Past TEDx event

TEDxSoards Road

America 250

Took placeJuly 4, 20268:00 AM - 4:00 PM (GMT-4)
LocationGeorgetown, Kentucky, United States
FormatStandard
On July 4, 2026—commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—TEDxSoardsRoad brought together a diverse gathering of leaders, innovators, survivors, and storytellers at Queenslake Horse Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. Theme America 250 reflects on a quarter-millennium of the American experiment while boldly looking toward the future. Rather than looking back solely through a historical lens, TEDxSoardsRoad explored what it means to uphold the foundational ideals of courage, liberty, and human connection in the 21st century. From pioneering cardiac AI technology, healthcare innovations, and educational reform, to personal triumphs over severe trauma, burnout, and physical adversity, our 24 featured speakers addressed the fundamental question: How do we adapt, heal, and build a resilient future together? Across diverse disciplines—neuroscience, entrepreneurship, intentional communication, athletic endurance, breathwork, and community leadership—the talks highlighted the power of choosing response over reaction, gratitude over despair, and authentic human connection in an increasingly automated world. America 250 at TEDxSoardsRoad served as a dynamic blueprint for human potential, honoring where we have been and shaping the ideas that will define the next 250 years.

Speakers

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

  • Andy Bhattacharya

    Innovation & Technology Strategist

    Andy Bhattacharya is an innovation and technology strategist who explores the intersection of emerging technologies and human adaptability. His work focuses on guiding organizations and individuals through digital transformations while emphasizing human-centric problem solving.

  • Angela Webber

    Customer Service Consultant & Hospitality Strategist

    Angela Webber has spent over three decades working in customer service and organizational culture. She advocates for returning authentic human compassion and empathy to customer experience and leadership, warning against replacing genuine connection with digital efficiency.

  • Barbie Ray

    Business Owner, Speaker & Adaptability Strategist

    Barbie Ray is a survivor and business leader who built and maintained a nationally recognized collision repair business through the Great Recession and COVID-19. Having overcome a lightning strike, paralysis, multiple spinal surgeries, and opioid addiction recovery, she speaks on human adaptability, leadership in the AI era, and navigating unpredictable data disruptions.

  • Carl Clavenger

    Resilience Speaker, Entrepreneur & Burn Recovery Advocate

    Carl Cleavenger is a father, advocate, and burn survivor. In his talk "The Bell Hasn't Rung," Carl shares his story of raising his special-needs son James through movement and outdoor adventures, followed by surviving a catastrophic fire that left over half of his body with third-degree burns. Through six weeks of intensive care, seven surgeries, and grief, Carl draws on the mindset of a boxer to demonstrate how desire, mental drive, and refusal to surrender allow us to get back up after life's hardest hits.

  • Cheryle Hayes

    Leadership & Behavioral Neuroscience Speaker

    Cheryle Hayes focuses on human reactivity, amygdala hijack, and conscious decision-making. Her work challenges audiences to transition from reactive habits to revolutionary responses in an era increasingly influenced by automated technology and AI.

  • Christian de la Huerta

    Author & Breathwork Expert

    Christian de la Huerta is a personal transformation coach, breathwork expert, and author with over thirty years of experience. He leads workshops and retreats worldwide, helping individuals unlock self-empowerment, overcome trauma, and cultivate deep emotional presence.

  • Diane Darling

    Professional Networking Strategist, Author & Executive Coach

    Diane Darling is an author and pioneer in intentional networking who featured on the cover of The Wall Street Journal. She teaches individuals and corporations how to approach networking like architects—designing meaningful, lasting professional relationships and empowering introverts through structured connection tools.

  • Dr. André P. Walton

    Social Psychologist, Author & Executive Performance Consultant

    Dr. André P. Walton is a social psychologist, author, and researcher specializing in creative thinking, cognitive surrender, and executive performance. In his talk "The Child Who Didn't Surrender," he explores how modern environments suppress innate human curiosity and creativity. Dr. Walton presents actionable frameworks—including "Spherical Thinking"—to help leaders and individuals reactivate creative neural pathways, protect against burnout, and cultivate long-term cognitive resilience alongside AI.

  • Dr. Christopher Harz

    Health Technology Researcher & Medical AI Specialist

    Dr. Christopher R. Harz (Ed.D., MBA, CHP) specializes in advanced cardiac technology and healthcare predictive modeling. In his talk "Predicting Heart Attacks," he shares how early physiological signs, bio-detection methods, wearable metrics, and AI Digital Twins can detect life-threatening cardiac events before symptoms occur.

