15 of the Best Ted Talks to Watch For a Dose of Inspiration

You may know Adam Driver from Star Wars, BlacKkKlansman, or Marriage Story, but did you know he used to be a marine? In this popular TED talk—great for kids and adults alike—the actor explains his incredible journey across careers and why he started his nonprofit organization, Arts in the Armed Forces.

Named an O, the Oprah Magazine's 2020 Visionary, research psychologist Kelly McGonigal delivered one of the most popular TED talks in 2013 about using stress to your advantage. Her arguments on embracing the stressful moments can be particularly helpful for college students in your life who might be facing tough decisions.

Looking for TED talks for kids, for teens, or for high school students interested in music? This incredible instrumental performance from renowned beatboxer Tom Thum will definitely have you watching over and over again in disbelief.

Have you ever wondered who was on the other end of those spam emails you get in your inbox? Comedian James Veitch started communicating back-and-forth with a spammer for months, resulting in one of the most popular and funniest TED talks of all time.

For teachers looking to inspire kids in the classroom, popular YouTuber and inventor Simone Giertz makes a joyful case for why you should never stop asking questions and creating—regardless of the end result.

This popular, thought-provoking TED talk on education explores whether our schools are properly equipped for kids. As a creativity expert and author of The Element, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical rethinking of how we teach the next generation of leaders.

For teachers who want to command the attention of the classroom, or for parents trying to get your kids to listen, learn from sound consultant Julian Treasure who explains the how-to's of speaking with power and empathy.

If anyone knows the power of a story, it's MacArthur Genius Grant awardee Chimamanda Adichie, author of bestselling novels We Should All Be Feminists, Americanah, Half of a Yellow Sun.

Watch Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani deliver one of the funniest TED talks on YouTube while speaking to an audience in Doha, Qatar. He discusses everything from the proper etiquette for greeting somebody to what not to say while boarding a plane.

After the success of her first viral Ted Talk on vulnerability in 2012, Gifts of Imperfection author and researcher Brené Brown—who now has her own Netflix special—returned the following year to talk about the power of confronting shame.

As the director of a 75-year-old Harvard study on adult development, Robert Waldinger delivered one of the most popular TED talks about what makes for a happy life.

Feeling a little stressed or overwhelmed in your day-to-day life? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe makes the case that you only need to take 10 minutes of doing nothing to refresh your mind.

Watch Apollo Robbins as he tests your attention and your perception while demonstrating his ability as a master artist of misdirection in one of the funniest, most entertaining TED talks.

Transport yourself to outer space for 17 minutes as journalist Stephen Petranek makes the case that humans will live on Mars within 20 years.

"I'm like Shakira meets Muhammad Ali," jokes Arab-American comedian and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid, who recently modeled for O, The Oprah Magazine's collection with Talbots. If you're looking for inspiration to go out and conquer your dreams, this is for you.