Theme: PUZZLES

TEDxVitosha 2025: PUZZLES is a place for fresh perspectives on how seemingly unrelated concepts overlap, complement and interact. It's a place for lively encounters, exciting discoveries and inspiration, as well as party mood and fun. Every idea, innovation and discovery is part of a huge brain teaser. TEDxVitosha brings together curious, open-minded leaders and visionaries, ready to set the big picture right. From breakthroughs in technology and science to personal stories of resilience and creativity - it's a true SPA for the brain that will bring out the best in you. Speakers will take you on a journey into the future, illuminating diverse areas of human cognition and inviting you to consider how the 'individual pieces' might fit together. The event is also a lively platform for networking, exchanging new insights and enriching perspectives among 400 delegates. They are all professional and young in spirit, multilingual and open to the world, curious and ready to solve the puzzles of the 21st century. Just like you. Together we arrange the pieces that come from the past and shape our future.

Inter Expo Center Sofia
147, Tsarigradsko shose Blvd
2
Sofia, Sofia-Grad, 1000
Bulgaria

Andrew Basso

Escapologist

Performing over 300 shows a year and reaching half a million people annually, Andrew Basso is the force behind the hit Broadway show The Illusionists. Dubbed “The World’s Greatest Escapologist” and “The Rock Star of Magic”, he has shattered box office records and performed on the world’s biggest stages, from Broadway to London’s West End and the Sydney Opera House. Known for death-defying escapes, Basso has been called “the natural successor of Harry Houdini”. His autobiography CREDI NELL’IMPOSSIBILE (Mondadori) traces his journey from a small Italian town to global stardom, exploring fear, faith, and freedom. Fresh off a breathtaking Britain’s Got Talent semi-final performance, with hundreds of thousands of YouTube views, he recently secured a Guinness World Record, cementing his status as the ultimate master of escapology.

Blagorodna Makeva

Police Officer

She is the first woman appointed as Deputy Director at the National Police of Bulgaria. She has a law diploma from Plovdiv University and she graduated in Crime Counteraction and Public Order Protection at the Ministry of the Interior Academy. Throughout her professional and life journey Blagorodna has filled the meaning of her beautiful name (which means “noble”) with value - seeking justice where it is lacking, and choosing to do the right thing regardless of the circumstances. She is committed to fighting domestic violence, to supporting victims of crime and to working with children. At the MOI Academy she is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Law and she lectures "Protection from Domestic Violence", "Professional Ethics" and "Rights of the Child". Listening to her is a lesson in discipline, professionalism, faith in a cause, a selfless desire to contribute to a better "today" and a more meaningful "tomorrow".

Brianne Hovey

Healer

Мother, wife, writer, facilitator, and healer - Brianne Hovey knows pain profoundly. Her journey began at 12, after losing her mother. Her healing path started in massage school and expanded into aesthetics and health coaching. Her passion for wellness led her to build a multi-million-dollar business. Yet, she realized that external success couldn't bring her the inner fulfillment she craved, prompting a deeper journey inward. A mother of four, Brianne adopted her youngest child six years ago in what she calls her "calling." The experience was deeply emotional, forcing her to confront whether she deserved such a blessing. In 2016, after losing her second parent to cancer, Brianne faced burnout. Living in Hawaii with her family, she founded Soul Truth Collective to help others heal and grow. Her creation, the Daily Awareness Card Deck, has since become a transformational tool for many. Brianne believes in miracles, unconditional love, and laughter as the best medicine.

Doychin Karshovski

Master of Discomfort

If it’s true that all progress comes from the discomfort we are willing to endure, then Doychin Karshovski’s favorite answer to the question “What do you do?” might not entirely be a joke. He often says he has a black belt in helping people find and overcome discomfort. With over three decades of experience in the USA and Europe, Doychin is a globally recognized wellness and performance coach, entrepreneur, and author. He is devoted to inspiring healthier lifestyles and unlocking the full potential of longer, more fulfilling lives. As the founder of DoychZone, Perfomize, and Want2GoFit, Doychin has created platforms that redefine individual and corporate wellness. He is also the creator of the documentary series Money for Nothing, which explores groundbreaking strategies to prevent chronic diseases through the innovative philosophy of Medicine 3.0. Doychin has written six books, and beyond his professional endeavors, he is an avid sailor, diver, and outdoor enthusiast.

