Talks at Google

Accelerator physicist Dr. Suzie Sheehy visits Google to discuss her book "The Matter of Everything: Twelve Experiments that Changed Our World." Her book tells a hopeful story of human ingenuity, creativity and unending curiosity, and introduces us to the people who, through a combination of genius, persistence and luck, staged ground-breaking experiments that shaped the world as we know it. From the physicists who soared in hot air balloons on the trail of new particles, to the serendipitous discovery of X-rays in a German lab; and from the race to split open the atomic nucleus, to the quest to find the third generation of matter, Dr. Sheehy offers a reminder of the thrilling discoveries that have shaped our lives—often without us even knowing it. Radio, TV, the chips in our smartphones, MRI scanners, radar equipment and microwaves, to name a few: these were all made possible by our determination to understand, and control, our world. Moderated by Matt Bongiovi. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Talks at Google welcomes Dani Melia, producer of the hit film "The Farewell," and Abigail Hing Wen, author of the bestselling novel "Loveboat, Taipei." Together they share their journeys of overcoming barriers to bring authentic, diverse stories to the traditional media & publishing industries. Dani Melia currently runs film operations for the New York-based indie powerhouse Big Beach. Most recently, Dani produced and developed Lulu Wang’s Sundance hit "The Farewell" starring Awkwafina. Released domestically in July 2019, the film beat out "Avengers: Endgame" for the highest per-screen average opening of that year. Abigail Hing Wen’s novel, "Loveboat, Taipei" debuted on the New York Times best sellers list and hit it again the following week. The novel is a Barnes & Noble Young Adult Book Club Pick, and is currently being adapted into a feature film. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Dan Savage is widely known for writing "Savage Love," a nationally syndicated sex advice column that tackles tough questions about modern sexuality, LGBTQ+ issues, infidelity and more. Esther Perel is perhaps best known for her bestselling book "Mating in Captivity" as well as her hit podcast, "Where Should We Begin?" which features conversations with real couples going thru their tribulations with marriage counseling. Together they speak with Google in what was the fifth of a series of Talks about modern romance, and they candidly and openly discuss infidelity, new models for marriages, abstinance-only sex education, monogamy and more. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Elliot Page is an Academy Award-nominated actor known for both tentpole and art house films. His love for storytelling and passion for social justice has now taken him behind the camera as a producer and documentary filmmaker whose work answers the call to action of a generation. A tireless champion of the under-represented, Elliot uses his global platform to shed light on important social and LGBTQ+ issues, partnering with the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice to raise money for grassroots activists and homeless youth. In 2020, Elliot announced that he is transgender. After coming out, Elliot received overwhelming support from the LGBTQ+ community and is now using his voice to speak out on issues of violence perpetrated against trans people, as well as confronting political leaders who seek to criminalize trans healthcare. In 2014, Elliot delivered a deeply moving and personal coming out speech at “Time to Thrive,” a conference that promotes the welfare of LGBTQ+ youth. The speech resonated with millions around the world who heard him share his desire to “make a difference, and help others have an easier, more hopeful time,” expressing what he deemed a “personal obligation and social responsibility.” Elliot’s courage, advocacy and leadership have made him one of the most admired and respected public figures of his generation. Moderated by Lauren Verrusio. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Faculty from the Center for Innovation in Ministry at the San Francisco Theological Seminary visit Google to discuss the subject of spirituality and the LGBTQ community. Rev. Floyd Thompkins is the Director of the Center for Innovation in Ministry at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Floyd has also served as a dean and chaplain at two world-class institutions, Stanford and Princeton. Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr is a lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister committed to social justice issues for the LGBTQ community, pursuing connections for wholeness with other oppressed communities claiming their freedom. Rev. Annanda Barclay is a former Theological Education Ministry Fellow at the Austin Theological Seminary, where she received her Master of Divinity Degree. Please enjoy this panel with Reverend Floyd Thompkins, Reverend Dr. Janie Spahr, and Reverend Annanda Barclay. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Dr. Lutza Ireland joins Google during Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month to discuss a neurosmart edition on how to love, live and work better. Have you ever wondered if someone really cares about you? Ever been told that you are ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’; maybe both? Maybe you tried as hard as you could, yet the feedback was ‘if only you tried harder’? Diversity in how people think, feel, and communicate means we often misunderstand each other, despite our best intentions. In this Talk, Dr. Lutza will introduce vital upgrades to our metaphorical ‘user guide’ to help us better navigate neurodiversity. Dr. Lutza is a psychologist and multi-award-winning social designer. She is passionate about making the invisible aspects of neurodiversity and mental health visible and workable. She uses design thinking to develop innovative resources, products, and services, such as the graphic ‘Stress and Anxiety during COVID’ field guide and bespoke neuro-inclusion employment pilots for large organizations. Moderated by Jim Hogan. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

David Baddiel visits Google to discuss his book "Jews Don’t Count", which uses a unique combination of reasoning, polemic, personal experience, and humour to discuss how antisemitism does not fit into traditional narratives and perceptions of racism. David’s book is aimed at people who consider themselves to be “fighting the good fight” against homophobia, ableism, transphobia and, particularly, racism. The comedian and writer follows the antisemitism he finds in his Twitter feed to the stage, through the media, and into politics, arguing that those who think of themselves as on the “right side of history” have often ignored antisemitism. The book outlines how and why this came to be in these modern times of intensely heightened awareness of oppressed groups. Moderated by James Rosenthal. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Acclaimed author Joy Kogawa visits Google to discuss her lifelong career as a writer, her experience as a child growing up in a Japanese internment camp during WW2, and her thoughts about how we can prevent similar human rights abuses in the future. Joy Kogawa is an author of novels, children's books, a memoir, and books of poetry. She is best known for her 1981 classic novel "Obasan", based on her family’s forced relocation from Vancouver during the Second World War when she was six years old. Kogawa has worked throughout her life to educate Canadians about the history of Japanese-Canadians, and has fought for official redress from the Canadian government for the unlawful internment of Japanese-Canadians. Moderated by Michelle Pham. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.  

Heidi Grant Halvorson, social psychologist and bestselling author, explains why we’re often misunderstood and how we can fix it. Most of us assume that other people see us as we see ourselves, and that they see us as we truly are. But neither is true. Our everyday interactions are colored by subtle biases that distort how others see us—and also shape our perceptions of them. But we can learn to clarify the message we’re sending once we understand the three lenses that shape perception: trust, power, and ego.. Based on decades of research in psychology and social science, Halvorson explains how these lenses affect our interactions—and how to manage them. This book is not about making a good impression, although it will certainly help you do that. It’s about coming across as you intend. It’s about the authenticity we all strive for. Originally published in July of 2016. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.