TEDx Walden Pond is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and engaging audiences through the power of ideas that spark meaningful change. Guided by TEDx principles, we create a platform for thought-provoking discussions that connect individuals, communities, and the natural world.
We are thrilled to announce that our theme for TEDx Walden Pond 2026 is“The Courage to Pay Attention.”
This theme can hold conversations about anything from everyday attention to technology, and the quiet power of noticing what’s right in front of us. What becomes possible when we pay attention?
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Meet the Speakers
Pradnya Cowlagi (Shrewsbury, MA)
Here’s something remarkable: Pradnya is both CEO of her own tech company and a high school student. She’ll be skewering the unclear jargon that clutters the technical world — and making a sharp case for how that kind of language abuse is really about control.
Liane Davey (Toronto, Canada)
Author, speaker, and consultant Liane Davey is going to reframe something you thought you understood. It’s not information overload that’s overwhelming us — it’s Thoughtload. Prepare to see your mental life in a whole new way.
Andi Hess (Phoenix, AZ)
Hypnotherapist Andi Hess brings us a word we didn’t know we needed: fracturation. Modern life is splintering our attention in ways we’re only beginning to understand — and Andi is here to help us see what’s happening and what we can do about it.
Kaye Kelly (Franklin, MA)
Professor of Music at Berklee College of Music, international musician, and arts administrator, Kaye thrives at the intersection of arts, community, and social justice. Her talk on recovering from artistic failure will resonate far beyond the concert hall — because learning to fail well is one of the most important skills any of us can develop.
Erica Key (Brookline, MA)
What can adults learn from the way children play? Childhood play expert Erica Key has answers — and they may surprise you. Joyful, insightful, and probably a little bit fun.
Kathy Pham (Arlington, MA)
Product leader, computer scientist, and founder Kathy Pham has worked across the private, nonprofit, and public sectors at the highest levels. Her question for us: Should we let AI tell our children bedtime stories? It’s a deceptively simple question with profound implications.
Kishori (Kelly) Skinner (Vermont)
Doula and life coach Kishori Skinner has spent her career accompanying people through life’s most profound passage. What has caring for the dying taught her about living? Everything. Don’t miss this one.
Elisabeth Swan (Falmouth, MA)
Consultant, author, and speaker Elisabeth Swan is here to untangle the praise paradox — the strange fact that we crave praise but are hardwired to give criticism. It’s one of the most human of contradictions, and Elisabeth will help us navigate it.
Molly Tsongas (Chatham, MA)
Dancer, somatic coach, and nature-based mindfulness guide Molly Tsongas will show us how paying attention to birds — and to nature more broadly — can lead us back to a more grounded, satisfying, and fully human life.
Visit our website to learn more about our speakers!
Support TEDx Walden Pond
TEDx Walden Pond is a nonprofit organization that depends on the generosity of its donors and the dedication of its volunteers. If you’d like to help make evenings like this one possible, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to sponsorship@tedxwaldenpond.com and we’ll be in touch.
See you October 21st.
The TEDx Walden Pond Board