TED Talks Daily

Love, sorrow and the emotions that power climate action | Knut Ivar Bjørlykhaug

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Picture your favorite place in nature. How would you feel if it disappeared tomorrow? In this love letter to the planet, social worker and environment...

The myth of bringing your full, authentic self to work | Jodi-Ann Burey

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Calls for authenticity at work ask for passionate people with diverse, fresh perspectives who challenge old ways of thinking. But too often workplace ...

Should we cry at work? | TED Business

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Feelings are complicated. And even more so at work. We like to believe the ultimate professional is stoic, but what important information do we miss w...

Climate change is our reality. Here’s how we’re taking action | Al Gore, Gloria Kasang Bulus, Nana Firman, Ximena Loría and Tim Guinee

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the Climate Reality Project, Al Gore is helping mold future leaders to build the movement for climate survival and social justice from the ground...

My mother's final wish — and the right to die with dignity | Elaine Fong

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a terminal cancer diagnosis upended 12 years of remission, all Elaine Fong's mother wanted was a peaceful end of life. What she received instead...

How compassion could save your strained relationships | Betty Hart

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When personal relationships and ideological differences collide, the result can lead to strained relations -- or even years of silence and distance. A...

The real life skills you need to master video games | William Collis

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to be a pro gamer? Esports expert William Collis charts the rise of the multibillion-dollar competitive gaming industry and breaks d...

Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Cheryl Strayed

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Debbie Millman talks to author Cheryl Strayed about her childhood, career and the value of taking a very long hike. Listen and subscribe to "Design Ma...

The value of your humanity in an automated future | Kevin Roose

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To futureproof your job against robots and AI, you should learn how to code, brush up on your math skills and crack open an engineering textbook, righ...

The people who caused the climate crisis aren't the ones who will solve it | Angela Mahecha Adrar

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Corporations and big business have wrecked the environment, but disadvantaged communities living in "sacrifice zones" -- urban areas heavily polluted ...

Why there's no such thing as objective reality | Greg Anderson

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the grand scheme of history, modern reality is a bizarre exception when compared to the worlds of ancient, precolonial and Indigenous civilizations...

You don't need aliens to make history interesting | Sarah Kurnick

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Aliens have invaded ancient history: they've cropped up in humanity's past through popular television and movies, displacing facts with absurd yet com...

The US is back in the Paris Agreement. What’s next? | John Kerry and Al Gore

19 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On his first day as president, Joe Biden signed a letter of acceptance that set in motion the 30-day process for the United States to re-join the Pari...

How technology has changed what it's like to be deaf | Rebecca Knill

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

"Complete silence is very addictive," says Rebecca Knill, a writer who has cochlear implants that enable her to hear. In this funny, insightful talk, ...

How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein

17 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the ...

I let algorithms randomize my life for two years | Max Hawkins

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if everything in your life was randomized: from the food you ate to the things you did and the places you traveled? Computer scientist Max Hawkin...

The political power of being a good neighbor | Michael Tubbs

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Tubbs is the youngest mayor in American history to represent a city with more than 100,000 people -- and his policies are sparking national co...

The hidden history found in your teeth | Carolyn Freiwald

12 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your teeth carry secrets: centuries of history about your ancestors, from where they lived to what they ate and where they traveled. Bioarchaeologist ...

The paradigm shift toward equitable tech access across Africa | ’Gbenga Sesan

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Centuries of inequality can’t be solved with access to technology alone -- we need to connect people with training and support too, says tech inclus...

Community-powered solutions to the climate crisis | Rahwa Ghirmatzion and Zelalem Adefris

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Climate change is the epic challenge of our lives, and community leaders like Rahwa Ghirmatzion and Zelalem Adefris are already working on sustainable...

The promise of quantum computers | Matt Langione

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if microparticles could help us solve the world's biggest problems in a matter of minutes? That's the promise -- and magic -- of quantum computer...

A concrete idea to reduce carbon emissions | Karen Scrivener

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Concrete is the second most-used substance on Earth (behind water), and it's responsible for eight percent of the world's carbon footprint. Cement res...

How a green economy could work for you | Angela Francis

05 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you get the environment to the top of everyone's priority list? You can't, says climate advocate Angela Francis -- but you can get them to care...

How technology changes our sense of right and wrong | Juan Enriquez

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What drives society’s understanding of right and wrong? In this thought-provoking talk, futurist Juan Enriquez offers a historical outlook on wha...

The surprising connection between brain injuries and crime | Kim Gorgens

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here's a shocking statistic: 50 to 80 percent of people in the criminal justice system in the US have had a traumatic brain injury. In the general pub...

