TED Talks with English transcript

10:07

TED Salon Brightline Initiative

Chiki Sarkar: How India's smartphone revolution is creating a new generation of readers and writers

2018-10-231,570,288 views

Readability: 3.6

---

India has the second largest population of any country in the world -- yet it has only 50 decent bookstores, says publisher Chiki Sarkar. So she asked herself: How do we get more people reading books? Find out how Sarkar is tapping into India's smartphone revolution to create a new generation of readers and writers in this fun talk about a fresh kind of storytelling.

Play

11:56

TED Salon: Radical Craft

Alex Rosenthal: The joyful, perplexing world of puzzle hunts

2018-11-08420,701 views

Readability: 4

---

Welcome to the strange, deviously difficult and incredibly joyful world of puzzle hunts. Follow along as Alex Rosenthal lifts the veil on one of the world's most complex puzzle hunts, the MIT Mystery Hunt -- and reveals how puzzles can be found in the most unexpected places. (Hint: see if you can spot the puzzle hidden in this TED Talk.)

Play

14:49

TEDxPeachtree

Dana Kanze: The real reason female entrepreneurs get less funding

2017-10-061,958,377 views

Readability: 5.8

---

Women own 39 percent of all businesses in the US, but female entrepreneurs get only two percent of venture funding. What's causing this gap? Dana Kanze shares research suggesting that it might be the types of questions start-up founders get asked when they're invited to pitch. Whether you're starting a new business or just having a conversation, learn how to spot the kinds of questions you're being asked -- and how to respond more effectively.

Play

13:31

TEDWomen 2018

Amanda Williams: Why I turned Chicago's abandoned homes into art

2018-11-28307,070 views

Readability: 4.1

---

Amanda Williams shares her lifelong fascination with the complexity of color: from her experiences with race and redlining to her discovery of color theory to her work as a visual artist. Journey with Williams to Chicago's South Side and explore "Color(ed) Theory," a two-year art project in which she painted soon-to-be-demolished houses bold, monochromatic colors infused with local meaning -- catalyzing conversations and making the hidden visible.

Play

17:12

TEDWomen 2018

Katharine Hayhoe: The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it

2018-11-282,790,388 views

Readability: 4

---

How do you talk to someone who doesn't believe in climate change? Not by rehashing the same data and facts we've been discussing for years, says climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe. In this inspiring, pragmatic talk, Hayhoe shows how the key to having a real discussion is to connect over shared values like family, community and religion -- and to prompt people to realize that they already care about a changing climate. "We can't give in to despair," she says. "We have to go out and look for the hope we need to inspire us to act -- and that hope begins with a conversation, today."

Play

20:29

TED Salon Verizon

Ruby Sales: How we can start to heal the pain of racial division

2018-09-201,666,064 views

Readability: 4.3

---

"Where does it hurt?" It's a question that activist and educator Ruby Sales has traveled the US asking, looking deeply at the country's legacy of racism and searching for sources of healing. In this moving talk, she shares what she's learned, reflecting on her time as a freedom fighter in the civil rights movement and offering new thinking on pathways to racial justice.

Play

12:20

TEDWomen 2018

Ariana Curtis: Museums should honor the everyday, not just the extraordinary

2018-11-282,366,272 views

Readability: 5.7

---

Who deserves to be in a museum? For too long, the answer has been "the extraordinary" -- those aspirational historymakers who inspire us with their successes. But those stories are limiting, says museum curator Ariana Curtis. In a visionary talk, she imagines how museums can more accurately represent history by honoring the lives of people both extraordinary and everyday, prominent and hidden -- and amplify diverse perspectives that should have always been included.

Play

14:32

TEDWomen 2018

Jan Rader: In the opioid crisis, here's what it takes to save a life

2018-11-281,812,108 views

Readability: 4

---

As a fire chief and first responder, Jan Rader has spent her career saving lives. But when the opioid epidemic hit her town, she realized they needed to take a brand-new approach to life-saving. In this powerful, hopeful talk, Rader shows what it's like on the front lines of this crisis -- and how her community is taking an unusual new approach to treating substance-abuse disorder that starts with listening.

Play

14:18

TED@Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Li Wei Tan: The fascinating science of bubbles, from soap to champagne

2018-11-26518,279 views

Readability: 4.1

---

In this whimsical talk and live demo, scientist Li Wei Tan shares the secrets of bubbles -- from their relentless pursuit of geometric perfection to their applications in medicine and shipping, where designers are creating more efficient vessels by mimicking the bubbles created by swimming penguins. Learn more about these mathematical marvels and tap into the magic hidden in the everyday world.

Play

13:24

TEDWomen 2018

Carla Harris: How to find the person who can help you get ahead at work

2018-11-283,115,717 views

Readability: 3.8

---

The workplace is often presented as a meritocracy, where you can succeed by putting your head down and working hard. Wall Street veteran Carla Harris learned early in her career that this a myth. The key to actually getting ahead? Get a sponsor: a person who will speak on your behalf in the top-level, closed-door meetings you're not invited to (yet). Learn how to identify and develop a productive sponsor relationship in this candid, powerful talk.

