Have you ever noticed how a single story can shift your perspective in an instant? Maybe it was a talk that opened your mind to a new possibility. Maybe it was a personal conversation that gave you courage. Or maybe it was a stranger’s experience that made you feel less alone.

That’s the ripple effect of storytelling—and it’s at the heart of TEDxColumbusStateU.

When someone steps onto our stage, they bring more than just ideas. They bring honesty, vulnerability, and courage. And those qualities resonate with others in ways that facts alone cannot. A story told on stage can inspire a new project, heal a divide, or even launch a movement.

This is why our theme—Explore. Challenge. Inspire.—is so powerful. To explore is to listen to stories outside your own experience. To challenge is to wrestle with perspectives that test your assumptions. And to inspire is to share stories that light a spark in others.

At TEDxColumbusStateU, every story matters because it reminds us of our shared humanity. Each talk is a window into the human experience: a scientist explaining her discovery, an artist sharing his vision, a community leader describing their fight for justice. These stories don’t just inform us—they connect us.

The beauty of a ripple is that it grows outward. One story inspires one person, who in turn inspires another, and soon an entire community is moved to action. That’s the power of what happens on our stage.

So when you join us at TEDxColumbusStateU, don’t just listen. Carry the story with you. Share it. Live it. Pass it on. Because you never know how far your ripple will reach.