Podcasts by TED Talks Society and Culture
Thought-provoking videos about life and being human, with ideas from business leaders, psychologists and researchers speaking onstage at the TED conference, TEDx events and partner events around the world. You can also download these and many other videos free on TED.com, with an interactive English transcript and subtitles in up to 80 languages. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.
Further podcasts by TED
Podcast on the topic Gesellschaft und Kultur
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The origins of blackface and Black stereotypes | Dwan Reece from 2022-02-07T16:05:47
If you're wondering why blackface -- mimicking people of African descent via stereotypes and makeup-darkened skin -- is a big deal, then perhaps a little history lesson can help demystify the outcr...
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Why a free and fair internet is more vital than ever | Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa from 2021-12-23T16:08:18
Without the internet, how would you have coped with the pandemic -- from work and school, to maintaining your closest relationships? In the digital age, reliance on the internet is so common and se...
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A free and fair internet benefits everyone | Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa from 2021-12-23T16:08:18
Without the internet, how would you have coped with the pandemic -- from work and school, to maintaining your closest relationships? In the digital age, reliance on the internet is so ...
How to escape the cynicism trap | Jamil Zaki from 2021-12-21T15:34:11
Some days, it's hard to be optimistic. But cynicism -- the idea that people are inherently selfish, greedy and dishonest -- is making humanity lonelier and more divided, says psychologist Jamil Zak...
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The forest is our teacher. It's time to respect it | Nemonte Nenquimo from 2021-11-23T16:02:57
For thousands of years, the Amazon rainforest has provided food, water and spiritual connection for its Indigenous inhabitants and the world. But the endless extraction of its natural resources by ...
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The haunting truth of ghost stories | Coya Paz Brownrigg from 2021-10-29T20:04:48
Ghost stories reveal much more than the ghouls and spirits that haunt them. Settle in for a spooky delight as theater educator Coya Paz Brownrigg lays out three types of bone-chilling tales and exh...
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How humanity doubled life expectancy in a century | Steven Johnson from 2021-10-08T14:53:43
Doubling human life expectancy in a century is our greatest achievement, says author Steven Johnson. How did we make it happen -- and can we keep it going? Backed by fascinating historical anecdote...
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The inaccurate link between body ideals and health | Nancy N. Chen from 2021-09-14T16:15:15
Global obesity rates are on the rise, but body shaming campaigns are doing more harm than good, says medical anthropologist Nancy N. Chen. Reflecting on how the cultural histories of body ideals ha...
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A taste of Mexico's ancient chocolate-making tradition | Germán Santillán from 2021-09-01T14:49:10
Dating back more than 800 years, chocolate is deeply woven into the Indigenous history of Oaxaca, Mexico. TED Fellow Germán Santillán talks about his work reviving the Mixtec technique used to prep...
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The radical, revolutionary resilience of Black joy | Miracle Jones from 2021-07-27T16:11:39
In the face of trauma, happiness is resilience: a revolutionary act of thriving despite all odds, rather than wilting or surrendering. Community organizer and activist Miracle Jones of...
3 myths about racism that keep the US from progress | Candis Watts Smith from 2021-07-16T15:21:17
Racism morphs, spreading and hiding behind numerous half-truths and full-blown falsities about where it lives and who embodies it. In this actionable talk, political scientist Candis Watts Smith de...
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Why aren't there more Native American restaurants? | Sean Sherman from 2021-07-06T14:57:23
When you think of North American cuisine, do Indigenous foods come to mind? Chef Sean Sherman serves up an essential history lesson that explains the absence of Native American culinary traditions ...
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The anxiety that comes from being treated like an outsider | Valerie Purdie-Greenaway from 2021-06-03T20:01:06
The stress you may feel being otherized or stereotyped can take a significant toll on your health and well-being. In this thoughtful conversation, social psychologist Valerie Purdie-Greenaway revea...
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The infinite alchemy of storytelling | Zahra Al-Mahdi from 2021-05-24T13:37:19
TED Fellow Zahra Al-Mahdi was raised by screens -- "storytelling machines" like TV and the internet that shaped her sense of self and reality. Now a multimedia artist and filmmaker, she challenges ...
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The real-life superheroes helping Syrian refugees | Feras Fayyad from 2021-05-24T13:35:35
Society has a set of stories it tells itself about who refugees are and what they look like, says documentarian and TED Fellow Feras Fayyad. With his films, he's on a mission to separate the facts ...
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A feminist reimagining of Kenya's public transport | Naomi Mwaura from 2021-05-24T13:13:46
Kenya's minibuses -- known as "matatus" -- offer a convenient, affordable and colorful way for people to get around. But they also pose safety risks and accessibility issues for many of their passe...
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What's your happiness score? | Dominic Price from 2021-05-07T15:38:44
How do you rediscover a happier, more purpose-driven (and less productivity-obsessed) self in the wake of the pandemic? Quiz yourself alongside work futurist Dominic Price as he lays out a simple y...
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An honest history of an ancient and "nasty" word | Kate Lister from 2021-04-01T15:06:05
With candor and cunning, sex historian Kate Lister chronicles the curious journey of an ancient, honest word with innocent origins and a now-scandalous connotation in this uproarious love letter to...
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Language around gender and identity evolves (and always has) | Archie Crowley from 2021-03-31T15:07:38
Dictionaries and grammar "rules" don't have the final word on language -- and believing they do can harm more than help, especially for the trans community. Sociolinguist Archie Crowley deconstruct...
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What if mental health workers responded to emergency calls? | Leslie Herod from 2021-03-15T15:12:49
When you report an emergency in the US, police, firefighters or paramedics answer the call. What if mental health professionals responded, too? Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod shares a s...
