TED Talks Daily
1,683 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 20 hours ago - ★★★★ - 9.8K ratingsEvery weekday, TED Talks Daily brings you the latest talks in audio. Join host and journalist Elise Hu for thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between — given by the world's leading thinkers and creators. With TED Talks Daily, find some space in your day to change your perspectives, ignite your curiosity, and learn something new.
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Episodes
The trans story includes you | Nicole Maines
September 15, 2021 15:12 - 7.83 MBAs actress Nicole Maines points out, we all unwittingly play supporting roles in each others' life stories -- for better or worse. With charm and aplomb, she shares her experience growing up as a trans youth, emphasizing the big and small ways community acceptance can affect the course of a deeply personal journey.
The inaccurate link between body ideals and health | Nancy N. Chen
September 14, 2021 16:15 - 5.73 MBGlobal obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen. Reflecting on how the cultural histories of body ideals have changed over time, she offers a new way to view ourselves and our health by enhancing body diversity to close the gap between what's ideal and what's real.
A smart bra for better heart health | Alicia Chong Rodriguez
September 13, 2021 14:47 - 3.65 MBCould an everyday clothing item help protect your health? In this quick talk, TED Fellow Alicia Chong Rodriguez introduces us to a smart bra designed to gather real-time data on biomarkers like heartbeat, breath and temperature. Learn how this life-saving gadget could help close the gender gap in cardiovascular research -- and, finally, usher women's health care into the 21st century.
Life-altering questions about the end of the universe | Katie Mack
September 10, 2021 14:59 - 8.95 MBIn this fascinating conversation, cosmologist and TED Fellow Katie Mack delves into everything from the Big Bang theory to what we see at the edge of the observable universe to a few ways the cosmos might end. Stay tuned to hear Mack recite an original poem on the wonder and marvel of existence. (This conversation, hosted by deputy director of the TED Fellows program, Lily James Olds, was part of a TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member.)
The big myth of government deficits | Stephanie Kelton
September 09, 2021 14:49 - 8.12 MBGovernment deficits have gotten a bad rap, says economist Stephanie Kelton. In this groundbreaking talk, she makes the case to stop looking at government spending as a path towards frightening piles of debt, but rather as a financial contribution to the things that matter -- like health care, education, infrastructure and beyond. "We have the resources we need to begin repairing our broken systems," Kelton says. "But we have to believe it's possible."
A sci-fi vision of life in 2041 | Chen Qiufan
September 08, 2021 14:48 - 4.91 MBSci-fi writer Chen Qiufan doesn't fear a dystopian future. Instead, he believes developments in artificial intelligence will make all of our lives better, healthier and safer. He takes us on a tour of the next 20 years of AI and shares some astonishing predictions for the advancements in science and technology that could await us. "For every future we wish to create, we must first learn to imagine it," he says.
How to stop languishing and start finding flow | Adam Grant
September 07, 2021 14:59 - 7.46 MBHave you found yourself staying up late, joylessly bingeing TV shows and doomscrolling through the news, or simply navigating your day uninspired and aimless? Chances are you're languishing, says organizational psychologist Adam Grant -- a psychic malaise that has become all too common after many months of the pandemic. He breaks down the key indicators of languishing and presents three ways to escape that "meh" feeling and start finding your flow.
When local news dies, so does democracy | Chuck Plunkett
September 06, 2021 10:00 - 6.5 MBNearly 1,800 newsrooms have shuttered across the US since 2004, leaving many communities unseen, unheard and in the dark. In this passionate talk and rallying cry, journalist Chuck Plunkett explains why he rebelled against his employer to raise awareness for an industry under threat of extinction -- and makes the case for local news as an essential part of any healthy democracy.
How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky
September 03, 2021 10:00 - 8.26 MBThere are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky shares examples of language -- from an Aboriginal community in Australia that uses cardinal directions instead of left and right to the multiple words for blue in Russian -- that suggest the answer is a resounding yes. "The beauty of linguistic diversity is that it reveals to us just how ing...
