TEDx Baton Rouge 2025
November 13, 2025
Beneath the surface of our daily lives, powerful forces shape our world in ways we rarely perceive. These Unseen Currents drive innovation, influence culture, and propel us toward the future. They flow through our cities, our technologies, and our very minds, often unnoticed yet profoundly impactful. At TEDxBatonRouge, we invite you to dive deeper, to explore the undercurrents of ideas that are reshaping our reality. From the subtle shifts in social norms to the groundbreaking discoveries in science, we'll uncover the hidden forces that are steering us toward tomorrow.
Rebeca de Jesús Crespo | Integrative Ecologist
Rebeca de Jesús Crespo is a landscape ecologist who traces the hidden connections between land, water, and health. Her work reveals how the choices we make ripple back into our lives—and how resilience begins with intention.
Veronica Gillispie-Bell | Maternal Health Advocate
Veronica Gillispie-Bell is a physician and public health champion working to rewrite the story of maternal health. In a world where climate change is intensifying risks for the most vulnerable, she reveals maternal health as a fault line where climate change deepens existing inequities.
Pippin Frisbie-Calder | Environmental Printmaker
Pippin Frisbie-Calder is a visual artist whose large-scale prints and immersive installations celebrate our natural world. She translates scientific data into powerful visual stories—challenging us to see what’s at stake and encouraging us to be part of the solution.
Johnnie James II | Regenerative Ocean Farmer
Johnnie James II is reimagining one of the world’s oldest materials for one of our most urgent challenges. As the founder of a climate-tech startup, he’s developing a product to help protect Louisiana’s fragile coast. His work blends innovation and regeneration—building structures that don’t just stand against time, but stand up for the environment.
Naohiro Kato | Microalgae Innovator
Naohiro Kato is a biologist unlocking the surprising power of the tiniest organisms. His work reimagines how we can grow microalgae to both preserve human health and our local culture, offering unexpected answers to some of our biggest challenges.
Mary Miller | Sponge Hunter
Mary Miller is a microbiology and biology professor who transforms her research lab into a space for real discovery. By guiding students into hands-on research, she opens doors to the next generation of scientists—while assessing the health of our waterways by researching some of our most overlooked organisms.
Damien Mitchell | Industrial Designer
Damien Mitchell is a designer and educator blending traditional craft techniques with modern innovation. His work challenges hyperconsumerism and asks what it means to design objects—and futures—that truly last.