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Love, sorrow and the emotions that power climate action | Knut Ivar Bjørlykhaug from 2021-03-09T20:12:07
Picture your favorite place in nature. How would you feel if it disappeared tomorrow? In this love letter to the planet, social worker and environmental activist Knut Ivar Bjørlykhaug invites us to...
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Why there's no such thing as objective reality | Greg Anderson from 2021-02-23T16:05:50
In the grand scheme of history, modern reality is a bizarre exception when compared to the worlds of ancient, precolonial and Indigenous civilizations, where myths ruled and gods roamed, says histo...
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How to get everyone to care about a green economy | Angela Francis from 2021-02-05T16:29:17
How do you get the environment to the top of everyone's priority list? You can't, says climate advocate Angela Francis -- but you can get them to care about improving their lives. In this pragmatic...
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The real story of Rosa Parks -- and why we need to confront myths about black history | David Ikard from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Black history taught in US schools is often watered-down, riddled with inaccuracies and stripped of its context and rich, full-bodied historical figures. Equipped with the real story of Ro...
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3 ways companies can support grieving employees | Tilak Mandadi from 2021-01-05T16:02:06
When we experience loss, grief travels with us everywhere -- even work. What can companies do to support grieving employees? Sharing his own story of unimaginable heartbreak, Tilak Mandadi offers t...
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Who counts as a speaker of a language? | Anna Babel from 2020-12-16T16:00:29
Backed by research and personal anecdotes, Spanish professor Anna Babel reveals the intricate relationship between language and culture, showing how social categories and underlying biases influenc...
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A playful exploration of gender performance | Jo Michael Rezes from 2020-11-18T21:20:29
From the stage to everyday life, theater educator Jo Michael Rezes studies queer identity and the spectrum of gender performance — in its success and failure. Aided by a delightful introduction of ...
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The psychology of inequality and political division | Keith Payne from 2020-09-14T15:26:17
"If we want to fix our politics, we have to do something about inequality," says social psychologist Keith Payne. Showing how economic inequality changes the way people see and behave towards one a...
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Want a more just world? Be an unlikely ally | Dwinita Mosby Tyler from 2020-07-15T20:18:32
A more equal world starts with you. Citing a formative moment from her own life, equity advocate Dwinita Mosby Tyler highlights why showing up and fighting for others who face injustices beyond you...
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Want a more just world? Be an unlikely ally | Nita Mosby Tyler from 2020-07-15T20:18:32
A more equal world starts with you. Citing a formative moment from her own life, equity advocate Nita Mosby Tyler highlights why showing up and fighting for others who face injustices ...
How to disrupt philanthropy in response to crisis | Darren Walker from 2020-07-10T14:58:34
If we want to build back better after the pandemic, we must reconsider philanthropy and create a new kind of capitalism that's rooted in generosity and accountability, says Darren Walker, president...
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The new urgency of climate change | Al Gore from 2020-06-25T19:51:13
The coronavirus brought much of the world to a standstill, dropping carbon emissions by five percent. Al Gore says keeping those rates down is now up to us. In this illuminating interview, he discu...
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A vision for the future of Afghanistan | Ashraf Ghani from 2020-06-23T19:47:48
Ashraf Ghani shares his thoughts on peacemaking, the true cost of war, the nation's COVID-19 response strategy and the sweeping economic and social reforms happening throughout the country. (This v...
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Why is colonialism (still) romanticized? | Farish Ahmad-Noor from 2020-06-23T15:20:15
Colonialism remains an inescapable blight on the present, lingering in the toxic, internalized mythologies and stereotypes that have outlived the regimes that created them, says historian Farish Ah...
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How racial bias works -- and how to disrupt it | Jennifer L. Eberhardt from 2020-06-18T16:51:36
Our brains create categories to make sense of the world, recognize patterns and make quick decisions. But this ability to categorize also exacts a heavy toll in the form of unconscious bias. In thi...
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3 secrets of resilient people | Lucy Hone from 2020-06-15T15:11:20
Everyone experiences loss, but how do you cope with the tough moments that follow? Resilience researcher Lucy Hone shares three hard-won strategies for developing the capacity to brave adversity, o...
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How to turn your dissatisfaction into action | Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr from 2020-06-10T14:52:54
After the devastating rebel invasion of Freetown in 1999 and the Ebola epidemic in 2014, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of the city, refused to be paralyzed by her frustration with the status quo. Inste...
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The difference between being "not racist" and antiracist | Ibram X. Kendi from 2020-06-09T21:36:32
There is no such thing as being "not racist," says author and historian Ibram X. Kendi. In this vital conversation, he defines the transformative concept of antiracism to help us more clearly recog...
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How flags unite (and divide) us | Michael Green from 2020-06-09T15:27:15
Flags are one of the simplest yet most powerful pieces of design ever conceived. They can make us swell with pride, burn with hatred -- and even inspire people to die or kill in their name, says ve...
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How to channel your presence and energy into ending injustice | Rashad Robinson from 2020-06-08T21:52:17
The presence and visibility of a movement can often lead us to believe that progress is inevitable. But building power and changing the system requires more than conversations and retweets, says Ra...
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The bill has come due for the US's history of racism | Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff from 2020-06-08T21:49:01
The bill has come due for the unpaid debts the United States owes its Black residents, says Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, CEO of the Center for Policing Equity (CPE). But we're not going to get to where ...
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The path to ending systemic racism in the US | Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, Rashad Robinson, Dr. Bernice King, Anthony D. Romero from 2020-06-03T21:40:23
In a time of mourning and anger over the ongoing violence inflicted on Black communities by police in the US and the lack of accountability from national leadership, what is the path f...
How the US can address the tragedy of veteran suicide | Charles P. Smith from 2020-05-22T14:54:04
Veterans in the United States take their own lives at an alarming rate. Suggesting new ways to prioritize mental health in the military, veterans advocate Charles P. Smith offers a data-driven plan...
