TED Talks Daily
1,683 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 19 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
How to find humor in life's absurdity | Maira Kalman
December 06, 2023 16:12 - 12 minutesWith levity and profound insight, artist Maira Kalman reflects on life, death, dinner parties, not knowing the right answers, the joys of eating a hot dog from a street vendor and more. This talk, interwoven with her delightful paintings, is itself an artwork that seems to hold the entirety of life in all its absurd glory.
How to stop the next pandemic? Stop deforestation | Neil Vora
December 05, 2023 16:18 - 10 minutesClearing tropical forests isn't just dangerous to the natural world — it's also a threat to human health and wellbeing, says physician Neil Vora. Tracing how environmental devastation led to deadly epidemics like Ebola, he presents three ways deforestation unleashes disease and calls on each of us to help preserve the delicate ecological balance we depend upon.
Democracy works — we just need better leaders | Lindiwe Mazibuko
December 04, 2023 16:11 - 12 minutesSouth Africa transitioned to democracy in the 1990s with a visionary constitution, but the promises of that constitution are largely unfulfilled to this day. Public leader Lindiwe Mazibuko explores how poor leadership failed to deliver a better life for the country's citizens — and shares her mission to cultivate a new generation of ethical leaders who can revitalize democracy in South Africa and beyond.
A playbook for financing climate solutions | Nili Gilbert and David Blood
December 02, 2023 11:00 - 13 minutesTackling climate change costs a lot of money — and the financial sector is key to getting that money flowing. In a wide-ranging conversation, sustainable investment leaders Nili Gilbert and David Blood discuss where progress is being made on climate solutions, where capital still needs to move faster and why this is an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable growth.
A playbook on financing climate solutions | Nili Gilbert and David Blood
December 02, 2023 11:00 - 13 minutesTackling climate change costs a lot of money — and the financial sector is key to getting that money flowing. In a wide-ranging conversation, sustainable investment leaders Nili Gilbert and David Blood discuss where progress is being made on climate solutions, where capital still needs to move faster and why this is an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable growth.
The science behind how sickness shapes your mood | Keely Muscatell
December 01, 2023 11:00 - 14 minutesYour immune system is more socially aware than you think, says social neuroscientist and psychology professor Keely Muscatell. Investigating the interconnectedness of your mood and your inflammatory system, she offers an evolutionary reason as to why being sick may make you feel depressed — and vice versa.
How to harness abundant, clean energy for 10 billion people | Julio Friedmann
November 30, 2023 17:09 - 13 minutesWe can produce abundant, sustainable and cheap energy — for everyone, says physicist Julio Friedmann. He explores the infrastructure, innovation and investment needed to supply energy to 10 billion people, offering case studies from Chile's refurbished supply chain, built in partnership with Japan, to Namibia's budding clean hydrogen production, inviting us to envision a greener, more equitably powered world.
Can we hack photosynthesis to feed the world? | Steve Long
November 29, 2023 17:08 - 11 minutesPhotosynthesis is one of the most important processes on the planet, helping produce the food we eat and the air we breathe. Crop scientist Steve Long thinks it could be more efficient — and he's intent on giving it a boost. He shows how hacking photosynthesis could help feed the world all while reducing climate change.
Life on the frontlines of war reporting | Jane Ferguson
November 28, 2023 17:11 - 13 minutesCovering global war stories can be hard and thankless — but it's critical work if the rest of us are to understand what's really going on in the world. For nearly two decades, journalist Jane Ferguson has reported on hostilities across Africa and the Middle East, and she's witnessed firsthand the changing face of her profession. Via stories of her own experiences at the heart of complex conflicts, she shares fascinating details of how she and other female colleagues have changed the...
How gratitude rewires your brain | Christina Costa
November 27, 2023 21:14 - 10 minutesWhen a psychologist who studies well-being ends up with a brain tumor, what happens when she puts her own research into practice? Christina Costa goes beyond the "fight" narrative of cancer — or any formidable personal journey — to highlight the brain benefits of an empowering alternative to fostering resilience in the face of unexpected challenges: gratitude.
The case for a new Great Migration in the US | Charles M. Blow
November 27, 2023 16:35 - 13 minutesSocial progress in the United States often seems to take two steps forward and one step back, with hard-fought civil rights wins countered by a seemingly inevitable backlash. In this spirited talk, writer Charles M. Blow makes the case that history, inverted, suggests a potential path forward. It's an unapologetically provocative proposal that Blow thinks just might spark a real shift toward equality in the US.
