I gave a TEDx talk!

Just days after my book became a bestseller!

Hey friends,

Greetings from Ashoka University, India!

Wow, a lot is going on. I just published my first book, which became a bestseller within a few days, and then, barely a week later, I gave a TEDx talk.

And now I am confused about whether to write about my book or the talk.

I suppose I’ll dedicate this post to the talk (although you can check out the book by clicking here - https://www.amazon.in/Light-Wilder-Things-Ishan-Shanavas/dp/9382548041/)

---

So, on 28th March, I fulfilled a dream of mine—giving a TEDx talk.

Now you must understand. I have been brought up on TED talks. My mom got me hooked on them when I was very young, and she would actively encourage me to watch them. I think I can even remember her saying that I should watch one everyday.

So, to give one is a bit surreal.

[Incoming shameless (but not actually) book plug] Interestingly enough, a lot of people asked me to talk about my book during my TEDx talk. They even announced it while introducing me on stage.

But a TED talk isn’t about promoting one’s work. Not overtly at least.

TED talks are, at their core, about ideas.

Chris Anderson (the man behind TED) says so in his book - TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking. Those who know me personally have seen that book in my hands for years. In many ways, I feel like my prep for this talk stretches back more than a decade.

So what did I talk about?

My TEDx talk was about our backyard biodiversity; about how we could save our world’s wildlife by celebrating the wildlife in our backyard.

Often, in our media climate, wildlife is portrayed as what is “out there”, far from where we live. Most nature documentaries speak of the fate of creatures like polar bears and jaguars—living in the distant corners of the world. These are animals that we might never see, but people think that by showcasing their plight, they can inspire more people to join the conservation movement.

As a young person in the 21st century trying his best to support the cause, I haven’t found this method to be that effective. Not entirely at least. It’s only 1 side of the story.

In my talk, I talk about the other side of that story.

---

Now I thought I would elaborate on the idea here, but I suppose you’ll see it in the talk anyway. So why repeat? Instead, I’ll leave you in suspense. The talk should be on YouTube soon, so you can see it there.

I will leave you with this though: your backyard is wilder than you think. Wildlife often hides in plain sight. All you need to do is look. So after reading this post, look out your window. See something wild? Let me know!

I want to thank you all again for all the support. Many of you have been here for years, and I am truly moved by your relentless support. I will take you all behind the scenes with all the book work I promise (aka I will write about it. Right now things are a blizzard with all the book work—a privileged set of problems to have, that’s for sure!).

Postcard

There has been an immense build-up to this moment. It’s just the start. Watch me.

The talk will be on YouTube soon.

Favourite Quote

I do think writing a book is worth it though, I must say…

We live in an era where the best way to make a dent on the world may no longer be to write a letter to the editor or publish a book. It may be simply to stand up and say something . . . because both the words and the passion with which they are delivered can now spread across the world at warp speed. - Chris Anderson

Have a creative, wild and inspiring week!

If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and I am an Artist, Photographer, Writer and Student of the Natural World.

Here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.

I would greatly appreciate it if you shared my newsletter and work with your friends. It really helps me out :)