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

Why broken hearts hurt — and what heals them | Yoram Yovell

What's the relationship between physical and mental pain, and how can you ease both? Revealing how your experiences of love, loss and pain are deeply intertwined, neuroscientist Yoram Yovell sheds light on the surprising role of your brain's endorphins and opioid receptors to ease physical and emotional suffering — and shows how this connection could pave the way to new treatments for mental health and well-being. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 07, 202413 min

How to use venture capital for good | Freada Kapor Klein

Freada Kapor Klein isn't your typical venture capitalist. She's thrown out the standard investment playbook in order to close the opportunity gap for low-income communities. She explains how her firm is investing in entrepreneurs and startups solving real-world problems — and the measurable difference it's already making. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 06, 202415 min

A snack’s journey from the farm to your mouth | Aruna Rangachar Pohl

How does a biscuit make it from the farm to your plate? Sustainable development leader Aruna Rangachar Pohl unpacks the long journey of one of India’s most beloved snacks, revealing how the current industrial farming model is eating the planet. Learn about the foundation she started to promote eco-friendly agricultural practices — and hear the success stories of small-scale farmers adopting natural practices to cook up a tasty, healthy and climate-resilient future for everyone. Hosted on Acast. ...

Jun 05, 202416 min

Your right to repair AI systems | Rumman Chowdhury

For AI to achieve its full potential, non-experts need to be let into the development process, says Rumman Chowdhury, CEO and cofounder of Humane Intelligence. She tells the story of farmers fighting for the right to repair their own AI-powered tractors (which some manufacturers actually made illegal), proposing everyone should have the ability to report issues, patch updates or even retrain AI technologies for their specific uses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jun 04, 202411 min

The difference between false empathy and true support | Chezare A. Warren

There's a right way and wrong way to do empathy, says author and scholar Chezare A. Warren. So how do we get it right? He unpacks the source of false empathy and explains the key shift in perspective we need to build healthy relationships and truly support others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 03, 202410 min

Sunday Pick: What really went down at OpenAI and the future of regulation w/ Helen Toner

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing an episode from our brand new podcast, The TED AI Show. Each week, creative technologist and former TED speaker Bilawal Sidhu sits down with the world's brightest minds to chat about the technology that might change everything -- and the technology that's just hype. If there’s one AI company that’s made a splash in mainstream vernacular, it’s OpenAI, the company behind ChatG...

Jun 02, 202441 min

How to imagine a better future for democracy | adrienne maree brown and Baratunde Thurston

US democracy needs repair — and care is the answer, says author adrienne maree brown in conversation with writer and activist Baratunde Thurston. In a sweeping discussion on what it means to be an active citizen, they unpack how to design a future for democracy where we all belong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 01, 202416 min

An optimist's take on reskilling in the age of AI | Sagar Goel

One in three workers globally will see their jobs disrupted by AI and tech advancements this decade — but there's a way to stay ahead of the curve. Skill-building strategist Sagar Goel shares practical examples from a partnership with the Singaporean government that helped thousands of workers transition into new careers, offering a lesson on the importance of reskilling and becoming a lifelong learner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 31, 202410 min

My quest to cure prion disease — before it's too late | Sonia Vallabh

Biomedical researcher Sonia Vallabh's life was turned upside down when she learned she had the genetic mutation for a rare and fatal illness, prion disease, that could strike at any time. Thirteen years later, her search for a cure has led to new insights about how to catch and prevent disease — and how to honor our grandest, most mysterious inheritance: our brains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 30, 202418 min

Be courageous! A call to speak up for what you believe | Bari Weiss

In an unflinching look at issues that widen the political divide in the US, journalist and editor Bari Weiss highlights why courage is the most important virtue in today's polarized world. She shares examples of people who have spoken up in the face of conformity and silence — and calls on all of us to say what we believe. (Followed by a Q&A with head of TED Chris Anderson) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 29, 202423 min

