TEDialogues

Discover how regenerative agriculture can transform degraded soil into rich, life-sustaining land. Through time-tested ecological principles, it revitalizes ecosystems, improves food quality, reduces carbon emissions, and promotes human health. Join the movement to restore balance and unlock the potential of healthy soil for future generations.

Helen Walters and Ian Bremmer discuss the US election’s global impact, the challenges of misinformation, and the influence of foreign policy. From Middle East tensions to climate change and the risks of post-election unrest, they explore how political choices will shape the world’s future.

An astrophysicist explores the profound role of the Sun in shaping life on Earth, from fueling photosynthesis to creating solar storms that impact technology. With the Parker Solar Probe, we’re uncovering the Sun’s mysteries and preparing for its future changes that may affect our climate and society.

Explore the remarkable rise of African tech startups defying stereotypes and driving innovation. From groundbreaking internet infrastructure to fintech and digital solutions, ambitious African entrepreneurs are transforming the continent’s tech landscape and proving that Africa is a thriving hub of talent, resilience, and boundless potential.

Discover how immersive storytelling can transform experiences. From David Bowie exhibits to moon landings and David Hockney’s art, this approach brings together technology, art, and audience engagement, creating vivid, multi-sensory experiences that resonate deeply and unite diverse audiences through creative collisions.

Dietary shifts toward plant-based foods are essential for health, climate, and food security. By promoting plant-rich options as governments once did for meat, we can create a more sustainable food system. Learn how we can eat less meat, boost public health, and reduce environmental impact.

Discover how improvisation brings spontaneity and creativity to even the simplest tasks. Through humor, beatboxing, and looping, this talk demonstrates how life becomes more flexible, adaptable, and enjoyable when we embrace the art of making it up as we go along.

Discover how quadratic funding empowers communities by prioritizing broad-based support over wealthy donors. This innovative funding model, leveraging matching contributions, enables fairer distribution for projects that resonate with everyday people. With open-source tools, communities worldwide can fund what truly matters, fostering democratic engagement in a digitally native way.

This episode explores how true personalization can transform frustrating customer experiences into meaningful interactions. From urgent care mishaps to endless email spam, we’ve all felt the impersonal touch of modern businesses. Discover how leading companies like Fidelity use a “less is more” approach, focusing on quality over quantity to build trust and foster loyalty. Learn why embracing personalization isn’t just good for customers, but also boosts growth and engagement. With AI-driven insights, brands can finally bring back that personal touch, making each interaction count.

Discover how vertical farming is revolutionizing agriculture, allowing the growth of pesticide-free, high-quality strawberries anytime, anywhere. This episode explores the journey of transforming traditional farming, with innovations like AI, bee pollination, and sustainable practices, making strawberries three times sweeter and more affordable. Learn how this technology is bringing a taste of Japanese quality to global markets, all while minimizing environmental impact and maximizing efficiency. Imagine a future where your local supermarket offers fresh, delicious strawberries every day—grown sustainably, without compromise.

In this inspiring talk, Mohan Sivaloganathan shares his journey from a failed leadership attempt at Procter & Gamble to becoming the CEO of Our Turn, a youth-driven organization for educational reform. He humorously recounts his early struggles, revealing how conventional leadership models didn’t work for him, and how embracing the leadership of young people transformed his approach. Through examples of youth advocacy, like combating book bans, Mohan outlines four lessons learned from young leaders: emotional intelligence, boundless ingenuity, the power of storytelling, and rejecting false choices. He emphasizes the need for leaders to engage with youth, change their language, and hold themselves accountable to foster inclusive and impactful leadership.

Pau García introduces “Synthetic Memories,” a project that uses generative AI to recreate lost or forgotten visual memories. Inspired by his work with elderly patients and those affected by Alzheimer’s, García explores how these AI-generated images can enhance reminiscence therapy, improving cognitive function and emotional connection. Through real-life examples, he shares how recreating memories from oral descriptions can evoke powerful emotional responses, reconnect families, and offer comfort to those struggling with memory loss. The project, which has promising medical and therapeutic potential, also seeks to preserve cultural heritage, especially for individuals who have lost visual records due to displacement or disaster.

