TED Talks Daily
1,687 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 17 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
A reframing of masculinity, rooted in empathy | Gary Barker
January 30, 2024 17:14 - 13 minutesUrging us to turn away from voices perpetuating harmful stereotypes, gender equality advocate Gary Barker shares three insights on fostering a culture of care, compassion and connection among men. "We are the most wired-to-care species on the planet," he says. "But if you don't use it ... you don't get good at it."
What if a simple blood test could detect cancer? | Hani Goodarzi
January 29, 2024 16:44 - 7 minutesCatching cancer at its earliest stages saves lives. But in a body made up of trillions of cells, how do you spot a small group of rogue cancer cells? Biomedical researcher Hani Goodarzi discusses his lab's discovery of a new class of RNAs that, when paired with emerging AI tools, could help detect cancer earlier, more precisely and even through routine blood work — potentially transforming our understanding of the disease.
Could AI give you X-ray vision? | Tara Boroushaki
January 26, 2024 16:47 - 6 minutesWhat if a robot could find and deliver your lost phone? AI researcher Tara Boroushaki presents how she's using wireless signals and sensors to create AI-powered goggles with "X-ray vision," creating a dynamic new tool with applications from improving efficiency in commercial warehouses to aiding emergency rescues.
Can a simple brick be the next great battery? | John O'Donnell
January 25, 2024 16:28 - 9 minutesThe world relies on manufacturing, and manufacturing relies on heat — a massive contributor to global carbon emissions, responsible for a quarter of the world's fossil fuel use. Energy entrepreneur John O'Donnell has figured out a better, cleaner way to generate the heat we need to make the stuff we want. Learn how his team turned simple bricks and iron wire into a powerful, unconventional "heat battery" that could deliver industrial heat at scale without the emissions — and why he ...
Advice for leaders on creating a culture of belonging | Melonie D. Parker
January 24, 2024 17:20 - 18 minutesGoogle's chief diversity officer Melonie D. Parker joins journalist and host of the "TED Tech" podcast Sherrell Dorsey for a conversation on fostering belonging and opportunity in the workplace. Learn more about how companies can sustainably promote diversity, equity and inclusion — and why you should aim to "add in," not "fit in."
Your creative superpowers can help protect democracy | Sofia Ongele
January 23, 2024 16:57 - 10 minutes"Democracy is more fun and inviting when you take it into your own hands," says creator and activist Sofia Ongele. Sharing how she's using coding and social media to defend democracy, Ongele invites us to identify our own creative superpowers — whether it's community organizing, making music or telling stories — and use them to cause a ruckus and bring movements to life. For more go to: audio.colllective.ted.com
Do gut microbes control your personality? | Kathleen McAuliffe
January 22, 2024 16:23 - 10 minutesBiologist Kathleen McAuliffe dives into new research that suggests certain bacteria in your gut can influence major parts of who you are, from your personality to life-changing neurological disorders. Learn more about how this emerging science could change how we treat disease — and discover the impact of your internal microbial makeup on your mood, weight and more.
Do gut microbes control your personality? - Kathleen McAuliffe
January 22, 2024 15:55 - 10 minutes - 6.16 MBBiologist Kathleen McAuliffe dives into new research that suggests certain bacteria in your gut can influence major parts of who you are, from your personality to life-changing neurological disorders. Learn more about how this emerging science could change how we treat disease — and discover the impact of your internal microbial makeup on your mood, weight and more. For more go to: audiocollective.ted.com
The beauty of wildlife — and an artistic call to protect it | Isabella Kirkland
January 20, 2024 07:30 - 9 minutes"I think of my paintings as alarm clocks," says artist Isabella Kirkland. "They're reminders of what's at stake; the only problem is we keep pushing the snooze button." Investigating humanity's relationship to nature, she shares work that takes a creative stand against ecological despair — and quietly urges climate action through permanent images of vanishing wildlife.
How film changes the way we see the world | Ava DuVernay
January 19, 2024 16:14 - 18 minutes"People told me this was an unadaptable book, so the only logical thing to do was to try to adapt it," says writer, producer and filmmaker Ava DuVernay of her work taking the award-winning title "Caste" from page to screen. In conversation with Pat Mitchell, DuVernay talks about the resulting film, "Origin," and discusses her process for turning ideas into pictures that pack a punch.
