TED Radio Hour

Cellist Joshua Roman spent his life devoted to the cello, but when long COVID made playing impossible, he faced a profound identity crisis. This episode explores how he rethought his approach to life, faith, and music in the wake of losing his primary identity. Through his story, the show examines what it means to navigate change when the thing you built your life around is taken away.

In this TED Radio Hour episode, researcher Elizabeth Dunn challenges the conventional narrative that climate action is all about sacrifice. She shares research on 'climate hacks'—small behavioral changes that benefit both the environment and our personal happiness. The episode explores how reframing eco-friendly choices as opportunities for joy can make them more sustainable and appealing.

Paleontologist Ken Lacovara discusses the immediate aftermath of the asteroid impact that triggered the fifth mass extinction. He takes us to a New Jersey quarry that holds crucial fossil evidence from that day. The site is also home to a new museum he founded, dedicated to understanding this pivotal moment in Earth's history. The episode explores what the fossil record reveals about the hours and days following the catastrophe.

This episode of TED Radio Hour features online linguist Adam Aleksic, who has gained a following by decoding the latest internet slang. He explains how he creates viral content that breaks down the origins and meanings of terms spreading across social media. Aleksic also discusses the reality of making a living as a creator, where success often depends on pleasing the algorithm rather than purely creative choices. The conversation explores how the creator economy is reshaping language, as online speech patterns increasingly influence everyday conversation.

TED Radio Hour opens a series on the price of creativity with Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler. The episode starts from the cringe many people feel at the phrase "content creator." From there, Strickler explains how the creator economy is changing work, art, and what we value. This is the first part of a multi-episode series.

This TED Radio Hour episode examines the paradox of modern medicine: treatments and technologies are advancing rapidly, yet public trust in healthcare is declining. Through conversations with viral immunologist Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire and writer James Robinson, the episode explores how listening to patients, admitting uncertainty, and practicing humility can bridge the gap. The future of healthcare depends not only on innovation but on rebuilding the human connection at its core.

Writer Anne Lamott shares wisdom from a career spanning 21 books and four decades. In this episode, she reflects on the themes that have defined her work: her journey through addiction, the transformative experience of single motherhood, and her unconventional, grace-filled Christian faith. Through candid stories and practical insights, Lamott explores how radical honesty in writing—and in life—can build connection and resilience.

GLP-1 medications, originally for diabetes and weight loss, could be a breakthrough in addiction treatment. But is medicine alone enough to treat such a complicated disease? This hour, TED speakers explore modern science and old wisdom on addiction, with guests including journalist and physician Dr. Dhruv Khullar, author and behavioral coach Eric Zimmer, and journalist Nayeema Raza.

Paradise is often imagined as a place of safety, beauty, and tranquility—an ideal we chase but rarely find. This hour revisits TED talks from 2023 that explore utopian visions and the gap between those dreams and reality. Speakers examine why paradise remains elusive, what that longing reveals about human nature, and how we might redefine fulfillment when the perfect place doesn’t exist. The conversations challenge the assumption that paradise is a destination rather than something we create.

Our bodies constantly send signals, but we often fail to listen. This episode explores new ways to track and understand health—from cutting-edge technology like genomics to simple, everyday habits. Guests include exercise physiologist Keith Diaz, genomicist Michael Snyder, and writer Lizzie Braicks-Rinker.

Whether you love fashion or hate it, we all have to get dressed. This TED Radio Hour episode explores the industry's complex impact, bringing together a designer, supply chain expert, journalist, and supermodel to discuss the outrageous, environmental, and seedy sides of fashion. Recorded in 2024, the hour examines how clothing connects us all while revealing the hidden costs of what we wear.

This episode challenges the pervasive narrative that social media is driving a teen mental health crisis. Developmental psychologist Candice Odgers explains that the evidence is far more nuanced, with many studies showing only weak correlations. She discusses how parents, media, and policymakers often oversimplify the data, leading to misguided interventions. The conversation urges a more careful look at the complex factors affecting adolescent well-being.

This episode compiles TED talks that examine the mindset behind winning and losing, from athletic competition to daily challenges. Speakers explore how concepts from sports psychology apply to resilience, motivation, and performance in everyday life.

