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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Supreme Court litigator Neal Katyal reveals the behind-the-scenes strategy that led to his landmark victory against presidential tariffs, a case many deemed impossible. He describes how four "teachers" - a sports coach for mindset, an improv coach for real-time connection, a meditation coach for stillness, and a secret AI system for predictive foresight - were instrumental. Katyal emphasizes that while AI provides invaluable analysis, it's the uniquely human capacity for connection and persuasion that ultimately secures victory, offering crucial lessons for navigating an AI-driven future.
Mothers undeniably impact and shape history -- but their stories are often left out or misrepresented, says sociologist and author Anna Malaika Tubbs. This erasure limits policies to support mothers and their essential roles in society. Citing the remarkable lives of Alberta King, Louise Little and Berdis Baldwin (the mothers of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin, respectively), Tubbs emphasizes the need to shift the perspective on motherhood at a cultural level -- to better ref...
You know it's important to take care of your physical and mental health. But what about your social health? Social scientist Kasley Killam shows how feeling a sense of belonging and connection has concrete benefits to your overall health — and explains why it may be the missing key to living a longer and happier life. This episode originally aired in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former senior US national security official Miles Taylor shares a personal account that raises a broader civic concern: the growing cost of dissent in American public life. Drawing on his experience inside government and living the consequences of speaking openly, he says that the real threat to US democracy isn't the politicians or hard-liners — it's the two-thirds of Americans who don’t speak up. (This talk contains mature language.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
What if your hardest emotional challenges could be solved by talking to a stranger? A person who has gone through the exact same situation or something very similar. That’s the premise of Proxy, a podcast that investigates your niche emotional conundrums with host Yowei Shaw. In this episode, Yowei and Chris talk about the power of knowing you’re not the only person going through something, however specific. Whether it’s losing your job, a friend breakup, or an alternate version of your life tha...
What do you hear when you sit in silence? For artist Rose B. Simpson, that question is the beginning of all art. She comes from a line of ceramic artists stretching back generations and, as part of her multidisciplinary work, she also builds custom lowrider cars. (If that sounds like a contradiction, that's kind of the point.) In conversation with "Design Matters" podcast host Debbie Millman, Simpson invites you to find your own aesthetic — not by searching, but by listening. Hosted on Acast. Se...
We see consciousness in AI the same way we see faces in clouds, says neuroscientist Anil Seth. He explores the all-too-human tendency to project inner life onto machines that are brilliant mimics, not sentient beings, and gives a definitive answer to the urgent question: Will AI ever gain consciousness? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Riyad Joucka challenges the uniformity of modern housing, which prioritizes market efficiency over personal identity and cultural belonging. Drawing from his architect father's work and ancient architectural wisdom, he advocates for homes that are deeply rooted in place and story. He presents innovative solutions like 3D printing and adaptive modular systems to design unique, sustainable residences that reflect individual character and community.
Confidence doesn’t come before action — it comes from taking action, says business leader Kat Cole, who worked her way up from waitress to CEO of a global health company. She presents a simple yet powerful practice called the “hot shot rule” to help you step into a leadership mindset, break free from inertia and take decisive action when it matters most. This episode originally aired in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Over two decades of interviewing countless creative people, Debbie Millman (host of the iconic "Design Matters" podcast) had a realization: the pride and joy of accomplishing something often evaporates almost instantly. She explains how to stop chasing external validation for your achievements and instead live for the act of creation itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Whyte, former WebMD chief medical officer, explores why online symptom searching often causes more fear than clarity. He explains how "too much information" can be dangerous, using examples like cyberchondria and the influence of algorithms promoting misinformation. Whyte urges listeners to apply the same critical thinking and trust in professional advice for their health as they would for their finances, emphasizing clarity and human medical expertise over unreliable online sources.
Author Min Jin Lee delves into her remarkable career, from her childhood immigration experience to the challenges and triumphs of becoming a celebrated novelist. She reflects on the vulnerability required for artistry, the profound influence of her faith and family history on her writing, and the extensive research that grounds her social realistic novels like "Pachinko." Lee also shares her philosophical views on meaning, moral justice, and navigating a distracted world by prioritizing the important over the urgent.
“Every conversation has the potential to open up and reveal all the layers and layers within it, all those rooms within rooms," says musician and host of the beloved podcast Song Exploder , Hrishikesh Hirway. In this profoundly moving talk from 2022, he offers a guide to deep conversations and explores what you learn when you take that same kind of close listening we often give to music, and turn it toward people. A lot has changed for Hrishikesh since this popular talk was released, and after m...
“Truth is the real oxygen for democracy,” says Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, the 6th President of the Republic of Kosovo. As a child of war, she once longed for someone to save her people. Now she’s been in the rooms where decisions are made — and she’s never forgotten what brought her there. In conversation with solutions journalist Angus Hervey, she reflects on what it takes to defend democracy in a world where truth itself is under threat. (Recorded on April 14, 2026) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
What do the story of Oedipus and your insurance premiums have in common? They are both driven by self-fulfilling prophecies. Philosopher and TED Fellow Carissa Véliz traces the hidden power of prediction, from Roman emperors who banned prophets to the AI algorithms quietly making decisions about your life right now. We tend to associate predictions with knowledge, she says, but they're actually attempts to grab power. So the next time someone tells you a specific outcome is inevitable, remember:...