The problem with being "too nice" at work | Tessa West

Are you "too nice" at work? Social psychologist Tessa West shares her research on how people attempt to mask anxiety with overly polite feedback — a practice that's more harmful than helpful — and gives three tips to swap generic, unhelpful observations with clear, consistent feedback, even when you feel awkward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 28, 202418 min

How to break down barriers and not accept limits | Candace Parker

What can't Candace Parker do? A two-time NCAA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion, Parker knows what it takes to fight for your dreams. In this inspiring talk, she shares what she's learned during a career spent not accepting limits -- and how her daughter taught her the best lesson of all. "Barrier breaking is about not staying in your lane and not being something that the world expects you to be," she says. "It's about not accepting limitations." Hosted on Acast...

May 27, 202412 min

Sunday Pick: How to make a fan — from F1 to Banana Ball

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing an episode from Good Sport, a show that dives into worlds like F1 racing, table tennis, NBA shooting, and beyond to shed a light on the ups and downs of being human. If a sport isn't thinking about how to entertain its fans, it usually doesn't last long. And with so much competing for our attention, what makes someone follow a specific team, or show up to a game? In this epi...

May 26, 202434 min

How a "Hi Level" mindset helps you realize your potential | Cordae

What does it take to build a legacy? Hip-hop artist Cordae tells how he went from mixtape-dropping high school kid to Grammy-nominated music star whose "Hi Level" mindset helps him achieve his dreams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 25, 202413 min

Are we celebrating the wrong leaders? | Martin Gutmann

We tend to celebrate leaders for their dramatic words and actions in times of crisis — but we often overlook truly great leaders who avoid the crisis to begin with. Historian Martin Gutmann challenges us to rethink what effective leadership actually looks like, drawing on lessons from the famed (but disaster-prone) explorer Ernest Shackleton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 24, 202417 min

With AI, anyone can be a coder now | Thomas Dohmke

What if you could code just by talking out loud? GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke shows how, thanks to AI, the barrier to entry to coding is rapidly disappearing — and creating software is becoming as simple (and joyful) as building LEGO. In a mind-blowing live demo, he introduces Copilot Workspace: an AI assistant that helps you create code when you speak to it, in any language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 23, 202414 min

The good news you might have missed | Angus Hervey

Whether or not you believe the world is doomed might depend on where you get your news, says journalist Angus Hervey. He delivers stories of progress that mainstream media organizations missed last year — from advances in clean energy to declining rates of extreme poverty, crime and disease — and suggests we should pay more attention to such occurrences. "If we want more people to devote themselves to the task of making progress, then maybe we should be telling more people that it's possible to ...

May 22, 202410 min

How to fight for democracy in the shadow of autocracy | Fatma Karume

Democracy may be an abstract concept, but it holds the very essence of our autonomy and humanity, says lawyer and human rights advocate Fatma Karume. Sharing her journey navigating a tumultuous political transition in Tanzania that put her life at risk, she highlights the importance of speaking truth to power and fighting for a brighter democratic future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 21, 202416 min

The luminous mystery of fireflies | Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh

There are more than 2,000 firefly species, found on every continent except for Antarctica — an astonishing diversity of movement and light. Firefly scientist Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh explores the mysteries of these little beetles that light up the night and details her quest to discover and protect new species as their habitats are at risk of disappearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 20, 202413 min

Sunday Pick: Why people and AI make good business partners

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today: an episode from TED Tech. From the construction of virtual realities to the internet of things host Sherrell Dorsey guides you through the latest ideas from TED Speakers, uncovering the riveting questions that sit at the intersection of technology and society. What happens when the data-driven capabilities of AI are combined with human creativity and ingenuity? Shining a light on the opp...

