The Conversations Network, a project inspired by IT Conversations, has launched its website.

The site describes the mission of the network:

The ConversationsEvery day scores of educational, inspirational and entertaining conference sessions, lectures and other spoken-word presentations are lost. They simply evaporate because no one records them. Some of these presentations are by the greatest and most inspiring minds of our time, and many would be important to people in the far reaches of the planet, if only they could hear them.

The Conversations Network (a California non-profit corporation) captures presentations, processes the recordings, and publishes them online for free under Creative Commons licenses.

The Conversations Network will use a membership model similar to public radio to help fund its operations. Seems like a great idea and a good cause.