The 100 Tampons NASA (Almost) Sent To Space -- and Other Absurd Songs | Marcia Belsky | TED

TL;DR

In this TEDWomen presentation, comedian and musician Maeve Burke shares humorous anecdotes and songs about Instagram stalking, microgravity, and the tampon incident with Sally Ride in space.

Transcript

Thank you all so much, how's it going? How are you doing, TED, TEDWomen? They brought me in for a bit of comic relief. I’m so excited to be here at TEDWomen. You know, I think I speak for myself, but also for all of us, when I think I'm really inspired, you know, and personally, I feel like I'm not going to stop until every person, living or dead, ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎤 The speaker is a comedian performing at TEDWomen, emphasizing the goal of achieving gender equality and challenging stereotypes about women.
• 🌐 Social media stalking is a common behavior that can hinder potential relationships.
• 💼 Millennials entering serious job roles challenge stereotypes about their work ethic and capability.
• 🔥 The speaker experienced a surge in popularity on TikTok while simultaneously working in a mundane customer support job, highlighting the juxtaposition of online fame and real-life struggles.
• 🚀 The song about NASA giving Sally Ride 100 tampons sparked controversy among men on the internet, demonstrating the discomfort and lack of understanding around menstruation.
• 😠 Negative comments on the internet ranged from honest critiques to uninformed opinions, highlighting the challenges women face when discussing taboo topics.
• 🔁 The speaker welcomes conversations about menstruation and hopes to break down the stigma surrounding periods by sparking uncomfortable conversations.
• 👏 The speaker expresses gratitude for the positive feedback received and hopes that her performance would have been appreciated by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the speaker's main purpose for being at TEDWomen?

The speaker's main purpose for being at TEDWomen is to provide comedic relief and entertain the audience.

Q: How does the speaker feel about the idea of God being a woman?

The speaker dislikes the idea of God being a woman and suggests that if God were a woman, she would have done better.

Q: What is the first song the speaker performs about?

The first song the speaker performs is about her tendency to scroll through a person's Instagram profile extensively after having a crush on them or going on a few dates.

Q: What is the speaker's experience with working a customer support job for a food delivery app?

The speaker describes working a customer support job for a food delivery app as the worst job she has ever had in her life.

Q: How do men on the internet react to the speaker's song about tampons in space?

Men on the internet react with anger and criticism towards the speaker's song about tampons in space, with some offering critiques while others become self-proclaimed experts on menstruation and microgravity.

Q: What kind of feedback did the speaker receive regarding her song about tampons in space?

The speaker received a variety of feedback, including honest critiques, dismissive comparisons to other comedians, and even a lengthy essay defending the need for 100 tampons in space.

Q: What does the speaker hope to achieve with her song about tampons in space?

The speaker hopes that her song sparks conversations about periods and breaks down the stigma and discomfort surrounding the topic.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker expresses excitement and gratitude for being at TEDWomen and jokes about wanting everyone to be a woman.

• They perform a song about internet stalking and share their experience of going viral on TikTok while working a mundane job in customer support.

• The speaker performs a song about the first American woman astronaut and discusses the backlash and comments they received online.