Videos
Dive in and enjoy some of our favourite talks from the Meaning back catalogue
Dive in and enjoy some of our favourite talks from the Meaning back catalogue
Rachel offered us an insight into the realities of human biases and decision-making. She called on us to consider the potential for mindfulness to create shared understanding and compassion in work, and in society. And she warned us to be wary of easy remedies that maintain a toxic status quo.
Community energy pioneer Agamemnon shows us how the best kind of change happens not when it is imposed upon us by powerful corporations or tech entrepreneurs – but when we all feel we have a stake in the innovations and projects that truly improve our cities and our world.
Brett explains how the practice of sortition – once favoured by the ancient Greeks and now demanded by the Extinction Rebellion movement – could revive the practice of government, by asking ordinary people, randomly selected, to make decisions on behalf of society.
Nilofer Merchant is a champion for the untapped potential lying wasted in organisations around the world. She believes passionately in the power each and every one of us has to help solve the challenges of our time. And she brought her own unique gifts to Meaning 2019 as our guide and host for a day of inspiration and discovery.
In his book ‘Winners Take All’ Anand Giridharadas vilifies the billionaire philanthropists who set themselves up as champions of humanity while propping up the broken system that put them at its top. We invited him to Brighton for a special Meaning Spotlight event.
In an ever-changing world, journalism as we know it is struggling to survive. At Meaning, entrepreneur and journalist Jennifer Brandel made a compelling case for a new approach to media creativity using an innovative model for audience-first journalism.
As chief executive of the World Fair Trade Organisation, Erinch brought to Meaning 2019 his passion and advocacy for fair trade – not just as a certification for products but as a way of operating collaboratively in business that supports communities, enables sustainability and creates prosperity.
Clare is an activist and campaigner devoting her creativity, her energy, and occasionally her personal liberty, to fight climate collapse. As a co-founder of Extinction Rebellion she is at the strategic heart of a mass movement of people using non-violent direct action in the firm belief that these are a proven way to create rapid change.
As chief executive of the New Economics Foundation, Miatta leads an organisation that is at the cutting edge of thinking on progressive economics and social policy. At Meaning she helped us understand how a Green New Deal can work in practice to create a more equitable and sustainable economy for all.
Armin is an investor on a mission: a mission to help companies protect themselves from the clutches of vulture capital. At Meaning he introduced us to the concept of steward ownership as a way to nurture a business’s growth without risking the integrity of its founding purpose.
Paul Mason returned to Meaning 2019 to help us explore what it means to be human in an age of algorithms and markets. He offered us a vision of ourselves as more than puppets, customers or cogs in a machine. An optimistic call to arms for the restoration of our collective humanity.
Maff Potts believes the key to a happier and healthier society is friendship. That’s why he founded the Association of Camerados. And he came to Meaning to tell the very personal story and invite us all to become Camerados too.
Sarah McKinley is part of the pioneering team that helped design ‘The Cleveland Model’ – a simple but radically transformative way for co-operative businesses to operate in partnership with public institutions as part of a healthy, resilient localised economy.
Not willing to accept the wasteful, unsustainable, unfair state of the consumer electronics industry, Fairphone decided to do things differently. Co-founder Bibi Bleekemolen shared their story at Meaning 2018.
Andrew is an author and campaigner with the powerful ability to not only communicate the scale of the challenges we face, but to embolden us to take the actions needed to urgently tackle climate breakdown.
In a world where our working culture often takes a toll on the mental health of entrepreneurs and employees alike, Poppy Jaman shares the concept of mental health first aid, and what we can all do to take better care of each other.
Bridging the divide between the worlds of art and business, Amy asks us to think differently. She challenges us to approach big challenges with the mindset and methodology of artists, embracing the creativity the emerges from uncertainty.
Neil is one of the founders of modern improvisational theatre, best known as co-creator of the Comedy Store Players. At Meaning 2018 Neil hosted an interactive session, using his brains, wit and charm to help us explore some tools and approaches for effective collaboration at work.
Aditya is a renowned journalist with a deep understanding of the world, its problems and the innovations taking place with the potential to improve lives. At Meaning 2018 he asked us consider how to fix a broken society and shared some alternatives.
Dan’s deep understanding of science and technology is coupled with his acute awareness of humanity and society. At Meaning 2018 he asked us to consider the relationship between AI and our mental health.
Atif is an entrepreneur who believes business and politics can, and should, mix. Using commerce as a tool to spread justice and fairness, Zaytoun is enabling isolated farmers in the occupied Palestinian territories to find an international market for their produce.
