so I thought the last thing I would ever see is the snowflakes falling on the
see is the snowflakes falling on the
see is the snowflakes falling on the torpedo that was going to sink my ship
torpedo that was going to sink my ship
torpedo that was going to sink my ship that’s a true story it’s kind of Bill
that’s a true story it’s kind of Bill
that’s a true story it’s kind of Bill Carter wrote that the line that I helped
Carter wrote that the line that I helped
Carter wrote that the line that I helped him write for his autobiography about
him write for his autobiography about
him write for his autobiography about World War two it’s this incredible story
World War two it’s this incredible story
World War two it’s this incredible story to make a great TED talk about drama and
to make a great TED talk about drama and
to make a great TED talk about drama and courage and survival and the heartbreak
courage and survival and the heartbreak
courage and survival and the heartbreak of losing your friends and about how
of losing your friends and about how
of losing your friends and about how much it takes to overcome Nazi Germany
much it takes to overcome Nazi Germany
much it takes to overcome Nazi Germany in the middle of the Arctic and it’s a
in the middle of the Arctic and it’s a
in the middle of the Arctic and it’s a story I could never possibly live up to
story I could never possibly live up to
story I could never possibly live up to so it’s not what I’m going to tell
so it’s not what I’m going to tell
so it’s not what I’m going to tell because you don’t want to start off with
because you don’t want to start off with
because you don’t want to start off with that level of expectations i’m going to
that level of expectations i’m going to
that level of expectations i’m going to start instead with a couple talks one
start instead with a couple talks one
start instead with a couple talks one hyperlocal i grew up in an incredible
hyperlocal i grew up in an incredible
hyperlocal i grew up in an incredible town there were 20 different languages
town there were 20 different languages
town there were 20 different languages spoken at home in my town my friend
spoken at home in my town my friend
spoken at home in my town my friend Kenny Armwood was convinced in this
Kenny Armwood was convinced in this
Kenny Armwood was convinced in this incredible town that we had a racist
incredible town that we had a racist
incredible town that we had a racist high school principal and Kenny would
high school principal and Kenny would
high school principal and Kenny would say oh my god Brian the principal was
say oh my god Brian the principal was
say oh my god Brian the principal was there as Jamal Harris got an award to be
there as Jamal Harris got an award to be
there as Jamal Harris got an award to be our next valedictorian and she said to
our next valedictorian and she said to
our next valedictorian and she said to him Wow with those SATs you’ll get into
him Wow with those SATs you’ll get into
him Wow with those SATs you’ll get into a great black college and Kenny SAT
a great black college and Kenny SAT
a great black college and Kenny SAT there as that principal made fun of the
there as that principal made fun of the
there as that principal made fun of the hard work of his own single mom and
hard work of his own single mom and
hard work of his own single mom and Kenny said Brian this is not right this
Kenny said Brian this is not right this
Kenny said Brian this is not right this is not right anywhere this is
is not right anywhere this is
is not right anywhere this is particularly terrible in our town but
particularly terrible in our town but
particularly terrible in our town but who’s going to listen to me I’m just a
who’s going to listen to me I’m just a
who’s going to listen to me I’m just a student and I said you know Kenny if you
student and I said you know Kenny if you
student and I said you know Kenny if you were on the school board everybody have
were on the school board everybody have
were on the school board everybody have to listen to you because you actually
to listen to you because you actually
to listen to you because you actually voted her contract and he said huh
voted her contract and he said huh
voted her contract and he said huh you’re right somebody’s got to run for
you’re right somebody’s got to run for
you’re right somebody’s got to run for school board why not me and within a few
school board why not me and within a few
school board why not me and within a few months of graduating Kenny Armwood was
months of graduating Kenny Armwood was
months of graduating Kenny Armwood was the youngest black elected official in
the youngest black elected official in
the youngest black elected official in the country and fulfilled every high
the country and fulfilled every high
the country and fulfilled every high school students dream of firing his high
school students dream of firing his high
school students dream of firing his high school principal and he said age is no
school principal and he said age is no
school principal and he said age is no obstacle it’s a social change that’d be
obstacle it’s a social change that’d be
