Talks at Google

Are you training for a marathon? Practicing for a 10K? Or running for fun and looking to avoid injury? Peloton instructors and professional athletes Becs Gentry and Jess Sims talk about how to train for a healthy and safe running experience. They share tips and tricks to maximize your potential through both proper training and rest. Becs Gentry is a Peloton instructor, RRCA-certified running coach, and competitive marathon runner. In 2024, she completed the World Marathon Challenge, running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. She also finished the 2019 New York City Marathon as the first non-elite female. Jess Sims is a Peloton instructor, a reporter for ESPN's College Gameday, and a Sideline Reporter for ESPN's Saturday Prime. She's also an ongoing contributor on Good Morning America. Originally published in July 2019. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was founded in 1988 by legendary actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman. The camp is a haven for children with serious illnesses and their families, fostering joy, hope and friendship through both summer camp and year-round programming. Jimmy Canton, Ana Villafañe, and Luke Wilson join Google to talk about the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and its mission. Jimmy is its CEO, and has been with the organization since its founding. Rising from counselor to CEO, he grew the camp from serving 288 children in its first summer to over 20,000 children and family members annually. Ana Villafañe is a board member for the camp and a Broadway actress. She recently starred opposite Holland Taylor in the world premiere of N/A at Lincoln Center, and plays the title character in the upcoming feature film, Castro's Daughter. Luke Wilson is an advocate for the camp and an actor, writer and director. He's collaborated with Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson on films like Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, and is known for iconic comedies like Legally Blonde and Old School. Recently, he's starred in films like 12 Mighty Orphans, You Gotta Believe, Kevin Costner's Horizon, and the Netflix series No Good Deed. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Bo Burnham was one of the earliest YouTube stars, starting his channel in 2006 and growing to nearly 4M subscribers. Today, he's a comedian, musician, actor, and filmmaker. He joins Google to talk about his career trajectory from YouTuber to multi-hyphenate creator, including his first feature film, “Eighth Grade.” “Eighth Grade” focuses on the struggles and angst of growing up in the digital era, as teenager Elsie navigates her last week of middle school. Originally published in May 2019. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Moritz joins Google to talk about the intersection of gaming and AI. A lifelong gamer, Moritz spent his teenage years competitively playing Blizzard's Diablo 2, culminating in a #1 global ranking among over 12 million players in 2003. The first in his family to graduate high school, he traded the digital swords and armor that he earned in-game to afford his college tuition – two decades before digital asset trading entered the mainstream. Now, Moritz is a Senior Partner and the Head of Gaming and Interactive Media at Lightspeed Venture Partners. Lightspeed is a global venture capital firm with more than $29 billion in assets under management and over 200 exists across the US, Europe, and Asia. In both 2023 and 2024, founders selected Lightspeed as the #1 lead investor in the gaming industry. Moritz has been recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30, Capital's 40 Under 40, and the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders. In his personal time, he's an avid Ironman and Ultramarathon athlete. He's completed the World Marathon Challenge, running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, and the 257km Marathon des Sables. With his races, he has raised over $250,000 for research to cure depression. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Tens of thousands of people take the online qualification exam for Jeopardy! every year. But only 0.4% of hopefuls will appear on the show. But even after a nine-game winning streak and a victory in the Tournament of Champions, Jeopardy! champion and fan favorite Buzzy Cohen maintains that he wasn't actually the smartest contestant in the bunch – he just “trained smarter" than his competitors. Buzzy adopted quirky strategies and obsessive techniques, from wearing suits every day to studying while hanging from a chin-up bar. Once he realized how much could be accomplished with great preparation, he became a prep fanatic – testing his theories on everything from deadlifting to tap dancing.  Buzzy joins Google to discuss his Audible Original book, “Get Ready: A Champion's Guide to Preparing for the Moments That Matter". He reveals the eccentric yet effective training method he developed to prepare for the show, and empowers listeners to apply these techniques to train for their own challenges. Originally published in August 2020. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Headspace's mission is to provide every person with access to lifelong mental health support. Headspace CEO Tom Pickett and Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Jenna Glover join Google to discuss the benefits of incorporating mindfulness practices into your personal and professional life. They share strategies to improve focus, reduce stress, enhance well-being, and boost productivity. Before joining Headspace, Tom's prior roles include his time as the Chief Revenue Officer at Doordash, the CEO of digital media company Crunchyroll, and over a decade at Google. Before entering the corporate world, he graduated from TOPGUN and served for nearly a decade as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy. Dr. Jenna Glover is a licensed psychologist who previously served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Director of Psychology Training at Children's Hospital Colorado. Her clinical work focuses on utilizing motivational interviewing and acceptance-based therapies across a range of internalizing disorders. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Guy Raz is widely considered to be one of the pioneers of podcasting. He's created some of the most popular podcasts in the world, including How I Built This, TED Radio Hour, Wow in the World, The Great Creators, and Wisdom from the Top. Collectively, his shows reach 19 million listeners per month. Guy joins Google to discuss his book, "How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World's Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs". The book shares stories and insights from over 200 innovators on their journey to entrepreneurship. Originally published in October 2020. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Board-certified psychiatrist, researcher, and award-winning content creator Dr. Judith Joseph joins Google to discuss her book, “High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy.” Dr. Joseph draws on original research, client cases, and her own personal struggles with high-functioning depression to demystify this poorly understood condition. Her five simple tools – The Five V's – will help you understand the science of your happiness and empower you to reclaim your life and joy. Dr. Joseph is the chair of the Women in Medicine initiative at Columbia University, a Clinical Assistant Professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU, and Principal Investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine. She was awarded with the Congress Proclamation Award by the US House of Representatives in 2023 for her social media advocacy and mental health research. In 2024, she taught a Workplace Mental Health Course to the Executive Office of the President of the United States. She uses her platform of over 1 million followers to educate her community about mental health topics. She also trains doctors at NYU about how to use various forms of media to educate the public about mental health issues. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