How a geospatial nervous system could help us design a better future | Jack Dangermond

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if we could better understand the world's biggest challenges simply by looking at a map? Jack Dangermond, a pioneer in geographic information sys...

What a cactus taught me about prickly emotions | Jessica Woods

29 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Difficult emotions are like the spikes of a cactus: they can get under your skin if you’re not careful. In this empowering talk, performance psychol...

My journey mapping the uncharted world | Tawanda Kanhema

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Significant pieces of the globe are literally not on the map: they're missing from the most widely used mapping platforms, like Google Street View, le...

What COVID-19 revealed about US schools — and 4 ways to rethink education | Nora Flanagan

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The abrupt shift to online learning due to COVID-19 rocked the US education system, unearthing many of the inequities at its foundation. Educator Nora...

The joy of shopping -- and how to recapture it online | Nimisha Jain

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Shopping is about more than just what you buy: it’s a treasure hunt to discover something new, a negotiation to get a great deal, a time to catch up...

The 15-minute city | Carlos Moreno

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Living in a city means accepting a certain level of dysfunction: long commutes, noisy streets, underutilized spaces. Carlos Moreno wants to change tha...

Dare to lead as your authentic self | Tracy Young

22 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As the founder of a startup, Tracy Young often worried that employees and investors valued male CEOs more -- and that being a woman compromised her po...

3 ways to upgrade democracy for the 21st century | Max Rashbrooke

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Democracy needs an update -- one that respects and engages citizens by involving them in everyday political decisions, says writer and researcher Max ...

How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive | Mehret Mandefro

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creat...

The US needs a radical revolution of values | Dr. Bernice King

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To cultivate a society grounded in equity and love, we must uproot systems of oppression and violence towards Black communities, says Dr. Bernice Albe...

Humanity's planet-shaping powers -- and what they mean for the future | Achim Steiner

16 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Humanity now has incredible power to shape nature and the Earth: the power to destroy and the power to repair, says sustainability champion and UNDP A...

How bad data keeps us from good AI | Mainak Mazumdar

15 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The future economy won't be built by people and factories, but by algorithms and artificial intelligence, says data scientist Mainak Mazumdar. But wha...

How your brain responds to stories — and why they're crucial for leaders | Karen Eber

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do the world's best leaders and visionaries earn trust? They don't just present data -- they also tell great stories. Leadership consultant Karen ...

4 tips to kickstart honest conversations at work | Betsy Kauffman

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why is it so hard to speak up and productively disagree at work? Leadership and organization coach Betsy Kauffman shows how to bring the candid conver...

How carbon capture networks could help curb climate change | Bas Sudmeijer

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What if we could build a global waste disposal service for carbon? In this forward-thinking talk, carbon capture advisor Bas Sudmeijer proposes buildi...

6 essential lessons for women leaders | Julia Gillard and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a rich conversation full of practical insights, former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard and former Finance Minister of Nigeria Ngozi Okonj...

The counterintuitive way to be more persuasive | Niro Sivanathan

09 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's the best way to make a good point? Organizational psychologist Niro Sivanathan offers a fascinating lesson on the "dilution effect," a cognitiv...

How AI can help shatter barriers to equality | Jamila Gordon

08 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jamila Gordon believes in the power of human connection -- and artificial intelligence -- to help people who might otherwise be left behind. Telling t...

How to turn moments into momentum | Renee Montgomery

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by the rising movement against racism in the US, WNBA champion Renee Montgomery made an unexpected decision: she opted out of her dream job. ...

3 ways companies can support grieving employees | Tilak Mandadi

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When we experience loss, grief travels with us everywhere -- even work. What can companies do to support grieving employees? Sharing his own story of ...

How we could make carbon-negative concrete | Tom Schuler

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Concrete is all around us: we use it to build our roads, buildings, bridges and much more. Yet over the last 2,000 years, the art of mixing cement and...

3 questions to ask yourself about everything you do | Stacey Abrams

01 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How you respond to setbacks is what defines your character, says Stacey Abrams, the first Black woman in the history of the United States to be nomina...

What your sleep patterns say about your relationship | TEDxShorts

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wendy Troxel looks at the cultural expectations that pressure couples into sharing a bed and why some relationships would benefit from sleeping separa...

How we can actually pay people enough -- with Paypal CEO Dan Schulman | TED Business

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Capitalism urgently needs an upgrade, says PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, and it starts with paying people enough to actually invest in their futures. He ex...

The joy of taking out the trash | Aparna Nancherla

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Aparna Nancherla loves to take out the trash. In this funny and sharp meditation on garbage -- "the stuff that our modern, consumerist, carbo...