obstacle it’s a social change that’d be good TED talk to you right but maybe
good TED talk to you right but maybe
good TED talk to you right but maybe you’re more global maybe you came to
you’re more global maybe you came to
you’re more global maybe you came to listen to a talk about how you could
listen to a talk about how you could
listen to a talk about how you could have a global impact maybe you’re like
have a global impact maybe you’re like
have a global impact maybe you’re like my friend Sydney Cayman when Sydney was
my friend Sydney Cayman when Sydney was
my friend Sydney Cayman when Sydney was 15 she got a grant who knows to get
15 she got a grant who knows to get
15 she got a grant who knows to get grants at 15 Sydney did she got a grant
grants at 15 Sydney did she got a grant
grants at 15 Sydney did she got a grant to go to Thailand
to go to Thailand
to go to Thailand which she learned first hand that over
which she learned first hand that over
which she learned first hand that over 2.5 million children a year die from
2.5 million children a year die from
2.5 million children a year die from diarrhea and respiratory ailments and
diarrhea and respiratory ailments and
diarrhea and respiratory ailments and she learned at 15 that if you have
she learned at 15 that if you have
she learned at 15 that if you have access to hygiene and greater
access to hygiene and greater
access to hygiene and greater cleanliness you can reduce that rate by
cleanliness you can reduce that rate by
cleanliness you can reduce that rate by up to fifty percent and instead of just
up to fifty percent and instead of just
up to fifty percent and instead of just being broken by those facts like I would
being broken by those facts like I would
being broken by those facts like I would have been at 15 Sydney thought what can
have been at 15 Sydney thought what can
have been at 15 Sydney thought what can I do so that others are protected so
I do so that others are protected so
I do so that others are protected so that others are protected so that’s a
that others are protected so that’s a
that others are protected so that’s a great acronym what if I city caiman
great acronym what if I city caiman
great acronym what if I city caiman could convince a bunch of luxury hotels
could convince a bunch of luxury hotels
could convince a bunch of luxury hotels and a lots of people with plenty to give
and a lots of people with plenty to give
and a lots of people with plenty to give those shards of soap and send them
those shards of soap and send them
those shards of soap and send them locally so that they could be turned
locally so that they could be turned
locally so that they could be turned into bars of soap so these kids could
into bars of soap so these kids could
into bars of soap so these kids could wash their hands and not lose their
wash their hands and not lose their
wash their hands and not lose their lives and at 16 city what’s Uganda at 17
lives and at 16 city what’s Uganda at 17
lives and at 16 city what’s Uganda at 17 she went to Haiti at at 18 she went to
she went to Haiti at at 18 she went to
she went to Haiti at at 18 she went to India and she’s now a student at
India and she’s now a student at
India and she’s now a student at Dartmouth and she delivers tens of
Dartmouth and she delivers tens of
Dartmouth and she delivers tens of thousands of bars of soap a year back to
thousands of bars of soap a year back to
thousands of bars of soap a year back to those communities because Sydney knew
those communities because Sydney knew
those communities because Sydney knew that age is not an obstacle to creating
that age is not an obstacle to creating
that age is not an obstacle to creating global change and she knew that somebody
global change and she knew that somebody
global change and she knew that somebody had to step up and help those kids why
had to step up and help those kids why
had to step up and help those kids why not her and so maybe that’s a TED talk
not her and so maybe that’s a TED talk
not her and so maybe that’s a TED talk we’d want to hear at length too or maybe
we’d want to hear at length too or maybe
we’d want to hear at length too or maybe you came because you need advice on your
you came because you need advice on your
you came because you need advice on your own career well Teddy Schleifer is from
own career well Teddy Schleifer is from
own career well Teddy Schleifer is from here in Delaware and when he was 16
here in Delaware and when he was 16
here in Delaware and when he was 16 years old he applied for a job in the
years old he applied for a job in the
years old he applied for a job in the governor’s office and Teddy said
governor’s office and Teddy said
governor’s office and Teddy said actually worked for me is it Brian I
actually worked for me is it Brian I
actually worked for me is it Brian I heard that when you were 16 you lied
heard that when you were 16 you lied
heard that when you were 16 you lied about your age to get a job as a
about your age to get a job as a
about your age to get a job as a reporter I got a chance to write for a
reporter I got a chance to write for a
