TED Talks Daily (SD video)
1,482 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 5 hours ago - ★★★★ - 1.7K ratingsTED is a nonprofit devoted to ideas worth spreading. On this video feed, you'll find TED Talks to inspire, intrigue and stir the imagination from some of the world's leading thinkers and doers, speaking from the stage at TED conferences, TEDx events and partner events around the world. This podcast is also available in high-def video and audio-only formats.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The most powerful untapped resource in health care | Edith Elliott and Shahed Alam
May 02, 2022 13:00 - 9 minutes - 74.8 MB VideoWhether we're rushing a child to the emergency room after a fall or making chicken soup for a feverish spouse, love inspires us to act when a family member gets sick. Global health activists Edith Elliott and Shahed Alam believe we can harness this power to create better health outcomes for everyone. Learn how their organization Noora Health works with doctors and nurses in India and Bangladesh to train the family members of hospital patients with essential skills to support their si...
A bold plan to transform access to the US social safety net | Amanda Renteria
May 02, 2022 12:58 - 8 minutes - 69.3 MB VideoDigital public servant Amanda Renteria has seen that the millions of people who rely on government welfare services are often discouraged from seeking them out, frustrated by long lines and unnecessarily complicated processes. At Code for America, Renteria is helping develop human-centered technology that "respects you from the start, meets you where you are and provides an easy, positive experience." She details the four factors that hinder effective delivery of government benefits ...
A bold plan for transforming access to the US social safety net | Amanda Renteria
May 02, 2022 12:58 - 69.2 MB VideoDigital public servant Amanda Renteria has seen that the millions of people who rely on government welfare services are often discouraged from seeking them out, frustrated and discouraged by long lines and unnecessarily complicated processes. At Code for America, Renteria is helping develop human-centered technology that "respects you from the start, meets you where you are and provides an easy, positive experience." She details the four factors that hinder effective delivery of gove...
A transparent, easy way for smallholder farmers to save | Anushka Ratnayake
May 02, 2022 12:57 - 7 minutes - 64.7 MB VideoA safe space to save money is life-changing -- especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often live on less than two dollars a day. Poverty fighter Anushka Ratnayake introduces her nonprofit myAgro, which offers farmers a place to save small amounts of money and allows them to access those funds as they need them. Over the next five years, myAgro plans to reach a million farmers in West Africa, providing a stress-free, transparent...
An election redesign to restore trust in US democracy | Tiana Epps-Johnson
May 02, 2022 12:55 - 71.5 MB VideoElection infrastructure in the United States is crumbling, says technologist Tiana Epps-Johnson, and, even worse, election officials are increasingly being attacked simply for doing their jobs. How can the country rebuild trust in its local and national elections? Epps-Johnson describes how the US Alliance for Election Excellence, a nonpartisan collaborative of election officials, technologists, designers and other experts, is working across all 50 states to improve the performance o...
Mental health care that disrupts cycles of violence | Celina de Sola
May 02, 2022 12:53 - 65.9 MB VideoIn Latin American countries like El Salvador, homicide rates are alarmingly high thanks in large part to a vicious cycle of violence -- people don't have a chance to heal from recurrent individual and collective trauma. With her team at Glasswing International, de Sola is hoping to break this cycle by equipping government employees like teachers and police officers with the skills and knowledge they need to provide mental health care to those who need it most. Their goal: to transfor...
How ancient Arctic carbon threatens everyone on the planet | Sue Natali
May 02, 2022 12:52 - 66.8 MB VideoWhat will happen to the planet if climate change melts what's left of Arctic permafrost? Shedding light on this overlooked threat, Arctic geologist Sue Natali reveals the true danger of heating up the iciest place on the planet: the release of ancient carbon that will dramatically worsen our climate problems. In this urgent talk, she introduces a new initiative, Permafrost Pathways, and their work to measure permafrost carbon emissions, fuse Indigenous solutions with modern technolog...