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The language of being human | Poet Ali from 2020-05-15T14:49:26
You speak far more languages than you realize, says Poet Ali. In a profound talk, he reveals how the idea of "language" goes far beyond a lexicon of words, communicating universal experiences like ...
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The injustice of "policing for profit" -- and how to end it | Dick M. Carpenter II from 2020-04-28T15:12:24
Many countries have an active, centuries-old law that allows government agencies to take your things -- your house, your car, your business -- without ever convicting you of a crime. Law researcher...
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Racism has a cost for everyone | Heather C. McGhee from 2020-04-16T14:56:14
Racism makes our economy worse -- and not just in ways that harm people of color, says public policy expert Heather C. McGhee. From her research and travels across the US, McGhee shares startling i...
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In uncertain times, think like a mother | Yifat Susskind from 2020-04-06T14:50:53
There's a simple and powerful way to confront the world's most pressing crises, says women's rights activist Yifat Susskind: think like a mother. As she puts it: "When you think like a mother, you ...
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How we can navigate the coronavirus pandemic with courage and hope | Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks from 2020-03-30T23:37:32
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks offers thoughts on how we can navigate the coronavirus pandemic with courage, hope and empathy. With wisdom and clarity, he speaks on leadership, fear, death,...
How to create meaningful connections while apart | Priya Parker from 2020-03-30T15:39:05
Author Priya Parker shares tools for creating meaningful connections with friends, family and coworkers during the coronavirus pandemic -- and shows how we can take advantage of gather...
How to be your best self in times of crisis | Susan David from 2020-03-24T15:08:54
"Life's beauty is inseparable from its fragility," says psychologist Susan David. In a special virtual conversation, she shares wisdom on how to build resilience, courage and joy in th...
Without farmers, you'd be hungry, naked and sober | Eric Sannerud from 2020-03-18T15:10:43
Farmers keep us fed and our economies stable, but in the US they're retiring faster than they're being replaced. Take a crash course in agricultural policy with Eric Sannerud to see why this proble...
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Why it's so hard to talk about the N-word | Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor from 2020-03-12T15:19:08
Historian Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor leads a thoughtful and history-backed examination of one of the most divisive words in the English language: the N-word. Drawing from personal experience, she exp...
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The gender-fluid history of the Philippines | France Villarta from 2020-03-09T15:01:17
In much of the world, gender is viewed as binary: man or woman, each assigned characteristics and traits designated by biological sex. But that's not the case everywhere, says France Villarta. In a...
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How women are revolutionizing Rwanda | Agnes Binagwaho from 2020-03-06T15:56:47
In 1996, Agnes Binagwaho returned home to Rwanda in the aftermath of its genocide. She considered leaving amid the overwhelming devastation, but women in her community motivated her to stay and hel...
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3 ways to uproot a culture of corruption | Wanjira Mathai from 2020-02-26T20:57:59
Corruption is a constant threat in Kenya, says social entrepreneur Wanjira Mathai -- and to stop it there (or anywhere else), we need to intervene early. Following the legacy of her mother, politic...
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For the love of fangirls | Yve Blake from 2020-02-18T16:08:28
When you think of fangirls, what comes to mind: large swaths of fandom (usually for a boyband) whose feelings culminate in tears and joyful screams? Perhaps you grimace or roll your eyes at the tho...
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How the magic of kindness helped me survive the Holocaust | Werner Reich from 2020-01-27T16:28:29
Holocaust survivor Werner Reich recounts his harrowing adolescence as a prisoner transported between concentration camps -- and shares how a small, kind act can inspire a lifetime of compassion. "I...
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Why can't we talk about periods? | Jen Gunter from 2020-01-17T15:59
"It shouldn't be an act of feminism to know how your body works," says gynecologist and author Jen Gunter. In this revelatory talk, she explains how menstrual shame silences and represses -- and le...
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How guest worker visas could transform the US immigration system | David J. Bier from 2020-01-14T21:19:10
The United States can create a more humane immigration system; in fact, it's been done before, says policy analyst David J. Bier. Pointing to the historical success of the US guest worker program, ...
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The perks of being a pirate | Tom Nash from 2020-01-14T16:04:40
In this deeply charming and humorous talk, DJ and self-professed pirate Tom Nash meditates on how facing adversity due to disability invited patience, ambition and pragmatism into his life in enlig...
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Climate change will displace millions. Here's how we prepare | Colette Pichon Battle from 2020-01-10T15:47:43
Scientists predict climate change will displace more than 180 million people by 2100 -- a crisis of "climate migration" the world isn't ready for, says disaster recovery lawyer and Louisiana native...
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The beautiful balance between courage and fear | Cara E. Yar Khan from 2019-12-23T15:54:13
After being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that deteriorates muscle, Cara E. Yar Khan was told she'd have to limit her career ambitions and dial down her dreams. She ignored that advice an...
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What we're getting wrong in the fight to end hunger | Jasmine Crowe from 2019-12-18T15:51:30
In a world that's wasting more food than ever before, why do one in nine people still go to bed hungry each night? Social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe calls for a radical transformation to our fight ...
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Why I protest for climate justice | Jane Fonda from 2019-12-10T15:57:55
At age 81, actor and activist Jane Fonda is putting herself on the line for the planet -- literally. In a video interview with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, Fonda speaks about getting arrested mul...
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The profound power of an authentic apology | Eve Ensler from 2019-12-06T16:00:23
Genuine apology goes beyond remorse, says legendary playwright Eve Ensler. In this frank, wrenching talk, she shares how she transformed her own experience of abuse into wisdom on what wrongdoers c...
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7 beliefs that can silence women -- and how to unlearn them | Deepa Narayan from 2019-11-25T21:01:04
In India (and many other countries), girls and women still find themselves silenced by traditional rules of politeness and restraint, says social scientist Deepa Narayan. In this frank talk, she id...