After the Fukushima disaster shut down Japan's nuclear reactors, the coal industry rushed in to fill the energy gap. As climate advocate Kimiko Hirata watched dozens of new coal plant proposals quietly surface across the country — each one locking in decades of future emissions — she resolved to make them impossible to ignore. She shares how a small, scrappy civil society movement took on a fossil-fuel-dependent economy and got people to say "yes" to a renewable future. Hosted on Acast. See acas...
Family life often requires extraordinary bravery, from navigating the daily challenges to surviving the unexpected crises. Author and podcaster Kelly Corrigan offers profound wisdom (and seven key words) to help you focus in on what matters most. This episode originally aired in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As chief content officer of Forbes, Randall Lane oversees the magazine's signature list of billionaires, tracking the richest people on Earth. But he has noticed that this prompts the ultra-wealthy to stockpile their money instead of spending it on the public good. He debuts a new ranking — True Net Worth — that applauds billionaires for their philanthropy and rewards generosity. Guess who's in the top five? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Did you know that cows emit methane when they burp? Livestock account for over 12% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but farmers and scientists have discovered a superfood that might be the key to lower emissions—and raise healthier cows. In this episode, Ryan and Anjali investigate the mystery of Asparagopsis, a seaweed variety that removes methane from the guts of the animals who eat it. The catch? There are only nine licensed growers in the world. Ryan and Anjali are joined by three ex...
Every moment of movement is a chance to become more aware of yourself and the world around you, says Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication. Guiding us through the art of "mindful walking," she shares three essential questions to ask yourself to awaken your strength, build resilience and discover your inner peace. This episode originally aired in 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger takes us back to the transformative moment he let his AI agent loose on the internet, igniting one of the world's fastest-growing open-source projects. He makes a fascinating (and slightly unnerving) case that agents are a real shift, not just better versions of chatbots, and explores how they might reshape your ability to work, create and build. "The lobster is loose, and it's not going back into the tank," he says. (Followed by a brief Q&A with TED Chairm...
The United States is on track to win the AI race — and hollow itself out in the process, says Gina Raimondo, former Governor of Rhode Island and US Secretary of Commerce. In this unflinching look at the threat of AI-induced economic disruption and social unrest, she offers a concrete blueprint to prepare workers for what’s coming next. "AI is a 100-year technology and needs a 100-year response," she says. Is America up to the challenge? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
Songs are the soundtrack of our lives. But why exactly do they make us feel the way they do? Songwriter Scarlet Keys sits down at a piano to deconstruct the tools musicians use to make a melody unforgettable — from tone and repetition to lyrics and chords — and sheds light on music's ability to transform moments into memories. This talk originally aired in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Malala Yousafzai has spent her life advocating for girls' education — surviving an assassination attempt at 15, meeting with world leaders and then watching hard-won progress collapse when Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in 2021. That moment of despair forced her to completely rethink what it means to create change, and what she discovered replaced her shattered optimism with something more powerful and more honest. Hear how to keep fighting for the future you want, even when hope feels lost. Ho...
Kate Canales, a designer and "anthropologist of everyday instructions," explores her fascinating collection of makeshift signs. These often-hilarious notes, from "Push then pull" on doors to "Do not sit on the sink" in bathrooms, highlight where formal design falls short and how humans instinctively step in to clarify, problem-solve, and care for one another. She celebrates these improvised instructions as "love letters" that make our designed world a little more functional and human.
Andy Weir is the bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary. He’s known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, building intricate sci-fi worlds that have captivated millions of readers. But here’s a plot twist: Andy doesn’t actually love the act of writing itself – so how does he motivate himself to do it anyway? Adam talks with Andy about the creative process, the skills involved in discarding bad ideas, finding joy in worldbuilding and research, and why yo...
A hand-built camera with suction cups captured something no one had ever seen: two sperm whales communicating and swimming together in the deep ocean. Engineer Eric Stackpole shares the story of how a scrappy, DIY tool revealed this intimate glimpse into the lives of these giants — and makes the case that the only limit to what we can discover is what we're curious enough to explore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
TV titan Shonda Rhimes recounts her "year of yes" experiment, which began with saying yes to everything that scared her and evolved into a profound vow to always play with her children. After experiencing burnout and losing her work-driven "hum," she discovered that true joy, or the "real hum," stems from love and play, not just professional success. Rhimes shares her struggles with prioritizing play and offers a practical "15-minute" solution to find balance and reignite life's inherent vibrancy.
Trauma survivor Lucy Hone, drawing on her personal tragedy and research, argues against conventional grief advice, advocating for an active role in navigating tough times. She reveals three practical resilience strategies: acknowledging suffering as universal, intentionally focusing on gratitude and what can be changed, and consistently asking whether actions are helping or harming. These learnable tools empower individuals to brave adversity and live authentically even while grieving.
What separates struggling artists from successful ones? Looking to creative geniuses like Mozart, Edison and Monet, video creator Jon Youshaei explains why aiming to be prolific — despite flops and failures along the way — is the key to unlocking your creative success. This episode originally aired in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
