TED

Inside Venezuela’s Uncertain Path to Freedom | Leopoldo López | TED

15K views · today · 41:52

Join us in person at a TED conference Follow TED! The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more.

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How Would You Design Your Dream City? | James Rojas | TED

44K views · 1d ago · 8:35

Urban planner James Rojas has led hundreds of workshops where participants creatively design their ideal communities with small objects — and he's noticed that people of every age, income and background build strikingly similar places. Through play and storytelling, he shows how we can use our childhood memories and imaginations to shape the places we live and love. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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Photographer Platon says empathy is the secret ingredient for finding a human connection. #TEDTalks

11K views · 2d ago · 1:51

With his art, photographer Platon seeks to strip away assumptions and leave viewers with a window into his subject's character, filling our eyes with wonder and curiosity. Sharing extraordinary stories of what it's like to photograph some of the world's most prominent figures -- from Michelle Obama and Pussy Riot to Vladimir Putin and Muhammad Ali -- Platon captures the disarming power of empathy and human connection.

When a couple creates their own world together, love thrives #TEDTalks

32K views · 2d ago · 2:04

Social psychologist Eli J. Finkel has spent decades studying what makes partnerships successful. In a practical talk drawing on lessons from pop culture, he explores why so many of us struggle to be true to ourselves in our relationships — and what the happiest couples do differently.

How People Are Using AI to Grieve, Love and Connect | Jennifer Cearns | TED

68K views · 3d ago · 14:02

Many people fear AI is eroding our humanity, replacing real relationships with synthetic ones that leave us lonelier than ever. Digital anthropologist Jennifer Cearns believes the opposite may be true. After talking to hundreds of people who turn to AI for grief, love, friendship and more, she pokes holes in this familiar fear — and hints at what these strange new relationships can teach us about ourselves. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)

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AI Brain Fry Is Real. Here’s What Leaders Can Do | Julie Bedard | TED

105K views · 4d ago · 9:03

Workers everywhere are quietly redesigning their jobs around AI, boosting productivity but also creating new kinds of problems. AI advisor Julie Bedard thinks she has a fix. She shares new research on three areas for leaders to focus on — including how to avoid "AI brain fry" — and why we need to shape this change rather than let it happen to us. (Recorded at TED@BCG on August 17, 2026)

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How to Look and Sound Confident | Cara Hale Alter | TED

380K views · 5d ago · 16:28

What does confidence look like? Public speaking expert Cara Hale Alter studies how to project confidence and credibility — and she's pinpointed two key behaviors that shape how others see you. In this actionable talk, she explains how to make sure you're showing your true potential at work and beyond. (Recorded at TEDxUofW on April 19, 2026)

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In a world of endless health advice, clarity and context might be the best prescription #TEDTalks

24K views · 6d ago · 2:01

Why does searching your symptoms online always leave you more frightened than before? As former chief medical officer of WebMD, physician John Whyte spent years believing more information meant better health — until he saw how too much of it was making people spiral. In a world of health influencers, algorithms and AI tools designed to keep you clicking, he reveals why clarity and context is a better prescription.

I Can’t Speak. Here’s How I Get People to Listen | Jessica Irwin | TED

87K views · 7d ago · 6:23

Jessica Irwin is many things: a photographer, artist, author, performer. She also happens to be nonverbal, born with cerebral palsy that affects the muscles she needs to talk. Speaking through a device that turns her typed words into speech, she gives a sharp, funny and urgent reminder that being unable to speak has nothing to do with intelligence — and shares a few easy ways anyone can better communicate with nonverbal people. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)

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We’re all less cult-proof than we would like to think #TEDTalks

21K views · 8d ago · 2:16

Nobody joins a cult on purpose, says Sarah Edmondson, a former member of the infamous Nxivm cult and one of the three whistleblowers that led to its downfall. She explains how she got ensnared in this highly manipulative group — and then escaped it — and shares red flags to help you distinguish between a cult and a safe community.

How Imaginary Worlds Help Kids Learn | Anna Rainio | TED

73K views · 8d ago · 11:44

All children develop at different paces — so why do schools expect every student to learn the same way? Early education researcher Anna Rainio introduces "playworlds," a learning activity where adults and kids create imaginary stories together. She shows how pretend play helps students find their place — and the power of a teacher or parent starting with a simple question: Why not? (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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Instead of asking why they stay, ask how we can help #TEDTalks

46K views · 9d ago · 1:16

Leslie Morgan Steiner was in "crazy love" -- that is, madly in love with a man who routinely abused her and threatened her life. Steiner tells the story of her relationship, correcting misconceptions many people hold about victims of domestic violence, and explaining how we can all help break the silence.

