How to Be a Better Human
TED
How To Be A Better Human isn’t your average self improvement podcast. Each week join Chris Duffy in conversation with guests and past speakers as they uncover sharp insights and give clear takeaways on how YOU can be a better human. From your work to your home and your head to your heart, How To Be a Better Human looks in unexpected places for new ways to improve and show up for one another. Inspired by the popular series of the same name on TED’s Ideas blog, How to Be a Better Human will help you become a better person from the comfort of your own headphones.Follow Chris on Instagram and TikTok at @chrisiduffy. Buy his book Humor Me at https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 2, 2026 • 1h 23min
Chris Duffy | from Design Matters
Chris Duffy, comedian, writer, and author of Humor Me, blends improv, teaching, and podcasting. He talks about how humor grew from seeking attention to building connection and resilience. Short stories range from teaching and improv to prank LinkedIn stunts. He outlines humor’s learnable pillars and its role in grief, politics, and staying human.
45 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 41min
How to add more exploration in your life (w/ Alex Hutchinson)
Alex Hutchinson, science journalist and author who studies human performance and curiosity. He talks about exploration as everyday choices, the biology behind our urge to seek novelty, and simple habits like turning off turn-by-turn directions. Short stories include a wild backpacking date and how exploring with kids reshaped his view of discovery.
64 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 39min
How to understand your own consciousness (w/ Michael Pollan)
Michael Pollan, journalist and author who explores food, plants, and consciousness, joins to probe what consciousness really is. He discusses psychedelics and animist thinking, plant sentience and time-scale perception, the paradox of selfhood and rumination, and practical ways to notice consciousness like lantern attention and tolerating boredom.
29 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 41min
How to find your purpose (w/ Yara Shahidi)
Yara Shahidi, actor and Harvard grad who co-created The Optimist Project, talks about practicing active optimism and why conversation and history sustain hope. She explains her 'Hard Yes' list, how to find your 'highest order' when choices get risky, and why studying deeply helps you speak responsibly. She also celebrates curiosity, eclectic interests, and being okay with being bad at things.
Mar 16, 2026 • 40min
How to find your purpose (w/ Yara Shahidi) (video)
Yara Shahidi, actress, producer, activist and Harvard grad, talks about optimism as practice, creating a “Hard Yes” list, and using a family ‘highest order’ tool to shape purpose. She reflects on studying before speaking up, balancing identities, and why curiosity and amateur play fuel meaningful work.
39 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 39min
How to understand money stuff (w/ Matt Levine)
Matt Levine, Bloomberg Money Stuff columnist who explains finance with wit. He unpacks commodity trading, futures, and how abstract prices link to real goods. They talk about what money really is, how AI might reshape wealth, crypto’s replay of old banking problems, and why humor helps make complex finance clear and entertaining.
63 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 43min
Your job or your sanity? How to not lose both (w/ Guy Winch)
Guy Winch, clinical psychologist and author of Mind Over Grind, returns to tackle work-related stress and burnout. He discusses why awareness has not curbed rising burnout. He explains how harsh labels and rumination worsen stress, how to reframe problems as solvable challenges, and practical steps to protect downtime and prevent overworking.
17 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 38min
How to be a caregiver (w/ Courtney Martin)
Courtney Martin, writer who reports on care systems and shares personal caregiving experience, reflects on caring for family through dementia. She explores how dementia reshapes presence and identity. She explains her solutions-journalism approach to care reform. She offers practical ideas for accepting help, making care sustainable, and meaningful ways to support caregivers.
86 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 37min
How to make (and keep) friends | from A Slight Change of Plans
Dr. Marisa Franco, psychologist and author of Platonic who studies the science of friendship. She talks about how friendships expand identity and boost health. She explains making adult friends intentionally, the mere-exposure effect and the liking gap. She covers mutuality, how conflict can strengthen bonds, navigating life changes, and kindly ending friendships.
57 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 38min
How to find true love (w/ Francesca Hogi)
Francesca Hogi, love coach and author who helps people examine romantic patterns and build self-worth. She discusses love as a lifelong skill, why inner beliefs shape dating outcomes, prioritizing how you are treated over checklists, and embracing authenticity to attract the right partners.
