TEDxManhattanBeach

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aakansha Maheshwari

  Born and raised in Delhi, Aakansha moved to Los Angeles in 2013 after working on the feature film Vara: A Blessing. She soon founded BollyPop with a vision to make Indian dance accessible, fun, and community-driven. What began as a single class has grown into a thriving school with six teachers and branches across California, Salt Lake City, and New York. Aakansha choreographed for Disney’s Freakier Friday, directed by Nisha Ganatra, and performed at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ first South Asian event. She has been invited internationally to teach and perform in Belgium and Mexico, leads Holi celebrations across the U.S. and Canada, and conducts Diwali workshops for companies including Google, Warner Bros., JPL, and Snap. Beyond the stage, she co-founded Kalbeliya World to support Rajasthani folk artists and travels annually to India to teach underserved children and train educators in Ahmedabad through Manav Sadhna—building bridges across cultures and generations.

• Catherine Duval

  Catherine is a passionate and caring fundraising professional currently working at the California Science Center with a focus on the EndeavourLA Campaign.

• Court Crandall

  A longtime resident of Manhattan Beach, CA, Court believes in using his creativity to inspire and unite people. He is co-founder of The Planet A (Because there is no planet B), a storytelling platform designed to spark action that protects the future of our world, and has penned four produced feature films (Old School, A Lobster Tale, Bromates and Free Throw), directed two of them, written the children’s book, Hugville, for Random House, and given two TED Talks (The Line That Unites Us and Learn To Be Happy.) He also created a ten-foot interactive art sculpture called The Positivity Magnet for people to share their positive manifestations with the universe, bringing the magnet to, and being a guest on, the Kelly Clarkson Show.

• Ed Lynch

  Ed Lynch is the founder of Mychal’s Learning Place, a nonprofit he launched in 2002 in honor of his daughter, Mychal, who passed away at seven. Confronted with the lack of programs to meet her needs, Ed transformed personal loss into a mission to build communities that see ability first. What began as a small after-school program has grown into a comprehensive model focused on independent living skills, job training, and meaningful employment for individuals with developmental disabilities. To address the 85% unemployment rate facing this population, Ed created inclusive social enterprises that provide real-world opportunity. Under his leadership, Mychal’s Bakery & Catering, Mychal’s Prints & Embroidery, and Mychal’s Café in Redondo Beach, CA, demonstrate that with training, support, and high expectations, individuals with disabilities thrive—and communities grow stronger.

• Emily Sutton

  Emily Sutton is challenging an overlooked truth: friendship is not a “nice to have,” but a vital force shaping identity, resilience, and long-term well-being. A global brand marketing leader with over a decade of experience, she has learned that the most powerful human connections often happen outside the spotlight. Emily has led culturally resonant campaigns for Fortune 500 brands including Google and Gap, shaping initiatives such as Year in Search, Google’s 25th Anniversary, and major global product launches. Through this work, she identified a critical gap: while romantic and family relationships are celebrated, friendships—often more enduring—remain undervalued. Originally from the South Bay, Emily has lived and worked in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles. She holds a degree from the University of Oregon and lives in Hermosa Beach, where she is a member of Sandpipers. Her mission is to elevate friendship as a cornerstone of human flourishing.

• Gabriela Nguyen

  Gabriela Nguyen is the 24-year-old founder of Appstinence, a global movement challenging the idea that social media is necessary for connection. Rather than promoting digital detoxes or moderation, Appstinence advocates complete freedom from personal social media accounts in favor of direct communication through calling and texting. A Gen Z native of Silicon Valley, Gabriela spent a decade chronically online while growing increasingly disconnected. Her shift to being “appstinent” revealed benefits traditional social media wellness approaches failed to deliver. This led her to create the 5D Method, a framework empowering people to quit social media permanently. What began as a personal solution while she was a student at Harvard has grown into a worldwide movement spanning five generations. Gabriela’s work has been featured by The New York Times, WIRED, Business Insider, Newsweek, and Harvard Ed, and continues to inspire a return to intentional living and genuine human connection.

• James Merrill

  James Merrill transforms global challenges into scalable, sustainable solutions. After a decade working with USAID and international NGOs across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—addressing issues from climate change to inequality—he witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of plastic pollution and the limits of traditional aid. Those experiences led him to found StokedPlastics, where he invented StokedPlastic®, a revolutionary rPET compound that fully replaces virgin plastic by transforming discarded PET bottles into high-quality pellets used across multiple industries. He also founded Opolis Optics, an eco-friendly eyewear brand inspired by travel, culture, and community. James’s journey from humanitarian aid worker to entrepreneur reflects his belief that lasting change requires solutions that scale. By merging profit with purpose, he demonstrates how business can serve as a powerful force for environmental stewardship and global impact.

