The Speakers
Confirmed voices for July 4, 2026 at Queenslake Horse Farm — with more speakers to be announced.
Session 1Angela Webber
Turning trauma-informed service into organizational transformation.
Session 1Trevor Shoemaker
Kinsman of racing legend Willie Shoemaker. Stroke survivor. Speaking from the rehab floor — literally.
Session 2Tiamo De Vettori
#1 bestselling author. Award-winning songwriter. Keynote Concert pioneer.
Session 2Obet Pabon
Built businesses from nothing. The proof that where you start doesn't determine where you finish.
Session 3Dr. André P. Walton
PhD in creativity. Unlocking the neuroscience of human potential.
Session 4Jaime Morales
Paralyzed in the line of duty on 9/11/18. Now training for the Paralympic Games.
Session 3Diane Darling
McGraw-Hill's networking authority. The definitive voice on human connection.
Session 1Andy Bhattacharya
Agentic AI is not AI that replaces your agency — it is AI that amplifies it.
Session 2Matt Music
Long Island's elite emcee. 20+ years of making rooms feel something.
Session 3Lisa Ann Oliveira
18-time Ironman finisher. TEDx speaker. A life built on showing up.
Session 4Deb Nells-Porter
Official planner of Queenslake. 20+ years of grand introductions.
Session 1Joe Rivera
From Wall Street to rock bottom — and back. The Comeback Catalyst.
Session 2Dr. Forbes Riley
$2.5 billion in sales. The Queen of Pitch. A TEDx veteran who has now graced our stage.
Session 2Dan Docherty
PhD. Professor. The man who asks the one question that changes everything.
Session 3Shawn Reaves
25 years on Kentucky stages — and the story of a father who kept the curtain up.
Session 2Christian de la Huerta
Born in Havana. Thirty years guiding thousands toward the freedom no circumstance can give — or take away.
Session 1Cheryle Hays
The Human Potentialist™ — upgrading leaders from reactive autopilot to intentional design.
Session 3Scott Weinstein
30+ years building school cultures where adults and students thrive.
Session 2Dr. Christopher R. Harz
From DARPA war games to heart attack prediction — the man who taught machines to read the body's warning signs.
Session 3Kerri Kasem
Daughter of Casey Kasem. Founder of Kasem Cares. The woman who changed elder visitation law in 22 states.
Session 1Glenn Freezman
He builds AI for a living — and he is the last person who should be telling you what he is about to say.
Session 4Drew Curtis
Founder of Fark.com. Patent troll slayer. Kentucky gubernatorial candidate. The man who proved that one good editor beats a million crowdsourced opinions.
Session 1James W. Keyes
CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster. Founder of Education is Freedom. The man who proved that what you know is the only thing no one can ever take from you.
Session 2Matt Russell
Professional Ironman champion. Near-fatal crash survivor. ALS advocate. The man who returned to the World Championship finish line — with a piece of the minivan still in his neck.
Session 3Bryce Hunter
The man who built the world's first quantum animation rendering company — before the world knew it needed one.
To Be Announced
Additional speakers will be confirmed and announced in the coming weeks.
Have an Idea
Worth Spreading?
Do you have an idea worth spreading? Apply to take the TEDxSoards Road stage on July 4, 2026. Applications are reviewed personally by John Chmela.
Apply to Speak →