TED Radio Hour
Episodes
What can you control in this chaotic world?
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When it feels like the world is on fire, it's hard to know what's in your control and what's out of your hands. This hour, TED speakers explain ways y...
What we — and AI — can learn from nature's intelligence
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is powerful, but what about natural intelligence? This hour, TED speakers explore the intrinsic genius in animal language, ins...
The secrets in your baby's genes
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Genomics researcher Dr. Robert Green explains how sequencing babies’ DNA can reveal hidden health risks. This hour we explore where the benefits end...
Navigating uncertainty
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In unpredictable times, how can we stay calm, grounded, and on course? This hour, TED speakers lead us through uncertainty. Guests include former medi...
Who counts as a significant other?
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding "the one" can seem like life's ultimate goal—but should it be? This hour, TED speakers expand the definition of life partnership, whether it...
Who is really shaping the future of AI?
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What will AI look like in 2026? Is the hype a bubble or a tech revolution that will transform everything? This episode, the global politics shaping th...
Soundtracks of our lives
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From our favorite songs to our own voices, we're surrounded by sound all day. But how does all this noise affect our emotions and behavior? This hour,...
Remembering a maestro through 'New World Symphony'
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before his passing, conductor Robert Franz guided us through the first movement of Dvorák's "New World Symphony" using his four essential tools for l...
Finding your bliss
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a long, complicated year. This hour, TED speakers share ideas to help you get grounded, back on track, and even edge toward something like b...
Decoding nature’s hidden patterns
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We can’t protect what we don’t understand. From decoding wolf howls to making sense of millions of citizen-science sightings, we explore the tools...
How to repair your most important relationships
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's never too late to make things right—even when cracks form within our relationships with our families, our environment...or the inevitable. This...
How the creator economy is making you talk like the internet
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Online linguist Adam Aleksic explains how he goes viral decoding internet slang. Plus, why making a living online means working for “the algorithm,”...
The price of creativity
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The words "content creator" may make you roll your eyes. But in part 1 of our series, Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler explains how the creator...
Move fast...and fix democracy?
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to despair with another government shutdown. But this hour, three speakers argue that simple upgrades are key to restoring faith in the Amer...
The great food rescue
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The average American household throws away $200 of food each month. How can we get more food onto plates and less into landfills? This hour, changing ...
The art of choosing what to do
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The way we spend our hours defines our lives. This hour, TED speakers explore how we make choices about time, meaning and attention in a world of infi...
Head of TED, Chris Anderson, on TED’s new chapter
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Based on the simple premise, "Ideas worth spreading," Chris Anderson spent the last 25 years turning the non-profit TED organization into a globally r...
Future You
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How companies use AI to choose who gets hired and fired
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI is reshaping the workplace, but at what cost? Journalist Hilke Schellmann reveals the flaws of algorithmic hiring and how workers can adapt to a wo...
What this musician’s identity crisis teaches us about navigating change
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since childhood, Joshua Roman's life revolved around the cello. But when long COVID forced him to set his cello aside, he had to rethink his approach ...
Approaches to life: Improvise, pivot or plan
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Big life decisions are never easy. Should you follow a plan? Make a hard pivot? Improvise as you go? This hour, TED speakers who’ve made extreme lif...
The lab behind Waymo and Google Glass that wants to reshape your life
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The moonshot factory X is home to some of Silicon Valley's boldest inventions. CEO Astro Teller reveals how the secretive lab tests crazy ideas that c...
Are the kids alright? Part 2
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Teens today are navigating academic pressure, social media, gun violence and climate anxiety. But adolescent psychologist Lisa Damour argues that stre...
Are the kids alright? Part 1
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Being a kid—or raising one—has never been tougher. From AI in classrooms to social media pressures to economic stress, kids are navigating a minef...
A guide to being brave in relationships
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From sustaining a marriage to making new friends, forming connections requires courage. This hour, TED speakers guide us through being brave during th...
How deserted places find a second life
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lots left vacant, offices full of equipment but devoid of people, entire villages literally left to the wolves--this hour, TED speakers share stories ...
The skin we're in
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our skin protects us, connects us, and constantly gathers data about the world around us. This hour, we explore how skin shapes our sense of self and ...
How to find joy and success as a late bloomer
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
Prophets of Technology: The Biotech Visionaries
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As AI infiltrates every aspect of our lives, who are some of the people behind this huge inflection point? In this special three-part series, you'll h...
Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this essential American service survive and thrive. Visit d...
Prophets of Technology: Bot Believer vs. Bot Skeptic
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As AI infiltrates every aspect of our lives, who are some of the people behind this huge inflection point? In this special three-part series, you'll h...
Prophets of Technology: The OG influencers
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As AI infiltrates every aspect of our lives, who are some of the people behind this huge inflection point? In this special three-part series, you'll h...
The state of fashion
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you love or hate fashion, we all have to get dressed in the morning. And the industry affects us in complex ways. This hour, the outrageous, e...