You've definitely heard of marketing – but what about neuromarketing? Neuromarketing is the use of neuroscience to address marketing – more specifically, to address the limitations of common tools like A/B testing and market research. According to Prince Ghuman and Dr. Matt Johnson, neuromarketing is the future of marketing. They join Google to discuss their book, “Blindsight: The (Mostly) Hidden Ways Marketing Reshapes our Brains.” The book gives you the ability to see the unseeable when it comes to marketing, so that you can consume on your own terms. Originally published in May 2021. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

There's a building in North London, built from equal parts brick and tahini, with walls coated in olive oil and floors stained with spice. This is the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen, where a group of individuals meet and eat, cook and write, tear and share and gather with just one motive: to create good food with good ingredients, and to share it with the world. Chef and author Noor Murad joined the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen in 2018, eventually becoming its head and the writer of its books, “Shelf Love” and “Extra Good Things.” Bahrain-born, London-based and New York-trained, Noor's own recipes have been featured in the New York Times, and she's cooked on BBC's Saturday Kitchen. Her Middle Eastern roots have a strong influence on her cooking, with Arabic, Indian, and Persian flavors making a prominent appearance in her recipes. Noor joins Google to discuss her book “Lugma: Abundant Dishes & Stories from my Middle East.” Lugma is an Arabic word that means, “a bite.” The book offers over 100 recipes as an ode to the food she grew up eating—traditional flavors and modern dishes from Bahrain, the surrounding Middle East, and beyond. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Asma Khan is an Indian-born British chef and a social change advocate in the food industry. She joins Google to discuss her book, “Monsoon: Delicious Indian recipes for every day and season,” a masterclass in the flavors of Indian cookery. Originally born in Calcutta, Asma's journey into the culinary world was not straightforward. She initially pursued academia before moving to Cambridge in 1991 to join her husband. Her passion for cooking began mainly to combat homesickness. Asma's culinary career began in earnest in 2012 with a supper club in her home, evolving into a pop-up in a Soho pub and eventually leading to the opening of her restaurant, Darjeeling Express, in June 2017. Her restaurant is known for its unique blend of street food, comfort food from Calcutta, and royal dishes from her Mughlai heritage. The food is cooked by an all-women team who began, like Asma, as home cooks. In addition to her restaurant, Asma gained recognition as the first British chef featured on Netflix's "Chef's Table." Her episode was part of the series' sixth season and nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Documentary section. Business Insider named her number 1 on their 2019 list of the "100 Coolest People in Food and Drink." Asma was also included in TIME 100 as one of the most influential people of 2024. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Bert Jacobs is the co-founder of the $150 million lifestyle brand Life is Good. When he and his brother John started the company in 1994, they had $78 in their pockets, lived out of their van, and sold t-shirts on the streets of Boston. It has been over 30 years since they sold their first t-shirt, but Bert and John championed the same mission: to spread the power of optimism. On their journey, they've been inspired by a vibrant community of resilient optimists—people from all walks of life who identify deeply with the brand and who constantly demonstrate the depth and meaning behind the three simple words, “life is good.” Bert joins Google to discuss how to develop an optimistic mindset and tips on building a vibrant community and a brand that will stand the test of time. Originally published in November 2021. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

