Ingrid Walker is Associate Professor of Arts, Media, and Culture at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Her research and teaching focus on the politics of contemporary US popular culture. She is writing a book about the use and perception of drugs in the United States. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)