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How to save a language from extinction | Daniel Bögre Udell from 2019-11-21T16:02:02
As many as 3,000 languages could disappear within the next 80 years, all but silencing entire cultures. In this quick talk, language activist Daniel Bögre Udell shows how people around the world ar...
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3 questions we should ask about nuclear weapons | Emma Belcher from 2019-11-19T20:49:31
There are more than 10,000 nuclear weapons in existence today, each one capable of causing immense destruction. Why don't we talk about this threat as much as some other major issues? In this pract...
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How can we support the emotional well-being of teachers? | Sydney Jensen from 2019-11-13T20:49:56
Teachers emotionally support our kids -- but who's supporting our teachers? In this eye-opening talk, educator Sydney Jensen explores how teachers are at risk of "secondary trauma" -- the idea that...
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How India's local recyclers could solve plastic pollution | Mani Vajipey from 2019-11-11T20:51:57
India has one of the world's highest rates of plastic recycling, thanks largely to an extensive network of informal recyclers known as "kabadiwalas." Entrepreneur Mani Vajipey discusses his work to...
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What open water swimming taught me about resilience | Bhakti Sharma from 2019-11-04T20:07:25
Dive into the deep with open water swimmer Bhakti Sharma, as she shares what she learned about resilience during her personal journey from the scorching heat of Rajasthan, India to the bone-chillin...
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After billions of years of monotony, the universe is waking up | David Deutsch from 2019-10-14T14:59:44
Theoretical physicist David Deutsch delivers a mind-bending meditation on the "great monotony" -- the idea that nothing novel has appeared in the universe for billions of years -- and shows how hum...
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A personal plea for humanity at the US-Mexico border | Juan Enriquez from 2019-10-09T14:52:35
In this powerful, personal talk, author and academic Juan Enriquez shares stories from inside the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border, bringing this often-abstract debate back down to earth ...
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A radical plan to end plastic waste | Andrew Forrest from 2019-10-08T21:00:06
Plastic is an incredible substance for the economy -- and the worst substance possible for the environment, says entrepreneur Andrew Forrest. In a conversation meant to spark debate, Forrest and he...
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This ancient rock is changing our theory on the origin of life | Tara Djokic from 2019-10-07T14:49:07
Exactly when and where did life on Earth begin? Scientists have long thought that it emerged three billion years ago in the ocean -- until astrobiologist Tara Djokic and her team made an unexpected...
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Why language is humanity's greatest invention | David Peterson from 2019-10-03T19:51:52
Civilization rests upon the existence of language, says language creator David Peterson. In a talk that's equal parts passionate and hilarious, he shows how studying, preserving and inventing new l...
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Why you should shop at your local farmers market | Mohammad Modarres from 2019-10-01T14:52:58
The average farmer in America makes less than 15 cents of every dollar on a product that you purchase at a store. They feed our communities, but farmers often cannot afford the very foods they grow...
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How we're building the world's largest family tree | Yaniv Erlich from 2019-09-25T14:47:50
Computational geneticist Yaniv Erlich helped build the world's largest family tree -- comprising 13 million people and going back more than 500 years. He shares fascinating patterns th...
How couples can sustain a strong sexual connection for a lifetime | Emily Nagoski from 2019-09-24T14:51:19
As a sex educator, Emily Nagoski is often asked: How do couples sustain a strong sexual connection over the long term? In this funny, insightful talk, she shares her answer -- drawing on (somewhat ...
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A free world needs satire | Patrick Chappatte from 2019-09-17T14:46:07
We need humor like we need the air we breathe, says editorial cartoonist Patrick Chappatte. In a talk illustrated with highlights from a career spent skewering everything from dictators and ideolog...
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Inside the bizarre world of internet trolls and propagandists | Andrew Marantz from 2019-09-05T14:52:59
Journalist Andrew Marantz spent three years embedded in the world of internet trolls and social media propagandists, seeking out the people who are propelling fringe talking points into the heart o...
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What ping-pong taught me about life | Pico Iyer from 2019-08-23T14:41:07
Growing up in England, Pico Iyer was taught that the point of a game was to win. Now, some 50 years later, he's realized that competition can be "more like an act of love." In this charming, subtly...
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The power to think ahead in a reckless age | Bina Venkataraman from 2019-08-22T14:51:19
In a forward-looking talk, author Bina Venkataraman answers a pivotal question of our time: How can we secure our future and do right by future generations? She parses the mistakes we make when ima...
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How we're honoring people overlooked by history | Amy Padnani from 2019-07-11T14:57:25
Since its founding in 1851, the "New York Times" has published thousands of obituaries -- for heads of state, famous celebrities, even the inventor of the sock puppet. But only a small percentage o...
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The next big thing is coming from the Bronx, again | Jon Gray from 2019-06-28T14:56:33
"The hood is good," says Jon Gray of the Bronx, New York-based creative collective Ghetto Gastro. Working at the intersection of food, design and art, Gray and his team honor the soul and history o...
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What almost dying taught me about living | Suleika Jaouad from 2019-06-19T14:53:42
"The hardest part of my cancer experience began once the cancer was gone," says author Suleika Jaouad. In this fierce, funny, wisdom-packed talk, she challenges us to think beyond the divide betwee...
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Why we get mad -- and why it's healthy | Ryan Martin from 2019-06-12T14:46:51
Anger researcher Ryan Martin draws from a career studying what makes people mad to explain some of the cognitive processes behind anger -- and why a healthy dose of it can actually be useful. "Your...
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3 steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings | Priya Parker from 2019-06-11T14:26:07
Why do some gatherings take off and others don't? Author Priya Parker shares three easy steps to turn your parties, dinners, meetings and holidays into meaningful, transformative gatherings.
