TED Radio Hour

Magdalena Höhler, a linguist who studies intercultural couples, explains how language shapes emotion, humor, and power in relationships. Alex Carter, a law professor and mediator, shares mediation techniques and practical questioning strategies. They discuss listening to stories, using open questions, the power of silence, steering relationships, language pitfalls in cross-cultural love, and building a shared microculture.

Anna Malaika Tubbs, sociologist and author of The Three Mothers, recovers the overlooked lives of the women who raised MLK Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin. She traces a pastor mother’s faith and activism, a Grenadian organizer’s brave resistance, and a single mother’s fierce love that propelled a writer to Paris. Short, powerful stories about motherhood, resilience and historical impact.

Maximilian Milovidov, a Gen Z advocate and Columbia student, pushes for open dialogue and tech literacy. Catherine Price, author on attention and wellbeing, offers ways to reclaim true fun off screens. Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist, argues for policy limits and design changes to protect youth. They debate bans, regulation, AI risks, practical parenting strategies, and how to foster real-world play.

Anil Anandaswamy, science writer who examines the neuroscience of self. Elise Hu, journalist who covers beauty culture and K-beauty trends. Dolly Chugh, social psychologist studying moral identity and ethical growth. David Suh, portrait photographer focused on natural posing and body confidence. They discuss how photos shape self-image, moral self-protection and growth, K-beauty’s global influence, and the brain’s constructed sense of self.

Maoz Inon, Israeli peace activist who builds dual-narrative dialogue; Aziz Abu Sarah, Palestinian speaker who chose reconciliation after personal loss; Aqeela Sherrills, community organizer who negotiated the LA gang ceasefire. They discuss moving from violence to trust, organizing ceasefires and community safety, and building shared narratives and practical roadmaps for peace.

Chance Kokenauer, a digital archaeologist who 3D scans endangered heritage. Amy Kurzweil, a cartoonist who built a chatbot from her grandfather’s archives. Pau Aleikum-Garcia, a technologist creating AI 'synthetic memories' for displaced communities. They discuss AI-made memories, chatbots from archives, 3D scanning of ruined monuments, ethical limits, cultural bias, and uses for migration and dementia.

This episode features Matt Pitcher, a financial advisor known for helping lottery winners navigate sudden wealth; Anindya Kundu, a sociologist studying the balance between personal agency and structural factors in student success; Jennifer Wallace, a journalist exploring how feeling valued impacts mental health; and Bill Burnett, a Stanford professor teaching life design. They discuss the complexities of control in life, the societal effects of wealth, the importance of support systems, and practical steps to create meaningful life plans.

Greg Gage is a neuroscientist who explores plant behaviors and even slime mold as a single-cell 'computer'. He reveals how the Venus flytrap counts to catch prey and how plants adapt their growth in response to touch. Frances Chance studies dragonfly brains, showcasing how they perform fast computations that could inspire energy-efficient AI. Keely Muscatell explains the connection between our immune system and social behavior, revealing how inflammation affects mood. Karen Bakker discusses decoding animal communications with AI, emphasizing the hidden wisdom found in nature.

Dr. Robert C. Green, a genomics researcher and co-founder of Nurture Genomics, discusses the groundbreaking BabySeq project that sequences infants' DNA to uncover hidden health risks. He highlights the balance between potential life-saving information and ethical dilemmas, such as privacy and the fear of eugenics. Parents share powerful stories of how early detection changed their child's health trajectory, while bioethicist Dr. Lainie Friedman Ross raises concerns about overdiagnosis and public trust in genomic testing. The conversation dives deep into the future of preventive genomics.

In this engaging conversation, Matt Wilson, a medical clown who lightens the mood in pediatric wards, shares fascinating stories about using play to help children cope with pain and fear. He emphasizes the importance of community and resilience in uncertain times. Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir, an Icelandic writer and filmmaker, explores the concept of intuition, advising listeners on how to reconnect with their inner guidance. Together, they highlight the transformative power of joy, empathy, and trust in navigating life's uncertainties.