May 19, 202417 min

How fantasy worlds can spark real change | Annalee Newitz

When the world's problems have you weary, journalist and science fiction writer Annalee Newitz suggests a good dose of escapist fiction to refresh your perspective. Step into the whimsical world of science fiction, cosplay and "goblincore" to see how fantasy worlds help us reimagine our relationships with our communities and each other — and why the best way to solve your problems may start with escaping them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 18, 202414 min

The science of lifespan — and the impact of your five senses | Christi Gendron

What you experience through your senses — sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch — can impact how healthy you are and how long you live, says neurobiologist Christi Gendron. She explores how environmental cues like temperature, light and even just the sight of death have influenced the lifespan of fruit flies, suggesting your everyday perceptions may have direct repercussions on your ability to live a long, healthy life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 17, 202412 min

The workers rebuilding communities after natural disasters | Saket Soni

As climate change leads to more and more natural disasters, a group of workers is showing up at one site after another to rebuild and repair. Labor organizer Saket Soni tells the stories of Resilience Force — the group of mostly immigrant workers restoring homes after hurricanes, floods and fires — and describes the unexpected bonds developing between the residents whose lives have been turned upside down and the laborers helping put things back together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

May 16, 202414 min

With spatial intelligence, AI will understand the real world | Fei-Fei Li

In the beginning of the universe, all was darkness — until the first organisms developed sight, which ushered in an explosion of life, learning and progress. AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li says a similar moment is about to happen for computers and robots. She shows how machines are gaining "spatial intelligence" — the ability to process visual data, make predictions and act upon those predictions — and shares how this could enable AI to interact with humans in the real world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

May 15, 202415 min

Why the world needs more builders — and less "us vs. them" | Daniel Lubetzky

We're programmed to think every issue is binary: "us vs. them." But Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of KIND Snacks, says the real enemy isn't a person but a mindset. He introduces a new initiative that aims to bring together "builders" from around the world to replace extremism with practical problem-solving — and shows how you can join the movement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 14, 202422 min

An activist investor on challenging the status quo | Bill Ackman

Bill Ackman has made billions of dollars — and a name for himself — as an activist investor, buying up stock to push for change at companies. In this wide-ranging conversation with author and business ethics professor Alison Taylor, Ackman discusses how he's bringing his activism into the social and political spheres — and shares his thoughts on free speech, his notoriously long posts on X, the conversation around Harvard and DEI and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

May 13, 202425 min

Sunday Pick: How to care for the people who take care of us (w/ Ai-jen Poo)

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today: in celebration of Mother's Day , we're sharing an episode we think you'll enjoy from How to Be a Better Human. Activist, and MacArthur Genuis, Ai-jen Poo believes that caring for others is one of the fundamental acts that make us human. But from nannies to elder-care workers, house cleaners to living assistants, single parents and beyond, globally, caretakers do not earn fair wages or re...

May 12, 202440 min

1 simple question that could improve women's health | Meryam Sugulle

There's a reliable indicator of a woman's future likelihood of cardiovascular disease — but it rarely gets asked about, says obstetrician and researcher Meryam Sugulle. She delves into the role of the placenta in pregnancy, how it can predict health outcomes and the single question that should be worked into routine health screenings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

May 11, 202416 min

How aerosols brighten clouds — and cool the planet | Sarah J. Doherty

Here's a conundrum: the same aerosol pollutants that harm human health also help cool the climate, says atmospheric scientist Sarah J. Doherty. Is there a way to clean up the air without warming the planet? Exploring the unintended consequences of reducing air pollution, she makes the case for a better understanding of marine cloud brightening — or intentionally adding sea salt aerosols to clouds over the ocean, which could reflect sunlight back into space and potentially reduce global warming. ...

May 10, 202413 min

How far away is a ceasefire? An update on Gaza and the Rafah invasion | Ian Bremmer

In an exploration of conflict and diplomacy, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media Ian Bremmer joins TED's Helen Walters to unravel the ideological underpinnings, contrasting objectives and humanitarian crises defining the current situation in Gaza. Listen for the latest on Israel’s invasion of Rafah and what happened to the proposed ceasefire deal as well as a dissection of the elusive quest for peace in a region haunted by the specter of war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

May 09, 202448 min