TED Radio Hour

By NPR

Society & Culture Technology Social Sciences

What's TED Radio Hour about?

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.

Get more brainy miscellany with TED Radio Hour+. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted

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Sound And Silence

09.15.2023

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 ...

TED Radio Hour episodes:

09.15.2023 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 ...
09.08.2023 Abandoned Places Lots left vacant, offices full of equipment but devoid of people, entire villages literally left to the wolves--this hour, TED speakers share stories about bringing new life to abandoned places. Guests include evolutionary biologist Shane Campbell-Staton, entrepreneur Garry Cooper, urban ...
09.01.2023 Late Bloomers Original broadcast date: November 11, 2022. Many of us feel pressure to hit big life milestones on a timeline. But what if age is an asset, not a liability? This hour, TED speakers examine the benefits and drawbacks of being ...
08.25.2023 Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish Original broadcast date: September 23, 2022. From hippie culture to the first personal computers, Stewart Brand has been key to some of the most groundbreaking movements of the last century. This hour, he reflects on his life and career. TED ...
08.18.2023 We Contain Multitudes Original broadcast date: September 9, 2022. In an era dominated by labels, how can we fully embrace the nuances of being human? This hour, TED speakers share ideas for reconciling conflicting emotions and circumstances to make art and find joy. ...
08.11.2023 Cuts Both Ways There are two sides to every coin — and sometimes our strengths become weaknesses. This hour, TED speakers explore the mixed blessings and volatile flip sides of mental health, parenting and AI. Guests include developmental psychologist Yuko Munakata, entrepreneur Andy ...
08.04.2023 What Lies Beneath Original broadcast date: March 11, 2022. From our planet's underwater caves to its ancient soils, there are entire worlds right beneath our feet. This hour, we explore the subterranean forces that shape our lives above the ground. Guests include cave ...
07.28.2023 The Age of Fraud Fraud is everywhere around us — but not everyone steals for the same reasons. This hour, forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope explores the motivations and implications of why we cheat the system. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to ...
07.21.2023 Through the Looking Glass Original broadcast date: Friday, March 19, 2021. 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 ...
07.14.2023 Animal Enigmas From the bugs in our backyards to prehistoric reptiles, animal biology and behavior are full of puzzles and conundrums. On this episode, we hear from experts solving the mysteries of the animal kingdom. Guests include paleontologist Dean Lomax, biochemical engineer ...
07.07.2023 Migration Original broadcast date: April 30, 2021. 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 ...
06.30.2023 Audacious Solutions Big problems need audacious solutions. This hour, TED speakers use data and common sense to make laws more effective, reform the foster care system and hold environmental offenders accountable. Guests include criminal justice reform activist Sheena Meade, child welfare advocates ...
06.23.2023 The Rhythm and Rhyme of Memory Original broadcast date: July 29, 2022. For decades, Rosanne Cash has soared through the ranks of music with her powerhouse poetic skills and wistful reflections on her past. This hour, we explore Rosanne's life and legacy through her music. TED ...
06.16.2023 Future You 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. Guests include psychologist ...
06.09.2023 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 ...
06.02.2023 When Stories Collide In the cult comic American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang weaves mythical folklore with a coming-of-age immigrant story. The author reflects on why his story still feels relevant to young readers. Host Manoush Zomorodi also speaks with Ben Wang, star ...
05.26.2023 Incognito Original broadcast date: August 26, 2022. Everything is not what it seems. We can easily disguise ourselves in both the digital and physical world. This hour, TED speakers explore the ways we go incognito... from espionage to virtual reality. Guests ...
05.19.2023 Found in Translation It's easy to focus on the nuances that get lost in translation, but what about the insights that are found? This hour, TED speakers reveal what we gain by adapting and translating information. Guests include textual scientist Gregory Heyworth, economist ...
05.12.2023 Writing For A Better Future Original broadcast date: January 21, 2022. Fiction can serve as a window into multiple realities—to imagine different futures or understand our own past. This hour, author and TED speaker Dave Eggers talks technology, education, and the healing power of writing. ...
05.05.2023 DIY When problems arise, it's tempting to wait for someone else to address it. But sometimes, the only person who can fix it... is you. This hour, TED speakers share ideas on how to do it yourself. Guests include physicist and ...
04.28.2023 Friction Original broadcast date: October 7, 2022. We encounter friction every day — in all its forms — as we brush our teeth, go for a jog, argue with a friend. This hour, TED speakers explore how this force can be ...
04.21.2023 The Birds and The Bees Original broadcast date: July 15, 2022. "The birds and the bees" may be a euphemism for human reproduction, but procreation of actual winged animals is far wilder. This hour, TED speakers explore how birds, bees and bugs multiply. Guests include ...
04.14.2023 Artist in Exile Shirin Neshat is seen as a powerful voice for Iranian women...but her art has never been shown in Iran. She speaks on life in exile and how her acclaimed and controversial art is shaped by politics. You can watch a ...
04.07.2023 Reshaping Evolution Original broadcast date: January 7, 2022. New innovations in gene and stem cell technology have the power to shape ecosystems and even change humanity. This hour, TED speakers share the breakthroughs heralding the next scientific revolution. Guests include biochemist Jennifer ...
