From Flex Mami to Gretchen Carlson: 7 talks at Vivid Sydney that will help change how you think.

There's nothing quite like Vivid Sydney in winter.

3D light projections. Mesmerising art displays. A welcome line-up of live music we've missed singing along to (very badly) in person.

And the most incredible mix of deep-dive discussions to expand and challenge the way you think.

In a city where the great outdoors serves as the perfect backdrop (think Circular Quay, Darling Quarter, Luna Park and Taronga Zoo), this year's festival will deliver soul, diversity, resilience, First Nations culture, and vibrancy from the most creative performers, artists and thinkers right now.

After a two-year hiatus, Vivid Sydney kicks off from May 27 for 23 nights across 11 locations. As part of the Vivid Ideas and Vivid Music programs, we're *delighted* to see they've gathered some of the brightest minds and fearless storytellers for some big, juicy conversations.

Prepare to have your mind changed. Here are 7 boundary-pushing talks and events you need to see from Vivid Sydney's 2022 Ideas program. 

Gretchen Carlson & Lisa Wilkinson on Speaking Out

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Trust us when we say: this will be unmissable viewing. 

For candid conversations on women’s rights in the workplace and upending power imbalances, The New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Carlson and Australian journalist Lisa Wilkinson are *THE* women who command the floor.

Gretchen went public in 2016 with harassment claims against then Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, and courageously, paved way for the #MeToo movement. 

Since her landmark court case, Gretchen has successfully advocated and introduced new legislation, passed by US President Joe Biden in March of this year, that stops the silencing of victims.

She has also earned her badge as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People and Nicole Kidman's character in the movie Bombshell was inspired by her. Icon behaviour tbh.

Together, Lisa and Gretchen will unravel the shifting media, political and legal landscapes in Australia and the USA, and tell us what happens next when you expose misconduct and harassment.

It’s time to break the culture of silence – for good.

See Gretchen Carlson & Lisa Wilkinson on Speaking Out on May 29, 1:00pm - 2:30pm AEST. Get tickets here.

Troye Sivan & Flex Mami on Beauty, Art & Fluidity

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Everyone's favourite Flex Mami (author, TV host, DJ, podcaster, lover of Crocs) will be delighting us in a live and intimate conversation with another multi-talented creative: Perth-born singer-songwriter, art lover and fashion maverick Troye Sivan.

As multidisciplinary millennials, both are making major waves in the entertainment industry, and ready to dive deep in this session on what drives and inspires them; their approach to work, how they push creative boundaries and their latest artistic ventures.

Flex and Troye know the joys and pitfalls of growing up in the public eye, traversing global collaborations, and juggling multiple projects whilst trying to stay authentic with their wellbeing in focus. 

They're already passionate content creators surrounding topics of identity, intersectionality and mental health that challenges the way we think, so we're obsessed knowing we'll be soaking up their immaculate vibes soon in-person.

We'll basically be sitting here, tickets in hand, counting down the minutes until May 29 rolls around.

See Troye Sivan & Flex Mami on Beauty, Art & Fluidity on May 29, 5:00pm - 6:30pm AEST. Get tickets here.

The Future of Work

Malini Raj, Jamila Rizvi, Dr Emma A Jane, Bri Lee. Image: Mamamia/Vivid Sydney. 

The future of work is promising freedom, flexibility, fun and inclusivity. But is it actually too good to be true?

If you're aware of the gloss of the Girl Boss movement, this Vivid Ideas power panel of brilliant (and entertaining) women is certainly for you.

Moderator Malini Raj, Head of Community Engagement at CommBank, will be joined by three divergent thinkers about changes we can make now to improve work (and society) for the majority – not just the few. 

Among them will be Jamila Rizvi (author, journalist and gender equality advocate, as well as former Mamamia Editor-In-Chief!); Dr Emma A Jane (journalist turned academic with specialist skills in gender studies); and Bri Lee (who's authored books on entrenched hierarchies, issues of social stratification and privilege).

There'll be SO MUCH to explore here on the lives of Australian women, while unpacking the big question: will tomorrow's Australia actually be more equal than the one we were born into?

