From overcoming adversity to the latest in tech—these are the talks you binge-watched this year.

The thesaurus might equate "disabled" with synonyms like "useless" and "mutilated," but ground-breaking runner Aimee Mullins is out to redefine the word. Defying these associations, she shows how adversity -- in her case, being born without shinbones -- actually opens the door for human potential.

Singer-songwriter Mereba delivers a divinely captivating performance, evoking messages of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity.

How can you find strength during life's most difficult moments? Author Suleika Jaouad's experience detailed in the documentary "American Symphony," an intimate portrait of her life as she grapples with illness, is a testament to finding a pathway to healing through artistic expression. In this sweeping conversation with TED's Susan Zimmerman, Ja...

Climate change is the epic challenge of our lives, and community leaders like Rahwa Ghirmatzion and Zelalem Adefris are already working on sustainable, resilient solutions. Through their organizations in Buffalo and Miami, they're focused on durable, affordable housing for under-resourced communities, the most vulnerable to the instability of cl...

Everyone experiences loss, but how do you cope with the tough moments that follow? Resilience researcher Lucy Hone shares three hard-won strategies for developing the capacity to brave adversity, overcome struggle and face whatever may come head-on with fortitude and grace.

Color bravery. A headset for brainwaves. His/hers healthcare. 10 big, bold talks from female speakers.

In this passionate talk, Eve Ensler declares that there is a girl cell in us all -- a cell that we have all been taught to suppress. She tells heartfelt stories of girls around the world who have overcome shocking adversity and violence to reveal the astonishing strength of being a girl.

In this deeply charming and humorous talk, DJ and self-professed pirate Tom Nash meditates on how facing adversity due to disability invited patience, ambition and pragmatism into his life in enlightening, unexpected ways. "We all have unique weaknesses," he says. "If we're honest about what they are, we can learn how to best take advantage of t...

With record numbers of visitors, our National Parks & wilderness areas face a novel debate — do we keep the wild wild? Or do we put up signs & guardrails to make the mountains more like extensions of our urban environments? Rock climber and near-death survivor Francis Sanzaro argues that the wilderness should be a place to encounter and ...

Writer Andrew Solomon has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. Now he turns inward, bringing us into a childhood of adversity, while also spinning tales of the courageous people he's met in the years since. In a moving, heartfelt and at times downright funny talk, Solomon gives a powerful call to action to forge meaning f...

Shane Wickes had his dream job: line coach at his high school alma mater. But there was one complication. "Football teaches so many great life lessons to those who play or coach," he says, "but one negative thing that it does teach is that being gay is not okay." In this moving talk, Wickes shares his story about coming out to his team. A story ...

Zelalem Adefris's work in public health addresses racial health and wealth disparities, policy development and climate resilience in low-wealth communities of color.

A beautifully written field guide to being weird. —Kirkus Reviews About the book Misfits, from my point of view, are everything. The world needs us. Press and reviews About the author

Given the choice between a job candidate with a perfect resume and one who has fought through difficulty, human resources executive Regina Hartley always gives the "Scrapper" a chance. As someone who grew up with adversity, Hartley knows that those who flourish in the darkest of spaces are empowered with the grit to persist in an ever-changing w...

We get stronger, not weaker, by engaging with ideas and people we disagree with, says Zachary R. Wood. In an important talk about finding common ground, Wood makes the case that we can build empathy and gain understanding by engaging tactfully and thoughtfully with controversial ideas and unfamiliar perspectives. "Tuning out opposing viewpoints ...

We all love to tell personal stories of adversity and triumph, but how do they prepare us to navigate an unpredictable future? Entrepreneur Andrew Peek believes that our life stories limit us. "Are we wrapped in the warmth of the story we've been writing for decades? The further we are into a story, the less likely we are to want to rewrite it."...

Safwat Saleem uses satire and art to bring to light stories of adversity.

TED Fellow Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy seeks to push people to have difficult conversations about inequality and injustice.

Writer Suleika Jaouad is changing the conversation about what it means to thrive in the wake of illness and life's unexpected interruptions.

Elizabeth Lesser helps her readers and students transform their lives after brushes with pain, adversity and life's myriad problems.

Pat Mitchell, curator of TEDWomen, shares this report with the TED Blog: In April, I had the privilege of moderating a discussion at the Skoll World Forum on the subject of “Leading Through Adversity.” My panel consisted of four powerful women: Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first female president (watch Mary Robinson's TED Talk); Halla Tómasadótti...

In her work, Clemantine Wamariya is learning and sharing how remembering our life experiences in story form guides us to make sense and appreciate our present moments.

Community member Rachael Williams left this thoughtful comment on Andrew Solomon's recent TED Talk, How the worst moments in our lives make us who we are: "Forgive my honesty here but a lot of the time when watching motivational speeches I think, 'Yeah, that's all good and fine, but this is what you do for a living.' The 'hell yeah-ness' (I s...

Lucy Marcil is providing fiscal services to low-income families in the doctor’s waiting room.

Sahar Zand reports on current affairs in some of the most remote and hostile environments, amplifying marginalized voices through her work.

Clinical psychologist Meg Jay shares practical ways to overcome whatever life throws your way. Clinical psychologist Meg Jay (TED Talk: Why 30 is not the new 20) doesn’t like the idea of bouncing back from adversity. “People do not feel understood when someone says, ‘Wow, you really bounced back from that.’ They don’t feel seen in all of their ...

Cross-country skier Janine Shepherd was Olympics-bound in 1986, with many thinking that she was a strong contender to earn Australia’s first-ever medal at the winter games. But everything changed on a training bike ride through the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Shepherd was hit by a truck, and broke both her back and neck. Doctors did ...