Back at the beginning of the year I posted a list of over two dozen idea conferences taking place in 2008 all around the world. A true test of one’s frequent flyer miles! Fortunately, several of these conferences now post many of their presentations online for free.

There’s of course the TED Talks. This is an exceptional library of top thinkers discussing important and new ideas. So many to view, but may I recommend starting with Sir Ken Robinson‘s brilliant review of creativity in schools, Lost creator J.J. Abrams‘s talk about “the mystery box”, or James Howard Kunstler‘s rant against suburbia. Or, better yet, just bounce from one vid to another.

Russell Davies, organizer of last year’s Interesting ’07 event, has posted a number of curious videos from his London gathering (as well as the Australian spin-off Interesting South) here. Good stuff. And I’m thrilled to say that I will be a speaker – not sure on what just yet! – at Interesting 2008 on June 21st.

Frans Johansson’s first-annual Medici Summit just wrapped up earlier this month and he promises to reveal video from it on his blog in the months ahead. One of The Pirate’s Dilemma author Matt Mason is already available here.

The Aspen Idea Festival showcases a variety of its videos – including conversations with Richard Branson, Colin Powell and, gulp, Karl Rove – here.

Toronto’s ideaCity (whose site appears to be down at the moment) offers up its professionally produced videos on annual DVD sets.

Rhode Island’s Business Innovation Factory also has a nice collection of free online videos featuring speakers from its three annual Collaborative Innovation Summits (the last two I posted about here and here). Be sure to check out Walt Mossberg’s interview with Clayton Christensen, Denise Nemchev‘s surprising story of Bostitch innovating a simple nail, Ivy Ross‘s reflections on how product design can best be structured, and Michael Singer‘s eloquent talk about complexity and community. And, peeling back the curtain, here is my appearance as part of BIF’s Short Takes video series released following the event. Mark Cuban, Jason Fried, Irving Wladawsky-Berger, and others – not bad company, I must say.

Happy viewing!

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