Check here often for discussion content from sources such as U.S. government-sponsored webinars, Ted Talks, Public Broadcasting, Voice of America, and ECA’s 22.33 Podcast.

Webinars

Here are discussion guides on U.S. government-sponsored webinar complete with links to download the videos to conduct watch parties or virtual programs around the videos.

• Empowering Women Leaders (PDF 1 MB) 
• Women’s Entrepreneurship (PDF 906 KB)
• Credible Newsmaking (PDF 1.1 MB)
• EducationUSA: Financing your U.S. Studies (PDF 1.5 MB)
• EducationUSA: Supporting Students with Disabilities (PDF 1.3 MB)

Podcasts

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. A podcast is an audio recording on just about any topic that can be downloaded on most devices and listened to at anytime. Podcasts are relatively easy to create and are a tool for American Spaces to promote media literacy, journalistic skills, and press freedom.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has published this guide on how to create your own podcasts. This is a great resource for journalism and podcasting clubs.

ECA has also created the 22.33 podcast on exchange stories. Below are discussion guides for some of these podcasts.

• Season 1, Episode 8: Call Me Teacher – This discussion guide (PDF 1 MB) pulls out the theme of stereotyping across cultures.
• Season 1, Episode 64: Spaceship Earth: The Ultimate Exchange (with Cady Coleman) – This discussion guide (PDF 662) focuses on how our perceptions influence how we see others and ourselves.
• Connecting through Isolation – The “Connecting Through Isolation” 22.33 podcast series launched due to the COVID-19 global pandemic when many were forced to stay at home. These episodes are a compilation of people from all over the world submitting audio recordings of their experiences.
  • Part 1 (PDF 421 KB) – Messages from three continents and original songs
  • Part 2 (PDF 371 KB) – Letting go of expectations, and how this crisis has intensified misinformation and xenophobia
  • Part 3 (PDF 502 KB) – Balancing the joys of springtime with the realities of social isolation.
  • Part 6 (PDF 957 KB) – A backyard musician and a quarantine reading list
  • Part 8 (PDF 501 KB) – Musical inspiration from all over the world and original songs by Giselle Felice & Erik Abernathy, Wordsmith, Seth Glier, Stela Botan, Tony Memmel, Just Wade Tam, and more. Turn this one up loud!
  • Part 9 (PDF 711 KB) – Gratitude for those in our lives and those keeping us safe

TED Talks

TED is a nonpartisan nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED began in 1984 as a conference where technology, entertainment, and design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.

• Equity - What is it, and Why our Children Deserve it?

  PDF (1.2 MB)
  Speaker: Rodney Robinson
  Length: 17 min
  Themes: Diversity, Equity, Equality, and Education

• The Untapped Genius that could Change Science for the Better

  PDF (1.7 MB)
  Speaker: Jedidah Isler
  Length: 13 min
  Themes: Diversity, STEM, Science, Women’s Empowerment

• Three Steps to Turn Meetings into Transformative Gatherings

  PDF (1.6 MB)
  Speaker: Priya Parker
  Length: 10 min
  Themes: Virtual Programming, Meetings, Conflict Resolution, Communication

• Fight for Disability Rights

  PDF (1.4 MB)
  Speaker: Judith Heumann
  Length: 17 min
  Theme: Civil rights, American with Disabilities Act, discrimination, and opportunity

• Overcoming Bias

  PDF (987 kb)
  Speaker: Verna Meyers
  Length: 18 min
  Theme: Racism, unconscious bias, and inclusion

• TED Talk: Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave

  Microsoft Word (623 kb)
  Length: 15 min. 53 sec.
  Theme: Gender-Based Violence; Women’s Empowerment

• PBS Story: How Media Literacy Can Help Students Discern Fake News

  PDF (330 kb)
  Length: 7 min., 31 sec.
  Theme: Media Literacy

• Highlights from State Interactive Program: Athletes Without Limits

  PDF (556 kb)
  Theme: Disabilities Inclusion, Sports Diplomacy, Women’s Empowerment

• TED Talk: Ancient Wonders Captured in 3D

  (PDF 371 kb)
  Speaker: Ben Kacyra
  Length: 12:20 min.
  Theme: Cultural Preservation, Science & Technology

• TED Talk: The Unexpected Challenge of a Country's First Election

  (PDF 1 MB)
  Speaker: Philippa Neave
  Length: 11 min.
  Theme: Election Principles, Democratic Values

• TED Talk: Why Ordinary People Need to Understand Power

  (PDF 1 MB)
  Speaker: Eric Liu
  Length: 17:15 min.
  Theme: Civic Engagement, Democratic Values

• Anti-Corruption

  (PDF 597 KB)
  TED Talk: What Really Motivates People to be Honest in Business?
  ShareAmerica Video: Company Gets Unfair Access – What’s the Harm?

• How We Can End Sexual Harassment at Work

  (PDF 617kb)
  Speaker: Gretchen Carlson
  Themes: Sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and workplace quality
  Duration: 15 min