, as well as serving as the Vice President of Health, Housing and Social Development for the National Council of Women Canada This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In this powerful talk, Tyler Hayden explores how the ways we hold onto trauma can limit us—and how we can choose a different path. Through personal stories and reflections, he shows that our pain doesn’t define our story; it can elevate it. Tyler encourages audiences to face life’s challenges, learn from them, and transform difficult experiences into sources of growth and resilience. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Tyler Hayden, CSP, Hall of Fame Speaker, is a Canadian internationally respected team builder, author, and business speaker since 1996. Known for his powerful and engaging style, Tyler inspires teams, innovates management techniques, and energizes workplace culture. With a unique blend of insight and humor, Tyler empowers audiences and teams to succeed and perform at their best every day. He is the bestselling author of over twenty-five books and the creative force behind hundreds of dynamic team-building products at Team Building School. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Don Jones explores how human genius thrives in connection and withers in disconnection. In this talk, he introduces the GENIUS³ framework—a guide to unlocking potential through the interplay of self, others, and context. Using stories from workplaces, personal experiences, and global systems, Don reveals how our operating systems of disconnection limit creativity, collaboration, and impact. From individual breakthroughs to organizational transformation, he shows how we can upgrade these hidden systems to amplify human potential and tackle the critical challenges of our time. From Halifax’s basketball courts to global leadership labs, Don Jones has spent his life unlocking human potential. He’s worked with Olympic teams, founded a leadership development firm, and guided 40,000 leaders from 70 countries through immersive, story-driven simulated worlds. Called “one of the best simulation designers in the world today,” his company was a finalist for Fast Company’s Global Innovation Award alongside Meta and UNICEF. Don believes the greatest untapped resource on Earth is human potential—and the greatest tragedy is its waste. His mission is to change how the world understands, discovers, and develops our deep, often hidden capacity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a discussion of suicidal ideation, suicide and other traumatic experiences, which some viewers may find upsetting. Please seek professional help if you or a loved one is struggling and do not look to this talk as a substitute for mental health advice. Contents only represent the speaker’s personal views and understanding of trauma, emotional well-being, and related interventions. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf More first responders die by suicide than are killed in the line of duty — a devastating truth that remains largely hidden behind the walls of silence and stigma. Drawing from over two decades as a firefighter and paramedic, Morgan Englund shares his personal journey through trauma, loss, and recovery, and reveals what he discovered around a simple campfire that could save countless lives. His message is both a wake-up call and a roadmap for change: the way to heal is not through silence, but through connection. Morgan Englund is a former actor best known as Dylan Lewis on CBS’s Guiding Light, who spent two decades as a firefighter/paramedic with the Los Angeles City Fire Department. After walking away from that career burned out and disillusioned, he now speaks and writes about mental health, trauma, and healing—especially within the first responder community. A single father who raised two kids on his own, Morgan blends lived experience with tools like sound therapy, vagus nerve regulation, and inner child work. His message is rooted in integrity, vulnerability, and a deep belief: healing ourselves is how we help heal the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

NOTE FROM TED: While some viewers may find this helpful as a complementary approach, please do not look to this talk for health advice. This talk only represents the speaker’s personal views and understanding of sexual wellness, energy, and the nervous system. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf Serena Haines shares her journey from feeling invisible after years of stay-at-home motherhood to reclaiming her sexual wellness, pleasure, and inner spark. Through personal stories, science-backed insights, and practical exercises, she demonstrates how sexual wellness is foundational to mental health, empowerment, and authentic living. This talk invites everyone to embrace pleasure as a vital tool for resilience, agency, and thriving in life. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. About the speaker: Serena Haines is an International Sex Coach, Certified Sexologist, and host of the Intimacy Unlocked podcast. With nearly a decade of experience, she guides people to move beyond shame and embrace pleasure, connection, and authentic intimacy. Trained in psychology, somatic sex education, and clinical sexology, Serena believes sexual energy is life energy—meant to be expressed, not suppressed. Her work uniquely blends science with compassion, and play with purpose. On the TEDx stage, Serena invites audiences to view sexual wellness not as taboo, but as a vital path to healing, joy, and wholeness—reminding us that pleasure is not a luxury, but an essential part of being human. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In this inspiring and deeply personal talk, Damini Awoyiga shares her journey of growing up Black and neurodiverse with ADHD in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Through poetry, story, and reflection, she explores how impulsivity — often framed as a flaw — can become a source of creativity, resilience, and possibility. From feeling misunderstood as a child to embracing her unique mind and cultural identity, Damini demonstrates how harnessing curiosity, courage, and creativity can transform challenges into opportunities. She encourages us to listen to our impulses, name them, and follow through — turning raw energy into innovation, self-expression, and empowerment. Given at TEDxArgyleSt in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Damini Awoyiga is a high school student and dynamic young leader passionate about activism, art, and creative expression. A spoken word poet and former Youth Poet Laureate of Halifax (2023–2024), she uses her voice to inspire change. Damini is the founder of Damini Creatives and the Afro-Indigenous Book Club, promoting works by Black and Indigenous authors. She is also a freelance journalist for CBC Mainstreet and serves on the HRM Youth Advisory Committee. Her recent works include Through Our Eyes and Melanin in Motion, powerful performances blending poetry, music, and dance. Damini also loves to write, sing, and create. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx