Talks at Google

Author Harry Parker visits Google to discuss his book "Hybrid Humans: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Man and Machine". This book is a gripping, eye-opening firsthand account of how technology is altering our understanding of what it means to be human. Harry Parker's life changed overnight when he lost his legs to a bomb in Afghanistan. He now wears prosthetic legs from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to bed, reliant on them to move about the world. The tech he relies on is now so advanced it can seem as good, if not better, than human biology. But the benefits and freedom it gives him come with costs: the cost of pain, of damage to his body, of being stared at and being seen as other, of anxiety and dependence. In "Hybrid Humans", Parker takes us on a journey at the frontiers of man and machine, meeting those pushing the limits of our bodies and brains—the former soldiers having cutting-edge osseointegration, the very first DIY cyborgs and biohackers tinkering in garages, and the scientists, surgeons, artists, and disabled pioneers developing the latest robotics and implants. Grappling with his own new identity and disability along the way, Parker traces how new technologies might lead us to powerful, liberating possibilities for what a body can be—and how to be human is to be hybrid. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

What is it about Star Trek that has proved so durable - not to say indestructible? Over half a century after its unpromising beginnings, how and why has Star Trek expanded and captured the imaginations and hearts of so many adherents, many of whom have gone onto distinguished careers in space exploration, working for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Nasa, SpaceX, and Blue Origin? In 1981, Nicholas Meyer was something less than a true believer when he was asked to direct the troubled second Star Trek film, The Wrath of Khan. Already a bestselling author and successful director, he had never been a fan of the TV series. But as he began to ponder the appeal of Kirk & Spock's adventures, he realized that their story was a classical nautical tale transplanted into space - armed with that insight, he set out on his mission: to revitalize Star Trek. Originally published in April of 2019. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Most of us eat three meals a day, plus a smattering of snacks, because we think that's the normal, healthy way to eat. Mark Mattson's book, "The Intermittent Fasting Revolution," argues why that's not the case. The human body and brain evolved to function well in environments where food could be obtained only intermittently. When we look at the eating patterns of our distant ancestors, we can see that periods of fasting are normal—and eating three meals a day is not. In "The Intermittent Fasting Revolution", prominent neuroscientist Mark Mattson shows that intermittent fasting is not only normal but also good for us; it can enhance our ability to cope with stress by making cells more resilient. It also improves mental and physical performance and protects against aging and disease. Intermittent fasting is not the latest fad diet; it doesn't dictate food choice or quantity. It doesn't make money for the pharmaceutical, processed food, or health care industries. Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that includes frequent periods of time with little or negligible amounts of food. It is often accompanied by weight loss, but, Mattson says, studies show that its remarkably beneficial effects cannot be accounted for by weight loss alone. Mattson describes the specific ways that intermittent fasting slows aging; reduces the risk of diseases, including obesity, Alzheimer's, and diabetes; and improves both brain and body performance. Moderated by Sanders Kleinfeld. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Journalist Annie Jacobsen visits Google to discuss her book "The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top-Secret Military Research Agency". Ms. Jacobsen has written the first history of the Defense Department's most secret, most powerful, and most controversial military science research & development agency. She draws on inside sources, exclusive interviews, private documents, and declassified memos to paint a picture of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, from its Cold War inception in 1958 to the present. Annie Jacobsen is an investigative journalist and bestselling author who writes about war, weapons, U.S. national security and government secrecy. Her 2011 non-fiction bestseller, AREA 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base, has been published in five languages and is being made into an AMC scripted television series. Her 2014 non-fiction bestseller, OPERATION PAPERCLIP: The Secret Intelligence Program That Brought Nazi Scientists to America, has been published in five languages and is being adapted for television. Originally published in October of 2015. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Fatima Al-Banawi visits Google to discuss her career and her project entitled The Other Story, a collection of real life stories and personal narratives from locals and visitors to her hometown of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These collections enter the social arena through storytelling to highlight our shared humanity and to record the eclectic voices of a specific place and time in history. Fatima Al-Banawi is an internationally acclaimed actress, filmmaker, and writer with a masters degree from Harvard university. She believes in the power of storytelling as a way to channel vulnerable and intimate conversations, which helped her to earn the title of the 2018 Next Generation Leader by Time Magazine. In 2016, she became internationally recognized for her debut in the award winning Saudi feature film, Barakah Meets Barakah, which helped pave the way for Saudi Arabian cinema. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of planethood. Far from the sun, tiny, and eccentric in orbit, it's a wonder Pluto has any fans. Yet during the mounting debate over Pluto's status, Americans rallied behind this extraterrestrial underdog. The year of Pluto's discovery, Disney created the iconic cartoon puppy by the same name, and, as one NASA scientist put it, Pluto was "discovered by an American for America." Pluto is entrenched in our cultural, patriotic view of the cosmos, and famed astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson is on a quest to discover why. Perhaps only Tyson can tell this story: he was involved in the first exhibits to demote Pluto, and consequently, Pluto lovers have freely shared their opinions with him, including endless hate mail from third graders. In his typically witty way, Tyson explores the history of planet classification and America's obsession with the "planet" that's recently been judged a dwarf. Originally published in February of 2009. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Dr. Myron Rolle visits Google to discuss his book "The 2% Way: How a Philosophy of Small Improvements Took Me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery". This book tells the story of his incredible journey, revealing how a strong work ethic, deep faith, and the family values instilled by his Bahamian immigrant parents set the stage for the transformative life philosophy that enabled him to overcome adversity, defy expectations, and create a life of meaning and purpose. Not long ago, Myron L. Rolle was a college football player recruited by the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He faced a kind of hyper-successful future that most children only dream about—especially a kid who had to fight stereotypes at every turn. But he had different dreams. He had trained his whole life to win big in both football and medicine. The sports world had difficulty understanding his intellect and the medical world had difficulty grasping his passion for neurosurgery and football. Both require a kind of diligence that borders on fanaticism. Now, as a Harvard neurosurgeon, Dr. Rolle is on the frontlines facing off against his latest opponent, COVID-19. We are clearly not going to eradicate the virus overnight, but if we use THE 2% WAY, we are certain to overcome this powerful adversary. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In her book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset—those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset—those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment. In her book, "Mindset", Dweck offers new insights into her now famous and broadly embraced concept. She introduces a phenomenon she calls false growth mindset and guides people toward adopting a deeper, truer growth mindset. She also expands the mindset concept beyond the individual, applying it to the cultures of groups and organizations. With the right mindset, you can motivate those you lead, teach, and love—to transform their lives and your own. Originally published in July of 2015. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Alan Murray visits Google to discuss his book "Tomorrow's Capitalist: My Search for the Soul of Business", a frontline report on the business revolution that is transforming much of the corporate world. "Tomorrow's Capitalist" reveals how corporate CEOs—the ultimate pragmatists—realized how critical it is that they confront the fundamental issues of our time: climate, diversity and inclusion, inequality, and workforce opportunity, in response to their employees and customers who are demanding corporate change. Narratives about the failures of capitalism, the greed of the 1% and the blindness of corporations to public need have made their mark and are driving change. These aren't the superficial cosmetic fixes that have generated cynicism in the past, but a revolution in the way corporations are imagined and run. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman visits Google to discuss his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow." In this Talk, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think - System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman exposes the extraordinary capabilities—and also the faults and biases—of fast thinking, and reveals the pervasive influence of intuitive impressions on our thoughts and behavior. Imagine things such as, the impact of loss aversion and overconfidence on corporate strategies; the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future; the challenges of properly framing risks at work and at home; the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning the next vacation—each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems work together to shape our judgments and decisions. Kahneman's book reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He offers practical and enlightening insights into how choices are made in both our business and our personal lives—and how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble. "Thinking, Fast and Slow" will transform the way you think about thinking. Originally published in November of 2011. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Annie Murphy Paul visits Google to discuss her book "The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain". The book discusses how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains—in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships. "Use your head" - that's what we tell ourselves when facing a tricky problem or a difficult project. But a growing body of research indicates that we've got it exactly backwards. What we need to do, says Annie Murphy Paul, is think outside the brain. Her book, "The Extended Mind," outlines the research behind this exciting new vision of human ability, exploring the findings of neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and psychologists, and examining the practices of educators, managers, and leaders who are already reaping the benefits of thinking outside the brain. "The Extended Mind" offers a dramatic new view of how our minds work, full of practical advice on how we can all think better. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

When Mark Pollock lost his sight at the age of twenty-two, he thought his life was over. The story of how he overcame the odds to rebuild his life and exceed his own wildest expectations has inspired people the world over. In his story, you will find what can't be taught in school: the true education that is garnered from what Mark calls 'the university of life'. Unbroken by blindness, Mark became an adventure athlete competing in ultra-endurance races across deserts, mountains, and the polar ice caps, ultimately becoming the first blind person to race to the South Pole. He won silver and bronze medals for rowing at the Commonwealth Games and set up a successful international motivational speaking business. In 2010, a fall from a second story window nearly killed him; Mark broke his back and the damage to his spinal cord left him paralysed. Now, he is on a new expedition, exploring the intersection where humans and technology collide on his mission to cure paralysis in our lifetime. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Matt Damon & Gary White visit Google to discuss their recent book "The Worth of Water: Our Story of Chasing Solutions to the World's Greatest Challenge". This is the incredible true story of two unlikely allies on a mission to end the global water crisis.. With humor and humility, Matt & Gary illuminate the challenges of launching a brand-new model with extremely high stakes: better health and greater prosperity for people all over the world. "The Worth of Water" invites us to become a part of this effort—to match hope with resources, to empower families and communities, and conqure the global water crisis for good. On any given morning, you might wake up and shower with water, make your coffee with water, flush your toilet with water—and think nothing of it. But around the world, more than three-quarters of a billion people can't do any of that—because they have no clean water source near their homes. 