Conversations with Influencers and Disruptors

Live conversations every other Wednesday at 4 pm Pacific

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Conversations with Influencers
and Disruptors

Live conversations every
Wednesday at 4 pm Pacific

Learn More

This show would not be possible without the support of the Santa Barbara community.
Thank you.

Upcoming Salon Conversations

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Chad Lane – The Adaptive Age: AI’s New Frontier – The Evolution of AI: Learning, Adapting, Transforming

Oct 4, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
Adaptive AI in the workplace is heralding a new era of technical transformation, fundamentally reshaping how businesses operate and innovate. Unlike traditional AI models that rely on static algorithms, adaptive AI learns and evolves in real-time, mirroring human-like flexibility and responsiveness.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
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Tony Hunter – Reimagining the Global Food System: Feeding 10 Billion in 2050

Oct 18, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
Tony Hunter will engage in a conversation about reimagining the global food system. He will challenge conventional methods and explore innovative approaches to sustainably and equitably feed a growing global population.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
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William Skinner – California doesn’t have a water problem – it has a storage and distribution deficiency.

November 1, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
In recent years, California has faced severe droughts that have further highlighted the inadequacy of its water infrastructure. As a result, many experts argue that California doesn’t have a water problem per se but rather a storage and distribution deficiency.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
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Debra Hopkins – Breaking The Chains: Empowering creativity and community through art and connection

Nov 15, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
The power of art is immense. It can evoke emotions of all kinds, from the most profound sorrows to the highest joys, simultaneously or separately. For many people, art is a form of therapy that goes beyond time and space.
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Wendy Whitman – Evil Obsessions: Unraveling Our Fascination with Crime

Dec 13, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
The “true crime” phenomenon has never been more evident. From television series to books to documentaries, there seems to be a never-ending fascination with crime, specifically murder. Serial killers are a constant topic of conversation, whether in the news or in fictional shows and novels. In interview after interview, Wendy Whitman has been asked to explain this obsession.
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Charles Feinstein – Addressing the Climate Emergency: Economic and Policy Options and Making Polluters Pay

Jan 17, 2024 04:00 PM in Pacific Time
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, with global consequences affecting the natural environment, basic livelihoods, and nearly every sector of human activity. The interview will briefly review the current scientific understandings that define climate change as a critical threat.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk

Salons

Regular events for smaller groups to explore single topics of community interest
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Adventures

Regular field trips for smaller groups to explore our community
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Main event

Our Annual All-Day Event with Live Speakers and Performers at The New Vic

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Coming Soon

Be sure you don’t miss these conversations coming later this year.
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Jan Campbell 12/9
Finding a Vaccine for Violence

* OP Almarez 12/16
Cleaning up after COVID

Bittersweet Gratitude
Virtual Concert and Conversations
Jackson Gillies
Kenny Loggins
Hana Loggins
Zach Gil
Glenn Philips
John Irving and the Renaissance Dancers

People Are Talking

“It was an honor to contribute, once again, to the profoundly vital discussions the TEDxSantaBarbara team hosts, initiates and propagates with unparalleled integrity and consistency."
Dr. Harry Grammer, Making Waves speaker
"Really nicely done to be using your platform to spotlight something like this. Very proud of you guys."
Evan Asher, TEDxSantaBarbara performer
“Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your Conversations. Each of these presentations helps to make connections across disciplines, as a result, we’re all inspired to learn more.”
Dr. Yonette Thomas, Making Waves speaker
“This series has been terrific! I have caught a few of them and the conversations have been insightful. Keep up the great work.”
Julie Sorenson, Attendee
“Thanks so much for hosting such an important presentation by Dr. Wizdom Powell.”
Cheri C. Wilson, Education and Training Manager, Johns Hopkins Medicine
This program is one of the best I have ever seen in my life. This was amazing and there are not enough words to say Thank You and your Team."
Attendee, BJ King

What is the TEDx Santa Barbara Salon?

Our TEDx Salon is different than a live, in-person event where speakers give 12-18 minute talks in front of an audience. Instead, our Salon is an online conversation with our host, Mark Sylvester, and our guest, who is an expert in their field and joins us for a short talk, followed by questions from the online audience.

The topics we explore are focused on the Pandemic, Sustainability, Creativity, Technology, and Social Justice. We look at them individually and, at times, see how one has influenced the other. We look through various lenses and hear different voices as we explore these categories. 

We navigate through opinions to help us reflect on our existing attitudes, increase our knowledge, and, when appropriate, take action. The exploration of ideas can provoke and impact our opinions of topics we bring to be discussed. Sometimes we make waves as well.

We want to thank the Community Environmental Council and the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science & Management for their help in curating our Sustainability track.

The Salon series, Making Waves, is hosted by TEDxSantaBarbara's Executive Producer Mark Sylvester and Produced by Tracy Wyle.

SPEAKERS: This is an invitation-only event. Please do not send us unsolicited requests to speak. Thank you.