5 TED Talks You Must See

Brené Brown has written several books that delve into the self, and how we can live happier, more satisfying lives by simply changing our perspectives.  In this short talk, Brown opens up about some of her most self-conscious moments while leading the audience into an exploration of the benefits of vulnerability.  She explains what it means to be loved, and the keys to empathy.  This is an impactful watch for anyone, but particularly for couples to maximize relationship conversations and understanding. Watch the video here.

Oh wait, you’ve heard the story of David and Goliath before?  Not this one.  The biblical story is often referenced by sport teams taking on bigger, stronger, better teams as a means of motivation; but Gladwell places a very well-thought-out explanation as to why that’s not what the story is about.  Gladwell gives various reasons explaining why David was bound to defeat Goliath, not by some lucky shot, but by years of preparation and details that we always seem to overlook when reading the story.  This is a fun talk about how perception and knowledge can change the way we motivate ourselves. Watch the video here.

Simon Sinek effectively recaps his book “Start with Why” in this TED Talk by using game-changing companies such as Apple, revolutionary inventors such as the Wright Brothers, and inspirational figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. to illustrate his argument that the “why” of what you do is the most important thing you can determine whether you’re building a business, changing the world in travel, or fighting for equality.  His visuals in this talk sum it up so well that it’s worth the watch for that alone. Watch the video here.

David Blaine is one of the most successful street magicians in history but his most famous “tricks” are less about illusion, and more about the hidden abilities of humans.  He spent 2 ½ days in an ice block on display for tens of thousands of New Yorkers in Times Square.  Another stunt, he was suspended above taunting “fans” for 44 days when he ate no food and drank only 4.5 liters of water per day.  In this TED Talk, Blaine describes how he has prepared for such stunts and what his exercises were in preparation for holding his breath for a world record setting 17 minutes.  He also explains why he believes we, as humans, are capable of so much more than we often give ourselves credit for. Watch the video here.

On a lighter note, James Veitch strangely obsesses over replying to email spammers.  In under ten minutes Veitch has the audience cracking up via his hilarious email interaction with a spammer who has nefarious intentions.  The story rounds out to a subtle yet inspirational conclusion as to “why” (reference Simon Sinek for that part) he finds so much enjoyment in responding to these emails.  And it’s more than just receiving an email that says: “I am trying to raise the balance for the Gummy Bear so he can submit all the needed Fizzy Cola Bottle Jelly Beans to the Cream Egg for the Peanut M&Ms process to start.” Watch the video here.