Hi Reader,

Twas the night before Christmas... actually the flight to Chicago for my TEDx talk...

Not a creature was stirring... except Simon my cat all over my notes...

Ok. Ok. You get the idea.

I am full of all the emotions as I prepare for the biggest stage of my life! (unless you count an operating table... but I will leave that for the talk.).

Countdown to Friday Jan 30 is underway!

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In a few short hours, I'm off to Chicago to speak at TEDx Lakeshore Drive. A bucket list dream that I spoke out loud in 2024, and a reality when I was accepted in 2025.

What a gift to share a story that only I can tell. The power of seeing differently. Although the talk is not assigned an official title until after it is delivered, any guesses on what the working title may be? (No this is not a trick question.)

And if you want to know what prepping for a TEDx really looks like during a snow day ,check out this image of a rehearsal stage. My version of the iconic TEDx red speaker dot, created from a deconstructed fort in the front room.

Prayer Request

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated, not only for me, but for all the speakers, event staff, volunteers and attendees participating in the event. Weather and illness has made an already high stakes event and extra level of "unexpecTED."

Not To Late to Join Us Virtually

Event livestream will run from 9am-6pm CST on Friday Jan 30, 2026. Ticket will include all the speakers, performers, interactive participation, Q/A and more.

What to expect on Friday, January 30, 2026?

Come to be surprised by what you see, hear, experience, and share. By stories that start in familiar places and then quietly turn, revealing something you didn’t expect to notice: it's about memory, about care, about choice, about connection, and about how we relate to the systems we build. Some moments will feel intimate. Others will feel unsettling in the best way. You’ll hear voices that explore what fades, what fractures, what binds us together, what we let go of, and what we carry forward, even when the ground shifts beneath us. This isn’t about trends or talking points. It’s about the human moments hiding in plain sight—and what happens when we finally pay attention.

Explore the event website HERE and access the ticket page HERE​

Merry TEDx to all, and to all a good night!

Julia

P.S. Is this your first TEDx update from me? Click HERE to receive all TEDx updates and behind the scenes insights from my journey.