Ideas Worth Spreading: 6 Key Takeaways from TEDxVitoriaGasteiz 2025

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending this year’s edition of TEDxVitoriaGasteiz.

Is spending a full day listening to ideas worth spreading across topics like health, politics, sociology, business, creativity, art, and technology worth it? Always!

With 19 speakers and additional workshops, there were plenty of thought-provoking moments. While it is impossible to summarize them all, here are the insights that really stuck with me, grouped by theme.

Society & Communication

In an era of noise, several speakers touched on how we relate to one another and process reality.

• Mental Health & Uncertainty: Adam Martín provided a powerful reminder that uncertainty is a key trigger for many mental health challenges in today’s society. His antidote is simple but effective: socializing.
• Propaganda & Polarization: Miguel García Álvarez shared how today’s technology—particularly social media—fuels polarization. We consume increasingly segmented content in isolation. His advice? Protect your privacy, seek context, and most importantly, connect with others to interpret reality together.
• Respectful Dialogue: In a similar vein, Franco Delle Donne emphasized the power of respectful and effective dialogue. He argued that when we get outraged, we close the door to real conversation. We must focus on our own arguments rather than simply negating the other person’s point of view.

The Future of Health

Innovation in healthcare was a major focus, ranging from early detection to futuristic treatments.

• Early Detection of Kidney Disease: Renal disease is highly prevalent yet often unknown. According to Lola Arenas, it can be detected early through two simple parameters in routine blood and urine tests: creatinine and albumin. Awareness can save lives.
• Personalized Medicine: Kevin Las Heras Zapata introduced the fascinating concept of personalized medicine treatments—using genetics and even customized 3D-printed pills at home.
• AI for the Elderly: Pablo Mariñosa presented Onorato, an AI-powered parrot companion for the elderly that not only provides company but also detects potential accidents. It is a perfect example of innovation with purpose.

Environmental Awareness

Finally, Susana Malón from Lumínica Ambiental reminded us that reducing light pollution is not just about enjoying the stars—it is about preserving ecosystems.

She left us with two simple, yet useful questions to ask ourselves:

1. Do we really need light here?
2. If yes, how should we light it?

Conclusion

There was so much more to explore and reflect on, but these were my personal highlights.

Huge kudos to Cristina Juesas for her brilliant curation and tireless work behind the scenes with the whole team. This event never fails to inspire—I am already looking forward to whatever comes next!