The Art of Disagreeing with Dignity | Tami Pyfer | TED

80K views · 10d ago · 11:06

Tami Pyfer has five kids who belong to five different political parties, and sometimes family conversations get heated. Drawing on her work as a former policy advisor to the governor of Utah, she wanted to find a healthier way for people to talk about politics without contempt. The result is the Dignity Index: an eight-point scale that measures the language we use to disagree, aiming to ease political divisions. What score do you think your last conversation would get?

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How to Make Parenting Less Lonely | Stacey McLachlan | TED

82K views · 11d ago · 17:54

When parents first have kids, some risk entering “the loneliest decade,” where they fall out of touch with friends. Writer Stacey McLachlan decided to do something different when she had her daughter, refusing to let her social life slip away. In this witty talk, she shares her solution — and why it matters for all of us. (Recorded at TEDxVancouver on March 8, 2026)

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Are Your Dealbreakers Sabotaging Your Love Life? | Amy Chan | TED

156K views · 12d ago · 14:52

Relationship expert Amy Chan believes we’re in a "relationship recession,” fueled by modern daters constantly looking for what could go wrong. But what if your dealbreakers are the very thing keeping love out? In this relatable talk, she reveals how to discover true connection — and why the right person for you might not be who you expect. (Recorded at TEDxVancouver on March 8, 2026)

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Authoritarianism isn’t winning, democracy is failing, says Sally Kohn #TEDTalks

24K views · 13d ago · 2:23

Doesn't it seem like a lot of online news sites have moved beyond reporting the news to openly inciting your outrage (and your page views)? News analyst Sally Kohn suggests — don't engage with news that looks like it just wants to make you mad. Instead, give your precious clicks to the news sites you truly trust.

The Joy of Foraging Your Own Food | Alexis Nikole Nelson | TED

66K views · 14d ago · 49:44

Join us in person at a TED conference Follow TED! The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more.

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What If You Could Read the DNA of Your Future Child? | Noor Siddiqui | TED

77K views · 15d ago · 13:02

For all of human history, a baby's DNA was determined by chance at conception: the so-called genetic lottery. "That era is over," says Noor Siddiqui, whose company builds screening tools to read the whole genome of embryos in an effort to give parents more genetic information than standard IVF. She makes the case that this kind of technology helps families understand and reduce health risks, raising the question: How much should we know about our children's DNA before birth?

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This dad tried to get AI to help raise his kids, and it didn’t turn out the way he hoped #TEDTalks

22K views · 17d ago · 1:21

As the world races toward digital perfection, tech humanist Stephen Remedios tried to optimize the messiest and most imperfect of all human work: parenting. He shares the story of DaddyGPT, a digital version of himself built to help raise his kids — until they began to prefer it over him. What unfolds is a personal look at the limits of AI, and a reminder that what matters most isn't getting it right every time but showing up with the authentic imperfection only humans have.

Why You Should Share a Recipe with a Stranger | Anuj Gupta | TED

70K views · 17d ago · 3:53

Can we eat our way to a stronger democracy? Civic leader Anuj Gupta believes that food is one of our last common denominators. Drawing on a decade spent bringing together strangers for shared meals, he explains how the stories and memories behind our recipes can bridge divides that seem insurmountable. (Recorded at TED Democracy Philadelphia on June 13, 2026)

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Why It’s So Hard to Listen When You Disagree | Emily Kasriel | TED

126K views · 18d ago · 10:52

Do you avoid talking to people you disagree with? Author and mediator Emily Kasriel thinks you should try it out. She explains why engaging with ideas that bother you is one of the most powerful things you can do — and presents her framework for “deep listening” that can help you form relationships across generations, cultures and political divides.(Recorded at TED2026 on April 15, 2026; this talk was illustrated by the speaker, Emily Kasriel.)

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Why We Should Design Cities Like Disney | Zach DeBoer | TED

99K views · 19d ago · 16:27

Where you live shapes your relationships, your emotions and even how long you live, says community designer Zach DeBoer. After studying what a century of building cities around cars has done to downtowns in the US, he turned to lessons from some of the most walkable, carefully designed streets in the country: the ones inside Disney theme parks.

