It's Magic: Michael Eselun at TEDxEncinitas

Michael Eselun, a certified interfaith chaplain, serves as the chaplain for the Simms-Mann/UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology. He has worked extensively in oncology, hospice, palliative care and with acute psychiatric patients. He's been invited countless times to speak to students, doctors, nurses, social workers, and faith communities about his work as a chaplain, on death and dying and the spiritual dimension of the cancer experience. Michael is also the co-founder and chair of a non-profit, volunteer anti-homophobia speakers bureau called GLIDE, Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality. Over the last 20-plus years, Michael and his fellow speakers have spoken to an audience of well over 150,000 students, teachers, and other various groups and agencies in the LA area about homophobia. GLIDE is the go-to resource for LA Unified Schools as well as for the Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance. As an integral part of the museum's Tools for Tolerance program, Michael has addressed countless groups of students, educators, administrators, law enforcement agencies, government agencies, and corporate management groups about the impact of homophobia on our culture. He sees both pursuits as closely related in that both fields have to do with creating safe spaces for people to fully tell their truths and be received with respect.


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)