
Society & Culture
TED Talks Daily
TED
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 to Learn English2000

News tells you what happened. Drawing shows you how it felt | George Butler
Sep 10, 202611 minWhat does a war look like when you sit still long enough to draw it? Reportage artist and TED Fellow George Butler sketches the people that the news passes by: a 99-year-old survivor of the Holodomor famine in Ukraine, a man gathering books blasted into a rose garden, an architect whose home was hit by a Russian missile. Urging us to slow down in the age of immediate news, Butler shows how a drawing reveals what a headline can't.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How bullying spreads — and how social bravery stops it | Amy Cuddy
Sep 9, 202618 minHow does bullying take root? Social psychologist Amy Cuddy got an inside view of this question after she became the target of a coordinated campaign to discredit her. Drawing on her own experience and years of research, she gives a clear-eyed analysis of how bullying reshaped our culture and how each of us can practice social bravery — everyday acts of standing up for one another — to end it. (Note: This talk contains discussion of suicide.)<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How the wealth gap is reshaping politics | Xochitl Gonzalez
Sep 8, 202613 minWealth inequality gets talked about as an economic problem. Writer Xochitl Gonzalez makes the case that it's a civic one, too — a slow, quiet threat to democracy. Drawing on her research into the psychology of social class, she shows how growing up with (or without) money changes how we experience politics, community and society.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Every kid needs a champion | Rita Pierson
Sep 7, 202610 minRita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like.'" A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How to make learning as addictive as social media | Luis von Ahn
Sep 7, 202614 min<p>When technologist Luis von Ahn was building the popular language-learning platform Duolingo, he faced a big problem: Could an app designed to teach you something ever compete with addictive platforms like Instagram and TikTok? He explains how Duolingo harnesses the psychological techniques of social media and mobile games to get you excited to learn — all while spreading access to education across the world.</p><br><p>This episode originally aired in 2024.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

4 steps to unlock your kid’s math potential | Shalinee Sharma
Sep 7, 202613 min<p>Math isn't just for "math kids" — it's for everyone, says learning expert Shalinee Sharma. She outlines four simple steps to transform your approach to math, creating an environment where any kid can develop a strong mathematical mind.</p><br><p>This episode originally aired in 2024.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How video games can level up the way you learn | Kris Alexander
Sep 7, 202614 min<p>Video games naturally tap into the way we learn: they focus our attention and track our progress as we head toward a clear goal. Kris Alexander, a professor of video game design and passionate gamer himself, thinks the same elements should be used in traditional education to cater to different learning styles and engage students across the world, both in-person and online.</p><br><p>This episode originally aired in 2023.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How schools can nurture every student's genius | Trish Millines Dziko
Sep 7, 202618 min<p>Forget home economics and standardized tests, education visionary Trish Millines Dziko has a much more engaging and fulfilling way for students to develop real-world skills. Get schooled by Dziko as she shares how project-based learning can transform public education and unlock genius for the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, ideators and leaders.</p><br><p>This episode originally aired in 2022.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Grit: The power of passion and perseverance | Angela Lee Duckworth
Sep 6, 202610 minLeaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn't the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

What's the biggest barrier to thriving? A philosopher and a space architect answer | Ariel Ekblaw and Meghan Sullivan
Sep 5, 202615 minPhilosopher Meghan Sullivan and space architect Ariel Ekblaw don't usually work at the same altitude ... but put them in a room together, and they'll answer the big questions. Drawing on wisdom from Aristotle to astronauts, they discuss what humans inherently owe each other, what it takes to live a good life and what a rulebook for a better world might look like. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Meet the youngest-ever mayor in Japan's history | Ryosuke Takashima
Sep 4, 202635 min<p>TED Fellow Ryosuke Takashima is the youngest-ever mayor in Japan's history — but he doesn't consider himself a politician. His approach to leadership is simple: listen to as many voices as possible (from students to elders) in order to figure out what needs fixing. Hear why he thinks inviting citizens to participate in reforming their own communities is the best way to get things done.</p><br><p>Following his story, pulled from a short film he made for TED, Ryosuke speaks with Lily James Olds, director of the TED Fellows program, on the unexpected benefits of being a young civil servant. They talk about his view of politics, what it is and what it could be, and how his age allows him to ask more questions which helps him advocate for change.</p><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The missing half of music history | Gabriella Di Laccio
Sep 3, 202610 minWho decides which voices survive? It's a question classical singer Gabriella Di Laccio never thought to ask until she found an encyclopedia listing thousands of women composers from across history ... and knew almost none of them. Her journey to rediscover these brilliant musicians revealed how many songs have gone unheard — and sparked a mission to record what's missing before the silence becomes permanent.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How to tap into your awareness -- and why meditation is easier than you think | Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Sep 2, 202613 min<p>Meditation asks you to slip into a state of serene presence. But why does something that sounds effortless often feel so difficult? In this lighthearted invitation, spiritual leader Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche shares three steps to help you accept the ebb and flow of your emotions and learn to meditate anytime, anywhere.</p><br><p>(This episode originally aired in 2022.)</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The 60 seconds that make or break a conversation | Chris Fenning
Sep 1, 202613 minWhat's your point? Communication expert Chris Fenning reveals how the first 60 seconds can make or break a workplace conversation — and shares a three-step framework to help you get it right.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

