Advertise on podcast: TED Radio Hour

The tech world has been on a Stoicism kick for decades, with many technologists attributing their decisions and worldview to the ancient philosophy. It’s too bad they’re missing some key points, says philosophy professor Meghan Sullivan.  In this bonus episode, Sullivan unpacks what Stoics like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius said about power and virtue and how today's interpretation diverges from their original texts. Meghan Sullivan was featured in the recent episode, “Using ancient philosophy to cope with your modern problems" (https://n.pr/4eAHlaX).  To get access to this and other bonus episodes, sign up for TED Radio Hour+. When you do, all your episodes also become sponsor-free. That’s because you are supporting our work and public radio. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted

Philosopher Meghan Sullivan says during tough times, ancient wisdom can serve as a guide. From politics to religion to AI, she poses big questions to help you find out what the good life means today. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at: plus.npr.org/ted See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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 we power our homes, and how we communicate. Guests include food systems expert Sarah Lake, infrastructure engineer Deb Chachra, cross-cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand, urban planner Jeff Speck, and Tempe resident Ignacio Delgadillo. Original broadcast date: May 2, 2025 See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Fun isn't frivolous — it might be the missing ingredient to a healthier life. Science journalist and author Catherine Price breaks down what true fun actually is  and how having more of it can make you feel extra playful, focused and connected. She also shares with Plus supporters how to start a “fun audit” to discover where you're leaving joy on the table. Catherine Price was featured in the recent episode, “Did social media break a generation — or just change it?" (https://n.pr/4mixhFq) To get access to this and other bonus episodes, sign up for TED Radio Hour+. When you do, all your episodes also become sponsor-free. That’s because you are directly supporting our work and public radio. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted

The time has come for humanity to make a choice: Will we build AI to replace humans or enhance them? This hour, the "humanistic AI" philosophy, a test case, and a glimpse into the future of work. Guests include Siri co-creator Tom Gruber, CENTURY Tech CEO Priya Lakhani and Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with Manoush. By signing up for Plus, you directly support our work and public media, so all your episodes (like this one!) come to you without sponsor breaks. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Emotions sometimes feel overwhelming and debilitating — but science-backed tools can help us wrangle them. This hour, neuroscientist Ethan Kross shares research from his Emotion and Self-Control Lab. Original air date: March 7, 2025. TED Radio Hour+ listeners now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and deeper conversations with Manoush. By signing up for Plus, you directly support our work and public media, so all your episodes (like this one!) come to you without sponsor breaks. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

When can we trust our own memory … or what other people say they remember? Recently Manoush interviewed memory scientist John Wixted. He’s investigating how eyewitness testimony is collected and used in criminal investigations. In this bonus episode, Wixted recounts the first time he worked with the Innocence Project and how they used his research to exonerate a man who had spent 25 years in prison. John Wixted was featured in the recent episode, "How does your brain perceive the world" (https://n.pr/4s3gDLq).   To get access to this and other bonus episodes, sign up for TED Radio Hour+. When you do, all your episodes also become sponsor-free. That’s because you are directly supporting our work and public radio. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted

Do you see images in your mind? Do you have an inner monologue? Do you have memories you swear are real? Our minds have tremendous variation. This hour, insights on how our brains construct reality. Guests include the editorial director of TED-Ed animations Alex Rosenthal, psychologist John Wixted and love coach Francesca Hogi. This episode of TED Radio Hour was produced by Katie Monteleone, James Delahoussaye and Matthew Cloutier. It was edited by Sanaz Meshkinpour and Manoush Zomorodi. Our production staff at NPR also includes Harsha Nahata, Rachel Faulkner White, Fiona Geiran and Phoebe Lett. Our executive producer is Irene Noguchi. Our audio engineers were Damian Herring and Zo van Ginhhoven. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

“Marty Supreme” stars Timothée Chalamet as a young, brash table tennis player in the 1950s trying to hustle his way to a world championship. One of the characters standing in Marty’s way is played by frequent guest, Pico Iyer, a TED speaker and travel writer who’d never acted before. In this bonus episode, Iyer shares how a TED talk unexpectedly landed him the role and reflects on how this simple game can teach us to play with someone, not just against them. This bonus episode was released early on TED Radio Hour+. Listeners there get access to regular bonus episodes (like this one) as well as all of our episodes, sponsor-free. That’s because with Plus, you directly support our work and public radio. You can join at plus.npr.org/ted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Can otters be city dwellers? Are aliens real? Do we have to experience misery to understand happiness? On this episode, we investigate how strange bedfellows can lead to radical realizations. Guests include evolutionary biologist Philip Johns, astrophysicist Avi Loeb and author Laurel Braitman. Original air date: March 21, 2025 TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

"Marty Supreme" stars Timothée Chalamet as a young, brash table tennis player in the 1950s trying to hustle his way to a world championship. One of the characters standing in Marty’s way is played by frequent guest, Pico Iyer, a TED speaker and travel writer who’d never acted before. In this bonus episode, Iyer shares how a TED talk unexpectedly landed him the role and reflects on how this simple game can teach us to play with someone, not just against them.   Plus listeners will get access to this bonus episode a week early. To listen now and hear other bonus episodes, sign up for TED Radio Hour+. When you do, all your episodes also become sponsor-free. That’s because you are supporting our work and public radio. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted.   To hear more with author Pico Iyer, check out our episode, “Escaping the modern world and your noisy mind” (https://n.pr/4lrUnJu)

Negotiations are a part of life, but too often they end up in an ugly confrontation or stalemate. This hour, TED speakers share ideas on navigating conflicts with more clarity and less fear. Guests include mediator and law professor Alex Carter and linguist Magdalena Hoeller. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

MLK Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin are household names, but what about their mothers? This hour, author Anna Malaika Tubbs explores how these three women shaped American history. Original air date: February 27, 2026. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

As a teenager, Maximilian Milovidov struggled with compulsive social media use. Now he’s a youth advocate advising tech companies and policymakers on how to make online spaces safer. He believes bans and fines won’t fix social media, and in this episode for TED Radio Hour+, he shares why listening to young people might. Maximilian Milovidov was featured in our episode, "Did social media break a generation—or just change it?" (https://n.pr/4apVK7u) with Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price.  To get access to this and other bonus episodes, sign up for TED Radio Hour+. When you do, all your episodes also become sponsor-free. That’s because you are supporting our work and public radio. Learn more at plus.npr.org/ted

Is tech rewiring childhood or exposing what’s already broken? Jonathan Haidt, Catherine Price, and a Gen Z advocate debate social media bans, attention and what “fun” looks like off-screen. Guests include social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, youth online safety activist Maximilian Milovidov and author Catherine Price. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy