Every weekday, TED Talks Daily brings you the latest talks in audio. Join host and journalist Elise Hu for thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between — given by the world's leading thinkers and creators. With TED Talks Daily, find some space in your day to change your perspectives, ignite your curiosity, and learn something new.

6 tips on being a successful entrepreneur | John Mullins

February 07, 2024 00:15:16 9.5 MB Downloads: 0

Sometimes, you need to break the rules to innovate — but which ones? Entrepreneurship professor John Mullins shares six counter-conventional mindsets for entrepreneurs looking to think strategically, navigate challenges and change the world.

What makes someone vote against their political party? | Sarah Longwell

February 06, 2024 00:11:11 7.12 MB Downloads: 0

Our brains are hardwired to crave community and belonging — a tribal instinct that drives politics in the United States, says political strategist Sarah Longwell. She shares what she learned trying to convince people to vote against their political party in a recent election and shows why telling a better story about democracy is key to bridging the ideological divide.

Wild, intricate sculptures — made out of my hair | Laetitia Ky

February 05, 2024 00:08:18 5.06 MB Downloads: 0

Artist Laetitia Ky has a unique medium: using the hair on her head (and some wire), she creates incredible sculptures of objects, animals, people and more, promoting messages of bodily autonomy and self-acceptance. She shares how she came to create these surprisingly intricate forms and offers a joyful message of creative perseverance.

How to think critically about history — and why it matters | How to Be a Better Human

February 04, 2024 00:28:15 17.29 MB Downloads: 0

Have you ever recalled a story only to have someone point out "that's not how it went"? Well, what happens when what we misrepresent are our historical narratives? David Ikard is a professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University. In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, Ikard talks to host Chris Duffy about the societal and personal dangers of inaccurate narratives — and uncovers the real story of one of history's most iconic figures. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

How babies think about danger | Shari Liu

February 02, 2024 00:10:03 5.4 MB Downloads: 0

Are babies oblivious to danger? It's not that simple, says cognitive scientist Shari Liu. Sharing surprising insights (and plenty of baby videos) from studies of early human development, Liu highlights the unexpected ways babies perceive and respond to risky situations — and what these findings could unravel about the inner workings of our minds.

Lessons from the past on adapting to climate change | Laprisha Berry Daniels

February 01, 2024 00:08:55 5.71 MB Downloads: 0

Laprisha Berry Daniels' grandparents left the Southern United States and migrated north to Detroit in the 1950s — a move that could be considered a big "climate change." Now, as a public health social worker, Berry Daniels mines the survival strategies of her grandparents to think about how we can all learn from the past to better prepare for current and future environmental climate change. For more ideas, go to TED.com

Leadership in the age of AI | Paul Hudson and Lindsay Levin

January 31, 2024 00:17:30 10.92 MB Downloads: 0

Leaders can't be afraid to disrupt the status quo, says pharmaceutical CEO Paul Hudson. In conversation with TED's Lindsay Levin, he shares how AI eliminates "unglamorous work" and speeds up operations while collaborations across competitors can dramatically boost sustainability. Hear some powerful advice for the modern leader — and learn why it's time for businesses to embrace AI.

A reframing of masculinity, rooted in empathy | Gary Barker

January 30, 2024 00:13:03 8.2 MB Downloads: 0

Urging us to turn away from voices perpetuating harmful stereotypes, gender equality advocate Gary Barker shares three insights on fostering a culture of care, compassion and connection among men. "We are the most wired-to-care species on the planet," he says. "But if you don't use it ... you don't get good at it."

What if a simple blood test could detect cancer? | Hani Goodarzi

January 29, 2024 00:06:59 4.57 MB Downloads: 0

Catching cancer at its earliest stages saves lives. But in a body made up of trillions of cells, how do you spot a small group of rogue cancer cells? Biomedical researcher Hani Goodarzi discusses his lab's discovery of a new class of RNAs that, when paired with emerging AI tools, could help detect cancer earlier, more precisely and even through routine blood work — potentially transforming our understanding of the disease.

Can a simple brick be the next great battery? | John O'Donnell

January 25, 2024 00:09:44 5.69 MB Downloads: 0

The world relies on manufacturing, and manufacturing relies on heat — a massive contributor to global carbon emissions, responsible for a quarter of the world's fossil fuel use. Energy entrepreneur John O'Donnell has figured out a better, cleaner way to generate the heat we need to make the stuff we want. Learn how his team turned simple bricks and iron wire into a powerful, unconventional "heat battery" that could deliver industrial heat at scale without the emissions — and why he thinks electrified industrial heat is the next trillion-dollar industry.

Advice for leaders on creating a culture of belonging | Melonie D. Parker

January 24, 2024 00:19:34 11.26 MB Downloads: 0

Google's chief diversity officer Melonie D. Parker joins journalist and host of the "TED Tech" podcast Sherrell Dorsey for a conversation on fostering belonging and opportunity in the workplace. Learn more about how companies can sustainably promote diversity, equity and inclusion — and why you should aim to "add in," not "fit in."

Your creative superpowers can help protect democracy | Sofia Ongele

January 23, 2024 00:09:49 6.32 MB Downloads: 0

"Democracy is more fun and inviting when you take it into your own hands," says creator and activist Sofia Ongele. Sharing how she's using coding and social media to defend democracy, Ongele invites us to identify our own creative superpowers — whether it's community organizing, making music or telling stories — and use them to cause a ruckus and bring movements to life.

Do gut microbes control your personality? | Kathleen McAuliffe

January 22, 2024 00:10:07 6.45 MB Downloads: 0

Biologist Kathleen McAuliffe dives into new research that suggests certain bacteria in your gut can influence major parts of who you are, from your personality to life-changing neurological disorders. Learn more about how this emerging science could change how we treat disease — and discover the impact of your internal microbial makeup on your mood, weight and more.

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The beauty of wildlife — and an artistic call to protect it | Isabella Kirkland

January 20, 2024 00:08:38 5.52 MB Downloads: 1

"I think of my paintings as alarm clocks," says artist Isabella Kirkland. "They're reminders of what's at stake; the only problem is we keep pushing the snooze button." Investigating humanity's relationship to nature, she shares work that takes a creative stand against ecological despair — and quietly urges climate action through permanent images of vanishing wildlife.

How film changes the way we see the world | Ava DuVernay

January 19, 2024 00:19:54 11.3 MB Downloads: 1

"People told me this was an unadaptable book, so the only logical thing to do was to try to adapt it," says writer, producer and filmmaker Ava DuVernay of her work taking the award-winning title "Caste" from page to screen. In conversation with Pat Mitchell, DuVernay talks about the resulting film, "Origin," and discusses her process for turning ideas into pictures that pack a punch.