A playlist for International Men’s Day

Happy International Men’s Day, all! While at first, it might seem a little strange to have a holiday that celebrates, well, approximately half of the world’s population. But the goals of this holiday — “focus[ing] on men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models” — are worthwhile, indeed, and resonate with many TED Talks. Below, your Men’s Day playlist.

Adam Garone: Healthier men, one moustache at a time Adam Garone: Healthier men, one moustache at a time The Movember movement started with a dare in a bar in 2003. When Adam Garone and friends decided to grow moustaches, they realized that the lark could become an annual fundraising effort. In this talk from TEDxToronto 2011, Garone shares how the idea evolved Movember, which has men around the world growing moustaches for the month of November. In 2011, it raised $126 million for prostate cancer research and men’s health. (Check out the best moustaches on TED.com.)

Jackson Katz: Violence against women -- it's a men's issue Jackson Katz: Violence against women — it’s a men’s issue Educator Jackson Katz takes issue with domestic violence and sexual abuse being lumped together and labeled as “women’s issues,” because these violent behaviors have much more to do with men and the existing definitions of manhood. In this blistering talk from TEDxFIDIWomen, Katz challenges all men and women not to tolerate the kind of talk and actions that normalize violence and place blame on the women involved.

Colin Stokes: How movies teach manhood Colin Stokes: How movies teach manhood What’s the difference between Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz? In the later movie, the lead female character navigates a world by using her wits and by making good friends. In the former, however, the lead female character — well, she doesn’t do much for herself. At TEDxBeaconStreet, Colin Stokes wonders what these movies teach his two young children, and calls for films that focus less on defeating the villain and more on connecting with others.

Tony Porter: A call to men Tony Porter: A call to men Tony Porter grew up surrounded by the idea that men should be strong, and that they are superior to women. This is what he calls the “man box.” At TEDWomen 2010, he challenges all guys to step outside of it. Telling powerful stories from his own life, Porter reveals how difficult it is for men to hold themselves to the “man box” standards, and reveals how they can be transcended.

Sam Martin: Claim your "manspace" Sam Martin: Claim your “manspace” The Bat Cave, the Fortress of Solitude, Elvis’ men-only rooms at Graceland. Author Sam Martin looks at the grand tradition of men building their own spaces. These aren’t just places for beer-can pyramids, he says, but places to indulge in hobbies and passions. And they are essential for happiness, he says.

Very randomly, International Men’s Day now shares a date with World Toilet Day, a holiday established this year by the United Nations. Below, a great talk to watch for that.

Rose George: Let's talk crap. Seriously. Rose George: Let’s talk crap. Seriously. It is very easy to take the toilet for granted. But 2.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to one — which leads to a wide range of diseases and sanitation issues. In this pun-filled talk from TED2013, journalist Rose George encourages us to be vocal about an unmentionable problem.