Are you really as good at something as you think? | Robin Kramer
November 25, 2023 11:00 - 9 minutesDoes confidence equal competence? Not quite. In a talk that will make you better aware of yourself, experimental psychologist Robin Kramer delves into the Dunning-Kruger effect — which argues that those who are least capable often overestimate their skills the most — and explores just how good you are at judging your own abilities.
Why you shouldn't trust boredom | Kevin H. Gary
November 24, 2023 11:00 - 11 minutesAre you actually bored, or is something else going on? Educator Kevin H. Gary shares three practical takeaways to deal with the doldrums, so you can take control of your attention, figure out which feelings to trust and name the real problem.
The exciting, perilous journey toward AGI | Ilya Sutskever
November 23, 2023 11:00 - 12 minutesJust weeks before the management shakeup at OpenAI rocked Silicon Valley and made international news, the company's cofounder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever explored the transformative potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI), highlighting how it could surpass human intelligence and profoundly transform every aspect of life. Hear his take on the promises and perils of AGI — and his optimistic case for how unprecedented collaboration will ensure its safe and beneficial ...
When Biden met Xi (and what's going on with the US and China) | Ian Bremmer
November 22, 2023 11:00 - 43 minutesUS President Joe Biden and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping recently met in San Francisco. It was the first time Xi had visited the US in six years — and the first time the two leaders had met in person in a year. Geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer explains the implications of the meeting, sharing context and insight on areas where the pair agree -- and flagging key areas where tensions might yet arise. (This conversation with TED's Helen Walters was recorded on N...
A crash course in making political change | Katie Fahey
November 21, 2023 22:30 - 15 minutesYou don't need political power to make real change, says activist Katie Fahey. She tells the story of how she led a successful movement in Michigan to end gerrymandering — the practice of drawing district lines to favor one political party — and how it all started with a simple social media post.
Meet methane, the invisible climate villain | Marcelo Mena
November 20, 2023 16:34 - 9 minutesA landfill on fire doesn't only emit a horrid stench — it has devastating consequences for the environment, too. The culprit is methane, an often underestimated greenhouse gas produced in large part by food systems, organic waste and yes, cow burps. Biochemical engineer Marcelo Mena explains the source of this sneaky pollutant, why its emissions need to be cut in half by 2050 — and what you can do to help.
Meet methane, the invisible climate villain | Marcelo Mena
November 20, 2023 15:54 - 9 minutesA landfill on fire doesn't only emit a horrid stench — it has devastating consequences for the environment, too. The culprit is methane, an often underestimated greenhouse gas produced in large part by food systems, organic waste and yes, cow burps. Biochemical engineer Marcelo Mena explains the source of this sneaky pollutant, why its emissions need to be cut in half by 2050 — and what you can do to help.
How to think computationally about AI, the universe and everything | Stephen Wolfram
November 18, 2023 11:00 - 17 minutesDrawing on his decades-long mission to formulate the world in computational terms, Stephen Wolfram delivers a profound vision of computation and its role in the future of AI. Amid a debut of mesmerizing visuals depicting the underlying structure of the universe, he provides a sweeping survey of his life's work, offering a new perspective on the applications — and consequences — of AI powered by computational language.
How to think computationally about AI, the universe and everything | Stephen Wolfram
November 18, 2023 05:00 - 16 minutesDrawing on his decades-long mission to formulate the world in computational terms, Stephen Wolfram delivers a profound vision of computation and its role in the future of AI. Amid a debut of mesmerizing visuals depicting the underlying structure of the universe, he provides a sweeping survey of his life's work, offering a new perspective on the applications — and consequences — of AI powered by computational language.
The secret perks of driving electric | Cynthia Williams
November 17, 2023 16:47 - 12 minutesElectric vehicles need to be more than just eco-friendly — they have to be more chic, convenient and affordable than their gas-powered alternatives, says sustainability leader Cynthia Williams. She explores what it'll take for an electric revolution to succeed in the US, calling on corporations, policy leaders, investors and more to collaborate in unprecedented ways.
