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Best Productivity & self-improvement videos, as recommended on Hacker News

90 videos about productivity & self-improvement that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2007 and 2026. Mostly talk, lecture, explainer. Channels that come up most: TEDx Talks, TED, CGP Grey, Andrew Huberman. Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is How to Speak: HN treats it as the canonical, near-universally recommended lecture on giving talks and presentations.

• lectureHow to SpeakMIT OpenCourseWare · 17 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• talkSteve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005JoshuaG · 13 HN recommenders · 2007–2015
• lectureRandy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood DreamsCarnegie Mellon University · 12 HN recommenders · 2008–2023
• podcastControlling Your Dopamine For Motivation, Focus & SatisfactionAndrew Huberman · 12 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• explainerMusic and Life - Alan Wattsseandulac · 11 HN recommenders · 2010–2022
• lectureHamming, "You and Your Research" (June 6, 1995)securitylectures · 11 HN recommenders · 2012–2023
• talkHammock Driven Development - Rich HickeyClojureTV · 12 HN recommenders · 2014–2024
• lectureMarty Lobdell - Study Less Study SmartPierce College District WA · 6 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
• explainerYou Need a Theme, Not a GoalCGP Grey · 10 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• talkMike Monteiro: F*ck You, Pay MeCreativeMornings HQ · 12 HN recommenders · 2015–2026
• talkMindfulness with Jon Kabat-ZinnGoogle · 11 HN recommenders · 2009–2017
• explainerYour Brain Thinks Your Whole Home Is One RoomCGP Grey · 17 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
• talkSteve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement AddressStanford · 9 HN recommenders · 2009–2023
• explainerThe 7 Habits of Highly Miserable PeopleCGP Grey · 11 HN recommenders · 2017–2026
• talkIra Glass on Storytelling 3warphotography · 7 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• lectureNVC Marshall Rosenberg - San Francisco Workshop - FULL ENGLISH SUBTITLES TRANSCRIPTIONCentrum Nadania · 6 HN recommenders · 2019–2026
• lectureLEADERSHIP LAB: Writing Beyond the Academy 1.23.15UChicago Social Sciences · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• explainerWhy Is It So Hard to Do Something That Should Be Easy? (Wall of Awful pt. 1)How to ADHD · 6 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
• interviewSteve Jobs Secrets of LifeSilicon Valley Historical Association · 6 HN recommenders · 2012–2024
• talk7 Habits For Effective Text Editing 2.0GoogleTalksArchive · 5 HN recommenders · 2013–2023
• talkHow to sound smart in your TEDx Talk | Will Stephen | TEDxNewYorkTEDx Talks · 6 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
• talkBryan Cranston's Advice to Aspiring ActorsOscars · 5 HN recommenders · 2015–2022
• talkThe first 20 hours -- how to learn anything | Josh Kaufman | TEDxCSUTEDx Talks · 5 HN recommenders · 2014–2024
• tutorialYou Suck at Excel - Joel Spolsky (Reupload)Cool Bug Facts · 7 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• talkEmacs Org-mode - a system for note-taking and project planningGoogle TechTalks · 5 HN recommenders · 2009–2024
• lectureRandy Pausch Lecture: Time ManagementCarnegie Mellon University · 4 HN recommenders · 2009–2021
• comedyDo Nothing- a message of motivation from Self-help Singh- (un) motivational speaker and life coachMasood Boomgaard · 4 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• talkKeep your goals to yourself | Derek SiversTED · 2 HN recommenders · 2010–2023
• talkInside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator | Tim Urban | TEDTED · 5 HN recommenders · 2016–2023
• interviewJeff Bezos - Regret Minimization FrameworkMicky Thompson · 5 HN recommenders · 2010–2024
• demoE-Ink for Productivity: An IntroductionTechnology Connextras · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• talkEmacs For Writersthoughtbot · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• talkThis Is Water by David Foster Wallace Full SpeechJoe Mita · 5 HN recommenders · 2015–2022
• lecture31 Hamming, Learning to Learn: You and Your Research, 6 June 1995Hamming on Hamming: Learning to Learn · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• lectureHamming, Intro to The Art of Doing Science and Engineering: Learning to Learn (March 28, 1995)securitylectures · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2020
• talkThe Power of belief -- mindset and success | Eduardo Briceno | TEDxManhattanBeachTEDx Talks · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2020
• talkPractical CreativityGDC Festival of Gaming · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• talkLearning from dirty jobs | Mike RoweTED · 4 HN recommenders · 2012–2018
• demoTabs Outliner Overviewomnray · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2015
• musicBaz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free To Wear Sunscreensteffyweffy777 · 3 HN recommenders · 2011–2026
• talkThe Energy Project | Tony Schwartz | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 3 HN recommenders · 2010–2016
• interviewSteve Jobs on FailureSilicon Valley Historical Association · 4 HN recommenders · 2012–2021
• podcastJoe Rogan Experience #1080 - David GogginsPowerfulJRE · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• talkSteve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address (with intro by President John Hennessy)Stanford · 2 HN recommenders · 2011–2023