• Jason Achilles

  Jason Achilles bridges the worlds of music and space exploration. A Chicago-born composer and sonic innovator, he helped capture the first recorded sounds from Mars, transforming how humans connect with the cosmos through sound. Inspired early by Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Vladimir Horowitz, and The Muppet Show, Jason developed a musical vision that reached beyond Earth. While earning his BA in Music at UC Berkeley, he composed Schizmatique No. 1 & 2, later recorded in Prague and Budapest and premiered at Carnegie Hall and Segerstrom Center in 2024. In 2021, Jason partnered with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to help design and inform the operation of a microphone aboard the Mars Perseverance rover, expanding human sensory experience to another planet. Featured in WIRED and global media, his work reveals how art and science converge to reshape exploration, perception, and connection.

• Keith Berger

  Highly acclaimed mime duo Keith Berger and Sharon Diskin have performed together since 1985, captivating audiences worldwide with their dynamic style and disciplined artistry. They have appeared at venues ranging from New York’s La MaMa and L.A.’s Disney Concert Hall to the House of Blues, the Troubadour, the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, and international stages from Romania and Istanbul to Ukraine and China, where they performed and taught culminating in a showcase at the Macau Cultural Center. Since 1990, as The Chameleons, they have been among the most in-demand artists for young audiences, touring extensively with The Music Center of Los Angeles County and the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts. Commissioned by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, they created a beloved interpretation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, touring with live orchestras throughout Southern California.

• Nancy Segal

  Dr. Nancy L. Segal is a leading authority on twin research, using the science of twins to explore the foundations of human identity, genetics, and connection. She is a Psychology Professor and Director of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton. Her landmark work on the Minnesota Twin Study, chronicled in Born Together–Reared Apart, revealed striking similarities among twins separated at birth and earned the American Psychological Association’s William James Book Award, reshaping how we understand nature and nurture. Dr. Segal’s work also captures powerful human stories, including Deliberately Divided, which inspired a BBC film, The Twin Children of the Holocaust, and Gay Fathers, Twin Sons. Her latest research on Colombian twins switched at birth is featured in the Netflix documentary The Accidental Twins. With nine books, over 300 articles, and the James Shields Award for Lifetime Achievement, Dr. Segal continues to illuminate what makes us who we are.

• Neena Haider

  Dr. Neena Haider is revolutionizing medicine by transforming genetic diseases from life sentences into treatable conditions. A former Harvard Medical School faculty member and founder of Shifa Precision, she has dedicated her career to advancing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment at the genetic level. A contributor to the Human Genome Project, Dr. Haider identified more than a dozen genes linked to diseases including blindness, kidney disorders, and autism. At Harvard, she pioneered gene therapies for multiple forms of blindness, earning U.S. patents, FDA orphan disease designations, Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy status, and European Medicines Agency approval for clinical trials. Dr. Haider has held leadership roles at the NIH, U.S. Congress, NSF, and NASA, and her work—cited over 3,000 times—appears in textbooks worldwide. She founded Shifa Precision to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to AI-powered predictive prevention.

• Nonny de la Pena

  Nonny de la Peña is an internationally recognized pioneer of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality storytelling, transforming how nonfiction narratives are experienced across journalism, arts, and culture. She is Program Director of Arizona State University’s Narrative and Emerging Media program in Los Angeles. She is founder/CEO of Emblematic Group, a groundbreaking media company specializing in immersive journalism through XR. Her work helped establish immersive journalism as a field, earning global recognition at Sundance and Tribeca with projects including Hunger in Los Angeles and A Life in Pieces. She also created the WebXR platform REACH.Love, enabling AR/VR storytelling without coding. Often called the “Godmother of Virtual Reality,” her honors include the Peabody Field Builder Award and SXSW Innovation Awards Hall of Fame. She has worked for Newsweek and The New York Times, and holds degrees from Harvard University and USC, including a Ph.D. (USC School of Cinematic Arts).

• Pam Warner

  Pam Warner is the devoted mother of the late actor, musician, and cultural figure Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. She was a steadfast presence in his life and career from his earliest days in the entertainment industry, helping nurture his talents and instill the values of discipline, creativity, and compassion that shaped his impactful work on screen and beyond. Since his tragic passing in 2025, Pam has chosen to navigate her grief by remembering and celebrating her son’s vulnerability, authenticity, and the profound impact he made on so many lives.

