Janelle Hill is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and owner of Refuge Mental Health Services. She serves on the executive board of The Army of Survivors. An organization committed to bringing awareness, accountability, and transparency to sexual violence against athletes at all levels. Janelle is passionate about helping other survivors find their voice and live healthy, meaningful lives. She is committed to increasing awareness regarding the prevalence of sexual abuse and is passionate about shifting the culture of sports to one that is trauma-informed and athlete-centered.

Janelle currently serves her local community by providing courses to survivors of sexual abuse and advocating through the form of spoken word poetry. Listeners have described her as an artist that says the words everyone is thinking, but too afraid to speak. Janelle is dedicated to daily inspire, empower, motivate, and lead others along their healing journey through compassion, authenticity, and positivity. 

“Skateboarding is not a crime.”

In the late 1980s, this slogan was a movement to advocate for the skaters who wanted the freedom to skate without repression.

Fast forward to modern day, and skateboarding has taken on a profound role in the lives of some youth who need direction, goals, and a sense of adventure. Simply put, it’s giving young people a “why.”

2024 TEDx speaker Blake Harris took skateboarding to another level. He transformed his life into a purpose-driven one that helps underprivileged youth find their purpose. And he did it with skateboarding.

Hear his story on Thursday, Nov 21 at 6 p.m. when Blake and other Omaha thought leaders take the stage for our main stage event: The Power of Connections.

“How Your Language Fuels AI and Our Future”

Do you want to be someone's prospect, target or capital? Our words shape the world we live in—and in the age of AI, they have ripple effects beyond our grasp. This talk explores the power of conscious language, how AI mirrors our communication, and why choosing our words wisely can create a more connected, human-centered world.

Joshua Berry is a world-class facilitator of change. As an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and director of Econic, Joshua has spent the last two decades evolving the what, who, and why of Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed startups.

Dr. Tyler R. White is a Professor of Practice and the Faculty Director of the University Honors Program at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). He also serves as the faculty lead for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence (IC CAE) at UNL.

Dr. White earned his PhD in political science from UNL in 2010, and his research focuses on national security topics, including intelligence studies, U.S. nuclear policy, U.S. foreign policy, and deterrence. He has played a significant role in curriculum development at UNL, creating the National Security Studies (NSST) minor, along with its core introductory and capstone courses.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. White has organized numerous conferences both on and off campus, collaborating closely with external partners in the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. He has received several prestigious teaching awards, including the 2018 International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) Instructor of the Year. His scholarly contributions include co-authoring the book *State Responses to Human Security: At Home and Abroad* with Courtney Hillebrecht and Patrice C. McMahon, and publishing articles on educational practices, deterrence, and the environmental impacts of nuclear release.

In his current role with the University Honors Program, Dr. White focuses on curriculum development, coordinating and mentoring Honors faculty, facilitating undergraduate programming, and engaging with stakeholders across departments and colleges.

Outside of work, Dr. White enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and SCUBA diving.

Find Yourself & Embrace Your True Calling

Darci shares how, at the lowest point in her life, she overcame adversity to find herself & embrace her true calling...and how you can overcome adversity and find true happiness & fulfillment.

A musician of great sensitivity and dynamic stage presence” -Duluth News Tribune, oboist Darci Griffith Gamerl's groundbreaking, collaborative work has taken her to stages around the world. As a frequent guest artist & soloist, she premiered ‘Courageous Lights' for English horn & orchestra by Dr. James Lee III in Augusta, Georgia.

Darci founded Bel Canto Duo with cellist David Downing. Past commissions by The National Willa Cather Center & Gallery 1516 have bolstered their reputation as impactful, soul-moving, evolutionary artists. Their most recent project scoring the documentary, Willa Cather: Breaking the Mold received critical acclaim. The pair received Outstanding New Artist by the Omaha Entertainment Awards (2023) with a nomination for Album of the Year.

Ms. Gamerl has been recognized by The American Prize for her compositions & chamber music artistry. As a speaker/presenting artist, her talks center around ethical business & crafting a career in classical music. 

In Arthur Fratelli’s TEDx talk, learning a new skill becomes a modern-day hero’s journey. It’s not just about mastering a task—it’s about rewiring the brain, silencing the inner critic, and unlocking deeper levels of self-expression, confidence, and connection. Arthur reveals how "meditation in motion" turns skill-building into a powerful process of focus, failure, and flow, where momentum is born from the very act of moving forward.

Through engaging stories and practical examples, Arthur shows rather than tells how embracing any discipline pushes you beyond your limits and develops the ability to learn how to learn. From archery to yo-yos, embracing the struggle leads to breakthroughs that allow you to live fully in the only moment that truly matters—the now.

