Podcast Review: TED Talks
September 25, 2008 by Greg
TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, but its scope is much broader than that. The heart of TED comes from not its acronym but its slogan, “Ideas worth spreading.” I find myself adhering to the motto and spreading ideas myself to friends and visitors. Sharing both messages I identify with as well as messages that were new to me, it is truly an agent for change.
The podcasts offers a few segments per week in 20 minute or less video clips (and audio I guess if you’re into that). The best part though is that all the podcast archives are available to download, not just the last dozen.
Two of my recent favorites are:
- Jonathan Haidt: The real difference between liberals and conservatives
- Ann Cooper talks school lunches
Any readers also avid TEDsters? What are your favorite TED talks?
I am an avid TED junkie. If I could afford it, I’d go every year.
Favorites: (as in anything by:)
Al Gore
Hans Riesling
Stephen Pinker
Thomas P.M. Barnett (I even bought 2 of his books)
There’s a “poor mans” TED which features a lot of the same people giving similar and different talks called POPtech which you’ll no doubt enjoy as well.
-bp
TED is great.
In my favorite talk, Hans Rosling demonstrates poverty statistics using his Trendalyzer software. As an added bonus, he finishes by swallowing a sword.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty.html
As an added-added bonus, the software was made available for public use for free a year or so ago. I think google sponsored it…
as a bonus to the bonus - Hans has a couple of video blogs too. Sadly, he really didnt keep up on doing them with any regularity.
http://roslingsblogger.blogspot.com/
I’m sure he has better things to do, so I dont hold it against him.