Charleston, SC – April 21, 2026 – In one week, the city of Charleston will be buzzing with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and just the right amount of inspiration.

At least, that’s the plan.

TEDxCharleston returns April 29, bringing together a lineup of thinkers, builders, and storytellers for a day built around one simple idea: ideas worth spreading. And behind the scenes—making sure those ideas actually make it to the stage—is Wired Island’s own Mike Sottak.

For the sixth consecutive year, Mike has been the steady hand behind TEDxCharleston guiding everything from speaker selection and event logistics to marketing, communications, and sponsorships.

It’s no small job. And yet, somehow, it gets done every year.

“TEDx is about giving great ideas the air they need to spread,” said Sottak. “It’s about bringing together voices that challenge, inspire, and connect people in new ways.”

If that sounds familiar, it should.

At Wired Island, that’s pretty much what we do every day. We take our clients complex, often deeply technical ideas and turn them into stories people actually understand (and care about). Supporting TEDxCharleston is simply that same instinct applied locally.
And while Mike may be the ringmaster, this is very much a team sport.

“Events like TEDxCharleston don’t happen without an incredible team,” added Sottak. “There are so many people contributing their time and talent to make this a success.”

Wired Island’s Creative Director, Deb Mohnssen, has played a critical role leading the design of marketing materials and supporting the event’s digital presence across social media and the website.

Alongside a broader network of dedicated volunteers, the Wired Island team helps bring TEDxCharleston to life year after year—not for recognition, but because it aligns with something bigger.

We believe good ideas deserve visibility.

We believe storytelling matters.

And we believe that sometimes the most important work we do isn’t for a client—it’s for the community around us.

As April 29 approaches, Charleston will once again have its moment to pause, listen, and engage with new ideas.
We’re just proud to help make sure the mic is on and the stage is ready.

We hope you can join us next week! To purchase tickets visit tedxcharleston.org or the Charleston Music Hall box office.

About Wired Island 
Wired Island International is an independent communications agency led by senior professionals with decades of experience in PR, corporate communications, and digital marketing. Since 1998, Wired Island has supported technology companies across semiconductors, photonics, enterprise software, and advanced manufacturing—helping clients launch products, secure funding visibility, and drive thought leadership in competitive markets. The agency provides hands-on counsel and execution, acting as an extension of client teams. 

Visit www.wiredislandpr.com for more information. 

About TEDxCharleston
TEDxCharleston is an all-day immersion experience at the intersection of science, art, performance and business. It is designed to enrich the Charleston, South Carolina community through presentations and entertainment that inspires, engages and transforms. For more information and to view all past TEDxCharleston talks and performances, visit tedxcharleston.org. Follow TEDxCharleston on Twitter at twitter.com/tedxcharleston, on Facebook at facebook.com/tedxcharleston, and Instagram at Instagram.com/tedxcharleston.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
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, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. 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.)

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED conferences, including our annual gathering in Vancouver, as well as TEDWomen, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organized TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of the talks from TED2019 will also be published to TED’s podcast TED Talks Daily, available on Apple Podcasts and all other podcast platforms.

TED’s open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; the Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TEDSummit, which gathers the most engaged members of the global TED community for brainstorms, discussions, performances, workshops and an eclectic program of mainstage talks; and the educational initiativeTED-Ed. TED also has a library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, Sincerely, X, and one of Apple Podcasts’ most downloaded new shows of 2018, WorkLife with Adam Grant.

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED, on Instagram at https://instagram.com/ted and on Snapchat at tedtalkshq.

Media Contact 
Mandy Townsend, Wired Island International ([email protected])