Why Indigenous forest guardianship is crucial to climate action | Nonette Royo
May 02, 2022 12:51 - 72.4 MB VideoIndigenous communities have looked after their ancestral forests for millennia, cultivating immense amounts of knowledge on how to protect, nourish and heal these vital environments. Today, 470 million Indigenous people care for and manage 80 percent of the world's biodiversity -- yet their legal rights to these lands are inexplicit and subject to exploitation by illegal loggers, miners and companies. Human rights lawyer Nonette Royo describes how her team at the Tenure Facility, an ...
A safe pathway to resettlement for migrants and refugees | Becca Heller
May 02, 2022 12:50 - 90.8 MB Video"Human migration is both inevitable and growing. What are we as a global community doing to address it?" asks human rights lawyer Becca Heller, who believes that every refugee and migrant deserves a safe pathway to resettlement. Through her work with the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), Heller is showing how the power of the law can help displaced people find homes. By providing access to legal information and services, IRAP champions a functional, rights-based legal ...
How to heal a divided world | Michèle Lamont
April 29, 2022 14:46 - 129 MB VideoHow do we define worth in society, and who gets status? Sociologist Michele Lamont studies these questions and investigates ways to broaden the circle of recognition and fight the harm of social stigmatization. She lays out the steps needed to make more inclusive societies -- and it all starts by expanding our idea of who matters.
The restorative power of medical tattoos | Becky Barker
April 28, 2022 15:20 - 112 MB VideoTattoos can transform and empower people, with some seeking them out to reconnect with their bodies due to scarring, physical abnormalities or the aftermath of a procedure or illness. Paramedical tattooist Becky Barker shares the art and craft of medical tattooing, explaining how this expansive field helps improve the quality of life for breast cancer survivors -- and anyone looking to renew themselves in ways that are more than skin-deep.
How mRNA medicine will change the world | Melissa J. Moore
April 27, 2022 14:53 - 145 MB VideoThe secret behind medicine that uses messenger RNA (or mRNA) is that it "teaches" our bodies how to fight diseases on our own, leading to groundbreaking treatments for COVID-19 and, potentially one day, cancer, the flu and other ailments that have haunted humanity for millennia. RNA researcher Melissa J. Moore -- Moderna's chief scientific officer and one of the many people responsible for the rapid creation and deployment of their COVID-19 vaccine -- takes us down to the molecular l...
The breakthrough science of mRNA medicine | Melissa J. Moore
April 27, 2022 14:53 - 145 MB VideoThe secret behind medicine that uses messenger RNA (or mRNA) is that it "teaches" our bodies how to fight diseases on our own, leading to groundbreaking treatments for COVID-19 and, potentially one day, cancer, the flu and other ailments that have haunted humanity for millennia. RNA researcher Melissa J. Moore -- Moderna's chief scientific officer and one of the many people responsible for the rapid creation and deployment of their COVID-19 vaccine -- takes us down to the molecular l...
The funding gap in start-up investing | Temie Giwa-Tubosun
April 26, 2022 14:58 - 63.8 MB Video"It is time to close the funding gap for Black female-led start-ups the world over," says entrepreneur Temie Giwa-Tubosun, whose company LifeBank delivers life-saving medical supplies to remote areas in Africa. Today, LifeBank operates successfully across the continent, but Giwa-Tubosun knows that barriers to funding prevent many other brilliant business ideas from blossoming. She highlights examples of impactful women-led ventures around the world -- and challenges investors to help...
How the James Webb Space Telescope will unfold the universe | John C. Mather
April 25, 2022 14:43 - 69.5 MB VideoThe James Webb Space Telescope is a miracle of modern science and engineering. With a 21-foot, gold-coated mirror protected by a sunshield that's the size of a tennis court, it's the world's most powerful telescope and humanity's latest attempt to answer questions like: "Where did we come from?" and "Are we alone?" (It also needed to be folded up like origami in order to launch into space.) Nobel Laureate John C. Mather, the leader of the team at NASA that built the Webb, explains ho...
