When was the last time you took an entire day out to reflect on your life, rethink your direction, and reboot your journey? 

Last week OggaDoon attended the TEDx Speaker Announcement event at the Bristol Harbour Hotel to get a taste for the flavours of social change that will be on offer at Reflect; Rethink; Reboot, at the Bristol Old Vic on 17th November. 

After a welcome glass of champagne (and a signature TEDxBristol cocktail), Bobby, Kate, and Emily got the chance to speak to a mixture of event organisers, TEDx speakers, and other guests. We were already feeling inspired after the few conversations we’d had as everyone attending had a true passion for positive social impact and was buzzing to learn and be inspired. 

Following introductions and drinks was the premier of TEDxBristol’s promotional film featuring the 15 speakers – who were previously unannounced to the public. The diversity of talk topics on offer was instantly obvious with conversations ranging from the inclusivity of mainstream fashion (or not), to digital death, sex education, and Xtinction Rebellion. 

With extreme political and social uncertainty, we were left feeling optimistic and uplifted by the passion evident from the speakers. 

Two of our world leaders, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, epitomise our global lack of diversity – as both resemble Jedward after 40 years of eating fatty pasta and drinking beer – and Aisha Thomas enlightened us on the importance of diverse representation and the knock on effects it would have. 

Fi Radford has been reinvigorated by retirement and commands the energy in a room through her enthusiasm and drive for climate change. She will be delivering a talk guaranteed to reboot your perceptions of what it means to be retired. 

Another talk we can’t wait to hear will be Chloe Ball-Hopkins’ demand for fashion inclusivity. As one of the 14 million disabled people in the UK, Chloe feels fashion retailers don’t seem to have cottoned on to this huge gap in the market – yet.

We at OggaDoon are grateful to have been able to meet some of these amazing individuals and we hotly anticipate their talks on the 17th November.

You can watch the official promotional video here and you can purchase tickets for the upcoming event from the TEDx website here. 

If you’re interested in a press pass for the event, get in touch!