Talks at Google

Renowned astrophysicist and professor Vinod Krishan visits Google to discuss the phenomenal diversity of plasmas in the cosmos and in our day-to-day lives. Describing multi-level techniques used to study plasma configuration and stability, with emphasis on its relevance to the global challenges we face today like clean energy, Professor Krishan takes us on a journey to better understand plasma, the most prevalent state of matter in the universe. Dr. Krishan received her Ph.D. in 1971 in Solid State Physics from the University of Tennessee. She joined the department of Physics at the Indian Institute of Science in 1973, and after 4 years she joined the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, from where she retired as senior Professor and Dean of Sciences in 2008. Krishan has published over 150 research papers on Space and Astrophysical Plasmas in peer reviewed journals and has published 3 books: "Astrophysical Plasmas and Fluids", "Plasma: The First State of Matter", and "Physics of Partially Ionized Plasmas". Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Maureen Chiquet visits Google to discuss her book "Beyond the Label: Women, Leadership & Success in Our Own Terms". The book charts her unlikely path from literature major to global chief executive, guiding readers to move beyond the confines of staid expectations and discover their own true paths, strengths, and leadership values. Driven. Shy. Leader. Wife. Mother. We live in a world of categories — labels designed to tell the world, and ourselves, who we are and ought to be. Some we may covet, others we may fear or disdain; but creating a life that’s truly your own, means learning to define yourself on your own terms. Through vivid storytelling and provocative insights, Maureen’s book guides readers to consider the pressing questions and inherent paradoxes of creating a successful, fulfilling life in today’s increasingly complex and competitive world. Originally published in August of 2017. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

American Paralympic medalist Colleen Young visits Google to discuss her career journey as a Paralympian and World Champion, and how she is driving awareness for the visually impaired community. Colleen Young is a three-time Paralympic medalist, two-time bronze medalist in the 100m breaststroke, and a silver medalist in the 200m Individual Medley for Team USA. Having been born legally blind and with albinism, Colleen began swimming in 2005 at age seven after realizing she could focus on herself instead of a ball, unlike when she played soccer and softball. In 2012, she became the youngest member to compete in the U.S. Paralympic Swimming Team in London at age 14. For more information on Colleen, please visit www.colleenroseyoung.com. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

In celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities and in partnership with #IamRemarkable, Dame Evelyn Glennie visits Google to discuss her career as the world’s premier solo percussionist and how she has learned to listen differently since losing her hearing from childhood. As a profoundly deaf musician, Evelyn’s significance transcends the discipline of music; her unique skills as expert listener and sound creator have driven progress and innovation in a wide array of contexts on a global scale. She is the first person in history to create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist, performing worldwide with the greatest orchestras and artists. Evelyn has commissioned over 200 new works for solo percussion and has recorded over 40 albums. She regularly provides masterclasses and consultations to inspire the next generation of musicians. Leading 1000 drummers, Evelyn had a prominent role in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games which also featured a new instrument, the Glennie Concert Aluphone. She was awarded an OBE in 1993 and has over 100 international awards to date, including 2 Grammy’s, the Polar Music Prize and the Companion of Honour. She was appointed as the first female President of Help Musicians, and since 2021 she has been Chancellor of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Performer and writer Joy Harjo visits Google to discuss her journey and her new book "Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years". This selection of poems celebrates the three-term US Poet Laureate’s fifty years as a poet. She is an internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee Nation. Over a long, influential career in poetry, Joy’s poems intertwine ancestral memory and tribal histories with resilience and love. For this volume, she selects her best poems from across fifty years, beginning with her early discoveries of her own voice and ending with moving reflections on our contemporary moment. Detailed notes on each poem offer insight into her inimitable poetics as she takes inspiration from Navajo horse songs and jazz, reckons with home and loss, and listens to the natural messengers of the earth. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Wellness author and teacher Alexandra Elle visits Google to discuss her book "How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free." A practical and empowering guide to self-healing, this book is an invitation to heal yourself and reclaim your peace. Readers will discover essential techniques for self-healing, including journaling rituals to cultivate innate strength, accessible tools for processing difficult emotions, and restorative meditations to ease the mind. Alexandra weaves together themes like self-healing, mindfulness, and boundary setting to present the reader with easy-to-follow practices that have changed her life and the lives of the thousands of people whom she has taught. Her 4-part framework for healing will appeal to anyone who wants a clear process, while the compelling personal stories leave the reader feeling connected and ready to begin anew. Brimming with encouragement and delivered with her signature warmth and candor, How We Heal is a must-have companion for anyone who wants to unlock their inner wisdom and confidence to heal on their own. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

CEO of Good Steward LLC, financial coach, and author Shawn Rochester visits Google to discuss his book, "The Black Tax: The Cost of Being Black in America". He examines the various costs associated with being Black in America, as well as what the Black community and concerned advocates can do to help close the wealth gap.​ While Black Americans have long felt the devastating effects of anti-black discrimination, they have often had great difficulty articulating and substantiating both the existence and impact of that discrimination to an American public who is convinced that it no longer exists. Professionals in academia, the media, and the business community, along with people in the general public have struggled to explain the significant and persistent gaps in wealth, employment, and poverty between Black and White communities in what they perceive to be a post-racial America. In this book, Shawn Rochester shows how The Black Tax, or the financial cost of conscious and unconscious anti-black discrimination, creates a massive financial burden on Black American households that dramatically reduces their ability to leave a substantial legacy for future generations. Originally published in February of 2018 Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.