Special Collections:
Culture and Consciousness
Tim Wu, the scholar who coined "net neutrality," examines how big tech platforms have reshaped our economy. In his latest book, *The Age of Extraction*, Wu argues that the internet, once seen as a source of widespread wealth and democracy, has instead created new economic classes and fostered autocracy. He proposes solutions to harness technology for the greater good and build a more balanced economy.
Join Tim Wu, author of *The Age of Extraction*, and journalist Laura Sydell on November 10, 2025, to discuss reclaiming economic control. This program is supported by the Ken & Jaclyn Broad Family Fund and partnered with the Center for Humane Technology.
Author Carl Safina presented his book, "Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel," at Talks at Google on September 18, 2015.
Hailed by Discover magazine, Safina's book draws from decades of observing elephants, wolves, and killer whales. He explores the astonishing similarities between animal and human minds, highlighting capacities for self-awareness, empathy, and grief, while also examining what makes us human.
For more information, visit carlsafina.org.
TED head Chris Anderson introduces "Infectious Generosity," exploring how the internet can supercharge small acts of kindness, transforming lives globally. Discover how to cultivate a generous mindset, with or without money, and amplify your impact. Anderson encourages: "Be brave. Give what you can, and then be absolutely amazed at what happens next."
Learn more about Infectious Generosity at infectiousgenerosity.org and meet the AI Guru, designed to help you help others, at ai.infectiousgenerosity.org.
Support TED's mission of spreading ideas by becoming a TED Member here.
Courage and love fuel our commitment to a sustainable world. Through individual and executive actions, we can shape the future, igniting passion and creativity to address climate challenges.
Let's step into a hopeful tomorrow together.
We recently discussed the concept of giving "nature" a seat on corporate boards, a theme now gaining significant attention. This initiative emphasizes climate action, indigenous voices, sustainability, and environmental justice, representing a crucial shift towards cultural change.
View the full conversation here.
Neil Theise, a professor, Zen Buddhist, and author of Notes on Complexity, delivered a thought-provoking keynote at SustainableBrands. His work bridges empirical science, philosophy, and metaphysics to view the universe as a vast, self-organizing system.
We invited him to our "Living Between Worlds" conversation to explore these ideas' implications for sustainability and regeneration. View the discussion and share what shifted for you.
Join our next monthly conversation every third Wednesday, 12:00-1:30 pm PT. Register here.
This re-aired podcast episode features Pippa Norris, a Harvard political scientist. Her 2019 book, "Cultural Backlash: Trump, Brexit and Authoritarian Populism," offers a key explanation for the far right's rise, remaining highly relevant today.
The discussion explores the "silent revolution in cultural values" across advanced democracies, the "transgressive aesthetic" of leaders like Trump and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, and how economic anxiety fuels right-wing backlashes.
Our brains are wired for the familiar, but changing this wiring can transform your life. Neuroscientist Nicole Vignola explains how deeply rooted beliefs, often shaped by upbringing and natural biases like negativity and confirmation, can limit our potential and keep us trapped in old thought patterns.
However, our brains are capable of change at any age. By practicing metacognition—observing our thoughts—and challenging automatic beliefs, we can rewire our perceptions and create empowering new narratives. This approach helps us break free, fostering a mindset for human optimization, health, and peak performance. Read more from Nicole Vignola here.
Chris Anderson, bestselling author and TED curator for over two decades, discusses his book, *Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading*. The book explores humanity's overlooked impulse for generosity, showing how to amplify its potential to build a hopeful future. It encourages harnessing the internet to unite people, offering inspiring stories, psychological research, and practical guidance.
Anderson has overseen TED's transformation into a global nonprofit, sharing "ideas worth spreading" with billions annually. Get the book: https://goo.gle/42oyukJ. Check out TED: https://www.youtube.com/@TED.
Edward Burtynsky and Marta Braun engaged in a conversation titled "NATURAL ORDER" on September 15, 2020.
Held at the Nicholas Metivier Gallery in Toronto, ON, they discussed Burtynsky's latest work, "Natural Order," and his art historical inspirations. Braun is a program director at Ryerson University School of Image Arts.
On October 18, Dr. Sharon Blackie explored stories, myths, and archetypes, illustrating the transformative power of inner inquiry to shift the collective mindset. The interactive session emphasized how solitude and nature deepen our sense of kinship, concluding with a challenge to consider foundational shifts for metamorphosis.
Dr. Blackie is an award-winning writer, psychologist, and mythologist, focusing on reimagining women's stories and the relevance of myths today. Learn more about her work: sharonblackie.net. Karen Doyle Grossman, Executive Director for the Garrison Institute, previously founded MicroMentor, the world's largest community of entrepreneurs and mentors: micromentor.org.
