Beyond the Talk

As our TEDxUF conference approaches, we reminisce with someone who knows the stage all too well. In this week's episode, we discuss everything psychology and sustainability with Dr. Ron Chandler, cofounder and president of Conservation Initiative for the Asian Elephant, an Assistant Instructional Professor for the UF Department of Psychology, the department's Undergraduate Coordinator and former TED talker. He takes us through the journey of his passion project which identifies issues of critical importance to the sustainability of the Asian elephant and the peoples sharing its habitat. Dr. Chandler then shares the process of developing his talk and some tips for future TED talkers. Tune in as we exchange elephant tales and laughter and make sure to follow us on our Instagram! Links: Dr. Ron Chandler's TED Talk The Role of Human Dignity in Sustainability

TED has become a global phenomenon with millions of people worldwide engaging with their online talks and in-person conferences, but its success wasn't always obvious. In this episode, we dive into the history of TED and discover how the non-profit changed the world since its first event in 1984. Listen as we share personal anecdotes and explore the evolution of TED. Follow us on Instagram to share your TED story and join us at our TEDxUF conference on April 6th. Source: History of TED | Our Organization | About

The TEDxUF team is composed of students from many different disciplines, backgrounds, and of course, opinions. In this episode, we debate with members of each team about topics from some of the most famous TED Talks. Listen as we discuss negative stereotypes, different types of intelligence, and what love is. Follow us on Instagram and tune in as we continue debating ideas worth spreading. Shannon Odell: When are you actually an adult? | TED Talk  Sheila Marie Orfano and Densho: Can stereotypes ever be good? | TED Talk  TED-Ed: Is it normal to talk to yourself? Dessa: Can we choose to fall out of love? | TED Talk TED-Ed: Should you care what your parents think?  Shannon Odell: What's the smartest age? | TED Talk  Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? | TED Talk

While many people have ideas worth spreading, executing them tends to be more difficult. In this episode, Gbemi Awonusonu, the 2024 TEDxUF Speaker Director, shares her insight about how to become a better speaker. She shares her public speaking journey within and outside of TEDxUF. We discuss everything from the beauty of being vulnerable to productive practice tips. Listen as we advise you to never let the fear of speaking stop you from sharing your ideas.   Links: Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability | TED Talk

Welcome to a new season of the TEDxUF podcast, big things are coming your way! In the first episode of “Let's (TED) Talk About It”, we get to know Areesha Razi, Kyhlin Bellhorn, and Norman Bukingolts, the 2024 Executive Board. Listen as we laugh and share stories, play a lively game of Never Have I Ever, and talk everything TED.

Welcome back to a new semester! Meet our 2022-2023 Executive Board and hear their thoughts and insight about TEDxUF.

Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) is most widely known because of it's effects on a person's appearance; however, there are many lesser known struggles, such as being underestimated in professional settings, and feeling excluded from society. Today we are talking with Christine Errico, who has a Ph.D. in accounting, and is now working as a Cleft Confidence coach to advocate and help those struggling with CLP. Join us as we discuss Christine's journey living with CLP, and how she is working to educate the public about CLP and promote inclusivity for cleft-affected individuals. Have an idea for Beyond the Talk? Send us an email at beyondthetalkuf@gmail.com

In a time when microbes are dominating our lives, researchers like Dr. Czyz are always looking for ways to avoid our "Microbial Doomsday." Dr. Czyz is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida with the Microbiology and Cell Sciences Department. His Lab and interests involve a prevalent and potentially devastating field of Antimicrobial resistance and the development of alternate therapeutics to bacterial infections.

Dr. Foster is a Microbiologist with interests and research in Astrobiology. Her work uncovers the vast relationships between microbes and how they interact with their environment and surroundings, in space and on Earth.

A poet, photographer, literary critic, and modern-day hunter-gatherer of texts, Dr. Odutola is an ambassador of art and language with many importantly diverse views on the state of these fields today. This episode will transform the way you might view research and introduce you to the influence that global media has on your local community.

This episode features Dr. Dean, a well-accomplished biostatistician at the University of Florida, specializing in infectious disease epidemiology. We are rounding many corners during this pandemic, but there is still much to learn and understand about COVID-19. From sifting through vaccine efficacy data to social implications of this process, Dr. Dean breaks down some of the most highly discussed topics surrounding this disease.

Wake up and smell the roses! Dr. Munger is the Director of the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida and he shares his research and expertise in the science behind the senses. Join us in learning more about the fascinating ways our body experiences and interprets the world around us.

For this season's pilot episode, get a taste of what the University of Florida has to offer in terms of research from the director and founder of the Center for Undergraduate Research. Learn about current fascinating projects, tips on getting involved, and even some exclusive insight on Barack Obama.