03.31.2023 Mind, Body, Spirit - Part 3 When times get tough, how do we keep our spirits up? In part 3 of our series Mind, Body, Spirit, TED speakers tell stories of salvaging the human psyche and rekindling a zest for life. Guests include author Tania Luna, ...
03.24.2023 Mind, Body, Spirit - Part 2 We know it's important to listen to our bodies and trust how we feel — but it's not always easy. In part 2 of our series Mind, Body, Spirit, TED speakers explore ideas about movement, pleasure and rest. Guests include ...
03.17.2023 Mind, Body, Spirit - Part 1 For millennia, humans have debated the mind, body, spirit connection. But today, the phrase sounds trite — a hallmark of the #selfcare industry. Over the next three episodes, TED speakers will investigate fresh perspectives on how we think, move, and ...
03.10.2023 Why We're Living Longer Original broadcast date: March 22, 2022. In the last century, human life expectancy has doubled. This hour, we talk with writer Steven Johnson on the many breakthroughs that made this possible — and where we go from here.
03.03.2023 Humor Us Original broadcast date: June 3, 2022. Humor can lighten the mood. But it can also provoke, cajole and inspire. This hour, TED speakers share how we can wield humor as a tool across all aspects of our lives. Guests include ...
02.24.2023 Small But Mighty You don't need to be big and boisterous to pack a punch. This hour, TED speakers explore the surprising strength of all things miniscule and fleeting.
02.17.2023 Bucking the System (2021) Original broadcast date: November 12, 2021. We hear calls for systemic change, but what does that look like? This hour, TED speakers share stories of taking on institutions — from schools, to medicine, to policing — so they work for ...
02.10.2023 New Family Values There are an infinite number of ways to be a happy family, and just as many ways to be an unhappy one, says Andrew Solomon. This hour, the author and psychologist discusses modern family dynamics — and how families can ...
02.03.2023 The Forgotten Mothers of Civil Rights History (2022) Original broadcast date: May 6, 2022. 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.
01.27.2023 For All Eternity 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. Guests include artist CM Ralph, digital librarian Brewster Kahle, ...
01.20.2023 Take Care Original broadcast date: April 8, 2022. Giving and receiving care—it's a natural part of life. But how do we offer the best possible support for our loved ones? This hour, TED speakers share ideas on reimagining caregiving.
01.13.2023 Stay Resolved Resolutions are easy to make, even easier to break. But what if a story or idea can motivate us in a whole new way? This hour, TED speakers offer different perspectives on our most common resolutions. Guests include neuroscientists Wendy ...
01.06.2023 Repair, Repurpose, Reimagine (2022) Original broadcast date: Friday, May 20, 2022. "Reduce, reuse, recycle." We've heard that for decades - but does it work? This hour, TED speakers reimagine the well-known slogan and reconsider how we think about what we consume and throw away. ...
12.30.2022 The Language Of Harmony (2022) Original broadcast date: June 17, 2022. Musician Jacob Collier is known for his electrifying performances and thoughtful views on art and humanity. This hour, Jacob joins us for a conversation on the sparks that fuel his creative process.
12.28.2022 Bonus: ReThinking with Adam Grant As a special bonus, we're sharing an episode from a new TED podcast, ReThinking with Adam Grant. Adam joins neuroscientist Chantel Prat, who dispels what you thought you knew about your brain.
12.23.2022 Memory And The Brain Our brains are magnificently complex - and highly fallible. This hour, neuroscientist and novelist Lisa Genova explains how to keep our brains healthy and what to do when something goes wrong.
12.16.2022 The Gratitude Chain (2021) Original broadcast date: February 19, 2021. When A.J. Jacobs set out to thank everyone who made his morning cup of coffee, he realized the chain of thank-you's was endless. This hour, Jacobs shares ideas on gratitude—and how to make it ...
12.09.2022 What's In A Face We think our faces are our own. But technology can use them to identify, influence and mimic us. This week, TED speakers explore the promise and peril of turning the human face into a digital tool. Guests include super recognizer ...
12.02.2022 An SOS From The Ocean Original broadcast date: June 25, 2021. 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 ...
11.25.2022 A Love Letter To The Ocean (2021) Original broadcast date: June 11, 2021. 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 ...
11.18.2022 Late Bloomers Many of us feel pressure to hit big life milestones on a timeline. But what if age is an asset, not a liability? This hour, TED speakers examine the benefits and drawbacks of being a late bloomer. Guests include writer ...
11.11.2022 Life Stages Of The Brain (2021) Original broadcast date: March 5, 2021. 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 ...
11.04.2022 Leaving A Mark For millennia, humans have created artifacts of their lives—from art, to books, to music. This hour, we explore ideas about capturing the ephemeral human experience for future generations to find. Guests include paleoanthropologist Genevieve von Petzinger, museum curator Ariana Curtis, ...
10.28.2022 How To Be A Citizen Original broadcast date: December 4, 2020. The 2020 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.
10.21.2022 Crimes in the Wild True crime mysteries can be dark and thrilling. But what if humans can't crack the case? What if the suspect ... isn't human? This hour, TED Radio Hour investigates crimes with a wild twist. Guests include forensic scientist Lauren Pharr ...
10.14.2022 Finding Another Way (2020) Original Broadcast Date: September 4, 2020. Conflict is a part of life. But in a polarized world, reaching a resolution is harder than ever. This hour, TED speakers explore creative and extraordinary ways of approaching conflict. Guests on the show ...