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The lies our culture tells us about what matters -- and a better way to live | David Brooks from 2019-06-05T14:51:07
Our society is in the midst of a social crisis, says op-ed columnist and author David Brooks: we're trapped in a valley of isolation and fragmentation. How do we find our way out? Based on his trav...
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The story we tell about millennials -- and who we leave out | Reniqua Allen from 2019-05-30T19:53:56
Millennials are now the largest, most diverse adult population in the US -- but far too often, they're reduced to the worn-out stereotype of lazy, entitled avocado toast lovers, says author Reniqua...
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My identity is a superpower -- not an obstacle | America Ferrera from 2019-05-23T14:51:21
Hollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representat...
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The difference between healthy and unhealthy love | Katie Hood from 2019-05-17T14:48:55
In a talk about understanding and practicing the art of healthy relationships, Katie Hood reveals the five signs you might be in an unhealthy relationship -- with a romantic partner, a friend, a fa...
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How to recover from activism burnout | Yana Buhrer Tavanier from 2019-04-30T14:48:13
When you're feeling burned out as an activist, what's the best way to bounce back? TED Senior Fellow Yana Buhrer Tavanier explores the power of "playtivism" -- the incorporation of play and creativ...
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Helping others makes us happier -- but it matters how we do it | Elizabeth Dunn from 2019-04-26T11:12:18
Research shows that helping others makes us happier. But in her groundbreaking work on generosity and joy, social psychologist Elizabeth Dunn found that there's a catch: it matters how we help. Lea...
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3 lessons on starting a movement from a self-defense trailblazer | Rana Abdelhamid from 2019-04-12T14:55:18
At 16, Rana Abdelhamid started teaching self-defense to women and girls in her neighborhood. Almost 10 years later, these community classes have grown into Malikah: a global grassroots network crea...
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How centuries of sci-fi sparked spaceflight | Alexander MacDonald from 2019-04-01T14:58:05
Long before we had rocket scientists, the idea of spaceflight traveled from mind to mind across generations. With great visuals, TED Fellow and NASA economist Alexander MacDonald shows how 300 year...
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A short history of trans people's long fight for equality | Samy Nour Younes from 2019-03-28T14:39:07
Transgender activist and TED Resident Samy Nour Younes shares the remarkable, centuries-old history of the trans community, filled with courageous stories, inspiring triumphs -- and a fight for ci...
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Our dangerous obsession with perfectionism is getting worse | Thomas Curran from 2019-03-14T15:02:26
Social psychologist Thomas Curran explores how the pressure to be perfect -- in our social media feeds, in school, at work -- is driving a rise in mental illness, especially among youn...
How to overcome apathy and find your power | Dolores Huerta from 2019-02-22T15:41:15
"Sí, se puede!" -- "Yes, we can!" It's the rallying cry Dolores Huerta came up with as a young activist in the 1970s, and she's lived by it in her tireless pursuit of civil rights ever since. With ...
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A love story about the power of art as organizing | Aja Monet and phillip agnew from 2019-02-14T15:43
In a lyrical talk full of radical imagination, poet Aja Monet and community organizer phillip agnew share the story of how they fell in love and what they've learned about the powerful connection b...
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3 ways to practice civility | Steven Petrow from 2019-02-13T15:39
What does it mean to be civil? Journalist Steven Petrow looks for answers in the original meaning of the word, showing why civility shouldn't be dismissed as conversation-stifling political correct...
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An astronaut's story of curiosity, perspective and change | Leland Melvin from 2019-01-31T20:32:31
What job is best for a young man who's been a tennis ace, a cross-country traveler, a chemistry nerd and an NFL draftee? How about ... astronaut? Leland Melvin tells the story of the challenges he'...
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The way we think about biological sex is wrong | Emily Quinn from 2019-01-31T15:49:34
Did you know that almost 150 million people worldwide are born intersex -- with biology that doesn't fit the standard definition of male or female? (That's as many as the population of Russia.) At ...
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The power of women's anger | Soraya Chemaly from 2019-01-28T15:51:44
Anger is a powerful emotion -- it warns us of threat, insult, indignity and harm. But across the world, girls and women are taught that their anger is better left unvoiced, says author Soraya Chema...
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How to transform sinking cities into landscapes that fight floods | Kotchakorn Voraakhom from 2019-01-22T15:52:15
From London to Tokyo, climate change is causing cities to sink -- and our modern concrete infrastructure is making us even more vulnerable to severe flooding, says landscape architect and TED Fello...
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Embrace your raw, strange magic | Casey Gerald from 2019-01-17T15:46:04
The way we're taught to live has got to change, says author Casey Gerald. Too often, we hide parts of ourselves in order to fit in, win praise, be accepted. But at what cost? In this inspiring talk...
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How empowering women and girls can help stop global warming | Katharine Wilkinson from 2019-01-16T15:47:51
If we really want to address climate change, we need to make gender equity a reality, says writer and environmentalist Katharine Wilkinson. As part of Project Drawdown, Wilkinson has helped scour h...
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3 ways to build a happy marriage and avoid divorce | George Blair-West from 2019-01-14T20:54:11
Choosing to marry and share your life with someone is one of the most important decisions you can make in life. But with divorce rates approaching fifty percent in some parts of the world, it's cle...
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The joyful, perplexing world of puzzle hunts | Alex Rosenthal from 2018-12-19T15:53:37
Welcome to the strange, deviously difficult and incredibly joyful world of puzzle hunts. Follow along as Alex Rosenthal lifts the veil on one of the world's most complex puzzle hunts, the MIT Myste...
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How I unlearned dangerous lessons about masculinity | Eldra Jackson from 2018-12-18T15:48:24
In a powerful talk, educator Eldra Jackson III shares how he unlearned dangerous lessons about masculinity through Inside Circle, an organization that leads group therapy for incarcerated men. Now ...