reporter I got a chance to write for a newspaper because you thought hey I’m as
newspaper because you thought hey I’m as
newspaper because you thought hey I’m as good a writer at 16 as some of these 40
good a writer at 16 as some of these 40
good a writer at 16 as some of these 40 year olds well you know what Brian I
year olds well you know what Brian I
year olds well you know what Brian I think I’m probably as good as some of
think I’m probably as good as some of
think I’m probably as good as some of these 40 year olds instead of just doing
these 40 year olds instead of just doing
these 40 year olds instead of just doing normal intern duty could you give me a
normal intern duty could you give me a
normal intern duty could you give me a chance to write the first draft of a
chance to write the first draft of a
chance to write the first draft of a speech for the governor could you give
speech for the governor could you give
speech for the governor could you give you the chance to do the first draft of
you the chance to do the first draft of
you the chance to do the first draft of a press release and I said teddy hell
a press release and I said teddy hell
a press release and I said teddy hell yes and by the end of the summer teddy
yes and by the end of the summer teddy
yes and by the end of the summer teddy was my go-to person for first drafts on
was my go-to person for first drafts on
was my go-to person for first drafts on things that needed to sing on things
things that needed to sing on things
things that needed to sing on things that needed to have some inspiration
that needed to have some inspiration
that needed to have some inspiration behind them he was my absolute
behind them he was my absolute
behind them he was my absolute go to person because he thought at 16 to
go to person because he thought at 16 to
go to person because he thought at 16 to try and apply and by the time he was a
try and apply and by the time he was a
try and apply and by the time he was a freshman in college he spent his next
freshman in college he spent his next
freshman in college he spent his next summer writing for the Secretary of
summer writing for the Secretary of
summer writing for the Secretary of Education for the United States of
Education for the United States of
Education for the United States of America Arne Duncan and he went on to
America Arne Duncan and he went on to
America Arne Duncan and he went on to work hands-on in the middle of a
work hands-on in the middle of a
work hands-on in the middle of a presidential campaign in the year after
presidential campaign in the year after
presidential campaign in the year after that and become a reporter at the
that and become a reporter at the
that and become a reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer and become a
Philadelphia Inquirer and become a
Philadelphia Inquirer and become a reporter for The New York Times and at
reporter for The New York Times and at
reporter for The New York Times and at 22 or 23 he moved to Texas to write for
22 or 23 he moved to Texas to write for
22 or 23 he moved to Texas to write for the Houston Chronicle we got to know
the Houston Chronicle we got to know
the Houston Chronicle we got to know this guy named Ted Cruz who was running
this guy named Ted Cruz who was running
this guy named Ted Cruz who was running for president and Ted Cruz started to
for president and Ted Cruz started to
for president and Ted Cruz started to take off and the guy that was the single
take off and the guy that was the single
take off and the guy that was the single best person regardless of his age at
best person regardless of his age at
best person regardless of his age at covering Ted Cruz was Teddy Schleifer
covering Ted Cruz was Teddy Schleifer
covering Ted Cruz was Teddy Schleifer now called Theodore correctly and CNN
now called Theodore correctly and CNN
now called Theodore correctly and CNN said we need somebody to cover Ted Cruz
said we need somebody to cover Ted Cruz
said we need somebody to cover Ted Cruz we’d always only 23 but if Teddy knows
we’d always only 23 but if Teddy knows
we’d always only 23 but if Teddy knows more than everybody else why don’t we
more than everybody else why don’t we
more than everybody else why don’t we make Teddy a producer for CNN and when
make Teddy a producer for CNN and when
make Teddy a producer for CNN and when you watch CNN now tomorrow night
you watch CNN now tomorrow night
you watch CNN now tomorrow night especially you’ll see 24 year old Teddy
especially you’ll see 24 year old Teddy
especially you’ll see 24 year old Teddy shleifer as their reporter for money and
shleifer as their reporter for money and
shleifer as their reporter for money and politics because Teddy knew that
politics because Teddy knew that
politics because Teddy knew that somebody was going to be in that spot
somebody was going to be in that spot
somebody was going to be in that spot somebody was going to file that report
somebody was going to file that report
somebody was going to file that report why not him that age is no obstacle to
why not him that age is no obstacle to
why not him that age is no obstacle to getting ahead and the only problem with