We make a countless number of decisions every day – but unfortunately, we often choose unwisely. Behavioral economist Richard Thaler has dedicated his life's work to understanding why that is. In 2017, Thaler received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to the field of behavioral economics. His book, “Nudge,” co-authored by Cass R. Sunstein, shows that it's not possible for choices to be presented to us in a neutral way. The book demonstrates how to best nudge us in the right directions, without restricting our freedom of choice. Richard Thaler is a professor of behavioral science and economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He's a member of the National Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He's been published in many prominent journals, and he's also the author of “Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics.” Originally published in December 2021. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Sahil Bloom is an entreneur, author, investor, and content creator who is on a mission to redefine what it means to build a wealthy life. In his debut, New York Times-bestselling book, "The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life," Bloom discusses how to build a fulfilling life across all five areas: time, social, mental, physical, and financial.  Bloom captivates millions of readers every week through his newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle. He's also a successful entrepreneur, the owner of SRB Holdings, and the managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage investment fund. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Josh Peck rose to near-instant fame when he starred on Nickelodeon's hit show, Drake and Josh. But while he tried to maintain his role as the funniest, happiest kid in every room, Josh struggled alone with the kind of rising anger and plummeting confidence that quietly took over his life. For the first time, Josh reflects on his late teens and early twenties in his memoir, “Happy People are Annoying.” Coming of age under a spotlight that could be both invigorating and cruel while being raised by a single mother, Josh filled the cratering hole in his self-worth with copious amounts of food, television, drugs, and all of the other trappings of young stardom. Until he realized that the only person standing in his way... was himself. Today, with a string of lead roles on hit television shows and movies, and one of the most enviable and dedicated fan bases on the internet, Josh Peck is more than happy – he's finally, enthusiastically content. "Happy People are Annoying" is the culmination of years of learning, growing, and finding bright spots in the scary parts of life. Originally published in March of 2022. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Award-winning behavioral scientist and leading expert on the psychology of conversation Dr. Alison Wood Brooks joins Google to discuss her book, “Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves.” The book reveals the hidden architecture of our conversations, and how even small improvements can have a profound impact on all types of relationships. Dr. Brooks is a professor at Harvard Business School, where she created and teaches a course called “Talk.” Her award-winning research has been published in top academic journals and is regularly cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, NPR, and more. Her research was referenced in two of the top ten most-viewed TED talks of all time and depicted in Pixar's Inside Out 2.  Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Gretchen Rubin is one of today's most influential observers of happiness and human nature. Her book, “Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World,” is a story of discovery, filled with thoughtful insights and hands-on suggestions about how to heighten our senses and use the power of perception to live fuller and richer lives. Gretchen's many books have sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide. She hosts the podcast, “Happier with Gretchen Rubin,” where she explorers practical solutions for living a happier life. She's also the founder of the Happier app, which helps people track their happiness-boosting habits. Originally published in May 2023. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff joins Google to talk about her book, “Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World.” Her book is a guide for how to live a more experimental life, turn uncertainty into curiosity, and carve a path of self-discovery. Anne shares why we should replace the old, linear model of success with a circular model of growth, where goals are constantly discovered, pursued, and adapted in conversation with the larger world. Anne is the founder of Ness Labs and writes a weekly newsletter that's read by more than 100,000 people. Her research at King's College London focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. She previously worked at Google as an executive on digital health projects. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

