TED Talks Daily

By TEDSociety & Culture

Ranking
31st
on Society & Culture
Favorites
67,529
Followers
Typical duration
14 min
per episode
If it hooks
55%
finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

TED Talks Daily episodes

March 19 The 6 eras of NBA fashion — from restrained to radical | Mitchell S. Jackson
What are you wearing, and why? This is the question that writer and TED Fellow Mitchell S. Jackson asks as he unpacks the six eras of NBA style. Tracing an arc from Bill Russell to Lebron James and beyond, he explores how players use fashion on and off the court to challenge the limits placed upon them — revealing a deeper story about culture, identity and power.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12 min
March 18 I taught rats to drive. They taught me to enjoy the ride | Kelly Lambert
What can happy rats teach us about human joy? Behavioral neuroscientist Kelly Lambert describes how her team trained rats to drive tiny cars to earn treats — and noticed something surprising about how effort and anticipation affect the brain. The experiment opens new questions about how reward, agency and "behaviorceuticals" might help build resilience and support mental health.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17 min
March 17 Is luck random — or can you cultivate it? | Christian Busch
When the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires destroyed his home and neighborhood, scientist Christian Busch encountered the opposite of serendipity: "zemblanity," or bad luck by design. Drawing on more than a decade of scientific research, he explores how people can navigate unpredictability by adopting a serendipity mindset that transforms setbacks into unexpected new beginnings. He asks: What if good luck isn't random but can actually be cultivated?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
16 min
March 16 How to make transportation quieter, cleaner and cheaper | Doreen Orishaba
When Doreen Orishaba helped build Africa’s first electric car in 2011, skeptics dismissed it as a “toy for the Western world.” Now she’s running dozens of electric buses across Kenya and Rwanda, moving thousands of passengers to work every day on zero-exhaust vehicles powered by near-silent engines. She breaks down what it actually takes to scale clean transport — and why skipping the gas station pit stop is closer than you may think.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
13 min
March 15 Sunday Pick: Margaret Atwood on what AI can’t replace | from ReThinking with Adam Grant
Margaret Atwood is best known as the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, and she’s won a slew of awards for her novels, poetry collections, and children’s books. Now, at the age of 86, she’s written her first memoir, The Book of Lives. In this episode, Adam and Margaret break down her perspective on what creative jobs AI will and won’t threaten and discuss the evidence on the benefits of reading banned books. They also muse about why heroes need monsters and what it means to be delightfully disagreeable.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
44 min
March 14 Why you should keep a list of what makes you laugh | Chris Duffy
The world is weird and hilarious — if you know where to look, says comedian Chris Duffy. In conversation with "TED Talks Daily" host Elise Hu, Duffy breaks down three practical pillars of humor, showing how laughter can help you feel present, creative and connected, even when the world feels overwhelming.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
55 min
March 13 The sneaky language tricks cults use to influence you | Amanda Montell
In the age of social media and wellness trends, the comments section is as good as a cult compound, says linguist and cultural commentator Amanda Montell. Using Taylor Swift’s throng of devoted Swifties as her guide, she exposes three sneaky language tactics that cults use to influence us (for better or for worse), revealing why none of us are as cult-proof as we’d like to think.

(Following the talk, Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, interviews Montell on parasocial relationships and how to have productive conversations with cult members by recognizing their humanity.)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 min
March 12 3 habits to practice curiosity — and escape your phone | Nayeema Raza
We're so entangled with our devices that online has started to feel more real than IRL, says journalist Nayeema Raza. As screens reshape how we connect and relate, she offers three practical habits to reignite curiosity, restore presence and break free from our phones.

(Following the talk, Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, interviews Raza on the best approach to discussing difficult topics — whether it’s about screen addiction or gun control — and how to get over the fear of asking dumb questions.)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
23 min
March 11 The award for best comedy wildlife photo goes to... | Tom Sullam
Where's the best free comedy show in town? Tom Sullam, cofounder of the annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, shares hilarious animal photos that dissolve the distance between humans and nature. The result? A joyful case for caring about what we're at risk of losing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15 min
March 10 What would your "deathbed self" tell you today? | Lauren Deeley
What if the key to making better decisions today is getting to know the person you'll become tomorrow? Drawing on psychological research and real-life stories, private wealth advisor Lauren Deeley explores how building a meaningful connection with your "deathbed self" can bring more clarity, joy and intention to the life you're building right now.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
9 min

About TED Talks Daily

From the publisher's feed

Want TED Talks on the go? Everyday, this feed brings you our latest talks in audio format. Hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable – from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and…