Does the digital age threaten our connectedness? Do families still have meals that gather everyone around the table or has the magic of the meal faded? Is it generational? Is it economics? Maybe life has gotten too busy and hectic with work, children’s sports events, business or school activities to make time for family meals. But history shows that a meal can make a difference. Dea Irby set out on a journey to find the magic of the meal and to answer these questions. What she discovered surprised her. She will share results of that journey and her process for maximizing our human experience that may lead you to new places.

Dea Irby is a real estate agent, chef, matriarch and community leader. She has published a cookbook, "A Dollop and A Pinch: Recipes and Stories from the Baron York," and has utilized dinners and tea events as tools to solve problems and chronicle great events in history (e.g., The Titanic last supper). Dea is a contributing author in "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books.

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.