Marjolein’s passion is understanding how academic research translates into practice, so that collectively people can create paid and unpaid meaningful work. At Meaning 2018 she helped us to see the difference between meaning and purpose.
Helen Taylor is ambassador for the world’s greenest football club. Working within an established and traditional culture, Helen shows what happens when organisations can find the bravery to take a stand for what they believe.
Lani Morris has spent her life and career helping people find the ability to take control of their lives. At Meaning 2018 she was guide in the use of The Map of Meaning as an important tool to aid our quest for meaning.
Discover how it feels to be part of this very special gathering of thinkers and do-ers. Hear from the people who come together to make Meaning what it is.
Mark brought his energetic approach to the whole of Meaning 2017 as our guest director and host. In his opening talk he sets out his hopes for a day full of conviction, optimism, purpose and connection.
Theatre-maker Zoë Svendsen invites us to participate in a work in progress – exploring how future systems will enable us to live and work through climate change.
Kate argues that we must find smarter ways to do business. Her ‘Doughnut Economics’ offers a way to think differently about our planet, our people and our priorities.
Kate Beecroft shows us how the dream of a collaborative workplace can be empowered by some innovative thinking and practical tools for smart decision-making.
Boldest business innovators aren’t just found in corporate boardrooms or funky tech start-ups, but in street markets, prisons and refugee camps. Welcome to The Misfit Economy.
Jurriën lives at Humanitas – a community young people contribute their time and attention for the benefit of their old neighbours and companions.
Margaret Wheatley – an authority on systems thinking – shares her vision of the kind of leadership we need in order to survive these turbulent times.
Thriving in conditions of extreme disruption and uncertainty, Médecins Sans Frontières is truly remarkable. Vickie Hawkins shares with us an insight into MSF’s role in the world.
Vinay is one of the world’s leading thinkers on global systems risk. He shares his thinking on the blockchain and its potential to radically alter world bureaucracy for the better.
Carl brings powerful lessons from the education sector, based on a deep understanding of how teams learn and work.
Ynzo tells the remarkable story of Tony’s Chocolonely, founded to radically change the way we think about chocolate and the people whose labour brings it to our shelves.
Mark is the visionary evangelist for the future who brought his energetic approach to the whole of Meaning 2017. In this his closing talk he guides us through the 8 principles of successful optimists.
Paul addresses the ideas set out in his book ‘PostCapitalism – a guide to our future’. He argues that our economic system needs radically rethinking in this information age.
Jo shares her deep and powerful insight into the true nature of empathy – and her meetings with Patrick Magee – the man whose actions killed her father.
Juliet’s business Good Energy is subverting the conventional giants of the energy sector. She describes her journey from physicist to activist entrepreneur.
Oliver explains why he set up a beekeeping venture on the rooftops of Copenhagen, creating value, purpose, jobs – and delicious honey.
Felix is founder of platform co-op Fairmondo: a connected marketplace where technology, power and profit belong to its users, not to the big online monopolies.
James explains his disruptive, democratic approach to energy. As founder of Open Utility, he shows how technology brings transparency and opportunity to the industry.
Frances takes a deeper look at the concept of basic universal income, arguing that we must reinvent the very idea of work if we are to allow everyone to fulfil their potential.
Hilary Jones lifts the lid on cosmetics company Lush, showing us how a firm ethical vision has shaped the development, practices and policies of this growing brand.
Paul provides a unique insight into self-management at US tomato-processing company Morning Star, where colleagues work together without the need for hierarchy.
Dave Birch examines the role of blockchain in building the future of business. Can we rethink the mechanisms and conventions of the global economy?
Artist and curator Clare Patey uses participative artworks to show how the transformative power of empathy enriches our society, shifts mindsets and affects global issues.
Summing up after the rousing talks and bold ideas of Meaning 2016, Paul asks what we – what you – will do to make a difference in our ever-changing world.
Chaired by Paul Mason, a panel drawn from politics, business and social affairs discusses the idea of leadership, and what it means in the 21st century.
Marcus creates performance art that evokes shamanism and animal spirits. He invites us to recognise the power of our subconscious mind to solve problems.
Julia believes the energy industry needs to innovate. She argues that we should support the entrepreneurs bold enough to think differently about sustainability.
Jos is founder of Dutch healthcare organisation Buurtzorg, where autonomous teams of nurses work free from the constraints of management structure.
James Vacarro of Triodos Bank helps us look at the world’s challenges from the perspective of sustainable banking. How do we invest for good?
