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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

The otters of Singapore — and other unexpected wildlife thriving in cities | Philip Johns

Animal behavior expert Philip Johns introduces us to the vibrant urban environments of Singapore, where city dwellers and skyscrapers coexist with a rich array of other species, including otters, hornbills and lizards — prompting the question: Can we design cities to be wildlife refuges? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 05, 202414 min

The hidden forces behind your food choices | Sarah Lake

What we eat is less about what we choose and more about what’s offered to us, says food and climate expert Sarah Lake. Unpacking how governments and companies have driven up meat consumption in the US through extensive marketing, she explains how we could employ these same forces to incentivize plant-based eating — for the sake of the planet, public health and global food security. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 04, 202410 min

The power of personalization in the age of AI | Mark Abraham

With all that spam clogging your inbox, a more personalized experience with the brands you interact with would be a refreshing change of pace. Sharing insights from his research into what brands can do to improve the experience of the people they want to reach, personalization pioneer Mark Abraham highlights a key mindset that can help companies boost their growth (and delight their customers) in the era of AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 03, 202414 min

Everything is improvisation — including this TED Talk | Reggie Watts

In this ode to improvisation, musician and comedian Reggie Watts beatboxes, raps, loops his own rhythms and reflects upon the everyday power of turning the mundane into magic. After all, he says, we're all just making it up as we go along. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 02, 202411 min

How to come together in a meaningful way | Priya Parker

Looking to infuse more connection into your time with friends and family? Facilitator Priya Parker urges us to approach gathering with intention and creativity. Diving into the evolving significance of coming together both in-person and virtually, she demystifies the role of a host, outlines mistakes we should avoid and shares the potential of thoughtfully designed get-togethers to bring lasting change to communities, workplaces and personal relationships. (This conversation was hosted by TED's ...

Oct 01, 202436 min

How quadratic funding could finance your dreams | Kevin Owocki

What if your $1 donation could result in a $100 contribution to a cause you believe in? That's the promise of quadratic funding: a new kind of crowdfunding model that uses math to distribute funds based on the number of contributors, rather than the amount given. Gitcoin founder Kevin Owocki dives into the principles and pitfalls of this approach to philanthropy, where "many small donors are more powerful than one large donor." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 30, 202412 min

Sunday Pick: The UN is speaking up about AI — here's what they're saying

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. AI is shaping every aspect of our lives — but only a handful of tech giants have a say in what this technology can do. So what's going on with world governments? Bilawal Sidhu, host of The TED AI Show, sits down with geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer to unpack the UN's just-released plan for "Governing AI for Humanity," a report that focuses on the urgent need to guide AI towards helping everyone...

Sep 29, 202455 min

What makes a good life? A neuroscientist and a global financial CEO answer | TED Intersections

What's the connection between long-term health and financial stability? Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki and HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth's CEO Annabel Spring explore the critical components of a good life — and how simple actions like exercise and financial planning can boost your present and future well-being. They discuss how to maximize your sense of joy, transform your anxiety into a force for good and keep your brain healthy over the course of your life. (This content is made possible...

Sep 28, 202430 min

Can AI preserve your most precious memories? | Pau Aleikum Garcia

"Memories are the architects of our identity," says technologist Pau Aleikum Garcia, but they're not permanent. Photos can be lost amid political unrest or natural disaster, while illnesses like Alzhemier's can rob people of their past. He puts forward a novel solution — "synthetic memories," or dreamlike visualizations of long-gone moments created through generative AI — and explores how it could reconnect families or even enhance cognitive abilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...

Sep 27, 202412 min

Break the bad news bubble (Part 1) | Angus Hervey

We're stuck in a bad news bubble, says Angus Hervey, founder of Fix the News, an independent publication that reports stories of global progress. He shares some of the compelling stories too often left out of our daily news — from a decline in AIDS deaths to decreased deforestation in the Amazon to more effective school feeding programs and greater acceptance of LGBTQ people in many countries. (This conversation with TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers was recorded on September 5, 2024.) Hosted on ...

