TED Talks Daily Audio Selection

The ancient origins of the Olympics | Armand D'Angour

Thousands of years in the making, the Olympics began as part of a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia. But how did it become the greatest show of sporting excellence on earth? Educator Armand D'Angour explains the evolution of the Olympics. [Directed…

22 Jul 2021 6AM 3 min

The (de)colonizing of beauty | Sasha Sarago

Beauty is about more than the body you inhabit -- it's a way of being that goes beyond genetics or societal ideals. Aboriginal writer and former model Sasha Sarago invites you to decolonize beauty, moving away from the monolithic Eurocentric archetype and towards a more essential, authentic understanding of self…

20 Jul 2021 11AM 11 min

Why COP26 is our best chance for a greener future | Alok Sharma

Something powerful is happening around the world. The issue of climate change has moved from the margins to the mainstream, says Alok Sharma, the President-Designate of COP26, the United Nations climate conference set to take place in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. He unpacks what this shift means for the…

19 Jul 2021 7AM 8 min

3 myths about racism that keep the US from progress | Candis Watts Smith

Racism morphs, spreading and hiding behind numerous half-truths and full-blown falsities about where it lives and who embodies it. In this actionable talk, political scientist Candis Watts Smith debunks three widely accepted myths about racism in the US and calls for a nuanced, more expansive definition to support this new…

16 Jul 2021 11AM 10 min

The missing 96 percent of the universe | Claire Malone

We've misplaced the building blocks of the cosmos -- and particle physicists like Claire Malone are on a mission to find them. Despite scientists hitting a "major snag" in uncovering what exactly makes up dark matter and dark energy, she explains how questioning our fundamental understanding of nature itself invites…

14 Jul 2021 11AM 10 min

3 ways to create a menopause-friendly work culture | Andrea Berchowitz

Hot flashes, joint pain, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping -- these unforgiving menopause symptoms directly impact work but often go overlooked and under-discussed as a taboo topic, says entrepreneur Andrea Berchowitz. She gives practical advice on how to create a menopause-friendly work culture that supports gender equity and diversity retention in…

13 Jul 2021 11AM 9 min

Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral

Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with US immigration enforcement. A powerful call to give voice to…

9 Jul 2021 6AM 6 min

Why you think you're right -- even if you're wrong | Julia Galef

Perspective is everything, especially when it comes to examining your beliefs. Are you a soldier, prone to defending your viewpoint at all costs -- or a scout, spurred by curiosity? Julia Galef examines the motivations behind these two mindsets and how they shape the way we interpret information, interweaved with…

8 Jul 2021 6AM 12 min

What should humans take to space (and leave behind)? | Jorge Mañes Rubio

One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond. Inspired by his time as artist-in-residence at the European Space Agency, TED Fellow Jorge Mañes Rubio wants to rethink what we need to bring on this grand journey --…

7 Jul 2021 6AM 10 min

The past, present and future of Native American food | Sean Sherman

When you think of North American cuisine, do Indigenous foods come to mind? Chef Sean Sherman serves up an essential history lesson that explains the absence of Native American culinary traditions across the continent, highlighting why revitalizing Indigenous education sits at the center of a better diet and healthier relationship…

6 Jul 2021 10AM 17 min

A simple strategy to reclaim your time | TEDx SHORTS

Ashley Whillans shares strategies to help overcome "time poverty," and get the most out of our social relationships and careers. This talk was filmed at TEDxCambridge. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreading. Listen and subscribe to TEDx SHORTS…

5 Jul 2021 6AM 6 min

What you might not know about the Declaration of Independence | Kenneth C. Davis

In June 1776, a little over a year after the start of the American Revolutionary War, the US Continental Congress huddled together in a hot room in Philadelphia to talk independence. Historian Kenneth C. Davis dives into some of the lesser known facts about the process of writing the Declaration…

4 Jul 2021 6AM 3 min

How music streaming transformed songwriting | Björn Ulvaeus

Money, money, money ... in the music business, there seems to be little left for the songwriters that fuel it. ABBA co-founder Björn Ulvaeus calls for the industry to support its most valuable asset, breaking down how the streaming revolution impacts creator royalties, careers and craft -- and outlines what…

2 Jul 2021 11AM 19 min

How to turn grit into a lifelong habit | Angela Duckworth | The TED Interview

What does it take to persevere and succeed, not just in our careers but in all aspects of our lives? For psychologist Angela Duckworth, the answer can be summed up in one concept: grit. She explains the ingredients in grit and the experiences that make one person persist where another…

1 Jul 2021 6AM 1 hr 01 min

The infinite alchemy of storytelling | Zahra Al-Mahdi

TED Fellow Zahra Al-Mahdi was raised by screens -- "storytelling machines" like TV and the internet that shaped her sense of self and reality. Now a multimedia artist and filmmaker, she challenges common historical narratives and brings a multiplicity of perspectives to the surface. In this dynamic talk, Al-Mahdi traces…

30 Jun 2021 6AM 5 min

Why we're more honest with machines than people | Anne Scherer

For a genuine conversation, consider talking to a machine; the less humanized, the better. Consumer researcher Anne Scherer shares her findings on why some robots get us to open up better than actual people, revealing fascinating insights about human nature that could lead to more honest interactions in our day-to-day…

29 Jun 2021 11AM 12 min

The renewable heating system right below your feet | Kathy Hannun

Of all the mundane yet astonishing marvels of human ingenuity, knowing what it takes to heat a room to a comfortable temperature is TED Fellow Kathy Hannun's favorite. She takes us on a journey across the planet and under the sea to emphasize the dangers of modern heating, and offers…

28 Jun 2021 6AM 5 min

What to do when climate change feels unstoppable | Clover Hogan

Today's youth have inherited a big, unprecedented climate problem to solve -- and the eco-anxiety to go with it. Gen-Zer and activist Clover Hogan knows the struggle firsthand, but she also understands the path to climate action starts with the one thing you can control: your mindset. She explains why…

25 Jun 2021 11AM 13 min

How deepfakes undermine truth and threaten democracy | Danielle Citron

The use of deepfake technology to manipulate video and audio for malicious purposes -- whether it's to stoke violence or defame politicians and journalists -- is becoming a real threat. As these tools become more accessible and their products more realistic, how will they shape what we believe about the…

24 Jun 2021 6AM 13 min

Maternal and child health is a human right | Aparna Hegde

Overcrowded clinics, extensive wait times and overworked doctors are taking a devastating toll on mothers and children in India. In this eye-opening talk, urogynecologist and TED Fellow Aparna Hegde exposes the systemic gaps that lead to preventable deaths every minute -- and introduces scalable, affordable and empowering tech solutions that…

23 Jun 2021 6AM 9 min