The TED Interview

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What's The TED Interview about?

Head of TED Chris Anderson speaks with some of the world’s most interesting people to dig into the provocative and powerful ideas of our time.

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The limitless potential of ...

06.26.2021

In an ever expanding world, it can be easy to think of our lives as insignificant. But according to David Deutsch, we all possess one skill that gives each of us infinite reach: our ability to attain knowledge. In the ...

The TED Interview episodes:

06.26.2021 The limitless potential of human knowledge \| David Deutsch In an ever expanding world, it can be easy to think of our lives as insignificant. But according to David Deutsch, we all possess one skill that gives each of us infinite reach: our ability to attain knowledge. In the ...
06.17.2021 The science and ethics of rewriting our DNA \| Jennifer Doudna Biochemist Jennifer Doudna won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for pioneering CRISPR, a revolutionary biotech tool that can edit DNA with unprecedented precision and ease. But how exactly does CRISPR work, and what consequences may arise from altering our ...
06.10.2021 Can planting trees really stop climate change? \| Thomas Crowther From governments to airlines to your favorite eco-friendly clothing brand, tree-planting campaigns are everywhere. Reforesting the planet has become one of the quickest, easiest and most ubiquitous ways to reduce our carbon footprint...but is it actually helping to stop climate ...
06.08.2021 Bonus: How to give a killer speech \| How To! We all have to give a presentation at some point in our lives—on a stage, in a conference room, and, these days, on Zoom. So what makes a good speech? In this episode from How To! science writer David Epstein ...
06.03.2021 The end of our 50-year stagnation \| Tyler Cowen Some believe our world has changed at a rapid pace in recent decades. From the rise of the internet to the proliferation of startups spinning out inventions, it can certainly seem that way. In this episode, though, economist Tyler Cowen ...
05.27.2021 How to turn grit into a lifelong habit \| Angela Duckworth What does it take to persevere and succeed, not just in our careers but in all aspects of our lives? For psychologist Angela Duckworth, the answer can be summed up in one concept: grit. She explains the ingredients in grit ...
05.20.2021 What it really takes to make change \| Jacqueline Novogratz From the strikes that transformed the world's view on climate change to the marches that demanded equity and justice for Black lives, there has been a new awakening of people passionate about creating change. As founder and CEO of Acumen, ...
05.13.2021 How youth gave climate the urgency it needed \| Xiye Bastida Before the pandemic struck, young people everywhere abandoned their classrooms and took to the streets. Xiye Bastida was a driving force among these youth climate activists in the U.S. Xiye grew up in Mexico, moved to New York at 13 ...
05.06.2021 Work is never going back to normal \| Simon Sinek Work as we knew it is undergoing seismic shifts as the pandemic in the U.S. wanes. As some businesses reopen, even people lucky enough to work from home face big questions. What lessons do we take from this past year? ...
04.22.2021 How COVID vaccines are revolutionizing medicine \| Adrian Hill This past year, scientists racing to stop the novel coronavirus delivered vaccines at a pace and scale the world has never seen before. Adrian Hill, director of Oxford University's vaccine research institute, recounts how he and his team developed the ...
04.15.2021 The race to build AI that benefits humanity \| Sam Altman In this new season of the TED Interview, conversations with people who make a case for...optimism. Not some blind, hopeful feeling but the conviction that somewhere out there are solutions that, given the right attention and resources, can guide us ...
10.08.2020 A special announcement from TED on climate Today, we're re-sharing a conversation with Christiana Figueres, because we've got a special update for you from TED. On Saturday, October 10, we'll launch Countdown: an exciting new global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ...
07.16.2020 Malala Yousafzai on why educating girls changes everything The youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai has been an international advocate for girls' education since she was 15 years old and was shot by the Taliban for speaking out about girls' education. Now, as a fresh ...
07.09.2020 The role of the wealthy in achieving equality with Darren Walker Born in a charity hospital and now president of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker has been on both sides of the “inequality equation." He explains the need for the wealthy to acknowledge their complicity in a system that sustains racism ...
07.02.2020 Al Gore on the new urgency of the climate crisis Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore has been a leader in climate advocacy for over 40 years. He argues that amid the global pandemic and worldwide calls for racial justice, climate action can help create a “clean, prosperous, just future” ...