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How to motivate people to do good for others | Erez Yoeli from 2018-12-05T15:44
How can we get people to do more good: to go to the polls, give to charity, conserve resources or just generally act better towards others? MIT research scientist Erez Yoeli shares a simple checkli...
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Me Too is a movement, not a moment | Tarana Burke from 2018-11-30T15:56:20
In 2006, Tarana Burke was consumed by a desire to do something about the sexual violence she saw in her community. She took out a piece of paper, wrote "Me Too" across the top and laid out an actio...
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My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee | A.J. Jacobs from 2018-11-13T15:45:07
Author A.J. Jacobs embarked on a quest with a deceptively simple idea at its heart: to personally thank every person who helped make his morning cup of coffee. More than one thousand "thank yous" l...
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A memory scientist's advice on reporting harassment and discrimination | Julia Shaw from 2018-11-02T14:57:15
How do you turn a memory, especially one of a traumatic event, into hard evidence of a crime? Julia Shaw is working on this challenge, combining tools from memory science and artificial intelligenc...
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How revenge porn turns lives upside down | Darieth Chisolm from 2018-10-24T19:41:59
What can you do if you're the victim of revenge porn or cyberbullying? Shockingly little, says journalist and activist Darieth Chisolm, who found herself living the nightmare scenario of having exp...
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How we can help young people build a better future | Henrietta Fore from 2018-10-24T14:56:37
A massive generation of young people is about to inherit the world, and it's the duty of everyone to give them a fighting chance for their futures, says UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore. In...
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How I climbed a 3,000-foot vertical cliff -- without ropes | Alex Honnold from 2018-10-08T14:49:17
Imagine being by yourself in the dead center of a 3,000-foot vertical cliff -- without a rope to catch you if you fall. For professional rock climber Alex Honnold, this dizzying scene marked the cu...
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3 lessons on decision-making from a poker champion | Liv Boeree from 2018-10-01T14:44:54
Is it better to be lucky or good? Should we trust our gut feelings or rely on probabilities and careful analysis when making important decisions? In this quick talk, professional poker player Liv B...
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What happened when we tested thousands of abandoned rape kits in Detroit | Kym Worthy from 2018-09-26T14:58:52
In 2009, 11,341 untested rape kits -- some dating back to the 1980s -- were found in an abandoned warehouse once used by the Detroit police to store evidence. When this scandal was uncovered, prose...
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Why museums are returning cultural treasures | Chip Colwell from 2018-09-20T19:17:45
Archaeologist and curator Chip Colwell collects artifacts for his museum, but he also returns them to where they came from. In a thought-provoking talk, he shares how some museums are confronting t...
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The press trampled on my privacy. Here's how I took back my story | Kate Stone from 2018-09-18T19:51:09
After a horrific accident put her in the tabloid headlines, Kate Stone found a way to take control of her narrative -- and help prevent others from losing their privacy, too. Learn how she reclaime...
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What are the most important moral problems of our time? | Will MacAskill from 2018-09-12T14:42:53
Of all the problems facing humanity, which should we focus on solving first? In a compelling talk about how to make the world better, moral philosopher Will MacAskill provides a framework for answe...
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How I went from child refugee to international model | Halima Aden from 2018-08-30T14:53:06
Halima Aden made history when she became the first hijab-wearing model on the cover of Vogue magazine. Now she returns to Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp -- where she was born and lived until the age o...
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Why the "wrong side of the tracks" is usually the east side of cities | Stephen DeBerry from 2018-08-21T14:50:21
What do communities on the social, economic and environmental margins have in common? For one thing, they tend to be on the east sides of cities. In this short talk about a surprising insight, anth...
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How women in rural India turned courage into capital | Chetna Gala Sinha from 2018-08-20T14:57:45
When bankers refused to serve her neighbors in rural India, Chetna Gala Sinha did the next best thing: she opened a bank of her own, the first ever for and by women in the country. In this inspirin...
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How urban spaces can preserve history and build community | Walter Hood from 2018-08-17T14:53:24
Can public spaces both reclaim the past and embrace the future? Landscape architect Walter Hood has explored this question over the course of an iconic career, with projects ranging from Lafayette ...
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How AI can save our humanity | Kai-Fu Lee from 2018-08-13T14:56:28
AI is massively transforming our world, but there's one thing it cannot do: love. In a visionary talk, computer scientist Kai-Fu Lee details how the US and China are driving a deep learning revolut...
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How to stop swiping and find your person on dating apps | Christina Wallace from 2018-07-24T19:59:15
Let's face it, online dating can suck. So many potential people, so much time wasted -- is it even worth it? Podcaster and entrepreneur Christina Wallace thinks so, if you do it right. In a funny, ...
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An honest look at the personal finance crisis | Elizabeth White from 2018-07-12T19:57:38
Millions of baby boomers are moving into their senior years with empty pockets and declining choices to earn a living. And right behind them is a younger generation facing the same challenges. In t...
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How I'm bringing queer pride to my rural village | Katlego Kolanyane-Kesupile from 2018-06-14T19:50:21
In a poetic, personal talk, TED Fellow Katlego Kolanyane-Kesupile examines the connection between her modern queer lifestyle and her childhood upbringing in a rural village in Botswana. "In a time ...
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What gardening taught me about life | tobacco brown from 2018-05-31T14:52:37
Gardens are mirrors of our lives, says environmental artist tobacco brown, and we must cultivate them with care to harvest their full beauty. Drawing on her experience bringing natural public art i...
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How I made friends with reality | Emily Levine from 2018-05-23T15:01:16
With her signature wit and wisdom, Emily Levine meets her ultimate challenge as a comedian/philosopher: she makes dying funny. In this personal talk, she takes us on her journey to make friends wit...
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The truth about unwanted arousal | Emily Nagoski from 2018-05-11T14:56:09
Sex educator Emily Nagoski breaks down one of the most dangerous myths about sex and introduces us to the science behind arousal nonconcordance: when there's a disconnect between physical response ...
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Why it's worth listening to people you disagree with | Zachary R. Wood from 2018-04-19T14:53:35
We get stronger, not weaker, by engaging with ideas and people we disagree with, says Zachary R. Wood. In an important talk about finding common ground, Wood makes the case that we can build empath...
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The most powerful woman you've never heard of | T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison from 2018-04-13T00:56:19
Everyone's heard of Martin Luther King Jr. But do you know the woman Dr. King called "the architect of the civil rights movement," Septima Clark? The teacher of some of the generation's most legend...
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How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky from 2018-04-11T15:54:02
There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way we think? Cognitive scientist Lera Boroditsky s...
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To eliminate waste, we need to rediscover thrift | Andrew Dent from 2018-04-04T14:58:59
There's no such thing as throwing something away, says Andrew Dent -- when you toss a used food container, broken toy or old pair of socks into the trash, those things inevitably end up in ever-gro...
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Why I choose humanism over faith | Leo Igwe from 2018-03-29T19:42:47
As a humanist, Leo Igwe doesn't believe in divine intervention -- but he does believe in the power of human beings to alleviate suffering, cure disease, preserve the planet and turn situations of p...
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The Great Migration and the power of a single decision | Isabel Wilkerson from 2018-03-15T14:02:35
Sometimes, a single decision can change the course of history. Join journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson as she tells the story of the Great Migration, the outpouring of six million African Ameri...
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The best way to help is often just to listen | Sophie Andrews from 2018-03-09T12:07:23
A 24-hour helpline in the UK known as Samaritans helped Sophie Andrews become a survivor of abuse rather than a victim. Now she's paying the favor back as the founder of The Silver Lin...
How we became sisters | Felice Belle and Jennifer Murphy from 2018-03-02T15:53:56
Poets Felice Belle and Jennifer Murphy perform excerpts from their play "Other Women," which is created and directed by Monica L. Williams. In a captivating journey, they weave together stories ful...
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Be humble -- and other lessons from the philosophy of water | Raymond Tang from 2018-02-27T15:42:28
How do we find fulfillment in a world that's constantly changing? Raymond Tang struggled with this question until he came across the ancient Chinese philosophy of the Tao Te Ching. In it, he found ...
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The virginity fraud | Nina Dølvik Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl from 2018-02-13T20:53:40
The hymen is still the most misunderstood part of the female body. Nina Dølvik Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl share their mission to empower young people through better sex education, debunking t...
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How to fix a broken heart | Guy Winch from 2018-02-05T15:54:19
At some point in our lives, almost every one of us will have our heart broken. Imagine how different things would be if we paid more attention to this unique emotional pain. Psychologist Guy Winch ...
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Black life at the intersection of birth and death | Mwende "FreeQuency" Katwiwa from 2018-02-01T15:53:16
"It is the artist's job to unearth stories that people try to bury with shovels of complacency and time," says poet and freedom fighter Mwende "FreeQuency" Katwiwa. Performing her poem "The Joys of...
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My failed mission to find God -- and what I found instead | Anjali Kumar from 2018-01-31T15:55:01
Anjali Kumar went looking for God and ended up finding something else entirely. In an uplifting, funny talk about our shared humanity, she takes us on a spiritual pilgrimage to meet witches in New ...
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The gift and power of emotional courage | Susan David from 2018-01-30T11:41:39
Psychologist Susan David shares how the way we deal with our emotions shapes everything that matters: our actions, careers, relationships, health and happiness. In this deeply moving, humorous and ...
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How record collectors find lost music and preserve our cultural heritage | Alexis Charpentier from 2018-01-11T15:55:41
For generations, record collectors have played a vital role in the preservation of musical and cultural heritage by "digging" for obscure music created by overlooked artists. Alexis Charpentier sha...
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"Good" and "bad" are incomplete stories we tell ourselves | Heather Lanier from 2017-12-21T20:38:36
Heather Lanier's daughter Fiona has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a genetic condition that results in developmental delays -- but that doesn't make her tragic, angelic or any of the other stereotypes a...
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The history of human emotions | Tiffany Watt Smith from 2017-12-18T21:04:16
The words we use to describe our emotions affect how we feel, says historian Tiffany Watt Smith, and they've often changed (sometimes very dramatically) in response to new cultural expectations and...
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How urban agriculture is transforming Detroit | Devita Davison from 2017-12-07T20:56:19
There's something amazing growing in the city of Detroit: healthy, accessible, delicious, fresh food. In a spirited talk, fearless farmer Devita Davison explains how features of Detroit's decay act...
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Why I'm done trying to be "man enough" | Justin Baldoni from 2017-12-04T16:00:05
Justin Baldoni wants to start a dialogue with men about redefining masculinity -- to figure out ways to be not just good men but good humans. In a warm, personal talk, he shares his effort to recon...
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An interview with the Queen of Creole Cuisine | Leah Chase and Pat Mitchell from 2017-11-22T21:28:33
Leah Chase's New Orleans restaurant Dooky Chase changed the course of American history over gumbo and fried chicken. During the civil rights movement, it was a place where white and black people ca...
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How can groups make good decisions? | Mariano Sigman and Dan Ariely from 2017-11-22T15:58:21
We all know that when we make decisions in groups, they don't always go right -- and sometimes they go very wrong. How can groups make good decisions? With his colleague Dan Ariely, ne...
The Housing First approach to homelessness | Lloyd Pendleton from 2017-11-14T20:51:05
What do you think would happen if you invited an individual with mental health issues who had been homeless for many years to move directly from the street into housing? Loyd Pendleton...
