# Which is your favorite Ted Talk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853 "2013-01-30T23:50:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/1 "2013-01-30T23:50:42Z")
For those of you not familiar, I highly recommend a visit to [Ted.com](http://Ted.com) for entertainment and information about what’s new in technology and culture, and what may be new in another 29 or 30 years. Ted is a non-profit that has sponsored lectures and presentations on literally thousands of subjects since it’s start in 1984. Most of them are collected and available for free on their website. And one of the best things about them is their brevity – virtually all of them are 20 minutes or less. It works for me – they always leave me wanting more. FYI, there are probably a couple hundred of them packaged up in related lectured on Netflix Streaming. It’s very hard for me to pick a favorite as I’ve seen hundreds, but my most recent viewing prompted this thread. [Mary Roach delivers the lecture “10 things you didn’t know about orgasm”](http://www.ted.com/talks/mary_roach_10_things_you_didn_t_know_about_orgasm.html), nothing particularly profound or deep, but tremendous fun nevertheless. She provides us with difficult to find information about how far men can shoot sperm, and how best to sexually stimulate sows (it turn out a satisfied sow produces more piglets than an unsatisfied one!). Another FYI, this one was bundled with a bunch of other fun lectures about sex on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/2 "2013-01-31T00:07:59Z")
[The moral roots of liberals and conservatives](http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html) There are other good ones, but I remember that one. Also [Hans Rosling: New insights on poverty](http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty.html) [http://www.ted.com/talks/hans\_rosling\_at\_state.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_at_state.html) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/3 "2013-01-31T00:09:15Z")
[Filmmaker Andrew Stanton from Pixar tells us what makes a good story.](http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_stanton_the_clues_to_a_great_story.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/4 "2013-01-31T00:15:26Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > [The moral roots of liberals and conservatives](http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html) > > There are other good ones, but I remember that one. > > Also [Hans Rosling: New insights on poverty](http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty.html) > > [http://www.ted.com/talks/hans\_rosling\_at\_state.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_at_state.html) I will watch the first, but I’ve already seen and greatly enjoyed Hans Rosling’s talk. And we’ve also had more than one thread about his [Gapminder](http://www.gapminder.org/) website, which turns demographic date into dynamic and revealing … stories about history, really. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/5 "2013-01-31T00:27:18Z")
Since Rosling was already taken… [David Pogue: Simplicity sells](http://www.ted.com/talks/david_pogue_says_simplicity_sells.html) [David Christian: The history of our world in 18 minutes](http://www.ted.com/talks/david_christian_big_history.html) [Rob Reid: The $8 billion iPod](http://www.ted.com/talks/rob_reid_the_8_billion_ipod.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/6 "2013-01-31T00:40:26Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Since Rosling was already taken… > … > [Rob Reid: The $8 billion iPod](http://www.ted.com/talks/rob_reid_the_8_billion_ipod.html) I’ve seen this one too – great fun with Music Piracy Math! ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/7 "2013-01-31T00:44:49Z")
Sarah Kay - Spoken word poetry, it’s brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/8 "2013-01-31T00:59:41Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > [Filmmaker Andrew Stanton from Pixar tells us what makes a good story.](http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_stanton_the_clues_to_a_great_story.html) Too funny. 😃 [I used his opening joke in a thread just a few days ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15926476&postcount=22). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/9 "2013-01-31T01:37:41Z")
[All things are moleeds,](http://www.ted.com/talks/charles_fleischer_insists_all_things_are_moleeds.html) by Charles Fleischer. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/10 "2013-01-31T02:19:15Z")
[Peter van Uhm: Why I chose a gun](http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_van_uhm_why_i_chose_a_gun.html) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/11 "2013-01-31T03:15:46Z")
[Ze Frank: connecting to people](http://www.zefrank.com/ted/2010.html) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/12 "2013-02-02T06:20:02Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > [Ze Frank: connecting to people](http://www.zefrank.com/ted/2010.html) While I have never been a fan of Ze Frank or his type of music (just not my thing), I am a huge fan of him as a person and the message he spreads with his time. Thank you for posting this, it made me smile tonight 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/13 "2013-02-02T06:52:02Z")