The unpaid work that GDP ignores -- and why it really counts | Marilyn Waring
September 02, 2021 10:00 - 10.1 MBIf you: do laundry, are (or have been) pregnant, tidy up, shop for your household or do similar labor, then by GDP standards, you're unproductive. In this visionary talk, economist Marilyn Waring seeks to correct the failures of this narrow-minded system, detailing why we deserve a better way to measure growth that values not just our own livelihood but the planet's as well.
A taste of Mexico's ancient chocolate-making tradition | Germán Santillán
September 01, 2021 14:49 - 3.37 MBDating back more than 800 years, chocolate is deeply woven into the Indigenous history of Oaxaca, Mexico. TED Fellow Germán Santillán talks about his work reviving the Mixtec technique used to prepare this ancient delicacy by training a new generation of local farmers -- helping create economic opportunity and preserve a delicious legacy at the same time.
How to find peace with loss through music | Steven Sharp Nelson
August 31, 2021 15:02 - 5.63 MBMusic can act as a guide, says cellist Steven Sharp Nelson. It has the power to unlock the mind, tap into the heart and bring light in the darkest times. Take a deep breath as Nelson takes you on a melodic, meditative journey that could reconnect you with your closest loved ones -- no matter how near or far they may be.
A future with fewer cars | Freeman H. Shen
August 30, 2021 14:48 - 4.21 MBWhat if your car could drop you off and then find parking by itself? According to electric vehicle entrepreneur Freeman H. Shen, this technology already exists. He shares his vision for a future where AI-powered electric vehicles will solve many of the problems cars currently cause, like smog, traffic congestion, accidents and, yes, endlessly circling the block looking for somewhere to park.
Your insecurities aren't what you think they are | WorkLife with Adam Grant
August 27, 2021 10:00 - 11.3 MB"I can't do this." "I didn't deserve this promotion." "When will they find me out?" If you've had thoughts like these, you aren't alone. Nearly 70 percent of people have experienced imposter syndrome -- even some of the most successful ones! The difference is in how they can use imposter thoughts as fuel, rather than a fire to burn them out. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant shares three steps you can take to harness your own self-doubt as a fuel for success, and why we stand to...
Can we choose to fall out of love? | Dessa
August 26, 2021 10:00 - 6.11 MBWhat's the best way to get over heartbreak? Rapper and writer Dessa came up with an unconventional approach after a chance viewing of Helen Fisher's TED Talk about the brains of the lovestruck. In a wryly funny talk, she describes how she worked with a neuroscientist to try to get her brain to fall out of love with her ex -- and shares wisdom about romance that she gained along the way.
How to design the life you want | TEDx SHORTS
August 25, 2021 10:00 - 3.39 MBOffering tips from the well-known program he helped develop, Bill Burnett, executive director of Stanford's Life Design Lab, illustrates the ways design thinking can be used to help build the life you want. This talk was filmed at TEDxStanford. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreading.
This could be why you're depressed or anxious | Johann Hari
August 24, 2021 10:00 - 11.9 MBIn a moving talk, journalist Johann Hari shares fresh insights on the causes of depression and anxiety from experts around the world -- as well as some exciting emerging solutions. "If you're depressed or anxious, you're not weak and you're not crazy -- you're a human being with unmet needs," Hari says.
How playing an instrument benefits your brain | Anita Collins
August 23, 2021 10:00 - 2.82 MBWhen you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Educator Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians' brains when they play and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workout. (Directed by Sharon Colman Graham, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Peter Gosling)
What's normal anxiety and what's an anxiety disorder? | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter
August 20, 2021 10:00 - 21.1 MBAnxiety helps keep us alive. But how can you tell when it crosses the line from survival instinct to serious problem? For the more than 30 percent of Americans who will experience an anxiety disorder, stigma around mental health problems makes it hard to find out. Dr. Jen Gunter breaks down where those stigmas originated, the science behind our brain's threat-detection system, what makes it malfunction and the most effective ways of treating it.
