I heart TED

Want to be captivated, challenged, entertained, and inspired—all before your coffee gets cold? Meet TED. I am in love with TED.

Together we’ve trotted through history, across continents, and into the human heart. We’ve explored the birds and the bees, love letters and robotics, creativity and compassion. TED is captivating, entertaining, inspiring, andimaginative—sometimes all at once. TED is my secret love. Five minutes or five hours, I can always find time for TED.

Do you know TED? No? Allow me to introduce you. I don’t mind sharing. There’s plenty of TED to go around.

“Ideas worth spreading” is TED’s slogan, a non-profit organization that presents conferences around the globe. The conferences are curated short talks, most under 20 minutes, on every imaginable subject. TED Talks’ first conference in 1984 collected the concepts of Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED). Headline presentations included a demonstration of the compact disc, the ebook and 3D graphics from LucasFilms. A lot has transpired between then and now. TED, and its various offspring, by 2023, have hosted over 4,000 conferences in 120 countries and more than 3,500 of these fabulous talks are available as free videos online at TED.com .

In a world that can feel dark and overwhelming, these ideas have ripple effects of many magnitudes, pointing toward the possibility of a better future for people, communities and humanity at large. 
                                                                                                                                          — TED

Who has given these illustrious talks at TED? Well here’s just a small sampling: James Cameron, Bill Gates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Brené Brown, Bono, Jamie Oliver, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jane Goodall, George Takei, Adam Driver, and the list goes on. And on.

Still not convinced? Listen to what Arianna Huffington thinks about sleep. Or Liza Donelly, New Yorker cartoonist on humor for change.

Need more? One of my favorites? Check out this amazing woman – Dame Stephanie Shirley.
2,309,618 views and counting.

You’re welcome.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration, a fresh idea, or a five-minute joy jolt—TED has something for you.

Go ahead, fall a little in love with TED. I’ll share him with you. I don’t mind, at all.

Do you <3 TED? What’s your favourite TED Talk?

Photo credit: jurvetson via VisualHunt / CC BY