If you wish to view our talks from past years, please visit them on YouTube until we have our new site up and ready. Here’s a link to all talks since 2010.
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Born and raised in Southern California. He hates the sunlight, and has been digging tunnels and caves with a spoon in his backyard since he was 5. Now that he is older, he can really dig. Although he can tolerate the sunlight, now he lives in a cave with his wife since his house has collapsed into the ground.
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Howard Zisser, M.D., Director of Clinical Research & Diabetes Technology, conducts clinical trials on new and innovative therapies for type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. He currently manages trials investigating JDRF and NIH funded Artificial Pancreas Projects, the safety and efficacy of inhaled insulin, and implantable insulin pumps and implantable glucose sensors. Additionally, Dr. Zisser is Adjunct Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Dr. Zisser graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida in Gainesville with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies Biopharmacology and earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Dr. Zisser joined Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in 2002.
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Brendan Willing James is a songwriter, singer, photographer, designer, and insatiable conversationalist. He has spent the better part of the last 15 years following his muse, creating songs, art, touring, reading, exploring love, always taking the road less traveled on a perpetual search for inspiration, new challenges, and stories of humanity. B fell in love with songwriting while loosely studying at SBCC, soon choosing to walk the uncertain path of an independent musician. He spent many late nights in the garages of Isla Vista crafting songs, hustling to every open mic he could find, before becoming a founding member and vocalist of the popular local band Shades of Day. The band would go on to release one EP and two full length albums in their time together, while sharing stages with a wide variety of acts, including Blondie, Little Feat, Snow Patrol, Alter Bridge, and Edwin McCain.
In early 2007, Brendan set out across the country for three months in a pickup truck. A musical adventure that would lead him through 38 states, 10,000 miles, heartbreak, self discovery, and solitude. Dubbed “The Great Couch Tour”, this was the impetus for the moniker “B Willing”, and a renewed dedication to music, travel, love, positivity, conquering fear, and writing. The experiences of this exploration of both mind and country left an indelible impression that has only continued to blossom and grow.
He is a lead in the popular new musical Lonesome Traveler, a folk music review set between the years 1926-1965, playing folk icons Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Peter Yarro, Nick Reynolds, among others. The show has enjoyed three successful runs, with many sold out shows, due to popular demand, will return to Ventura’s Rubicon Theater in April 2013.
Brendan now resides in Los Angeles, where he has continued to perform regularly, written music with and for various artists and bands while continuing to work on his own compositions, independently releasing 4 records, with a fifth due for release in early 2013. He continues to challenge himself socially, intellectually, physically, and musically every day.
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Dr. Keith Witt is a psychologist in private practice, a writer, a teacher, and a lecturer. On his website, www.drkeithwitt.com, he offers The School of Love written and video blogs and other content exploring countless facets of love, intimacy, psychotherapy and human relationships. Beginning May 16, 2012, Keith began The School of Love Lecture Series comprised of twenty-four monthly lectures. The first six lectures are now available in audio and video on his website.
Realizing early in his career that mutuality and intimacy are central to human development and joyful existence, Keith’s work has explored intimacy and evolution from multiple perspectives yielding four books (Waking Up, Sessions, The Attuned Family, and The Gift of Shame), articles, and numerous lectures and classes which he has taught across the U.S. He has conducted over fifty thousand therapy sessions, led many groups, and has been a contributor to Integral Life and the Journal of Integral Theory and Practice. He and his wife Becky met in 1973 and have two grown children, Ethan and Zoe.
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An internationally recognized scholar of Asian Philosophy, award-winning teacher, and pioneer in academic Philosophy of the Martial Arts, Rick Schubert is Professor of Philosophy at Cosumnes River College, Sacramento and Hapkido (Korean Martial Arts) Instructor at the UC Davis Experimental College. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from UC Davis and a 4th Dan (master rank) in Hapkido from Hapkido International. His research explores the intersection of classical Asian philosophy and traditional martial arts. His teaching emphasizes integration of body, mind, and spirit; how the lessons of classical Asian philosophy and traditional martial arts support a vibrant, compassionate, and joyful life.
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Local Volunteers Put Their Passions to Work for TEDxAmericanRiviera
Meet Dawn Mitcham, Pia Dorer and Terry Baxter, three of the ‘ambassadors’ for this year’s Nov. 11 event
The TEDx phenomena is based on the ability of local organizers to rally people around the mission of TED: “Ideas Worth Spreading.” As it goes against the ethos of TED to make profit from these efforts, organizers of TEDx enlist volunteer labor wherever possible. However, that requires planning and flexibility as the volunteers work around their day jobs and other commitments.
“People are motivated by various reasons,” said Mark Sylvester, executive producer and co-host of TEDxAmericanRiviera.
He relates wisdom from Hani Zeini of Sientra, one of the event sponsors: “People want to feel like their skills are being utilized to the fullest, and that they are part of something bigger than themselves.”
Sylvester and his team work diligently with TEDxAR ambassadors — the name they have coined for volunteers — to determine their skill set and interest areas so they can maximize their pool of creativity and passion.