Gabi Petrova

Sex Therapist

Gabi Petrova is from the generation born in the 70s that was deprived of sexual education and literacy. While growing up, she didn’t have conversations with her parents or teachers about the changes that come with adolescence. There were no magazines with articles on the subject, no educational videos, no computers, and certainly no internet or YouTube. That was when information from classmates and older siblings, all extremely "competent") came to the rescue. After building a successful career, Gabi turned to psychology, seeking an answer to her chronic frustration, even though everything in her life seemed fine. This motivated her to pursue a Ph.D in psychology. During her extensive training, Gabi realised that the topic of sexuality was barely addressed. Thus, her mission was born—to raise sexual literacy among Bulgarian men and women. She created the program "Sexuality and Individuality – Conversations with Gabi Petrova"—a project that continues to evolve, adapt, and grow.

Kaloyan Geshev

Mental Calculation Champion

How much is the square root of 18 881? Can you divide 4,472,092,750 by 52,846? Multiplication or calculating dates - Kaloyan Geshev solves it all. In seconds. The 14-year-old student competes in mental calculation championships In 2024, and wins titles that Bulgaria is proud of: 'World Champion in division', 'Vice World Champion of inexact square roots' and 3rd place for calculating calendar dates - 108 in one minute. In 2024, Kaloyan improved his own world record for representing 10 five-digit numbers as the sum of the squares of four numbers. Gift or coincidence? By age three and a half, Kaloyan could handle numbers with ease, regularly calculating the change at a supermarket's cash desk. Almost non-verbal, his first words were about numbers. He was a winner of "Bulgaria's Got Talent" in 2021. He dreams of becoming a teacher, to coach others develop similar mathematical skills.

Leandar Litov Leandar Litov

Experimental Physicist

Prof. Dr. Leander Litov will challenge you with questions about the mysteries of the Universe. He is an active participant in the Large Hadron Collider research at CERN, part of the CMS collaboration since its launch and leads the SU team. He is a renowned scientist with contributions to theoretical and experimental physics, detector development, high-performance computing and biophysics. He also teaches at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, inspiring students with knowledge on quantum and particle physics. Leandar started his scientific career at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. In his spare time he experiments with artificial intelligence in art, and his work has been exhibited at CERN. With over 1,200 scientific publications and numerous awards, including 2 Pythagoras Awards, prof. Litov is a leading name in science. He is a member of prestigious scientific councils and institutions, including Academia Europaea.

Lyudmil Vagalinski

Archaeologist

"Knowing from a young age what you are drawn to and what you want to do is luck. But to follow your calling, you need courage", says Lyudmil Vagalinski. Although history is close to his heart to this day, surprisingly he was not accepted into the History Faculty on his first attempt. He had to go to the mandatory at the time military service for two years to return to "his own" path to archaeology. Prof. Vagalinski is the creator and editor-in-chief of the archaeology journal Archaeologia Bulgarica. He leads large-scale national and international projects, including the excavations of the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica near the village of Rupite, the Roman colony Deultum near the village of Debelt, and many more. Spending half the year in excavations, Prof. Vagalinski says “When you turn your hobby into a profession, you are in a constant state of recharge and exhaustion”.

Manal El-feitury

Diva

A story of resilience, reinvention, and deep love for the arts. A life full of passion and desire to make an impact. A person of values, care and charisma. Manal El-feitury is a British-born singer, actress, and storyteller. Her early dreams of performing were quietly nurtured but never pursued. Working as an ABA therapist, supporting children with special needs, shaped her understanding of connection that would enrich her artistry. Starting her professional performing career later in life, Manal proved that passion and hard work could make up for lost time. She went on to star in numerous productions, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals and stage presence. Her short film ‘When Life Goes Viral’ explored mental health during the pandemic. In Bulgaria she performed as Rachel Marron in the musical The Bodyguard.