Cat behaviorist Nikki shares the transformative power of play and feeding enrichment for enhancing the happiness and health of cats. Through interactive play, cats engage their natural hunting instincts, which improves their physical and mental well-being. Simple tools like puzzle feeders, egg boxes, and interactive toys can make mealtimes fun and stimulating, helping cats exercise their brains and reduce undesirable behaviors like overeating or hunting. Whether your pet is a cat, dog, or even a fish, play is fundamental to happiness. With just a few minutes of thoughtful engagement, you can significantly improve your pet’s quality of life.

Kristine Tompkins, co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, reflects on the urgency of rewilding Earth’s ecosystems. Witnessing the destruction of wild habitats, she advocates for large-scale restoration efforts to bring back endangered species and preserve biodiversity. Over the past 30 years, her work with late husband Doug Tompkins has led to the creation of 15 national parks and the protection of over 15 million acres in Chile and Argentina. Tompkins emphasizes the need to connect fragmented ecosystems to ensure species thrive, advocating for a “wild highway” approach to biodiversity. She calls for a global movement to rewild the planet, restoring both nature and our relationship with it.

A creative director reflects on the groundbreaking U2 concert at the new Sphere in Las Vegas, a venue that merges IMAX, planetarium, and immersive technology to transform live performance. The spherical structure, which lacks traditional corners, allows the manipulation of audience perception and creates shared experiences akin to virtual reality but without headsets. Described as “VR without a headset,” the show blends awe-inspiring visuals, high-resolution audio, and U2’s emotive music to unite audiences in a shared emotional journey. The director highlights the power of proximity, human connection, and the timeless desire for awe, drawing parallels with cathedral architecture. Ultimately, the experience strives to create joy, emotional connection, and empathy among attendees, delivering a magical spectacle in a whole new era of live entertainment.

Climate scientist warns of the accelerating environmental crisis and urges immediate global action. Earth’s climate is changing faster than predicted, with rising temperatures, shrinking biodiversity, and economic fallout. We are on track to exceed dangerous tipping points, risking self-amplifying, irreversible damage to the planet’s systems. The scientist explains that while the situation is dire, solutions exist. A rapid transition from fossil fuels, adoption of sustainable business models, and large-scale regeneration of nature can still ensure a livable future. The key lies in speed, scale, and global cooperation. Despite the challenges, the majority of the world’s population cares about climate change and supports action, offering hope for a collective transformation.

Motivation isn’t something we lose; it’s something we learn. In this engaging talk, the speaker explores why so many people, like a close friend, feel unmotivated despite being successful in different areas of life. Drawing from psychology and behavioral science, he explains that motivation is not about being strong but about being wise. Key strategies include setting intrinsically enjoyable goals, addressing the “middle slump” in motivation, seeking temporary discomfort to grow, and balancing life’s competing demands. By learning how to motivate ourselves through wisdom, rather than force, we can better pursue our goals and live a more fulfilling life.

Psychologist and neuroscientist explains how, like teaching a pigeon to count, our brains form habits and coping mechanisms that can increase anxiety and depression over time. Drawing from his personal and professional experience, he discusses how behaviors like procrastination or seeking reassurance via smartphones offer temporary relief but reinforce negative patterns. By understanding and unlearning these habits, we can improve our mental health. He emphasizes the importance of mental fitness—talking about struggles, sitting with discomfort, and building resilience. Self-awareness and exploring new strategies are essential for overcoming harmful behaviors and fostering self-confidence.

Conservationist Kristine Tompkins recounts her journey of rewilding South America’s ecosystems through Tompkins Conservation, emphasizing the urgent need for global action. Tompkins highlights how human expansion has decimated wild nature, but rewilding — allowing nature to heal itself or actively restoring species — offers hope. Through her efforts, over 15 national parks and millions of acres of habitat have been protected, bringing back endangered species like jaguars and huemul deer. However, isolated parks are not enough. Tompkins advocates for connecting ecosystems across borders to ensure resilience and survival. She challenges us all to think bigger, to restore vast landscapes, and to reignite our own connection with nature.

