TEDxSpokane

Speakers

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

• Bill Olson

  Bill Olson is a physical therapist and educator with more than 30 years of experience in integrative care for chronic and complex conditions. He owns Cascade Integrative Physical Therapy and co-owns Integrative Therapy Seminars, which provides continuing education for musculoskeletal healthcare providers. Bill’s path began in applied biology, working as a naturalist, Peace Corps fisheries extension agent in Latin America, and undergraduate instructor before transitioning into physical therapy. Today, he continues to teach at graduate and postgraduate levels while maintaining a full-time clinical practice. Outside of work, Bill enjoys time with his family, hiking, backcountry skiing, gardening, and exploring traditional crafts like bushcraft and forging.

• Brooklyn Dicent

  Brooklyn Dicent, M.Ed., is a happiness and mindset expert who uses humor and positive psychology to inspire lasting change. Known as the Chief Happiness Officer, she helps individuals and organizations rewire their thinking through research-backed strategies and clinical hypnotherapy. With over 15 years in learning and development, she’s worked with companies like Microsoft, Visa, and Yale. Brooklyn is a Certified Hypnotherapist, Professional Coach, and author of Be Undeniable: How to Be Unapologetically YOU. She believes transformation begins in the subconscious and empowers audiences to reprogram self-limiting beliefs with joy and ease.

• Brynn MacLennan

  Brynn MacLennan is the CEO and co-founder of Slate, an oral wellness brand transforming the way people floss. Known for its patented 3-in-1 electric flosser, Slate is preparing for a national retail launch in 2026 and has been featured on the How I Built This podcast. A lifelong entrepreneur, Brynn started her first business at 13 before earning a BFA in product design from Brigham Young University and working with Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon division. The idea for Slate was born while co-managing a dental practice, where she saw firsthand how patients struggled with flossing despite caring about their health. Today, she leads Slate’s expansion across dental practices, digital platforms, and retail, while speaking on the critical links between oral health and systemic wellness. A mother of five, Brynn lives in Spokane and leads with vision, authenticity, and a deep commitment to helping others thrive.

• Cat Caldwell Myers

  Cat Myers began her career as a horse trainer in her teenage years, developing discipline, patience, and a deep respect for learning. In college, she wrote her first thesis and graduated cum laude, marking the start of her academic and professional journey. Her path reflects a lifelong commitment to growth, resilience, and pursuing passions with curiosity and determination.

• Chris Wheatley

  Chris Wheatley is passionate about helping people communicate better and lead more meaningful lives. He co-founded the Wheatley Leadership Group, focused on leadership development and coaching. Chris also serves as Vice President of Organizational Learning at Numerica Credit Union and is a Board Certified executive coach. A Spokane native, he sits on the board of Leadership Spokane and holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. When not facilitating growth in others, he’s playing pickup sports or nerdy board games with his family—his favorite role of all.

• Gatieh Nacario

  Gatieh Nacario is the Director of the Hope House Respite Center at Volunteers of America and a passionate advocate for resilience, creativity, and community. Originally from the Philippines, he moved to Spokane in 2019 and has since brought his voice and artistry to the city’s cultural landscape. Gatieh holds a Doctorate in Education and is a graduate of the Leadership Spokane Flagship Program. His creative work includes two public murals, one featured in The Inlander, and performances in more than a dozen local theater productions. He also serves as Artistic Director of the Kultura de Filipino Dance Company, dedicated to preserving and sharing Filipino culture through dance. In his TEDxSpokane talk, A Stage of My Own, Gatieh reflects on finding belonging and purpose by daring to step into the spotlight.

• Grace Leaf

  Grace Leaf is an executive biographer, leadership coach, consultant, and performer based in Spokane. With experience in the C-suite and a doctoral background in leadership, she brings a unique perspective to guiding professionals across generations and industries. Grace’s work blends research, writing, and artistry, offering insights into both personal and organizational growth. She is currently collaborating with Mikaela Boyle and Rory Sade on projects that combine scholarship and creativity in innovative ways.

• Hanna Morrell

  "Hanna Morrell is a holistic financial coach who helps individuals and couples build customized, adaptable money systems while learning to trust themselves with money. She is the creator of the Pacific Stoa Financial Wellness Curriculum. This innovative curriculum is the first of its kind to combine money mechanics with the soft-skills that it takes to implement and integrate money systems into a person or couple’s life all without shame, judgment, accountability, or restriction."