Called "the voice of the resistance" by The New York Times, writer and activist Rebecca Solnit discussed her view that the future hinges on present action to counter institutional inertia and fossil fuel interests. She emphasized moving from climate despair to possibility, drawing from her book *Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility*.
Solnit was joined by co-editor and climate activist Thelma Young Lutunatabua and native Fijian Fenton Lutunatabua (participating virtually). Together, they called on the audience to embrace indigenous wisdom and new stories to rise to the moment. This event was presented in association with Bioneers 2023 on March 22, 2023.
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Announcing the Anniversary Edition of Fred L. Miller's "How to Calm Down Even if You're Absolutely, Totally Nuts." The title reflects today's increasing difficulty in finding calm. Miller, an author and teacher, developed his methods after 25 years in demanding television production and advertising, experiences that nearly drove him "nuts."
Read the first chapter here or purchase the book on Amazon here.
In February 2012, Eckhart Tolle participated in a Google fireside chat with Bradley Horowitz, discussing "Living with Meaning, Purpose and Wisdom in the Digital Age."
Tolle's profound yet simple teachings have helped countless individuals globally achieve inner peace. He focuses on the power of Presence—an awakened consciousness that transcends ego and discursive thinking—seeing it as the essential next step in human evolution.
Explore his work further at eckharttolle.com.
Paul Slovic examines "psychic numbing," our tendency to ignore mass tragedies despite valuing individual lives. He explains that as numbers grow, we become desensitized, failing to act against catastrophic losses from poverty, disease, climate disasters, and violence. Understanding this cognitive bias is crucial for motivating effective responses.
Dr. Slovic, a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon and President of Decision Research (which he co-founded), is a leading expert in risk perception. His extensive work, including research on global threats, has earned him numerous accolades, such as election to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Moderated by Ozgen Dundar.
"Bright Green Lies: How The Environmental Movement Lost Its Way and What We Can Do About It" launches today! Join our live book launch event this evening at 5 PM Pacific (8 PM Eastern) via Facebook.
Order your copy from Max Wilbert, Derrick Jensen, or your local bookstore. You can also leave a review on Amazon and explore the forthcoming documentary film from Julia Barnes at brightgreenlies.com.
At TEDx Rainier in January 2012, Gideon Rosenblatt explored how companies can be "good for the soul." He discussed how businesses can benefit customers and employees while aligning their financial goals with the greater good.
Learn more about Gideon Rosenblatt and his work here.
In 1996, Sarah van Gelder and friends took a leap of faith, launching YES! Magazine from a garage. Sarah's motivation was to channel her creative skills into a publication offering hopeful news and positive actions, providing an antidote to the disempowering negativity prevalent in commercial media.
Two decades later, YES! Magazine has become an indispensable, hope-infusing read for a growing segment of progressive-minded individuals. With a run of 50,000 copies per issue, it empowers readers who seek alternatives to mainstream media's often depressive narratives.
University Senior Lecturer Tyson Yunkaporta, an Indigenous person and member of the Apalech Clan, explores how Aboriginal perspectives can provide the paradigm shift needed to address global challenges. From his unique viewpoint, deeply tied to the natural and spiritual world, he raises important questions about how contemporary life diverges from the pattern of creation.
As an academic, arts critic, and researcher specializing in Indigenous Knowledges at Deakin University, Yunkaporta suggests that traditional wisdom offers crucial insights. His work demonstrates how Indigenous thinking can contribute to "saving the world" by fostering a more sustainable and connected future.
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The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection
The inside story of the AI breakthrough that won a Nobel Prize.
The Thinking Game takes you on a journey into the heart of leading AI lab DeepMind, capturing a team striving to unravel the mysteries of intelligence and life itself.
Filmed over five years by the award-winning team behind AlphaGo, the documentary examines how DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis’s extraordinary beginnings shaped his lifelong pursuit of artificial general intelligence. It chronicles the rigorous process of scientific discovery, documenting how the team moved from mastering complex strategy games to solving the 50-year-old "protein folding problem" with AlphaFold - a breakthrough that would win a Nobel Prize.
Following its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival and a successful international tour, the film is now available here to watch for free.
Interested in hosting a screening of The Thinking Game for your classroom, community, or workplace? Visit: https://rocofilms.com/films/the-thinking-game/
Director Greg Kohs
Producer Gary Krieg
Executive Producers Tom Dore, Jonathan Fildes
Co-Producer Greg Kohs
Editor Steve Sander
Cinematographer Greg Kohs
Composer Dan Deacon






