The fight for civil rights and freedom | John Lewis and Bryan Stevenson

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Civil rights leader and longtime US congressman John Lewis spent his life fighting for freedom and justice for everyone. In this illuminating conversa...

An Indigenous Mixtape from Lima, Peru | Far Flung

25 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Liberato Kani, a hip hop artist in Lima, Peru—or as he says, “the Andean Bronx”. At his concerts, a typical call and response you hear is "...

The shadow pandemic of domestic violence during COVID-19 | Kemi DaSilva-Ibru

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mandatory lockdowns, quarantines and shelter-in-place orders meant to contain COVID-19 have created a shadow pandemic of domestic abuse, says physicia...

Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans | Kelsey Leonard

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Water is essential to life. Yet in the eyes of the law, it remains largely unprotected -- leaving many communities without access to safe drinking wat...

How to practice effectively...for just about anything | Annie Bosler and Don Greene

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mastering any physical skill takes practice. Practice is the repetition of an action with the goal of improvement, and it helps us perform with more e...

Fossil fuel companies know how to stop global warming. Why don't they? | Myles Allen

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The fossil fuel industry knows how to stop global warming, but they're waiting for someone else to pay, says climate science scholar Myles Allen. Inst...

6 big ethical questions about the future of AI | Genevieve Bell

18 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence is all around us ... and the future will only bring more of it. How can we ensure the AI systems we build are responsible, saf...

Financial inclusion, the digital divide and other thoughts on the future of money | Ajay Banga

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Roughly two billion people worldwide don’t have access to banks or financial services like credit, insurance and investment -- or even a way to form...

Who counts as a speaker of a language? | Anna Babel

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Backed by research and personal anecdotes, Spanish professor Anna Babel reveals the intricate relationship between language and culture, showing how s...

An innovative way to support children with special needs | Billy Samuel Mwape

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Billy Samuel Mwape realized that his project management skills might be put to use to support his chi...

How to be an upstander instead of a bystander | Angélique Parisot-Potter

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If you see something wrong in the workplace, what should you do? Business leader Angélique Parisot-Potter says you should speak up, even when it's sc...

A strategy for supporting and listening to others | Jeremy Brewer

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As a police officer, Jeremy Brewer interacts with individuals experiencing trauma and loss on a daily basis. Giving us a peek into this little-discuss...

Why monkeys (and humans) are wired for fairness | Sarah Brosnan

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Fairness matters ... to both people and primates. Sharing priceless footage of capuchin monkeys responding to perceived injustice, primatologist Sarah...

How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments | Sakinah Hofler

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process di...

The legacy of matriarchs in the Yukon First Nations | Kluane Adamek

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the Yukon First Nations, women lead; generations of matriarchs have guided and directed the community by forging trade agreements, creating marriag...

Globalization is ending. What’s next? | Mike O’Sullivan

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“Globalization is on its deathbed,” says economist Mike O’Sullivan. The question now is: What’s next? Tracing the historical successes and fai...

It takes a community to eradicate hate | Wale Elegbede

04 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Standing up to discrimination and hate should be everyone's business, says community activist Wale Elegbede. In this vital talk, he shares how his com...

The role of business in nurturing long-term diversity and inclusion | Rosalind G. Brewer

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When companies think of diversity and inclusion, they too often focus on meeting metrics instead of building relationships with people of diverse back...

An aerialist on listening to your body’s signals | Adie Delaney

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the circus, flying confidently through the air requires consistent communication with your fellow performers. Check out how aerialist and educator ...

What is a weapon in the Information Age? | Sharon Weinberger

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

From microscopic "smart dust" tracking devices to DNA-tracing tech and advanced facial recognition software, journalist Sharon Weinberger leads a hair...

The city planting a million trees in two years | Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, is on a mission to plant a million trees over the next two years, increasing vegetation in her ci...

What almost dying taught me about living | Suleika Jaouad

27 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"The hardest part of my cancer experience began once the cancer was gone," says author Suleika Jaouad. In this fierce, funny, wisdom-packed talk, she ...

What happens in your brain when you taste food | Camilla Arndal Andersen

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With fascinating research and hilarious anecdotes, neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen takes us into the lab where she studies people's sense of ta...

A magical mantra for nurturing a blissful life | JayaShri Maathaa

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the coronavirus pandemic raged in her native Sri Lanka, monk JayaShri Maathaa had a thought: two magical words that planted something beautiful in ...

How your emotions change the shape of your heart | Sandeep Jauhar

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"A record of our emotional life is written on our hearts," says cardiologist and author Sandeep Jauhar. In a stunning talk, he explores the mysterious...

The mood-boosting power of crying | Kathy Mendias

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Here's a talk about tears -- and why crying isn't something to be afraid or ashamed of. Exploring the science behind the mood-boosting power of crying...