1.7 billion people don't even have access to a toilet. This crisis affects a third of all humans on the planet. It keeps kids out of schools and women out of work, trapping people in extreme poverty and spreading disease. It is also completely solvable. That conviction is what brought together movie actor Matt Damon and water expert and engineer Gary White. Over time, they and their organization, Water.org, have found an approach that works. Working with partners across East Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, they've helped over 40 million people access water and sanitation. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Nikola Tesla invented the radio, robots, and the remote control. His electric induction motors run our appliances and factories, and yet he has been often overlooked by history. In "Tesla: Inventor of the Modern", Richard Munson presents a comprehensive portrait of this farsighted and underappreciated mastermind. When Tesla's first breakthrough―alternating current, the basis of our electric grid―pitted him against Thomas Edison's direct-current empire, Tesla's superior technology prevailed. Unfortunately, he had little business sense and could not capitalize on this success. His most advanced ideas went unrecognized for decades: forty years in the case of the radio patent, longer still for his ideas on laser beam technology. Although penniless during his later years, he never stopped imagining. In the early 1900s, he designed plans for cell phones, the Internet, death-ray weapons, and interstellar communications. His ideas have lived on to shape the modern economy. So who was this genius? Drawing on letters, technical notebooks, and other primary sources, author Richard Munson pieces together the magnificently bizarre personal life and mental habits of the enigmatic inventor. Born during a lightning storm at midnight, Tesla died alone in a New York City hotel. He was an acute germaphobe who never shook hands and required nine napkins when he sat down to dinner. Strikingly handsome and impeccably dressed, he spoke eight languages and could recite entire books from memory. Yet Tesla's most famous inventions were not the product of fastidiousness or linear thought, but of a mind fueled by both the humanities and sciences: he conceived the induction motor while walking through a park and reciting Goethe's Faust. Tesla worked tirelessly to offer electric power to the world, to introduce automatons that would reduce life's drudgery, and to develop machines that might one day abolish war. His story is a reminder that technology can transcend the marketplace and that profit is not the only motivation for invention. Originally published in February of 2018. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Chef Tala Bashmi visits Google to discuss her successful culinary career and how she is bringing cuisine from the Gulf region to the forefront of the global food industry. Tala Bashmi started her culinary career by joining The Gulf Hotel Bahrain as a trainee and eventually working her way up the ranks. She studied at the Culinary Arts Academy in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she received her Masters of International Business in Culinary Management. Returning to the Middle East, she joined the cast of Top Chef, Middle East & North Africa, as a contestant, where she finished in the finals and showcased the modernized Bahraini cuisine that she would become famous for. Chef Tala then opened her inaugural restaurant Fusions by Tala in her home country of Bahrain, where she prides herself in her daring and willingness to experiment with a range of ingredients and techniques that come from different parts of the world. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Professor Richard D. Wolff visits Google to discuss the economic dimensions of our modern lives, our jobs, our incomes, and our debts in his unique mixture of deep insight and dry humor. He presents insights into current events and draws connections to the past to highlight the machinations of our global economy. He tries to help us to understand political and corporate policy, the organization of labor, the distribution of goods and services, and challenges us to question some of the deepest foundations of modern society. Professor Wolff argues that modern capitalism has spawned a deepening economic crisis alongside a captive political establishment. He argues that whether it is secure, well-paid, and meaningful jobs or a sustainable relationship with the natural environment that we depend on, our society is not delivering the results people need and deserve. He believes that this state of affairs is due to the lack of genuine democracy in our economy as well as in our politics. His proposed solution requires the creation of a genuine economic democracy, starting with workers managing their own workplaces, as the basis for a genuine political democracy. In this Talk, Professor Wolff lays out a hopeful and concrete vision of how to make that possible, addressing the many people who have concluded that economic inequality and politics as usual must be changed. Originally published in June of 2017. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

North African fashion designer Nadine Bejou visits Google to discuss her journey as an Arab woman entrepreneur navigating the fashion industry, and how patience, persistence, and a willingness to self-teach has helped her to find her authentic voice. Nadine is a North African fashion designer and entrepreneur based in Seattle, who has built her businesses from the ground up despite the challenges she has faced being a first generation Libyan-American. She runs several successful fashion ventures including IDINA Bride, a luxury bridal shop, and Nadia's Evening, a fully sustainable prom and eveningwear brand which can be found in over 20 locations in the US and Canada. Her latest project, Soraya, a modest luxury evening label, has already received favorable recognition in the evening luxury space. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Author Kyle Johnson visits Google to discuss his book "Inception and Philosophy" which draws insight from important philosophical minds from Plato to Aristotle, Decartes to Hume, to shed new light on the movie's captivating themes, including the one that everyone talks about: did the top ever fall down (and does it even matter)? In the world of Christopher Nolan's four-time Academy Award-winning movie Inception, people can share one another's dreams and alter their beliefs and thoughts. Inception is a metaphysical heist film that raises more questions than it answers: Can we know what is real? Can you be held morally responsible for what you do in dreams? What is the nature of dreams, and what do they tell us about the boundaries of the "self" and the "other"? Johnson's book further explores the movie's key questions and themes, including how we can tell if we're dreaming or awake, how to make sense of a paradox, and whether or not dream inception is possible. It also gives new insights into the nature of free will, time, dreams, and the unconscious mind. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Theoretical physicist Dr. Nicole Yunger Halpern visits Google to discuss her book "Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday's Tomorrow." Victorian era steam engines and particle physics may seem worlds apart, yet a new branch of science, quantum thermodynamics, re-envisions the scientific underpinnings of the Industrial Revolution through the lens of today's quantum information revolution. Classical thermodynamics, understood as the study of engines, energy, and efficiency, needs reimagining to take advantage of quantum mechanics, the basic framework that explores the nature of reality by peering at minute matter, down to the momentum of a single particle. In her new book, intrepid Harvard-trained physicist Dr. Nicole Yunger Halpern introduces these concepts to the uninitiated with what she calls "quantum steampunk," after the fantastical genre that pairs futuristic technologies with Victorian sensibilities. While readers follow the adventures of a rag-tag steampunk crew on trains, dirigibles, and automobiles, they explore questions such as, "Can quantum physics revolutionize engines?" and "What deeper secrets can quantum information reveal about the trajectory of time?" Yunger Halpern also describes her own adventures in the quantum universe and provides an insider's look at the work of the scientists obsessed with its technological promise. Moving from fundamental physics to cutting-edge experimental applications, "Quantum Steampunk" explores the field's aesthetic, shares its whimsy, and gazes into the potential of a quantum future. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Peter Kohler, founder of The Plastic Tide project, and Dr. Stefan Leutenegger, Lecturer in Robotics at the Imperial College London, visit Google to discuss how the ocean is under siege from an ever-increasing tide of waste, and how technology like machine learning and drones can help us fix the issue. Plastics are threatening not only a vital economic resource worth an estimated $5 trillion a year, but also humanity's very own life support. Oceanic plastic waste is growing by 8 million metric tonnes a year. If nothing is done, it is estimated that this figure will rise to 80 million metric tonnes a year by 2025. It consists of all sizes of plastics, with larger pieces taking at least 400 years to break down into fragments known as microplastics. These and other tiny pieces of plastic, like microbeads, accumulate into a toxic oceanic soup that recent estimates put at 15 to 50 trillion pieces. Solving this problem is becoming a major priority for scientists. But without further knowledge, it is impossible to identify trends, support legislation, monitor improvement, or develop strategies to reduce plastic pollution if we don't have evidence of when, where and how the plastics are distributed. That's why Peter Kohler founded The Plastic Tide initiative in 2015, with the aim of quantifying the problem using drone imagery of beaches in England & beyond. By raising awareness and generating precise data, Kohler is hoping to drive solutions at societal, political, and technological levels. He has already collected a huge database of drone imagery around British beaches, and a prototype algorithm he developed combines a deep-learning based plastic detection scheme in drone images with geo-referenced mapping. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

In celebration of Africa Week, Dipo Faloyin discusses his book "Africa Is Not A Country: Breaking Stereotypes of Modern Africa." This portrait of modern Africa pushes back against harmful stereotypes to tell a much more comprehensive story. In this funny and insightful book, Dipo offers a much-needed corrective to the simplistic stereotype of Africa as an arid landscape of famines and safaris, plagued by poverty and strife. He examines each country's colonial heritage, and explores a wide range of subjects, from chronicling urban life in Lagos and the lively West African rivalry over who makes the best Jollof rice, to the story of democracy in seven dictatorships and the dangers of stereotypes in popular culture. "Africa Is Not A Country" brings the story of the continent towards reality, celebrating the energy and fabric of its different cultures and communities in a way that has never been done before. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Physics professor Richard Wolfson discusses his book "Nuclear Choices for the 21st Century," which explains, clearly and accessibly, the basics of nuclear technology and describes the controversies surrounding its use. The book begins with scientific issues, covering the nature of the atom and its nucleus, nuclear radiation, and nuclear energy. It discusses nuclear power, the operation of nuclear power plants, nuclear accidents, nuclear waste, alternatives to nuclear energy, and considers nuclear weapons: strategies for use and non-use, controlling the spread of these weapons to other countries and terrorist groups, and the prevention of nuclear war. "Nuclear Choices for the Twenty-First Century" offers readers an authoritative and unbiased guide to difficult questions. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Professor Suzanne Simard visits Google to discuss her book "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest." Simard writes about how trees, living side by side for hundreds of years, have evolved, perceive one another, learn and adapt their behaviors, recognize neighbors, and remember the past. She also illustrates how they have agency about the future, elicit warnings and mount defenses, compete and cooperate with one another with sophistication, and possess other characteristics typically ascribed to human intelligence. Born and raised in the rainforests of British Columbia, Simard writes of her days as a child spent cataloging the forest trees and how she came to love and respect them. As she writes of her scientific quest, she tells of her own journey, making us understand how scientific inquiry exists beyond data and technology - that it is instead about us knowing who we are and our place in the world. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Licensed marriage and family therapist Laura Heck visits Google to give a Talk on Dr. John Gottman's "Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work." This talk outlines the Seven Principles that every couple can adopt in order to have a harmonious and long lasting relationship. "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" has revolutionized the way we understand, repair, and strengthen marriages. This unprecedented study of many couples over a period of years has allowed for the observation of the habits that can make—and break—a marriage. Straightforward yet profound, these principles teach partners new approaches for resolving conflicts, creating new common ground, and achieving greater levels of intimacy. It offers strategies and resources to help couples collaborate more effectively to resolve any problem, whether dealing with issues related to sex, money, religion, work, family, or anything else. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Accelerator physicist Dr. Suzie Sheehy visits Google to discuss her book "The Matter of Everything: Twelve Experiments that Changed Our World." Her book tells a hopeful story of human ingenuity, creativity and unending curiosity, and introduces us to the people who, through a combination of genius, persistence and luck, staged ground-breaking experiments that shaped the world as we know it. From the physicists who soared in hot air balloons on the trail of new particles, to the serendipitous discovery of X-rays in a German lab; and from the race to split open the atomic nucleus, to the quest to find the third generation of matter, Dr. Sheehy offers a reminder of the thrilling discoveries that have shaped our lives—often without us even knowing it. Radio, TV, the chips in our smartphones, MRI scanners, radar equipment and microwaves, to name a few: these were all made possible by our determination to understand, and control, our world. Moderated by Matt Bongiovi. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Talks at Google welcomes Dani Melia, producer of the hit film "The Farewell," and Abigail Hing Wen, author of the bestselling novel "Loveboat, Taipei." Together they share their journeys of overcoming barriers to bring authentic, diverse stories to the traditional media & publishing industries. Dani Melia currently runs film operations for the New York-based indie powerhouse Big Beach. Most recently, Dani produced and developed Lulu Wang's Sundance hit "The Farewell" starring Awkwafina. Released domestically in July 2019, the film beat out "Avengers: Endgame" for the highest per-screen average opening of that year. Abigail Hing Wen's novel, "Loveboat, Taipei" debuted on the New York Times best sellers list and hit it again the following week. The novel is a Barnes & Noble Young Adult Book Club Pick, and is currently being adapted into a feature film. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

John Callery & Shira Kogan visit Google to discuss The Trevor Project, and how they leverage artificial intelligence to help LGBTQ youth in crisis. The Trevor Project is the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning young people. The Trevor Project offers a suite of 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat, as well as the world's largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, TrevorSpace. Trevor also operates an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, an advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric & policy positions, and a research team to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Dan Savage is widely known for writing "Savage Love," a nationally syndicated sex advice column that tackles tough questions about modern sexuality, LGBTQ+ issues, infidelity and more. Esther Perel is perhaps best known for her bestselling book "Mating in Captivity" as well as her hit podcast, "Where Should We Begin?" which features conversations with real couples going thru their tribulations with marriage counseling. Together they speak with Google in what was the fifth of a series of Talks about modern romance, and they candidly and openly discuss infidelity, new models for marriages, abstinance-only sex education, monogamy and more. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Elliot Page is an Academy Award-nominated actor known for both tentpole and art house films. His love for storytelling and passion for social justice has now taken him behind the camera as a producer and documentary filmmaker whose work answers the call to action of a generation. A tireless champion of the under-represented, Elliot uses his global platform to shed light on important social and LGBTQ+ issues, partnering with the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice to raise money for grassroots activists and homeless youth. In 2020, Elliot announced that he is transgender. After coming out, Elliot received overwhelming support from the LGBTQ+ community and is now using his voice to speak out on issues of violence perpetrated against trans people, as well as confronting political leaders who seek to criminalize trans healthcare. In 2014, Elliot delivered a deeply moving and personal coming out speech at "Time to Thrive," a conference that promotes the welfare of LGBTQ+ youth. The speech resonated with millions around the world who heard him share his desire to "make a difference, and help others have an easier, more hopeful time," expressing what he deemed a "personal obligation and social responsibility." Elliot's courage, advocacy and leadership have made him one of the most admired and respected public figures of his generation. Moderated by Lauren Verrusio. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Faculty from the Center for Innovation in Ministry at the San Francisco Theological Seminary visit Google to discuss the subject of spirituality and the LGBTQ community. Rev. Floyd Thompkins is the Director of the Center for Innovation in Ministry at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Floyd has also served as a dean and chaplain at two world-class institutions, Stanford and Princeton. Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr is a lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister committed to social justice issues for the LGBTQ community, pursuing connections for wholeness with other oppressed communities claiming their freedom. Rev. Annanda Barclay is a former Theological Education Ministry Fellow at the Austin Theological Seminary, where she received her Master of Divinity Degree. Please enjoy this panel with Reverend Floyd Thompkins, Reverend Dr. Janie Spahr, and Reverend Annanda Barclay. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Dr. Lutza Ireland joins Google during Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month to discuss a neurosmart edition on how to love, live and work better. Have you ever wondered if someone really cares about you? Ever been told that you are 'too much' or 'not enough'; maybe both? Maybe you tried as hard as you could, yet the feedback was 'if only you tried harder'? Diversity in how people think, feel, and communicate means we often misunderstand each other, despite our best intentions. In this Talk, Dr. Lutza will introduce vital upgrades to our metaphorical 'user guide' to help us better navigate neurodiversity. Dr. Lutza is a psychologist and multi-award-winning social designer. She is passionate about making the invisible aspects of neurodiversity and mental health visible and workable. She uses design thinking to develop innovative resources, products, and services, such as the graphic 'Stress and Anxiety during COVID' field guide and bespoke neuro-inclusion employment pilots for large organizations. Moderated by Jim Hogan. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