Sep 26, 202422 min

The sweet future of vertical farming | Hiroki Koga

Can strawberries grown inside a building taste sweeter than those grown in a field? Farming entrepreneur Hiroki Koga explores how his team is combining solar-powered vertical farms with AI, robotics and indoor bee colonies to grow delicious strawberries year-round — and how this practice, if widely adopted, could deliver a harvest of benefits for the future of food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 25, 202411 min

How to make your cat happier — in 3 minutes | Nicky Trevorrow

There's a simple way to increase your cat's happiness, says animal behaviorist Nicky Trevorrow. She explains the importance of play for our feline friends — and for basically any species (looking at you, dog lovers!) — and shares specific, actionable strategies to boost your cat's mental and physical health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 24, 202413 min

Capitalism broke the climate. Now it can fix it | Akshat Rathi

We can blame capitalism for worsening the climate crisis, says journalist Akshat Rathi, but we can also use it to create the solutions we need for the mess we're in. He details how “climate capitalism” — the strategic use of market forces and government policies to make polluting the planet cost more than advancing climate solutions — can flip the script and actually make sustainability profitable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 23, 202413 min

Sunday Pick: Vibe Check with Elise Hu

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing a special collaboration with Vibe Check, a podcast hosted by Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford. Sam and Zach talk to Elise about her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital”. Elise gave her thoughts on body modification, digital culture setting beauty standards, and more. Then, tune in for a TED Talk from Lindsey Kite about how b...

Sep 22, 202450 min

What’s the future of food? A chef and a cardiologist answer | TED Intersections

What does food mean to you, your community and our planet? With ​​personal accounts from the kitchen to the operating room, chef and content creator Jon Kung and cardiologist Uma Valeti unpack how food cultivates creativity and offers opportunities to connect with and blend cultures. Exploring Valeti’s experiences developing a healthier meat alternative, they discuss what it takes to overcome the impossible — whether that’s saving a patient’s life or transforming ideas around traditional foods —...

Sep 21, 202424 min

A bold plan to rewild the Earth — at massive scale | Kristine McDivitt Tompkins

The first step to saving nature is the rewilding of our own minds, says conservationist and former Patagonia CEO Kristine McDivitt Tompkins. With an unwavering commitment to protecting ecosystems, she and her late husband Douglas Tompkins created vast conservation parks across South America that allowed ancient flora and fauna to flourish once again. Now, she's carrying that legacy and mission forward with a bold plan to connect parks across geographic boundaries, creating a system of continenta...

Sep 20, 202414 min

Can dogs detect the next pandemic before it begins? | Glen J. Golden

What if animals like dogs, ferrets, mice and raccoons could help sniff out the next pandemic? Exploring the science of smell, neurobiologist Glen J. Golden delves into the development of a "mechanical nose" that could detect diseases by identifying specific odor profiles. Until that technology is fully developed, he explains how we can train humanity's furry allies to identify illnesses — and help stop the spread in its tracks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 19, 202415 min

Time traveling with AI to connect with lost loved ones | Amy Kurzweil

What if AI could bring the past to life? Cartoonist Amy Kurzweil shares how she helped train an AI chatbot on her late grandfather’s archives, allowing her to connect with a family member she never met — and discover family history she never knew. Backed by her own original drawings, she reveals the profound impact art and AI can have in keeping memories alive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 18, 202420 min

The rise of virtual humans — and what they mean for the future | Sara Giusto

Sara Giusto is a talent manager, but not in the sense you might imagine. Her biggest client is imma, an influencer with pink hair ... who isn't human. Giusto discusses what the rise of "virtual humans" means for the real world — and invites imma onstage to explore an important question: In an increasingly digital world, what's really real? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 17, 20249 min

How to live a meaningful life | Brian S. Lowery

What makes for a meaningful life? Social psychologist Brian S. Lowery explores three ideas tied to the experience of meaning and shows why simply pursuing personal achievements isn't the best way to find it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16, 202415 min

TED Talks Daily Book Club | Are smartphones ruining childhood? | Jonathan Haidt

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's latest book, "The Anxious Generation," is shaping cultural conversations and sparking fierce debates about the role of smartphones in society. In this timely conversation, he investigates how a smartphone-based childhood, amplified by overprotective parenting, is driving the mental health crisis among young people. He also explores the push for phone bans in schools and the concrete steps we can take to improve the mental health of young people around the wor...