Fight for justice — even if you don't live to see it | Golriz Lucina
January 18, 2024 16:50 - 8 minutesStoryteller Golriz Lucina recounts how the historic sacrifice of Iranian 19th-century poet and mystic Táhirih planted the seeds for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests today, offering an inspiring lesson in the value of acting with conviction — even if we don't live to see the results.
Fight for justice — even if you don't live to see it | Golriz Lucina
January 18, 2024 15:59 - 7 minutesStoryteller Golriz Lucina recounts how the historic sacrifice of Iranian 19th-century poet and mystic Táhirih planted the seeds for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests today, offering an inspiring lesson in the value of acting with conviction — even if we don't live to see the results.
What if advertising was honest? | Sylvester Chauke
January 17, 2024 16:11 - 11 minutesAfter years of brand building, marketing veteran Sylvester Chauke realized that his industry had sold the world on overconsumption, with devastating consequences. He shares how marketers could instead promote sustainability with "honest ads" that do right by the planet and encourage people to think twice before buying.
Let curiosity lead | Yara Shahidi
January 16, 2024 16:16 - 11 minutesDon't second-guess what "distracts" you, says actor-producer Yara Shahidi; that's your curiosity coming through. The star of hit shows like "black-ish" and "grown-ish" tells how she learned to spot clues to her own future — and how you can, too.
AI's single point of failure | Rob Toews
January 15, 2024 07:30 - 11 minutes"The world's most important advanced technology is nearly all produced in a single facility," says AI expert Rob Toews. He describes how one company in Taiwan, TSMC, manufactures nearly all the most advanced semiconductor chips — a crucial technology that powers everything from phones to electric vehicles to next-generation artificial intelligence — and breaks down how geopolitical tensions in the region could paralyze the global field of AI.
TED Explores: A New Climate Vision
January 13, 2024 07:30 - 30 minutesThe impacts of climate change are growing, but so are the world's attempts to stop them. Hosted by Manoush Zomorodi of the TED Radio Hour, this special TED documentary examines the rapid technological revolution underway — and the real possibility of a better future for all. Featuring urban planner Anika Goss, scientist and carbon expert Julio Friedmann, UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell, auto industry sustainability leader Cynthia Williams, and multi-generational farmers Jim and Jessic...
TED Explores: A New Climate Vision | TED Countdown
January 13, 2024 07:00 - 56 minutesThe impacts of climate change are growing, but so are the world's attempts to stop them. Hosted by Manoush Zomorodi of the TED Radio Hour, this special TED documentary examines the rapid technological revolution underway — and the real possibility of a better future for all. Featuring urban planner Anika Goss, scientist and carbon expert Julio Friedmann, UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell, auto industry sustainability leader Cynthia Williams, and multi-generational farmers Jim and Jessica...
How to build democracy — in an authoritarian country | Tessza Udvarhelyi
January 12, 2024 18:42 - 13 minutes"Today, Hungary is in the gray zone between a dictatorship and a democracy," says activist Tessza Udvarhelyi. "This did not happen overnight." In a rousing talk, she reminds us just how close any country can come to authoritarianism — and offers on-the-ground lessons for how to keep democracy alive through focus, determination and imagination. (Followed by a brief Q&A with TED curator Cloe Shasha Brooks)
How to build democracy — in an authoritarian country | Tessza Udvarhelyi
January 12, 2024 07:00 - 12 minutes"Today, Hungary is in the gray zone between a dictatorship and a democracy," says activist Tessza Udvarhelyi. "This did not happen overnight." In a rousing talk, she reminds us just how close any country can come to authoritarianism — and offers on-the-ground lessons for how to keep democracy alive through focus, determination and imagination. (Followed by a brief Q&A with TED curator Cloe Shasha Brooks)
What happens when we deny people abortions? | Diana Greene Foster
January 11, 2024 16:24 - 14 minutesHow does getting an abortion — or not — influence a woman's life? Demographer Diana Greene Foster puts forward the results of The Turnaway Study, her landmark work following nearly 1,000 women through abortion or childbirth, presenting definitive data on the long-term physical, mental and economic impacts of the right to choose on pregnant people and their families. "Access to abortion is about control over one's body, life and destiny," says Foster.
