TED Radio Hour
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NPR
Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers. Host Manoush Zomorodi inspires us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves.
Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers. Host Manoush Zomorodi inspires us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves.
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The Public Commons
How can we create public places that feel welcoming and safe for everyone? This hour, TED speakers examine our physical and digital spaces—how they run, who they serve, and how to make them better. Guests include community organizer Shari Davis, researcher Eli Pariser, Wikipedia Library founder Jake Orlowitz, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, and artist Matthew Mazzotta.
23 Jul 2021
52 MINS
52:53
23 Jul 2021
Listen Again: The Biology Of Sex
Original broadcast date: May 8, 2020. Many of us were taught biological sex is a question of female or male, XX or XY ... but it's far more complicated. This hour, TED speakers explore what determines our sex. Guests on the show include artist Emily Quinn, journalist Molly Webster, neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi, and structural biologist Karissa Sanbonmatsu.
16 Jul 2021
53 MINS
53:22
16 Jul 2021
Listen Again: The Power Of Spaces
Original broadcast date: July 24, 2020. How do spaces shape the human experience? In what ways do our rooms, homes, and buildings give us meaning and purpose? This hour, TED speakers explore the power of the spaces we make and inhabit. Guests include architect Michael Murphy, musician David Byrne, artist Es Devlin, and architect Siamak Hariri.
09 Jul 2021
52 MINS
52:43
09 Jul 2021
Listen Again: Uncharted (2020)
Original broadcast date: March 27, 2020. There's so much we've yet to explore—from outer space to the deep ocean to our own brains. This hour, Manoush goes on a journey through those uncharted places, led by TED Science Curator David Biello.
02 Jul 2021
52 MINS
52:21
02 Jul 2021
An SOS From The Ocean
For centuries, humans have relied on the oceans for resources and food... but even the deepest sea has its limits. This hour, TED speakers discuss how we can save our seas to save our planet. Guests include marine biologists Asha de Vos, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, and Alasdair Harris, and oceanographer Sylvia Earle.
25 Jun 2021
52 MINS
52:29
25 Jun 2021
Listen Again: Our Relationship With Water
We need water to live. But with rising seas and so many lacking clean water — water is in crisis and so are we. This hour, TED speakers explore ideas around restoring our relationship with water. Guests on the show include legal scholar Kelsey Leonard, artist LaToya Ruby Frazier, and community organizer Colette Pichon Battle.
18 Jun 2021
52 MINS
52:07
18 Jun 2021
A Love Letter To The Ocean
Oceans cover nearly 75% of the Earth. While they seem vast and frightening, they're also enchanting and whimsical. This hour, TED speakers dive into stories of connection — and even love — in the sea. Guests include adventurer Catherine Mohr, marine biologists Marah Hardt and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and venom scientist Mandë Holford.
11 Jun 2021
51 MINS
51:37
11 Jun 2021
Bonus Episode: Jon M. Chu
Ever since he started shooting home movies with his family's bulky video camera, Jon M. Chu knew he wanted to be a filmmaker. But after directing several Hollywood blockbuster films like G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Now You See Me 2, Jon felt uninspired by the stories he was bringing to the silver screen. In 2018, he directed Crazy Rich Asians — the first Hollywood film with a majority Asian cast in 25 years — and in 2021, Lin Manuel Miranda's In the Heights. We featured Jon M. Chu in TED Radio Hour's recent episode [The Artist's Voice] (https://www.npr.org/2021/05/13/996599376/the-artists-voice) .
08 Jun 2021
37 MINS
37:50
08 Jun 2021
Listen Again: Clint Smith
Original broadcast date: June 5, 2020. The killing of George Floyd by a police officer in 2020 sparked massive protests nationwide. This hour, writer and scholar Clint Smith reflects on this moment, through conversation, letters, and poetry.
