TED Talks Daily

In 1999, a NASA mission to Mars failed ... not from a technical glitch, but because people weren't talking to each other. Psychology professor Tessa West explores how assumptions, overlooked details and "hidden languages" can quietly sabotage even the smartest teams — and explores the small shifts in communication that can make a big difference in how information lands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can you make your life meaningful with the finite amount of time you have? In this TED Talks Daily Book Club interview, host Elise Hu speaks with Oliver Burkeman about his book “Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.” They explore Oliver's philosophy of “imperfectionism” and shows how choosing to let go can help you feel more in control. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time in climate negotiations, leaders are asking the question that actually matters: not just how do we solve the climate crisis — but why aren't we? Join Nobel laureate Al Gore for an in-depth conversation with Wanjira Mathai and Karenna Gore, leaders of the Global Ethical Stocktake: an urgent, values-first reset that seeks to center justice, phase out fossil fuels and elevate Indigenous and Global South leadership. Discover the initiative that's making fossil fuel lobbyists squirm and climate veterans hopeful — before the world moves on to COP31. Please note, this conversation was recorded live on November 14, 2025, at the TED Countdown House at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, in Belém, Brazil. There are a variety of names mentioned during the conversation of global leaders involved in the convening that took place at COP30, they are as follows (listed in order of mention): Laurence Stebiana, Special Envoy to Europe for COP30 Marina Silva, Brazil's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Kumi Naidoo, South African human rights activist and former director of Greenpeace Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General Gus Speth, American environmental lawyer "Mutirão COP30," the Tupi-Guarani term meaning "a collective effort or community mobilization" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The late Stanford neuroscientist Nolan Williams shares his research on the potential of a plant-derived psychoactive compound called ibogaine to help people with traumatic brain injury recover from PTSD, depression and anxiety. (Followed by a brief Q&A with Head of TED Chris Anderson) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every minute somewhere in Europe, a house is demolished — along with the memories and sense of community it holds, says architect Olaf Grawert. Exposing the human and environmental cost of demolition for profit, he highlights a bold alternative that could address the growing housing crisis. Learn how rethinking the value of the buildings we already have could create sustainable, affordable homes for millions and reshape the future of cities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After finding himself alone in an unreported wildfire in the woodlands of California, John Mills decided to take matters into his own hands. Hear the incredible story of how he rallied fire survivors and retired first responders to create Watch Duty, the nonprofit emergency alert system that’s beating official government warnings and buying people precious minutes to escape danger. (Following Mills talk at TED Next 2025, he sat down for a special conversation with Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily. They discuss why citizen-owned tech is outpacing government response systems, how Mills builds trust by delaying alerts to verify sources, and their plans to expand the app to report on other natural disasters as well, such as tornados and floods.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Misty Copeland break barriers and become one of the world's most famous ballerinas? In this powerful talk, she charts her rise from childhood adversity to history-making dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre — and gives a peek at what she plans to do next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"How are the children? How are the cattle? Is it raining?" Filmmaker Jackie Lebo discovered the meaning of this traditional greeting when she and nine other artists explored Turkana, an isolated part of Kenya where the discovery of oil has disrupted pastoral life. Through film, photography and music, she and musicians Elizabeth Korikel and Eddie Grey share the deep cultural roots of art — and highlight the true connectedness of humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tencent is one of China’s biggest tech companies, running the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat and the world’s largest video game vendor. Now, it’s also an up-and-coming force in the field of carbon removal. Xu Hao, the vice president of Sustainable Social Value at Tencent, oversees two of those initiatives: the Carbon Neutrality Lab and CarbonX. He sits down with Sherrell Dorsey, host of the “TED Tech” podcast, to talk about how megacorporation can help advance the climate movement. He also explores the current state of carbon removal technology and how Tencent’s video games are becoming an unlikely source of climate education for hundreds of thousands of people.  This is episode three of a four-part series airing this month on TED Tech, where host and climate tech journalist Sherrell Dorsey speaks with climate leaders on the technology sparking a greener, more equitable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can AI help people without a traditional credit history get access to fair loans? Impact entrepreneur Mercedes Bidart shows how AI is letting informal entrepreneurs in Latin America transform "invisible data" on their phones into a financial identity, helping them get credit and grow on their own terms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.