Why people and AI make good business partners | Shervin Khodabandeh
April 22, 2022 14:41 - 85 MB VideoWhat happens when the data-driven capabilities of AI are combined with human creativity and ingenuity? Shining a light on the opportunities this futuristic collaboration could bring to the workplace, AI expert Shervin Khodabandeh shares how to redesign companies so that people and machines can learn from each other.
We can make COVID-19 the last pandemic | Bill Gates
April 22, 2022 14:38 - 119 MB VideoBuilding a pandemic-free future won't be easy, but Bill Gates believes that we have the tools and strategies to make it possible -- now we just have to fund them. In this forward-looking talk, he proposes a multi-specialty Global Epidemic Response and Mobilization (GERM) team that would detect potential outbreaks and stop them from becoming pandemics. By investing in disease monitoring, research and development as well as improved health systems, Gates believes we can "create a world...
A new economic model for protecting tropical forests | Nat Keohane
April 21, 2022 14:45 - 73.7 MB VideoTo solve the climate crisis, we need to make tropical forests worth more alive than dead, says environmental economist Nat Keohane. Highlighting the urgent need to stop deforestation and the carbon pollution it brings, he details the work of the LEAF Coalition -- a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership that's channeling one billion dollars into protecting tropical forests -- and shares three building blocks for a robust market for forest carbon that enables economies to thrive...
An Olympic champion's unwavering advocacy for mothers in sports | Allyson Felix
April 20, 2022 14:47 - 75.3 MB VideoGetting pregnant as a track and field athlete is often called the "kiss of death" -- a sign your athletic career will soon end. Olympic champion, entrepreneur and proud mother Allyson Felix thinks it shouldn't be that way. She tells the story of starting a family while fighting to change her former sponsor's maternity policy -- and paving the way for others to get greater protection and more support. Her message is a testament to the power of believing in and advocating for yourself....
An Olympic champion's mindset for overcoming fear | Allyson Felix
April 20, 2022 14:47 - 75.4 MB VideoGetting pregnant as a track and field athlete is often called the "kiss of death" -- a sign your athletic career will soon end. Olympic champion, entrepreneur and proud mother Allyson Felix thinks it shouldn't be that way. She tells the story of starting a family while fighting to change her former sponsor's maternity policy -- and paving the way for others to get greater protection and more support. Her message is a testament to the power of believing in and advocating for yourself....
A future worth getting excited about | Elon Musk
April 18, 2022 11:31 - 527 MB VideoWhat's on Elon Musk's mind? In conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson, Musk details how the radical new innovations he's working on -- Tesla's intelligent humanoid robot Optimus, SpaceX's otherworldly Starship and Neuralink's brain-machine interfaces, among others -- could help maximize the lifespan of humanity and create a world where goods and services are abundant and accessible for all. It's a compelling vision of a future worth getting excited about. (Recorded at the Tesla...
Elon Musk talks Twitter, Tesla and how his brain works — live at TED2022 | Elon Musk
April 18, 2022 01:43 - 421 MB VideoIn this live, unedited conversation, Elon Musk -- the head of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company -- digs into the recent news around his bid to purchase Twitter and gets honest about the biggest regret of his career, how his brain works, the future he envisions for the world and a lot more. (This conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson was recorded live at TED2022 on April 14, 2022. If you want to hear even more, head over to "The TED Interview" podcast, where Musk ...
Elon Musk talks Twitter, Tesla and how his brain works -- live at TED2022 | Elon Musk
April 18, 2022 01:43 - 421 MB VideoIn this unedited conversation, Elon Musk -- the head of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company -- digs into the recent news around his bid to purchase Twitter and gets honest about the biggest regret of his career, how his brain works, the future he envisions for the world and a lot more. (This conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson was recorded live at TED2022 on April 14, 2022. If you want to hear even more, head over to "The TED Interview" podcast, where Musk and An...