04 Jun 2021
52 MINS
52:52
04 Jun 2021
Jen Gunter: Body Talk
What does it mean to be healthy and to care for our bodies? Physician and writer Jen Gunter empowers us to cut through false medical claims and make informed decisions about our health.
28 May 2021
51 MINS
51:19
28 May 2021
Listen Again: Breathe
Original broadcast date: January 15, 2021. Breathing is essential to life. And lately, the safety of the air we inhale, or the need to pause and take a deep breath, is on our minds a lot. This hour, TED speakers explore the power of breath. Guests include former world champion freediver Tanya Streeter, journalist Beth Gardiner, activist Yvette Arellano, paleontologist Emma Schachner, scent historian Caro Verbeek, and mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe.
21 May 2021
58 MINS
58:20
21 May 2021
The Artist's Voice
Art not only spreads joy, but also inspires us to think deeply about the world around us. This hour, TED speakers explore how dance, poetry, and film can shift beliefs and empower creative expression. Guests include choreographer Camille A. Brown, director Jon M. Chu, and poets Amanda Gorman and Lee Mokobe.
14 May 2021
52 MINS
52:47
14 May 2021
Listen Again: Warped Reality
Original broadcast date: October 30, 2020. False information on the internet makes it harder and harder to know what's true, and the consequences have been devastating. This hour, TED speakers explore ideas around technology and deception. Guests include law professor Danielle Citron, journalist Andrew Marantz, and computer scientist Joy Buolamwini.
07 May 2021
52 MINS
52:42
07 May 2021
Migration
Migration is a part of everyone's history. This hour, TED speakers explore ideas about places we call home — and how these experiences continue to reshape our culture, countries, and species. Guests include bioarchaeologist Carolyn Freiwald, journalist Isabel Wilkerson, comedian Maeve Higgins, and ecologist Sonia Altizer.
30 Apr 2021
50 MINS
50:50
30 Apr 2021
Nora McInerny: Life's Rough Edges
When experiencing grief or hardship, how can we move forward? This hour, writer Nora McInerny shares ideas on navigating the most difficult parts of life ... and living life fully in the face of loss.
23 Apr 2021
51 MINS
51:53
23 Apr 2021
Listen Again: A Century Of Money
Original broadcast date: December 11, 2020. Recessions, depressions, bubbles, and blue skies — our economy has a history of soaring and plummeting. This hour, TED speakers look to the past for lessons on building a more stable financial future. Guests include journalist Kathleen Day, financial advisor Tammy Lally, writer Elizabeth White, and filmmaker Abigail Disney.
16 Apr 2021
52 MINS
52:40
16 Apr 2021
Bonus Episode: ZigZag - The Pulse
In our latest TED Radio Hour episode, we explored ways to revitalize ourselves... especially when we feel exhausted. In this bonus follow-up episode from ZigZag, host Manoush Zomorodi shares stories of listeners navigating their own experiences of burnout and hears insights from MIT Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein.
14 Apr 2021
21 MINS
21:42
14 Apr 2021
Revitalize
After an exhausting year for everyone, how can we bring what's been dormant back to life? This hour, TED speakers explore ways to revitalize our minds, bodies, buildings--and even populations. Guests include psychologist Guy Winch, visual artist Amanda Williams, biophysicist Andrew Pelling, and writer Wajahat Ali.
09 Apr 2021
52 MINS
52:27
09 Apr 2021
Listen Again: The Life Cycles Of Cities
Original broadcast date: November 13, 2020. Cities are never static; they can transform in months, years, or centuries. This hour, TED speakers explore how today's cities are informed by the past, and how they'll need to evolve for the future. Guests include archaeologist Alyssa Loorya, architects Marwa Al-Sabouni and Rahul Mehrotra, and landscape architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom.
02 Apr 2021
52 MINS
52:34
02 Apr 2021
Listen Again - Baratunde Thurston: How To Citizen
Original broadcast date: December 4, 2020. Last year's election saw historic voter turnout. But in a divided democracy, how else can we commit to our civic duties? This hour, Baratunde Thurston joins Manoush with ideas on how to citizen.
