TEDxMidAtlantic 2025: Where Democracy Got Its Groove Back (And I Got Writer's Cramp)

TEDxMidAtlantic 2025: Where Democracy Got Its Groove Back (And I Got Writer's Cramp)

So there I was at the Harmon Theater—where Shakespeare usually makes people contemplate mortality while side-eyeing the exit—except this time we were fast-forwarding into America's future, one inspirational idea at a time.

I rolled up with "Finer Future: Note to Self for America" RED for TED ribbons and convinced a few dozen unsuspecting geniuses to spill their hopes onto satin strips. Presumptuous? Absolutely. Successful? You bet your democracy it was. Of the 500ish attendees, I managed to invite 41 to write their Notes to Self.

The Highlights Reel: Crys Matthews dropped wisdom that belongs on throw pillows nationwide: "A setback is just a setup for a comeback." If that doesn't revive your faith in America, check your pulse.

Kwame Alexander made words dance so hard, dictionaries took notes. The man could inspire a tax form to write poetry.

Yassamin Ansari—Congress's youngest female member—made everyone wonder what we did in our twenties. (Spoiler: nothing this impressive.) She's proof that "too young" means "intimidatingly capable."

Miles Taylor's call-to-action was so rousing, three people nearly registered to vote twice. (DON'T!) His message: Democracy isn't Netflix—stop binge-watching, start participating.

Elizabeth Houston—lawyer, professor, scientist, AND comedian—proved you can tackle existential crises while making people snort-laugh. Renaissance woman? Understatement.

The Vibe: Constitutional Convention meets contemporary ballet meets a rapper named Noochie discussing his Front Porch podcast. Bat-robots! Baby brains! Political war stories! Someone blended Democracy, Innovation, and Hope, hit "frappe," and served it with a side of optimism.

Rouge carpooled three of us to underground parking and waited TEN HOURS like a sweet patient saint. Yes, it was that stimulating. The entire. Time.

Managed to work into every conversation that I'm doing "Plugged In Charged Up" twice across the country—because if you can't shamelessly self-promote at a TED event while discussing the end of civilization, when can you?

The Takeaway: In a theater built for tragic kings, we wrote America's comeback story. Next November, DC, Harmon Theater—be there or be a footnote to history.

And now for a gem of gratitude: Eternal thanks to Dave Troy and Nate Mook for curating this democratic fever dream and hosting with the perfect blend of gravitas and "yes, we really did just put a bat-robot scientist next to a standup comic-lawyer and somehow it WORKED."

Bonus: met fellow TEDx organizers who understand the unique joy of herding genius altruists while pretending everything's under control—we bonded immediately over shared trauma and google sheets.

Also I had a delightfully apocalyptic chat with Rob Wray about nuclear war, climate breakdown, and AI data thirst because nothing says "networking" like casually discussing extinction scenarios while eating cheese cubes.

Feeling good about America's finer future, wherever TEDxMidAtlantic takes our activating.