How to be smarter about the news | Ian Bremmer
23 May - 52 minsPolitical scientist Ian Bremmer has access to the rooms, conversations and world leaders who make the news of the day. So how does he stay on top of everything that’s going on? In conversation with TED’s Helen Walters, Bremmer opens up about how he thinks about sources, how he avoids getting spun — and what we can all do to think more clearly about the news. (This interview was recorded on May 20, 2026.)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Series Episodes
Why depression isn't what you think | Lisa Monteggia
The idea that depression comes from a chemical imbalance in the brain has shaped treatment for decades. Neuroscientist Lisa Monteggia shares research suggesting that's not the whole story — and shows how a decades-old drug could upend what we thought we knew about depression, with the potential to offer relief within hours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
15 mins
11 July Finished
The deadly threat affecting millions — and how to prevent it | Drew McCartor
Lead poisoning robs the world's kids of millions of IQ points a day and kills more people than wars, natural disasters and road accidents combined — yet we treat it as a problem we've already solved. Drew McCartor, who runs the nonprofit Pure Earth, has spent nearly two decades proving it doesn't have to be this way. He presents their three-step fix that's already working in places from Georgia to Ghana, and makes the case that we can finally beat a crisis hiding in plain sight. (This ambitious idea is part of The Audacious Project, TED’s initiative to inspire and fund global change.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17 mins
10 July Finished
Why winning doesn't always equal success | Valorie Kondos Field (re-release)
Valorie Kondos Field knows a lot about winning. As the longtime coach of the UCLA women's gymnastics team, she won championship after championship and has been widely acclaimed for her leadership. In this inspiring, brutally honest and, at times, gut-wrenching talk, she shares the secret to her success. Hint: it has nothing to do with "winning." (This episode originally aired in 2021.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
17 mins
9 July Finished
Confessions of an accidental killer | Gregg Ward
Author Gregg Ward spent decades grappling with guilt from a personal tragedy before recognizing a different path forward — where purpose replaced self-punishment. What he learned about transforming regret into positive change might make you rethink your own mistakes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
13 mins
8 July Finished
Does working hard really make you a good person? | Azim Shariff (re-release)
Around the world, people who work hard are often seen as morally good -- even if they produce little to no results. Social psychologist Azim Shariff analyzes the roots of this belief and suggests a shift towards a more meaningful way to think about effort, rather than admiring work for work's sake. (This episode originally aired in 2023.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14 mins
7 July Finished
The kind of AI we actually need | Van Jones
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
18 mins
6 July Finished
