TED Talks Daily - podcast cover

TED Talks Daily

Want TED Talks on the go? Everyday, this feed brings you our latest talks in audio format. Hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable – from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between – given by the world's leading thinkers and doers. This collection of talks, given at TED and TEDx conferences around the globe, is also available in video format.

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Episodes

The beauty of building with mud and trash | Vinu Daniel

What if we could use waste to create resilient and sustainable buildings? Bringing out the beauty of the dirt beneath our feet, climate-responsive architect Vinu Daniel shares how he and his team are giving local and discarded materials (think: mud, plastic and used tires) a second life by using them to create dreamlike homes, schools and other public spaces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 31, 202313 min

Blindness isn't a tragic binary -- it's a rich spectrum | Andrew Leland

When does vision loss become blindness? Writer, audio producer and editor Andrew Leland explains how his gradual loss of vision revealed a paradoxical truth about blindness -- and shows why it might have implications for how all of us see the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 28, 20236 min

Can global food companies make the shift to regenerative agriculture? | Steve Presley

Sharing the inside scoop on how the world's largest food company aims to reach net zero by 2050, Nestlé North America CEO Steve Presley joins TED's Lindsay Levin to discuss the progress they've made so far and where they're investing for sustainability. A big focus will be regenerative agriculture -- producing food in a way that helps the planet instead of harming it -- by working with farmers and other partners across the entire food production process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Jul 27, 202311 min

How to make sure materials get reused — again and again | Garry Cooper

What if we could harness the power and value of all that we discard? Circular economy builder Garry Cooper presents a compelling vision for transforming cities into sustainable, circular economies, citing real-world examples of how repurposing materials from buildings to office furniture can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and foster economic growth. A hopeful reminder of the profound impact individual actions can have on our shared future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

Jul 26, 202313 min

Episode 1: The Internet's First Main Character? | The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks

It's 1999, and sixteen years after its original release, a new Star Wars is finally coming. Fans have been camping out in front of theaters across the country just to be the first to see it. The beloved intergalactic saga is set to debut a slew of brand new characters, one of whom is a revolutionary CGI creation named Jar Jar Binks. Whispers begin to spread about big changes coming to the galaxy far, far away – and not everyone's happy about it. This is an episode of another podcast in the TED A...

Jul 24, 202332 min

The tree-growing movement restoring Africa's vital landscapes | Wanjira Mathai

2023 Audacious Project grantee Wanjira Mathai is at the forefront of re-greening the planet. Through the forest restoration initiative Restore Local, she's working to help both Africa's people and its landscapes flourish. Learn more about how her team invests in local restoration projects across the continent -- including a tree-growing movement that aims to revitalize 100 million hectares of African land by 2030. (This ambitious idea is a part of the Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspi...

Jul 21, 20239 min

How to be a leader for climate justice | David Lammy and Justin J. Pearson

Climate justice is taking center stage -- geopolitically, socially and morally. In a contagiously courageous conversation, Member of Parliament in the UK David Lammy and Tennessee state representative Justin J. Pearson discuss how brave leadership can shepherd global movements and uplift historically marginalized communities in the face of humanity's greatest challenge: climate change. "We must have outrage, but we must have optimism as well," says Lammy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Jul 20, 202313 min

The growing megafire crisis -- and how to contain it | George T. Whitesides

Megafires, or fires that burn more than 100,000 acres, are becoming more frequent worldwide, wreaking havoc on landscapes and communities -- and fire experts say the problem is only going to get worse. George T. Whitesides is focused on fighting these devastating natural disasters through innovative technologies and intentional changes to how we build communities. He presents three emerging solutions to this blazing dilemma, calling for us to redefine our relationship with fire in order to build...

Jul 19, 202311 min

Is remote work better than being in the office? It's complicated | Mark Mortensen

Opinions about remote work are plentiful and conflicting -- but what does the research say? Organizational design expert Mark Mortensen identifies the challenges of navigating the hybrid work debate and shares three conversation topics every workplace should explore as people change the way they show up on the job. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 18, 20238 min

Why are we making pizza boxes out of endangered trees? | Nicole Rycroft

If we're going to solve the climate crisis, we need to talk about supply chains, says biodiversity champion and 2023 Audacious grantee Nicole Rycroft. Her organization, Canopy, partners with key industry leaders to overhaul their base materials in favor of more sustainable alternatives. Learn more about how they're shifting production of everything from T-shirts to the Harry Potter book series out of the world's ancient and endangered forests -- and how solutions for every sector are closer than...