We've spent a semester hyping you up but now it is finally here! Our TEDxUF Conference will be taking place this March 15th, 2020 at the Phillips Center. Join us this week as we give you a little preview of the talks we will be having and what to expect from this year's conference. Our team has spent an entire year getting ready for this great event so make sure you don't miss out. More information available on our fb (https://www.facebook.com/TEDxUF/) or at tedxuf.com.

We make sure to eat healthy, take breaks and exercise to maintain our physical and mental health, but how often do you think about your sexual health? Join us this week as we discuss disparities in health and how that can affect people's sexual health with Lazaro Tejera, UF alum and HIV Prevention Coordinator with the WellFlorida Council. For more information about safe sexual health practices and resources available for you please check out everyonestopaidsnow.com.

New year, new great content! Every day we interact with fashion but have you ever stopped to think about how different trends come to be? Join us as we discuss style, artistry and the demise of athleisure with STRIKE magazine’s Kaureen and Matt (@strikemagazineuf)! We also have our final salon of the year this Saturday Feb. 1st at Flow Space in Downtown, Gainesville. Check out our facebook page (TEDxUF) for more info.

With larger implications for next semester, Erika and Virginia interview Mike Waylen, social geographer and PHD student at the University of Florida. Themes of social inequality, research, and the answers to STEM or no STEM, Virginia and Erika find out just how abstract the maps you think of can get!

Have you ever thought about how bugs affect your day to day? Join us as we bug out on the pod with Dr. Rebecca Baldwin, entomology professor here at the University of Florida. We talk about how bugs impact every aspect of our lives; from the places we live in, to the food we eat.

In today's world, we are exposed to a variety of cultures in our day to day lives. However, have you ever stopped to think about how this increase in migration and globalization has impacted language? Join us this week as we speak with Dr. Diego Pascual and discuss Heritage Speaker Bilingualism, language and culture and the experience of being bilingual in the United States.

Much to Virginia’s resentment, engineering is back. Join Erika and Virginia as they interview Derek Diel, a speaker of both the engineering and business language who combines his interests to compete in one of the most niche competitions around the world: Hyperloop. Learn more about how transportation, SpaceX, and memes can equate to the next generation of brilliance.

It's spooky season and Beyond the Talk is bringing you the facts behind the myths we all know and love. Join Virginia and Erika as they dive deep into the origins of your favorite spooky characters and share some of their favorite Gainesville scary stories.

We are constantly being confronted with advertisements, yet we usually don't really think about the impact advertising can have for certain communities. This week we interviewed Bienvenido "Benny" Torres, part of the faculty at UF's College of Journalism and Communications, as well as a Gator Alum. Join us as we discuss advertising and queer communities, advocacy and the cultural impact of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Have you ever thought about how bees impact your day to day life, beyond just honey? In this episode, Erika and Virginia speak with Robert Schulte, an Industrial and Systems Engineer student at the University of Florida, as well as the proud owner of Karen's Bees. Join them as they discuss the importance of bees and how these small creatures can transform the world of business and engineering.

Beyond the Talk is back! Dive in with new hosts Erika and Virginia for season 2. In the first episode get to know the new faces as they get to know each other and recap last years record breaking conference.

For the very last, audience-dedicated episode of Beyond the Talk, Zoe and Apeksha answer questions directly from listeners. Thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast for the past eight months - your incredible commitment to exploring the expansive world of TEDx Talks has inspired us beyond measure. We hope you've enjoyed this journey as much as we have.

In the penultimate episode of the semester, Zoe and Apeksha dive into the recent college admissions scandal, “Operation Varsity Blues,” and discuss the implications of educational privilege from a university-student point of view.

In a very special episode of Beyond the Talk, UF’s 12th and current President, W. Kent Fuchs, dives into detail about his non-traditional path to university leadership, his methods of remaining accessible to the student body, and his vision for the University of Florida’s future. President Fuchs helps to define and discuss the meaning behind “Legacy,” the theme of the 10th-annual TEDxUF conference. Few university presidents have become a relatable, visible presence on their campuses, but President Fuchs has managed to do just that, while constantly encouraging people to love one another and always have fun.

Where does healing begin? Join us this with Gretchen Casey, an advocate and facilitator for Restorative Justice. With a long history of aiding victims and perpetrators, Gretchen explains what restorative justice is, her experience with sex crime victims, and her own journey to closure.

In this episode of Beyond the Talk, Zoe and Apeksha interview Devon Mims, a first-year student pursuing a combined Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health. An episode that has something for everyone, Devon speaks to the added pressure of being a first-generation student, the importance of inclusivity in academic and extracurricular settings, and the intersection between animal care and disability services.

This episode of “Let’s Chat” covers a TEDxWestminster College talk given by Kalina Silverman, titled “How To Skip the Small Talk and Connect With Anyone.” Small talk can be exhausting and pointless in forming meaningful relationships, making unfamiliar situations such as freshman year of college feel isolating. Apeksha and Zoe discuss the importance of “Big Talk,” and how conversations that stretch beyond the weather can build impactful friendships that last a lifetime.