Mario Joos

Content Strategist

First, he was a gamer. But since 2020, Mario Joos has been the mastermind behind content strategies for some of YouTube’s biggest names—MrBeast (370M+ subscribers) and the Stokes Twins (115M+ subscribers), now the second-largest growing YouTube channel of 2024. He’s also working with 5 of the 6 fastest-growing YouTube channels in 2025. His data-driven strategies made him a game-changer for creators aiming to scale from 10M to 100M+ subscribers. Mario has worked on over 1,000 videos, racking up a staggering 40 billion views and even played a key role in one of the platform’s most legendary videos: the $456,000 Squid Game in Real Life. Today, this Belgian-born strategist has permanently settled in Bulgaria, where he helps creators, marketers, and industry professionals grow their digital presence. With expertise in retention optimization, analytics, audience behavior, and human psychology, Mario provides actionable insights that drive success in the ever-evolving content landscape.

Matthew Blakemore

AI Ambassador

Are you afraid that AI might replace you? Recent years have seen rapid technological advancements and countless scenarios for the future—and this is just the beginning. But fear not—Matthew Blakemore, the ethical AI ambassador, is here to show that AI is not a threat but an ally. As CEO of AI Caramba!, Matthew leads efforts to make AI responsible and practical, enhancing human creativity instead of replacing it. He’s also one of the lead authors of the ISO/IEC 8183 AI Data Lifecycle Standard, shaping AI governance in over 165 countries. And that’s not all. On IMDb, you’ll find Matthew credited as a producer of award-winning AI-powered films, celebrated by the European Broadcasting Union. Beyond film, he’s revolutionizing fashion. His app, Looks Good On Me, earned him and his co-founder the Prince Abdul Aziz Entrepreneurship Award, transforming online shopping forever. Matthew Blakemore won’t demystify AI—he’ll reveal how it can unlock new possibilities.

Rayna Dingileva-Heinecke

Color Analysis Expert

Is it possible to be a well-established lawyer with 25 years of legal practice, having worked with Virginia Records, Universal Music, Sony Music, Prophon, Musicautor, and TV shows like "X Factor", and not make a good first impression? No way! Rayna Heinecke has gained experience working with producers, musicians, and artists from all over the world and will inspire you with the subtle art of using and combining colours to highlight all your strengths. In addition to her legal expertise, Rayna has a passion for colour and style analysis. For 10 years, she has been helping people of all backgrounds and professions discover their authentic beauty, express themselves, and enhance their personal charisma. Because she knows that people form their opinion of us with just a glance - on first meeting, getting to know each other, and before we've even said a word. Self-expression always depends on the right choice of colors and shapes.

Rosita Kokotanekova

Astrophysicist & Planetary Scientist

Winner of the 2023 Women in Science Award, she is an astrophysicist and a planetary scientist specializing in the study of small bodies in the Solar System. Her research focuses on piecing together the complex puzzle of evolution. She is currently a senior research assistant at the Institute of Astronomy and the National Astronomical Observatory at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. She also works as a Research Associate in Planetary Sciences at the International Institute for Space Sciences in Bern, Switzerland. She is part of the scientific team of the Comet Interceptor mission of the European Space Agency, in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Rosita grew up in a family of astronomers in Haskovo, Bulgaria, where in early childhood her fascination with space started. Her parents introduced her to astronomical observations and to this day she continues to gaze at the sky—now using some of the largest and most powerful telescopes on Earth and in space.

Roxanne & George Miller

Puzzles Fairy

Roxanne and George Miller are like characters in a fairy tale. Their story takes place in a medieval castle in Italy, which they bought 3 years ago to house their huge collection of over 80,000 puzzles. Thus the World Puzzle Center was born. For years the couple has been building this stunning collection of puzzles – some new, some ages old - from all over the world. Why? Because it is their greatest passion. And because no one has ever done it before. George is 80 years old and looks like Santa Claus, regularly receiving invitations to embody him at Christmas. Roxanne is the Fairy who knows the answers to all questions and holds her magic wand firmly. The castle in Umbria is now open to every curious mind - to touch and try the art of intricate mechanical puzzles, to immerse in a world of mosaics and mysteries.