Ukraine's fight to keep educating its children | Zoya Lytvyn
April 14, 2022 14:10 - 57.4 MB VideoThe Russian invasion of Ukraine has destroyed so much -- including hundreds of schools, where the country's children were forging their futures -- but it has not stopped Ukrainians from pursuing knowledge and curiosity. In a deeply moving talk, education leader Zoya Lytvyn shares her first-hand experience evacuating Kyiv and takes us inside the ongoing effort to continue educating children amid war and destruction. "As long as our children keep learning and our teachers keep teaching...
The likability dilemma for women leaders | Robin Hauser
April 13, 2022 19:45 - 78.3 MB VideoWhen women lead, bias often follows. Documentarian Robin Hauser dives into the dilemma between competence and likability faced by women in leadership roles, detangling the unconscious beliefs and gendered thinking that distort what it means to be a good leader.
Stand with Ukraine in the fight against evil | Garry Kasparov
April 11, 2022 23:49 - 121 MB VideoUkraine is on the front line of a war between freedom and tyranny, says chess grandmaster and human rights advocate Garry Kasparov. In this blistering call to action, he traces Vladimir Putin's rise to power and details his own path from chess world champion to pro-democracy activist in Russia. His message is a challenge to global leaders to rise in support of Ukraine -- and to choose life and love over death and hatred. "The price of stopping a dictator always goes up with every del...
We could kickstart life on another planet. Should we? | Betül Kaçar
April 11, 2022 14:44 - 87.4 MB Video"Life makes our planet an incredibly exotic place compared to the rest of the known universe," says astrobiologist Betül Kaçar, whose research uses statistics and mathematical models to simulate ancient environments and gather insights into the origins of existence. In this fascinating talk, she explores how a deeper understanding of chemistry could lead to the "secret sauce" for sparking life on other planets -- and asks us to ponder an important question: If we could kickstart life...
We could kick-start life on another planet. Should we? | Betül Kaçar
April 11, 2022 14:44 - 87.4 MB Video"Life makes our planet an incredibly exotic place compared to the rest of the known universe," says astrobiologist Betül Kaçar, whose research uses statistics and mathematical models to simulate ancient environments and gather insights into the origins of existence. In this fascinating talk, she explores how a deeper understanding of chemistry could lead to the "secret sauce" for sparking life on other planets -- and asks us to ponder an important question: If we could kick-start lif...
The rhythm and rhyme of memory, solitude and community | Rosanne Cash
April 07, 2022 14:32 - 95.6 MB Video"Music can unlock a frozen memory that melts into the seeds of our creativity," says musician Rosanne Cash. Reflecting on the power of memory, solitude and community, she performs "The Sunken Lands" and "Particle And Wave" and meditates on some of life's most poignant and bittersweet themes.
5 promising factors propelling climate action | Gabriel Kra
April 06, 2022 14:46 - 91.1 MB VideoGiven the scale of the challenge, the conversation around climate change is often tinged with doom and gloom. But climate tech investor Gabriel Kra thinks we need to reframe the crisis as a source of tremendous opportunity. He offers five big reasons to be optimistic about climate -- starting with the fact that many of the world's best minds are focused and working on building a clean future for all.
NFTs, the metaverse and the future of digital art | Elizabeth Strickler
April 05, 2022 15:34 - 89 MB VideoIn need of a brief yet illuminating lesson on the obsession with NFTs? Elizabeth Strickler breaks down the acronym and explains the fundamentals of non-fungible tokens, sharing how these digital assets are changing the landscape for artists and content creators looking to cash in on their creations -- in and out of the metaverse.
Live drawings of the human experience | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
April 04, 2022 14:56 - 74.5 MB VideoIn this live drawing performance and poignant autobiographical journey, author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka sketches some life-shaping moments, showing us how drawing and storytelling can help us honor and remain close to those we've lost.
The 100 tampons NASA (almost) sent to space -- and other absurd songs | Marcia Belsky
April 01, 2022 14:36 - 104 MB VideoPerforming two original songs, stand-up comedian, writer and musician Marcia Belsky shares comical commentary on some peculiar aspects of our culture -- from Instagram-stalking your crush to fending off mansplainers on social media -- and lampoons NASA's notorious decision to provide astronaut Sally Ride with an egregious supply of tampons for her six-day trip to space in 1983.
What it's like to be a war refugee | Zarlasht Halaimzai
March 31, 2022 14:41 - 107 MB VideoLiving under the constant threat of violence has a lasting effect -- even after you escape from danger, says writer and refugee advocate Zarlasht Halaimzai. One of the millions of people worldwide who have been forcibly displaced by conflict, Halaimzai now helps others overcome the devastation of war. In this poignant, vital talk, she articulates the lingering trauma of being expendable -- and shares how belonging to a community can help bring back feelings of long-lost safety.
How webtoons are changing movies and TV | Hyeonmi Kim
March 30, 2022 15:06 - 66.5 MB VideoPop culture is changing thanks to a different kind of storytelling, says digital strategist Hyeonmi Kim. They're called webtoons: comic-like illustrations published in short segments and meant to be read on a smartphone in five to 10 minutes. Kim breaks down how webtoons have leapt from phones to the big screen (Netflix's "Hellbound," anyone?) and how they're bringing a new, diverse generation of creators into TV and movie scriptwriting.
What my gender transition taught me about womanhood | Paula Stone Williams
March 29, 2022 15:16 - 114 MB VideoAfter leading a well-established life as a pastor, father and husband, Paula Stone Williams could no longer deny her truth and transitioned. In this conversational and at times humorous reflection, Williams offers her perspective on the everyday experiences lost, gained and once taken for granted in her journey of trans womanhood.
Goats, blockchain and the future of money | Fariel Salahuddin
March 28, 2022 14:39 - 74 MB VideoWhat if smallholder farmers could use their produce and livestock to pay for goods and services? TED Fellow and alternative currency enthusiast Fariel Salahuddin is working to make this a reality in places including rural Pakistan, where basic necessities like water and electricity are often expensive or inaccessible. She explores how the way we exchange value has evolved over time -- from bartering to blockchain -- and shares a new perspective on currency that promotes self-reliance...
Why all melodies should be free for musicians to use | Damien Riehl
March 25, 2022 01:04 - 131 MB VideoEvoke a familiar tune in a song and get slapped with a lawsuit ... it's a tale almost as old as copyright itself. Lawyer and technologist Damien Riehl digs into why "owning" a melody is a ludicrous legal assertion and composes a radical solution for the musical woes of songwriters everywhere.
The African swamp protecting Earth's environment | Vera Songwe
March 24, 2022 15:05 - 54.9 MB VideoThe peatlands of Africa's Congo Basin are a vast expanse of swamp and greenery that act as one of the world's most effective carbon sinks -- and they're under threat of environmental destruction. Economist Vera Songwe explains how putting a price on the carbon stored in the peatlands would not only help protect this vital resource but also recognize and reward the African communities that have contributed little to climate change. "This is not just about decarbonization," Songwe says...
3 reasons for optimism in difficult times | Kevin Kelly
March 23, 2022 14:44 - 78.8 MB Video"Every great and difficult thing has required a strong sense of optimism," says editor and author Kevin Kelly, who believes that we have a moral obligation to be optimistic. Tracing humanity's progress throughout history, he's observed that a positive outlook helps us solve problems and empowers us to forge a path forward. In this illuminating talk, he shares three reasons for optimism during challenging times, explaining how it can help us become better ancestors and create the worl...
The future will be shaped by optimists | Kevin Kelly
March 23, 2022 14:44 - 78.8 MB Video"Every great and difficult thing has required a strong sense of optimism," says editor and author Kevin Kelly, who believes that we have a moral obligation to be optimistic. Tracing humanity's progress throughout history, he's observed that a positive outlook helps us solve problems and empowers us to forge a path forward. In this illuminating talk, he shares three reasons for optimism during challenging times, explaining how it can help us become better ancestors and create the worl...
