TED TALKS
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less)
Addiction and Recovery: A How to Guide
Shawn, a promising athlete, took a turn towards alcohol and drugs. After 18 years of addiction, jail, detox, and treatment facilities, he found sobriety. Shawn began rebuilding his life. In an effort to bring help to others who were struggling, he founded a Pura Vida Recovery (PVR), an active sober community. In two short years, PVR has changed the landscape of recovery in Spokane, welcoming over 400 addicts walk through the front doors that display the organization’s motto, “Fit for change, Fit for life.” ​
Lessons a drug addict can teach you
Lauren Windle took her first line of cocaine when she was eighteen a decision that marked the beginning of her journey into addiction. Now four years clean she shares her story of addiction, recovery and freedom, outlining the 12 steps to recovery through the perspective of her story. Journalist and recovering addict Lauren Windle found freedom from addiction using the in-depth introspection of a 12-step program. She now helps others do the same. But Lauren believes it’s not just those who have hit rock bottom who need self-reflection and shares the lessons everyone could learn from recovering addicts.
Recover out loud​
​Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006, shares her life-long struggle with addiction and what she has learned from 10 years of sobriety. Addicts are not bad people that need to get good, but sick people that need to get well. In this challenging and at times humorous talk, she calls for a different response to the addiction crisis.
How Isolation Fuels Opioid Addiction
Through her nonprofit SeekHealing, Rachel Wurzman aims to reduce opioid overdose rates by building communities that are inherently resilient to addiction.
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The critical role librarians play in the opioid crisis
After witnessing overdoses at her library in Philadelphia, Chera Kowalski learned how to administer naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of narcotics, and she's put it to use to save patrons' lives. In this personal talk, she shares the day-to-day reality of life on the frontline of the opioid crisis and advocates for each of us to find new ways to keep our communities safe and healthy.
​In the opioid crisis, here's what it takes to save a life
As a fire chief and first responder, Jan Rader has spent her career saving lives. But when the opioid epidemic hit her town, she realized they needed to take a brand-new approach to life-saving. In this powerful, hopeful talk, Rader shows what it's like on the front lines of this crisis -- and how her community is taking an unusual new approach to treating substance-abuse disorder that starts with listening.
Addiction is a disease. We should treat it like one.​
Only one in nine people in the United States gets the care and treatment they need for addiction and substance abuse. A former Director of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli is working to end this epidemic and treat people with addictions with kindness, compassion and fairness. In a personal, thoughtful talk, he encourages the millions of Americans in recovery today to make their voices heard and confront the stigma associated with substance use disorders.
The Power of Vulnerability
Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.
Addiction 101
Having combated addiction first hand, Raj Mehta discusses the impact that addiction has on individuals, families, communities and countries. He challenges us to rethink addiction and reform our government’s policies.
Finding sobriety on a mountaintop
On the road to recovery from his drug & alcohol addiction, Scott Strode found self-confidence and a new identity in sports. “Every time I stood on top of a mountain or crossed a finish line, I was a little more a climber, and a little less an addict,” Scott explains. Is it possible that creating a community of sober athletes might revolutionize recovery?
Making Sober Less Shameful
Clare Pooley gave up alcohol in March 2015; months later she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She told everyone about the breast cancer, but, ashamed, kept her decision to stop drinking secret. Now, three years later, she has given up anonymity, and is on a mission to make sobriety less shameful for everyone. Clare Pooley describes herself a ‘a middle aged, over educated, over privileged, (formerly) overweight Mum of three who had a long love affair with high priced, good quality wine until she realized that the relationship was going nowhere.’