The US vs. itself — and other top global risks in 2024 | Ian Bremmer
January 10, 2024 15:40 - 43 minutes2024 will be a dangerous year for the world, says Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media. Forecasting the top geopolitical risks set to play out in the months to come, he untangles what's in store for the war in Ukraine, the state of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the tensions putting democracy in the United States to the test — all while AI continues to evolve faster than governments can regulate it. (This interview, hosted by TED's Helen Walters, was re...
What would it take for generosity to go viral? | Chris Anderson
January 09, 2024 17:36 - 19 minutes - 11.2 MBWhat would happen to humanity if generosity went viral? Sharing transformative stories from around the world, head of TED Chris Anderson outlines why the time has come for the internet to realize its power to supercharge small acts of kindness, changing lives at a scale never experienced before. Learn how to cultivate a generous mindset — with or without giving money — and get inspired with tools to amplify your impact. "Be brave. Give what you can, and then be absolutely amazed at w...
It's time for infectious generosity. Here's how | Chris Anderson
January 09, 2024 16:04 - 19 minutesWhat would happen to humanity if generosity went viral? Sharing transformative stories from around the world, head of TED Chris Anderson outlines why the time has come for the internet to realize its power to supercharge small acts of kindness, changing lives at a scale never experienced before. Learn how to cultivate a generous mindset — with or without giving money — and get inspired with tools to amplify your impact. "Be brave. Give what you can, and then be absolutely amazed at ...
Is alternative meat the recipe for a healthier planet? | Tao Zhang
January 08, 2024 16:28 - 11 minutesA Chinese saying goes, "There's no pleasure in eating without meat." And the data backs that up: every year, China consumes 26 percent of the world's meat and 45 percent of its seafood — numbers that could grow alongside rising incomes. Impact investor Tao Zhang shows why getting Chinese consumers to switch to plant-based alternatives is vital to tackling climate change and explores how it's also a massive business opportunity to bring tasty, affordable new proteins to market.
Enough red tape — we need to say yes to clean energy | Rich Powell
January 06, 2024 05:00 - 12 minutesClimate innovation leader Rich Powell dives into the bureaucracy, bottlenecks and not-in-my-backyard attitude preventing the US from achieving its green energy goals, warning that we need about 10,000 new clean energy projects to be built in the US this decade if we're to reach net zero by 2050. Learn more about what's needed to fight NIMBYism, get serious about the energy transition — and get out of our own way.
Don't be a jerk to your barista — and other thoughts on frontline work | Adriann Negreros
January 05, 2024 17:51 - 13 minutesAll jobs, especially those held by frontline workers, should have dignity and the ability to turn into great careers, says change management expert Adriann Negreros. From shift flexibility to ending work on time, he outlines what he calls the "handbook of humanity" — people-centered ideas for change, rooted in empathy — that, when implemented, can redefine the nature of frontline work.
The vital data you flush down the toilet | Newsha Ghaeli
January 04, 2024 16:46 - 9 minutes"Everybody pees and poops — and we know that urine and stool contain a rich source of information on our health," says data detective Newsha Ghaeli. Exploring the growing field of wastewater epidemiology, she shows how studying sewage can (anonymously) reveal a lot about the collective well-being of our cities — leading to real-time quality-of-life improvements like tracking pandemics, updating social policies and much more.
What's your leadership language? | Rosita Najmi
January 03, 2024 16:30 - 8 minutesIn a globe-trotting career that has spanned corporations, governments, nonprofits and philanthropy, Rosita Najmi has often found herself translating among them. Instead of focusing on leadership style, she makes the case for becoming fluent in the languages of leadership, explaining how it can help you adapt to audiences across industries and collectively achieve your goals.
What's your leadership language? | Rosita Najmi
January 03, 2024 15:57 - 8 minutesIn a globe-trotting career that has spanned corporations, governments, nonprofits and philanthropy, Rosita Najmi has often found herself translating among them. Instead of focusing on leadership style, she makes the case for becoming fluent in the languages of leadership, explaining how it can help you adapt to audiences across industries and collectively achieve your goals.
Life is hard. Art helps
January 02, 2024 16:15 - 6 minutesCartoonist Liana Finck's drawings hold our hands through life's predicaments, big and small: dating, breakups, what to make for dinner, how to leave a party without being rude, how to think about our relationship with God. In a funny, moving talk, she shares some of her drawings and shows how she uses creativity to navigate false starts and cluelessness in the search for belonging.