Jaideep gives us a refreshing view of innovation, demonstrating how working with fewer resources can lead to smarter results. Welcome to ‘Jugaad’ innovation.
Jackie tells us about the dramatic change that can be created when motivated people are empowered and motivated to work together as a real community.
Annette tells us about the Almanac of the Future – bringing together young and old people to map our own futures independently of governments of brands.
Who holds the power in the companies and organisations that seek to be part of a better world? Our panel of experts and business leaders takes a look.
Joel and Michelle Levey run an experiential workshop to help us more deeply understand how the practice of mindfulness helps us cope with our complex, challenging world.
Sun Tui sheds light on her life-changing work, and what we as humans can learn from horses about communication, respect and leadership.
Stefania shows us how the innovation and collaboration engendered by maker culture is enabling grass-roots problem-solving in developing countries.
Neil explains how ‘improv’ has grown from its educational roots into a powerful form of comedy that is now being used in business to foster trust and collaboration.
Miriam Turner helps us see how businesses can adopt the principles of the circular economy – extending the lifespan of raw materials through designed reuse.
Joel and Michelle invite us to embrace the complexity of our world and use mindfulness to promote leadership, change resilience and collective intelligence.
Lauri tells the remarkable personal story of how she found herself needing to press life’s reset button. For her, success and consciousness go hand in hand.
Ben explains why he founded Positive Money, a campaign for a banking system that works for society. He challenges us to imagine a truly sustainable system.
World-renowned happiness-at-work expert Alexander calls for a movement of workplace rebels willing to embrace their principles and stand up for what is right.
Two years after appealing for help, Iain tells us how a community with drive and vision has come together to create something very special in Brighton.
Mark examines how emerging technologies will disrupt and transform the future of geo-politics, industries, organisations, careers, and life as we know it.
Sue Black knows that access to technology needs to be fair and equitable. So her ‘TechMums’ project takes up the challenge of equipping everyone with the skills they need.
A thought-leader in financial technology, Dave gives us an entertaining tour of money: what is does, how we use it and how it is evolving in our ever-changing world.
How do employee-owned businesses manage to grow and thrive in a troubled economy? Mikel tells us the story of MONDRAGON, its people and its success.
As founder ofJustGiving, Anne-Marie Huby tells us how innovation can disrupt all kinds of services, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and charities alike.
Founder of the Swedish Pirate Party, Rick Falkvinge inspires us with a story of how firm conviction, strong networks and a little technology can change the world.
Lee’s command of business, technology and international relations has given him a vision of how we should work and lead. He shares it with us.
Mary Alice shares with us her belief in the power of stories to build connections, share meaning and understand each other’s purpose.
Punk brewer James tells the story of how he co-founded BrewDog, who – with a big vision and a load of passion – overturned an entire industry to become Scotland’s biggest brewer.
Rogue economist Umair Haque suggests to us that capitalism is broken. It is no longer fit for purpose. So where do we go from here?
Artist Honor Harger takes us on a creative journey where technology, infrastructure and human beings are combined to create a vision of the future.
Stowe is one of the big thinkers in the world of innovative business. His research and insights helps us see how the near-future of business could actually look.
As the UK’s only Green Party MP, Caroline fights for better ways to live and work, arguing that our traditional ideas of economic growth have become a distraction.
David Hieatt believes in quality. With a single-minded focus, he has built companies, manufactured products, created employment and rebuilt the livelihood and well-being of a town.
Beginning what has become a strong future-focussed theme among Meaning speakers, Indy asks us to imagine what the future of life and work may hold.
Karen Pine shares with us her work on how we achieve significant personal growth not by changing what we think, but what we do. Hear the stories of the people she’s helped.
Meaning’s first brush with renowned happiness evangelist Alex Kjerulf. What does happiness at work really look like and feel like? How can you be happier?
Pam Warhurst likes to shake things up. She tells her story of seized opportunities, healthy communities and working quickly with great impact.
Margaret Elliot believes we should do the right thing by one another – not just in our daily actions, but in the way we create, own and run businesses.
What does the future hold? Will it be brutal and volatile, or intelligent and full of goodness? Vinay considers all the possibilities as he opens our minds to uncertainty.
Does email hold us back? Can we find smarter processes that improve our communication, enable our work and keep us happier and healthier? Meet the man who gave up email.
Brighton community leader Iain Chambers took a stand at Meaning 2012, feeling the goodwill in the room giving him inspiration on his quest to save a community venue.
Andrew is a journalist and author with the powerful ability to not only communicate the scale of the challenges we face, but to embolden us to take the actions needed to create a more positive future.