• Jona Gallegos

  Jona Gallegos is a singer-songwriter born in Guadalajara, Mexico, now living in the Pacific Northwest. As a father of three and husband to his greatest supporter, Jona crafts songs that are honest, raw, and deeply human. He believes in the power of simplicity to cut through life’s noise. His music offers connection in a complicated world and invites listeners to reflect on their own stories.

• Mikaela Boyle

  "Mikaela Boyle is a Spokane-based elementary physical educator, professional dancer, and fitness instructor with a deep-rooted passion for movement, health, and the performing arts. Raised in an active family, Mikaela’s lifelong engagement with sports and physical activity naturally evolved into a career dedicated to promoting wellness and creative expression. Committed to enriching Spokane’s vibrant arts scene, Mikaela currently performs with two local dance companies, specializing in contemporary/modern and hip-hop styles. Her work blends physical education and performance art, offering dynamic, embodied experiences that connect audiences to both self and community. At TEDxSpokane 2026, Mikaela joins Grace Leaf and Rory Sade on stage to present a compelling, artistic interpretation of attachment styles—inviting audiences to explore emotional connection through the language of movement. She is honored to contribute to this powerful collaboration and the broader TEDxSpokane platform."

• Olivia Brownlee

  Olivia Brownlee is a genre-blending singer-songwriter with deep roots in Spokane’s musical landscape. Her latest album, This Is Where You Live: Songs Inspired in Spokane 2021–2023, celebrates the city’s history, landmarks, and people through collaboration with local artists. Olivia performs regularly with groups like the Zonky Jazz Band and Rockabilly Space Force. She’s also been releasing an original song every month for over ten years on Patreon. Her work honors Spokane’s spirit while weaving timeless stories through music.

• Riley Yates

  Riley Yates is a young Spokane-based author who began writing in eighth grade and hasn’t stopped since. He has self-published three novels and is working on a fourth, which he plans to submit to literary agents. Riley founded a creative writing club at his high school and frequently speaks at local schools about the power of storytelling. He believes everyone carries a story worth sharing and strives to uncover them through conversation and creativity. Outside of writing, he enjoys tennis, pickleball, and playing the bagpipes. Riley is preparing for college with hopes of becoming a full-time author.

• Rory Sade

  Rory Sade is a multi-disciplinary composer and sound designer blending classical piano with electronic production. Originally from Michigan, Rory studied audio engineering at SFCC and spent two years with Spokane’s internationally recognized studio Bing Bang Boom. He’s composed music for film trailers, advertisements, and dramatic productions. Rory has performed internationally and studied classical piano under Serbian pianist Ivana Cojbasic. He also received top honors at Spokane’s Musicfest Northwest. Outside of music, Rory enjoys film photography, WWII history, and traveling by train.

• Sheila Tallmon

  "I have always been a community-builder at heart, and a lifelong advocate for personal growth through intentional connection. My work career spans decades within the youth development and summer camp world, including leadership at Cheley CO Camps and Camp Nor’wester in the San Juan Islands. My work has now taken a fulfilling new turn, bringing me to the Lake Ballinger Center, where I have the pleasure of serving aging adults.` I have many passions, but one thing I really enjoy is writing and sharing my spoken word poetry, which reflects unique aspects of reinvention and shared humanity. I’m originally from Nebraska, and now live in Lynnwood, WA with my partner, Janie, and our sweet cat, Murphy. My spirit is rooted in the outdoors, my mind is open to the mystical, and as a seeker, my heart is defined by boundless curiosity and the pursuit of finding wonder, love, and connection. "

• Tim Harrison

  Tim Harrison is a leadership coach and social entrepreneur exploring the intersection of human potential and artificial intelligence. A former Division I basketball player, Tim’s journey was shaped by early adversity that taught him resilience, grit, and the power of reinvention. After turning down a high-profile corporate opportunity, he founded a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth in underserved communities through coaching and personal development. Tim is a fierce advocate for human agency in an age of accelerating change. He now consults with leaders and organizations to harness emerging technologies as tools for growth, impact, and transformation. Through his work, Tim is on a mission to help people recognize and realize their POWER—by equipping them with the mindset and strategies to lead their own lives and shape their own futures.