How to talk (and listen) to transgender people | Jackson Bird from 2017-11-14T15:52:22
Gender should be the least remarkable thing about someone, but transgender people are still too often misunderstood. To help those who are scared to ask questions or nervous about saying the wrong ...
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The biggest risks facing cities -- and some solutions | Robert Muggah from 2017-11-09T21:01:39
With fantastic new maps that show interactive, visual representations of urban fragility, Robert Muggah articulates an ancient but resurging idea: cities shouldn't just be the center of economics -...
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We should aim for perfection -- and stop fearing failure | Jon Bowers from 2017-11-09T15:59:31
Sometimes trying your best isn't enough; when the situation demands it, you need to be perfect. For Jon Bowers, who runs a training facility for professional delivery drivers, the stakes are high -...
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Why women stay silent after sexual assault | Inés Hercovich from 2017-11-07T15:55:58
Why do women who experience sexual assault rarely speak up about it? "Because they fear they won't be believed," says Inés Hercovich. "Because when a woman tells what happened to her, she tells us ...
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The powerful stories that shaped Africa | Gus Casely-Hayford from 2017-10-20T15:11:09
In the vast sweep of history, even an empire can be forgotten. In this wide-ranging talk, Gus Casely-Hayford shares origin stories of Africa that are too often unwritten, lost, unshared. Travel to ...
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The revolutionary power of diverse thought | Elif Shafak from 2017-10-13T14:28:39
"From populist demagogues, we will learn the indispensability of democracy," says novelist Elif Shafak. "From isolationists, we will learn the need for global solidarity. And from trib...
Lessons from the longest study on human development | Helen Pearson from 2017-10-02T15:11:56
For the past 70 years, scientists in Britain have been studying thousands of children through their lives to find out why some end up happy and healthy while others struggle. It's the ...
The warmth and wisdom of mud buildings | Anna Heringer from 2017-09-28T14:44:41
"There are a lot of resources given by nature for free -- all we need is our sensitivity to see them and our creativity to use them," says architect Anna Heringer. Heringer uses low-te...
Why people of different faiths are painting their houses of worship yellow | Nabila Alibhai from 2017-09-26T19:57:56
Divisions along religious lines are deepening, and we're doubting more and more how much we have in common. How can we stand boldly and visibly together? Inspired by an idea from her c...
There's more to life than being happy | Emily Esfahani Smith from 2017-09-12T14:42:56
Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but what if there's a more fulfilling path? Happiness comes and goes, says writer Emily Esfahani Smith, but having meaning in life -- serving so...
Would you live in a floating city in the sky? | Toma?s Saraceno from 2017-09-07T16:54:08
In a mind-bending talk that blurs the line between science and art, Tomás Saraceno exhibits a series of air-inspired sculptures and installations designed to usher in a new era of sust...
A smog vacuum cleaner and other magical city designs | Daan Roosegaarde from 2017-09-05T14:59:15
Daan Roosegaarde uses technology and creative thinking to produce imaginative, earth-friendly designs. He presents his latest projects -- from a bike path in Eindhoven, where he reinte...
Dare to refuse the origin myths that claim who you are | Chetan Bhatt from 2017-09-01T14:29:03
We all have origin stories and identity myths, our tribal narratives that give us a sense of security and belonging. But sometimes our small-group identities can keep us from connectin...
How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas | Manoush Zomorodi from 2017-08-15T14:47:23
Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It's because when your body goes on autopilot, your brain gets busy...
You owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse | David Baron from 2017-08-10T14:37:43
On August 21, 2017, the moon's shadow raced from Oregon to South Carolina in what some consider to be the most awe-inspiring spectacle in all of nature: a total solar eclipse. Umbraphi...
How a handful of tech companies control billions of minds every day | Tristan Harris from 2017-07-26T15:02:34
A handful of people working at a handful of tech companies steer the thoughts of billions of people every day, says design thinker Tristan Harris. From Facebook notifications to Snapst...
How I fail at being disabled | Susan Robinson from 2017-07-21T14:57:33
Born with a genetic visual impairment that has no correction or cure, Susan Robinson is legally blind (or partially sighted, as she prefers it) and entitled to a label she hates: "disa...
How we can face the future without fear, together | Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks from 2017-07-11T14:54:57
It's a fateful moment in history. We've seen divisive elections, divided societies and the growth of extremism -- all fueled by anxiety and uncertainty. "Is there something we can do, ...
A celebration of natural hair | Cheyenne Cochrane from 2017-06-22T15:03:27
Cheyenne Cochrane explores the role that hair texture has played in the history of being black in America -- from the heat straightening products of the post-Civil War era to the thous...
Why you should define your fears instead of your goals | Tim Ferriss from 2017-06-12T15:04:02
The hard choices -- what we most fear doing, asking, saying -- are very often exactly what we need to do. How can we overcome self-paralysis and take action? Tim Ferriss encourages us ...
How to see past your own perspective and find truth | Michael Patrick Lynch from 2017-06-05T14:59:55
The more we read and watch online, the harder it becomes to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake. It's as if we know more but understand less, says philosopher Micha...
Poverty isn't a lack of character; it's a lack of cash | Rutger Bregman from 2017-05-22T15:06:14
"Ideas can and do change the world," says historian Rutger Bregman, sharing his case for a provocative one: guaranteed basic income. Learn more about the idea's 500-year history and a ...
Thoughts on humanity, fame and love | Shah Rukh Khan from 2017-05-11T10:44:40
"I sell dreams, and I peddle love to millions of people," says Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood's biggest star. In this charming, funny talk, Khan traces the arc of his life, showcases a few ...
How economic inequality harms societies | Richard Wilkinson from 2011-10-24T15:05:36
We feel instinctively that societies with huge income gaps are somehow going wrong. Richard Wilkinson charts the hard data on economic inequality, and shows what gets worse when rich and poor are t...
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