In her 18 years at Google, Jenny Wood grew from entry-level to executive and ran a large operations team that helped drive billions of revenue per year. She is the founder of Own Your Career, one of the largest career programs in Google's history with over 50,000 people benefitting in nearly 100 countries. Jenny's work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, CNBC, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Inc., and Forbes. Now, Jenny's back at Google to discuss her book, “Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It.” "Wild Courage" coaches you to smash through your fear of discomfort, failure, and the judgement of others, and to embrace your boldest self. The book is an empowering and energizing guide to embracing your ambition and chasing after what you want. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Just about everything we do – like what we wear, what we eat, and even where we work – is informed in some way by our cultural subscriptions. Marcus Collins studies cultural contagion, and how it manifests in society at large. He joins Google to discuss the evolution of brand and his book, “For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be.” Marcus is a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, and previously served as the Chief Strategy Officer at Wieden & Kennedy in New York. Before his time in advertising, he worked at the intersection of music and tech, leading iTunes and Nike's sports music initiatives and running digital strategy for Beyonce. He's a recipient of AdAge's 40 Under 40 award and Crain's 40 Under 40 award. Originally published in May 2023. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Almost everything we do involves words. Words are how we persuade, communicate, and connect. They're how leaders lead, salespeople sell, and parents parent. But certain words are more impactful than others. They're better at changing minds, engaging audiences, and driving action. What are these magic words, and how can we take advantage of their power? Jonah Berger joins Google to discuss his book, “Magic Words: What to Say to Get your Way.” Jonah is a Wharton Professor, internationally bestselling author, and world‐renowned expert on change, word of mouth, natural language processing, and how products, services, and ideas catch on. He has published over 70 articles in top-tier academic journals, teaches one of the world's most popular online courses, and accounts of his work often appear in places like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. Originally published in June 2023. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Lewis Howes, entrepreneur and host of "The School of Greatness" podcast, joins Google to discuss his book, “Make Money Easy: Create Financial Freedom and Live a Richer Life.” The book leverages insight gleaned from the many financial experts on his podcast, the latest research around the psychology of money, and his own journey to success, and offers both practical advice and the mindset reframing needed to achieve financial peace and fulfillment. Lewis is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, a lifestyle entrepreneur, keynote speaker, former professional football player, and USA Men's National Handball Team athlete. He was recognized by The White House and former President Obama as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country under 30. He has been featured on Ellen, The New York Times, People, Forbes, Fast Company, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Men's Health, The Today Show, and more. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Seth Godin has published over 20 bestselling books that have been translated into nearly 40 languages. He's the founder of the altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, which have been taken by more than 60,000 people. He hosts a podcast, also called Akimbo, and has 5 TED Talks. Seth joins Google to talk about his book, “The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams.” The book contemplates all things work: why it is the way it is, why it's gotten so bad, and what all of us–especially leaders–can do to make it better. Originally published in June 2023. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

David Allemann is the Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the Swiss sportswear brand On. Since its founding in 2010, On has become one of the fastest-growing global sports brands with a presence in over 60 countries and more than 9,000 retailers. David joins Google to discuss his career journey, the story of On's IPO, and how they were able to become a prominent name in the saturated market of athletic shoes. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Stuff You Should Know has been one of the top podcasts since it started in 2008. The podcast overviews and simplifies a truly extensive range of topics, from the history of refrigeration to how Saturn works to forensic dentistry and peacocks. Chuck and Josh released over 1,500 episodes, toured the world, and even had a TV show that ran for one season on the Science Channel. They also have a Trivial Pursuit game and they once had their own category on Jeopardy's National College Championship. Chuck and Josh join Google to give a behind the scenes look at how they've become experts in educating us about common things and how they work. Originally published in December 2016. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Everywhere you look, there's talk of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Daniela Rus and Gregory Mone have dedicated their lives to studying both. Daniela is a world expert in robotics. She's the first female director of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, and a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. Gregory has authored 19 books and is a former columnist for Popular Science magazine. He's collaborated with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Susan Cain, Bill Nye, and Skeletor. They join Google to talk about their book, “The Heart and the Chip: Our Bright Future with Robots.” The book overviews the interconnected fields of robotics, AI, and machine learning. It reframes the way we think about intelligent machines while also weighing the moral and ethical consequences of their role in society.  Watch this epsode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

