Every year the super-conference TED Talks gathers in Silicon Valley to spread ideas about technology, entertainment, and design. Some of the greatest speakers of our generation have been a part of the conference, including Al Gore and other nerds. There's nothing Silicon Valley can do that Chicago can't do in a lazier and less impressive way. Which is why we would like to present the second edition of "NEDtalks: Spreading Worthless Ideas."

Kellen Alexander and Seth Dodson (of sethandkellen) co-host this comedic mini-conference at the Hideout. In the style of TEDtalks our speakers aim not to smarten you up but to dumb you down and present speeches, powerpoints, pie charts and shoebox dioramas on topics such as “Protecting Your Brain from Hypnotism” and “How to Make the Color Green more Green”. Our mission is to take the tension out of pretension and have a good old fashioned laugh without having to really learn anything.

Steve Waltien
Steve Waltien has been living and performing in Chicago since 2001. You can see Steve perform with the Improvised Shakespeare Company, The Armando Diaz Experience, Whirled News Tonight at iO or the Second City National Touring Company. He recently wrote and performed his first one-man show Scenes With Ghosts at iO.

Ross Bryant
Ross Bryant he has performed in comedy festivals all over America with the hip-hop improv show The Beatbox, in Maine with Improv Acadia, and in the Mediterranean with Second City aboard the Norwegian Jade. Ross is an ensemble member of The Second City National Touring Company and the critically acclaimed Baby Wants Candy.

James Kennedy
James Kennedy is the author of the young-adult fantasy The Order of Odd-Fish and the curator of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. In his spare time, he enjoys dressing up as Audrey Niffenegger and hanging out at Margie's Candies.

Christina Boucher
Daniel Kibblesmith is a writer and comedian in Chicago. She can be seen improvising with Sears Tower at iO and Bella at the Playground Theatre. She is also a contributer to the Late Live Show.

And a secret special actually smart guest expert!