Arthur Fratelli is a professional hypnotist, magician, and mentalist. Blending skill-building with entertainment, he creates dynamic experiences that showcase the brain-body connection. Arthur has performed across the country, demonstrating how we can unlock our potential and bring AMAZINGNESS into our lives.

Friends and Associates

Who do you trust?
“My friends!” probably comes immediately to mind. But in today’s digital world, the line between “friends” and “associates” has become blurry. Essentially, just because you associate with someone doesn’t make them your friend. It’s an important distinction, says TEDx speaker Anthony Gould. Not everyone is meant to walk alongside you on your journey. And when things get difficult, it’s your friends who show up – not your associates.

Anthony Gould, a published author has inspired countless people to break through their own barriers and live their best lives. He believes that by committing to personal growth, we can all unlock our potential and achieve our dreams.

The Art and Science of Connections

In his TEDxOMAHA talk on the art and science of connections, David takes us on an inspiring journey from the microscopic world of molecular biology to geological wonders of deep time. In his talk, he exposes the myth that, of the two disciplines – art and science – science alone is objective, rational, and rigorous and that art is essentially the opposite: not objective, but personal; not rational, but intuitive and expressive; not rigorous, but moody and delicate; not a rule-bound discipline, but an unbound “anything goes” and subjective free-for-all. David shows, though, that art is as rigorous as science, that it has great explanatory power and world changing effect. Given this, he finds it perfectly reasonable for artists and scientists to put their heads together, to collaborate and make connections across their disciplinary divides. He argues that there is ample reason for hospitality in the context of professional difference."

David Joel Thomas is an Assistant Professor and Program Director of Creative Arts at Bellevue University. His dual training as a philosopher (MA, DePaul University) and artist (MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago) reflects his commitment to bridging the gap between critical research and creative synthesis.

Want to fulfill your leadership potential? Stop putting others on a pedestal

Have you ever been silenced by the opinions of others? I have. I’d come to meetings with ideas only to quiet them and default to the highest paid person in the room. This experience taught me about the "pedestal problem" - the tendency to put others on a pedestal, thinking they must know best, and thus, underestimate our own abilities. In my career, I've seen this problem hinder countless leaders, preventing them from sharing their unique ideas and making a real impact. To break free from this cycle, we must stop overestimating others and underestimating ourselves. By reconnecting with our own values, recognizing our unique talents, and envisioning our desired future, we can become more confident, impactful leaders.

Kelli Thompson is an award-winning executive coach, speaker, and author of Closing The Confidence Gap. She has coached thousands of women to lead confidently and is the founder of Clarity & Confidence® Women's Leadership Programs. Her insights are featured in many media outlets including the Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, and Fast Company.

Creating the Unexpected: A Journey from Sneakers to Pacemakers

As if by chance, most breakthrough ideas come by connecting things that are not usually considered connected. Don’t leave your creativity to chance. In this talk you will experience how to be deliberately creative, no longer will you have to wait for inspiration to strike. Learn to switch on your creative flow and stop relying on luck for your next big idea.

Dr. Roger Firestien has presented programs on innovation to over 600 organizations around the world including: fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, universities, associations, hospitals and religious institutions.

His expert views on creativity have been covered in Fast Company, Forbes, Investor’s Business Daily, INC and The New York Times. Roger’s nine-part series on innovation is on the Open-Sesame e-learning platform. 

Dr. Firestien has written seven books and hundreds of articles on the creative process. His books include Why didn’t I think of that? and Create in a Flash. His latest book is Solve the REAL problem. It will soon be released as an audio book. 

Dr. Firestien is President of Innovation Resources, Inc., Associate Professor Emeritus at the Center for Applied Imagination at Buffalo State University, a founding member of the Buffalo Society for Creativity in Medical Education and guest lectures at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, NY. 

Joe Runge is a patent lawyer, scientist, professor, and innovation expert. A co-founder of UNMC’s UNeTech Institute, his team supports entrepreneurs, cultivates community, and fosters university innovation. A graduate of Creighton and Iowa, Joe’s career uniquely embodies both law and science. Joe enjoys running, cooking, and parenting 1.85 teenagers.

"Finding the gifts in the suffering"

This powerful TED talk speaks to everyone who has faced hardship (which, let's be honest, is all of us). Join Will Morales on a journey that reveals our immense strength when we embrace the interconnectedness of our human experiences. Through vulnerability and shared stories, we discover that we’re not alone in our struggles.

Don’t miss this chance to explore how to transform suffering into a source of strength and connection!EDTalk

Will Morales is a Certified Personal Trainer and Physical Therapist Assistant. Will is also a Mobility Specialist, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Certified Body Tempering Specialist, Certified Kinstretch Instructor, Stanford- Certified Lymphedema Specialist, and Pre natal and post partum training certified instructor. His appetite for knowledge is voracious. He loves his family, kettlebells, BJJ and deep conversations.