A case for color blindness | Coleman Hughes
November 16, 2023 11:00 - 14 minutesRacial inequality provokes passionate opinions and varied ideas of how to build a fair, equitable society. One topic that's been contentiously debated for generations is color blindness: the concept that we should look beyond race when thinking about equity. In this talk, writer and podcast host Coleman Hughes makes a case in favor of the idea, sharing why he thinks the key to reducing inequality and easing racial tensions is replacing race-based policies with class-based ones.
The real gold of our economy is in our hands | Salvatore Cali
November 15, 2023 16:06 - 12 minutesThe vast majority of our time at work is spent trudging through redundant and outdated workflows, says operations visionary Salvatore Cali. Laying out the most common time-wasting pitfalls, he urges policy leaders and businesses to reevaluate what they ask of both employees and consumers. "By rethinking the true purpose of each task, you will discover what is waste and what is the real gold of your company: the creation of value," says Cali.
Why you should ditch deadly fossil-fuel appliances | Donnel Baird
November 14, 2023 16:20 - 10 minutesIn the US, people spend the overwhelming majority of their time inside buildings that burn fossil fuels, which are bad for both the environment and human health. (Think: breathing in air pollution from gas stoves, furnaces and water heaters.) If we're going to fix this problem, we need to retrofit millions of buildings with all-electric equipment, says energy upgrader Donnel Baird. Hear about his ambitious plan to rip the fossil fuel infrastructure out of aging buildings and upgrade...
An economy powered by sun and wind — it's almost here | Kala Constantino
November 13, 2023 16:07 - 5 minutesWith some of the highest energy bills in Southeast Asia and extreme weather to match, the Philippines experiences the climate crisis -- and climate activism -- as a part of daily life. Clean energy advocate Kala Constantino highlights how people across the country are coming together to transform policies, power and the economy as the island nation maps out its green revolution.
The unexpected way spirituality connects to climate change | Gopal D. Patel
November 10, 2023 17:18 - 10 minutesEnvironmental activist Gopal D. Patel thinks the climate movement could learn a lot from one of the longest-standing social initiatives in human history: religion. Exploring three areas where frameworks from faith traditions could benefit the climate movement, Patel offers a playbook for discovering your big idea to build momentum towards powerful social change.
It's time to rethink the role of First Lady | Irina Karamanos Adrian
November 09, 2023 16:04 - 13 minutesIrina Karamanos Adrian didn't plan on becoming Chile's First Lady — but she set out to transform the role all the same. She shares how she's fighting gender stereotypes and protecting democracy by shifting political power back to where it belongs: to people who were actually elected.
Artificial skin? We made it — here's why | Anna Maria Coclite
November 08, 2023 16:02 - 9 minutesMaterial scientist Anna Maria Coclite unveils "smart skin" — artificial skin technology that responds to touch, temperature and humidity like your very own. (It's actually even more sensitive than human skin!) From helping burn victims to paving the way to smarter, safer humanoid robots, Coclite highlights the broad-ranging potential of this innovation.
Photographing nature beyond the limits of human perception | Doris Mitsch
November 07, 2023 16:12 - 12 minutesArtist Doris Mitsch invites us to revel in the wonders of nature through her dazzling photography: stacked images of starlings in flight, hawks surfing thermal updrafts, bats echolocating through the night sky and more. Revealing the hidden trails created by creatures in flight, her work offers unique insight into the intelligence behind nature's invisible rhythms.
Is technology our savior — or our slayer? | Ruha Benjamin
November 06, 2023 16:11 - 12 minutesWhen it comes to technology, we're often presented with two contrasting visions of the future: one where technology fulfills all our desires, and another where it leads to chaos and conflict. Sociologist Ruha Benjamin is here with a more radical vision of the future — one where humanity isn't saved or slayed by technology, but rather uses it to uplift ordinary people and make things like health care and housing for all a reality.
Is technology our savior — or our slayer? | Ruha Benjamin
November 06, 2023 16:00 - 11 minutesWhen it comes to technology, we're often presented with two contrasting visions of the future: one where technology fulfills all our desires, and another where it leads to chaos and conflict. Sociologist Ruha Benjamin is here with a more radical vision of the future — one where humanity isn't saved or slayed by technology, but rather uses it to uplift ordinary people and make things like health care and housing for all a reality.
