I’m An Ideas Gal: Current Affairs, TED Talks & Learning While I’m Working

I’m known for my love of reading articles and gathering information that I can then spew to everyone I encounter while they desperately try to tune out my endless babbling. I named my weekly article round-up “I was reading this article the other day…” because I honestly start about eight million sentences per week with that phrase and it probably irritates the hell out of everyone who knows me. Anyway, while I’m at work it’s not possible to be reading while I’m trying to, you know…work.

My office is absolutely nothing like this. In fact, this is my idea of hell.
(Image: Cooperation vol. II by Alessandro Calza)

I used to listen to music, but I find myself more often wanting to absorb some news or information, new ideas or points of view. I recently started to listen to Triple J’s afternoon current affairs show, Hack, but I don’t often make it home in time to listen to the whole thing. Handily, they put the show up online not long after it airs, so I can listen to it while I am at work, clicking away.

Image via abc.net.au

In fact, the ABC website has lots of great stuff to listen to – I particularly like the ABC Science audio page, which has great stuff from Dr Karl and audio from the Science Show. Take a look – it’s all free and easy to access.

Another great resource for listening to some innovative folks is the TED Talks page. The full-length talks are embedded from the Youtube page and there are some really interesting topical, cultural and personal talks from various TED and TEDx conferences around the world. TED is all about the spread of ideas, stories, solutions and inspiration.

Image via blog.ted.com

Here’s a list of the 20 most watched TED talks, but explore the site – there’s too many great talks to choose from and you will always find something that informs you, inspired you or that you can relate to.

I could just sit at work, performing repetitive tasks and rocking out to my favourite late nineties tracks (the late nineties of course is when music was best – because that was when I was a teenager, and the music from your teen years will always rule). Instead, I try to to pick up a thing or two in the process, lest my brain turn to mush and start dribbling out my ears.

Got a favourite TED Talk or a cool podcast I might find interesting? Link it below!