Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers. Host Manoush Zomorodi inspires us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves.
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From robot helpers to smart body parts, the line between human and machine is blurring. This hour, TED speakers design tech that enhances us without diminishing our humanity. Guests include robot choreographer and computer scientist Catie Cuan, engineer and biophysicist Hugh Herr, material scientist Anna Maria Coclite and biochemist Jennifer Doudna. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with Manoush. By signing up f...
The debate about masculinity has reached a fever pitch. But Richard Reeves says we must move past the culture wars and look at the facts. This hour, a thoughtful approach to supporting boys and men. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with Manoush. By signing up for Plus, you directly support our work and public media, so all your episodes (like this one!) come to you without sponsor breaks. Learn more at plus.npr...
From the farm, to the lab, to our tables, what we eat and how it's grown is changing. Agriculture contributes to global warming and is being transformed by it. This hour, a glimpse into the future of food. Guests include chef and policy advisor Sam Kass, farmers Jim Whitaker and Jessica Whitaker Allen, biotechnologist Isha Datar and artist Sam Van Aken. Original broadcast date: July 5, 2024. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper ...
Why do some of us feel so tired, while others seem to have endless energy? This hour, host Manoush Zomorodi explores what science is revealing about stress, breathing, cellular energy and the body. Guests include mitochondrial psychobiologist Martin Picard and science journalist James Nestor. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with Manoush. By signing up for Plus, you directly support our work and public media, s...
When stress, fear or sadness weigh on us, our hearts can suffer — even break. But there are ways to mend our broken hearts. This hour, TED speakers share stories and ideas about soothing heartache. Guests include cardiologist Sandeep Jauhar, law professor Jeannie Suk Gersen, pediatric nurse Hui-wen Sato, and social worker Knut Ivar Bjørlykhaug. This episode originally aired October 1, 2021. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper c...
Physician Eric Topol, author of "Super Agers," reveals that genetics play a minimal role in healthy aging, with lifestyle and a strong immune system being far more critical. He outlines five key domains for preventing major age-related diseases
as Alzheimer's, heart disease, and cancer
as advanced diagnostics, vaccines, and artificial intelligence. Topol also debunks popular, unproven anti-aging fads and stresses the importance of personalized, evidence-based preventive care.
Information feels more accessible than ever, but the ways we store data are surprisingly fragile. Can we save anything forever? This hour, TED speakers explore preserving our past, present and future. Guests include game designer CM Ralph, digital librarian Brewster Kayle, molecular biologist Dina Zielinksi and archeologist Chris Fisher. Original air date: January 27, 2023 TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with ...
Philosopher Meghan Sullivan says during tough times, ancient wisdom can serve as a guide. From politics to religion to AI, she poses big questions to help you find out what the good life means today. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at: plus.npr.org/ted See pcm.adswizz.com for inform...
Every day, we make countless choices—but are these decisions guided by desire or design? This hour, TED speakers on what shapes the food we eat, how we power our homes, and how we communicate. Guests include food systems expert Sarah Lake, infrastructure engineer Deb Chachra, cross-cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand, urban planner Jeff Speck, and Tempe resident Ignacio Delgadillo. Original broadcast date: May 2, 2025 See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...
The time has come for humanity to make a choice: Will we build AI to replace humans or enhance them? This hour, the "humanistic AI" philosophy, a test case, and a glimpse into the future of work. Guests include Siri co-creator Tom Gruber, CENTURY Tech CEO Priya Lakhani and Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with Manoush. By signing up for Plus, you directly support our work and public me...
Neuroscientist Ethan Kross from the University of Michigan shares research on emotional regulation, emphasizing that emotions are useful but require skilled management, much like playing a fine instrument. He discusses tools like distanced self-talk, engaging the senses, and embracing awe, highlighting that emotional self-control is malleable. The episode also delves into the pitfalls of mere venting, the challenges of reframing, and the importance of a personalized "emotional toolbox," alongside the concept of strategic avoidance, drawing lessons from a Holocaust survivor's coping mechanism.
The episode delves into the unique ways our minds construct reality, featuring insights on aphantasia – the inability to visualize – and its profound impact on memory and personal experience. It also uncovers the complexities of eyewitness testimony through a detailed case study, highlighting how memories can be contaminated and emphasizing the importance of accurate collection. Finally, it explores "flirting" as a tool for creating meaningful, non-romantic connections in daily life, suggesting it can combat isolation and enrich human interaction.
“Marty Supreme” stars Timothée Chalamet as a young, brash table tennis player in the 1950s trying to hustle his way to a world championship. One of the characters standing in Marty’s way is played by frequent guest, Pico Iyer, a TED speaker and travel writer who’d never acted before. In this bonus episode, Iyer shares how a TED talk unexpectedly landed him the role and reflects on how this simple game can teach us to play with someone, not just against them. This bonus episode was released early...
Can otters be city dwellers? Are aliens real? Do we have to experience misery to understand happiness? On this episode, we investigate how strange bedfellows can lead to radical realizations. Guests include evolutionary biologist Philip Johns, astrophysicist Avi Loeb and author Laurel Braitman. Original air date: March 21, 2025 TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also ...
