Singer-songwriter Valerie June delivers an uplifting, ethereal performance of "Astral Plane" as part of TED's Countdown Global Livestream on October 30, 2021.

Combining new TED Talks with live performances, short films, expert conversations and more, the Countdown Global Livestream event vividly explains the climate crisis, focusing on solutions and calling for leaders and citizens everywhere to step up. Hosted by Latif Nasser, with appearances by AsapSCIENCE, Don Cheadle, TED science curator David Bi...

Valerie June is an artist, a storyteller, and a woman of color. She knows systemic racism exists - she has seen and felt it in her own life. She also knows that it's important to expose violence and correct injustice, in part by telling those kinds of stories. But if those are the only stories being told - in the news and in movies and TV shows ...