Episode 1: Meet the Founder – Christine D. Gagnon

In this premiere episode, we sit down with Christine D. Gagnon, the visionary behind TEDxCatawba, to explore the origin of the event, the meaning behind its name, and her mission to bring bold ideas to the region. Discover the story, passion, and purpose driving the inaugural TEDxCatawba and the powerful conversations it aims to spark.

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TEDxCatawba is named after the Catawba River, which stretches over 220 miles through North and South Carolina. The inaugural event will be held on June 14, 2025, at Drendel Auditorium in Hickory, North Carolina, and will bring world-changing ideas and extraordinary voices to the heart of the region. This is where visionaries, disruptors, and creative minds converge to challenge perspectives, ignite dialogue, and unveil the ideas shaping our future. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalk videos and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. Christine D. Gagnon is Founder, Organizer, and Licensee of TEDxCatawba, an independent TEDx event operated under license from TED.