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.

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Episodes

The anti-CEO playbook | Hamdi Ulukaya (re-release)

Profit, money, shareholders: these are the priorities of most companies today. But at what cost? In an appeal to corporate leaders worldwide, Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya calls for an end to the business playbook of the past -- and shares his vision for a new, "anti-CEO playbook" that prioritizes people over profits. "This is the difference between profit and true wealth," he says. This episode originally aired in 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Apr 09, 202619 min

The single most important parenting strategy | Becky Kennedy (re-release)

Everyone loses their temper from time to time — but the stakes are dizzyingly high when the focus of your fury is your own child. Clinical psychologist and renowned parenting whisperer Becky Kennedy is here to help. Not only does she have practical advice to help parents manage the guilt and shame of their not-so-great moments but she also models the types of conversations you can have to be a better parent. (Hint: this works in all other relationships too.) Bottom line? It's never too late to r...

Apr 08, 202616 min

The art and science of wine tasting | Qian Janice Wang

No two people taste wine the same way, and science is starting to show us why. Sensory scientist Qian Janice Wang explores why experts and beginners experience complexity so differently — revealing that what makes a wine great may have less to do with what's in the glass and more to do with what's happening in your brain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 07, 202616 min

The nurse who can smell Parkinson’s | Joy Milne

What does Parkinson's smell like? Ask nurse Joy Milne. Born with a hypersensitive nose, she spent a lifetime learning to recognize diseases through their scents. When she smelled Parkinson's on her husband years before his diagnosis, she decided to put her gift to the test. Today, her extraordinary nose has been translated into a non-invasive test — helping researchers diagnose what was right under their noses all along. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Apr 06, 202620 min

Sunday Pick: What to do when your beliefs are challenged (w/ Tenelle Porter) | from How to Be a Better Human

Tenelle Porter’s job is to study humility. Specifically, intellectual humility, the idea that we might be wrong or mistaken about some of our beliefs. Tenelle talks with Chris about why she thinks intellectual humility is so important, how to cultivate it, and why it’s the missing piece in so many conversations these days. Whether it’s in politics, academia or social media, Tenelle argues discovering you are wrong doesn’t have to be a painful realization, rather it can lead to positive discovery...

Apr 05, 202636 min

Where joy hides and how to find it | Ingrid Fetell Lee (re-release)

Cherry blossoms and rainbows, bubbles and googly eyes: Why do some things seem to create such universal joy? In this captivating talk, Ingrid Fetell Lee reveals the surprisingly tangible roots of joy and shows how we all can find -- and create -- more of it in the world around us. This episode originally aired in May 2018. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 04, 202615 min

How I imitate nature's voices | Snow Raven (re-release)

You're about to hear the sounds of several different creatures — from the voice of one single musician. In a spellbinding talk and performance, singer Snow Raven mimics the hoot of an owl, the grumble of a bear, the howl of a wolf and more. This episode originally aired in November 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 03, 202610 min

I let DaddyGPT parent my kids. Here's what I learned | Stephen Remedios

Tech humanist Stephen Remedios recounts creating DaddyGPT, an AI clone designed to handle his children's requests, only for them to prefer the bot over him. This personal experiment highlights the hidden costs of outsourcing our humanity and the dangers of prioritizing speed and efficiency over genuine connection. He concludes with crucial questions for ethical AI use, emphasizing that messy, flawed human presence is ultimately irreplaceable.

Apr 02, 202613 min

5 practical ways to take control of your life | Jim VandeHei

Axios CEO Jim VandeHei outlines five simple yet powerful ways to take control of your life, shifting focus from external uncontrollables to internal mastery. Drawing from his journey from an "unremarkable" 20-year-old to a successful entrepreneur, he emphasizes controlling your day, reactions, reality, how you're perceived, and ultimately, your destiny. VandeHei provides actionable steps and personal anecdotes, encouraging listeners to embrace the mantra "You Control You" to build a life of purpose and pride.