“With 3,000 TEDx events happening around the world, we are a part of a thrilling, global movement, and the ambassadors are a critical part of that,” Sylvester said.
Organizers work year-round putting together the speakers, staging, theme, technical production, venue logistics and finances. Collectively, Sylvester estimates the team has 1,000 hours invested by show time.
Standout ambassadors for this year’s TEDxAR event, set for Nov. 11 at Bacara Resort & Spa, include:
Terry Baxter, Lead for the Youth Project
Born in Missoula and raised in Santa Barbara, Baxter first discovered TEDx while researching local movers and shakers.
“I appreciate learning from forward thinkers that do not fear a challenge and aim for quality results — no matter how grand the vision,” Baxter said.
Heading up the youth component of this year’s event with talented local musicians and a tribute to TEDxAR veteran and cinematographer Mike DeGruy, Baxter acknowledges that finding volunteers who follow through is challenging.
A mother of three, she founded B Production Co., Professional Fundraising, Community Events, PR & Marketing Services.
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Ron’s personal creativity crisis came to a head in 1967 where low grades and shame drove him to leave college and join the Marines. There he was abruptly awakened to how deeply he cared about others. Ron ended up defining his own set of values, learning how to learn, and working with others to explore and develop the very best of who and what we are.
Receiving his Masters degree in English, Ron developed learning programs at several colleges and inspired his students to become published authors.
His further studies landed him in the role of Co-Director of The Brain Integration Center where he created whole-brain learning workshops.
Ron collaborated with top leaders (including Dr. Tom Gordon (P.E.T.), Al Huang (Tai Chi Master), Buckminster Fuller, and Joseph Campbell) in the personal growth field to develop dynamic transformational programs.
Ron’s personal and spiritual journey then brought him to Los Angeles where he met Tim Gallwey (The Inner Game Of Tennis). As Tim saw the extraordinary way Ron’s mind worked, he appointed him Executive V.P. of Inner Game Corp. They worked together with corporations such as AT&T to help them develop focus and enhance creativity.
A life and death experience gave Ron an expanded awareness of being one with everything. He also gained further clarity of his life’s path — taking people to the source of their deepest issues for the purpose of healing and developing their full potential.
Upon receiving his PhD in Psychology, Ron became the Founder and Director of the Center for Balance. Over the next few decades he developed numerous creativity enhancement programs, serving thousands of clients throughout the U.S. and Europe. During this time he also received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree, integrating body, mind, and spirit into his work.
Ron’s creative expression as a landscape artist has won numerous state and international awards (primarily for Japanese gardens). He is an author, speaker, workshop leader, and co-founder of the Creativity Revolution.
Ron’s vision, purpose, and commitment come together in pioneering the Creativity Revolution. He knows that by accessing our imagination and innate creativity, we become more aware and conscious of inspired and productive ideas. We lose fear and gain hope. We can then create from what will serve our highest intention as an individual, a community, a nation, and a world.
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Teaching and training in the martial arts for 46 years, Grandmaster Dave Wheaton is a revered Instructor, Mentor and Coach to thousands of students across the country. His unique approach to mind/body training empowers his students to discover excellence within themselves and tap into their greatest potential.
Grandmaster Wheaton developed Dynamic Circle Hapkido, a formidable system of self-defense that combines a variety of martial arts techniques with emphasis on flowing seamlessly from one movement to another. Focus is centered on integrating the flow of Ki (Chi) energy with the body so that the student, regardless of size or age, can instinctively respond with the appropriate measure of force required.
President and Founder of Hapkido International, Grandmaster Wheaton holds a 9th dan black belt in Hapkido, a 7th dan in Taekwondo and in 2001 was awarded the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award by the World Karate Union Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Dave can usually be found at his award winning school, Martial Arts Family Fitness, teaching Hapkido and kickboxing or taking a kickboxing class to keep himself in shape. www.kickboxers.com
In addition to being a Master martial artist, Dave is a quietly popular garage winemaker, amateur Paleo Chef and FAA Certified Gold Seal Flight Instructor. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, dogs, and chickens.
You can follow Grandmaster Wheaton’s words of wisdom on Twitter: @davewheaton.
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Moi Navarro is an independent artist in the music industry based in Los Angeles, California. Moi has gained a prominent fan base that spans worldwide. He reaches a vast audience with his passionate music, straight-forward lyrics, and unique stories. His diversity is more than just skin-deep, as his music is interwoven with influences of funk, rock, soul, folk and jazz. Moi’s ballads are emotional and heartfelt as they tell a story and invoke tremendous feeling, portraying sincere transparency, letting you see into his soul.
Recent accomplishments include competing on NBC’s “The Sing Off” with the a cappella group – Kinfolk 9, being listed in the L.A. Examiner as one of 2012′s Twenty to Watch, performing at the National NACA convention in Charlotte, NC, and a nationwide 2012 Fall Tour at various colleges, and universities. Moi is also a songwriter for Disney English, a chain of interactive English language schools launched in China by Disney Worldwide Publishing, teaching American English to chinese students.
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