How taking a second look can change your everything
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A second glance can change everything. This hour, TED speakers will make you think twice about robots, history lessons and even wine bottles. Guests i...
Uncovering the mysteries of the animal kingdom
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Escaping the modern world and your noisy mind
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you find the courage to leave the world you know and make your way to a completely different reality? This episode, TED speakers share ideas ab...
Sports psychology for everyday life
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The thrill of victory; the agony of defeat. Sports clichés are everywhere. But what does it actually take to think like a winner? This hour, TED spea...
How AI is using your data to influence you
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your data is used to manipulate you—and AI makes it easier than ever before. But is that so bad? Sandra Matz explains the state of psychological tar...
Secrets to successful teamwork
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all work in teams, from families, to companies, and everything in between. So what's the secret to doing it better? This hour, TED speakers share s...
How we experience time
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why does one hour drag by, but a year can pass in a flash? And how does our relationship with time influence our behavior? This hour, TED speakers sha...
The day the dinosaurs died
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happened in the days, even hours, after an asteroid set off the fifth extinction? A New Jersey quarry, and site of a new museum founded by paleon...
The hidden forces shaping your choices
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every day, we make countless choices—but are these decisions guided by desire or design? This hour, TED speakers on what shapes the food we eat, how...
Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forgetting a name, a poorly executed hug, the 7th grade — awkwardness is part of our lives whether we like it or not. But what if we put the embarra...
Biotech is about to change your world
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest innovations in biotech are upending our approach to disease, longevity and climate change. Are we ready? This hour, TED speakers share idea...
Addiction, motherhood, and Jesus with writer Anne Lamott
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Anne Lamott has garnered a cult following with her shockingly honest prose on love, death, faith, writing and more. This hour, her wisdom from ...
How you see yourself
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What's the image you present to the world? And do you see yourself the same way? This hour, TED speakers add new dimensions to the idea of self percep...
How the brain interprets pain — and new ways to manage it
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thirty years into the opioid crisis, we still struggle to find other options for pain relief. This hour, TED speakers explain new understandings of ho...
Curious stories of coexistence
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can otters be city dwellers? Are aliens real? Do we have to experience misery to understand happiness? On this episode, we investigate how strange bed...
Decoding the secret messages of data, biology and music
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 gai...
A neuroscientist's guide to managing our emotions
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emotions sometimes feel overwhelming and debilitating—but science-backed tools can help us wrangle them. This hour, neuroscientist Ethan Kross share...
The birds and the bees
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"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 ex...
Soundtracks of our lives
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From our favorite songs to our own voices, we're surrounded by sound all day. But how does all this noise affect our emotions and behavior? This hour,...
Retracing the steps of their ancestors
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To move forward, the United States must confront its history of racial inequality. This hour, three perspectives on looking to the past to build a bet...
Who counts as a significant other?
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding "the one" can seem like life's ultimate goal—but should it be? This hour, TED speakers expand the definition of life partnership, whether it...
The shocking power of tiny things
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Original broadcast date: February 24, 2023. You don't need to be big and boisterous to pack a punch. This hour, TED speakers explore the surprising st...
The future of our memories
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From creating "synthetic" memories to reviving ruined monuments, tech no longer simply stores the past—it can enhance it. This hour, we explore new ...
Your brain is the next tech frontier
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're entering a new era of brain monitoring and enhancement, but what are the ethical implications? This hour, TED speakers explore the potential and...
Navigating uncertainty in 2025
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In unpredictable times, how can we stay calm, grounded, and on course? This hour, TED speakers lead us through uncertainty. Guests include former med...
Learning from what others leave behind
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For millennia, humans have created artifacts of their lives — from art, to books, to music. This hour, we explore ideas about capturing the ephemera...
Searching for paradise
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We often view paradise as a place of safety, beauty, tranquility. It's an ideal we long for, but one we can rarely find. This hour, TED speakers searc...
New year, new habits: How to start writing with author Kelly Corrigan
25 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Writing can help you process thoughts, preserve memories, chronicle the stories of you and your loved ones. But that's only if you can get past the bl...
What one founder's past says about AI's future
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To understand AI, you need to hear Mustafa Suleyman's story. From youth hotline founder to DeepMind creator and Microsoft AI chief, his journey explai...
New year, new habits: Fixing time management mistakes in 2025
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A new year is a fresh opportunity to take control of our time, but a lot of hacks don't actually help us prioritize and focus. In this special bonus e...
We resist change and surprises—but shock can shift our lives for the better
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Being jolted out of the everyday can be a good thing. From an elaborate farce, to benign naughtiness, to a life-altering event—this hour, TED speake...
The great food rescue
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The average American household throws away $200 of food each month. How can we get more food onto plates and less into landfills? This hour, changing ...
Living Longer ... And Better
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In some pockets of the world, people have a higher chance of living longer. So how do they do it? This hour, TED speaker Dan Buettner takes us to Blue...