This TED Radio Hour examines the booming world of prediction — from betting apps to AI models. Host Manoush Zomorodi speaks with professor Brendan Dwyer, philosopher Carissa Véliz, and journalist Simone Stolzoff about why we're drawn to certainty, how forecasts influence our decisions, and the risks of treating predictions as facts. The hour weaves together TED Talks and original interviews to explore the psychology and ethics of a prediction-obsessed culture.

This episode explores the blurring line between human and machine, featuring TED speakers working on technologies that enhance rather than diminish humanity. Guests include robot choreographer and computer scientist Catie Cuan, engineer and biophysicist Hugh Herr, material scientist Anna Maria Coclite, and biochemist Jennifer Doudna. Their work spans from robot helpers and smart body parts to cutting-edge scientific fields at the intersection of biology and engineering.

The debate around masculinity has become intensely polarized. Richard Reeves argues that to truly support boys and men, we need to step away from culture war rhetoric and look at the evidence. This episode explores a practical, fact-based approach to addressing the challenges they face, without framing it as a battle against women.

This hour explores the future of food in a warming world, from farm to table. Guests include chef and policy advisor Sam Kass, farmers Jim and Jessica Whitaker Allen, biotechnologist Isha Datar, and artist Sam Van Aken. The episode examines how agriculture contributes to climate change and how it is being transformed by it.

Why do some people feel perpetually drained while others seem to have boundless energy? Host Manoush Zomorodi explores what science is revealing about stress, breathing, and cellular energy. Guests include mitochondrial psychobiologist Martin Picard, who discusses how mitochondria influence fatigue, and science journalist James Nestor, who explains the role of breathing in vitality. The episode offers insights into how daily habits and physiology shape our energy levels.

Physician Eric Topol examines the science of healthy aging. He discusses which longevity interventions have solid evidence behind them, including peptides, protein intake, sleep, and vaccines, and separates them from popular anti-aging myths. The episode challenges common misconceptions about genes and aging, emphasizing modifiable factors.

Information feels more accessible than ever, but the ways we store data are surprisingly fragile. Can we save anything forever? This hour, TED speakers explore preserving our past, present and future.

Manoush Zomorodi talks with a game designer, a digital librarian, a molecular biologist, and an archeologist about the fragility of stored information, from digital archives to DNA data storage.

Philosopher Meghan Sullivan says during tough times, ancient wisdom can serve as a guide. From politics to religion to AI, she poses big questions to help you find out what the good life means today.

Philosopher Meghan Sullivan explores how ancient wisdom can serve as a practical guide during difficult times. She poses fundamental questions about the good life and applies ancient philosophical frameworks to contemporary domains like politics, religion, and artificial intelligence. The episode examines how classical thought remains relevant for navigating modern crises and finding meaning today.

Every day, we make countless choices—but are these decisions guided by desire or design? This hour, TED speakers on what shapes the food we eat, how we power our homes, and how we communicate.

TED speakers explore the unseen forces behind everyday decisions: what we eat, how we power our homes, and how we communicate. Guests include food systems expert Sarah Lake, infrastructure engineer Deb Chachra, cross-cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand, urban planner Jeff Speck, and Tempe resident Ignacio Delgadillo.

The time has come for humanity to make a choice: Will we build AI to replace humans or enhance them? This hour, the "humanistic AI" philosophy, a test case, and a glimpse into the future of work. Guests include Siri co-creator Tom Gruber, CENTURY Tech CEO Priya Lakhani and Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev.

This TED Radio Hour explores the philosophy of humanistic AI, asking whether future AI should replace or augment human workers. Siri co-creator Tom Gruber, CENTURY Tech CEO Priya Lakhani, and Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev discuss the design choices and potential test cases for AI that enhances human abilities rather than supplanting them. The episode emphasizes the societal decision facing humanity as AI capabilities advance.

Emotions sometimes feel overwhelming and debilitating — but science-backed tools can help us wrangle them. This hour, neuroscientist Ethan Kross shares research from his Emotion and Self-Control Lab. Original air date: March 7, 2025.