You can grow new brain cells. Here's how | Sandrine Thuret
August 19, 2021 10:00 - 6.66 MBCan we, as adults, grow new neurons? Neuroscientist Sandrine Thuret says that we can, and she offers research and practical advice on how we can help our brains better perform neurogenesis—improving mood, increasing memory formation and preventing the decline associated with aging along the way.
The benefits of a bilingual brain | Mia Nacamulli
August 18, 2021 10:00 - 2.96 MBIt's obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier -- like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there other advantages to having a bilingual (or multilingual) brain? Educator Mia Nacamulli details the three types of bilingual brains and shows how knowing more than one language keeps your brain healthy, complex and actively engaged. (Directed by TED-Ed, narrated by Pen-Pen Chen)
Elise Hu and Debbie Millman: How to pave a new career path | Hit Reset
August 17, 2021 10:00 - 15.8 MBElise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, sits down with designer Debbie Millman to share advice on stepping into the unknown, paving a new career path and exploring something you've never done before.
The brain-changing benefits of exercise | Wendy Suzuki
August 16, 2021 10:00 - 6.86 MBWhat's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory -- and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
What happens to the plastic you throw away? | TED Climate
August 13, 2021 10:00 - 6.96 MBPlastic is everywhere. We know we should cut down on it where we can, but is plastic ever the answer? In this episode of TED Climate, a whole world of plastic you never knew about. Starting with: which bag is best -- paper, plastic or cotton? The answer might surprise you. Host Dan Kwartler breaks down the pros and cons of each bag and which you should carry on your next shopping trip. Then we follow the journey of three different plastic bottles after you throw them away, shedding l...
Walk with Little Amal, a theatrical journey celebrating the refugee experience | Amir Nizar Zuabi
August 12, 2021 14:47 - 3.69 MBIn a staggering display of creativity and community, theater director Amir Nizar Zuabi introduces "The Walk": a theatrical journey following a nine-year-old refugee girl named Amal (represented by a giant, lifelike puppet) as she makes her way from Turkey to England. Zuabi shares the bold vision behind this cultural odyssey aimed at spreading hope and celebrating the refugee experience -- and joins us live from Turkey as Amal passes through a village.
How COVID-19 reshaped US cities | Kevin J. Krizek
August 11, 2021 15:02 - 5.73 MBThe pandemic spurred an unprecedented reclamation of urban space, ushering in a seemingly bygone era of pedestrian pastimes, as cars were sidelined in favor of citizens. Highlighting examples from across the United States, environmental designer Kevin J. Krizek reflects on how temporary shifts -- like transforming streets into places for dining, recreation and community -- can become permanent fixtures that make for more livable and sustainable cities.
An interactive map to track (and end) pollution in China | Ma Jun
August 10, 2021 14:57 - 6.27 MBChina has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2060 -- and its citizens are helping industries across the country reach that goal. Environmentalist Ma Jun introduces the Blue Map, an app that empowers people to report pollution violations in their communities and track real-time environmental data, holding emitters accountable and helping companies along the global supply chain make informed sourcing decisions. Hear how the app uses the power of transparency to motivate more than 14,000 f...
Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu
August 09, 2021 14:48 - 3.09 MBAfrican artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came to be, Chuchu's extensive work tracking and restoring Kenya's cultural heritage and what these efforts can mean for the wider African continent. An urgent call for institutions to reconsider the morality of the objects they "own" and their significance to the communit...
The fingerprints of life beyond Earth | Clara Sousa-Silva
August 06, 2021 14:54 - 4.79 MBIs there life on Venus? Quantum astrochemist Clara Sousa-Silva makes the case for a new way to seek and possibly discover habitable planets -- and shares her research into a poisonous, smelly molecule that might signal life beyond Earth.
The deadly molecule that could signal alien life | Clara Sousa-Silva
August 06, 2021 14:54 - 4.79 MBIs there life on Venus? Quantum astrochemist Clara Sousa-Silva makes the case for a new way to seek and possibly discover habitable planets -- and shares her research into a poisonous, smelly molecule that might signal life beyond Earth.