getting ahead and the only problem with
getting ahead and the only problem with that as a ted talk is that people are
that as a ted talk is that people are
that as a ted talk is that people are sick of politics so i want to talk about
sick of politics so i want to talk about
sick of politics so i want to talk about that let’s talk about sports people love
that let’s talk about sports people love
that let’s talk about sports people love sports I helped build a sports network
sports I helped build a sports network
sports I helped build a sports network called with some sports we have 260
called with some sports we have 260
called with some sports we have 260 million fans and followers in the last
million fans and followers in the last
million fans and followers in the last two years and the first thing I do when
two years and the first thing I do when
two years and the first thing I do when I wake up is I check social media to see
I wake up is I check social media to see
I wake up is I check social media to see what some of our creators are doing and
what some of our creators are doing and
what some of our creators are doing and at 5am it is amazing none of our
at 5am it is amazing none of our
at 5am it is amazing none of our creators but it is amazing how many
creators but it is amazing how many
creators but it is amazing how many digital celebrities are just rolling
digital celebrities are just rolling
digital celebrities are just rolling into bed at 5am they have been living
into bed at 5am they have been living
into bed at 5am they have been living the life that so many people wish and so
the life that so many people wish and so
the life that so many people wish and so it’s like it’s 5am and I’m finally going
it’s like it’s 5am and I’m finally going
it’s like it’s 5am and I’m finally going to sleep yeah and that’s that’s not a
to sleep yeah and that’s that’s not a
to sleep yeah and that’s that’s not a whistle sports creator whistle sports
whistle sports creator whistle sports
whistle sports creator whistle sports creators like indie cowie like it’s 5am
creators like indie cowie like it’s 5am
creators like indie cowie like it’s 5am here’s my coffee here’s my sketchbook
here’s my coffee here’s my sketchbook
here’s my coffee here’s my sketchbook I’m about to go spend three hours in the
I’m about to go spend three hours in the
I’m about to go spend three hours in the gym see Indy dreamed of being a pro
gym see Indy dreamed of being a pro
gym see Indy dreamed of being a pro soccer player she want to play for the
soccer player she want to play for the
soccer player she want to play for the World Cup she want to play for the
World Cup she want to play for the
World Cup she want to play for the national team and she was focused
national team and she was focused
national team and she was focused entirely on that but when she was a
entirely on that but when she was a
entirely on that but when she was a teenager she also realized that when she
teenager she also realized that when she
teenager she also realized that when she wasn’t there playing with team games
wasn’t there playing with team games
wasn’t there playing with team games with just her ball and just her sneakers
with just her ball and just her sneakers
with just her ball and just her sneakers and just herself she could get really
and just herself she could get really
and just herself she could get really really good at juggling and really
really good at juggling and really
really good at juggling and really really good at what’s called freestyle
really good at what’s called freestyle
really good at what’s called freestyle and indy realized that just by spending
and indy realized that just by spending
and indy realized that just by spending hours a day with her shoes her ball and
hours a day with her shoes her ball and
hours a day with her shoes her ball and herself she could do incredible things
herself she could do incredible things
herself she could do incredible things by the time she was a teenager she was
by the time she was a teenager she was
by the time she was a teenager she was playing halftime shows in stadiums full
playing halftime shows in stadiums full
playing halftime shows in stadiums full of people and by the time then he got to
of people and by the time then he got to
of people and by the time then he got to college and that moment happens that
college and that moment happens that
college and that moment happens that terrifies every college athlete she had
terrifies every college athlete she had
terrifies every college athlete she had a career-ending injury that meant two
a career-ending injury that meant two
a career-ending injury that meant two men she’d never make the national team
men she’d never make the national team
men she’d never make the national team she realized that just gave her more
she realized that just gave her more
she realized that just gave her more time for her ball her shoes and herself
time for her ball her shoes and herself
time for her ball her shoes and herself and now even though she’s like 22 she’s
and now even though she’s like 22 she’s
and now even though she’s like 22 she’s millions of followers across social
