What if kindness isn’t a soft skill — but a strategic one?

In this special episode from Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams talks with management professor Bonnie Hayden Cheng about the business case for kindness. Her research on the “return on kindness” suggests that organizations grounded in compassion, candor, and trust often see stronger performance, deeper engagement, and healthier workplace cultures. Together, they explore how thoughtful communication shapes both relationships and results, and how small shifts can make a meaningful impact at work.

Think Fast, Talk Smart focuses on one of the most essential professional skills: communication. The podcast features conversations with leading researchers, authors, and practitioners who share practical, research-backed strategies you can use right away. Tune in twice a week for clear, actionable communication advice for virtually any professional situation.

Or follow this link to listen more: https://link.podtrac.com/TED

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In 1999, a NASA mission to Mars failed ... not from a technical glitch, but because people weren't talking to each other. Psychology professor Tessa West explores how assumptions, overlooked details and "hidden languages" can quietly sabotage even the smartest teams — and explores the small shifts in communication that can make a big difference in how information lands. After the talk, Modupe urges you to be brave and ask for clarification and how it can help you feel more empowered in the workplace.

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What does it take to fly a plane? For TED Fellow Refilwe Ledwaba, it took perseverance and drive — and an instructor who took the time to teach to her learning style. Today, as founder of Girls Fly Africa, Ledwaba is empowering the next generation of pilots, particularly young women, with the engineering skills, professional networks and hands-on experience they need to take flight into a sky-high career.

After the talk, Modupe shares tips on how you can go the extra step as a mentor.

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Women's sports are surging in popularity around the world, with record-breaking viewership, attendance and revenue growth. And yet, social media algorithms still skew towards covering men's sports. Olympic rower Kate Johnson, who now leads global marketing strategy for sports and entertainment at Google, unpacks why this is still happening — and what it will take to level the playing field for women’s sports. Later, Modupe makes the case for why you should watch more women sports.

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Dr. BJ Miller was a college sophomore when a sudden electrical accident nearly took his life. After months in a hospital burn unit and multiple amputations, he emerged into a world that saw him — and treated him — differently. But that experience became the foundation for everything that followed.

Now a palliative care physician and one of the most compassionate voices in medicine, BJ is redefining what it means to live fully after loss and change. He challenges the very idea of “normal,” reminding us that disability isn’t a flaw to fix, but part of the human spectrum. His work invites us to expand our imagination of what it means to be alive, to belong, and to be whole.

Join us on Instagram  for more stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on living and dying.

After the interview, Shoshana features a TED talk from Meghan Hussey on 4 Ways To Design a Disability-Friendly Future.

Join @beforewegopodcast on Instagram for more stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on living and dying.

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Insurance is the hidden engine that keeps the economy churning, but climate change is making home insurance unaffordable for many people, says climate risk advisor Amy Barnes. She reveals why soaring premiums aren't just bad news for homeowners, but also a flashing red signal for the global financial system — and why investing in resilience now could change everything. After the talk, Modupe reflects on the need to invest in solutions that will mitigate the harm of climate change.

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What happens when ordinary people win the lottery? Financial planner Matt Pitcher shares lessons from more than a decade of advising lotto winners, revealing how sudden wealth can unbalance life and spark consumerism — or create profound opportunities for meaning. This talk just might make you rethink the link between money and happiness. Then Modupe reflects on hitting the jackpot at work and what does it mean to have days filled with joy.

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Today, credit cards are a $500 billion-a-year industry. Banks consider these lines of credit when deciding whether or not to approve loans, incentivizing customers to maintain multiple credit cards. So, how did this lending system originate? And how did they get to be so popular? Nidhi Upadhyaya digs into the history of credit cards in the United States. [Directed by Jeff Le Bars, JetPropulsion.space, narrated by Bethany Cutmore-Scott, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].

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What do foot massage parties, otters, and AI robot tutors have in common? To find out, tune into our special end-of-year conversation featuring the hosts from TED Talks Daily, TED Radio Hour, TED Business, and TED Tech!

Elise Hu of TED Talks Daily hosted a conversation with Manoush Zomorodi, Modupe Akinola and Sherrell Dorsey, where they discussed the biggest ideas dominating their industry and the lesser-known insights they wished garnered more attention. From pushing back against AI advances to sharing the TED Talks that inspired them, Elise, Manoush, Modupe, and Sherrell reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026.

Conversations Mentioned

TED Radio Hour

1. Ray Kurzweil, "Could AI extend your life indefinitely? Futurist Ray Kurzweil thinks so" 
2. Victor Riparbelli, “Will AI avatars eventually teach our kids?” 
3. Philip Johns, “Singapore's otters are butting heads with their human neighbors. Can they coexist?” 
4. Restoring trust in government, "Move fast...and fix democracy?" 

TED Talks

1. Sitoyo Lopokoiyit in conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz "A story of moral imagination and bold entrepreneurship" 
2. Sarah Beery, "How AI is unearthing hidden scientific knowledge" 
3. Scott Loarie (of iNaturalist), "The surprising power of your nature photos" 
4. Daniel Zavala-Araiza, "The best way to lower Earth’s temperature — fast" 
5. Jennifer Pahlka, "Coding a better government" 
6. Pinky Cole (Slutty Vegan), "How I make vegan food sexy" 
7. Jason Huang, "The high-wire act of unlocking clean energy" 
8. Jennifer Doudna, "CRISPR's next advance is bigger than you think"
9. Jonny Sun, "You are not alone in your loneliness" 

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Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and co-creator of Freakonomics—the cultural phenomenon that, over the past 20 years, has grown into a global franchise, changing how millions think, revealing the hidden side of everything, and challenging us to question what we know.

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