Check out TEDx Marin Videos

TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading that started out as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. With two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh UK each summer, TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and TED Conversations, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.

The TED curators took a leap of faith when they decided to conduct this experiment in thought leadership: inviting local people to host their own TED events, under the banner of TEDx. (The x stands for independently organized.) Organizers need only apply for a license, abide by core TED traditions, and they've got themselves a world-class brand from which to launch their own "ideas worth spreading." "It's a platform built on trust," says TEDx founder and director Lara Stein.

Corporate Strategist, Bill O'Connor, is my colleague in the Corporate Strategy & Engagement team. Bill recently hosted a TEDx even in Marin County, California -- home of the Autodesk headquarters in San Rafael. Autodesk own Distinguished Research Scientist, Andrew Hessel, was one of the speakers. The TEDx Marin site will actually allow you to check out all 6 of the speakers. These videos are not long, and you will not regret the time you spend watching them.

1. Ed Lu, Astronaut, 14 minutes
   Changing the Course of the Solar System

2. Lynne Twist, Author/Speaker, 13 minutes
   Our Collective Dream

3. Andrew Hessel, Futurist, 19 minutes
   The Dark Side of the Double Helix

4. Mohammed Majdoubi, Neurobiologist, 15 minutes
   The Brain of Homo Digitalis

5. Rachel Mendar, CEO, 15 minutes
   The Future of American Capitalism

6. Gary Lauder, Venture Capitalist, 11 minutes
   Designing as if Time Mattered

California dreaming is alive in the lab.