millions of followers across social
millions of followers across social media when Nike gives out sponsorships
media when Nike gives out sponsorships
media when Nike gives out sponsorships to people like LeBron James and name are
to people like LeBron James and name are
to people like LeBron James and name are they also sponsor into cowie when Disney
they also sponsor into cowie when Disney
they also sponsor into cowie when Disney decides that going to launch a movie
decides that going to launch a movie
decides that going to launch a movie they call Indy cowie and have her do
they call Indy cowie and have her do
they call Indy cowie and have her do videos and when we did an event with
videos and when we did an event with
videos and when we did an event with Michelle Obama and her F&V live campaign
Michelle Obama and her F&V live campaign
Michelle Obama and her F&V live campaign to try and inspire a couple thousand
to try and inspire a couple thousand
to try and inspire a couple thousand kids in Virginia Michelle Obama called
kids in Virginia Michelle Obama called
kids in Virginia Michelle Obama called Jessica Alba Gabrielle Union Jordin
Jessica Alba Gabrielle Union Jordin
Jessica Alba Gabrielle Union Jordin Sparks and indie and sky cowie to really
Sparks and indie and sky cowie to really
Sparks and indie and sky cowie to really motivate people because what indie
motivate people because what indie
motivate people because what indie proved as a teenager is it age is no
proved as a teenager is it age is no
proved as a teenager is it age is no obstacle to reaching millions maybe a
obstacle to reaching millions maybe a
obstacle to reaching millions maybe a good TED talk to if we’ve expanded a
good TED talk to if we’ve expanded a
good TED talk to if we’ve expanded a little bit the problem though is that
little bit the problem though is that
little bit the problem though is that TED talks are supposed to have some kind
TED talks are supposed to have some kind
TED talks are supposed to have some kind of connection to the person giving them
of connection to the person giving them
of connection to the person giving them so my own story a few months before
so my own story a few months before
so my own story a few months before Kenny got on the school board I was the
Kenny got on the school board I was the
Kenny got on the school board I was the student rep to that same school board
student rep to that same school board
student rep to that same school board and I was blessed as a child with
and I was blessed as a child with
and I was blessed as a child with neither athletic ability nor popularity
neither athletic ability nor popularity
neither athletic ability nor popularity which is a tremendous benefit because I
which is a tremendous benefit because I
which is a tremendous benefit because I had so much free time that others spent
had so much free time that others spent
had so much free time that others spent doing things like getting to go to
doing things like getting to go to
doing things like getting to go to parties or having soccer practice and so
parties or having soccer practice and so
parties or having soccer practice and so I would do things like before our school
I would do things like before our school
I would do things like before our school board meetings go through our schools
board meetings go through our schools
board meetings go through our schools affirmative action policy just like you
affirmative action policy just like you
affirmative action policy just like you could tell hiding go to many parties I
could tell hiding go to many parties I
could tell hiding go to many parties I own it and i’m looking through it and i
own it and i’m looking through it and i
own it and i’m looking through it and i noticed that the affirmative action
noticed that the affirmative action
noticed that the affirmative action policy in piscataway new jersey and I
policy in piscataway new jersey and I
policy in piscataway new jersey and I t 93-94 did not prevent the school from
t 93-94 did not prevent the school from
t 93-94 did not prevent the school from firing people for being gay and so I
firing people for being gay and so I
firing people for being gay and so I raised my hand in a meeting and I said
raised my hand in a meeting and I said
raised my hand in a meeting and I said you know I just noticed this policy it
you know I just noticed this policy it
you know I just noticed this policy it says that we could fire and I mentioned
says that we could fire and I mentioned
says that we could fire and I mentioned the name of one of our gay teachers and
the name of one of our gay teachers and
the name of one of our gay teachers and I’m sure it’s just an oversight so I’d
I’m sure it’s just an oversight so I’d
I’m sure it’s just an oversight so I’d like to motion to change the policy to
like to motion to change the policy to
like to motion to change the policy to outlaw discrimination based on sexual
outlaw discrimination based on sexual
outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation easy enough no not easy
orientation easy enough no not easy
orientation easy enough no not easy enough oh my god literally I mean just
