TEDxPortland, Portland, OR (2026)

08/03/2026

NEW TALK LIVE - Sean McClain

Can We Flip The Body's Regenerative Switch?

https://youtu.be/OHLr3jCwcQY?si=AYCfkZ_e7pqAcM4U

For decades, medicine has treated disease like a broken machine, but Sean McClain argues that many conditions may be better understood as problems of energy and stress. In this talk, the founder of Absci shares how AI drug discovery and regenerative biology are opening new possibilities for treating disease at its source. From autoimmune conditions to hair loss, he explores how chronic stress can lock the body into degeneration and how new therapies may help flip the switch back toward healing. The future of medicine may not be about forcing the body to change, but helping it remember what it already knows how to do.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

08/03/2026

New Performance Live - Oregon Symphony

https://youtu.be/QGijeVY3dYw?si=RL6ybV5qjKC10qiH

At the Oregon Symphony, home is more than a place; it’s their muse. From the beautiful natural landscapes to the inspiring stories of our neighbors, this state pushes them to create art that tells our story. As a nod to this year’s theme, today’s performance is a true homecoming for Ron Blessinger (violin), Lisbeth Carreno (violin), Maia Hoffman (viola), and Taylor Yoon (cello), four native Oregonians pursuing careers with their GRAMMY-nominated hometown orchestra.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

08/03/2026

NEW TALK LIVE - Aneesh Agarwal

Why Can Free Time Feel Uncomfortable?

https://youtu.be/OOn3thshfqU?si=CHOZ4-i3S0xjDD0N

Free time is supposed to feel relaxing, so why do so many of us feel guilty when we are not being productive? In this talk, high school student Aneesh Agarwal explores “leisurephobia,” the discomfort of doing nothing in a culture that treats busyness as success. Drawing from student life, psychology, and a famous study where people chose electric shocks over sitting alone with their thoughts, he argues that stillness is not laziness, it is a skill. Sometimes doing less is what helps us understand what we are really working toward.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

07/22/2026

NEW INTERVIEW LIVE - Jessica Elkan

The Power of Public Markets to Reshape a City

https://youtu.be/q9qWKRaCkwA?si=X4nv6BXP0lAZ_bHt

Jessica Elkan shares the vision behind the future James Beard Public Market and why this once-in-a-generation project matters for Portland, Oregon, and the people who grow, make, cook, and gather here. In conversation, she reflects on civic pride, Oregon’s agricultural bounty, the responsibility of building a lasting public institution, and the patience required to bring an ambitious vision to life. More than a market, this is a love letter to Oregon and a bet on what Portland can become.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

07/22/2026

NEW PERFORMANCE LIVE - Ural Thomas and The Pain

https://youtu.be/Uz0DyJPP8o8?si=dIicP4xV_2HmEsAR

Universally recognized as one of the most exciting singers remaining from the original soul era, 82 year-old Ural Thomas and his band The Pain just released their third LP "Dancing Dimensions" after a musical journey that commenced in his native Portland, Oregon, and led to Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and New York, sharing stages with everyone from James Brown, to Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, and Etta James.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

07/22/2026

NEW PERFORMANCE LIVE - Lauren Flower

Coming Home to Myself Through Ballet

https://youtu.be/MV-29JAoRWQ?si=iREtYDJeJrqp9Gae

As a q***r ballet dancer and choreographer, Lauren Flower spent years trying to fit into an art form where they rarely saw anyone like themselves. Through movement, choreography, and the courage to become visible, they began to understand that belonging is not just being seen, it is being met as you are. In this performance, they share how ballet became more than performance; it became a way to explore complexity, identity, connection, and truth. Art, they remind us, is not only how we express ourselves, it can be the place where we finally come home.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

.ballet.theatre

07/20/2026

NEW TALK LIVE - Bala Ambati

The Ticking Time Bomb of Childhood Nearsightedness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtGp4J1orn0&list=PLQM7SxLz585vFkK62L0RjkKqPcHhWntnY&index=3

Nearsightedness in children may seem like a simple need for glasses, but ophthalmologist and vision scientist Dr. Bala Ambati explains why it can set the stage for serious eye disease later in life. As pediatric myopia rises around the world, so does the future risk of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and vision loss. In this talk, he shares how his research team is exploring the biology behind myopia and developing new ways to slow the eye’s harmful lengthening in childhood. Protecting a child’s vision today could mean preserving a lifetime of sight.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

07/20/2026

NEW TALK LIVE - Amy Saltzman

Protecting Children from Grooming and Abuse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L-xINHDbxY&list=PLQM7SxLz585vFkK62L0RjkKqPcHhWntnY&index=9

Abuse often begins not with obvious harm, but with trust, praise, and attention that slowly become grooming. In this powerful talk, Amy Saltzman, M.D., a former competitive gymnast, physician, and victim/"sur-thrivor" of decades of covert emotional abuse, explains how abusers use specialness, fear, and isolation to create dependency and control. Her message is urgent and clear: when we teach children to recognize grooming, we give them the words to name it, the confidence to report it, and a better chance to escape it.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

07/20/2026

NEW TALK LIVE - Ryan Dunlap

A Hostage Negotiator's Guide to Being Conflict-Ready

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v8-ZoZdI6w&list=PLQM7SxLz585vFkK62L0RjkKqPcHhWntnY&index=2

We're excited to share that this talk has been selected by as an Editor's Pick! A huge congratulations to Ryan and the entire team!

Conflict is often framed as something we should embrace, but former hostage negotiator Ryan Dunlap argues that conflict itself is neither healthy nor unhealthy, it simply reveals the emotional health of the people involved. Drawing from law enforcement, crisis negotiation, leadership coaching, and the often harder conversations at home, he explains why many people don’t have a conflict problem as much as a pressure problem. In this talk, he offers practical lessons for building the capacity to handle hard moments: start small, master the basics, and prioritize recovery after conflict. Healthy outcomes don’t come from healthy conflict; they come from healthier people.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.

07/17/2026

NEW TALK LIVE - John Branam

Humans Plus AI Coaches to Close the Student Counseling Gap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGwk8V2pwB4&list=PLQM7SxLz585vFkK62L0RjkKqPcHhWntnY&index=5

Millions of students need personalized college and career guidance, but overwhelmed school counselors are often responsible for hundreds of young people at once. In this talk, John Branam argues that thoughtfully designed AI coaches can help close that support gap when they work in partnership with trusted human advisors. Drawing from his own family story and the realities of inequitable access, he makes the case for humanistic AI that is affirming, secure, research-based, and built around student agency. The goal is not to replace human connection, but to give every student more of the guidance, confidence, and opportunity they deserve.

We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by Portland Center Stage at The Armory. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - This. All of our Partners, Films, Community Collaborations and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com.
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