TEDxNashville: Yola, Natalie Hemby more to speak at first in-person event in two years

TEDxNashville will return for its first in-person event in more than two years, and the broad lineup of speakers includes a few notable Nashville-rooted artists. 

With the theme "The End of Impossible," Music City's next TEDx event takes place August 27 and 28 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Among this year's speakers are Americana breakout (and recent "Elvis" star) Yola, hit country/pop songwriter and Highwomen member Natalie Hemby and comedian/actor/podcaster Drew Lynch.

They're part of a roster of "authors, artists, and academic experts," including Danielle Krysa, Dr. Thema Bryant, Dr. Alex Jahangir, Jane Landers, Michael McRay, Mosheh Oinounou, Dustin Gibson and Chris Slobogin.

Tickets are $89 and on sale now at tedxnashville.com. A list of speakers (per TEDxNashville) follows:

●  Danielle Krysa: Author, Curator, Artist and Podcaster. A previous TEDx speaker and leader on conquering self-doubt. Author of well-known books,‘Your Inner Critic Is A Big Jerk’ and ‘Creative Block.’

●  Dr. Thema Bryant: Professor at Pepperdine and President-Elect of the American Psychological Association (APA). Her expertise acknowledges the impacts of societal oppression and addresses solutions.

●  Dr. Alex Jahangir: Professor, vice-chair of orthopedic surgery and director of the division of orthopedic trauma. Executive medical director of the Vanderbilt Trauma, Burn, and Emergency Surgery Patient Care Center.

●  Jane Landers: Vanderbilt Professor of History, U.S. member of UNESCO’s International Scientific Committee for the Slave Route Project. The director of the Slave Societies Digital Archive and author of award-winning monographs and co-author of five other books dedicated to the history of African and Indigenous resistance in Florida and the Atlantic World.

●  Michael McRay: Nashville resident and author of 2020 award-winning publication “I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World.” Accomplished storyteller and renowned Conflict Resolution expert. As a conflict resolution consultant, McRay works with organizations around the globe.

●  Mosheh Oinounou: Award Winning Journalist with 20 years of experience as a reporter and executive producer. Founder of Mo News, a curation service that breaks down headlines, and founder of Mo Digital consulting firm.

●  Yola: Yola released her critically acclaimed debut album Walk Through Fire in February 2019 and achieved breakout success, landing four GRAMMY® nominations including Best New Artist. Her anthemic new album Stand for Myself, received two GRAMMY® nominations for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song. She will resume her headline U.S. tour later this year, after making her acting debut as Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the musical drama, Elvis, alongside Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Kelvin Harrison Jr and Alton Mason.

●  Natalie Hemby: Nashville's Natalie Hemby has become one of the most successful and sought-after songwriters in music, with countless hits recorded by artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, and Lady Gaga. The release of her 2021 solo album Pins and Needles, marks the arrival of her first new music since joining Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires as The Highwomen, which earned Hemby a Country Song of the Year GRAMMY®, following her first GRAMMY® win for Best Song Written for Visual Media for Lady Gaga’s “I’ll Never Love Again,” from A Star Is Born.

●  Drew Lynch: Comedian and actor initially known for his Golden Buzzer performance on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent (NBC). Following AGT, Lynch continued to capture audiences and found success in performing standup comedy. Lynch appeared in the final season of IFC’s hit series Maron and TBS’ Conan. All the while, he is also the host of podcast, Did I Stutter and has over two million YouTube subscribers.

●  Dustin Gibson: A published astrophotographer and entrepreneur. Co-owner and CEO of Oceanside Photo & Telescope, which is the largest telescope retailer in the world and has frequently appeared on the Inc. 5000 list. Assisted institutions such as NASA, JPL, and MIT. Serves as an appointed council member of the Middle Georgia Economic Advisory Council and works towards transforming astronomy through AI strategy.

●  Chris Slobogin: Professor and Director of Vanderbilt’s Criminal Justice Program. One of the top five most frequently cited criminal law and procedure authors in recent years. Author of over 200 articles, books and chapters on criminal law and procedure topics as well as mental health law and evidence.