TEDxSaltLakeCity

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Chris Gregg

  Professor of Neurobiology, Entrepreneur

  Christopher Gregg is a neuroscientist, geneticist, and Benning Presidential Endowed Chair at the University of Utah, where his lab decodes how genes shape metabolism, behavior, and resilience. An Eppendorf & Science Prize winner, he co-founded Storyline Health, Primordial AI, and Uncharted Health to translate his discoveries into "Algorithms-as-Drugs" — AI that delivers precision medicine to everyone, not just a few. A stage IV cancer survivor, he is determined to make advanced, personalized care universally accessible.

• Colt Jarvis

  Digital Marketer

  A Northern Utah native and Weber State alum, this marketing professional transitioned from politics into a career in high-impact digital strategy. Having managed internal teams and agency accounts, he brings a versatile perspective to the digital landscape. When he isn't woodworking or cooking, he’s scouting for the perfect bagel or exploring a new travel destination. A lover of dad jokes and pickles, he prioritizes quality time and laughter with his loved ones.

• Daniel Rei Cohen

  Dancer

  Daniel Rei Cohen is an Asian American Jewish dancer and choreographer that strives to create global healing art. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in Ballet and minor in Psychology, won multiple gold medals in Junior Olympics despite Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis a year before, and is an international best-selling author. Find him at DanielReiCohen.com. Daniel's performance for TedxSaltLakeCity 2026 challenges the internal voice that says “nothing will be okay.”

• Drew Keeve

  Musician

  Drew is a violist, composer, and performer known for pushing the boundaries of the viola through groove, improvisation, and folk-fusion influences. His EP A Blur of Color features original works inspired by the landscapes and culture of the American West. Drew has performed internationally alongside artists including Mark O'Connor and Indigo Girls, appearing in renowned venues and recording studios across the U.S. and Europe. He leads the folk-fusion band Veradale and performs with the Clarity String Quartet. Drew lives in Salt Lake City, where he performs, composes, teaches, and records.

• Heather Francis

  Experiential Learning Strategist, Arts-Based Educator

  Heather Francis is an experiential learning designer and dance teaching artist focused on how movement and physical awareness deepen learning. She holds an MS in Instructional Psychology and Technology and MA in Teaching Artistry. She has worked across K–12, higher education, and corporate training, winning awards for her dance-integrated 8th-grade math program and experiential learning designs in adult education. She currently designs training at a transportation consulting firm and takes her children to explore movement.

• Karen Duffin

  Reporter, Editor, Story Coach

  Karen Duffin is a reporter, editor and story coach. She was a host of NPR's Planet Money, a reporter at This American Life and a performer for The Moth. She also regularly teaches storytelling workshops and courses, including at the Columbia, NYU and CUNY Schools of Journalism. Before becoming a journalist, Karen was an executive speechwriter, working in more than 20 countries.

• Lianna Manibog

  Civic Architect, Community Leader

  Lianna Manibog is a Civic Architect and founder of The Threadwork Collective — a Utah-based platform built on a diagnosis: we have lost the skills, the language, and the architecture of genuine community. The hunger is real. The roadmap has been forgotten. Her work recovers ancestral wisdom about how humans have always gathered, belonged, and built relational ecosystems, translating it into living infrastructure for the communities we are learning, again, to tend.

• Polina Magliozzi

  Risk & Governance Leader

  Dr. Polina Magliozzi came to America as a political refugee and built a life on one belief: outcomes are earned, not given. A mother, author, and financial services leader, she mentors women navigating high-stakes careers and studies the intersection of resilience, ambition, and human potential. She believes we are the architects of our own lives — and that most people are capable of far more than their circumstances suggest.

• Rob Ferre

  Emcee & Event Culture Expert

  Rob Ferre, CSP, is a Salt Lake City native, East High graduate, and founder of Life of the Party Entertainment, a five-time Best of State winning company. What started as a DJ business in his hometown grew into a speaking career that has taken him to stages across four continents. As a Certified Speaking Professional, he’s presented over 1,500 times for organizations like Amazon, Disney, and LinkedIn.

• Tim Kapp

  AI Expert, Economist, Professor

  Tim Kapp is an AI builder, economist, and professor studying post-AI economics — what happens to markets, institutions, and people when intelligence becomes abundant. He advises Fortune 500 executives and boards on AI strategy, teaches AI at BYU, and is Founder and CEO of Cinco AI. His governance work includes serving as former Chair of the U.N. AI for Good Innovation Factory, U.S., and Founding Member of the U.S. National AI & Cybersecurity ISAO.

• Yongseop Kim

  Recreational Therapist Researcher, Professor

  Dr. Yongseop Kim is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah and a recreational therapy researcher exploring how virtual reality can open new possibilities for older adults living with mild cognitive impairment and early dementia. His work sits at the intersection of technology, health, and human connection, with a focus on creating meaningful experiences that spark engagement, motivation, and hope for healthier aging in our communities.