  • Dr. Dan Docherty

    Leadership Professor, Executive Coach & Managing Partner

    Dr. Dan Docherty is Chief Coaching Officer at Braintrust and a Professor of Leadership at Miami University. His talk, "What Do You Dream About?", focuses on how a single transformational question can shift nervous systems from protective fear to aspirational connection, creating authentic engagement and relational connection in leadership.

  • Dr. Forbes Riley

    Award-Winning TV Host, Author & Pitch/Communication Expert

    Dr. Forbes Riley is an internationally recognized media personality, entrepreneur, and pitch coach. Serving as co-emcee and speaker at TEDxSoardsRoad, she empowers individuals to master public presentation, personal pitch, and magnetic communication.

  • Drew Curtis

    Tech Entrepreneur & Founder of Fark.com

    Drew Curtis is an internet entrepreneur, author, and creator of news aggregator Fark.com. Known for his perspectives on media and modern internet culture, he speaks on filtering online information overload, media literacy, and digital ecosystem trends.

  • Jaime Morales

    Former Marine & SWAT Operator, Paralympic Competitive Shooter

    Jaime Morales is a decorated former Marine and SWAT officer who survived a line-of-duty gunshot injury. Overcoming severe paralysis, legal battles, and trauma, he went on to become an elite Paralympic competitive shooter, speaking on resilience, spiritual surrender, and redefined strength.

  • James W. Keyes

    Former CEO of 7-Eleven & Blockbuster, Education Advocate & Author

    James W. Keyes is a global business leader and former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster. Rising from humble beginnings, he is a dedicated advocate for global education reform, introducing frameworks like EdOS to leverage digital technology to eliminate literacy gaps and democratize learning worldwide.

  • Joe Rivera

    Founder of Reforge & High-Performance Mindset Coach

    Joe Rivera is the founder of Reforge. After rising to seven-figure success and hitting rock bottom through addiction and loss, he wrote his own obituary to catalyze a complete life turnaround. He now coaches individuals on purpose, vision, and identity alignment to reforge strength through life’s greatest trials.

  • Kerri Kasem

    Broadcaster, Consumer Rights Advocate & Founder of Kasem Cares

    Kerri Kasem is an American radio/TV host, consumer advocate, and daughter of radio icon Casey Kasem. In her talk "Keep Reaching for the Stars," she shares her journey of turning personal tragedy into legislative action—passing elder abuse and family visitation protection laws across 22 states.

  • Lisa Ann Oliveira

    Mindset & Leadership Development Coach

    Lisa Ann Oliveira is an executive performance and mindset coach. She works with entrepreneurs and organizational leaders to break through internal plateaus, clarify strategic vision, and foster sustainable personal and professional growth.

  • Matt Music

    Public Speaker & Communication Awareness Coach

    Matt Music is a speaker and communication expert focused on interpersonal connection. Through his E/E/A framework (Emotion, Engagement, Alignment), Matt helps leaders and speakers close the gap between what they intend to communicate and what their audience actually perceives.

  • Matt Russell

    Professional Ironman Triathlete & Keynote Speaker

    Matt Russell is a top professional Ironman triathlete with over 40 podium finishes. After losing his mother at age 13 and surviving a near-fatal bike crash at the Kona Ironman World Championship that severed his jugular vein, he shares how radical gratitude became his ultimate competitive advantage and life philosophy.

  • Obet Pabon

    Speaker & Purpose-Driven Leadership Coach

    Obet Pabon is a transformational speaker and leadership mentor. His talks focus on helping individuals overcome personal adversity, identify core purpose, and unlock full potential in both personal life and team environments.

  • Scott Weinstein

    Educator, Author & Educational Leadership Faculty (Villanova)

    Scott Weinstein is a longtime educator, former principal across elementary, middle, and high school levels, and faculty member at Villanova University. In his talk "Culture by Design," he shares how intentionally designing supportive environments around people fosters lifelong belonging and human thriving.

  • Shawn Reaves

    Actor & Storytelling Speaker

    Shawn Reaves is an actor and speaker who leverages performance experience and narrative structure to teach leaders and creators how authentic personal storytelling builds deep human connections and trust.

  • Tiamo De Vettori

    Keynote Speaker, Musician & Founder

    Tiamo De Vettori is an international speaker and singer-songwriter. In his talk "Joy First," he shares his experience of burnout as a successful creator and advocates for a year-long experiment putting joy at the center of life and schedule before work metrics.

  • Trevor Shoemaker

    Race HorseHandicapper & Stroke Awareness Advocate

    Trevor Shoemaker is an app developer, sports handicapper, and stroke survivor. After surviving a life-threatening stroke, Trevor uses his platform to share honest insights into neurological rehabilitation, memory recovery, and the transformative power of mindset and community support.

Organizing team