Sir Ken Robinson, Both of his talks are among my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/14 "2013-02-02T08:28:19Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > [The moral roots of liberals and conservatives](http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html) I haven’t watched his talk, but I did recently read Jonathan Heidt’s book on the subject, The Righteous Mind, and recommend it. He also has a website, [http://www.yourmorals.org](http://www.yourmorals.org). My favorite TED Talk is Chimamanda Adichie’s [The Danger of a Single Story](http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html). ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/15 "2013-02-02T11:29:14Z")
The TED talk that I remember the most vividly is [this one by Hans Rosling](http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html?utm_expid=166907-16&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ca%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dted%2520talks%2520hans%2520rosling%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CDMQFjAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ted.com%252Ftalks%252Fhans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html%26ei%3DDPgMUbCLIIKpiALSjYGgCA%26usg%3DAFQjCNEYh0dZMpohAYvMd7ZSxqTMNOh1fA%26bvm%3Dbv.41867550%2Cd.cGE). Hard to believe it’s from 2006 - it might have even been the first TED talk I ever saw. I’m a medicine and biology geek, so one of my other favorites is by Catherine Mohr: “[Surgery’s past, present and robotic future](http://www.ted.com/talks/catherine_mohr_surgery_s_past_present_and_robotic_future.html)” Has anyone else seen the “Onion Talks” video series that satirizes TED? As much as I like TED, I have to admit that the Onion does a fantastic job of mocking some of the more common quirks and styles of TED talks. My favorite Onion Talks videos are “[Ducks Go Quack, Chickens Say Cluck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tom6_ceTu9s&list=SP4NL9i-Fu15hhYGB-d0hmSWD1fcIvLvn1&index=4)” and “[What Is The Biggest Rock?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO0TUI9r-So&list=SP4NL9i-Fu15hhYGB-d0hmSWD1fcIvLvn1&index=5)” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/16 "2013-02-02T23:27:27Z")
I want to thank you all for these links. I’ve watched every one of them that I haven’t already seen, and they are all very enjoyable and informative. I hope people contribute some more. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/17 "2013-02-03T00:16:15Z")
[Stroke of Insight](http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html?quote=270) _Brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor studied her own stroke as it happened – and has become a powerful voice for brain recovery._ I haven’t seen it for awhile but I’m going to watch again. I often work with stroke patients and find this fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/18 "2013-02-03T20:43:43Z")
Like yourself I’ve watched hundreds, but here are a few of my latest favourites for you; a fairly random selection of inspirational, architectural and techy talks that I found interesting. Caroline Casey - looking past limits [http://www.ted.com/talks/caroline\_casey\_looking\_past\_limits.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/caroline_casey_looking_past_limits.html) What we learned from 5 million books [http://www.ted.com/talks/what\_we\_learned\_from\_5\_million\_books.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/what_we_learned_from_5_million_books.html) Neil Harbisson - I listen to colour [http://www.ted.com/talks/neil\_harbisson\_i\_listen\_to\_color.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_harbisson_i_listen_to_color.html) Doris Kim Sung - Metal that breathes [http://www.ted.com/talks/doris\_kim\_sung\_metal\_that\_breathes.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/doris_kim_sung_metal_that_breathes.html) Roger McNamee - 6 ways to save the Internet [http://www.ted.com/talks/roger\_mcnamee\_six\_ways\_to\_save\_the\_internet.html](http://www.ted.com/talks/roger_mcnamee_six_ways_to_save_the_internet.html) Sorry, I’m posting from my phone and haven’t quite worked out how to link directly. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/19 "2013-02-07T08:59:18Z")
> [@Captain\_C](#): > > While I have never been a fan of Ze Frank or his type of music (just not my thing), I am a huge fan of him as a person and the message he spreads with his time. Thank you for posting this, it made me smile tonight 🙂 Ze kinda does that to people. He could be the most powerful man on earth, if power worked that way. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853/20 "2013-02-07T10:57:56Z")
I liked [A Darwinian Theory of Beauty](http://www.ted.com/talks/denis_dutton_a_darwinian_theory_of_beauty.html). It takes an evolutionary perspective into why we find things beautiful (art and jewely and so on, not certain people). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-your-favorite-ted-talk/648853.md?page=2)