Elise Hu

Thanks for listening.

You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day.

I'm your host, Elise Hu.

Today's talk is part of our new TED Fellows Films, adapted for podcasts just for our TED Talks Daily listeners.

This is part of a special series of episodes we release throughout the year showcasing the incredible stories behind the TED Fellows program, which supports a network of global innovators.

Today, we want you to meet illustrator and reportage artist George Butler.

George reports on the ground from conflict zones, climate hotspots, and humanitarian crises using pen, ink, and watercolor to highlight personal stories of perseverance.

He shares how by traveling to the edges of conflict and disaster, he captures and shares human stories that are often overlooked, and how by slowing down and being present with someone in the midst of crisis, he's able to go deeper than the headlines.

After we hear from George, stick around for his conversation with TED Fellows program director Lily James Olds.

Up next, a special conversation between George and TED Fellows program director Lily James Olds, where they discuss how his approach is shifting how we think about the news and why he's so grateful for what his medium allows him to do, to operate slowly, build relationships, and reflect on details that other reporting may miss out on.

That was George Butler, a 2025 TED Fellow.

To learn more about the TED Fellows program and watch all the TED Fellows films, go to fellows.ted.com.

And that's it for today.

This episode was produced by Lucy Little, edited by Alejandra Salazar, and fact-checked by Eva Dasher.

The audio you heard at the top comes from the short film made by Divya Gidangi and Owen McLean, story edited by Corey Hajim, and produced by Ian Lowe.

Video production manager is Searing Dolma.

Additional support from Lily James Olds, Leonie Horster, and Allegra Pearl.

TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective.

Our team includes Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Green, Lucy Little, and Tansika Sangmarnivong.

Additional support from Emma Tobner and Daniela Balarezo.