The tiny balls of fat that could revolutionize medicine | Kathryn A. Whitehead
August 05, 2021 14:40 - 7.38 MBWhat if you were holding life-saving medicine ... but had no way to administer it? Zoom down to the nano level with engineer Kathryn A. Whitehead as she gives a breakdown of the little fatty balls (called lipid nanoparticles) perfectly designed to ferry cutting-edge medicines into your body's cells. Learn how her work is already powering mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and forging the path for future therapies that could treat Ebola, HIV and even cancer.
Don't call people out -- call them in | Loretta J. Ross
August 04, 2021 14:52 - 8.31 MBWe live in a call-out culture, says activist and scholar Loretta J. Ross. You're probably familiar with it: the public shaming and blaming, on social media and in real life, of people who may have done wrong and are being held accountable. In this bold, actionable talk, Ross gives us a toolkit for starting productive conversations instead of fights -- what she calls a "call-in culture" -- and shares strategies that help challenge wrongdoing while still creating space for growth, forg...
Meet the scientist couple driving an mRNA vaccine revolution | Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci
August 03, 2021 14:41 - 12.3 MBAs COVID-19 spread, BioNTech cofounders Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci had one goal: to make a safe, effective vaccine faster than ever before. In this illuminating conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson, the immunologists (and married couple) share the fascinating story of how their decades of mRNA research powered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine -- and forecast what this breakthrough science could mean for the future of vaccines and other immunotherapy treatments.
Remembering climate change ... a message from the year 2071 | Kim Stanley Robinson
August 02, 2021 14:56 - 6.05 MBComing to us from 50 years in the future, legendary sci-fi writer Kim Stanley Robinson tells the "history" of how humanity ended the climate crisis and restored the damage done to Earth's biosphere. A rousing vision of how we might unite to overcome the greatest challenge of our time.
3 secrets of resilient people | Lucy Hone
July 30, 2021 10:00 - 9.57 MBEveryone experiences loss, but how do you cope with the tough moments that follow? Resilience researcher Lucy Hone shares three hard-won strategies for developing the capacity to brave adversity, overcome struggle and face whatever may come head-on with fortitude and grace.
The informal settlements reshaping the world | Jota Samper
July 29, 2021 15:06 - 8.07 MBCreative, sustainable solutions find their home in the thousands of informal neighborhoods across the world. Urban planner Jota Samper believes these often overlooked settlements (also known as slums) should be regarded as hubs of innovation and shares three reasons why giving them the attention they deserve could help change the way humanity coexists -- and cities evolve -- on a global scale.
What you need to know about stalkerware | Eva Galperin
July 28, 2021 10:00 - 7.29 MB"Full access to a person's phone is the next best thing to full access to a person's mind," says cybersecurity expert Eva Galperin. In an urgent talk, she describes the emerging danger of stalkerware -- software designed to spy on someone by gaining access to their devices without their knowledge -- and calls on antivirus companies to recognize these programs as malicious in order to discourage abusers and protect victims.
The radical, revolutionary resilience of Black joy | Miracle Jones
July 27, 2021 16:11 - 6.94 MBIn the face of trauma, happiness is resilience: a revolutionary act of thriving despite all odds, rather than wilting or surrendering. Community organizer and activist Miracle Jones offers a heart-to-heart meditation on the role of joy as a form of radical resistance, survival and protection for Black folks in the US and across the world. A warm reminder to embrace the guiding light of hope in the presence of darkness.
3 rules for a zero-carbon world | Nigel Topping
July 26, 2021 14:52 - 7.51 MBEvery human and natural system -- from oil extraction to the flight of a flock of starlings -- can be seen as a set of repeating patterns. These patterns can be disrupted for good or for bad, says Nigel Topping, the High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26, the UN's climate change conference set to take place in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. He shares three rules of radical collaboration that could positively disrupt the patterns of the global economy and help humanity tack...