• explainerHere's What's Preventing You From Finishing ProjectsZack Freedman · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• commentaryAvoid These Words (And Not Just at Work)Adam Savage’s Tested · 3 HN recommenders · 2024–2024
• tutorialObsidian for Beginners: Start HERE — How to Use the Obsidian App for NotesLinking Your Thinking with Nick Milo · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2022
• talk5 steps to designing the life you want | Bill Burnett | TEDxStanfordTEDx Talks · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2022
• talkA real person, a lot like youDerek Sivers · 3 HN recommenders · 2011–2013
• talkTHIS IS WATER! by David Foster WallaceThe Actualization Agent · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• lectureThe "Last Lecture" by Randy PauschGabriel Robins · 4 HN recommenders · 2016–2021
• documentaryBOOKSTORES: How to Read More Books in the Golden Age of ContentMax Joseph · 3 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• talkUniversity of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address - Admiral William H. McRavenTexas Exes · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2026
• talkLife is easy. Why do we make it so hard? | Jon Jandai | TEDxDoiSuthepTEDx Talks · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2025
• talkForget big change, start with a tiny habit: BJ Fogg at TEDxFremontTEDx Talks · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2017
• tutorialHow to Get Good at Small Talk, and Even Enjoy ItHarvard Business Review · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• interviewIra Glass on the Creative Process (www.getoutthebox.org)Getoutthebox1 · 3 HN recommenders · 2012–2015
• tutorialGetting Started With Org Modethoughtbot · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• talkHow to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals | Stephen Duneier | TEDxTucsonTEDx Talks · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• comedyHow to Age Gracefully | CBC RadioCBC · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2026
• otherArnold Schwarzenegger 2018 - The speech that broke the internet - Most Inspiring everMulliganBrothers · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• otherMichael Jordan "Failure" Nike CommercialJayMJ23 · 2 HN recommenders · 2010–2016
• talkGary Vaynerchuk: Building Personal Brand Within the Social Media Landscape - Web 2.0 Expo NYO'Reilly · 2 HN recommenders · 2009–2016
• talkSteve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005 high definition.flvJed Joe · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2017
• podcastMaximizing Productivity, Physical & Mental Health with Daily ToolsAndrew Huberman · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• demoInner Game of TennisTheCoach · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2016
• talkHow Will You Measure Your Life? Clay Christensen at TEDxBostonTEDx Talks · 2 HN recommenders · 2014–2024
• interviewGeorge RR Martin asks Stephen King: "How do you write so Fast?!"Aegon Targaryen · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• comedyBrain Crack (Explicit Version) :: Best of the Show :: 07-11-06Ze Frank · 2 HN recommenders · 2014–2023
• podcastJoe Rogan Experience #1309 - Naval RavikantPowerfulJRE · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2020
• explainerRSA ANIMATE: The Secret Powers of TimeRoyal Society of Arts · 2 HN recommenders · 2010–2014
• talkYour Body Language May Shape Who You Are | Amy Cuddy | TEDTED · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2021
• otherMatsuoka Shuzo [松岡修造 ] - あきらめかけているあなた (NEVER GIVE UP!!) [English]Ryuujin131 · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• otherBoJack Horseman - "It gets easier" (Season 2 Ending)Ettore · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2023
• talkYour Brain at WorkGoogle TechTalks · 3 HN recommenders · 2011–2015
• musicPink Noise for Ten Hours of Ambient Sound Blocker Masker - Burn In - RelaxationDalesnale - Noise Ambient · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2022
• podcastOptimizing Workspace for Productivity, Focus, & CreativityAndrew Huberman · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• talkTechniques for dealing with lack of motivation, malaise, depressionJonathan Blow · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2024
• talkWhy "scout mindset" is crucial to good judgment | Julia Galef | TEDxPSUTEDx Talks · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2022
• interviewDonald Knuth - My advice to young people (93/97)Web of Stories - Life Stories of Remarkable People · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2025
• explainerTwo Is the Wrong Number of Days OffCGP Grey · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2024
• commentaryE-Ink for productivity: Software and General UpdatesTechnology Connextras · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2024
• demoIncremental reading: Learning about nutrition from Wikipedia (SuperMemo 17)SuperMemo Video · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2021
• talkA kinder, gentler philosophy of success | Alain de BottonTED · 1 HN recommender · 2009–2021
• interviewThe First Principles Method Explained by Elon MuskInnomind · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2021
• interviewAndy Matuschak — The reason most learning tools failDwarkesh Patel · 1 HN recommender · 2024–2025
• talkThe surprising habits of original thinkers | Adam Grant | TEDTED · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2021
• explainerYou Need to Be Bored. Here's Why.Harvard Business Review · 2 HN recommenders · 2025–2026
• other10 Bullets, #8: "ALWAYS BE KNOLLING". By Tom SachsTom Sachs · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2024
• talkInbox ZeroGoogle TechTalks · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2023