Jul 14, 20239 min

Detroit's climate crisis -- and how to build a resilient future everywhere | Anika Goss

How can cities become resilient to the shocks of climate change? As a leading force behind Detroit's ongoing revitalization, Anika Goss spends a lot of time thinking about this question. Connecting the city's industrial past to its sustainable future, she explores the link between climate vulnerability and economic inequity, offering a vision for responding to both challenges at once. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 13, 202310 min

The renewable energy revolution happening in Ukraine | Maxim Timchenko

What's it like keeping the lights on during war? Ukrainian energy executive Maxim Timchenko shares how his company has diversified Ukraine's power structures to survive Russian attacks, highlighting the resilience of renewable energy. Hear more about Ukraine's present-day challenges, how it's become a testing ground in the global fight against climate change and the transformative path towards sustainable energy independence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jul 12, 20236 min

Will superintelligent AI end the world? | Eliezer Yudkowsky

Decision theorist Eliezer Yudkowsky has a simple message: superintelligent AI could probably kill us all. So the question becomes: Is it possible to build powerful artificial minds that are obedient, even benevolent? In a fiery talk, Yudkowsky explores why we need to act immediately to ensure smarter-than-human AI systems don't lead to our extinction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 11, 202311 min

War, AI and the new global arms race | Alexandr Wang

Lethal drones with facial recognition, armed robots, autonomous fighter jets: we're at the dawn of a new age of AI-powered warfare, says technologist Alexandr Wang. He explores why data will be the secret weapon in this uncharted landscape and emphasizes the need to consider national security when developing new tech -- or potentially face all-out AI warfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 10, 202310 min

School is just the start. Here's how to help girls succeed for life | Angeline Murimirwa

Education activist and 2023 Audacious Project grantee Angeline Murimirwa knows the power of educating girls, especially in places where they may not have easy access to schooling. But she says that's not enough. In an inspiring talk, she clarifies why a support network around girls -- from the moment they enter the classroom to years after they graduate -- makes a radical difference for their lives in school and beyond. Learn how how her nonprofit CAMFED is building a sisterhood to do just that....

Jul 07, 20239 min

How life on Earth adapts to you and me | Shane Campbell-Staton

We tend to think of evolution as a slow, gradual process playing out over millions of years. But evolutionary biologist Shane Campbell-Staton says nature is now changing at breakneck speed to keep up with the world humanity has built. From tuskless elephants who escape poachers to wolves living in the radioactive Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Campbell-Staton unpacks how life is rapidly adapting in surprising ways -- and asks us to rethink how we can protect the planet's biodiversity. Hosted on Acast...

Jul 05, 202312 min

How to Be a Better Human: How to embrace – and challenge – the idea of "beauty" (w / Elise Hu)

Humans have always been captivated by beauty, and for almost as long, we've been marketed products and new technologies to help us achieve certain beauty standards. Elise Hu is a journalist and the author of "Flawless: Lessons in looks and culture from the K-beauty industry." In this episode, she shares the fascinating insights she's learned from years of studying the $10 billion K-beauty industry and the cutting-edge skincare, niche makeup products, and technology that promise to optimize our a...

Jul 04, 202334 min

How your company can gain a global talent advantage | Johann Daniel Harnoss

If a diverse workforce makes a better company, why don’t more businesses hire internationally? Innovation and migration strategist Johann Daniel Harnoss details the advantage of global talent and how to best build the systems and culture to welcome immigrants to your staff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 03, 202312 min

How to unleash your inner maximalism through costume | Machine Dazzle

Tapping into the transformational power of costume, concept artist Machine Dazzle takes us on a maximalist journey through art, history and fashion. From a jaw-droppingly intricate '60s bouffant ensemble to a 24-hour show of extravagant outfits, Dazzle shares pieces that channel unrealized dreams, urging us all to fully embrace the beautiful complexity of being ourselves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 30, 202312 min

A liberating vision of identity that transcends labels | Jioji Ravulo

How can we move past society's inclination to box people in with binary thinking and labels? Social work professor Jioji Ravulo believes we need to embrace multiplicity, exploring how Indigenous perspectives can help create more welcoming, collective communities for everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 29, 202317 min

