Insightful talks that offer fresh, thoughtful perspectives on Black identity.

Powerful, personal stories of sharing one's true identity with the world.

How do you find yourself when you belong to two seemingly opposing cultures? Embracing the paradoxes of dual identity, creative disruptor Farhad Mohit explores how being both Iranian and American allows him to navigate the tension between independence and interdependence, progress and presence — and to live fully in the here and now.

Builder Yohei Nakajima shares his experience designing BabyAGI, an open-source autonomous AI tool, exploring the evolution of identity, collective consciousness and the limitations of language in the age of artificial intelligence. "AI isn't just reshaping our tools, but our very understanding of ourselves," he says.

Our memories and bodies give us clues about who we are, but what happens when this guidance shifts? In this mind-bending talk, science writer Anil Ananthaswamy shares how the experiences of "altered selves" -- resulting from schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, foreign limb syndrome or other conditions -- shed light on the constructed nature of identity....

One night in 2002, a friend gave Jorge Drexler the chorus to a song and challenged him to write the rest of it using a complex, poetic form known as the "Décima." In this fascinating talk, Drexler examines the blended nature of identity, weaving together the history of the Décima with his own quest to write one. He closes the talk with a perform...

WorkLife with Adam Grant Tuesday, April 27, 2021 Adam Grant: [00:00:00] Hey WorkLifers it's Adam Grant. I hope you're enjoying season four today. I want to share a special bonus conversation with Glennon Doyle. She made an appearance in our episode on conflict. She's a writer and activist well known for her wisdom and openness about her struggle...

These speakers sport impressive moustaches. Watch in honor of Movember, the month in which men let their ‘staches grow wild to raise money for men’s health causes.

How can we move past society's inclination to box people in with binary thinking and labels? Social work professor Jioji Ravulo believes we need to embrace multiplicity, exploring how Indigenous perspectives can help create more welcoming, collective communities for everyone.

When tech journalist Madhumita Murgia began researching data brokers -- companies that collect and sell individuals' personal data -- she wasn't remotely prepared for the deep, dark rabbit hole she was about to descend into. Online anonymity is dead, your smart TV is spying on you, and private companies know what Star Wars memorabilia you're loo...

Have you ever been forced to limit your identity to a single box on an application, survey or census questionnaire? For many, it is a futile and overall outdated exercise, especially for those with multiracial and multi-ethnic backgrounds. Olivia Vinckier makes the case for recognizing and accepting, rather than limiting, the growing reality tha...

Bartenders need to know your age, retailers need your PIN, but almost no one actually needs your name -- except for identity thieves. ID expert David Birch proposes a safer approach to personal identification -- a "fractured" approach -- that would almost never require your real name.

Kristie Overstreet is on a mission to ensure that the transgender community gets their health care needs met. In this informative, myth-busting talk, she provides a primer for understanding gender identity and invites us to shift how we view transgender health care -- so that everyone gets the respect and dignity they deserve when they go to a d...

Author and activist Glennon Doyle used to say "I am a Christian. I am straight. I am an addict." Now she simply says "I am." In this episode, Doyle sits down with Adam to discuss letting go of past identities — and rethinking the idea of identity as a whole. They explore insights from Doyle's bestselling book, Untamed, on dealing with unpleasant...

These essential talks delve into the intricacies of feminism, examining everyday realities in the pursuit of equality.

Even after writing eleven books and winning several awards, Maya Angelou couldn't escape the doubt that she hadn't earned her accomplishments. This feeling of fraudulence is extremely common. Why can't so many of us shake feelings that our ideas and skills aren't worthy of others' attention? Elizabeth Cox describes the psychology behind the impo...

In "Bad Feminist," her 2014 book of essays, Roxane Gay laid out a wise, funny and deeply empathetic vision of modern feminism, acceptance and identity -- flaws and all.

Hollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representation of different cultures in media -- and a shift in how we tell our stories. "Presence creates possibility," she says. "Who we see thriving in the wo...

Where do you draw the line between work and life? Writer Simone Stolzoff explores the problem with defining yourself by your job — and shows what it takes to reclaim your time and sense of meaning beyond the office.

In her writings, Taiye Selasi explores our relationship to our multiple identities.

Dictionaries and grammar "rules" don't have the final word on language -- and believing they do can harm more than help, especially for the trans community. Sociolinguist Archie Crowley deconstructs three common myths around language, demonstrating how it's a fluid system that naturally evolves in the direction of inclusion.

These speakers embrace and express who they are, what they stand for, and by living their truth invite you to do the same.

Ever since middle school, people have asked Thomas Lloyd the same question repeatedly. "If I had a dime for every time I was asked, 'Why am I so gay?' I could probably pay for one credit at Georgetown." In this humorous talk, Lloyd explores the intricacies of social "covering" as a gay man, finding community and the importance of identity owners...

How do we decide who we are? Hetain Patel's surprising performance plays with identity, language and accent -- and challenges you to think deeper than surface appearances. A delightful meditation on self, with performer Yuyu Rau, and inspired by Bruce Lee.

Titus Kaphar's artworks interact with the history of art by appropriating its styles and mediums.

Cheyenne Cochrane is an ambassador for the natural hair movement.

In a world where so many are unable to do so, these courageous talks highlight the importance of speaking out against abuse, whether it's emotional, physical, sexual or online.

For a long time, Amrou Al-Kadhi struggled to negotiate the intersections between their queer and Islamic heritage. These identities felt completely polarized, as if their identity were founded on a tectonic fault at constant risk of rupture. Yet, it was the unlikely world of quantum physics that allowed Al-Kadhi to find the magic of contradictio...

With tart humor, Hayley Yeates makes the case that investing in cultural diversity is just as important as fostering gender diversity.

In his poem "The Coming Out Beauty," Muslim Sahib invites us along on his journey of self-love and self-acceptance, weaving together elements of culture, family, beauty and queerness. He compels the audience to proclaim "I am beautiful," encouraging them to celebrate self-love. In his second piece, "419 sq ft," he explores the experience of clai...