In this episode, listeners learn about what goes into the creation of a TEDxUF salon event from the salon curator herself, Hannah Lyons. Additionally, Hannah speaks to her extensive involvement on campus, career goals, and lessons learned while holding influential leadership roles. Listen to get a unique, behind-the-scenes look into the creation of four highly impactful events over the past semester and a half.

The “Let’s Talk” series returns for the spring semester with a discussion of Ann Morgan’s TEDGlobal Talk, “My Year Reading a Book From Every Country in the World.” Morgan, a UK-based author and blogger, discusses the impacts of reading only books within our comfort zone, a discovery that came after she took a year to expand her literary horizons in a spectacular way. The talk raises some pertinent questions: how do we interact with the international community, and how could our own reading use a lesson in global-mindedness?

Beyond the Talk kicks off the spring semester with a brand-new episode featuring editor-in-chief of The Independent Florida Alligator, Paige Fry. This episode discusses the behind-the-scenes of student-run publications, as well as the importance of media literacy and awareness in the age of social media. The journey to becoming a journalist can be full of twists and turns, but Paige’s insight might make the journey a little bit smoother.

In another Black Mirror installment, Apeksha and Zoe explore the messages found in season 2, episode 1: “Be Right Back.” How far will we go to experience our loved ones again after they pass? When is it time to let go, and how will technology eventually dictate those boundaries? Technological advancement once again takes center stage in Beyond the Talk’s discussion in this winter break sign-off episode.

The academic semester is wrapping up, and with that comes a new degree of stress and frustration that can be rather overwhelming. Using multiple TED talks given by Ken Robinson as a guide, this episode centers around the pressure felt when trying to keep up in the “academic rat race,” and the importance of taking a step back when stress is abundant. To all those going through finals right now - keep it up! We believe in you!

Technology, though exciting, can often be frightening if used maliciously. In this episode, Apeksha and Zoe revisit “Black Mirror” in an analysis of episode “USS Callister” to discuss the implications of what it means to take cloning into the gaming sphere and technological abuse in a world that seems to be advancing at a whirlwind pace.

As Thanksgiving passes and the holiday season begins, it’s important to take the time to appreciate what we have. This more personal episode reflects on what we can feel grateful for every day, even when the holidays have passed.

The simple use of the phrase “GMO” has been cause for widespread debate in the last decade, with serious consequences for both consumers and producers alike. But, what does genetic engineering truly mean, and how much of what we know is actually based in fact? In this episode, special guest Dr. Kevin Folta helps debunk and explain the roots of some of the most well-known rumours surrounding the topic of genetic engineering, while providing insight into why open communication between scientists and the general public is so necessary.

A touching animation film that came out in 2014, Big Hero 6 made viewers laugh and cry in an engaging adventure story that incorporated components of healing and working together for a common good. This episode covers the social implications of representation on the big screen, the necessity of displaying healthy coping mechanisms to recover from tragedy, and the importance of sending youth the message that anybody can be a superhero.

Memes - we all know them, love them, share them. But beyond the ridiculous humor these easy-to-share bits of content bring to our online experience, what is else is there to know about them? With the help of special guest Rebecca Ragan, this episode explores the artistic backstory of the meme, as well as its role in the current political sphere.

“Black Mirror” has become a cultural phenomenon that pushes people to think about the less discussed side of technological advancement - the potential societal dangers that can result from technology misuse. This segment focuses on a few episodes of “Black Mirror,” discussing the uneasy feeling that stems from watching dystopian circumstances that seem a little too close for comfort.

The path less traveled often leads to interesting innovations and merges never seen before. In this episode, Morgan Yacoe - VCU graduate and UF graduate student - attests to the importance of the intersection between arts and medicine, and talks about how unlikely, unheard of combinations can be just the breakthrough needed to kick-start something special.

Representation on-screen changes the way we see ourselves and the world around us. The 2018 short film from Pixar Animation Studios, “Bao,” presents an emotionally-driven story not typically seen in the Hollywood eye, and as a result has sparked discussion across the globe. This episode dives into just how important it is to see your heritage on the big screen, and how these new perspectives can open us all up to a more beautifully diverse world.

Though TEDxUF has established and bringing people together for ten years, a speaker event with a year-long build-up is bound to draw some questions. To give listeners more insight into how TEDxUF originated and functions today, this episode dives into the history of TEDx and TED, as well as the formation and meaning behind the infamous “salon” events.

Conversations about mental health are often regarded as taboo, especially on college campuses where productivity is lauded and academics trump all else. Valeria Hernandez, a past TEDxUF speaker, is all too aware of these stigmas, and has worked tirelessly to start the discussion about the ins and outs of mental health awareness, especially for the University of Florida student body. In this episode, Hernandez discusses her own development as an activist, attests to how the pressure to succeed can often be crushing, and shares her ideas about how to start taking care of not just the people around you, but yourself.