How to fund real change in your community | Rebecca Darwent

Is there a way to give back that benefits everyone? Citing the success of collective giving practices from around the world, philanthropic advisor Rebecca Darwent asks donors to let communities lead decision-making, ushering in a new era of philanthropy that's rooted in interconnected humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 28, 202313 min

A powerful new neurotech tool for augmenting your mind | Conor Russomanno

In an astonishing talk and tech demo, neurotechnologist Conor Russomanno shares his work building brain-computer interfaces that could enable us to control the external world with our minds. He discusses the quickly advancing possibilities of this field -- including the promise of a "closed-loop system" that could both record and stimulate brain activity -- and invites neurohacker Christian Bayerlein onto the TED stage to fly a mind-controlled drone by using a biosensing headset. Hosted on Acast...

Jun 27, 202314 min

A modern argument for the rights of animals | Peter Singer

Why do we prioritize human rights over those of other species? Philosopher Peter Singer dives into what he calls "speciesism," the root of the widely ignored mistreatment of animals around the world, from factory farms to product-testing facilities. He makes the case for ending the commercial exploitation of animals for food and invites everyone to reexamine the environmental and moral weight of the status quo. This conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson, was part of an exclusive TED...

Jun 26, 202333 min

Kung Fu, Star Trek and the many paths to spirituality | Rainn Wilson

Do you feel overwhelmed by the complex issues facing our world, not to mention your own personal problems? Spirituality is the key to staying grounded and hopeful -- even for skeptics, says actor and author Rainn Wilson. He explains why it's time for all of us to experience a spiritual shake-up and outlines two paths to tap into your innate wisdom, kindness and strength. The work begins within yourself. (This conversation, hosted by TED's Carla Zanoni, was part of an exclusive TED Membership eve...

Jun 24, 202329 min

Why Iranians are cutting their hair for "Woman, Life, Freedom" | Sahar Zand

Filmmaker Sahar Zand vividly explores the ongoing struggle women face at the hands of Iranian morality police -- like living as second-class citizens with no right to travel, divorce or wear their hair uncovered -- and points to new hope as protests against this unfair treatment continue across the country and around the world. She urges us all to stand in solidarity with the fight for "Woman, Life, Freedom" and shows why hope is so dangerous to authoritarian regimes. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Jun 23, 202314 min

Why are we so bad at reporting good news? | Angus Hervey

Why is good news so rare? In a special broadcast from the TED stage, journalist Angus Hervey sheds light on some of the incredible progress humanity has made across environmental protection, public health and more in the last year, making the case that if we want to change the story of humanity this century, we have to start changing the stories we tell ourselves. "When we only tell the stories of doom, we fail to see the stories of possibility," says Hervey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Jun 22, 202317 min

How to solve the education crisis for boys and men | Richard Reeves

While studying inequality and social mobility, Richard Reeves made a surprising discovery: in some countries, like the US and UK, boys are drastically lagging behind girls across many academic measures. He explains why these struggles in school are indicative of the larger crises facing boys and men -- and outlines how society could thoughtfully tackle these challenges to work towards a more inclusive, equitable future. (Followed by a Q&A with head of TED Chris Anderson) Hosted on Acast. See...

Jun 20, 202316 min

No. You cannot touch my hair! | Mena Fombo

Uninvited hair touching, an issue that primarily affects Black women and girls, is an invasion of personal space. To raise awareness of "hair attacks," activist Mena Fombo started the "No, You Cannot Touch My Hair" campaign, showing how unwanted hair touching is an issue that has been and still is rooted in racism. She shares three steps to end this invasive behavior and move toward a world that respects everyone's bodily autonomy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 16, 202314 min

How to weave a cultural legacy through storytelling | Cohen Bradley

"I think of legacy as the weaving together of our stories passed on as a whole," says Haida storyteller Cohen Bradley. Highlighting the significance of potlatch ceremonies (or gift-giving feasts) and other Indigenous traditions of the Haida Nation, Bradley shares why we all should prioritize our collective legacies -- and how they live on through the stories we tell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 15, 202311 min

The next global superpower isn't who you think | Ian Bremmer

Who runs the world? Political scientist Ian Bremmer argues it's not as simple as it used to be. With some eye-opening questions about the nature of leadership, he asks us to consider the impact of the evolving global order and our choices as participants in the future of democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 14, 202321 min
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