26 Mar 2021
52 MINS
52:34
26 Mar 2021
Through The Looking Glass
Our senses can only take us so far in understanding the world. But with the right tools, we can dig deeper. This hour, TED speakers take us through the looking glass, where we explore new frontiers. Guests include astrophysicist Emily Levesque, wildlife filmmaker Ariel Waldman, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist Rick Doblin, and science fiction author Charlie Jane Anders.
19 Mar 2021
52 MINS
52:14
19 Mar 2021
Listen Again: Sound And Silence
Original broadcast date: October 16, 2020. Sound surrounds us, from cacophony even to silence. But depending on how we hear, the world can be a different auditory experience for each of us. This hour, TED speakers explore the science of sound. Guests on the show include NPR All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly, neuroscientist Jim Hudspeth, writer Rebecca Knill, and sound designer Dallas Taylor.
12 Mar 2021
54 MINS
54:24
12 Mar 2021
Life Stages Of The Brain
In each stage of life, our brains morph and change. This hour, TED speakers explore pivotal chapters where the brain can either flourish or decline – and what control we might have over brain health. Guests include neuroscientists Kimberly Noble, Adriana Galván, Sandrine Thuret, and Lisa Mosconi.
05 Mar 2021
51 MINS
51:21
05 Mar 2021
Black History ... And The Future
Black History Month is a time to remember and reflect on Black heritage. This hour features powerful conversations from past episodes on how we can confront the past to move toward a better future. Guests include historian and preservationist Brent Leggs, community organizer Colette Pichon Battle, and computer scientist Joy Buolamwini.
26 Feb 2021
52 MINS
52:01
26 Feb 2021
The Gratitude Chain: A.J. Jacobs
When A.J. Jacobs set out to thank everyone who made his morning cup of coffee, he realized the chain of thank-yous was endless. This hour, Jacobs shares ideas on gratitude—and how to make it count.
19 Feb 2021
51 MINS
51:33
19 Feb 2021
Listen Again — Esther Perel: Building Resilient Relationships
Original broadcast date: September 11, 2020. How do we build more trusting and empathetic relationships, even during a crisis? This hour, therapist Esther Perel shares ideas on creating lasting bonds in romance, family, and at work.
12 Feb 2021
52 MINS
52:33
12 Feb 2021
It Takes Time
We live in an era of instant gratification. But some things — to reach their full potential — simply cannot be rushed. This hour, TED speakers explore what we can learn from ideas that take time. Guests include zoologist Lucy Cooke, neuroscientist Matthew Walker, architect Julia Watson, and NASA engineer Nagin Cox.
05 Feb 2021
53 MINS
53:39
05 Feb 2021
Listen Again: Our Relationship With Water
Original broadcast date: August 7, 2020. We need water to live. But with rising seas and so many lacking clean water — water is in crisis and so are we. This hour, TED speakers explore ideas around restoring our relationship with water. Guests on the show include legal scholar Kelsey Leonard, artist LaToya Ruby Frazier, and community organizer Colette Pichon Battle.
29 Jan 2021
51 MINS
51:52
29 Jan 2021
TED's Idea Search: Cloe Shasha Brooks
Anyone from anywhere can give a TED Talk. This hour, we're joined by curator Cloe Shasha Brooks, who leads a massive search each year to discover brilliant speakers who often fly under the radar.
22 Jan 2021
51 MINS
51:00
22 Jan 2021
Breathe
Breathing is essential to life. And lately, the safety of the air we inhale, or the need to pause and take a deep breath, is on our minds a lot. This hour, TED speakers explore the power of breath. Guests include former world champion freediver Tanya Streeter, journalist Beth Gardiner, activist Yvette Arellano, paleontologist Emma Schachner, scent historian Caro Verbeek, and mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe.
15 Jan 2021
52 MINS
52:29
15 Jan 2021