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Why the Best Ideas Come from Play | Maxwell Pearce | TED

Coaches kept telling Maxwell Pearce to stick to the fundamentals. Good thing he didn’t listen. A Harlem Globetrotter and artist, he went on to build a global reputation for gravity-defying dunks and a theory that the same playful rule-breaking is what powers progress in every field. In this joyful talk, he makes the case that…

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Coaches kept telling Maxwell Pearce to stick to the fundamentals. Good thing he didn’t listen. A Harlem Globetrotter and artist, he went on to build a global reputation for gravity-defying dunks and a theory that the same playful rule-breaking is what powers progress in every field. In this joyful talk, he makes the case that play isn’t the opposite of serious work — it’s the secret ingredient behind it. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

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TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Creativity

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8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. @jackfrostcm108

    June 11, 2026 at 12:54 pm

    Where is the dog 🐕?

  2. @ApexLegacyFilms

    June 11, 2026 at 3:26 pm

    🥰🥰🥰🥰

  3. @maxinedowns8013

    June 11, 2026 at 4:43 pm

    Pistol Pete Maravich would have been right at home on the Globetrotters because of his ball handling skills.

  4. @worldbrotherhoodglobal

    June 11, 2026 at 5:24 pm

    The corporate world forces you into rigid compliance grids, ignoring that true evolutionary power belongs to those who dare to break the pre-programmed loops and treat reality as a playground rather than a cage.

  5. @olgalatypova2300

    June 11, 2026 at 11:28 pm

    ❤

  6. @CenturyWisdom-q5w

    June 12, 2026 at 12:28 am

    Maxwell Pearce’s journey from a stifled kid to a celebrated athlete and artist is profoundly moving. He boldly shatters the rigid, hyperserious culture that crushes human creativity. His story proves that embracing joyful rebellion and trusting our playful instincts sparks brilliant innovation.

  7. @urbanstrencan

    June 12, 2026 at 1:43 am

    Great talk 😊

  8. @sinnceer_era

    June 13, 2026 at 11:37 am

    🙏🏾✌🏾🐜mahalo

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People & Blogs

The Shape-Shifting Sounds of the Accordion | Maria Telesheva | TED

Musician Maria Telesheva plays the accordion like a second set of lungs, showcasing this powerhouse instrument and its impressive 226 buttons — whether she’s playing Bach or the Beatles. In this talk and performance, she discusses how she fell in love with this musical acrobat and plays two beautiful songs. (Recorded at Play@TED on May…

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Musician Maria Telesheva plays the accordion like a second set of lungs, showcasing this powerhouse instrument and its impressive 226 buttons — whether she’s playing Bach or the Beatles. In this talk and performance, she discusses how she fell in love with this musical acrobat and plays two beautiful songs. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
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TikTok:
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X:

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Music #Performance

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People & Blogs

Life, like music, was never made to run in straight lines #TEDTalks

Grammy-winning musician Jacob Collier has a name for the feeling that moves through a great piece of music: the wiggle. Watch him break down the idea into its three parts — melody, rhythm and harmony — with nothing but his own voice, a grand piano and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” Turns out life,…

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Grammy-winning musician Jacob Collier has a name for the feeling that moves through a great piece of music: the wiggle. Watch him break down the idea into its three parts — melody, rhythm and harmony — with nothing but his own voice, a grand piano and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” Turns out life, like music, was never made to run in straight lines.

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People & Blogs

Good news: Even moving as little as 1 minute every 60 minutes can have health benefits #TEDTalks

Can a five-minute walk change how you feel all day? Exercise scientist Keith Diaz shows how your body is built for the kind of movement that modern life has quietly erased — and suggests something refreshingly doable: making time for small doses of movement sprinkled throughout the day, as a way to boost your brain…

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Can a five-minute walk change how you feel all day? Exercise scientist Keith Diaz shows how your body is built for the kind of movement that modern life has quietly erased — and suggests something refreshingly doable: making time for small doses of movement sprinkled throughout the day, as a way to boost your brain and body.

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