How to overcome fear? Tips from the world’s first drone jumper | Ingus Augstkalns
In his talk, Ingus Augstkalns speaks about his journey into BASE jumping, his method of overcoming fear, and his drone jump project that put him into the world’s spotlight as the first human to perform a parachute jump from a...
Public speaking needs more introverts, and vice versa | Davis Golds
It is often said that public speaking — the ability to communicate ideas clearly for a larger audience — is a skill for extroverts. However, introverts will often have ideas and visions that they need to share with the world...
What you see when you listen… with your eyes
Elza Volonte has an uncommon ability: sign language is her native tongue, though she is not deaf. Having been raised by deaf parents, Elza holds a unique perspective of being able to observe two worlds simultaneously: one, where listening is...
The Curious Case of Drums
Drums — always there in the background, and more often than not — overlooked. Kaspars Kurdeko challenges traditional views of the drums and takes us on a creative musical journey. He demonstrates the true art of percussion — seeing the...
Hello, please let me capture your personal space
What happens when a young and inexperienced documentarian sets out to portray the personal life of an eccentric individual? When does documenting become prying into one’s private life, and what are the ethical choices a filmmaker faces in such a...
The Hanging Garden
Anything is permitted in Elizabete Balčus’ cosmic garden: looped flute and voice, clicking electro pop beats, and a synthesizer made out of fruit. “The Hanging Garden” is a song from her album “Conarium” and it represents the diversity of identity...
The wisdom of three generations, held together by a thread
What does it mean, as a refugee, to lose everything — even your sense of cultural identity? How does one connect to their heritage after being displaced? Līga Ruperts tells her story at TEDxRiga 2017.
The elephant in the room: a look at animal rights | Sandris Adminis
They are present in countless areas of our lives — from our daily dose of lolcats to state-of-the-art pig organ donors, and even considered our distant relatives according to Darwin and scientific discoveries. Their wellbeing is a topic that has...
The state is a deeply personal experience
How do we perceive country, nation, and state? The term 'country' emphasizes the physical dimensions and boundaries of a geographical area. The term 'nation' emphasizes a particular community of people with shared history and culture. The term 'state' stands for...
Prelude to a seashore
The duet called Kaktiņš Stūrītis was created in 2011, when Mārtiņš Jansons arrived to take up residence in Liepāja, where Mārtiņš Kuzmins had already been living. As a result of a combination of different circumstances in their lives, the two...