Emotions can feel overwhelming, but neuroscientist Ethan Kross shares research-backed tools for managing them. He directs the Emotion and Self-Control Lab and brings a scientific perspective to everyday emotional struggles.

Do you see images in your mind? Do you have an inner monologue? Do you have memories you swear are real? Our minds have tremendous variation. This hour, insights on how our brains construct reality.

Our brains don’t just passively record the world—they actively construct it. This episode explores the remarkable diversity in human inner experience, from mental imagery to inner monologue, and the fallibility of memory. Guests include TED-Ed animations director Alex Rosenthal, psychologist John Wixted, and love coach Francesca Hogi.

“Marty Supreme” stars Timothée Chalamet as a young, brash table tennis player in the 1950s trying to hustle his way to a world championship. One of the characters standing in Marty’s way is played by frequent guest, Pico Iyer, a TED speaker and travel writer who’d never acted before.

Pico Iyer shares the story of how his TED talk unexpectedly landed him a role in Timothée Chalamet's new film 'Marty Supreme,' despite having no acting experience. He reflects on the power of sharing ideas on stage and the surprising doors it can open. Iyer also discusses how table tennis can teach us to play with someone rather than against them, a lesson in cooperation and connection.

Can otters be city dwellers? Are aliens real? Do we have to experience misery to understand happiness? On this episode, we investigate how strange bedfellows can lead to radical realizations. Guests include evolutionary biologist Philip Johns, astrophysicist Avi Loeb and author Laurel Braitman.

This TED Radio Hour episode explores surprising examples of coexistence — from otters adapting to city life to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the emotional interplay of misery and happiness. Evolutionary biologist Philip Johns shares insights on urban wildlife, astrophysicist Avi Loeb discusses the evidence for alien life, and author Laurel Braitman examines why hardship might be essential to understanding joy.

Negotiations are a part of life, but too often they end up in an ugly confrontation or stalemate. This hour, TED speakers share ideas on navigating conflicts with more clarity and less fear. Guests include mediator and law professor Alex Carter and linguist Magdalena Hoeller.

Negotiation is a part of life, but can lead to ugly confrontation or stalemate. TED speakers Alex Carter, a mediator and law professor, and Magdalena Hoeller, a linguist, share ideas on navigating conflicts with more clarity and less fear.

MLK Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin are household names, but what about their mothers? This hour, author Anna Malaika Tubbs explores how these three women shaped American history. Original air date: February 27, 2026.

Anna Malaika Tubbs explores the overlooked stories of Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin — the mothers of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin. She argues that their influence, values, and sacrifices were foundational to their sons' work, yet have been largely erased from historical narratives. The conversation brings these women's lives into focus, revealing how family dynamics shaped the civil rights movement.

Is tech rewiring childhood or exposing what’s already broken? Jonathan Haidt, Catherine Price, and a Gen Z advocate debate social media bans, attention and what “fun” looks like off-screen.

Jonathan Haidt, Catherine Price, and Gen Z activist Maximilian Milovidov debate whether social media is rewiring childhood and fueling a teen mental health crisis—or simply exposing existing vulnerabilities. They explore the pros and cons of banning social media for minors, the shrinking idea of offline ‘fun,’ and how young people themselves feel about the phone-free movement.

What's the image you present to the world? And do you see yourself the same way? This hour, TED speakers add new dimensions to the idea of self perception. Guests include portrait photographer David Suh, social psychologist Dolly Chugh, journalist Elise Hu and science writer Anil Ananthaswamy.

Four TED speakers explore self-perception from different angles: portrait photography, social psychology, journalism, and neuroscience. They examine how we see ourselves versus how others see us, and what that gap reveals.

How do you rebuild trust after bloodshed? This hour, a closer look at two unlikely truces: LA gang leaders who negotiated peace and activists in the Middle East who chose dialogue over hate. Guests include peace activists Aqeela Sherrills, Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon.

This TED Radio Hour episode looks at two stories of peacebuilding against long odds. Former LA gang leader Aqeela Sherrills describes negotiating a truce among warring gangs. Middle East activists Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon share their efforts to foster dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. The hour explores what it takes to rebuild trust after violence and why some people choose conversation over hatred.

