An Intro to Pecha-Kucha

I started grad school this semester with one class – COMM 502: Presentational Speaking. While it sounds like a total bummer, and I was looking forward to getting it out of the way, my research has surprisingly introduced me to some inspiring chronic illness warriors, like Abi Stevens, who presented her work at a pecha-kucha night in the UK (watch her presentation – Pain and Inspiration – here). I know what you’re thinking – what the heck is a pecha-kucha night? Pecha-kucha (Japanese for chit-chat) is a presentation format created by architects in Tokyo in 2003. The concept is simple: 20 slides, 20 seconds each. A pecha-kucha is a six-minute forty-second casual TED talk presented by anyone about anything. 

For my final project in the class, I’m creating my own pecha-kucha presentation. In preparation for the project, I’ve been watching pecha-kucha videos from around the world on the official website. These bite-sized lectures are the perfect way to fill those seven-minute gaps in your day and learn something new, but the endless variety of topics and growing database of presentations can be a bit overwhelming. 

​If you’re curious about pecha-kucha, or you just have seven minutes to kill, here are a few of my favorite presentations focused on chronic illness, mental health and self-care. 

Fighting Mental Illness by Louise Hutt

​Louise has infused her presentation with her own photography and opens up about her battle with anxiety and the stigma around mental illness. 

My Body and I by Steve Schwartz

Steve explores the connection between body and mind in this thoughtful reflection on life with chronic pain. 

Self-Care in Modern Time by Yoo-Jin Kang

​Emphasizing the balance between what she refers to as “ancient time” and “modern time,” Yoo-Jin gives tips on living more mindfully and embracing self-care as a daily practice.