Life is hard. Art helps | Liana Finck
January 02, 2024 15:56 - 7 minutesCartoonist Liana Finck's drawings hold our hands through life's predicaments, big and small: dating, breakups, what to make for dinner, how to leave a party without being rude, how to think about our relationship with God. In a funny, moving talk, she shares some of her drawings and shows how she uses creativity to navigate false starts and cluelessness in the search for belonging.
Why you should embrace mediocrity | Crispin Thurlow
January 01, 2024 07:30 - 10 minutesFrom "elite" pickles to "premium" baby diapers, marketers are constantly telling us to seek superiority — but "by the simple law of averages, most of us have to live a life more ordinary," says sociolinguist Crispin Thurlow. He invites us to embrace mediocrity for a change, offering a different path to contentedness without comparison.
The science of happiness with Laurie Santos | How to Be a Better Human
December 29, 2023 07:30 - 36 minutesThe phrase "comparison is the thief of joy" might be the kind of cliché that makes you roll your eyes — and yet, it's an idea that is, scientifically, pretty accurate. In today's episode, psychologist Laurie Santos — a Yale professor and host of "The Happiness Lab" podcast — discusses some of the surprising evidence behind what does and doesn't make us humans happy. Laurie also shares strategies on how to improve our well-being, discusses the irony behind "self-care" and explains wh...
Mind, body, spirit (part 1) | TED Radio Hour
December 28, 2023 07:30 - 17 minutesFor millennia, we have debated the mind, body, spirit connection. But today, it sounds trite, #selfcare. In this special series on the TED Radio Hour, we explore fresh ideas on how we think, move and feel. Up first: the mind. In this segment, neurotech entrepreneur Tom Oxley joins host Manoush Zomorodi to talk about an implantable brain-computer interface that can change the way we think. To listen to the whole episode, find TED Radio Hour wherever you're listening to this. And expl...
Rick Rubin | Design Matters with Debbie Millman
December 27, 2023 07:30 - 1 hourExploring Rick Rubin's production discography is like taking a tour through the commanding heights of American music over the past few decades. The record producer joins Debbie Millman to talk about his legendary career making classic songs with the best musicians in the world, from Run-DMC to Jay-Z to Adele. This is an episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. You can find more Design Matters wherever you get your podcasts.
ChatGPT did not title this podcast | ReThinking with Adam Grant
December 26, 2023 07:30 - 54 minutesChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot capable of generating human-like text, seems to be everywhere. But how trustworthy are these tools — and what do they mean for the future of writing and work? Adam brings AI entrepreneur Allie Miller and innovation and entrepreneurship professor Ethan Mollick to discuss the capabilities of ChatGPT, debate its merits and downfalls and ponder what we should — and shouldn't — leave to AI. This is an episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, ano...
ChatGPT did not title this podcast | ReThinking with Adam Grant
December 26, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutesChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot capable of generating human-like text, seems to be everywhere. But how trustworthy are these tools — and what do they mean for the future of writing and work? Adam brings AI entrepreneur Allie Miller and innovation and entrepreneurship professor Ethan Mollick to discuss the capabilities of ChatGPT, debate its merits and downfalls and ponder what we should — and shouldn't — leave to AI. This is an episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, anot...
What it's like to find your birth parent | Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi
December 25, 2023 07:30 - 21 minutes - 12.2 MBIn Britain, one-fourth of people who were adopted make contact with their birth parents before they turn 18. In this episode of Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, guest host Saleem Reshamwala meets Amanda, a Dominican woman who was adopted by a white couple in Connecticut. Amanda always knew she was adopted, and was curious about her birth parents. After a few years of dead ends, she finally finds her biological mother ... in the last plac...
How to keep AI under control | Max Tegmark
December 22, 2023 07:30 - 10 minutesThe current explosion of exciting commercial and open-source AI is likely to be followed, within a few years, by creepily superintelligent AI – which top researchers and experts fear could disempower or wipe out humanity. Scientist Max Tegmark describes an optimistic vision for how we can keep AI under control and ensure it's working for us, not the other way around.
Why businesses need a dreamer's magic and a doer's realism | Beth Viner
December 21, 2023 18:06 - 11 minutesAt work, the dreamers often get credit for the big ideas, but they can also sometimes seem untethered to reality to the doers, who are trying to ... get things done. It's when these two types of humans work in harmony that business magic happens, says culture strategist Beth Viner. She lays out a practical blueprint for harnessing the dreamer's out-of-the-box thinking and the doer's practicality, showing why it's the key to building, growing and innovating in any relationship or org...
