TEDxClevelandStateUniversity - Untangling Wonder
Friday, October 23, 2026
3-8 p.m.
Waetjen Auditorium
Music and Communications Building
2001 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115
Get your tickets today.
Program Agenda
3:00 P.M. | Welcome
- Dr. Laura Bloomberg, President, Cleveland State University
- TEDx Welcome Video
- Eleanor Hayes, TEDx Emcee
Session One
- Claudio Milstein, Ph.D. — Fish Out of Water: The Mystery of Lost Voice and Breath
- Sabine Kretzschmar — Grab Their Attention with Things of This World
- Christa Laser — Why Innovation Fails Us\
- Eric Stackpole – TED Video: A Whale’s Eye View of the Ocean
- Samantha Martin — One City’s Rise From Pollution to the Center of Water Tech Innovation
- Mandi Goodsett — The Cure for Cynicism Isn’t More Suspicion
- Charlie Mosbrook — Understanding the Human Experience Through Song
4:30–5:10 P.M. | Intermission
- Refreshments • Interactive Experiences • Connection • Wonder
- VIP guests: follow your ushers to G15.
- All other guests: main tent outside.
5:10 P.M. | Session Two
- Lidiia Reviakina — Before I Spoke the Language, I Learned to Make People Laugh
- Camilo A. Ferro — Innovation is Never Finished
- Stacey Diane Arañez Litam — The Secret to Breaking Generational Trauma Patterns
- Sharon Sobol Jordan — When Work Isn’t Enough
- Richard Austin — Brand New Air
- Jessica Gallagher-Steuver with Windsong —The Sound of Belonging
6:30–8:00 P.M. | Beyond the Red Circle
Closing reception with food trucks, music, interactive experiences, and opportunities to connect.
More About Untangling Wonder
Untangling: to loosen or straighten out something that is in knots or snarled; figuratively to resolve confusing or complicated situations or mysteries
Wonder: to be filled with curiosity, admiration, amazement or fascination; as a noun, something strange, extraordinary or astonishing; as a verb to marvel, to feel surprise, awe, veneration or doubt; existentially, deeper reflection on life’s “big questions” and our place in the world, emotionally
Today, there are four agreed upon psychological dimensions of wonder which are cognitive, emotional, motivational and existential. It is generally agreed upon that wonder is distinct but closely related to awe. Much like a university environment, wonder is often associated with a more ongoing state of curiosity and contemplation.
The dimensions are cognitive, emotional, motivational and existential.
Cognitive: Wonder begins with a “meaning gap” — an unexplained phenomenon, a surprising insight or a new perspective. This gap activates curiosity and drives our desire to explore, question and understand.
Emotional: Wonder is a blend of fascination, surprise, awe and even confusion. This emotional mix heightens sensory awareness and releases dopamine, enhancing engagement and memory.
Motivational: Experiencing wonder fuels creativity, innovation and prosocial behavior.
It invites generosity, openness, humility and the pursuit of meaningful goals.
Existential: Wonder can prompt reflection on purpose, meaning, and one’s place in the world. It often leads to spiritual, philosophical, or moral insight — a feeling of being connected to something larger.