In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the United Nations has proposed a bold plan for global AI governance, launched on September 19, 2024. The initiative seeks to establish guidelines for managing AI’s risks and opportunities, addressing concerns over the role of tech giants, national governments, and the global community. Political scientist Ian Bremer discusses the urgent need for international cooperation to ensure AI is used for the greater good, rather than creating monopolies or fueling inequality. The report emphasizes the importance of using AI to meet global challenges like climate change and human rights, advocating for open-source AI, equitable access for developing nations, and global safeguards against AI misuse. The conversation explores the complexities of aligning private sector innovation with public interest, and the necessity of defining a clear governance framework for a technology that is reshaping society.

In this insightful talk, the speaker explores the role of capitalism in addressing climate change. While traditional capitalism has contributed to environmental degradation, “climate capitalism” offers a path forward by leveraging market forces, policy interventions, and technological advancements. Examples like India’s adoption of solar energy and China’s rise in electric vehicles showcase how government subsidies and market incentives can drive green innovations. However, the speaker argues that capitalism alone isn’t enough—governments must correct market failures by pricing pollution and enforcing climate policies. Success stories like Denmark’s Ørsted and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act demonstrate how capitalism, when guided by smart policies, can help combat climate change and accelerate the transition to a zero-emissions future.

In this captivating talk, the speaker reflects on the vibrant wildlife and thriving biodiversity in the bustling city of Singapore. Moving to the city felt magical, with encounters of tropical birds, otters, and even snakes happening amidst towering skyscrapers. The return of otters to Singapore, after a long absence due to pollution, highlights the city’s successful conservation efforts. Singapore’s commitment to nature, exemplified by its transition from a “City in a Garden” to a “City in Nature,” raises intriguing questions about the role of cities as wildlife refuges. With dedicated “otter watchers” and innovative policies, Singapore demonstrates how urban spaces can coexist with and foster wildlife, offering hope for sustainable urban living.

In this heartfelt talk, a cartoonist reflects on using art and AI to explore family legacies and the nature of personal identity. Sharing her family’s powerful history—her grandmother’s survival of the Holocaust and her grandfather’s escape from Nazi-occupied Austria—she reveals how AI helped her connect with her grandfather, a man she never met, through a chatbot created from his writings. While AI didn’t resurrect him, it allowed her to time travel through his thoughts and experiences. This exploration underscores the complexity of human identity and how technology, like art, can help preserve and extend our legacies.

In this powerful speech, the speaker reflects on the transformative power of belief and the importance of overcoming self-doubt. They argue that our greatest regrets stem not from the things we did but from the things we didn’t do because we lacked belief in ourselves. Sharing their own journey from childhood entrepreneur to leader of the H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, they highlight the importance of creating spaces that nurture self-confidence and belonging. By fostering environments that encourage authenticity and ownership, they believe individuals—particularly Black and brown communities—can unlock their full potential and transform their lives and communities.

In this engaging conversation, a neuroscientist and a global banking expert explore the connections between anxiety, brain health, and financial well-being. They emphasize that anxiety, often seen as a negative force, can serve as a useful signal directing attention to what matters most. Shifting the mindset toward embracing anxiety as a tool for growth, they discuss how financial literacy, physical activity, and social connections are crucial for both mental and financial health. By cultivating curiosity, staying informed, and taking action, individuals can achieve long-term happiness and success in both personal and financial realms.

Sara, a talent manager, introduces imma, a virtual human created with CGI, who has gained popularity for her fashion and lifestyle posts on social media. Despite not being real, imma connects deeply with her audience, especially Gen Z, blurring the lines between virtual and real-life influencers. As virtual humans like imma become integrated with AI, they can engage in real-time conversations and impact real-world issues such as climate change and social justice. Sara envisions virtual humans as tools for fostering human connection and expression, urging us to embrace technology’s limitless potential for good.