06.25.2020 A path to peace in Afghanistan with President Ashraf Ghani The war in Afghanistan has wrought turmoil and loss of life for nearly two decades. But that is just one side of the story. President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani digs into what's needed to bring peace and positive change to ...
06.18.2020 Why a company’s future depends on putting its employees first with Dan Schulman How can businesses recover from the pandemic's unprecedented economic destruction? PayPal CEO Dan Schulman argues that it's by improving the financial health of their employees. His company has pioneered research into Net Disposable Income, and he contends that ensuring every ...
06.11.2020 How Taiwan used digital tools to solve the pandemic with Audrey Tang Taiwan has succeeded in avoiding a pandemic lockdown, in part through an innovative digital strategy. Audrey Tang, Taiwan's Digital Minister, shares how tools and techniques like crowdsourcing, a transparent supplies system and the use of humor have resulted in less ...
06.05.2020 Reckoning with racial injustice in the U.S. -- and where we go from here Featuring Dr. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change; Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU; and Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, CEO of the Center ...
05.28.2020 What we learn from the crisis can make our economy stronger with Kristalina Georgieva What will it take to put the pieces of the global economy back together? Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva takes us inside the massive economic stimulus efforts leading the world toward recovery and renewal. She argues ...
04.24.2020 What we get wrong about global growth with Dambisa Moyo Global economist Dambisa Moyo was raised in Zambia and educated in England and the United States. Tune into her unique worldview and how it’s shaped her thinking on issues like overseas aid, climate, democracy and the rise of the coronavirus ...
04.17.2020 Design your life for happiness with Elizabeth Dunn Psychologist Elizabeth Dunn argues that happiness is made not found and explains how our everyday choices—in matters from time to money to technology—help create it. This episode was recorded on February 5, 2020.
04.10.2020 The world after the coronavirus pandemic with Fareed Zakaria The coronavirus pandemic is more global, dramatic and unusual than any crisis we've seen in a long time, says journalist Fareed Zakaria. Listen as he shares his perspective on how we can recover from the economic fallout, why certain countries ...
04.09.2020 What coronavirus means for the global economy with Ray Dalio "I'm a capitalist. I believe in the system. I believe you can increase the size of the pie and you could divide it well," says Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates. He offers wide-ranging insight and advice on how we ...
04.07.2020 The tech we need to end the pandemic and restart the economy with Danielle Allen As COVID-19 continues to spread, the world is facing two existential threats at once: a public health emergency and an economic crisis. Political theorist Danielle Allen describes how we can ethically and democratically address both problems by scaling up "smart ...
04.05.2020 How to create meaningful connections while apart with Priya Parker 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 gatherings that are unique to this moment of social distancing. “We don’t necessarily ...
04.04.2020 Emotional resilience right now with Susan David "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 the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to listeners' questions from across ...
04.03.2020 Elizabeth Gilbert says it's OK to feel overwhelmed. Here's what to do next If you're feeling anxious or fearful during the coronavirus pandemic, you're not alone. Offering hope and understanding, author Elizabeth Gilbert reflects on how to stay present, accept grief when it comes and trust in the strength of the human spirit. ...
04.02.2020 How to sleep during a pandemic with Matt Walker A good night's sleep has perhaps never been more important. Sharing wisdom and debunking myths, sleep scientist Matt Walker discusses the impact of sleep on mind and body -- from unleashing your creative powers to boosting your memory and immune ...
04.02.2020 Why pandemics are not inevitable with Sonia Shah What can past pandemics teach us how to tackle the current one? Tracing the history of contagions from cholera to Ebola and beyond, science journalist Sonia Shah explains why we’re more vulnerable to outbreaks now than ever before, what we ...
04.01.2020 Lessons from China's response to COVID-19 with Gary Liu From Hong Kong, South China Morning Post CEO Gary Liu tracks China's response to the coronavirus pandemic -- from the initial outbreak in Wuhan to the shutdown of Hubei province and the containment measures taken across its major cities. Sharing ...
03.31.2020 Building unity during a pandemic with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks 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, hope and how we could use this moment to build a ...