The powerful possibilities of recycling the world's batteries | Emma Nehrenheim
November 02, 2023 15:48 - 9 minutesThe world has plenty of clean energy. The problem is storing that energy and getting it where we need it, when we need it, says battery recycling pioneer Emma Nehrenheim. While batteries are fundamental to powering a sustainable future, their production is surprisingly harsh on the environment. She lays out the science behind a breakthrough in recycling a battery's core elements, offering a manufacturing solution that could vastly reduce the industry's environmental impact and deman...
The power of unconventional thinking | David McWilliams
November 01, 2023 15:55 - 18 minutesFrom World War II to the 2008 economic collapse and beyond, history shows that economists don’t always see the future as clearly as they think they do, says David McWilliams. Using the words of W.B. Yeats, McWilliams makes the case for embracing unconventional thinkers – poets, artists and musicians – and offers a creative path towards a world filled with less confirmation bias and more understanding.
AI is dangerous, but not for the reasons you think | Sasha Luccioni
October 31, 2023 15:17 - 10 minutesAI won't kill us all — but that doesn't make it trustworthy. Instead of getting distracted by future existential risks, AI ethics researcher Sasha Luccioni thinks we need to focus on the technology's current negative impacts, like emitting carbon, infringing copyrights and spreading biased information. She offers practical solutions to regulate our AI-filled future — so it's inclusive and transparent.
How comedy helps us deal with hard truths | Roy Wood Jr.
October 30, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutesThere's a saying that comedy is tragedy plus time. Perhaps that's why some of our biggest problems feel easiest to manage with a dose of humor. Comedian, journalist and actor Roy Wood Jr. has spent his career finding the silly in the serious and using this tactic to influence real change. Listen in to learn how you can tap into the powers of humor in your own life. (This conversation, hosted by comedian Chris Duffy, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is th...
My quest to end the horror of gun violence in the US | Lucy McBath
October 28, 2023 10:00 - 12 minutesUS Congresswoman Lucy McBath has made it her mission to seek bipartisan solutions for gun safety, leading the way in sponsoring so-called “red flag” laws that prevent gun violence and mass shootings. In a searing and timely talk, she shares the personal story that led her to this work — and a message for why comprehensive, common-sense gun legislation in the US is more urgent than ever.
A simple way to inspire your team | David Burkus
October 27, 2023 14:32 - 11 minutesUsing paychecks, perks and carefully worded mission statements plastered on posters, companies are on a never-ending quest to find what drives morale at work. An underappreciated solution lies in the answer to one simple question, says management researcher David Burkus. With notable examples backed by decades of success, he presents a clear path to inspiring your team — and finding your purpose at work.
How to make learning as addictive as social media | Luis von Ahn
October 26, 2023 15:48 - 12 minutesWhen technologist Luis von Ahn was building the popular language-learning platform Duolingo, he faced a big problem: Could an app designed to teach you something ever compete with addictive platforms like Instagram and TikTok? He explains how Duolingo harnesses the psychological techniques of social media and mobile games to get you excited to learn — all while spreading access to education across the world.
How to Be a Better Human: How to stop finding your self-worth through your job (w/ Gloria Chan Packer)
October 25, 2023 16:05 - 34 minutesFor some of us, it's easy to lose ourselves in our work. But a lack of boundaries between your personal and work life is something mental wellness educator Gloria Chan Packer would warn you twice about. Gloria speaks about the perils of gaining your sense of self-worth from your job, discusses her experience with burnout and stress and shares empowering insights on how to shift our perspectives to create – and maintain – a healthy distance. This is an episode of the podcast How to B...
How to stop finding your self-worth through your job (w/ Gloria Chan Packer) | How to Be a Better Human
October 25, 2023 10:00 - 33 minutes - 19.6 MBFor some of us it's easy to lose ourselves in our work. But a lack of boundaries between your personal and work life is something mental wellness educator Gloria Chan Packer would warn you twice about. Gloria speaks about the perils of gaining your sense of self-worth from your job, discusses her experience with burnout and stress and shares empowering insights on how to shift our perspectives to create – and maintain – a healthy distance. This is an episode of the podcast How to Be...