David Baddiel visits Google to discuss his book "Jews Don't Count", which uses a unique combination of reasoning, polemic, personal experience, and humour to discuss how antisemitism does not fit into traditional narratives and perceptions of racism. David's book is aimed at people who consider themselves to be "fighting the good fight" against homophobia, ableism, transphobia and, particularly, racism. The comedian and writer follows the antisemitism he finds in his Twitter feed to the stage, through the media, and into politics, arguing that those who think of themselves as on the "right side of history" have often ignored antisemitism. The book outlines how and why this came to be in these modern times of intensely heightened awareness of oppressed groups. Moderated by James Rosenthal. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Acclaimed author Joy Kogawa visits Google to discuss her lifelong career as a writer, her experience as a child growing up in a Japanese internment camp during WW2, and her thoughts about how we can prevent similar human rights abuses in the future. Joy Kogawa is an author of novels, children's books, a memoir, and books of poetry. She is best known for her 1981 classic novel "Obasan", based on her family's forced relocation from Vancouver during the Second World War when she was six years old. Kogawa has worked throughout her life to educate Canadians about the history of Japanese-Canadians, and has fought for official redress from the Canadian government for the unlawful internment of Japanese-Canadians. Moderated by Michelle Pham. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Heidi Grant Halvorson, social psychologist and bestselling author, explains why we're often misunderstood and how we can fix it. Most of us assume that other people see us as we see ourselves, and that they see us as we truly are. But neither is true. Our everyday interactions are colored by subtle biases that distort how others see us—and also shape our perceptions of them. But we can learn to clarify the message we're sending once we understand the three lenses that shape perception: trust, power, and ego.. Based on decades of research in psychology and social science, Halvorson explains how these lenses affect our interactions—and how to manage them. This book is not about making a good impression, although it will certainly help you do that. It's about coming across as you intend. It's about the authenticity we all strive for. Originally published in July of 2016. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Dr. Sara Mednick visits Google to discuss her book "The Power of the Downstate: Recharge Your Life Using Your Body's Own Restorative Systems." If you're like most people, the relentless daily grind of go-go-go, do-do-do, can run down your energy and deplete your resources. While most of us find our lives full of "Upstate" moments that rev up our stress engines, it doesn't have to be this way. World-renowned sleep researcher Dr. Mednick shows us how we can access the most replenishing and repairing aspects of sleep by diving into our "Downstate." She shows that bringing ourselves back to the Downstate is critical for our health, well-being, and cognitive longevity. "The Power of the Downstate" offers practical, evidence-based insight into how we can all enable those systems to work together in better harmony. Moderated by Ravit Ortiz. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Known as the "Dean of Valuation," Aswath Damodaran is best known as the author of several widely used academic and practitioner texts on Valuation, Corporate Finance and Investment Management; he is widely quoted on the subject of valuation, with "a great reputation as a teacher and authority". His advice is a must for those wishing to gain a better understanding of investment valuation and its methods. With it, you can take the insights and advice of a recognized authority on the valuation process and immediately put them to work for you. The tools and practice of corporate valuation is intimidating to most laymen, who assume that they do not have the skills and the capability to value companies. In this talk, professor of finance Aswath Damodaran lays out four simple propositions about valuation. The first is that valuation is not an extension of accounting, insofar as it is not about recording the past but forecasting the future. The second is that valuation is not just modeling, where people put numbers into Excel spreadsheets and pump out values - a good valuation requires a narrative that binds the numbers together. The third is that valuing an asset or business is very different from pricing that asset or business, a difference that is often blurred in practice. The fourth is that luck plays a disproportionate role in whether you make money off your valuations. Put differently, you can do everything right and still walk away with nothing or worse at the end. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Matthew McConaughey & Garth Jennings visit Google to discuss "Sing 2", the sequel to the 2016 award-winning movie "Sing". In "Sing 2", McConaughey plays a can-do koala named Buster Moon, whose all-star cast of animal performers are preparing to launch a dazzling stage extravaganza in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There's just one hitch -- he has to find and persuade the world's most reclusive rock star to join them. What begins as Buster's dream of big-time success soon becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the most broken heart. Moderated by Alan Seales. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Dr. Daniel G. Amen is a double board-certified psychiatrist, professor, TV producer, and 10-time New York Times bestselling author. He is one of the world's foremost experts on using brain imaging tools to help optimize and treat patients. He is founder and medical director of Amen Clinics, which has the world's largest database of functional brain scans relating to behavior. This week, Dr. Amen visits Google to discuss his latest book, "The Brain's Warrior Way: Ignite Your Energy and Focus, Attack Illness and Aging, Transform Pain into Purpose." He explains that psychiatrists are among the only medical professionals who do not consistently utilize medical imaging of the body part they treat - the brain! But looking at the brain itself changes everything. Our brains run our lives. When it works right, our bodies work right, and our decisions tend to be thoughtful and goal directed. Poor choices, however, can lead to a myriad of problems in our bodies. Studies have shown that our habits turn on or off certain genes that make illness and early death more or less likely. But we can master our brains and bodies for the rest of our lives with a scientifically-designed program to improve our focus, memory, relationships, and overall health: what Dr. Amen calls the Brain's Warrior Way. Originally published in January of 2017. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Payal Kadakia visits Google to discuss her book "LifePass: Drop Your Limits, Rise to Your Potential". Payal is the Founder of ClassPass, a fitness and wellness membership service that was acquired by Mindbody in October 2021. Prior to its acquisition, ClassPass had been valued at over $1 billion, with members logging more than 100 million hours of workouts across 30,000 partner studios in over 30 countries. Payal's book introduces what she calls the LifePass method, her distinctive way of goal-setting that will help you hone in on your feelings, screen out unnecessary distractions, and live a successful and fulfilling life. When Payal let go of the pressure to achieve a more traditional kind of success, she tuned in to her calling and built ClassPass into a billion-dollar business. In LifePass, she shares the unique goal-setting method that not only changed her approach to business, but to her life. Moderated by Shilpa Maniar. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

In anticipation of May the 4th, Chris Taylor unearths the human-scale stories that have gone into the making of the galactic-sized legend that is Star Wars, and describes how and why it has been such an astonishing success. In a richly detailed narrative, Taylor traces the history of the series from its difficult birth through four drafts, a disastrous first cut, and many sequels and spin-offs. Today, he shows that Star Wars finds itself at a crossroads, with a new company holding the reins and many new spin-offs on the horizon. How did a few notes scribbled on a legal pad in 1973 by George Lucas, a man who hated writing, turn into a multi-billion dollar franchise that has quite literally transformed the way we think about entertainment, merchandising, politics, and even religion? A cultural touchstone and cinematic classic, Star Wars has a cosmic appeal that no other movie franchise has been able to replicate. From Jedi-themed weddings and international storm-trooper legions, to impassioned debates over the digitization of the three Star Wars prequels, to the shockwaves that continue to reverberate from Disney's purchase of the beloved franchise in 2012, the series hasn't stopped inspiring and inciting viewers for almost forty years. Yet surprisingly little is known about its history, its impact—or where it's headed next. An energetic, witty account of this stunning cinematic and business success story, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is the saga of how a young filmmaker's idle idea became such an immense, transformative cultural force. Originally published in December of 2014. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Siobhan Haughey visits Google to discuss her career as the first Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal and the first Hong Kong athlete to win two Olympic medals in any sport. She also shares advice on health and wellbeing to inspire us in these times of uncertainty and isolation. Irish-Chinese swimmer Siobhan Bernadette Haughey was born in Hong Kong and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 with a degree in psychology. She won two silver medals for the Women's 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle races at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, making her Hong Kong's first swimmer to have won an Olympic medal and Hong Kong's first athlete to have won two medals in a single Olympic game. She also became Hong Kong's first world record-holding swimmer after breaking the women's 200-meter freestyle record at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships in 2021. Moderated by Michael Yue. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

This week, Broadway legend Idina Menzel visits Google to discuss her career, her personal life, and her new album "idina." She first rose to fame for her role as 'Maureen' in the popular Broadway musical RENT. Her career continued to take off when she won a Tony Award for her role as 'Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West,' in the smash hit musical, WICKED. But it was her role as 'Elsa' in Disney's Oscar-winning film Frozen, the second highest grossing animated film of all time, that truly launched her into superstardom. Menzel performed the film's signature song "Let It Go," which became an instant international phenomenon, winning the Oscar for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The track reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Menzel the first artist with both a Billboard Top 10 hit and a Tony Award for acting. Originally published in October of 2016. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Checkers. Backgammon. Chess. Go. Poker. Scrabble. Bridge. These seven games, ancient and modern, fascinate millions of people worldwide. In his book Seven Games, game theorist Oliver Roeder charts their origins and historical importance, the delightful arcana of their rules, and the ways their design makes them pleasurable. Roeder introduces thrilling competitors, such as evangelical minister Marion Tinsley, who across forty years lost only three games of checkers; Shusai, the Master, the last Go champion of imperial Japan, defending tradition against "modern rationalism"; and an IBM engineer who created a backgammon program so capable at self-learning that NASA used it on the space shuttle. He delves into the history and lore of each game: backgammon boards in ancient Egypt, the Indian origins of chess, and how certain shells from a particular beach in Japan make the finest white Go stones. Beyond the cultural and personal stories, Roeder explores why games, seemingly trivial pastimes, speak so deeply to the human soul. He tells the compelling story of how humans, pursuing scientific glory and competitive advantage, have invented AI programs better than any human player, and what that means for the games—and for us. Funny, fascinating, and profound, Seven Games is a story of obsession, psychology, history, and how play makes us human. Moderated by Matt Bongiovi. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