George R.R. Martin is an author and a television producer and writer. He's most famous for his series, “A Song of Ice and Fire,” which was then adapted by HBO into the overwhelmingly popular television drama, “Game of Thrones.” In 2017, Time Magazine dubbed him an “American Tolkien.” He joins Google for a Q&A session and to share more about his novel, "A Dance with Dragons." Originally published in August 2011. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Award-winning kitten rescuer Hannah Shaw and professional cat photographer Andrew Marttila  join Google to discuss their book, “Cats of the World,” where they explore cat culture and welfare around the globe, documenting their travels with photos and stories from 30 different countries. Hannah and Andrew are both cat experts in their own specialties. Hannah is a New York Times bestselling author of over 10 books and the founder of Orphan Kitten Club, a nonprofit focused on saving the lives of neonatal kittens. Andrew is a professional animal photographer who specializes in cats. He's been featured on the cover of National Geographic and on Good Morning America, and has also authored several books.  Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Back in 2014, Marvel produced the first Guardians of the Galaxy based on the comic of the same name. The movie was a stunning success, becoming the third-highest grossing film of the year and nominated for two Academy Awards. The trilogy was then completed in 2023.  Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Vin Diesel talk about the original movie and their roles, what it's like to be action figures, and who would win in a battle royale.  Originally published in August 2014. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Nisha Vora is a cookbook author and content creator known for her innovative approach to vegan cooking. She discusses her second cookbook, Big Vegan Flavor, with over 150 recipes to help you master the art of vegan cooking. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2012 and working as a lawyer, Nisha switched out her casebooks for cookbooks to follow her dream in the food world. She created a cooking website called Rainbow Plant Life, and has amassed over 2 million followers across her blog and social channels. She's worked with brands like Instagram and Pure Wow, and her work has been featured across publications like CNN, Forbes, Glamour, Women's Health, and Elle. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Kheris Rogers, designer and CEO of the fashion brand, Flexin' in my Complexion, was inspired to start her brand at just 11 years old, after years of being bullied in school because of her dark skin complexion. She is the world's youngest designer to ever showcase at New York Fashion week. She's partnered with Nike and Lebron James, and her clothing line has been worn by celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Lupita Nyong'o, and Alicia Keys.  Originally published in April 2020. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Ilya Strebulaev has devoted two decades to studying how venture capitalists approach decision-making, and the reasons behind the successes and failures of corporate innovations. He joins Google to discuss his book, “The Venture Mindset,” a playbook on how to adapt to a rapidly changing world, make smarter bets, launch new ventures, and transform traditional organizations into hubs for innovation. Ilya is an international expert in venture capital, private equity, and financing innovation. Among his many achievements, he's been a professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business since 2004. He is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and the founder and faculty director of the Stanford GSB Venture Capital Initiative. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Phil Rosenthal is the creator, executive producer, writer, and host of "Somebody Feed Phil," the Netflix show with 7 seasons – and counting – that combines Phil's love of food and travel with his unique brand of humor. Phil has traveled to countless destinations around the world to take in the local cuisine and culture, including Kyoto, Mumbai, Oaxaca, Iceland, New York, and many others. Somebody Feed Phil has garnered two Primetime Emmy nominations and won two Critics Choice Real TV awards. Phil has also been nominated twice for Male Star of the Year and won in 2021. Phil also has a podcast, Naked Lunch, and a book, “Somebody Feed Phil: The Book.”  Originally published in May 2022. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