• Sharon Diskin

  Highly acclaimed mime duo Keith Berger and Sharon Diskin have performed together since 1985, captivating audiences worldwide with their dynamic style and disciplined artistry. They have appeared at venues ranging from New York’s La MaMa and L.A.’s Disney Concert Hall to the House of Blues, the Troubadour, the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, and international stages from Romania and Istanbul to Ukraine and China, where they performed and taught culminating in a showcase at the Macau Cultural Center. Since 1990, as The Chameleons, they have been among the most in-demand artists for young audiences, touring extensively with The Music Center of Los Angeles County and the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts. Commissioned by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, they created a beloved interpretation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, touring with live orchestras throughout Southern California.

• Sheldon Bailey

  Sheldon “Big Shel” Bailey is redefining what it means to be multidimensional in a world that demands specialization. At 6’6”, he moves seamlessly between elite athletics, entertainment, and creative entrepreneurship—proving range is a strength. Bailey excelled in basketball, football, volleyball, Aussie Rules Football, and boxing, earning Division I scholarships to Winthrop University and Florida International University. While competing at the highest levels, he served as President of the Black Student Union and emerged as a spoken word poet. He has built a steady career across Netflix, Showtime, FX/Hulu, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime, and Peacock, earning praise as “a standout” for his role as DeAndre Jordan in *Clipped*. A creative entrepreneur, Bailey has released three music projects, authored *180 Degrees*, produced the award-winning pilot *Adulting*, consults for major retail brands, and supports charities including St. Anne’s Today, The Salvation Army, and SOS Children’s Villages.

• Travis Brewer

  Travis Brewer is a fitness ninja, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur on a mission to inspire a positive impact through movement. A finalist on American Ninja Warrior and World Calisthenics Champion, Travis has performed on Shark Tank, The Ellen Show, and NBA halftime shows. Passionate about helping people find balance and overcome obstacles—even when life turns them upside down—Travis blends play, prayer, and performance to awaken the warrior within.travis

• Trupti Bhoir

  Trupti Bhoir is an Oscar-listed producer, acclaimed actress, and cultural activist using storytelling as a force for social change. Rising from Marathi cinema—starring in Agadbam and producing Touring Talkies, shortlisted for the Oscars—she gained global recognition with PARO, which received a standing ovation at Cannes Marché du Film and earned her Best Actress honors in Japan. Beyond cinema, Trupti leads transformative grassroots work through her Shelter Foundation, creating livelihoods for tribal women, advocating against bride slavery, and founding a school for tribal children. A sought-after global voice, she has spoken at the Cannes Film Festival, Oxford, Harvard, and UN Women, and consults with India’s National Commission for Women. A member of India’s Central Board of Film Certification, she bridges art and activism to challenge injustice and expand dignity, rights, and representation.

• Tyler Tang

  Tyler Tang is a Cognitive Sciences student at the University of California, Irvine and Vice President of R.I.S.E. (Resources in Student Excellence), an organization dedicated to helping younger generations achieve academic excellence and thrive beyond the classroom. Passionate about how people learn, grow, and reach their potential, Tyler combines his studies of the mind with hands-on leadership and mentorship. Through R.I.S.E., he works to create access, guidance, and opportunity — empowering students not just to succeed, but to excel with confidence and purpose.

• Zacharie Sergenian

  Zacharie Sergenian is a Los Angeles high school student who has found his voice through storytelling. Six months after the Pacific Palisades Fire devastated his neighborhood and school, he worked with USC’s Wildfire Youth Media Initiative to create an audio piece exploring grief, delayed loss, and returning home after disaster—centered on the quiet act of having a friend play his piano. Zacharie is a senior at Palisades Charter High School, where he remains active in student journalism while pursuing passions including music, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and lunch. He is also working with the USC Center for Communication and Leadership Policy to explore the role of high school journalists in local news coverage.

• Zoe Nicols

  Zoe Nicols is transforming how we think about food waste, one label at a time. A rising senior at Mira Costa High School, she is a powerful youth voice for food justice. Zoe’s AP Capstone research, “Stale Solutions: An Assessment of the Consumer Interpretation of Food Product Dating,” exposes how confusing “best by” and “use by” labels cause Americans to discard perfectly good food—driving waste, environmental harm, and food insecurity. But Zoe doesn’t stop at research. As president of the South Bay Food Initiative, she has mobilized students to donate over 6,000 pounds of food and educate peers on food policy. She also created and teaches a nutrition program at the Richstone Family Center, empowering underserved students to make healthy choices. Her work shows how youth-led research and action can turn awareness into systemic change.