The hidden power of sad songs and rainy days | Susan Cain and Min Kym
March 22, 2022 14:29 - 125 MB VideoHave you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days? In this profound, poetic talk, author Susan Cain invites you to embrace the feeling of longing -- or the place where joy and sorrow meet – as a gateway to creativity, connection and love. Accompanied by the splendid sounds of violinist Min Kym, Cain meditates on how heartache unexpectedly brings us closer to the sublime beauty of life.
Powerful photos that honor the lives of overlooked women | Smita Sharma
March 21, 2022 14:51 - 83.2 MB VideoIn some parts of the world, girls are as likely to be married off or trafficked as they are to be educated. Photojournalist and TED Fellow Smita Sharma thoughtfully depicts overlooked girls and young women, while making sure not to disrupt the lives of her subjects in the process. Her work shows what might otherwise remain hidden -- the first step to changing the story.
The real hotbed of innovation (hint: it's not big cities) | Xiaowei R. Wang
March 18, 2022 14:51 - 65.3 MB Video"To see and understand the countryside is a crucial part of moving towards a more livable future for everyone," says coder, artist and organizer Xiaowei R. Wang. They've observed that some of the most careful, thoughtful innovation is happening in the world's rural communities, like Chinese chicken farmers using biometrics tracking and blockchain to improve supply chain transparency. In this talk, they advocate for a new perspective on the countryside: not as places lacking in tech o...
Why entrepreneurship flourishes in the countryside | Xiaowei R. Wang
March 18, 2022 14:51 - 65.3 MB Video"To see and understand the countryside is a crucial part of moving towards a more livable future for everyone," says coder, artist and organizer Xiaowei R. Wang. They've observed that some of the most careful, thoughtful innovation is happening in the world's rural communities, like Chinese chicken farmers using biometrics tracking and blockchain to improve supply chain transparency. In this talk, they advocate for a new perspective on the countryside: not as places lacking in tech o...
The deep sea's medicinal secrets | Sam Afoullouss
March 17, 2022 20:03 - 105 MB VideoUnder the sea, untold wonders await in the form of untapped medicinal potential. Chemist Sam Afoullouss dives into the science behind natural remedies, explaining why the ocean's great (and still largely unexplored) biodiversity is ideal for deriving and inspiring future treatments -- if we protect its waters and the marine life within them.
The power of purpose in business | Ashley M. Grice
March 17, 2022 14:57 - 77.8 MB VideoWhat's a company's purpose? It's not the same as mission or vision, which change when leadership changes. Strategist Ashley M. Grice explains the power of purpose to push boundaries of innovation and bring clarity to every aspect of an organization, from the top floor to the shop floor.
Climate change isn't a distant threat -- it's our reality | Selina Neirok Leem
March 16, 2022 14:51 - 49.2 MB VideoEvery year, ocean levels rise and high tides flood the low-lying Marshall Islands in the Pacific, destroying homes, salinating water supplies and disrupting livelihoods. In a stirring poem and talk, youth climate warrior Selina Neirok Leem explains why adaptation using Indigenous solutions is the only choice for people on the front lines of climate change. "These islands are our ancestors, our predecessors, our homes," Leem says. "We are at the risk of losing all of that for somethin...
3 things men can do to promote gender equity | Jimmie Briggs
March 15, 2022 14:55 - 74 MB Video"It is time for a gender reckoning, beginning with men authentically confronting our internal selves and each other," says essayist and intersectional justice advocate Jimmie Briggs. In this call to action for gender equity, he unpacks how traditional notions of masculinity harm society and offers three ways men can help promote personal safety, dignity and empowerment for all.
Self-assembling robots and the potential of artificial evolution | Emma Hart
March 14, 2022 14:41 - 81.5 MB VideoWhat if robots could build and optimize themselves -- with little to no help from humans? Computer scientist Emma Hart is working on a new technology that could make "artificial evolution" possible. She explains how the three ingredients of biological evolution can be replicated digitally to build robots that can self-assemble and adapt to any environment -- from the rocky terrain of other planets to the darkest depths of the ocean -- potentially ushering in a new generation of explo...