The Tetris game has become one of the world's top-selling video game brands with hundreds of millions of products sold, and that number is still growing today. In 1988, having published numerous computer games from around the world in the Japanese market, Henk discovered the Tetris game at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. A year later, he licensed the rights to Nintendo, where it would go on to make their handheld platform, the Game Boy, the most popular portable game system of its time.  Today, Henk is the Chairman of the Board of the Tetris Company; the Blue Planet Alliance, which aims to end the use of carbon-based fuel; Blue Startups, one of Hawaii's first venture accelerators; the International MoonBase Alliance; and Blue Planet Research, where he develops his dream projects. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Modern Love is a weekly New York Times column, created and edited by Daniel Jones since 2004. As it rose to popularity, it expanded into a podcast, a television show, and a book. In all its forms, Modern Love talks about relationships, feelings, betrayals, and revelations. Daniel Jones joins Google to talk about the anthology, “Modern Love, Revised and Updated: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption,” a collection of the column's most popular, provocative, and unforgettable essays, including stories from the hit Amazon television series. Originally published in November 2019. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Award-winning author and historian Elizabeth L. Block joins Google to discuss her book, “Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing.” She explores the diverse history of women's hair, from the cultural power of hair in 19th century America to the untold stories of business owners and trendsetters. Through her research, we see the places and spaces of hair that allow a new understanding of its immense cultural power.  Elizabeth is an art historian and a Senior Editor in the Publications and Editorial Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She holds a PhD in art history from the City University of New York, an MA in American Studies from Columbia University, and a BA in English and art history from The George Washington University. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.

Mandy Len Catron is known for her wildly popular Modern Love essay in the New York Times, “To Fall in Love with Anyone, Do This." She popularized the 36 questions that are said to make people fall in love. Mandy's essay inspired her book of the same name. In the book, “To Fall in Love with Anyone, Do This," Mandy deconstructs her own personal canon of love stories through a series of candid and vulnerable essays. She dives all the way back to 1944, when her grandparents first met in a coal mining town in Appalachia, to her own dating life as a professor in Vancouver, drawing insights from her research into the universal psychology, biology, history, and literature of love. And she tells the story of how she decided to test a psychology experiment that she'd read about — where the goal was to create intimacy between strangers using a list of thirty-six questions — and ended up in the surreal situation of having millions of people following her brand-new relationship. Originally published in July 2017. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Doug Melville discusses his book, "Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America's First Black Generals." The book takes us on a journey from post-Civil War America to modern-day Europe and Asia, introducing readers to prominent yet hidden heroes, inspired by Doug's own story.  In 2011, Doug was thrilled to be invited to an advanced screening of George Lucas' “Red Tails,” a fresh take on America's first Black aerial squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen. However, that excitement faded quickly when he realized the film had fictionalized the story to the point of omitting all of the names and details of the heroes from the story entirely, including Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the founding commander of the unit and the patriarch of Doug's family. Inspired, Doug began investigating passed-down histories of his family and realized that America's first two Black Generals – Benjamin O. Davis Jr. and Benjamin Davis Sr. – were not only a father and son, but had also raised Doug's father. He then began unearthing stories of their incredible accomplishments, their perseverance and their trauma, and realized that even when living at the highest ranks of public service, they were treated as if they were invisible because of their race. Doug's book celebrates the everyday heroes behind the scenes, reminding us to utilize our ancestors' victories to broaden our vision of what is possible. Visit youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle to watch this episode.

Award-winning wine expert Karen MacNeil discusses her book, “The Wine Bible: 3rd Edition,” which offers the ultimate education in wine with expanded content. Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language. TIME magazine has called her, “America's Missionary of the Vine.” She is the author of the award-winning book, The Wine Bible, the only best selling wine book in the United States, and is the creator and editor of Wine Speed, the top digital newsletter on wine in the United States. She was the former wine correspondent for the Today Show on NBC, and was also the host of the PBS series Wine, Food & Friends with Karen MacNeil, for which she won an Emmy. Karen is also the creator and Chairman Emeritus of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America, which has been called the “Harvard of wine education.” Originally published in November 2022. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Chances are, you've tried – and maybe succeeded – at the Rubik's Cube. Patented in 1975, the Rubik's Cube then made its international debut in 1980 at the New York Toy Fair, and quickly became the best-selling toy in history. But you may not know that Erno Rubik also patented many other successful toys and designs, including the Magic Snake and Rubik's Magic. His book “Cubed – The Puzzle of Us All” has been published in several countries around the world. Erno Rubik studied architecture and design in Budapest, Hungary. He is the co-founder of the Hungarian Engineering Academy, the Palace of Marvels, and more recently the Aquincum Institute of Technology (AIT) where his latest public sculpture is also on display. Erno also serves on the board of the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation. A recipient of numerous national and international distinctions, Erno has acted as Ambassador to the European Year of Innovation and Creativity and was a returning member of the European Inventor Award's international jury. He lives in Budapest, Hungary with his wife. They have four children. Visit youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle to watch this episode.  

