OCALA, FL (352today.com) – It’s been a decade since the phrase “thanks for coming to my TED Talk” infiltrated the very-online pop-cultural consciousness (and more than 40 since the first actual TED Talk), but TEDxOcala still outdates the memeification of a funny line about the self-consciously weighty speaker conference.
Licensed in 2015, independent local event TEDxOcala “has served as a platform for sharing Ideas Worth Spreading [sic] by bringing together innovative thinkers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, artists and changemakers from across the region and beyond.”
This year’s TEDxOcala takes place at the Reilly Arts Center on Sept. 26, 2026, drawing together a wide variety of opinion leaders under the thematic banner “Rhythm and Intersections.”
“TEDxOcala 2026 will explore the moments where ideas, experiences, disciplines, and people converge to create new possibilities,” read an announcement, in part. “Through powerful storytelling and thought-provoking presentations, 14 speakers from across the United States and Canada will share Ideas Worth Spreading [sic] that challenge assumptions, inspire action, and encourage audiences to see the world through a new lens.”
This year’s featured TEDxOcala speakers:
• Damon West (Dallas, Texas)
• Dr. May Assi (Coral Springs, Florida)
• Anya Bradford (Ocala, Florida)
• Norene Thomas-Davoren (Queens, New York)
• Lauren Debick (Ocala, Florida)
• Sarah Kassem Elyaman (Ocala, Florida)
• Erin Tjam (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada)
• Ariana Fontenot (Hollywood, Florida)
• Chelsea Kennedy (Los Angeles, California)
• Musa Ghanayem (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Shannon Polly (Bethesda, Maryland)
• Dr. Natacha Pierre (Dallas, Texas)
• Julius Bryant (Ocala, Florida)
• Richard Reyes (Orange Park, Florida)
Tickets for the event are available online now, starting at $25 for students and running up to a “Champion Ticket” that includes a T-shirt for $75.