Coffee with Wilma Flintstone | Gail Awan PhD | TEDxThird Ward Salon

What if the most important map you’ll ever explore isn’t the world—but yourself?

In this thought-provoking talk, Dr. Gail Awan introduces J.O.G.I.™ (Journey • Origin • Geography • Identity), a framework that explores how history, ancestry, geography, and personal experience shape the stories we tell about ourselves and others. Drawing from science, history, culture, and storytelling, she challenges audiences to see identity as something richer than labels or DNA alone.

Through an unexpected conversation with Wilma Flintstone, Dr. Awan invites us to ask a timeless question: What kind of ancestor will you become? The result is a fresh perspective on empathy, belonging, and the legacy each of us has the power to create. Dr. Gail Awan is a nonprofit executive, cultural storyteller, author, and two-time TEDx speaker with more than 25 years of experience leading community-based initiatives. She is the creator of J.O.G.I.™ (Journey • Origin • Geography • Identity), a storytelling framework that invites people to explore how history, ancestry, geography, and identity shape who they are—and to consider what kind of ancestors they will become. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx