TEDxTorrey Pines

We are so excited!!!

Dr. Brendan Talwar’s talk, “The Hardest Lesson I Learned as a Shark Researcher,” was officially published today on the YouTube TEDx channel as a TEDx Editor’s Pick.

This talk comes from the inaugural TEDxTorreyPines event that took place on February 17, 2026, and its release aligns closely with Earth Day and the energy building around this weekend’s San Diego EarthFest in Balboa Park.

Centered around sharks and ocean conservation, we encourage you to listen to the entire talk. At its core, it’s about the power of individual choices and how small, intentional actions can create meaningful, lasting impact. It’s a message that resonates with everyone.

Take the time to watch it all the way through. We truly believe it will leave you thinking differently about your role in shaping the future. Watch the full talk here: https://lnkd.in/g78BW_MM.

Thank you to organizer and licensee Amy Paul Pfleger, the entire TEDxTorreyPines organizing team, our volunteers, and our incredible sponsors for bringing this to life.

Visit our website at www.TEDxTorreyPines.com to learn more about TEDxTorreyPines, explore the speakers, and stay connected for what’s ahead.

Team: Amy Paul Pfleger, Sela Salzman, Sharon McIntyre Smith, Jillian Collins, Amber Silva, Samuel Smith, Darius West, and our many day-of volunteers.

Sponsors: Alexander Pfleger Real Estate & Mortgage, Children's Oncology Support Fund (COSF), Ron Morabito at V Group, The Cottage, Neyenesch Printers, Inc., Torrey Pines Church, Legacy West Pictures, Direct Capital Mortgage, Hotel Indigo Del Mar, Billy Fallon, Laura K Moore, Swell Soda, Jennifer Tokatyan, and Claire Strong, MA.

Thank you Cate Armstrong for this exceptional performance at .

My name is Amy Paul Pfleger , founder and lead event organizer of TEDxTorreyPines. I organized this event partly to bring people together in person to support one another. The word support is a big one for me. It means boots on the ground. It means showing up. Sometimes that action is simply being present with one another.

Many people from the support group I started two years ago showed up in a big way. They volunteered, helped behind the scenes, and made the event possible. People often think the word support means something is wrong. But many times, it simply means being present for each other.

We could not have had a better performer to elevate our event than Cate Armstrong, who also leads support groups in her hometown of San Luis Obispo.

I am deeply thankful to Sela Salzman , our co director and emcee of TEDxTorreyPines, who brought this magnificent, kind person and talented singer songwriter to our stage.

See the full performance at the link in bio.

Dr. Stacy Cecchet, PhD, ABPP invites families into an important conversation about connection in today’s digital world.

A forensic and operational psychologist, she works with law enforcement to better understand online behavior and strengthen child safety efforts.

In her TEDxTorreyPines talk, she reminds us that it is not just about the internet, it is about connection. When families build open, ongoing communication, they create a foundation of trust that supports kids in every space they navigate.

Watch the full talk here: https://youtu.be/zbrPKeJX6Kg?si=DIAbCtp1R_GL0Fhp

Clip from the full TEDxTorreyPines talk, shortened for social by Amy Paul Pfleger, event organizer.

Hollie Berry invites us to take an honest look at how social media shapes the way we see ourselves.

Hollie has spent over a decade helping people feel confident in their own skin. Through her work, she has seen how powerful connection can be, and how damaging constant comparison can become.

In her TEDxTorreyPines talk, Hollie explores the dual nature of social media. While it has created community, representation, and connection, it has also introduced a constant comparison that can follow us from our phones into the mirror.

Watch the full talk here: https://youtu.be/UZl8MEUSodg?si=BtkduHKObn-BFm10

Dr. James Hyman Ph.D. invites us to better understand how our brains shape the way we experience the world.

As a neuroscientist and Associate Professor at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Dr. Hyman studies how the brain processes and manipulates information related to cognition and memory.

In his TEDx talk, Dr. Hyman explores how the brain builds our perception of time and experience, and how we can use that knowledge in practical ways.
This clip captures one key insight: our perception of time is shaped by the number and variety of experiences we have.

Watch the full talk here: https://youtu.be/T0jMNZ6YZ7c?si=tPDrqJWO6Wq4vjo0

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., Ph.D. invites us to think more carefully about our relationship with artificial intelligence.

As a career trial attorney and legal and ethical consultant, Wendy has spent decades focused on community protection and crime prevention. Today, that mission includes understanding how emerging technology can enhance safety, wellbeing, and quality of life without compromising our values.

In her TEDxTorreyPines talk, Wendy explores this early stage of AI adoption with clarity and optimism. Rather than fear the unknown, she encourages us to use these tools legally, effectively, and ethically, grounded in established moral boundaries.

Watch the full talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14KiWy5XvYk

Clip from the full TEDxTorreyPines talk, shortened for social by Amy Pfleger, Event Organizer.

Tech Director: Darius West

Cate Armstrong invites us to slow down long enough to actually feel.

As a singer songwriter and mental health advocate, Cate creates spaces where vulnerability is not only welcomed but honored. Through intimate performances and peer support communities, she encourages authenticity, connection, and collective wellbeing.

In her performance, Make Space for the Beauty, Cate shares her song “The Beauty,” a tender reflection on the contradictions we carry. Strength and softness. Doubt and hope. Light and shadow. Rather than trying to resolve them, she makes room for them.

Watch the full performance. Link in bio!

Clip from the full TEDxTorreyPines performance, shortened for social by Amy Pfleger, Event Organizer.

Tech Director:

SingerSongwriter