From creating “synthetic” memories to reviving ruined monuments, tech no longer simply stores the past — it can enhance it. This hour, we explore new ways to capture, share and even recreate our past.

TED Radio Hour explores how technology is changing the way we capture, share, and even recreate our past. Guests include technologist Pau Aleikum Garcia, who discusses creating synthetic memories; cartoonist Amy Kurzweil, who uses drawing to capture personal history; and digital archaeologist Chance Coughenour, who revives ruined monuments. Together they examine the promise and ethical challenges of memories enhanced by tech.

When it feels like the world is on fire, it's hard to know what's in your control and what's out of your hands. This hour, TED speakers explain ways you can reclaim your agency.

In this episode, host Manoush Zomorodi and TED speakers explore how to reclaim a sense of agency when the world feels chaotic. Financial advisor Matt Pitcher, sociologist Anindya Kundu, journalist Jennifer Wallace, and design thinking professor Bill Burnett each offer practical strategies for focusing on what you can control, from finances and parenting to career design and social structures.

Artificial intelligence is powerful, but what about natural intelligence? This hour, TED speakers explore the intrinsic genius in animal language, insect behavior, plant anatomy and our immune system.

This TED Radio Hour explores the deep intelligence embedded in the natural world—from animal communication and insect behavior to plant anatomy and our own immune system. Four TED speakers share insights on how studying nature's systems can inform and inspire the development of artificial intelligence. The episode highlights the ingenuity of biological processes and what they reveal about the foundations of intelligence. It is dedicated to environmental researcher Karen Bakker, who passed away shortly after delivering her TED Talk.

Genomics researcher Dr. Robert Green explains how sequencing babies’ DNA can reveal hidden health risks. This hour we explore where the benefits end and the ethical dilemmas begin. Guests include Dr. Robert Green, bioethicist and pediatrician Dr.

Genomics researcher Dr. Robert Green explains how sequencing a baby's DNA can reveal hidden health risks. Bioethicist and pediatrician Dr. Lainie Friedman Ross examines the ethical boundaries of such testing, including questions of consent and the potential for overdiagnosis. Genetic counselor Bethany Zettler discusses the need for expert interpretation when parents receive complex genomic information. The hour explores where the benefits of early detection end and the ethical dilemmas begin.

In unpredictable times, how can we stay calm, grounded, and on course? This hour, TED speakers lead us through uncertainty. Guests include former medical clown Matt Wilson, psychologist Jamil Zaki, writer and filmmaker Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir and human rights activist Yifat Susskind.

In this compilation episode, TED speakers share strategies for navigating uncertainty. Former medical clown Matt Wilson, psychologist Jamil Zaki, writer and filmmaker Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir, and human rights activist Yifat Susskind offer insights on staying calm, grounded, and on course during unpredictable times.

Finding "the one" can seem like life's ultimate goal—but should it be? This hour, TED speakers expand the definition of life partnership, whether it's with a friend, a spouse, a pet, or no one at all.

This TED Radio Hour episode questions the cultural primacy of the romantic partner as the sole source of life partnership. Four speakers—journalist Rhaina Cohen, marriage and family therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile, social psychologist Bella DePaulo, and photographer Elias Weiss Friedman—offer alternative perspectives. The hour explores deep friendships as lasting bonds, reimagines marriage as a flexible collaboration, celebrates the completeness of singlehood, and examines the human-dog relationship as meaningful partnership.

What will AI look like in 2026? Is the hype a bubble or a tech revolution that will transform everything? This episode, the global politics shaping the future of AI and what it means for you.

TED Radio Hour examines who is really shaping the future of AI, featuring tech entrepreneur Alvin Wang Graylin, NPR tech reporter John Ruwitch, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. They unpack the global political dynamics behind AI development and debate whether the current hype is a bubble or a transformative revolution. The conversation explores the real‑world impact on everyday life.

From our favorite songs to our own voices, we're surrounded by sound all day. But how does all this noise affect our emotions and behavior? This hour, TED speakers explore how sound shapes our lives.

From our favorite songs to our own voices, we're surrounded by sound all day. This hour, TED speakers explore how all this noise affects our emotions and behavior. Guests include musician and professor of songwriting Scarlet Keys, AI CEO Pierre Barreau, voice expert Rebecca Kleinberger, and musician Snow Raven.

