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TED Talks Daily

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.

Technology can't fix inequality -- but training and opportunities could | 'Gbenga Sesan

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.2K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 11:27

Centuries of inequality can't be solved with access to technology alone -- we need to connect people with training and support too, says tech inclusionist 'Gbenga Sesan. Sharing the work behind the Paradigm Initiative, a social enterprise in Nigeria that's empowering young people with digital resources and skills, Sesan details a vision for creating life-changing opportunities for generations of people across Africa.

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

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.3K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 05:29

Climate change is the epic challenge of our lives, and community leaders like Rahwa Ghirmatzion and Zelalem Adefris are already working on sustainable, resilient solutions. Through their organizations in Buffalo and Miami, they're focused on durable, affordable housing for under-resourced communities, the most vulnerable to the instability of climate change. Watch for a lesson on how we can work alongside our neighbors to address climate catastrophe and social inequality. (Narrated by Don Cheadle)

The promise of quantum computers | Matt Langione

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.5K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 12:55

What if tiny microparticles could help us solve the world's biggest problems in a matter of minutes? That's the promise -- and magic -- of quantum computers, says Matt Langione. Speaking next to an actual IBM quantum computer, he explains how these machines solve complex challenges like developing vaccines and calculating financial risk in an entirely new way that's exponentially faster than the best supercomputers -- and shares why industries should prepare now for this new leap in computing.

A concrete idea to reduce carbon emissions | Karen Scrivener

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.5K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 05:16

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 researcher Karen Scrivener shares the research behind a pioneering new kind of cement known as LC3, which could slash carbon emissions from this crucial building material by 40 percent, if adopted at scale.

How a green economy could work for you | Angela Francis

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.3K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 11:39

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 about improving their lives. In this pragmatic talk, she shares her playbook for helping even the most skeptical among us see the benefits of a greener economy on their health, wealth and well-being.

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

TED Talks Daily

  • 2.5K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 08:08

What drives society's understanding of right and wrong? In this thought-provoking talk, futurist Juan Enriquez offers a historical outlook on what humanity once deemed acceptable -- from human sacrifice and public executions to slavery and eating meat -- and makes a surprising case that exponential advances in technology leads to more ethical behavior.

The surprising connection between brain injuries and crime | Kim Gorgens

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.7K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 11:53

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 public, that number is less than five percent. Neuropsychologist Kim Gorgens shares her research into the connection between brain trauma and the behaviors that keep people in the revolving door of criminal justice -- and some ways to make the system more effective and safer for everyone.

When the world is burning, is art a waste of time? | R. Alan Brooks

TED Talks Daily

  • 2.5K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 13:05

Is art worth it? "Hell yeah," says graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks -- art has the power to scare dictators, inspire multitudes and change hearts and minds across the world. Reflecting on his journey to become an artist at a time when the world felt like it was burning, Brooks shares how creating something from a place of sincerity and passion can positively impact people in ways you may never know.

What a cactus taught me about prickly emotions | Jessica Woods

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.8K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 11:28

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 psychologist Jessica Woods shares four mood-regulating strategies to help you gain self-awareness of your feelings, avoid catching other people's emotions and perform at your peak -- whatever the prickly situation may be.

My journey mapping the uncharted world | Tawanda Kanhema

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.1K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 08:21

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, leaving communities neglected of vital services and humanitarian aid. In this globetrotting talk, photographer Tawanda Kanhema takes us along on his journey to map 3,000 miles of uncharted areas in Zimbabwe, Namibia and northern Canada -- and shows how we can all contribute to building a more connected world.

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

TED Talks Daily

  • 2.2K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 11:00

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 Flanagan says we can reframe this moment as an opportunity to fix what's long been broken for teachers, students and families -- and shares four ways schools can reinvent themselves for a post-pandemic world.

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

TED Talks Daily

  • 2.4K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 12:11

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 with friends and family. But for many, online shopping has turned the experience into an impersonal, unsatisfactory event. Is there a way to bring back the magic? With exciting examples from companies in India, Thailand and China, consumer expert Nimisha Jain introduces us to "conversational commerce," a new retail model that combines the convenience of a digital experience with the personalized touch of a real, human interaction.

The 15-minute city | Carlos Moreno

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.6K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 08:42

Living in a city means accepting a certain level of dysfunction: long commutes, noisy streets, underutilized spaces. Carlos Moreno wants to change that. He makes the case for the "15-minute city," where inhabitants have access to all the services they need to live, learn and thrive within their immediate vicinity -- and shares ideas for making urban areas adapt to humans, not the other way around.

Dare to lead as your authentic self | Tracy Young

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.3K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 07:23

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 position as a leader. In this brave, personal talk, she gives an honest look at the constraints women face when trying to adapt to a male-dominated business culture -- and shares how she developed the courage and vulnerability to lead as her complete, raw self. (This talk contains a graphic story. Discretion is advised.)

Using your voice is a political choice | Amanda Gorman

TED Talks Daily

  • 12K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 08:08

For anyone who believes poetry is stuffy or elitist, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman has some characteristically well-chosen words. Poetry is for everyone, she says, and at its core it's all about connection and collaboration. In this fierce talk and performance, she explains why poetry is inherently political, pays homage to her honorary ancestors and stresses the value of speaking out despite your fears. "Poetry has never been the language of barriers," Gorman says. "It's always been the language of bridges."

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

TED Talks Daily

  • 2.1K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 14:13

Democracy needs an update -- one that respects and engages citizens by involving them in everyday political decisions, says writer and researcher Max Rashbrooke. He outlines three global success stories that could help move democratic systems forward and protect society against the new challenges this century is already bringing.

How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive | Mehret Mandefro

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.3K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 10:11

When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creative sector actually has the power to grow economies -- while also helping safeguard democracy. In this captivating talk, she shares a behind-the-scenes look at how she's putting culture back on the economic agenda in Ethiopia, and explains why other countries would benefit from doing the same.

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

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.2K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 06:58

To cultivate a society grounded in equity and love, we must uproot systems of oppression and violence towards Black communities, says Dr. Bernice Albertine King, community builder and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In a time of mourning and protest, King calls for a revolution of values, allies that engage and a world where anger is channeled into social and economic change. "Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in every generation," King says. "Every generation is called to this freedom struggle." (This video, excerpted from a panel featuring Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, Rashad Robinson and Anthony D. Romero, was recorded June 3, 2020. Watch the full discussion at go.ted.com/endingracism)

How bad data keeps us from good AI | Mainak Mazumdar

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.5K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 11:01

The future economy won't be built by people and factories, but by algorithms and artificial intelligence, says data scientist Mainak Mazumdar. But what happens when these algorithms get trained on biased data? Drawing on examples from Shanghai to New York City, Mazumdar shows how less-than-quality data leads to AI that makes wrong decisions and predictions -- and reveals three infrastructural resets needed to make ethical AI possible.

4 tips to kickstart honest conversations at work | Betsy Kauffman

TED Talks Daily

  • 1.7K views
  • about 3 years ago
  • 09:52

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 conversations that usually happen at the watercooler out into the open with four practical strategies you can implement right now to have honest, transparent discussions with your colleagues.