Play

11:30

TED Salon Zebra Technologies

Tiana Epps-Johnson: What's needed to bring the US voting system into the 21st century

2018-11-011,492,210 views

Readability: 5.4

---

The American election system is complicated, to say the least -- but voting is one of the most tangible ways that each of us can shape our communities. How can we make the system more modern, inclusive and secure? Civic engagement champion Tiana Epps-Johnson shares what's needed to bring voting in the US into the 21st century -- and to get every person to the polls.

Play

11:22

TEDWomen 2018

Eldra Jackson: How I unlearned dangerous lessons about masculinity

2018-11-281,574,463 views

Readability: 3.8

---

In a powerful talk, educator Eldra Jackson III shares how he unlearned dangerous lessons about masculinity through Inside Circle, an organization that leads group therapy for incarcerated men. Now he's helping others heal by creating a new image of what it means to be a whole, healthy man. "The challenge is to eradicate this cycle of emotional illiteracy and groupthink," he says.

Play

08:25

TED@BCG Toronto

Anirudh Sharma: Ink made of air pollution

2018-10-03474,007 views

Readability: 4.1

---

What if we could capture pollution in the air around us and turn it into something useful? Inventor Anirudh Sharma shares how he created AIR-INK, a deep black ink that's made from PM 2.5 pollution. See how he hacked together a clever way to capture these tiny particles -- and make the world just a little bit cleaner in the process.

Play

10:46

TED Salon Brightline Initiative

Lýdia Machová: The secrets of learning a new language

2018-10-237,231,347 views

Readability: 3.9

---

Want to learn a new language but feel daunted or unsure where to begin? You don't need some special talent or a "language gene," says Lýdia Machová. In an upbeat, inspiring talk, she reveals the secrets of polyglots (people who speak multiple languages) and shares four principles to help unlock your own hidden language talent -- and have fun while doing it.

Play

12:53

TEDWomen 2018

Karissa Sanbonmatsu: The biology of gender, from DNA to the brain

2018-11-282,235,281 views

Readability: 4.4

---

How exactly does gender work? It's not just about our chromosomes, says biologist Karissa Sanbonmatsu. In a visionary talk, she shares new discoveries from epigenetics, the emerging study of how DNA activity can permanently change based on social factors like trauma or diet. Learn how life experiences shape the way genes are expressed -- and what that means for our understanding of gender.

Play

16:02

TEDWomen 2018

Ai-jen Poo: The work that makes all other work possible

2018-11-281,792,540 views

Readability: 3.9

---

Domestic workers are entrusted with the most precious aspects of people's lives -- they're the nannies, the elder-care workers and the house cleaners who do the work that makes all other work possible. Too often, they're invisible, taken for granted or dismissed as "help," yet they continue to do their wholehearted best for the families and homes in their charge. In this sensational talk, activist Ai-Jen Poo shares her efforts to secure equal rights and fair wages for domestic workers and explains how we can all be inspired by them. "Think like a domestic worker who shows up and cares no matter what," she says.

Play

12:39

TEDWomen 2018

Stacey Abrams: 3 questions to ask yourself about everything you do

2018-11-283,767,559 views

Readability: 2.9

---

How you respond after setbacks is what defines your character. Stacey Abrams was the first black woman in the history of the United States to be nominated by a major party for governor -- she lost that hotly contested race, but as she says: the only choice is to move forward. In an electrifying talk, she shares the lessons she learned from her campaign for governor of Georgia, some advice on how to change the world -- and a few hints at her next steps. "Be aggressive about your ambition," Abrams says.

Play

16:16

TEDWomen 2018

Tarana Burke: Me Too is a movement, not a moment

2018-11-281,734,107 views

Readability: 4.4

---

In 2006, Tarana Burke was consumed by a desire to do something about the sexual violence she saw in her community. She took out a piece of paper, wrote "Me Too" across the top and laid out an action plan for a movement centered on the power of empathy between survivors. More than a decade later, she reflects on what has since become a global movement -- and makes a powerful call to dismantle the power and privilege that are building blocks of sexual violence. "We owe future generations nothing less than a world free of sexual violence," she says. "I believe we can build that world."

Play

05:50

The Way We Work

Amy Nicole Baker: 7 common questions about workplace romance

2018-12-101,611,453 views

Readability: 4.6

---

Should you date your coworker? Should workplace couples keep their relationships secret? And why are coworkers so often attracted to each other? Organizational psychologist Amy Nicole Baker shares the real answers to commonly asked questions about romance at the office.

Play

No Data

TED@BCG Toronto

Madame Gandhi and Amber Galloway-Gallego: "Top Knot Turn Up" / "Bad Habits"

2018-10-03222,346 views

Readability: 3.3

No Video

---

"Music is so much more than sound simply traveling through the ear," says sign language interpreter Amber Galloway-Gallego. In a spirited performance, musician and activist Madame Gandhi plays two songs -- "Top Knot Turn Up" and "Bad Habits" -- while Galloway-Gallego provides an animated sign language interpretation.

