Fact: TED Talks are one of the best inventions of the modern eras.
Okay, so while I can’t prove the above statement to be true or false, you have to admit that TED Talks are pretty great. Whether you watch them online or listen to them as a podcast, TED Talks are full of important information that affects all of us. Whether you want to improve your career or just learn about the world, there’s a TED Talk for you. Here are our picks for the best TED Talks:
“Lessons from Restaurants on Engaging Your Team”
Who hasn’t had a crappy restaurant job at one point in their lives? Gabriel Stulman’s talk will convince you not only that that job was worth it, but the lessons you learned along the way will benefit you for the rest of your career. Team-building is an important skill, and with all of the cooks in the kitchen, waitresses on the floor, and management behind the scenes, working at a restaurant is a perfect example of how to work with a team and keep them engaged in their day-to-day operations.
“Plus-size? More Like My Size”
Who doesn’t love Ashley Graham? Aside from being an international model who has appeared in Vogue, Glamour, Elle, and more – she’s also a body positivity activist famous from her “Plus is Equal” campaign with Lane Bryant. In her talk, she discusses how choosing to love yourself is a choice worth making, and that no matter what clothing size you are, you deserve to be loved exactly as you are. The entire TED Talk is another reason to love Ashley Graham (more than we already do)!
“Your Elusive Creative Genius”
Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love , has one of the most watched TED Talks of all time – and rightfully so. Her talk focuses on how you can take your personal experiences and use them to tell a truth about the universe, but it’s also about the importance of showing up and putting in the work. If you ever need motivation to get through the rest of the work week – listen to this talk. Getting advice to “just do your job” never sounded so inspiring.
“How I Beat Stage Fright”
One of the more non-traditional TED Talks, musician and graphic designer Joe Kowan incorporates his unique musical style into his talk (complete with a ukulele). Though it might not seem like it upon an initial viewing, Kowan struggles with stage fright despite having performed for years. In his talk, he walks the audience through his strategies to combat stage fright in both speech and song. Not to spoil it – but his main strategy is to embrace and exploit his problem so he can better his performance. Even if you don’t have stage fright, you can use his strategy to tackle all sorts of problems you come across in life.
“Happiness in Body and Soul”
The infamous creator of The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler, discusses how she created her work and what inspired her to do so. Most importantly, however, she talks about how it led her to discover and embrace happiness. Not just sexually, but throughout her travels around the world, Ensler discovered the joy found in smaller instances like eating ice cream and learning from other individuals across the globe. It’s a heartwarming talk with a lot of heartwarming life lessons involved.
