Podcast: TED Talks Daily

Would you eat a bug? How about fine-crafted chocolate — shaped like poo? Your answer depends on both your disgust at the prospect and whether you choose to act on that emotion, says political psychologist Cindy Kam. She dives into how the feeling of disgust — whether motivated by real or imagined contamination — can connect or divide us, from everyday decisions to political alliances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's experts often overwhelm parents with alarming warnings of treacherous roads ahead for their children, sometimes turning dutiful parents anxious and obsessive. Instead of chasing trends, psychiatrist Mathilde H. Ross recommends trusting your instincts — and picking up a surprising source of simple, positive guidance on bonding and development. Her reassuring message? "You are quite literally evolved for this." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Menopause isn't just hot flashes, says gynecologist and sexual medicine specialist Maria Sophocles. It's often accompanied by overlooked symptoms like painful sex or loss of libido. Shedding light on what she calls the "bedroom gap," or the difference in sexual expectations of men and women in midlife due to societal norms, Sophocles advocates for education, medical advancement and a new understanding of menopause — because sex should be pleasurable and comfortable for everyone. After the talk, join Shoshana for a conversation with OB/GYN and women’s health advocate Dr. Jessica Shepherd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you rather stay in your current job until you retire, or change jobs every year? Researcher Amanda Schneider says Gen Z's answer to this question says a lot about the evolving workplace. Sharing data-driven insights on the young workforce, she debunks common misconceptions about Gen Z employees and explains why their preferences are key to unlocking a more flexible, effective workplace for everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“In the future, companies will succeed or fail based on how much their people enjoy their work,” says management consultant Rosie Sargeant. She offers three tips to make work more joyful, increase employee retention and boost customer satisfaction, suggesting how fun (like kangaroo-themed employee check-ins) can be both professional and profitable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the fish that sustain a community start disappearing? Environmental activist Lamin Jassey shares how industrial fish meal factories are devastating local waters, livelihoods and health in The Gambia — and how communities are organizing to defend their coasts and reclaim their future, one catch at a time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conflict is an unavoidable part of any relationship. But what if the point of arguing isn't to win, but rather to grow from the experience? Facilitator Darya Shaikh presents a powerful framework for managing conflicts, showing how you can navigate complex conversations and identify pathways for mutual progress despite differences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Confidence doesn’t come before action — it comes from taking action, says business leader Kat Cole, who worked her way up from waitress to CEO of a global health company. She presents a simple yet powerful practice called the “hot shot rule” to help you step into a leadership mindset, break free from inertia and take decisive action when it matters most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the change you fear most is actually the best thing for you? Change leader Kristy Ellmer shares a powerful lesson on how even the most difficult transitions, including layoffs and company-wide transformations, can open unexpected doors. She offers tools from behavioral science to help you shift your mindset and navigate uncertainty with confidence — even when every instinct tells you to resist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rich Benjamin is a cultural critic, anthropologist, and author of the new memoir Talk To Me: Lessons From A Family Forged By History. In this live taping for the TED Talks Daily Book Club, Elise Hu interviews Rich about the powerful role history plays in shaping generations – and how he tells the story of two nations through the intimate search for answers in his own family’s story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the secret to success isn’t being in the spotlight, but making everyone else around you shine? Former NBA player Shane Battier shares how his most impactful moments didn’t come from scoring points but rather from small, underrated actions that helped his team win — and why prioritizing "we" over "me" can create a lasting legacy, both on and off the court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Artificial intelligence can write a song in seconds, but does that mean human songwriters will become obsolete? Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. doesn’t think so. A songwriter himself, he offers a four-step “survival guide” for human creators to endure the age of AI, urging musicians to embrace technology while preserving the emotional essence of human artistry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leadership isn’t about a title or position — it’s about generosity, says organizational expert Joe Davis. Drawing on his extensive experience as a people manager, he shares three essential tips for leaders to unlock the potential of their teams by listening generously, embracing vulnerability and leading with humanity — and shows how it's possible to both earn trust and drive results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's easy to say you have values — but how can you actually put them into action? Ethicist and rabbi Ira Bedzow helps people wrestle with this big question so they can navigate life with a sense of meaning and direction. He sits down with Shoshana Ungerleider, physician and host of the "TED Health" podcast, to discuss why you may have more than one singular purpose, how to define success on your own terms and the role of community in a fulfilling life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The key to deeply connecting with others is about more than just talking — it's about asking the right kinds of questions, says journalist and author Charles Duhigg. He explores research-backed tools to have more meaningful conversations, sharing a simple yet powerful approach to transform how you communicate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a futurist who helps people prepare for all different kinds of possibilities, Jane McGonigal thinks we overuse words like "unthinkable" and "unimaginable." She introduces three hypothetical scenarios, showing how you can foster the ability to think creatively, anticipate new risks and feel ready for whatever the future may hold. (Created in collaboration with Ignite Talks) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Telling other people what you want – or need – can be a really difficult thing to do! Nedra Glover Tawwab is a therapist and New York Times bestselling author who helps people create healthy boundaries with themselves and others, both at work and in personal relationships. In this episode, she talks about why identifying your needs is so important, clarifies what healthy boundaries can look like and shares empowering tools so you can advocate for yourself – and get the treatment you deserve. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-love isn’t self-indulgence — it’s the learnable skill of treating yourself with the kindness you'd offer a friend, says mindfulness expert Dan Harris. He shares science-backed tips for improving your relationship with yourself and shows how a little more tenderness can enhance the rest of your life, too. (This live conversation was hosted by TED’s Whitney Pennington Rodgers and was part of a TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to support TED today and join more exclusive events like this one.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Generative AI is built on three key resources: people, compute and data. While companies invest heavily in the first two, they often use unlicensed creative work as training data without permission or payment — a practice that pits AI against the very creators it relies on. AI expert Ed Newton-Rex has a solution: licensing. He unpacks the dark side of today's AI models and outlines a plan to ensure that both AI companies and creators can thrive together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cement is one of the most-consumed materials on Earth — second only to water — and it accounts for a whopping eight percent of the world's carbon pollution. What if we could turn this climate villain into a hero? Clean tech innovator and serial entrepreneur Ryan Gilliam reveals his company's surprisingly simple process for transforming waste from the cement-making process back into limestone using existing infrastructure, creating a competitive and eco-friendly product that could pave the way for gigaton-scale climate solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.