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The real danger isn't the technology itself, but rather the communities it leaves behind #TEDTalks

22K views · 21d ago · 1:55

Social entrepreneur Van Jones believes a new human civilization is being born in real time — and that our technology is racing ahead of our wisdom. In this urgent and hopeful talk, he reframes the AI debate, showing why the real danger isn't the technology itself but rather the communities it leaves behind. His solution? A new deal between big tech and humanity, built on a different kind of "AI" that we desperately need.

How to Stop Homelessness Before It Starts | Jen Loving | TED

92K views · 21d ago · 9:06

Homelessness can feel like an issue that’s too big and complicated to fix, something we've learned to walk past. Jen Loving, who leads the nonprofit Destination: Home, has spent her entire life proving that mindset is wrong. She shows why we must stop waiting until someone is pushed outside before intervening — and introduces Right at Home, a proven model helping communities across the US keep people from becoming homeless in the first place.

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Algorithms may be narrowing your taste #TEDTalks

24K views · 22d ago · 1:28

When you need to make a decision, you might turn to AI for advice. But what happens when you let algorithms decide more and more things for you? Computational social scientist Sandra Matz reveals how AI models limit what you see, discover and try, subtly flattening what makes you unique. Hear her tips for how to use AI to fuel your curiosity and expand your world instead.

Inside the “Play Labs” Helping Refugee Kids Heal | Erum Mariam | TED

141K views · 22d ago · 11:03

What does healing look like for a refugee child? That's the question educational leader Erum Mariam asked when her team built the humanitarian "play labs": small, welcoming spaces where children displaced from their homes can play and reconnect with what they lost. From songs and dances to games and art they remember from home, Mariam shows how making space for kids to play brings back confidence and joy. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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What Makes a Good Game? | Eric Zimmerman | TED

134K views · 24d ago · 12:21

What’s the best way to make a project more playful? Game designer Eric Zimmerman has a counterintuitive suggestion: a few good rules. Drawing on his experience making everything from video games and tabletop classics to museum-scale installations, he breaks down how creative play comes to life — and how to harness the power of constraints to create endless fun. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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The Secret to Lasting Love | Eli J. Finkel | TED

259K views · 25d ago · 12:34

Social psychologist Eli J. Finkel has spent decades studying what makes partnerships successful. In a practical talk drawing on lessons from pop culture, he explores why so many of us struggle to be true to ourselves in our relationships — and what the happiest couples do differently. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)

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I Thought I Was Lazy. Turns Out I Had a Sleep Disorder | Lindsay Scola | TED

145K views · 26d ago · 8:54

For more than two decades, sleep health educator Lindsay Scola attributed her never-ending exhaustion to long hours and demanding jobs. When she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, she finally got the wake-up call that transformed her life. In this rousing talk, she discusses the epidemic of undiagnosed sleep disorders and encourages you to ask yourself: Is your tiredness different? (Recorded at TEDxSonomaCounty on March 7, 2026)

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Campaigns Spend Millions to Influence Voters. This Works Better | Katie Paris | TED

101K views · 27d ago · 10:57

Katie Paris quit her career in Washington, DC, to figure out how to make politics feel less like strangers shouting at each other and more like friends looking out for each other. In this practical talk, she reveals why conversations between real people can have a bigger impact on elections than anything millions of campaign dollars can buy. (Recorded at TED Democracy Philadelphia on June 13, 2026)

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AI and the End of Loneliness | Paul Bloom | TED

104K views · 28d ago · 12:15

AI companions may soon cure loneliness, says psychologist Paul Bloom: a gift for the isolated and the elderly, but a danger for the young, who need to experience the hard work of real relationships. So what happens to a generation raised on chatbots that never need an apology or get bored of a story? Bloom pitches a stranger, more hopeful solution, one that lets us lean on AI without ever losing our humanity. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)

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Why I’m Building Libraries Inside Prisons | Reginald Dwayne Betts | TED

77K views · 29d ago · 12:29

At age 16, Reginald Dwayne Betts was sentenced to nine years in prison. He turned to books to help hold onto his sanity — and developed a belief that we find what we look for, even in the toughest places. Now a lawyer and poet, he's opened hundreds of Freedom Libraries inside prisons across the US, putting books he once dreamed of reading into the hands of incarcerated people. In this profound talk, he makes the case that hope is something people pass on to one another.