How COVID-19 human challenge trials work -- and why I volunteered | Sophie Rose

20 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In April 2020, epidemiologist-in-training Sophie Rose volunteered to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. As a young, healthy adult, she's...

How quinoa can help combat hunger and malnutrition | Cedric Habiyaremye

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On a mission to create a hunger-free world, agricultural entrepreneur Cedric Habiyaremye makes the case for cultivating quinoa -- and other versatile,...

What happens after we develop a COVID-19 vaccine? | Johanna Benesty

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

An effective COVID-19 vaccine is just the first step in ending the pandemic, says global health strategist Johanna Benesty. In this illuminating talk,...

How the new generation of Latinx voters could change US elections | María Teresa Kumar

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A historic number of Latinx voters participated in the 2020 US presidential election, including a record number of young people casting their ballots ...

India's historic opportunity to industrialize using clean energy | Varun Sivaram

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

India has a historic opportunity to power its industrialization with clean energy -- and its energy choices will make or break the world's fight again...

To future generations of women, you are the roots of change | Gloria Steinem and Pat Mitchell

13 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Activist and author Gloria Steinem is an icon of the global feminist movement. She's spent her life defying stereotypes, breaking social barriers and ...

How to be fearless in the face of authoritarianism | Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How do you stand up to authoritarianism? And what does it mean to be “fearless”? In this powerful talk, housewife-turned-politician Sviatlana Tsik...

To save the climate, we have to reimagine capitalism | Rebecca Henderson

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"Business is screwed if we don't fix climate change," says economist Rebecca Henderson. In this bold talk, she describes how unchecked capitalism dest...

Theranos, whistleblowing and speaking truth to power | Erika Cheung

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In 2014, Erika Cheung made a discovery that would ultimately help bring down her employer, Theranos, as well as its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who cla...

The energy Africa needs to develop -- and fight climate change | Rose M. Mutiso

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this perspective-shifting talk, energy researcher Rose M. Mutiso makes the case for prioritizing Africa's needs with what's left of the world's car...

I stepped out of grief -- by dancing with fire | Danielle Torley

06 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After losing her mother in a house fire when she was just six years old, Danielle Torley saw two paths before her: a life full of fear, or one that pr...

Lessons on leaving the world better than you found it | Sophie Howe

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sophie Howe is the world's only future generations commissioner, a new kind of government official tasked with advocating for the interests of generat...

"A Bird Made of Birds" | Sarah Kay

04 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"The universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing," says Sarah Kay, quoting her friend, poet Kaveh Akbar. Performing "A Bird Mad...

What's a snollygoster? A short lesson in political speak | Mark Forsyth

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Most politicians choose their words carefully, to shape the reality they hope to create. But does it work? Etymologist Mark Forsyth shares a few enter...

The radical act of choosing common ground | Nisha Anand

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To achieve lasting change sometimes requires the hard, even radical, choice of partnering with people you'd least expect. Justice reform advocate Nish...

How to decarbonize the grid and electrify everything | John Doerr and Hal Harvey

01 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"The good news is it's now clearly cheaper to save the planet than to ruin it," says engineer and investor John Doerr. "The bad news is: we are fast r...

What crows teach us about death | Kaeli Swift

31 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rituals for the dead span much of the natural world, seen in practices from humans and elephants to bees, dolphins and beyond. With charm and playful ...

How to foster productive and responsible debate | Ishan Bhabha

30 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The clash of ideas is fundamental to creativity and progress, but it can also be deeply destructive and create divisions within companies, communities...

The case for stubborn optimism on climate | Christiana Figueres

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"This decade is a moment of choice unlike any we have ever lived," says Christiana Figueres, the architect of the historic 2015 Paris Agreement. The d...

The Great Migration and the power of a single decision | Isabel Wilkerson

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, a single decision can change the course of history. Join journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson as she tells the story of the Great Migrati...

Climate change is becoming a problem you can taste | Amanda Little

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Our food systems have not been designed to adapt to major disruptions like climate change, says environmental journalist Amanda Little. In this eye-op...

What if a US presidential candidate refuses to concede after an election? | Van Jones

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

If the 2020 US presidential election is close, the race could drag on in the courts and halls of Congress long after ballots are cast, says lawyer and...

Sexual assault, shame and teaching kids to ask for help | Kristin Jones

24 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sexual assault is never the victim's fault, says advocate Kristin Jones. In this courageous talk, she tells her story of overcoming the shame that fol...

How to be a good ancestor | Roman Krznaric

23 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Our descendants own the future, but the decisions and actions we make now will tremendously impact generations to come, says philosopher Roman Krznari...