03.31.2020 The quest for the coronavirus vaccine with Seth Berkley When will the coronavirus vaccine be ready? Epidemiologist Seth Berkley (head of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance) takes us inside the effort to create a vaccine for COVID-19. With clarity and urgency, he explains what makes it so challenging to develop, ...
03.30.2020 Bill Gates on how we must respond to the COVID-19 pandemic Philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates offers insights into the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing why testing and self-isolation are essential, which medical advancements show promise and what it will take for the world to endure this crisis. This virtual conversation is ...
03.12.2020 Bonus: Adam Kucharski on what should -- and shouldn't -- worry us about the coronavirus Infectious disease expert Adam Kucharski uses mathematical models to help the world understand how diseases like Ebola and Zika spread, and how they can be controlled. Now, as the threat of COVID-19 continues to rise, he gives us a necessary ...
12.23.2019 Bonus: Tom Rivett-Carnac is optimistic about the fate of our planet In this bonus episode, Chris talks with climate policy expert Tom Rivett-Carnac, who worked with Christiana Figueres—guest from our last episode!—to negotiate the landmark Paris Agreement. They discuss why we need optimism to solve the climate crisis, and why TED’s ...
12.11.2019 Christiana Figueres on how we can solve the climate crisis In 2015, Christiana Figueres brokered the historic Paris Agreement to combat climate change. She gives an inside look at the negotiations that led to a commitment from 195 countries to work toward a low carbon future and discusses her current ...
11.20.2019 Frances Frei's three pillars of leadership A professor at Harvard Business School and expert in work culture, Frei goes into companies like WeWork and Uber with the goal of turning toxic environments into healthy, inclusive spaces. She shares why authenticity, logic and empathy are the most ...
11.13.2019 Donald Hoffman has a radical new theory on how we experience reality According to cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman, our brains are showing us a "hacked" version of reality. His revolutionary new way of thinking about consciousness combines the study of evolution with insights into brain activity in an attempt to solve the ...
11.06.2019 Kate Raworth argues that rethinking economics can save our planet Endless growth may actually be hurting our economy—and our planet. Economist Kate Raworth makes a case for “doughnut economics”: an alternative way to look at the economic systems ruling our societies and imagine a sustainable future for all. We're doing ...
10.30.2019 Michael Tubbs on politics as a force for good At 26, Michael Tubbs ran for Mayor of Stockton, California, hoping to transform a city in crisis into a community of opportunity. He won. Mayor Tubbs breaks down how initiatives like universal basic income can free people from poverty, what ...
10.23.2019 Elif Shafak on the urgent power of storytelling Best-selling author Elif Shafak proves that storytelling can be profoundly political—and makes the case for embracing uncertainty in turbulent times. We're doing a TED Interview survey! If you have a few minutes, we'd love to know your thoughts on the ...
10.16.2019 Anil Seth explores the mystery of consciousness Is the dress blue or gold? Do you hear "laurel" or "yanny"? Neuroscientist Anil Seth digs into why we all perceive the world so differently, and tries to explain the biggest mystery of all: consciousness. We're doing a TED Interview ...
10.09.2019 Dan Gilbert on the surprising science of happiness Psychologist Daniel Gilbert delves deep into the weird, counterintuitive science of happiness and explains why our minds worry about things we needn’t worry about (and fail to worry about things we really should worry about). We're doing a TED Interview ...
09.25.2019 Bonus: Parag Khanna on global connectivity Best-selling author Parag Khanna unpacks global connectivity—the threats, the benefits, and how it is destined to redefine our identities. We're doing a TED Interview survey! If you have a few minutes, we'd love to know your thoughts on the show. ...
07.24.2019 Johann Hari challenges the way we think about depression Author Johann Hari offers a deeply personal and surprisingly uplifting perspective on how to tackle depression.
07.17.2019 Yuval Noah Harari reveals the real dangers ahead Historian and futurist Yuval Harari has a story about the future that’s profound, exciting, and unsettling.
07.10.2019 Tim Ferriss on life-hacks and psychedelics Life-hack master Tim Ferriss gives an intimate look into the darker moments in his life, his Stoic philosophy and his new passion for psychedelics.
07.03.2019 Monica Lewinsky argues for a bully-free world Monica Lewinsky reveals the very personal price to public humiliation and explores how we can all do better.
06.26.2019 Sylvia Earle makes a passionate case for our oceans Dive deep into the fascinating, horrifying, hopeful story of the ocean with world-renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle.