This episode explores effective negotiation strategies, featuring insights from mediator Alex Carter who redefines negotiation as relationship-steering rather than competition. Carter introduces powerful tools like open-ended questions, understanding personal needs, and leveraging silence to foster collaboration. The second half features linguist Magdalena Höhler, who delves into the unique complexities and hidden power dynamics of language in intercultural romantic relationships, offering advice on navigating emotional nuances, humor, and building a shared "microculture" for deeper connection.
MLK Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin are household names, but what about their mothers? This hour, author Anna Malaika Tubbs explores how these three women shaped American history. Original air date: February 27, 2026. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted . See pcm.ad...
The episode explores the profound impact of social media on young people, ignited by Jonathan Haidt's "Anxious Generation" thesis and his call for age limits and phone-free schools, citing direct harms and addictive design. Maximilian Milovidov offers a Gen Z perspective, attributing youth anxiety to wider societal issues and advocating for open dialogue and nuanced parenting over outright bans. The discussion extends to applying lessons to AI regulation and finding "true fun" through playfulness, connection, and flow, as presented by Catherine Price, offering strategies to engage meaningfully off-screen.
The episode delves into the complex nature of self-perception, featuring a portrait photographer who helps clients genuinely connect with their image, a psychologist discussing the challenges of maintaining a "good person" identity, and a journalist examining the global influence of Korean beauty standards and AI filters. Finally, a science writer explores the neuroscience of the "constructed self," including the narrative and bodily self. It prompts listeners to consider the fluidity of identity and the importance of empathy.
How do you rebuild trust after bloodshed? This hour, a closer look at two unlikely truces: LA gang leaders who negotiated peace and activists in the Middle East who chose dialogue over hate. Guests include peace activists Aqeela Sherrills, Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without...
From creating “synthetic” memories to reviving ruined monuments, tech no longer simply stores the past — it can enhance it. This hour, we explore new ways to capture, share and even recreate our past. Guests include technologist Pau Aleikum Garcia, cartoonist Amy Kurzweil and digital archaeologist Chance Coughenour. (Original broadcast date: January 24, 2025) TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our prod...
When it feels like the world is on fire, it's hard to know what's in your control and what's out of your hands. This hour, TED speakers explain ways you can reclaim your agency. Guests include financial advisor Matt Pitcher, sociologist Anindya Kundu, journalist Jennifer Wallace and design thinking professor Bill Burnett. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets y...
This episode delves into the profound intelligence found in the natural world, from the Venus flytrap's counting ability and plants that learn to the intricate hunting strategies of dragonflies. It also examines the immune system's role in influencing our mood and behavior, and explores how bioacoustics and AI are being used to decode animal communication, offering new avenues for understanding and conserving species. The discussions highlight nature's efficient solutions and inspire future advancements in artificial intelligence and environmental protection.
Genomics researcher Dr. Robert Green explains how sequencing babies’ DNA can reveal hidden health risks. This hour we explore where the benefits end and the ethical dilemmas begin. Guests include Dr. Robert Green, bioethicist and pediatrician Dr. Lainie Friedman Ross and genetic counselor Bethany Zettler. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regu...
In unpredictable times, how can we stay calm, grounded, and on course? This hour, TED speakers lead us through uncertainty. Guests include former medical clown Matt Wilson, psychologist Jamil Zaki, writer and filmmaker Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir and human rights activist Yifat Susskind. (Original broadcast date: January 10, 2025) TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also le...
Finding "the one" can seem like life's ultimate goal—but should it be? This hour, TED speakers expand the definition of life partnership, whether it's with a friend, a spouse, a pet, or no one at all. Guest include journalist Rhaina Cohen, marriage and family therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile, social psychologist Bella DePaulo and photographer Elias Weiss Friedman of "The Dogist." Original broadcast date: February 7, 2025 TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ...
What will AI look like in 2026? Is the hype a bubble or a tech revolution that will transform everything? This episode, the global politics shaping the future of AI and what it means for you. Guests include tech entrepreneur Alvin Wang Graylin, NPR tech reporter John Ruwitch, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in conversation with TED's Chris Anderson. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus su...
From our favorite songs to our own voices, we're surrounded by sound all day. But how does all this noise affect our emotions and behavior? This hour, TED speakers explore how sound shapes our lives. Guests include musician and professor of songwriting Scarlet Keys, AI CEO Pierre Barreau, voice expert Rebecca Kleinberger and musician Snow Raven. (Original Broadcast Date: February 21, 2025) TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behin...
Before his passing, conductor Robert Franz guided us through the first movement of Dvorák's "New World Symphony" using his four essential tools for listening—rhythm, melody, texture and visuals. As the year comes to a close, Manoush Zomorodi shares one of her favorite TED Radio Hour+ episodes. Robert Franz was also featured in episode, " How we experience time ." To hear more bonus content like this and to support NPR and public radio, sign up for TED Radio Hour+ at plus.np r.org/ted See pcm.ads...
It's been a long, complicated year. This hour, TED speakers share ideas to help you get grounded, back on track, and even edge toward something like bliss. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of perso...
We can’t protect what we don’t understand. From decoding wolf howls to making sense of millions of citizen-science sightings, we explore the tools helping researchers understand the wild in new ways. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted . See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...