We all struggle with interpersonal conflict at some point in our lives. In his book Negotiating the Nonnegotiable, Harvard negotiation expert Daniel Shapiro introduces a groundbreaking method to bridge the toughest divides--whether with family members, colleagues, or in the polarized world of politics. He reveals the hidden power of identity in fueling conflict, and presents a practical framework to reconcile even the most contentious situations. For anyone struggling with conflict, this book can be transformative. Negotiating the Nonnegotiable takes readers on a journey into the heart and soul of conflict, providing unique insight into the emotional undercurrents that too often sweep us out to sea. With vivid stories of his closed-door sessions with warring political groups, disputing businesspeople, and families in crisis, Shapiro presents a universally applicable method to successfully navigate conflict. A deep, provocative book to reflect on and wrestle with, this book can change your life. Originally published in May of 2016. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Planetary protection engineer Dr. Moogega Cooper, also known as "Dr. Moo" visits Google to discuss her work with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory team, and as the planetary protection lead of the famed NASA 2020 Mars mission. Dr. Moo is an integral part to the ongoing mission to discern whether Mars could be habitable for humans and that we don't harm what's already there, working as a real life 'Guardian of the Galaxy'. She shares leadership lessons learned from her inspirational journey to the top of a male-dominated field—space exploration. She also shares insights on how perseverance pays off, and how diversity makes the JPL team even greater. Moderated by Helen Riley. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

In her book Quiet, author Susan Cain shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She also talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools, and questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh's sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer. Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts--from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a "pretend extrovert." This book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves. Originally published in February of 2012 Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Research has revealed that our brains are inherently noisy. Certain regions are always grinding away at involuntary activities like daydreaming, worrying about the future, and self-chatter. Daydreaming and ruminating can tug your attention away from the present and contribute to anxiety and depression. Bringing his groundbreaking research to the forefront, cognitive neuroscientist Moshe Bar argues that we can become aware of when our minds wander, directing them to stimulate creativity, increase focus and boost our mood instead of making us unhappy. He investigates these benefits and provides the tools and understanding to help harness our wandering minds in order to boost our productivity and improve our well-being. Moderated by Danielle Perszy. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Google welcomes behavioral economist and "Predictably Irrational" author Dan Ariely as part of our Modern Romance series. He discusses the paradox of choice in the "Age of Tinder," why a canoe is the best place to test your long-term compatibility, and other research-based insights and advice for modern dating and relationships. Dan Ariely has been fascinated by irrationality in human endeavors such as dating ever since he overcame severe injuries sustained in an explosion. The range of treatments he received for his burns made him face a variety of irrational behaviors that were immensely painful and persistent. He became engrossed with the idea that we repeatedly and predictably make the wrong decisions in many aspects of our lives, and that research could help change some of these patterns. As he learned more and more about decision making and behavioral economics, he realized that this knowledge is relevant to many aspects of our life, from financial decision making, to health, to better habits, and of course, to dating. Originally published in November of 2015. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Janney Marin Rivera—better known as Chiquis—is an artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and television personality. She first captivated audiences on reality shows with her late mother, Jenni Rivera, and their family. Chiquis launched her music career in 2014, making her musical debut on international television at the Premios Juventud. Her 2015 memoir, Forgiveness, was an instant New York Times bestseller, and in 2020, Chiquis won her first Latin Grammy for her album Playlist. This week, Chiquis visits Google to discuss her memoir Unstoppable: How I Found My Strength Through Love and Loss. Bringing her signature warmth, humor, and positivity to the page, the book picks up where her memoir Forgiveness left off. Reeling from her mother's tragic death, Chiquis finds herself at a major crossroads. As a new parent to her younger brother and sister, she struggles to balance her family's needs with her dreams of becoming a successful singer and entrepreneur. Filled with life-affirming revelations, Chiquis ultimately shares her greatest gift with her fans—the accessible lessons that have made her unstoppable. Moderated by Liliana Cerilo. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

In celebration of #IamRemarkable Week, Luvvie Ajayi Jones visits Google to discuss her New York Times bestselling book Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual. With humor and honesty, and guided by the influence of her professional troublemaking Nigerian grandmother, Luvvie walks us through what we must get right within ourselves before we can do the things that scare us; like how to use our voice for a greater good, and how to put movement to the voice we've been silencing - because truth-telling is a muscle. The point is not to be fearless, but to know we are afraid and charge forward regardless. It is to recognize that the things we must do are more significant than our fears. This book is about how to live boldly in spite of all the reasons we have to cower. Born in Nigeria, bred in Chicago and comfortable everywhere, Luvvie is committed to creating content and doing work that informs, inspires, and convinces others to make positive change. What started as a hobby has become a global business and has allowed her to help people in more ways than she could have ever imagined. Using her life and her story as the anchor, her professional troublemaking is all in the hopes of leaving people feeling more powerful than they ever have. Moderated by Alex Okosi. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.