Saamra, an entrepreneur who started her journey at 39, shares how she once believed entrepreneurship wasn’t for her, despite growing up with entrepreneurial parents. Today, she works to demystify entrepreneurship for young Black people by showing them multiple pathways to becoming business creators. Saamra highlights the importance of diverse role models, near-peer mentorship, and the power of social capital in shaping entrepreneurial success. She advocates for teaching young Black people how to build jobs, not just do them, as a way to close the wealth gap and boost the economy. Entrepreneurship, she believes, offers transformative potential for individuals and society.

Drawing from her personal journey growing up on a small farm in Uganda, this speaker highlights the transformative power of empowering smallholder farmers. She shares how providing her mother with improved seeds boosted crop yields and financial independence, leading to greater community development. As the former Minister of Agriculture in Rwanda, she helped implement agricultural reforms that lifted millions out of poverty. However, climate change now threatens these gains. She calls for urgent action, including better access to improved seeds, climate information, and crop insurance for farmers. Additionally, she advocates for recognizing the vital role smallholder farmers play in feeding the world and preserving the planet.

In this powerful talk, a war reporter sheds light on the untold stories of environmental defenders—Indigenous communities and activists risking their lives to protect the world’s last pristine ecosystems. These unsung heroes, often living in conflict zones, are battling governments, multinational corporations, and violent cartels to defend mountains, rivers, and forests. With over 1,700 environmental defenders killed in the past decade, particularly in Latin America, the stakes couldn’t be higher. These defenders, though fighting in obscurity, are essential in the global effort to preserve biodiversity and combat environmental destruction. The speaker calls on the world to join this critical fight to save nature and our future.

In this fascinating dialogue, cognitive neuroscientist Anil Seth and actor Yara Shahidi explore the intersections between acting, consciousness, and the sense of self. Shahidi shares her experience as an actor, discussing how playing different roles influences her perception of reality and self-identity. Seth delves into how consciousness constructs our experience of the world, including emotions and agency. Together, they reflect on the parallels between acting and the human mind, touching on the transformative power of empathy and perception. This conversation offers a unique blend of science and art, showing how understanding consciousness can deepen both fields.

In this talk, the speaker, with two decades of experience in international conflict resolution, argues that war is the ultimate human rights abuse and often exacerbates conflicts rather than resolves them. Drawing on examples such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine, the speaker stresses the need for early mediation, diplomacy, and addressing security concerns of all sides. Highlighting the importance of engaging with adversaries—such as negotiating with groups like Hamas and understanding Russia’s perspective—the speaker calls for a shift from supplying weapons to investing in mediation. They propose strengthening the UN’s role in war prevention to save lives and promote peace.

This talk explores the often-invisible yet essential infrastructure systems—energy, water, sewage, transportation—that underpin modern life. The speaker highlights how these systems give us agency and freedom, but also how they are deeply intertwined with global issues like climate change. Reflecting on how infrastructural networks connect us to the past, present, and future, the speaker emphasizes the need for collective action to decarbonize and redesign these systems. By comparing future infrastructure to a thriving forest ecosystem, the talk envisions a sustainable, resilient, and humane path forward that reflects our shared responsibility and commitment to global humanity.

In this compelling talk, the speaker highlights the critical link between climate change and conflict, particularly in Africa. Drawing from personal experience as a war survivor and his work with conflict-affected communities, he emphasizes how poverty, unemployment, and violence hinder climate action. Through stories from Uganda and beyond, he illustrates how communities are forced to exploit natural resources for survival, despite the long-term environmental damage. He argues that to create a sustainable future, we must change how we talk about climate change, engage youth in solutions, and hold corporations accountable for climate crimes. His call is for unity, inclusivity, and leadership that prioritizes peace and environmental justice.

In this engaging talk, the speaker explores the role of testosterone in shaping sex differences in behavior, particularly in play. Testosterone, present in both sexes but significantly higher in men, influences growth, brain function, and behavior. Drawing from research in behavioral endocrinology and personal experiences, the speaker highlights how rough-and-tumble play is more common in boys due to evolutionary pressures and testosterone levels. She addresses cultural concerns around masculinity, emphasizing that play is not a precursor to toxic behavior but a vital tool for learning social skills. By understanding the biological and social dimensions of sex differences, we can foster a more nuanced and compassionate conversation.