Older episodes

The TED Interview

What's The TED Interview about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The TED Interview episodes:

The limitless potential of human knowledge | David Deutsch

The science and ethics of rewriting our DNA | Jennifer Doudna

Can planting trees really stop climate change? | Thomas Crowther

Bonus: How to give a killer speech | How To!

The end of our 50-year stagnation | Tyler Cowen

How to turn grit into a lifelong habit | Angela Duckworth

What it really takes to make change | Jacqueline Novogratz

How youth gave climate the urgency it needed | Xiye Bastida

Work is never going back to normal | Simon Sinek

How COVID vaccines are revolutionizing medicine | Adrian Hill

The race to build AI that benefits humanity | Sam Altman

A special announcement from TED on climate

Malala Yousafzai on why educating girls changes everything

The role of the wealthy in achieving equality with Darren Walker

Al Gore on the new urgency of the climate crisis

A path to peace in Afghanistan with President Ashraf Ghani

Why a company’s future depends on putting its employees first with Dan Schulman

How Taiwan used digital tools to solve the pandemic with Audrey Tang

Reckoning with racial injustice in the U.S. -- and where we go from here

What we learn from the crisis can make our economy stronger with Kristalina Georgieva

What we get wrong about global growth with Dambisa Moyo

Design your life for happiness with Elizabeth Dunn

The world after the coronavirus pandemic with Fareed Zakaria

What coronavirus means for the global economy with Ray Dalio

The tech we need to end the pandemic and restart the economy with Danielle Allen

How to create meaningful connections while apart with Priya Parker

Emotional resilience right now with Susan David

Elizabeth Gilbert says it's OK to feel overwhelmed. Here's what to do next

How to sleep during a pandemic with Matt Walker

Why pandemics are not inevitable with Sonia Shah

Lessons from China's response to COVID-19 with Gary Liu

Building unity during a pandemic with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

The quest for the coronavirus vaccine with Seth Berkley

Bill Gates on how we must respond to the COVID-19 pandemic

Bonus: Adam Kucharski on what should -- and shouldn't -- worry us about the coronavirus

Bonus: Tom Rivett-Carnac is optimistic about the fate of our planet

Christiana Figueres on how we can solve the climate crisis

Frances Frei's three pillars of leadership

Donald Hoffman has a radical new theory on how we experience reality

Kate Raworth argues that rethinking economics can save our planet

Michael Tubbs on politics as a force for good

Elif Shafak on the urgent power of storytelling

Anil Seth explores the mystery of consciousness

Dan Gilbert on the surprising science of happiness

Bonus: Parag Khanna on global connectivity

Johann Hari challenges the way we think about depression

Yuval Noah Harari reveals the real dangers ahead

Tim Ferriss on life-hacks and psychedelics

Monica Lewinsky argues for a bully-free world

Sylvia Earle makes a passionate case for our oceans

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