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How the Wealth Gap Is Reshaping Politics | Xochitl Gonzalez | TED

157K views · 1mo ago · 10:37

Wealth inequality gets talked about as an economic problem. Writer Xochitl Gonzalez makes the case that it's a civic one, too — a slow, quiet threat to democracy. Drawing on her research into the psychology of social class, she shows how growing up with (or without) money changes how we experience politics, community and society. (Recorded at TED Democracy Philadelphia on June 13, 2026)

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The original cosmic hit #TEDTalks

39K views · 1mo ago · 2:23

What sound came after the Big Bang? Astronomer Mark Whittle takes us back to the infant cosmos, where massive sound waves pulsed through primordial gas in a pattern that's still traceable across the universe today. Working with sound artist Ander Mikalson and composer Caroline Shaw, he turns those ancient tones into a glorious, awe-inspiring choral work.

Why We Blew Up Four Dams — and Saved a River | Amy Bowers Cordalis | TED

90K views · 1mo ago · 12:57

Join us in person at a TED conference Follow TED! The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more.

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How to Start Any Conversation the Right Way | Chris Fenning | TED

401K views · 1mo ago · 11:08

What's your point? Communication expert Chris Fenning reveals how the first 60 seconds can make or break a workplace conversation — and shares a three-step framework to help you get it right. (Recorded at TEDxEindhoven on November 7, 2024)

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Here’s your reminder that you are enough — and you always will be #WorldMentalHealthDay

44K views · 1mo ago · 2:58

On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that keeps people suffering in silence — and shares his new mission to spread the simple yet powerful message that each of us is inherently enough.

The Three Words That Saved My Life | Blake Mycoskie | TED

157K views · 1mo ago · 15:38

On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that keeps people suffering in silence — and shares his new mission to spread the simple yet powerful message that each of us is inherently enough.

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These are the inherent human skills that machines can’t replace #TEDTalks

27K views · 1mo ago · 2:03

As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can't a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED's vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to "emotional capitalism" and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty, the two explore if we're getting better at living or just getting better at optimizing.

How to Clean Up the World’s Dirtiest Industry | Joojin Kim | TED

112K views · 1mo ago · 7:39

Climate strategist Joojin Kim spent years convincing banks across South Korea to stop funding coal, and it worked. Now he's aiming that same playbook at a new target: maritime shipping, a hidden engine of the global economy — and one of the world's dirtiest industries. He breaks down how the whole system converges in one place and why redirecting finance could transform it into a driver of a clean economy worldwide.

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Why You Need the Growth Mindset of a Weed | Stephen Nobles | TED

77K views · 1mo ago · 15:49

Guest: TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers

Educator Stephen Nobles believes curiosity is the key to unlocking a student's potential. In conversation with TED's Whitney Pennington Rodgers, he encourages teachers to see every student through a lens of possibility — and asks what each of us might be missing when we let our assumptions go unchallenged. (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 9, 2025)

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Sometimes common ground starts with what both sides can’t afford to lose. #TEDTalks

24K views · 1mo ago · 2:04

What if the path to peace starts with self-interest? After four decades inside some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones, mediator Hiba Qasas has learned that most peacebuilding efforts get it wrong from the start. She makes a provocative case that conciliation shouldn't begin with empathy — and reveals how leading with shared incentives brought hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian leaders into active collaboration, even in the midst of war.

Why the Future is Human … Plus AI | Esther Perel and Sal Khan

111K views · 1mo ago · 20:48

As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can't a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED's vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to “emotional capitalism” and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty, the two explore if we’re getting better at living or just getting better at optimizing.

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How to Use Tech to Outsmart Dictators | Leopoldo López | TED

81K views · 1mo ago · 14:50

In seven years as a political prisoner in Venezuela, activist Leopoldo López kept asking one question: Who holds the keys to freedom? Now the leader of an alliance of dissidents and exiles from more than 60 countries, he makes the case that open-source, decentralized technology can put power into the hands of ordinary people. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 14, 2026)

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How Sharing Books Makes You Less Lonely | Rebecca Toh | TED

100K views · 1mo ago · 10:06

Does the fix for a fragmented world begin with a shared bookshelf? Photographer Rebecca Toh traces how she joined with 180 other people to build a community-funded library where strangers rent shelves, fill them with their personal collections and forge something rare: real connection. (Recorded at TEDxSingapore on December 4, 2024)

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The Shape-Shifting Sounds of the Accordion | Maria Telesheva | TED

149K views · 1mo ago · 8:06

Musician Maria Telesheva plays the accordion like a second set of lungs, showcasing this powerhouse instrument and its impressive 226 buttons — whether she’s playing Bach or the Beatles. In this talk and performance, she discusses how she fell in love with this musical acrobat and plays two beautiful songs. (Recorded at Play@TED on May 14, 2026)

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