enough oh my god literally I mean just
enough oh my god literally I mean just you know that the amount of people that
you know that the amount of people that
you know that the amount of people that came out of the woodwork to say terrible
came out of the woodwork to say terrible
came out of the woodwork to say terrible things about me for wanting to do that
things about me for wanting to do that
things about me for wanting to do that they had turned the meeting in the next
they had turned the meeting in the next
they had turned the meeting in the next month they had this meeting and so
month they had this meeting and so
month they had this meeting and so getting comes and I’m sitting there up
getting comes and I’m sitting there up
getting comes and I’m sitting there up on stage at all of these folks were 40
on stage at all of these folks were 40
on stage at all of these folks were 40 like I am now and they’re having a
like I am now and they’re having a
like I am now and they’re having a debate and watching the crowd crowd full
debate and watching the crowd crowd full
debate and watching the crowd crowd full of supporters some people very mad at me
of supporters some people very mad at me
of supporters some people very mad at me in the back of the room was my Vietnam
in the back of the room was my Vietnam
in the back of the room was my Vietnam volunteering Republican voting Cub Scout
volunteering Republican voting Cub Scout
volunteering Republican voting Cub Scout leading motorcycle riding massive badass
leading motorcycle riding massive badass
leading motorcycle riding massive badass conservative father and I wondered what
conservative father and I wondered what
conservative father and I wondered what is dad thinking at this moment and what
is dad thinking at this moment and what
is dad thinking at this moment and what Dad was thinking was Brian doesn’t even
Dad was thinking was Brian doesn’t even
Dad was thinking was Brian doesn’t even know I’m gay and he’s willing to do this
know I’m gay and he’s willing to do this
know I’m gay and he’s willing to do this for me and maybe it’s okay to be more
for me and maybe it’s okay to be more
for me and maybe it’s okay to be more true to myself I didn’t know that I was
true to myself I didn’t know that I was
true to myself I didn’t know that I was standing up to help my father I just
standing up to help my father I just
standing up to help my father I just knew it 16 years old that somebody had
knew it 16 years old that somebody had
knew it 16 years old that somebody had to change this policy and so I asked why
to change this policy and so I asked why
to change this policy and so I asked why not me you go across all of these TED
not me you go across all of these TED
not me you go across all of these TED Talks that somebody will make it a great
Talks that somebody will make it a great
Talks that somebody will make it a great TED talks about how Kenny said somebody
TED talks about how Kenny said somebody
TED talks about how Kenny said somebody has to fire that principal why not me
has to fire that principal why not me
has to fire that principal why not me and Sydney said somebody has to save
and Sydney said somebody has to save
and Sydney said somebody has to save those lives why not me and Teddy said
those lives why not me and Teddy said
those lives why not me and Teddy said somebody’s going to write those speeches
somebody’s going to write those speeches
somebody’s going to write those speeches why not me and indie said somebody has
why not me and indie said somebody has
why not me and indie said somebody has to fill this massive gap in women’s
to fill this massive gap in women’s
to fill this massive gap in women’s freestyle why not me and you look at me
freestyle why not me and you look at me
freestyle why not me and you look at me and thought it’s just the right thing to
and thought it’s just the right thing to
and thought it’s just the right thing to do why doesn’t somebody do it and every
do why doesn’t somebody do it and every
do why doesn’t somebody do it and every one of those kids that every one of
one of those kids that every one of
one of those kids that every one of those stories was a teenager and they
those stories was a teenager and they
those stories was a teenager and they said age is not an obstacle to me doing
said age is not an obstacle to me doing
said age is not an obstacle to me doing it and so my question to you
it and so my question to you
it and so my question to you is why let age be an obstacle to any of
is why let age be an obstacle to any of
is why let age be an obstacle to any of you to do what’s really in your heart as
you to do what’s really in your heart as
you to do what’s really in your heart as well when you drive home today you click
well when you drive home today you click
well when you drive home today you click refresh you go into your next video
refresh you go into your next video
refresh you go into your next video wonder why not me why not me thank you
wonder why not me why not me thank you
wonder why not me why not me thank you [Applause]
”
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