Attend a live TED Talk or similar event.

“As a first-time attendee of TED 2025: Humanity Reimagined, I discovered that the conference extends far beyond the polished 18-minute talks we see online. It’s an immersive experience designed to challenge assumptions, spark unexpected connections, and leave you navigating complex tensions without easy resolution.”

“What struck me most was how the conference design intentionally created collisions between disciplines. The person sitting next to you might be approaching similar questions from an entirely different angle—a philosopher next to an engineer next to an artist—creating a rich tapestry of perspective.”

“Like many new attendees, I only knew 2-3 people who were going to TED out of approximately 1700 attendees. Newcomers like myself were really lacking a buddy who knows the ropes to hang out with and help break the ice. It was very obvious who was a part of TED for years and who were new to the event, and in a cultural event like this, you don’t want anyone to feel left out. Despite my experience with events and my outwardly extroverted nature, I found it hard to get plugged in.”