Older episodes

TED Radio Hour

What's TED Radio Hour about?

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TED Radio Hour episodes:

Sound And Silence

Abandoned Places

Late Bloomers

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

We Contain Multitudes

Cuts Both Ways

What Lies Beneath

The Age of Fraud

Through the Looking Glass

Animal Enigmas

Migration

Audacious Solutions

The Rhythm and Rhyme of Memory

Future You

Breathe

When Stories Collide

Incognito

Found in Translation

Writing For A Better Future

DIY

Friction

The Birds and The Bees

Artist in Exile

Reshaping Evolution

Mind, Body, Spirit - Part 3

Mind, Body, Spirit - Part 2

Mind, Body, Spirit - Part 1

Why We're Living Longer

Humor Us

Small But Mighty

Bucking the System (2021)

New Family Values

The Forgotten Mothers of Civil Rights History (2022)

For All Eternity

Take Care

Stay Resolved

Repair, Repurpose, Reimagine (2022)

The Language Of Harmony (2022)

Bonus: ReThinking with Adam Grant

Memory And The Brain

The Gratitude Chain (2021)

What's In A Face

An SOS From The Ocean

A Love Letter To The Ocean (2021)

Late Bloomers

Life Stages Of The Brain (2021)

Leaving A Mark

How To Be A Citizen

Crimes in the Wild

Finding Another Way (2020)

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