Apr 01, 202613 min

Why I must come out | Geena Rocero (re-release)

In a re-released talk for International Transgender Day of Visibility, fashion model Geena Rocero recounts her deeply personal journey of becoming who she always knew she was, having been assigned 'boy' at birth. She shares her childhood self-discovery, navigating a secret life in the fashion world, and her decision to publicly embrace her truth. Rocero highlights the challenges faced by the transgender community, emphasizing the importance of acceptance, support, and creating space for self-identification.

Mar 31, 202612 min

Stress resets, the ultimate mental health hack | Jenny Taitz

Stress is contagious — but so is calm. Psychologist Jenny Taitz explains why one stressful moment tends to snowball into the next, and shares small, immediate resets you can practice anywhere to break the spiral before it starts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 30, 202613 min

Sunday Pick: Unsolicited Advice: How to handle layoffs with care | from Fixable

When an organization lays people off , those who remain are often left scrambling to find their footing – and hold other people up – in an environment that no longer feels stable. In the wake of ongoing tech layoffs and the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the public sector, Anne and Frances are back with a new Unsolicited Advice segment to set the record straight about what layoffs mean for an organization — and the responsibility leaders have to own what went wrong. Hosted on Acast. S...

Mar 29, 202626 min

3 things I wish I knew when I was broke | Vivian Tu

Finance doesn't have to feel like a foreign language. Wall Street trader-turned-financial educator Vivian Tu helps millions of people make sense of money, breaking down complex concepts into everyday terms you can understand. She shares how she broke free from the stress of living paycheck to paycheck — and explores how we can shift power structures to give everyone a real shot at building wealth. (Following the talk, Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, interviews Tu on why financial literacy isn...

Mar 28, 202628 min

Why the world is still not built for women | Virginia Santy

Design consultant Virginia Santy set out to create an office space built specifically for women, flipping the script on the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways that workplaces and cities still fail them. The results were striking: greater productivity, deeper collaboration and an environment where women felt genuinely valued, leading her to ask a simple question: What would the world look like if we designed with women in mind? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 27, 202616 min

The magical, mesmerizing migration of monarch butterflies | Jaime Rojo (re-release)

When monarch butterflies migrate, they produce one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles in the world — and provide us with an important indicator of ecological health, says photographer Jaime Rojo. Telling a story about our relationship to the natural world, he shares his experience photographing these mesmerizing insects deep in their remote mountain habitats in Mexico, diving into the latest research into the mysteries of their multi-thousand-mile journey and sharing how each of us can join ...

Mar 26, 202613 min

My bank called in the middle of my TED Talk | Mike Albo

During his TED Talk, comedian Mike Albo stages a surprise call from his bank to verify suspicious activity. This comedic premise quickly turns into a deeply personal and often uncomfortable exposé of his recent transactions, revealing everything from online dating subscriptions to emotional movie nights and wine purchases. The talk highlights how thoroughly our digital data reflects our inner lives and anxieties, offering a humorous yet touching commentary on modern privacy and self-awareness in the digital age.

Mar 25, 20268 min

3 ways to create a truly original design | Lope Gutierrez-Ruiz

In a world where design trends are quietly converging — same color palettes, same typography, same illustration styles — how do you make work that actually looks different? Designer and TED Fellow Lope Gutierrez-Ruiz distills his answer into three sharp, counterintuitive ideas, ticking through his studio's own funky creations to show how you can make things that stand out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 24, 20268 min

Life on the frontlines of war reporting | Jane Ferguson (re-release)

Covering 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 way that new...

Mar 23, 202616 min

Sunday Pick: 20th Anniversary celebration with renowned poets Eileen Myles, Elizabeth Alexander, Sarah Kay, and Amber Tamblyn | from Design Matters

For the 20th anniversary of Design Matters, Debbie Millman revisits conversations with renowned poets Eileen Myles, Elizabeth Alexander, Sarah Kay, and Amber Tamblyn. These excerpts reflect on language, identity, memory, and the lived experience that fuels their work. Together, they reveal poetry as an intimate practice that resonates beyond the page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 22, 202657 min

How to tune your inner voice | Rhonda Ross, Daniel Alexander Jones

Rhonda Ross and Daniel Alexander Jones discuss "emotional sovereignty," highlighting that our inner voice and thoughts, not just circumstances, dictate our feelings. Ross shares her journey from personal crisis to developing a mindset practice, exemplified by stories including a miscarriage and an everyday parenting stress. She then outlines a unique five-step "Tune Your Inner Voice" process, culminating in a personalized "Songtra" to actively reshape one's internal narrative, emphasizing how personal responsibility reverberates for collective well-being.

