When I was in grad school at Sarah Lawrence, I light designed two shows at the same time. And I remember one day sitting at my console, venting to my lighting mentor about how the side lights don't look right and the back fixtures are focused wrong and how the heck am I going to light a set when there are no scenic items in place. And he turned to me and he said, "Take a walk." And I said, "No, I need to work." He responded, "Let's go outside for 5 minutes." So, we stepped outside of the theater to a beauti ...

[music] Please welcome Army vet, founder of She Served, Lorena Black. [cheering] [applause] >> [applause] [cheering] >> Now, when you envision a soldier, what comes to mind besides maybe an action movie war hero? Did you think of me? My daughter say yes. [applause] Usually though, people think about what you've seen in the movies. Soldiers in firefights, kicking down doors, explosion, adrenaline, danger, lots of bravery, lots of excitement, true heroism. Sometimes people will ask me, "So Lena, where all hav ...

What if I told you that the life you are living isn't truly yours. That something unseen is shaping your thoughts, draining your energy, clouding your intuition without you even realizing it. What if it's been keeping you from the life you were meant to live.And what if you could start breaking free today. Well, for me, life has always felt like an expedition, a journey to understand what holds us back because I've seen it in myself and in others. We have so much potential yet somehow we keep getting stuck. ...

[applause] If I had to give a description of Brian, there's so many thoughts that come to mind, but I want you to hear a little bit of what Brian has accomplished. He has recently completed and been the lead African-American producer on Broadway. [applause] >> Producers make it happen. And tell us a little bit about your journey. How did you get here? >> Uh, well, I hail from Orange County, California. I went to a boarding arts school that took me east all the way to the art school. From the art school, I w ...

[applause] Good day all. Truly honored to be here with you. Um, and as we start this thing, this here is a dollar. This is a dollar. This is a dollar.This is a dollar. You're holding somebody. [laughter] >> That is a dollar. That is a dollar. That is a dollar.This here is a five. This is a five. [laughter] >> Five. This is a five. [laughter] This is a five.This is a five. This is a five. This is a five.We working. We working. We working.>> Listen, listen. Listen, listen, listen. >> We're inherently wired to ...

What can a rat teach us about being human? Neuroscientist Kelly Lambert shares her research on joy and anticipation through the lens of small but remarkably intelligent mammals: rats. From teaching them to drive tiny cars—yes, drive—to studying their joy when anticipating positive experiences, she invites us to explore how happiness can be sparked through what she calls “behaviourceuticals.” Through her research, we find that enjoying the journey rather than only the destination may just be built into our D ...

Steve Papa shares a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at how real innovation is built—not through hype or luck, but through curiosity, endurance, and commitment. From walking out of Harvard Business School to build with MIT’s earliest internet pioneers, to scaling Endeca into a foundational data platform acquired by Oracle, he reveals the lessons learned from decades of building ahead of demand. Looking forward, Steve argues that AI is transforming not just software, but the very mindset of creation—and that ...

This opening crystal bowl performance invites the audience into presence through sound, vibration, and resonance. The frequencies guide the body into a calmer state, creating spaciousness for reflection and curiosity as the day begins. Vickie Gould is a sound and energy healer, author, and founder of Life Changing Energy, a global education platform certifying sound and energy practitioners around the world. A Master Herbalist and Reiki Master, her work blends science, spirituality, and nervous system regul ...

Beginning to exercise can be a difficult task for many, but why? Drawing on her psychology and research background, Danielle Garbarino dives into both cognitive and biological reasons why incorporating physical activity into one’s life can be so challenging. Through this light-hearted journey, she introduces some possible solutions to make the daunting task of exercising a little bit easier, while also recognizing and accepting why it’s difficult. Adding physical activity into your life is life-changing, so ...

Dr. La-Toya Scott’s talk explores how we navigate the twists and turns that shape our lives. Too often, we are taught to measure success by how closely we follow a single, predetermined path, even when life refuses to move in a straight line. This talk invites anyone who has questioned their direction, struggled with uncertainty, or faced an unexpected detour to see those moments differently. Drawing from her own experiences, Scott shows how change, disruption, and redirection can offer clarity about who we ...