This is what the birth of the universe sounded like | Mark Whittle
Aug 31, 202616 minWhat sound came after the Big Bang? Astronomer Mark Whittle takes us back to the infant cosmos, where massive sound waves pulsed through primordial gas in a pattern that's still traceable across the universe today. Working with sound artist Ander Mikalson and composer Caroline Shaw, he turns those ancient tones into a glorious, awe-inspiring choral work.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Sunday Pick: How to quit (and why it matters) with Anthony Klotz | from Fixable
Aug 30, 202646 minDuring the pandemic, Anthony Klotz predicted the “Great Resignation”: a mass exodus of unhappy workers leaving their jobs after COVID epiphanies. Now, he’s seeing a different pattern begin to emerge as people opt to hunker down in their current jobs until they can find a better option. Anthony is an organizational psychologist and professor at the London School of Management. His recent book, Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters, explores how we make decisions in our jobs and careers. In this episode, he joins Anne and Frances to weigh in on the patterns developing right now in the world of quitting, offer practical advice for how to make measured decisions in a fickle job market, and explain the phenomenon he calls “jolts,” when a person experiences something that causes them to suddenly reevaluate their position. Together, they also work through a listener’s dilemma as she navigates a relationship with collaborators who mistrust each other, and offer tips for leaders who suspect a member of their team may be considering quitting.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The art of the novel | Ann Patchett
Aug 29, 202655 minAnn Patchett’s newest book “Whistler” is a love story born from grief. In this TED Talks Daily Book Club interview, Patchett tells host Elise Hu about her writing process for the novel, where she finds inspiration and her unlikely second life as a bookstore owner. (This conversation was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.)<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Who controls your city's money? | Trinity Tran
Aug 28, 202639 min<p>What if your city could borrow money from its own bank instead of private lenders? TED Fellow Trinity Tran is leading the push for public banks — which are owned by the people through their local governments — and shows how this model could ensure your local tax dollars stay in your community. </p><br><p>Following her story, pulled from a short film she made for TED, Trinity joins Lily James Olds, director of the TED Fellows program, to dig more into how a public bank actually works, why it’s an ideal solution to reinvesting funds into local communities, and why local organizing really works</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The shape-shifting sounds of the accordion | Maria Telesheva
Aug 27, 202613 minMusician Maria Telesheva plays the accordion like a second set of lungs, showcasing this powerhouse instrument and its impressive 226 buttons — whether she’s playing Bach or the Beatles. In this talk and performance, she discusses how she fell in love with this musical acrobat and plays two beautiful songs.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Dolly Parton is burning up, not burning out | from WorkLife with Adam Grant
Aug 26, 202629 min<p>Dolly Parton's hit songs — like "9 to 5," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" — have captured generation after generation. In this episode, recorded around the release of "Run, Rose, Run" (her novel co-written with James Patterson and paired with a full-length companion album), host Adam Grant talks with Dolly about her creative process, how she balances getting things right with getting things done and how she manages the hefty cup of ambition she pours herself each morning.</p><br><p>(This episode originally aired in 2022.)</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How 180 strangers built a library together | Rebecca Toh
Aug 25, 202613 minDoes the fix for a fragmented world begin with a shared bookshelf? Photographer Rebecca Toh traces how she joined with 180 other people to build a community-funded library where strangers rent shelves, fill them with their personal collections and forge something rare: real connection.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How to fix Africa's learning crisis | Rapelang Rabana
Aug 24, 202635 min<p>By 2030, nearly half the world's young people will be African. Yet for decades, the continent's learning crisis was treated with systems unfit for reality on the ground. Social entrepreneur Rapelang Rabana shows how homegrown leadership and technology designed for African classrooms can deliver foundational skills to millions of children — and shape a new future of education across the continent. (This ambitious idea is part of The Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)</p><br><p>(Following the talk, Elise Hu interviews Rabana on what makes the Imagine tablet so effective and engaging for students. Rabana also reiterates how using solar-powered tablets in a controlled setting can empower students and the limitations of applying Western standards of education to Sub-Saharan Africa.)</p><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Sunday Pick: How to mentally reset when you’re stressed out (w/ Dr Jenny Taitz) | How to Be a Better Human
Aug 23, 202641 minIt’s hard to not feel stress at the state of the world today, so how can you cope with stressors without letting them completely overwhelm you? Clinical psychologist Jenny Taitz spends most of her days helping clients navigate through their stress. She shares why she uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, in her therapy work, whether a cold plunge can help you snap out of your messy ruminations, and why doing a few tasks each day to practice for pleasure and mastery can help improve your mood.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How to make learning impossibly fun | Mark Rober
Aug 22, 202643 minWhat if science class felt less like studying out of a textbook and more like an unforgettable field trip? From viral glitter-bomb traps to backyard engineering marvels, former-NASA-engineer-turned-YouTuber Mark Rober has spent years proving that curiosity is contagious — and that the best way to teach science is to make it impossibly fun. In conversation with TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, Rober shares how play, wonder and a healthy dose of mischief can transform the way kids learn ... and gives a peek inside his plan to bring magic to every classroom in America. (This conversation was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.)<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Is AI turning us all into the same person? | Sandra Matz
Aug 21, 202616 minWhen you need to make a decision, you might turn to AI for advice. But what happens when you let algorithms decide more and more things for you? Computational social scientist Sandra Matz reveals how AI models limit what you see, discover and try, subtly flattening what makes you unique. Hear her tips for how to use AI to fuel your curiosity and expand your world instead.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Why you need the growth mindset of a weed | Stephen Nobles
Aug 20, 202618 minEducator Stephen Nobles believes curiosity is the key to unlocking a student's potential. In conversation with TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, he encourages teachers to see every student through a lens of possibility — and asks what each of us might be missing when we let our assumptions go unchallenged.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How I’m helping thousands rebuild their lives after prison | Susan Burton
Aug 19, 202614 minEach year, around two million women are released from prisons and jails in the US, many with nowhere to go. Susan Burton knows this firsthand: after cycling in and out of prison for years, she finally found a safe place to land ... and made it her mission to offer others the same. She shares how she's helping thousands rebuild their lives — and changing the way we think about second chances.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How AI is breaking the internet (and what to do about it) | Matthew Prince
Aug 18, 202616 minFor the past 30 years, surviving as an internet business meant getting people to click on your website. But AI is now making that thousands of times harder, says Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare, one of the world’s largest internet networks. He makes the provocative case for a different deal — whereby tech companies actually pay people for creating content that feeds their AI models.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