See The Future of Work on Jun 7, 3:30pm - 4:45pm AEST. Get free tickets here.

Squarespace Make It Awards

Squarespace is partnering with the Vivid Sydney to bring two very inspiring events to Vivid Ideas. 

The two talks will feature Australian creators, artists and entrepreneurs including the likes of Keep it Cleaner founder Steph Claire Smith, activist and stylist Deni Todorovic, creator Rowi Singh, Young Henry’s Dan Hampton, artist and designer Rachel Burke and many more.

Not only will these talks spark some serious inspo, the events are an important part of Squarespace's first Australian "Make it Awards".

A grant initiative that began in the US in 2017, inspired by the $30,000 investment that Squarespace founder Anthony Casalena received from his parents to launch the company.

Australia's version will grant three emerging businesses $30,000 and a year-long Squarespace subscription to take their business to the next level. Applications close June 3, and lady startups and business owners can apply on the website. The winner will be announced at Vivid Ideas event ‘What does it mean to “make it”?’ on 18 June. 

Run, don't walk.

See both Squarespace Vivid Ideas Sessions on May 28 from 12:30pm (Session #1), and June 18 from 7:30pm (Session #2) AEST. Get free tickets here.

The Future of Drugs

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If you have thoughts and feels about the latest debates on decriminalisation, legislation and medicalisation of illicit drugs, then most definitely run towards this Vivid Ideas Exchange event. 

Journalist Jenny Valentish is moderating this mind-expanding session with Australia’s leading experts to unpack the latest therapeutic breakthroughs (and help us little guys also actually understand the research into psychoactive medicine).

We'll hear from Director of University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, Professor Iain McGregor and his colleague Dr Samuel Bannister, plus a leading therapist from St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Dr Margaret Ross. 

Fun fact: Dr Ross is actually running Australia’s first psychedelic clinical trial using psilocybin – the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms – to help shift terminally ill patients’ perspectives on life, and death. Woah. We have so many questions.

(If you love this session, we recommend you get yourself to more of the 60+ thought-provoking Vivid Ideas Exchange events hosted at The University of Technology Sydney, including talks, seminars and film screenings on topics like queer Sydney, unlocking your creativity and slow fashion.)

See The Future of Drugs on Jun 3, 6:30pm - 7:30pm AEST. Get tickets here.

Dying Well with Lynette Wallworth

Image: Vivid Sydney. 

Emmy award-winning VR filmmaker and artist Lynette Wallworth has a long track record researching and documenting end-of-life rituals, with a deep interest in how cultural differences reflect our understanding of what happens at end of life.

She'll be in conversation with two remarkable doctors – Dr Justin Dwyer of Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital, and Dr Chris Kerr of Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo, NY– both of whom guide those at the gateway of death. 

Their creative approaches are re-shaping our relationship with death and offer hope for dying well.

You'll be SO intrigued with this conversation and want to binge Lynette's incredible documentaries right after this session.

See Dying Well on Jun 12, 1:30pm - 3:00pm AEST. Get tickets here.

Wellmania: Australian Museum X Vivid Ideas

Brigid Delaney, Jenny Valentish, Benjamin Law. Image: Mamamia/Vivid Sydney. 

Are our fixations on wellness a healthy aspiration or... a sickening obsession? From activated almonds to coffee colonics, this candid talk will examine the lengths we go to achieve wellness, and probe our thinking around the 'more-money-than-sense' level craze in this global trillion dollar industry.

Journalists and broadcasters Brigid Delaney and Benjamin Law will be chatting with Jenny Valentish, sharing their own philosophies on movements like 'quitting sugar', standards of conventional beauty, the influence of social media and their experience in using themselves as the "guinea pig".

See Wellmania: Australian Museum X Vivid Ideas on Jun 9, 6:30pm - 7:45pm AEST. Get free tickets here.

Vivid Sydney 2022 will be on from Friday May 27 until Saturday June 18, from 6pm to 11pm. Book tickets to the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas. 

Capture your experience of Vivid Light, Vivid Music and Vivid Ideas by tagging @vividsydney #vividsydney on social.