In this talk, the speaker highlights the importance of improving work conditions for essential workers in low-wage, labor-intensive industries like retail and restaurants. Workers such as Janet, a retail manager, face unlivable wages and unpredictable schedules, leading to high turnover and inefficiency. Through the “Good Jobs System,” companies like Costco and Sam’s Club have shown that investing in workers through higher pay, cross-training, and stable schedules leads to greater productivity, lower turnover, and improved business performance. By adopting this system, businesses can provide dignity, respect, and livable wages to millions of essential workers while boosting profitability and competitiveness.

In this thought-provoking dialogue, theater director Amir Nizar Zuabi and conservationist Kristine McDivitt Tompkins reflect on the deep interconnection between human compassion, climate change, and societal collapse. Zuabi shares stories of symbolic art projects like Amal, a puppet refugee, and “The Herds,” life-sized animal puppets migrating to highlight environmental collapse. Tompkins draws parallels between human suffering and environmental degradation, stressing the urgency of addressing both crises. Both speakers emphasize the need for humanity to awaken to its responsibilities and act, while remaining hopeful in the resilience of life and the possibility of collective transformation in the face of crisis.

In this insightful talk, an Iranian-American speaker reflects on the complexities of living between two cultures. Celebrating the beauty of both Iranian and American identities, they explore the tension between independence and interdependence, continuous improvement and being present. The speaker shares how American ideals like independence and constant growth are complemented by the Iranian emphasis on love, connection, and mindfulness. By integrating both cultures, they illustrate how embracing paradoxes allows us to be both free and connected, striving for a better future while finding joy in the present.

Henna Pryor shares a humorous yet insightful reflection on how our fear of awkwardness holds us back from taking risks and improving ourselves. From miscommunications in the workplace to the discomfort of correcting someone about your name, Pryor shows how our desire for external approval often keeps us stuck in a mindset that limits growth. Drawing parallels between professional life and the internal struggles we face, she encourages shifting from an “approval mindset” to an “improvement mindset.” By embracing small moments of discomfort and cringe, we can build resilience, boost our confidence, and achieve personal goals.

Playwright and negotiation expert shares five transformative lessons about negotiation, sparked by an unexpected lesson in a two-person kayak during her honeymoon. She redefines negotiation as a process of steering relationships, not battling for control. Key takeaways include the power of curiosity, starting with self-reflection, and understanding silence as a tool. Rather than viewing negotiations as adversarial, she advocates for turning your opponent into a partner, working together toward common goals. Through humor and personal anecdotes, she demonstrates how leading with curiosity and empathy creates not only better deals but also stronger relationships.

Playwright David Finnigan reflects on the surprising reactions to his provocative play Kill Climate Deniers, which aimed to spark dialogue about climate change and politics. Despite initial controversy from conservative media, Finnigan’s interactions with everyday climate deniers revealed a deeper truth: while many deny climate science to avoid facing its consequences, others who believe in the science, like himself, often act as “soft deniers” by not fully confronting its implications. Finnigan challenges us to recognize our own denial and live in alignment with the reality of a rapidly changing planet before the consequences become too severe to ignore.

Playwright David Finnigan shares his experience writing Kill Climate Deniers, a provocative play meant to spark a conversation about climate change and politics. Through the unexpected reactions of climate deniers, Finnigan uncovers a deeper truth about our collective response to climate change. While climate deniers reject the science to avoid accepting its consequences, Finnigan argues that many of us, despite believing in the science, fail to act accordingly in our daily lives. He calls this “soft denial,” a dangerous complacency that may result in a harder shock when climate realities unfold.