We’ve solved many medical mysteries. Where are the cures? | Saloni Dattani
Aug 17, 202613 minScience communicator Saloni Dattani traces the quiet revolution of medical innovation that has slashed death rates from conditions like heart disease and malaria — and reveals the broken incentives that have delayed other lifesaving treatments for decades. "Diseases are not a fact of life," she says. "They're problems that we can solve."<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Lessons: What to do when you get “layered” at work | WorkLife with Molly Graham
Aug 16, 202627 min<p>If your company is growing faster than you can keep up, your manager might decide to “layer” you—that is, split your job in half or hire someone with more experience to become your boss. This is an experience a lot of people go through at work, but it’s rarely talked about because it’s often unpleasant for everyone involved. In this episode, Molly offers practical advice for anyone going through layering at work, from employees who find themselves sharing their job with someone new to leaders making the tough decision to hire another person for a role. She outlines 6 important things for employees to consider if they’re struggling to adjust to being layered, and key principles to help managers layer their teams in a way that builds trust instead of breaking it. She also reflects on her recent conversation with Don Faul and the lessons he shared from his experience being layered during his early years at Facebook.</p><br><p><strong>Connect with the team</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Follow Molly on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/molly_graham/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mograham/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> LinkedIn</a>, and at <a href="https://www.glueclub.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">glueclub.com/</a></li><li>Subscribe to Molly’s Substack <a href="https://mollyg.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lesson</a></li><li>Watch WorkLife videos on YouTube at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TEDPods" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TEDPods</a></li><li>Follow TED on <a href="https://x.com/TEDTalks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">X</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TED" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li></ul><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>





