In a world of too many options and too little time, our obvious choice is to just ignore the ordinary stuff. When it comes to getting our attention, bad or bizarre ideas are more successful than boring ones.
Category Archives: TedTalks
Ted Talk Wednesday: Life Lessons Through Tinkering
We have an inspiring Ted Talk for you today. Gever Tulley uses engaging photos and footage to demonstrate the valuable lessons kids learn at his Tinkering School. When given tools, materials and guidance, these young imaginations run wild and creative problem-solving takes over to build unique boats, bridges and even a roller coaster! It’s a short, but great talk.
How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas
Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It’s because when your body goes on autopilot, your brain gets busy forming new neural connections that connect ideas and solve problems. Learn to love being bored as Manoush Zomorodi explains the connection between spacing out and creativity.
The cost of work stress and how to reduce it.
Work-related stress drains our economy and hurts productivity and personal health. In this new Ted Talk Rob Cooke shares some strategies to help put your mental, physical and emotional well-being back at the forefront.
How craving attention makes you less creative
In a refreshingly honest Ted talk, Joseph Gordon-Levitt explores how the attention-driven model of big tech companies impacts our creativity and shares a more powerful feeling than getting attention: paying attention.
Finding the story inside the painting
When Tracy Chevalier looks at paintings, she imagines stories behind them. In this Ted Talk she shares stories inspired by portraits, including the one that led to her best-selling novel “Girl With a Pearl Earring.
Impossible photography
Erik Johansson creates realistic photos of impossible scenes and aims to capture ideas, not moments. In this witty how-to, the Photoshop wizard describes the principles he uses to make these fantastical scenarios come to life, while keeping them visually plausible.
A mother and son’s photographic journey through dementia
Artist Tony Luciani was testing out a new camera when his 91-year-old mother, Elia, snuck into the background of his photos. In this touching ted talk, he shares the stories behind some of their favorite shots, capturing the joy and grief of caring for an aging parent.
Without farmers, you’d be hungry, naked and sober
Farmers keep us fed and our economies stable, but they are retiring faster than they’re being replaced. Take a crash course in agricultural policy with Eric Sannerud to see why this problem can’t be solved by simply buying from your local farmer’s market and learn how you can create a better future for farmers.
The brain-changing benefits of exercise
What’s the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki says it’s exercise. Watch this Ted Talk to get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory — and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.