Life can be so awkward. Here's how to embrace the embarrassing
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Forgetting a name, a poorly executed hug, the 7th grade — awkwardness is part of our lives whether we like it or not. But what if we put the embarra...
Making sense of the sun
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The sun rises and sets every day of our lives, but it still holds many mysteries. This hour, TED speakers share the latest in probing, replicating, an...
What we—and AI—can learn from nature's intelligence
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence is powerful, but what about natural intelligence? This hour, TED speakers explore the intrinsic genius in animal language, ins...
A guide to being brave in relationships
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From sustaining a marriage to making new friends, forming connections requires courage. This hour, TED speakers guide us through being brave during th...
The mysteries that lie beneath
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Approaches to life: Improvise, pivot or plan
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Big life decisions are never easy. Should you follow a plan? Make a hard pivot? Improvise as you go? This hour, TED speakers who've made extreme life ...
Monday — Friday: Making the most of the workweek
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Week in, week out, we work. But what can we do to not lose ourselves in the 9-to-5 grind? This hour, we question how long we work, why we valorize wor...
Augmenting Humans
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From robot helpers to smart body parts, the line between humans and machines is blurring. This hour, TED speakers design tech that enhances us without...
The double-edged nature of parenting, mental health and artificial intelligence
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are two sides to every coin — and sometimes our strengths become weaknesses. This hour, TED speakers explore the mixed blessings and volatile ...
Secrets to successful teamwork
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all work in teams, from families, to companies, and everything in between. So what's the secret to doing it better? This hour, TED speakers share s...
The hidden role of friction in our lives
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The state of fashion
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you love or hate fashion, we all have to get dressed in the morning. And the industry affects us in complex ways. This hour, the outrageous, e...
Unapologetically loud women who push boundaries — but not without pushback
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the only way to make an impact is to be loud. This hour, three female performers talk about the rewards — and consequences — that come ...
How we repair and strengthen our most important relationships
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's never too late to make things right—even when cracks form within our relationships with our families, our environment...or the inevitable. This...
The day the dinosaurs died
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happened in the days, even hours, after an asteroid set off the fifth extinction? A New Jersey quarry, and site of a new museum founded by paleon...
Short Wave: Big Bang Revisited
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've got a special episode for you today from our friends at Short Wave. We all think about the Big Bang as the moment when our universe—everything...
Going incognito, where nothing is as it seems
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How our relationships are changing in the age of 'artificial intimacy'
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Early adopters are flocking to AI bots for therapy, friendship, even love. How will these relationships impact us? MIT sociologist Sherry Turkle delve...
Investigating true crime in the animal kingdom
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Hou...
Sports psychology for everyday life
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The thrill of victory; the agony of defeat. Sports cliches are everywhere. But what does it actually take to think like a winner? This hour, TED speak...
DIY: There's a problem and only you can fix it
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 spe...
Body Electric: If a bot relationship FEELS real, should we care that it's not?
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to advances in AI, chatbots can act as personalized therapists, companions, and romantic partners. The apps offering these services have been d...
What we'll eat on a warmer planet
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From the farm, to the lab, to our tables, what we eat and how it's grown is changing. Agriculture contributes to global warming—and is being transfo...
Bringing abandoned places back to life
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lots left vacant, offices full of equipment but devoid of people, entire villages literally left to the wolves--this hour, TED speakers share stories ...
What's driving generations apart—and ideas to bring them together
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z seem to be more divided than ever. But why are tensions running high now? This hour, TED speakers explore new reaso...
Our oceans are in danger ... but it's not too late.
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Body Electric: Type, tap, scroll, BREATHE! How our tech use impacts our breath
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have "screen apnea"? Our special series Body Electric continues with former Microsoft executive Linda Stone who coined the term. Around 2007, L...
Pain Relief: New approaches to how we live with pain
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thirty years into the opioid crisis, we still struggle to find other options for pain relief. This hour, TED speakers explain new understandings of ho...
A Love Letter to the Ocean: Life, death and mating in the sea
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Body Electric: Your earbuds and you—what all that listening is doing to us
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our special series, Body Electric, is back! This time, host Manoush Zomorodi does a deep dive into our headphone habits... because many of us wear the...
They/Them, LatinX, Rigged: The history behind three words
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Words are never just words. They carry context and controversy; they can signal identity or sow discord. This week, TED speakers explore the history a...
The Future of Sustainability: Repair, repurpose, reimagine
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"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 ...
Our Tech has a Climate Problem: Here's how we solve it
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AI, EVs, and satellites are tackling the climate crisis. But they have environmental downsides. This hour, TED speakers explain how to use these tools...
Changing Our Minds: Why we should admit when we're wrong
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Original broadcast date: Friday, December 3, 2021. Admitting we're wrong is painful — even seen as a sign of weakness. But what if we take a more fl...