Week 2 choices were inspired by the 2015 TED recap The Year in Ideas.

Why Public Beheadings Get Millions of Views
Frances Larson
TED Global London, June 2015
The sense of anonymity and detachment cultivated by the internet buffer our empathy for those being murdered. In our watching, we become part of the theatre of evil and those performing the acts achieve their goal. How can I use this awareness to cultivate empathy, personal connection, and peacemaking?

The Price of Shame
Monica Lewinsky
TED 2015 Vancouver, March 2015
A thoughtful and moving discussion of the evolution of public shaming, especially the cost of cyber bullying. Ends with a word of hope and call to action to be an empathetic, encouraging, and peacemaking presence online.

This app knows how you feel – from the look on your face
Rana el Kaliouby
TED Women 2015, May 2015
A creative solution to the reality that technology often separates us. I was especially inspired by how many different people will benefit from this technology and the brave choice of the creators to share their work for the common good.

The Enchanting Music of Sign Language
Christine Sun Kim
TED Fellows Retreat 2015, August 2015
As a hearing person I had never considered the “commodity of sound”. How can I be more aware of those who have no voice and be an ally in them claiming and sharing their voices?

What Really Matters at the End of Life
BJ Miller
TED 2015, March 2015
A generous, vulnerable, and beautiful discussion about the little changes which make a huge difference in the experience of medical care and palliative care. “As long as we have our senses, even just one, we have at least the possibility of accessing what makes us feel human, connected.”

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I’m trying an experiment in 2016. Maybe you’d like to try it with me.

Here’s where I am
I’m tired of the spin. I’m tired of ideas, news, and entertainment really being one long sales pitch for profit or power.

I’m longing for creativity, curiosity, and inspiration. I’m in search of passionate people willing to speak to the truth and complexity of living with a heart of hope. I want to hear from authentic humans who are in the trenches working for the greater good.

I think I’ve found them in the TED community.

“TED is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. On TED.com, we’re building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world’s most inspired thinkers — and a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other, both online and at TED and TEDx events around the world, all year long.”

TED’s been around for 30 years. I’ve heard about them and even watched a couple of talks, but I’ve never spent any concentrated time mining the good stuff. So….

Here’s the plan
Watch 5 enthusiastic, inspiring TED Talk presenters a week for a year.
Apply and share the goodness.