When AI can fake reality, who can you trust? | Sam Gregory
December 20, 2023 16:10 - 12 minutesWe're fast approaching a world where widespread, hyper-realistic deepfakes lead us to dismiss reality, says technologist and human rights advocate Sam Gregory. What happens to democracy when we can't trust what we see? Learn three key steps to protecting our ability to distinguish human from synthetic — and why fortifying our perception of truth is crucial to our AI-infused future.
When AI can fake reality, who can you trust? | Sam Gregory
December 20, 2023 15:59 - 12 minutesWe're fast approaching a world where widespread, hyper-realistic deepfakes lead us to dismiss reality, says technologist and human rights advocate Sam Gregory. What happens to democracy when we can't trust what we see? Learn three key steps to protecting our ability to distinguish human from synthetic — and why fortifying our perception of truth is crucial to our AI-infused future.
My mission to change the narrative of mental health | Glenn Close
December 19, 2023 17:06 - 11 minutesLegendary actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close is on a quest to change how we think about mental health, starting with her decision to speak out about her own family's struggles — a brave choice considering the stigma that pervades the topic. In a sweeping conversation with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Close shares the inspiration behind the advocacy group she founded to combat the crisis, underscoring the transformative power of community and the critical need for compreh...
Why AI will spark exponential economic growth | Cathie Wood
December 18, 2023 16:15 - 13 minutesInvestor Cathie Wood explores this unique moment in technology, which she sees as being marked by the simultaneous evolution of five pivotal innovation platforms — a scenario unparalleled in history. Exploring the role of AI in reshaping economic paradigms, she predicts a surge in global GDP growth and productivity, underscoring the need for businesses and investors to adapt in order to keep up.
What happens as we die? | Kathryn Mannix
December 16, 2023 13:50 - 15 minutesHave we lost the practical wisdom of what happens as people die? With lessons from a career witnessing thousands of people's final breaths, palliative care expert Kathryn Mannix urges us to demystify the experience of death, sharing how a better understanding of what actually happens can reduce fear in the final days, for you and your loved ones.
How to build a global pro-democracy movement | Yordanos Eyoel
December 15, 2023 16:55 - 13 minutes"Democracy is the most compelling vision we have for self-governance," says freedom advocate Yordanos Eyoel. Taking a stand against predatory and opportunist authoritarian forces, she shares how to reimagine, accelerate and protect the pro-democracy movement — to build societies that are both functional and inclusive.
Why helping people makes you happy | Asha Curran
December 14, 2023 16:20 - 13 minutes"We underestimate the power of our own generous actions," says Asha Curran, CEO of the global generosity movement GivingTuesday. Sharing stories of people making a difference through simple acts of kindness, she shows how generosity, even in its simplest forms, can be a transformative force — and explains why we all benefit from a world grounded in giving.
How acts of kindness sparked a global movement | Asha Curran
December 14, 2023 15:56 - 12 minutes"We underestimate the power of our own generous actions," says Asha Curran, CEO of the global generosity movement GivingTuesday. Sharing stories of people making a difference through simple acts of kindness, she shows how generosity, even in its simplest forms, can be a transformative force — and explains why we all benefit from a world grounded in giving.
Time is running out on climate change. The metaverse could help | Cedrik Neike
December 13, 2023 16:51 - 10 minutesThe metaverse could be our key to making real progress in the fight against climate change, says engineer Cedrik Neike. Examining how AI-powered modeling eliminates the trial and error of wasteful industries, he explores how this emerging technology is already improving everything from the gigafactories that churn out electric car batteries to the fuel efficiency of your home. Learn more about how these "digital twins" are transforming the world — and not a moment too soon.
The transformative potential of AGI — and when it might arrive | Shane Legg and Chris Anderson
December 12, 2023 18:52 - 16 minutesAs the cofounder of Google DeepMind, Shane Legg is driving one of the greatest transformations in history: the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). He envisions a system with human-like intelligence that would be exponentially smarter than today's AI, with limitless possibilities and applications. In conversation with head of TED Chris Anderson, Legg explores the evolution of AGI, what the world might look like when it arrives — and how to ensure it's built safely a...