Solving for X

In this episode, Jay and Maryam Pasha, organizer of TEDxLondon, sit down to discuss the importance of giving a platform to people from varying demographics. Listen in as Maryam shares tools that can lead to a more inclusive event.

2:28 - A description of how TEDxLondon strives to reflect the diversity of the local community

7:04 - The approach TEDxLondon uses to set goals for representation

9:34 - A deep dive into the magical combination of the idea and lived experience

15:07 - A walkthrough of how to build a compelling speaker program

21:05 - Ideas about how to seek out underrepresented groups

23:02 - Thoughts on how TEDx events can challenge stereotypes

31:28 - An integral perspective on diversity as truth

Jay and Dmitri Gunn, organizer of TEDxCambridge in Boston, Massachusetts, walk through a creative model for partnerships that can be modified to suit any TEDx event.

2:13 - Context for the kinds of partnerships that exist at TEDxCambridge

4:44 - 4 steps to establishing a deal with a partner, beginning with prospecting strategies

5:34 - A description of the flat membership partnership model and how it works

9:20 - Tips about how to keep the flat membership model sustainable and democratic

15:47 - A step by step approach to pitching and closing a new partnership

22:18 - Insights on how to maintain partnerships year round

25:04 - The 4 primary ways partners benefit from attending a TEDx event

In this episode, Jay and Remo, organizer of TEDxSydney in Australia, take us through the spectacular journey of building an event from the ground up. Listen in as Remo and Jay detail the pivotal moments that contributed to the growth of TEDxSydney — and how every TEDx event can evolve alongside its local community.

1:37 - Insights on how the local community impacted the culture of the event early on

4:57- A narrative about how the event captured the essence of an evolving community

7:58 - A nontraditional approach to curation

9:37 - The secret to building demand for a TEDx event

11:11 - An in depth story about the transition into a larger venue

16:30 - The beauty of an ever-changing audience

20:20 - A walkthrough of the TEDxSydney attendee experience

23:31 - A radical approach to delegation

Music credit:

Lean Into All by CΔlyman (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Lemoneight/57674 Ft: Admiral Bob

Paint The Sky by Jeris (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/VJ_Memes/55442 Ft: MissJudged

In this episode, Mina Sabet, Director of Production and Video Operations at TED, provides a detailed walkthrough of the essential elements of audio, video, and lighting production. Listen in as Mina and Jay explore straightforward A/V strategies for events of varying sizes and budgets.

Here are some key points of interest:

3:28 - Suggestions about how to achieve simple and beautiful stage design

9:10 - An explanation of camera setup and necessary shots for TED in Vancouver

13:29 - A description of camera setup and shots for smaller TED events

14:48 - Recommendations for number of cameras and type of shots to get when on a budget

17:42 - Tips about how to obtain effective lighting

20:36 - A walkthrough of how to record the best audio possible

25:24 - A strategy for how to prepare speakers to work with the clicker

32:17 - Insights about post-production editing

Jay and Larissa, organizer of TEDxAlmaty, sit down to discuss fundamental elements of curation.

Larissa takes us on a journey from the start of TEDxAlmaty, all the way through to where the event stands today - and the values her team has used as a compass since day one. Listen in Larissa and Jay dive into how the team curates, and how each part of the process culminates in a spectacular experience for the audience.

Here are some highlights:

1:33 - Background on TEDxAlmaty and the uniqueness of the local community

4:47 - An insight about the impact of audience size on curation

10:37 - The approach TEDx Almaty uses to select speakers

13:55 - A perspective on how to measure integrity

19:44 - A strategy for giving the speaker a sense of ownership over their talk

21:04 - The challenge of reinventing a long-standing event

27:03 - Questions that the curation team asks to prompt speakers to dig deeper into their talk

Music credit:

commonGround by airtone (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/airtone/58703

the Morning by Vidian (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Vidian/58453 Ft: Ciggiburns, Aussens@iter, vo1k1

Jay and Safra, organizer of TEDxColombo in Sri Lanka, explore how she trains, sustains, and energizes her team. Listen in as Safra shares how she builds a team that is self-sufficient and prepared for succession.

Here are some key moments:

2:51 - The start of TEDxColombo and how it has expanded

4:36 - A description of Safra’s team structure and how the volunteers are recruited

8:01 - A timeline the steering team uses to plan for TEDxColombo

11:50 - A model for training new volunteers

17:15 - An outlook on preparing the team for succession

In this episode, Cloe Shasha, Speaker Development Director at TED, details the wisdom she’s gained from preparing speakers for the TED stage. Listen in as Cloe and Jay discuss strategies about each step of the speaker development process— from the moment a talk is first read by the curation team to the time the final rehearsal takes place.

Here are a few standout moments:

2:25 - The role of the first and second reader of a talk

3:28 - A breakdown of the notes that are sent to speakers after they’re first confirmed

9:07 - A strategy for working with speakers who are reluctant to write their first draft

10:50 - An account of what happens during TED speaker rehearsals

16:16 - One approach to helping a speaker embrace their own natural style

19:02 - An idea about how a locally curated idea can reach a global audience

Feature quality science with David Biello: In this special edition episode of Solving for X, we have a guest host -- our director of Digital Media and Programming for TEDx! In a fascinating interview, TED science curator David Biello talks about curating science talks responsibly. Putting cutting edge science on your stage can be both exhilarating and intimidating -- so listen in as these two staff members share tips and wisdom that can be applied to the TEDx stages across the globe.

Here are some highlights:

3:28 - Tips on how to make esoteric science accessible

4:40 - David describes the process of drawing out the scientist’s passion

10:55 - An exploration of the shared social responsibility of curating health-related talks

18:51 - David shares his thoughts on how to utilize language that frames scientific findings with precision

21:08 - Words of encouragement for young curators who coach science experts

Jay and Robert, co-organizer of TEDxDresden, have an in-depth conversation about budgeting and ticketing for a large event. In this episode, Robert shares his experience managing event funds and finding practical budget solutions.

Here are some points of interest:

2:53 - Robert talks about how a completely new organizer can begin to think about their expenses

8:15 - A detailed walk through of how ticketing works at TEDxDresden

13:46 - A clever method for building excitement around purchasing tickets

16:44 - Ideas about how a TEDx team can approach sponsors to drive revenue for their event

Jay and Helen, the Head of Curation at TED, have an enlightening conversation about stage programming. In this episode, Helen reveals what element she believes makes TED and TEDx events so memorable.

Here are some highlights:

2:44 - The first question Helen thinks about when she begins to plan a conference

7:01 - The benefits of having subject specialists to assist the curation process here at TED

8:57 - Thoughts on how to enhance your audience experience by building a narrative

11:33 - Suggestions on naming sessions to stretch the imagination of attendees

13:05 - Helen talks about her philosophy on speaker selection process