Before his passing, conductor Robert Franz guided us through the first movement of Dvorák's "New World Symphony" using his four essential tools for listening—rhythm, melody, texture and visuals. As the year comes to a close, Manoush Zomorodi shares one of her favorite TED Radio Hour+ episodes.

In this memorial episode, conductor Robert Franz walks listeners through the first movement of Dvořák's 'New World Symphony,' using his four essential tools for listening: rhythm, melody, texture, and visuals. Originally featured in the 'How We Experience Time' episode, Franz demonstrates how music shapes our perception of time. TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi introduces the segment as a year-end favorite, honoring Franz's legacy of making classical music accessible and deeply human.

It's been a long, complicated year. This hour, TED speakers share ideas to help you get grounded, back on track, and even edge toward something like bliss. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers.

In a year marked by complexity and stress, the TED Radio Hour compiles talks from multiple speakers who explore how to get grounded, back on track, and move toward a state of bliss. The episode offers strategies for resetting after difficult periods, drawing on insights from psychology, personal practice, and human resilience. Listeners can expect a range of perspectives on reclaiming emotional balance and redefining contentment.

We can’t protect what we don’t understand. From decoding wolf howls to making sense of millions of citizen-science sightings, we explore the tools helping researchers understand the wild in new ways.

This TED Radio Hour episode explores how new tools are helping researchers understand wildlife in unprecedented ways. It looks at how decoding the howls of wolves reveals their communication and social structures. It also examines the power of millions of citizen-science sightings to make sense of ecological patterns. The underlying message is that we can only protect what we truly understand.

It's never too late to make things right—even when cracks form within our relationships with our families, our environment...or the inevitable. This hour, TED speakers offer healing solutions.

This episode brings together TED speakers who share insights on healing fractured relationships—within families, with the environment, and with mortality. They offer practical solutions for making things right even when trust has been broken.

Online linguist Adam Aleksic explains how he goes viral decoding internet slang. Plus, why making a living online means working for “the algorithm,” in part 2 of our creator economy series.

Online linguist Adam Aleksic explains how he decodes internet slang and why his linguistic breakdowns go viral. Then, Manoush Zomorodi explores the creator economy's algorithmic pressures—how making a living online increasingly means working for platforms' invisible rules. Part two of TED Radio Hour's series on the creator economy.

The words "content creator" may make you roll your eyes. But in part 1 of our series, Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler explains how the creator economy is changing work, art and what we value.

It's easy to despair with another government shutdown. But this hour, three speakers argue that simple upgrades are key to restoring faith in the American experiment.

The average American household throws away $200 of food each month. How can we get more food onto plates and less into landfills? This hour, changing the food system, from the farm to your kitchen.

The way we spend our hours defines our lives. This hour, TED speakers explore how we make choices about time, meaning and attention in a world of infinite options.

Based on the simple premise, "Ideas worth spreading," Chris Anderson spent the last 25 years turning the non-profit TED organization into a globally recognized media powerhouse. Now he's ready to announce a new chapter for TED, along with a new steward and visionary: Sal Khan.

Who will you be in 10 years? In 20 years? Envisioning how you will evolve is very hard. This hour, TED speakers share ideas on how to better plan for the future, while allowing for the unexpected.

AI is reshaping the workplace, but at what cost? Journalist Hilke Schellmann reveals the flaws of algorithmic hiring and how workers can adapt to a world where machines decide who gets in the door.

Since childhood, Joshua Roman's life revolved around the cello. But when long COVID forced him to set his cello aside, he had to rethink his approach to life, faith and music.

Big life decisions are never easy. Should you follow a plan? Make a hard pivot? Improvise as you go? This hour, TED speakers who’ve made extreme life choices and their advice for getting unstuck.

This episode explores how emotional pain affects the heart and the ways to heal. Guests from cardiology, law, nursing, and social work share perspectives on soothing heartache: a cardiologist connects emotional and physical heart health, a law professor discusses the legal dimensions of heartbreak, a pediatric nurse brings insights from caring for grieving children, and a social worker offers therapeutic approaches to mend emotional wounds.