Are you drowning in information overload? Do you disappear down a rabbit hole of social media just when you need to focus? Productivity expert Graham Allcott can help. Graham Allcott is the founder of Think Productive, author of 5 books, and the host of podcast "Beyond Busy." In this conversation, he talks about how to be a productivity ninja: how to work smarter, manage projects with confidence, and tame your inbox.  Originally published in February 2019. Visit youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle to watch this episode.

When we let fear of other people's opinions take control, we play it safe and small because we're afraid of what will happen on the other side of critique. But what if the key to leading a high-performance life is to redirect our attention from the outside world to the world inside us? Dr. Michael Gervais discusses his book, The First Rule Of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think Of You. He reveals the mental skills and practices we need to overcome the fear of other people's opinions — the same skills he's taught to the top performers in the world, including sports MVPs, world-renowned artists and musicians, and Fortune 100 leaders and teams. Visit youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle to watch this episode.

We've all – hopefully – experienced what it's like to fall into a sense of flow. It's when everything happens easily. You have a natural sense of meaning and purpose without having to think or worry about it very much at all. But for some of us, that's harder to come by. That's where Arjuna Ardagh comes in. Arjuna is the founder of Awakening Coaching, where he's coached leaders for over 35 years across the technology field, the movie industry, writers, and innovators in public policy. Arjuna maps out technology for shifting and managing consciousness. He shares how to access new dimensions of yourself to optimize creativity, dissolve roadblocks, and how to turn self actualization into tangible results in your work and the rest of your life. Originally published in May 2014. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

Ravi Bapna and Anindya Ghose visit Google to discuss their book “Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI” - the book explores how AI can positively impact many aspects of our daily lives, from health and wellness to work, education, and home life. Artificial intelligence is a powerful general-purpose technology that is reshaping the modern economy, but misperceptions about AI stand in the way of harnessing it for the betterment of humanity. In their book Thrive, Ravi Bapna and Anindya Ghose counter the backlash by showcasing how AI is positively influencing the aspects of our daily lives that we care about most: our health and wellness, relationships, education, the workplace, and domestic life. The authors explain the underlying technology and give people the agency they need to shape the debate around how we should regulate AI to maximize its benefits and minimize its risks. Bringing over two decades of experience with cutting-edge research, consulting, executive coaching, and advising to bear on the subject, Bapna and Ghose demystify the technology of AI itself. They offer a novel “House of AI” framework that encompasses traditional analytics, generative AI, and fair and ethical deployment of AI. Using examples from everyday life, they showcase how the modern AI-powered ecosystem fundamentally improves the emotional, physical, and material well-being of regular people across the globe. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

Erin Weed is the founder of Girls Fight Back, a women's safety education company. After teaching live self-defense seminars to over 1 million people worldwide, she sold Girls Fight Back in 2013. Since then, she has been working as a speaker, author, and communication strategist who helps people seek their purpose and speak their truth. Today, we'll hear her Talk at TEDxBoulder about how to connect with one another by communicating authentically. On International Women's Day 2018, she joined Women@BLD to share a technique on how to lead and communicate authentically, from the head, heart and core. Originally published in May of 2018. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

Dr. Peter Attia visits Google to discuss his book "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.” The book is a guide to living better and longer, and reveals a new approach to preventing chronic disease and extending long-term health.   For all its successes, mainstream medicine has failed to make much progress against the diseases of aging that kill most people: heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and type 2 diabetes. Too often, it intervenes with treatments that are too late to help, prolonging lifespan at the expense of healthspan, or quality of life. Dr. Attia believes we must replace this outdated framework with a personalized, proactive strategy for longevity, one where we take action now, rather than waiting.   This is not “biohacking,” it's science: a well-founded strategic and tactical approach to extending lifespan while also improving our physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Dr. Attia's aim is less to tell you what to do and more to help you learn how to think about long-term health, in order to create the best plan for you as an individual.   Aging and longevity are far more malleable than we think; our fate is not set in stone. With the right roadmap, you can plot a different path for your life, one that lets you outlive your genes to make each decade better than the one before. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

As the author of "The Rise of Superman" and co-founder of the Flow Genome Project, Steven Kotler is one of the world's leading experts on ultimate human performance. In this Talk, he provides a tour of the current research focusing on "flow states”, or an optimal state of consciousness where we both feel our best and perform our best.  Researchers now know that flow sits at the heart of almost every athletic championship, underpins most major scientific breakthroughs, and accounts for significant progress in the arts. In business, its impact has been substantial. Coders in flow built the internet; video game designers in flow built the video game industry. "Flow state percentage" has been called the most important management metric for building great innovation teams. As a result of this, an increasing number of companies have put the cultivation of flow at the heart of their philosophies. So what is this mysterious state? How does it work its magic? And if this really is the secret to ultimate human performance, how can we get more of it in our personal and professional lives? Stay tuned to find out! Originally published in April of 2014. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

Masatoshi Ohno and Jérôme Guth visit Google to discuss how team sports fosters a sense of belonging, appreciation, and resilience. Masatoshi 'Mar' Ohno is a 3-time Japan Pro Surfing Association Grand Champion surfer who has made significant contributions to the Japanese surf industry. He holds the record for most consecutive wins in a single year, with 7 Golds in 2013. Mar has also been instrumental in promoting surfing in Japan, leading the national surf team to multiple victories and serving as the captain and coach at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. His dedication to the sport extends beyond competition, as he created the 'FunTheMental' surf festival and currently serves as Chairman of the S.League. Jérôme Guth is a French Maître d'Armes, specialized in Sabre, and is the Head Coach of the Japanese fencing Olympic team. Jérôme leads both the Women's & the Men's programs, which makes him the youngest coach in the World with this kind of responsibility. Under Jérôme's leadership, the Japanese Women's Sabre Team qualified for the first time in history for the Paris 2024 Olympics, later clinching a Bronze Medal at the Olympic Team Event. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

Jump start your new year with a dynamic, action-oriented, inspirational conversation with Mike Steib, who is now CEO of XO Group, now known as The Knot Worldwide.  During his time at Google, Mike created the “Career Manifesto” Google doc for his team.  This doc quickly went viral, inspiring many Googlers and young professionals beyond Google's walls.  In this podcast, Mike brings the Career Manifesto to life through an engaging, insightful Talk geared toward early professionals who want to take control of their career path and make the most meaningful impact in their jobs in order to lead a more fulfilling life. Originally published in April of 2017. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

The cast & creatives from the Tony Award winning musical “The Outsiders” join us to perform a song and discuss the beloved story that defined a generation, reimagined as a groundbreaking new musical. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade, and their greaser family of ‘Outsiders' battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. “The Outsiders” navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, “The Outsiders” is a story of friendship, family, belonging, and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.” Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.

David DeSteno visits Google to discuss his book “Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride.” Grit, the ability to persevere against all odds, is often recognized as the key to success. But how can grit be cultivated and sustained? In this book, David DeSteno reveals that the most powerful tools we can draw upon to achieve our toughest goals are not willpower or self-denial, but our prosocial emotions—gratitude, compassion, and pride. This undervalued toolkit evolved specifically to help us resist immediate temptations in favor of long-term gains. DeSteno breaks down the long-overlooked mechanisms of perseverance built into our brains and shows how we can work with our emotions, instead of denying them, to achieve our goals. And he shows how we can do it with greater ease and deeper satisfaction than we would have thought possible. Originally published in February of 2018. Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.