In this thought-provoking conversation, social psychologist Brian S. Lowery and technologist Kylan Gibbs discuss the implications of AI and technology on human connection and social experiences. They explore how AI interactions differ from human communication, emphasizing the nuances that make us uniquely human. Gibbs highlights the potential for AI to shape our sense of agency and shared experiences, while Lowery expresses concern that increasing reliance on personalized AI and social media may isolate individuals. Both agree that human connection is fundamental to our identity, and losing it could have severe consequences on our well-being.

In this hilarious and insightful talk, Chris Duffy shares how working with fifth-grade students and teaching improv comedy taught him valuable lessons in creativity, humor, and letting go of self-judgment. From unexpected student questions to mischievous pranks on LinkedIn, Duffy illustrates how tapping into our uninhibited, childlike creativity can lead to delightful surprises. Whether it’s turning a simple geometry lesson into a creative masterpiece or humorously claiming to be the CEO of LinkedIn, Duffy encourages embracing humor, taking risks, and finding laughter in everyday life.

In this powerful talk, the speaker addresses the global crisis of extreme poverty, where hundreds of millions struggle to meet basic needs. While traditional aid projects often fail due to inefficiency and bureaucracy, unconditional cash transfers offer a solution that is more effective, efficient, and respectful. By directly giving cash to those in need, people can make their own choices and invest in what matters most to them, from starting businesses to accessing healthcare. Advances in technology now make it easier to distribute funds quickly and directly, empowering individuals and communities to lift themselves out of poverty with dignity.

In this eye-opening talk, a food waste expert highlights the enormous scale of global food waste, which sees one billion meals discarded daily. This waste contributes significantly to climate change through methane emissions from rotting food in landfills, and it squanders vast resources used in food production. The speaker shares practical solutions—from food-saving apps to smarter shopping and meal planning—that can help reduce food waste. By adopting simple habits like freezing leftovers, using labels correctly, and supporting food-saving technologies, we can all play a role in tackling this pressing environmental issue.

In this Dialogue Book Club episode, host Elise Hu interviews social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about his book, The Anxious Generation. Haidt explores the link between the rise of smartphones and the mental health crisis affecting Gen Z. He explains how the shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based one has led to increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation, especially among young girls. Haidt argues that excessive screen time and the pressure of social media have profoundly altered childhood development and urges collective action to restore healthier childhood experiences.

Success feels exhilarating, but once the excitement fades, many ask, “Is this all there is?” In this insightful talk, a Stanford professor reflects on personal achievement and its limits. While accomplishments can provide happiness and purpose, true meaning comes from relationships and participating in others’ stories. The talk explores how coherence, purpose, and significance create a fulfilling life, emphasizing that playing a supporting role in others’ lives fosters deeper meaning than individual success alone. Ultimately, the legacy we leave is not our achievements, but the impact we have on others.

In this fascinating talk, talent manager Sara introduces imma, a virtual human created using CGI. Despite being fictional, imma has a huge following on social media, sharing her life, fashion, and opinions on real-world issues. With a blend of creativity and AI, virtual humans like imma offer new ways for people to connect and express themselves. Imma has collaborated with top brands and been recognized for her influence on global issues like climate change and social justice. Sara emphasizes that virtual humans represent limitless possibilities for human connection, creativity, and impact in our increasingly digital world.

In this powerful talk, a Stanford professor reflects on the difference between personal achievement and a meaningful life. While success can bring happiness and a sense of accomplishment, it often leaves people asking, “Is this all there is?” The speaker explores the deeper concept of meaning, which comes from coherence, purpose, and significance. Meaningfulness is often found in relationships and the impact we have on others’ lives, not just in our own achievements. By playing a supporting role in others’ stories, we can find lasting fulfillment and create a lasting legacy.

In this inspiring conversation, food pioneer Uma Valeti and chef Jon Kung discuss the power of optimism and innovation in tackling the world’s biggest challenges—starting with the future of food. Valeti shares his journey from cardiology to founding Upside Foods, a company focused on cultivating meat from animal cells. Their discussion highlights the need for solutions that balance tradition and innovation while addressing climate change and food security. Together, they explore the intersection of culture, technology, and sustainability, emphasizing that progress lies in pragmatic optimism and collaboration.