Mar 21, 202622 min

Joy will find you — if you let it | David Larbi

Author David Larbi recites a poem about the journey toward joy, reminding us of all the ways it can be found: having a conversation with a stranger, tasting the perfect bite of food or enjoying a good stretch. Joy is all around us — you just need to know where to look. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 20, 20267 min

The 6 eras of NBA fashion — from restrained to radical | Mitchell S. Jackson

What are you wearing, and why? This is the question that writer and TED Fellow Mitchell S. Jackson asks as he unpacks the six eras of NBA style. Tracing an arc from Bill Russell to Lebron James and beyond, he explores how players use fashion on and off the court to challenge the limits placed upon them — revealing a deeper story about culture, identity and power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 19, 202612 min

I taught rats to drive. They taught me to enjoy the ride | Kelly Lambert

What can happy rats teach us about human joy? Behavioral neuroscientist Kelly Lambert describes how her team trained rats to drive tiny cars to earn treats — and noticed something surprising about how effort and anticipation affect the brain. The experiment opens new questions about how reward, agency and "behaviorceuticals" might help build resilience and support mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 18, 202616 min

Is luck random — or can you cultivate it? | Christian Busch

When the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires destroyed his home and neighborhood, scientist Christian Busch encountered the opposite of serendipity: "zemblanity," or bad luck by design. Drawing on more than a decade of scientific research, he explores how people can navigate unpredictability by adopting a serendipity mindset that transforms setbacks into unexpected new beginnings. He asks: What if good luck isn't random but can actually be cultivated? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

Mar 17, 202615 min

How to make transportation quieter, cleaner and cheaper | Doreen Orishaba

When Doreen Orishaba helped build Africa’s first electric car in 2011, skeptics dismissed it as a “toy for the Western world.” Now she’s running dozens of electric buses across Kenya and Rwanda, moving thousands of passengers to work every day on zero-exhaust vehicles powered by near-silent engines. She breaks down what it actually takes to scale clean transport — and why skipping the gas station pit stop is closer than you may think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 16, 202613 min

Sunday Pick: Margaret Atwood on what AI can’t replace | from ReThinking with Adam Grant

Margaret Atwood is best known as the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, and she’s won a slew of awards for her novels, poetry collections, and children’s books. Now, at the age of 86, she’s written her first memoir, The Book of Lives. In this episode, Adam and Margaret break down her perspective on what creative jobs AI will and won’t threaten and discuss the evidence on the benefits of reading banned books. They also muse about why heroes need monsters and what it means to be delightfully disagreea...

Mar 15, 202644 min

Why you should keep a list of what makes you laugh | Chris Duffy

The world is weird and hilarious — if you know where to look, says comedian Chris Duffy. In conversation with "TED Talks Daily" host Elise Hu, Duffy breaks down three practical pillars of humor, showing how laughter can help you feel present, creative and connected, even when the world feels overwhelming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 14, 202655 min

The sneaky language tricks cults use to influence you | Amanda Montell

In the age of social media and wellness trends, the comments section is as good as a cult compound, says linguist and cultural commentator Amanda Montell. Using Taylor Swift’s throng of devoted Swifties as her guide, she exposes three sneaky language tactics that cults use to influence us (for better or for worse), revealing why none of us are as cult-proof as we’d like to think. (Following the talk, Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, interviews Montell on parasocial relationships and how to hav...

Mar 13, 202628 min

3 habits to practice curiosity — and escape your phone | Nayeema Raza

We're so entangled with our devices that online has started to feel more real than IRL, says journalist Nayeema Raza. As screens reshape how we connect and relate, she offers three practical habits to reignite curiosity, restore presence and break free from our phones. (Following the talk, Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, interviews Raza on the best approach to discussing difficult topics — whether it’s about screen addiction or gun control — and how to get over the fear of asking dumb questio...

Mar 12, 202622 min
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