Man, that was TOUGH. We received over 50 talk ideas for Ignite Portland 4. The vast majority of them were really, really good. But we only have room for 13 talks on stage at the Bagdad (plus the traditional “What is Ignite?” talk). So before I announce what those 13 talks are going to be, I just want to give a HUGE “Thank You!” to everyone who submitted a talk that wasn’t chosen. Your talk ideas made the competition fierce, and that competition means that the talks that were chosen are the cream of the crop. Even if you didn’t get picked, submit your talk idea next time - don’t lose heart! 
Without further ado, here, then, are the 14 talks that will make up Ignite Portland 4. Follow the links to read the speaker’s description of their talk:
- What is Ignite? - Josh Bancroft
- Five Things Portland Can Learn From Kentucky in Five Minutes - Jeff Hardison
- A Short Introduction to Cyborg Anthropology - Amber Case
- Spirituality in Community: It’s not just for religion anymore - David Kominsky
- How to Bluff Your Way Through Life or a 5 Minute Presentation - Cami Kaos
- Cooking with the Seasons: The Garanimals Method - Katherine Gray
- Dating Rules for the Actual World - Alexis Rehrmann
- Story as Bloodsport: Battling to craft narrative - Melissa Lion
- How To Make People Think You’re a Portlander - Without Actually Living in the State of Oregon - Carolynn Duncan
- 7 One-Night Stands with a Baseball Fan - Nova Newcomer
- Divided We Win: 5 Reasons Why FOX News is Saving Our Media and Democracy - Abraham Hyatt
- Juice Up any Conversation or Presentation with 5 Impressive-Sounding Theories that Apply to EVERYTHING - Eric Anderson
- How to get people to do what you want them to do… - Betsy Richter
- 10 Karaoke Commandments - Alex Williams
There you have them. The talks that are going to light up the stage at the Bagdad Theater on Thursday, November 13. Speakers, get working on your talks (the deadline to turn in your slides should have been in the acceptance email you received). Everyone else, stay tuned for information on tickets to come to Ignite Portland 4 - they’ll be free, as always - and get ready to be blown away at IP4!
Oh neato! Hope there are free Beer Chips again.
@Will - I’m not sure if the Beer Chips guy will be there this time, but they were quite popular, so if he’s interested, you’ll probably see him there.
Whew Hoo.. what a line up… my disappointment over the series has been totally assuaged.
So, how does one acquire tickets?… Is there a link I am missing that explains?
@PDXSays we’ll publish info on tickets next week. They’ll be free, and probably work very much the same way as last time. Stay tuned!
90% of these seem like they’re going to be really, really cool. November 13th can’t come soon enough.
But am I the only one uncomfortable with an ordained member of the clergy giving a talk about spirituality that is preceded with “Spirituality is a fundamental part of everything we, as humans, do.”?
I feel that a talk about a subject on which many people vociferously disagree or consider to be an intensely personal matter is inappropriate in a neutral public space like Ignite.
Anon, I respect your opinion, and no one will force you to go to IP4 and listen to David’s talk. But we, the organizers, thought it would be an interesting and appropriate topic. Several of us know David, and think he’ll do a great job. Besides, if you don’t like it, just wait five minutes, and it will be over.
And if we limited ourselves to only topics where people don’t disagree, Ignite would be boring and sucky. Try to keep an open mind!
Anon… I am not exactly in the mix on the word or structure of spirituality either… much prefer sound reasoning. However, in the “spirit” of Freedom of Speech, and because Rabbi David would be the first to put himself between those who would ram their views into any one’s orifices, including words in your mouth (READ: impinge on that freedom), I gotta say I’m good with it.
Anon-
David’s perspective is that spirituality and religion are very much not the same things. I also believe (and full disclosure here, I am married to him) that as someone who spent 6 years in rabbinical school, David has an appropriate background to make that distinction. While Ignite is not about bringing in professionals to present on topics that they know inside and out, I have also seen presentations where that has been the case, and 5 minutes is just not enough time to force a perspective or doctrine or belief system down anyone’s throat.
I am also unclear as to why you are so concerned about an ordained clergy-person discussing spirituality. Would you be more comfortable if a lay-person spoke on the topic of spirituality? What if that lay-person were an active member in his/her church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other religious gathering place? What if that active lay-person chose not to disclose his/her role in his/her religion? I am just trying to ascertain whether you are having a visceral reaction to clergy or a visceral reaction to the connection (in your own mind) between religion and spirituality?
I also need to agree with Josh Bancroft on this one–I prefer an opportunity to spend days, weeks, even months discussing challenging and interesting topics raised during Ignite presentations, rather than have a pleasant, if unstimulating evening.
@Eva
My concern is that, as a secular person, I am offended by the inclusion of a talk that seems to presuppose agreement with the assertion that spirituality (and I understand the distinction between religion and spirituality) is part of everything that I do as a human being. I’m not stupid enough to think that it’s going to be five minutes of overt proselytizing by a rabbi. But saying that we all need to somehow spiritualize our work is a dogma nonetheless, and one that I feel crosses the line of appropriateness for what I expect from Ignite as an audience member.
Anon, if it bothers you that much, don’t come. Your arguments are against the spirit of Ignite - to share burning ideas. I don’t understand how you can be so certain exactly what David’s talk is going to contain, when he hasn’t given it yet. But we (the organizers) chose his talk, and if that goes against what you expect from Ignite, maybe it’s best you sit this one out.
So the advance tickets ran out in under 4 hours, but so many people with advance tickets didn’t bother to show up, so we didn’t even fill up the venue. That sucks, especially since I told someone not to come because it was sold out. It also seems weird that you have to get there an hour before the event actually begins or else you lose your place (even with a ticket). Not trying to complain — this is a fantastic event. But there has to be a better and fairer way to deal with tickets.