The ancient origins of the Olympics | Armand D'Angour
July 23, 2021 18:24 - 2.08 MBThousands of years in the making, the Olympics began as part of a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia. But how did it become the greatest show of sporting excellence on earth? Educator Armand D'Angour explains the evolution of the Olympics. (Directed by Diogo Viegas, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu and Brooks Ball)
Are wild animals really "wild"? | Emma Marris
July 23, 2021 10:00 - 8.02 MBHuman activity is affecting the planet in dramatic, unsustainable ways -- including destroying the habitats of wild animals. Considering our obligation to care for the creatures we've impacted, environmental writer Emma Marris dives into the ethics of wildlife management, zoos and aquariums, offering her thoughts on how we can help Earth's wildlife flourish. (This conversation, hosted by TED science curator David Biello, was part of a TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to...
The (de)colonizing of beauty | Sasha Sarago
July 20, 2021 15:01 - 6.63 MBBeauty is about more than the body you inhabit -- it's a way of being that goes beyond genetics or societal ideals. Aboriginal writer and former model Sasha Sarago invites you to decolonize beauty, moving away from the monolithic Eurocentric archetype and towards a more essential, authentic understanding of self that belongs to everyone.
Why COP26 is our best chance for a greener future | Alok Sharma
July 19, 2021 11:39 - 5.12 MBSomething powerful is happening around the world. The issue of climate change has moved from the margins to the mainstream, says Alok Sharma, the President-Designate of COP26, the United Nations climate conference set to take place in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. He unpacks what this shift means for the world economy and the accelerating "green industrial revolution" -- and lays out the urgent actions that need to happen in order to limit global temperature rise.
3 myths about racism that keep the US from progress | Candis Watts Smith
July 16, 2021 15:21 - 6.15 MBRacism morphs, spreading and hiding behind numerous half-truths and full-blown falsities about where it lives and who embodies it. In this actionable talk, political scientist Candis Watts Smith debunks three widely accepted myths about racism in the US and calls for a nuanced, more expansive definition to support this new era of anti-racist action.
How racial bias works -- and how to disrupt it | Jennifer L. Eberhardt
July 15, 2021 10:00 - 8.93 MBOur brains create categories to make sense of the world, recognize patterns and make quick decisions. But this ability to categorize also exacts a heavy toll in the form of unconscious bias. In this powerful talk, psychologist Jennifer L. Eberhardt explores how our biases unfairly target Black people at all levels of society -- from schools and social media to policing and criminal justice -- and discusses how creating points of friction can help us actively interrupt and address thi...
The missing 96 percent of the universe | Claire Malone
July 14, 2021 15:00 - 6.18 MBWe've misplaced the building blocks of the cosmos -- and particle physicists like Claire Malone are on a mission to find them. Despite scientists hitting a "major snag" in uncovering what exactly makes up dark matter and dark energy, she explains how questioning our fundamental understanding of nature itself invites a different, more meaningful perspective universally.
The link between menopause and gender inequity at work | Andrea Berchowitz
July 13, 2021 15:05 - 5.04 MBHot flashes, joint pain, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping -- these unforgiving menopause symptoms directly impact work but often go overlooked and under-discussed as a taboo topic, says entrepreneur Andrea Berchowitz. She gives practical advice on how to create a menopause-friendly work culture that supports gender equity and diversity retention in the workplace.
3 ways to create a menopause-friendly work culture | Andrea Berchowitz
July 13, 2021 15:05 - 5.04 MBHot flashes, joint pain, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping -- these unforgiving menopause symptoms directly impact work but often go overlooked and under-discussed as a taboo topic, says entrepreneur Andrea Berchowitz. She gives practical advice on how to create a menopause-friendly work culture that supports gender equity and diversity retention in the workplace.
How Dolly Parton led me to an epiphany | Jad Abumrad
July 12, 2021 10:00 - 8.13 MBHow do you end a story? Host of "Radiolab" Jad Abumrad tells how his search for an answer led him home to the mountains of Tennessee, where he met an unexpected teacher: Dolly Parton.
Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral
July 09, 2021 10:00 - 3.33 MBThrough documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with US immigration enforcement. A powerful call to give voice to those who are silenced -- and pressure governments to change their course of action.