How to stop finding your self-worth through your job | How to Be a Better Human
October 25, 2023 10:00 - 33 minutesFor some of us it's easy to lose ourselves in our work. But a lack of boundaries between your personal and work life is something mental wellness educator Gloria Chan Packer would warn you about twice. In conversation with host Chris Duffy, she speaks about the perils of gaining your sense of self-worth from your job, discusses her experience with burnout and stress and shares empowering insights on how to shift your perspective to create — and maintain — a healthy distance. This is ...
A cleaner world could start in a rice field | Jim Whitaker and Jessica Whitaker Allen
October 24, 2023 16:15 - 12 minutesRice is the world's largest food source — and it's also a massive emitter of methane gas, a key contributor to climate change. Fifth-generation rice farmer Jim Whitaker and his daughter, farmer and conservationist Jessica Whitaker Allen, are working to slash rice's environmental impacts with innovative, sustainable farming practices. They share how they're keeping their family farm in Arkansas profitable while also spreading green farming practices to their neighbors — and, eventual...
The ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Ukraine | Oleksandra Matviichuk
October 23, 2023 15:31 - 14 minutesHow do we defend people's freedom and dignity against authoritarianism, when the "law of war" doesn't seem to apply anymore? In the face of the Russian occupation of Ukraine, human rights lawyer and Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk considers this question every day. Exposing the failures of the international system of peace and security, she highlights the capabilities of ordinary people during extraordinary times — and urges us all to take an active position in the struggle for...
The joy of learning random things on Wikipedia | Annie Rauwerda
October 21, 2023 04:00 - 12 minutesWriter Annie Rauwerda makes a habit of getting lost among the seemingly endless digital archives of Wikipedia, discovering fake towns, promiscuous tortoises, 19th-century fangirls and so much more. An avid editor of the crowd-sourced platform, she speaks to the joys of exploring niche and humorous subjects, accidentally learning just for fun — and broadening your horizons along the way.
Let's reframe cancel culture | Sarah Jones
October 20, 2023 15:29 - 14 minutesCancel culture launched a reckoning that was long overdue — but that doesn't mean it's getting everything right. Filmmaker and actor Sarah Jones slips in and out of various characters as she shares her personal experience with cancel culture and suggests a better way to hold others — and ourselves — to account.
Let's reframe cancel culture | Sarah Jones
October 20, 2023 14:47 - 14 minutesCancel culture launched a reckoning that was long overdue — but that doesn't mean it's getting everything right. Filmmaker and actor Sarah Jones slips in and out of various characters as she shares her personal experience with cancel culture and suggests a better way to hold others — and ourselves — to account.
To support people at work, focus on needs — not identity | Gabrielle Novacek
October 19, 2023 14:48 - 11 minutes - 6.81 MBWhat do people really need to feel supported at work? Organizational strategist Gabrielle Novacek offers an answer that could transform the traditional approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and change how companies help caregivers balance the demands of work with the responsibilities of home.
Fixable: How to self-promote without shame (w/ Chris Duffy)
October 18, 2023 15:00 - 31 minutesAs a standup comedian and the host of the TED podcast How to Be a Better Human, Chris Duffy knows how to be engaging in front of a microphone. However, he feels awkward about posting on social media yet worries that not posting is costing him opportunities and a bigger audience. It's a problem that Anne and Frances have faced too. Together, they talk about the art and mindset of self-promotion and the ways YOU can rethink your online presence so it feels more aligned with what you s...
How to self-promote without shame (w/ Chris Duffy) | Fixable
October 18, 2023 10:00 - 30 minutes - 18 MBAs a standup comedian and the host of the TED podcast How to Be a Better Human, Chris Duffy knows how to be engaging in front of a microphone. However, he feels awkward about posting on social media yet worries that not posting is costing him opportunities and a bigger audience. It's a problem that Anne and Frances have faced too. Together, they talk about the art and mindset of self-promotion and the ways YOU can rethink your online presence so it feels more aligned with what you st...
How to self-promote without shame | Fixable
October 18, 2023 10:00 - 30 minutesAs a standup comedian and the host of the TED podcast How to Be a Better Human, Chris Duffy knows how to be engaging in front of a microphone. However, he feels awkward about posting on social media -- yet also worries that not posting is costing him opportunities and a bigger audience. It's a problem that hosts Anne Morriss and Frances Frei have faced, too. Together, they talk about the art and mindset of self-promotion and the ways you can rethink your online presence so it feels m...