Most of us have fallen down the TED Talk rabbit hole at one time or another. One minute it is a presentation on why sleep is a superpower; the next, we are learning how exercise changes the brain, why stress may not always be the enemy, or how to have a better conversation.
The formula is instantly recognisable: one speaker, one carefully honed idea and no more than 18 minutes in which to make an audience think differently. The best talks feel effortless, but behind every polished performance are countless hours of research, rehearsal and refinement.
Now that global phenomenon is coming to Bangor. On Friday, October 9, Kevin O’Reilly of Thrive Now Group will bring the city its first TEDx event at SERC’s Space Theatre Auditorium, placing local voices and home-grown ideas centre stage.
Fifteen speakers will tackle subjects ranging from resilience, creativity and community to comedy, divorce, music and networking. The line-up includes Bangor names Chris Strothers, Stuart Leathem Marianne Kennerley and Dave Elliott who will be taking a break from his UK tour to join the TEDxBangor speaker line-up. They will be appearing alongside Christina Tracey Stein, from California and daughter of renowned motivational speaker, Brian Tracey, Alexsandra Marcinkowska from Poland, Jacqui Pope and Maura McAdams.
TEDx events are independently organised under licence from TED, combining live speakers with the familiar short-talk format to encourage discussion and connection. For O’Reilly, however, the Bangor event is about more than importing an internationally recognised brand. It is an opportunity to show that compelling stories, fresh thinking and ideas worth sharing can be found much closer to home.
Why Kevin O’Reilly is bringing TEDx to Bangor
As founder of Thrive Now Group, Kevin O’Reilly has built his work around communication, confidence and turning inspiration into practical action. Here, he explains why bringing a TEDx event to Bangor feels like a natural next step.
Why bring TEDx to Bangor?
Bangor has always been home to talented, creative and entrepreneurial people, but their ideas do not always receive the platform they deserve. A TEDx event gives the city an opportunity to celebrate those voices in a format recognised around the world. It also allows us to create something that belongs to Bangor; an event shaped by the experiences, energy and ambitions of the people who live and work here.
How does the event connect with the work of Thrive Now Group?
Thrive Now Group was created from a belief that personal and professional growth should lead to lasting, practical results. We study the behaviours that help people succeed, then support individuals and organisations in putting those lessons into action. TEDx shares that belief in the power of ideas to prompt reflection, conversation and change. Bringing the event to Bangor is therefore closely connected to what we already do: helping people communicate with greater clarity, recognise their potential and take purposeful action.
Why is communication so important to you?
Communication sits at the heart of leadership, business and relationships. A strong idea can be lost if it is not expressed in a way that connects with people. Much of our work at Thrive Now focuses on helping professionals speak with confidence, present persuasively and understand how their message is received. TEDx takes that principle and applies it on a public stage: every speaker must distil an idea, communicate it authentically and give an audience something meaningful to consider.
What will make this different from a conventional conference?
This is not a day of lengthy presentations, sales pitches or familiar corporate soundbites. Each speaker has a limited amount of time to share one focused idea. That discipline creates pace, variety and accessibility. The subjects will range from resilience and creativity to community, music, relationships and humour, so the audience will encounter perspectives they might not normally seek out. The aim is that people leave with several ideas still turning over in their minds.
Why invest so much time in preparing the speakers?
A memorable talk rarely happens by accident. Speakers need support to test their ideas, remove unnecessary detail, find their authentic voice and manage the nerves that come with stepping on stage. That process reflects our wider approach at Thrive Now: we are not interested in short bursts of motivation that disappear a day later. We want people to develop skills and confidence they can continue using long after the event has finished.
What do you hope the event will do for Bangor?
I want it to strengthen confidence in the city and remind people that valuable ideas are not confined to major capitals or international stages. If the event helps one person see a new possibility, gives a speaker the confidence to use their voice, or sparks a collaboration that would not otherwise have happened, it will have achieved something worthwhile. My hope is that this becomes more than a single date in the calendar. It should help build a community in which ideas are shared generously, people support one another’s growth and Bangor becomes known as a place where meaningful conversations begin.
With just 100 tickets available and only a small number remaining, booking now is strongly advised: www.tedxbangor.com/tickets