Sep 15, 202439 min

What makes us human in the age of AI? A psychologist and a technologist answer | TED Intersections

AI has the potential to impact the way humans interact with the world — and each other. Social psychologist Brian S. Lowery and AI technologist Kylan Gibbs dive into the ramifications of emerging technologies on people's mental health and social dynamics. Hear why Gibbs thinks, counterintuitively, the more we use AI, the less real it will feel — and how Lowery suggests we fulfill our intrinsic need for connection amid dizzying technological advances. (This conversation is part of "TED Intersecti...

Sep 14, 202427 min

The recipe for a healthy climate starts at the dinner table | Anthony Myint

Why aren't restaurants part of the climate solution? This question inspired chef Anthony Myint to go from opening buzzy pop-ups to pushing for a shift to regenerative farming practices in the food system. He explains how it didn't go the way he expected at first — and how restaurants are now teaming up with farmers and eaters alike to restore the climate while serving up delicious food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 13, 202413 min

The arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov — and why you should care | Eli Pariser

Online democracy advocate Eli Pariser explains the details surrounding the August 2024 arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov by French authorities — and what it means for the future of tech oversight and free speech. (Recorded live on Wednesday, September 4, 2024) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 12, 202453 min

To end extreme poverty, give cash — not advice | Rory Stewart

Are traditional philanthropy efforts actually taking money from the poor? Former UK Member of Parliament Rory Stewart breaks down why many global development projects waste money on programs that don't work. He advocates for a radical reversal rooted in evidence: giving unconditional cash transfers directly to those in need, a method that could unlock the secret of addressing extreme poverty worldwide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 11, 202415 min

Can math help repair democracy? | Sam Wang

Could math help make American democracy more responsive to the people? From detecting gerrymandered districts to predicting the impact of alternative election methods like ranked-choice voting, neuroscientist Sam Wang outlines how computer simulations can help fix the bugs in US democracy — and put it on the path to repair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 10, 202411 min

How to find laughter anywhere | Chris Duffy

Why are some people really funny and others ... not so much? Comedian Chris Duffy shows how you can sharpen your sense of humor and start laughing every day — by seeing the world like a kid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 09, 20248 min

Sunday Pick: Could your new best friend be an AI-powered NPC? | The TED AI Show

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing a special episode of The TED AI Show, our newest podcast about the technology that's changing our lives. Non Player Characters --NPCs for short-- have always been a huge part of what makes video games engaging, from Cortana in Halo to Navi in The Legend of Zelda. But interactions with NPCs were always limited to a pre-written script. Until now. Purnendu Mukherjee is the CEO ...

Sep 08, 202431 min

What does it take to create change? An artist and a conservationist answer | TED Intersections

What does it actually take to make meaningful change? Conservationist Kristine McDivitt Tompkins and playwright and theater director Amir Nizar Zuabi reflect on the deep connection between human suffering and environmental degradation and the community-building power of art to raise awareness. With equal parts hope and concern for the future, they speak to the urgent need to act now — and emphasize the transcendent power of compassion-fueled collaboration. (This conversation is part of “TED Inte...

Sep 07, 202424 min

A controversial play — and what it taught me about the psychology of climate | David Finnigan

When playwright David Finnigan staged a play titled "Kill Climate Deniers" in 2014, he knew it'd get a strong reaction. What he wasn't prepared for was the idea that the blowback might actually cause him to rethink his own response to climate change. But as he shares in this delightfully engaging talk, his conversations with skeptics of all stripes ultimately taught him a fresh and fascinating lesson about how we can all think about — and act upon — the climate crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Sep 06, 202419 min