TED Talks have a brand, and an impressive one at that. These "talks" are smart people saying smart things that other people either haven't noticed, have misinterpreted, or have ignored. In a way, it's a similar brand to Freakonomics, although with a disparate stylistic manner. On Freakonomics, the diagnosis or solutions to an issue are discussed and challenged. TED Talks are inspiring, yet one-way, monologues.
How about a collection of podcasts for those not trapped by confirmation bias, meandering into misinformation, and shackled to conventional wisdom?
The TED Audio Collective is a collection of podcasts for the curious. They're for listeners as excited by psychology and design as science and technology—who want to dig deep into today’s most exciting ideas.
Their hosts range from TED speakers with viral TED Talks to veteran podcast producers, doctors, and academics. What do all of our hosts have in common? They explore big ideas, foster debate, and inspire change on a global scale. The TED Audio Collective includes podcasts like TED Talks Daily, How to Be a Better Human, Conversations with People Who Hate Me, and more.
In this article, we'll look at two of this TED Collective podcasts -- TED Tech and TED Climate. First, there are as many technology podcasts as there are stars in the night sky. Yet, technology is such an expansive topic, you can make the argument that the sheer number of "tech" podcasts is entirely warranted. TED Tech guides listeners through the latest ideas from TED Speakers, uncovering the riveting questions that sit at the intersection of technology, society, science, design, business, and innovation.
Here is the TED elevator pitch: "From the construction of virtual realities to the internet of things to the watches on our wrists—technology's influence is everywhere. Its role in our lives is evolving fast, and we're faced with riveting questions and tough challenges that sit at the intersection of technology and humanity."
TED Tech has three attributes that other tech podcasts do not. First, the show goes beyond the typical "here's the latest gadget" narrative. Second, the show's music is unusually ear worthy for a tech podcast, with a jazzy guitar and synth music set to a quick tempo.
Host Sherrell Dorsey is an award-winning data journalist, entrepreneur, speaker, and author teaching the world to redefine who gets to create and participate in the future.
She founded The Plug in 2016, the first Black data-driven tech news publication to syndicate on the Bloomberg Terminal, which was acquired in 2023 by ImpactAlpha.
As the TED Tech podcast host, Dorsey provides her analysis and commentary on technologies changing society, and how these advancements can provide opportunities for more underserved Americans to participate in an increasingly automated and digital world.
Dorsey holds a Master's degree in data journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in international trade and marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
In Dorsey's own words: "I grew up in a single-parent household as an inner-city kid in Seattle’s south-end neighborhood. My grandfather, who hopped the bus from Detroit to Seattle in the 60s to work at Boeing for $2.38 cents an hour, bought me my first computer when I turned 8.
"At the age of 14, I learned how to code and landed my first of many summer internships at Microsoft. Those early years were formidable in helping me know how to create something from nothing."
Not the prototypical tech geek narrative.
What subjects are covered on TED Tech? There's a fascinating episode on replacing fossil fuel appliances with energy upgrader Donnel Baird in a February 2024 show.
Then a January 2024 show introduces listeners to battery recycling pioneer Emma Nehrenheim, who has developed a strategy to recycle an EV's battery and reduce the industry's environmental impact and the need for rare minerals for mining. Nehrenheim's process recycles all the minerals used in a EV battery to be used again so that destructive mining is eliminated. Of course, AI is a favorite topic, and deservedly so. My favorite episodes so far are the ones where the show delves into using technology to solve current problems.
Listen in every Friday as TED speakers explore the way tech shapes how we think about society, science, design, business, and more.
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TED Climate also joins an ever-growing field of climate podcasts. Like TED Tech, this podcast benefits from the skills of host Dan Kwartler, who is easy on the ears and asks our brains to think about our future.
I think it's a good show for climate deniers because it explains the why of climate change, details innovative solutions, and does not repeat "the sky is falling" message.
For example, last week the show revisited a talk by electrical engineer Ali Hajimiri, where he explains the principles behind wireless energy transfer and shares his far-out vision for launching flexible solar panels into space in order to collect sunlight, convert it to electrical power and then beam it down to Earth. Learn how this technology could power everything — and light up our world from space.
Here's the show's elevator pitch: "We get it. You care about the climate crisis—but sometimes thinking about it is just too overwhelming. Well, we’re here to help with that. Host Dan Kwartler unpacks the problems and solutions behind big systemic issues in bite-sized episodes."
What I like about the show is its realistic viewpoint that green energy solutions have tradeoffs, often significant ones. You’ll find out which bag is best for the planet, imagine our world without humans, and follow the international journey of the very shirt on your back. Yes, the show does talk about the bleak stuff—it’s a crisis after all—but they’ll also share little ways you can make changes in your daily life, in your towns and cities, and at your workplaces to help change climate change.
For example, in a February 2022 episode (episodes run only about 15 minutes) Denmark's Climate Minister Dan Jorgenson discusses the nation’s plan to end the country's oil industry by 2050. Sound crazy? It's not. Listen.
Another great episode is an April 2024 show titled, "How we could eat red meat with harming animals." This is a show for carnivores. Again, only 14 minutes, Isha Datar details how cellular agriculture could fundamentally change our food systems for the better. Burgers for everyone!
I enjoyed the May 1, 2024, episode with "biomaterials investigator" (Is that Fox Mulder for fashion?) Dan Widemaier introduces a leather alternative made from mushrooms. Recycled waste make new sustainable fashion products because color sorting eliminates the need for re-dying, saving energy, and reducing pollution. Textiles are then shredded or pulled into fibers, with other fibers occasionally introduced into the yarn. Shredded materials are pulled into fibers. Other fibers may be added to the yarn depending on its intended usage.
Listeners can also get involved by joining Countdown, TED’s global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis in collaboration with Future Stewards. Find out more at countdown.ted.com
Check out TED Tech and Ted Climate podcasts. The commonality of these podcasts is that they identify key issues in our world, use a cost-benefit analysis to advocate for innovative solutions, and believe that intellectual curiosity is an attribute to be cultivated, not mocked.
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