TED is a small nonprofit devoted to “ideas worth spreading.” It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: technology, entertainment, design. Since then the scope has become even broader.

My parents have been members for as long as I can remember. Every time they would return from one of the conferences, they seemed so optimistic, energized, and focused. I of course thought TED sounded like the lamest thing ever growing up — but I was also crimping my hair at the time, so my radar was a bit off.

This year my mother has invited me to join her at a TED global conference in India, exploring the beckoning future of South Asia — doesn’t sound lame at all!

We’re starting our trip in Delhi, then Agra, Jaipur, Bangalore, and Mysore (where TED India lives at the Infosys campus), finishing with a boat trip in the back waters of Kerala. I have my camera and my computer (and money for silk), so I’ll be taking you along with me for the next two weeks.

For those of you who have never heard of TED or visited its site, I highly recommend it. I think the world would be a far better place if we all watched TED talks instead of Access Hollywood, but I understand that mindless gossip sometimes helps clear your head.

Here are some of my favorite talks. They are 15 to 20 minutes each — perfect for a plane trip, bedtime story, or lunch break. Enjoy!

Life lessons from an ad man (Rory Sutherland, 2009)

Fashion and creativity (Isaac Mizrahi, 2008)