Ted Talks Daily

To truly savor life, pursue "powerful first experiences," says storyteller and nonprofit founder Kenneth Chabert. Learn more about how to create these meaningful moments, where mundane routine is broken by novel experiences in small but significant ways -- no matter how old you are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As cascading climate challenges reshape our world, the most resilient systems are ones we often overlook. Ecological futurist Tariq Al-Olaimy has seen this firsthand in disaster-stricken communities, where church basements, mosque yards and temple networks form a "spiritual infrastructure" that sustains people long before formal aid arrives. Drawing on a decade of work with global faith coalitions, Al-Olaimy explores why spiritual traditions are uniquely equipped to navigate moments of collapse — and how aligning our inner values, economies and ecosystems may be essential to restoring life on a changing planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Studies show that women negotiate just as frequently as men — so why do they succeed half as often? With wit and humor, business consultant Kathryn Valentine unpacks the gender expectations of workplace negotiations, offering a clear equation for anyone to make a successful ask and get what they want.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a billion mobile phone users and a median population age of 19, Africa isn't catching up to the AI revolution — it's writing an entirely different playbook, says business leader Hardy Pemhiwa. He shows how a generation of entrepreneurs is using AI to teach classes, triage patients and boost farm yields through the power of local compute, local data and local languages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As AI races into classrooms, we risk confusing quick and easy answers with true learning, says AI education entrepreneur Priya Lakhani. She explains why being challenged is essential for making knowledge stick — and how AI can be designed to strengthen (not weaken) learning, teaching and thinking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do foot massage parties, otters, and AI robot tutors have in common? To find out, tune into our special end-of-year conversation featuring the hosts from TED Talks Daily, TED Radio Hour, TED Business, and TED Tech! Elise Hu, Manoush Zomorodi, Modupe Akinola and Sherrell Dorsey got together to share the biggest ideas dominating their industry and the lesser-known insights they wished garnered more attention. From pushing back against AI advances to sharing the TED Talks that inspired them, Elise, Manoush, Modupe, and Sherrell reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026.Conversations MentionedTED Radio HourRay Kurzweil, "Could AI extend your life indefinitely? Futurist Ray Kurzweil thinks so" Victor Riparbelli, “Will AI avatars eventually teach our kids?” Philip Johns, “Singapore's otters are butting heads with their human neighbors. Can they coexist?” Restoring trust in government, "Move fast...and fix democracy?" TED TalksSitoyo Lopokoiyit in conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz "A

In a time when loneliness is becoming a public health crisis, author Rhaina Cohen says friendships aren't just nice to have — they’re essential to your health and happiness. She challenges the assumption that biological and romantic relationships matter most, exploring how close platonic bonds (when given real intention and commitment) can profoundly strengthen your life. (This conversation, hosted by TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, 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.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a now-famous Go match against a human in 2016, AI made Move 37 — a seemingly nonsensical play that baffled every expert but ultimately won it the match. Amen Ra Mashariki, director of AI at the Bezos Earth Fund, thinks we need AI to make that same kind of creative leap for climate solutions. In conversation with TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi, he shares a vision for new AI solutions to environmental problems that human experts haven't yet dreamed up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Algorithms and AI don't just show us reality — they warp it in ways that benefit platforms built to exploit people for profit, says etymologist Adam Aleksic. From ChatGPT influencing our word choices to Spotify turning a data cluster into a new musical genre, he reveals how new technology subconsciously shapes our language, trends and sense of identity. "These aren't neutral tools," he says, encouraging us to constantly ask ourselves: How am I being influenced?(After the talk, Aleksic sits down with Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily podcast, to discuss how he became interested in language and its evolution — from writing on leaves, clay and stone to AI models like ChatGPT.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Film is generally a fixed medium: the scenes are shot, the edits are made, and the final version is the one and only movie you'll see. Filmmaker Gary Hustwit flips this convention on its head, introducing his project "Eno" — a documentary about the musician and composer Brian Eno that reinvents itself every time you watch it ... and never ends the same way twice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If history has taught us anything, it’s that when certain jobs are erased, there’s a new wave of jobs on the horizon, says technologist Vlad Tenev. Drawing an arc from hunter-gatherers to social media influencers, he offers hope to those worried about being replaced by AI — whether you’re well into your career or just getting started — suggesting that work disruptions are an essential quality of human progress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you get when you combine a major flood and near-bankruptcy? For Whole Foods cofounder John Mackey, the answer reshaped his business into a household name. He takes us back to the night his first store was destroyed, showing how shifting from a win-lose mindset to a "win-win-win" worldview helped him achieve success — and why it can work for you, too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up to 80% of people experience impostor syndrome at some point in their lives—a feeling of inadequacy and anxiety about perceived flaws. In this episode, Anne and Frances break down exactly what impostor syndrome is, why we tell ourselves stories that distort reality, and how to break free from these harmful thought patterns. They also introduce some close relatives of impostor syndrome and discuss the pathway back to confidence and a clear-eyed relationship with our own abilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it feel like to see Earth from outer space and imagine humanity's next steps? Astronaut Chris Hadfield, who has flown two Space Shuttle missions and served as commander of the International Space Station, explores the recent leaps in space exploration. From the thrills and risks of commercial space travel to collaborating as a species to shape the future, Hadfield reflects on what inspires innovation and our dreams of visiting the stars. (This conversation, hosted by TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, 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.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are living through what may be the largest economic bubble in history, spanning AI, cryptocurrency and tech company stocks, says financial analyst Henrik Zeberg. He explores why the current AI-crypto bubble mirrors the great economic frenzies of the past, revealing the psychological forces behind them — and why it looks like we're repeating the same patterns again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything successful starts with heart — even the most pragmatic business plan, says Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear. She shares how she led a purpose-centered approach to save the beloved teddy bear company from bankruptcy and get it back to global profitability, all by asking one powerful question. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daredevil Michelle Khare has trained with Olympians, run seven marathons on seven continents in a single week, and even escaped Harry Houdini's deadliest stunt. She shares how embracing fear, failure and an "amateur’s mindset" transformed her from a cautious child into someone who proves that daredevils aren't born — they're developed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When kids say school is "fine," that's the sound of potential fading, says education innovator Aylon Samouha. He introduces Transcend, the nonprofit engaging communities across the US to redesign their schools and connect learning to the world kids are growing into. Check out what school looks like when students are solving real-world problems and building things that matter, not just studying what's on the test. (This ambitious idea is part of The Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1999, a NASA mission to Mars failed ... not from a technical glitch, but because people weren't talking to each other. Psychology professor Tessa West explores how assumptions, overlooked details and "hidden languages" can quietly sabotage even the smartest teams — and explores the small shifts in communication that can make a big difference in how information lands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can you make your life meaningful with the finite amount of time you have? In this TED Talks Daily Book Club interview, host Elise Hu speaks with Oliver Burkeman about his book “Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.” They explore Oliver's philosophy of “imperfectionism” and shows how choosing to let go can help you feel more in control. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.