Play

04:38

The Way We Work

Dan Clay: Why you should bring your whole self to work

2018-12-031,377,987 views

Readability: 3.6

---

Dan Clay was worried about being dismissed as "too gay" at work, so he dialed down his personality. But then his alter ego, Carrie Dragshaw, went viral online. Here's what happened next.

Play

13:12

TED@BCG Toronto

Martin Danoesastro: What are you willing to give up to change the way we work?

2018-10-032,048,855 views

Readability: 3.4

---

What does it take to build the fast, flexible, creative teams needed to challenge entrenched work culture? For transformation expert Martin Danoesastro, it all starts with one question: "What are you willing to give up?" He shares lessons learned from companies on both sides of the innovation wave on how to structure your organization so that people at all levels are empowered to make decisions fast and respond to change.

Play

12:04

TED@BCG Toronto

Elizabeth Lyle: How to break bad management habits before they reach the next generation of leaders

2018-10-032,307,815 views

Readability: 4

---

Companies are counting on their future leaders to manage with more speed, flexibility and trust than ever before. But how can middle managers climb the corporate ladder while also challenging the way things have always been done? Leadership expert Elizabeth Lyle offers a new approach to breaking the rules while you're on your way up, sharing creative ways organizations can give middle managers the space and coaching they need to start leading differently.

Play

12:22

TEDxUGA

J. Marshall Shepherd: 3 kinds of bias that shape your worldview

2018-03-222,252,877 views

Readability: 4.4

---

What shapes our perceptions (and misperceptions) about science? In an eye-opening talk, meteorologist J. Marshall Shepherd explains how confirmation bias, the Dunning-Kruger effect and cognitive dissonance impact what we think we know -- and shares ideas for how we can replace them with something much more powerful: knowledge.

Play

12:37

We the Future

Darrick Hamilton: How "baby bonds" could help close the wealth gap

2018-09-251,561,692 views

Readability: 5.6

---

Hard work, resilience and grit lead to success, right? This narrative pervades the way we think, says economist Darrick Hamilton, but the truth is that our chances at economic security have less to do with what we do and more to do with the wealth position we're born into. Enter "baby bonds": trust accounts of up to $60,000 for every newborn, calibrated to the wealth of their family. Learn how this bold proposal could help us reduce inequality -- and give every child personal seed money for important things like going to college, buying a home or starting a business. "Without capital, inequality is locked in," Hamilton says. "When it comes to economic security, wealth is both the beginning and the end."

Play

12:24

TED Salon Samsung

Douglas Rushkoff: How to be "Team Human" in the digital future

2018-09-261,652,468 views

Readability: 4.6

---

Humans are no longer valued for our creativity, says media theorist Douglas Rushkoff -- in a world dominated by digital technology, we're now just valued for our data. In a passionate talk, Rushkoff urges us to stop using technology to optimize people for the market and start using it to build a future centered on our pre-digital values of connection, creativity and respect. "Join 'Team Human.' Find the others," he says. "Together let's make the future that we always wanted."

Play

11:17

TED Salon: Radical Craft

Gabby Rivera: The story of Marvel's first queer Latina superhero

2018-11-081,420,948 views

Readability: 4.1

---

With Marvel's "America Chavez," Gabby Rivera wrote a new kind of superhero -- one who can punch portals into other dimensions while also embracing her gentle, goofy, soft side. In a funny, personal talk, Rivera shares how her own childhood as a queer Puerto Rican in the Bronx informed this new narrative -- and shows images from the comic book that reveal what happens when a superhero embraces her humanity. As she says: "That myth of having to go it alone and be tough is not serving us."

Play

15:29

TEDxExeter

Alan Crickmore: How storytelling helps parents in prison stay connected to their kids

2018-04-201,455,642 views

Readability: 3.3

---

When a parent is sent to prison, the unintended victims of their crimes are their own children -- without stability and support, kids are at higher risk for mental health and development issues. In a heartfelt talk, Alan Crickmore explains how the charity Storybook Dads is keeping families connected through the simple act of storytelling.

Play

13:05

TED Salon Zebra Technologies

Nita Farahany: When technology can read minds, how will we protect our privacy?

2018-11-011,819,292 views

Readability: 5.1

---

Tech that can decode your brain activity and reveal what you're thinking and feeling is on the horizon, says legal scholar and ethicist Nita Farahany. What will it mean for our already violated sense of privacy? In a cautionary talk, Farahany warns of a society where people are arrested for merely thinking about committing a crime (like in "Minority Report") and private interests sell our brain data -- and makes the case for a right to cognitive liberty that protects our freedom of thought and self-determination.

Play

13:00

TED@BCG Toronto

Amy Herman: A lesson on looking

2018-10-03714,745 views

Readability: 4.1

---

Are you looking closely? Visual educator Amy Herman explains how to use art to enhance your powers of perception and find connections where they may not be apparent. Learn the techniques Herman uses to train Navy SEALs, doctors and crime scene investigators to convert observable details into actionable knowledge with this insightful talk.

Play