TED Talks
Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs. West -- the myths that mystify
Devdutt Pattanaik takes an eye-opening look at the myths of India and of the West -- and shows how these two fundamentally different sets of beliefs about God, death and heaven help us consistently misunderstand one another.
TED Talks
TED: What crows teach us about death | Kaeli Swift
Rituals for the dead span much of the natural world, seen in practices from humans and elephants to bees, dolphins and beyond. With charm and playful insight, animal behaviorist Kaeli Swift delves into the life (and death) habits of...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The history of chocolate - Deanna Pucciarelli
If you can't imagine life without chocolate, you're lucky you weren't born before the 16th century. Until then, chocolate only existed as a bitter, foamy drink in Mesoamerica. So how did we get from a bitter beverage to the chocolate...
Crash Course
What Is Theater? Crash Course Theater #1
Welcome to Crash Course Theater with Mike Rugnetta! In this, our inaugural week, we're going to ask the two classic questions about theater. 1.What is theater? And 2. Is it spelled -re or -er? Well, there's a clue to question two in the...
Science ABC
Crow Funeral : Do Crows Mourn Their Dead?
Crows are amongst the most intelligent birds in the animal kingdom. These birds possess higher cognition skills, which allow them to solve complex problems and plan their future tasks. Their response to death is another unique feature...
Wonderscape
What Was Stonehenge's Purpose? Exploring Theories and Rituals
Discover the many theories about Stonehenge’s purpose, from its potential role as an ancient calendar to a site for religious rituals and burials. Learn about the evidence pointing to ceremonies, feasts, and even possible healing...
Curated Video
I WONDER - What Religion Was Important During The Iron Age?
This video is answering the question of what jobs did people do in the iron age.
Curated Video
What are Morgan's 8 Organizational Metaphors? An Organization is Like a...
Sometimes the best way to understand something complicated and abstract is with a metaphor. Gareth Morgan suggested we can gain some good insights into the nature of organizations from 8 organizational metaphors.
Curated Video
Cognitive Reappraisal: How to Control Negative Thoughts
Wouldn’t it be great if you could replace negative thoughts with alternatives that are both positive and true? Well, this is called Cognitive Reappraisal, and there are techniques to help you. Get our Kindle-exclusive companion to this...
Weird History
What Viking Parties Were Like
Ancient Norse seafaring Vikings were well-known as explorers, traders, and warriors. But when they got down, they weren't messing around. Sure, Norse Sagas tell of epic voyages, and etymological studies have granted insight into the...
Curated Video
Kateri Tekakwitha: First North American Indigenous Saint
Kateri Tekakwitha's journey from a Mohawk village to Catholic sainthood reflects the intertwined tales of faith and colonization in 17th century America.
Curated Video
How To Tell If You Have Harm OCD
In this video, we'll be discussing harm OCD, which is a specific type of OCD where people are worried about harming others. We'll discuss the signs and symptoms of harm OCD, as well as how to get help if you think you might have it.
Curated Video
Signs You Might Be Struggling With Scrupulosity (Religious OCD)
Do you sometimes feel like you're being too hard on yourself? That maybe your thoughts and feelings just don't line up with what everyone else seems to believe? If so, you might be struggling with scrupulosity. In this video, I talk...
Jack Rackam
What did Confucius Actually Do? | The Life & Times of Confucius
Love weird and wacky history? So Confucianism is sort of a big deal, it's been the guiding principle of one of the largest empires on the planet for some 2000 years, but when was the last time you heard anything about Confucius himself?...
Curated Video
Going Places: Maximizing Goal Achievement Part 2
In Part 2, the focus shifts to goal achievement. The host explains the two types of goals: result goals and ritual goals. Result goals are the desired outcomes or achievements, while ritual goals are the habits or behaviors that support...
Curated Video
I WONDER - How Did The Greeks Worship The Gods?
This video is answering the question of how did the Greeks worship the gods.
Religion for Breakfast
What is Shinto?
What is Shinto? This is Episode 1 of a 5-part series introducing what some call the indigenous Japanese religion. What is it all about? What are kami? And how do people practice it?
Religion for Breakfast
History of Halloween: Pagan or Christian?
Halloween was not always a holiday of candy, costumes, and parties. Its history stretches back almost two thousand years. But what is this history? And what extent can we call Halloween a Christian holiday...if at all?
Religion for Breakfast
What is Ritual?
"Ritual." We all think we know what it means...right? Ritual, though, is a lot more complicated than you think.
Religion for Breakfast
When Shinto Became a “Religion"
In this episode we examine the topic: When Shinto Became a “Religion"
Step Back History
What is the Voodoo Religion?
When I say the word Voodoo, what do you think of? You might think of eerie magic, witch-doctors, dolls of your enemies, or even zombies. I’m going to dispel the myths here and talk about not only this very misunderstood religion, but...
Religion for Breakfast
The Ancient Egyptians Believed in Invisibility Spells
An example of a magical text from the 5th century CE. What can it tell us about the beliefs and practices of ancient individuals living in Greco-Roman Egypt?
Religion for Breakfast
Is Jediism a Religion?
Jediism came to prominence in 2001 during the UK census when a bunch of people claimed to be "Jedi" as their religion. But there also is a real-world movement of people calling themselves Jediists, followers of Jediism. How should...
Religion for Breakfast
Would Alien "First Contact" Destroy Religion?
As NASA continues to discover thousands of new exoplanets, humans have increasingly asked: "Are we alone?" If other intelligent species exist in our universe, do they practice religion too? If so, how would human world religions react to...