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All talks by Rokia Traore
72 talks·9 years
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Diversity pragmatist Janet M. Stovall shares how we can foster a more diverse and inclusive work culture that empowers unique perspectives.
Forget home economics and standardized tests, education visionary Trish Millines Dziko has a much more engaging and fulfilling way for students to develop real-world skills. Get schooled by Dziko as she shares how project-based learning can transform public education and unlock genius for the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, ideators and leaders.
As the saying goes, less is more. The same goes for words. Listen as Politico and Axios co-founder Jim VandeHei shares what he's learned leading two media companies -- and how to radically rethink the way you write to keep people's attention in a distracted digital world.
Floods, droughts, heat waves and cold blasts -- why is the weather becoming more extreme? Environmentalist and "America's weatherman" Al Roker discusses the link between climate change and disruptions to weather patterns worldwide, followed by a conversation between Nobel laureate Al Gore and TED science curator David Biello about the science of extreme weather and emerging solutions to reduce the risk of these events. (This segment, introduced by radio researcher Latif Nasser, was part of TED's Countdown Global Livestream on October 30, 2021.)
Karim Abouelnaga is a TED Fellow and founder and CEO of Practice Makes Perfect, a summer school opportunity that helps narrow the education gap for low-income children. Through his work, Karim shows how small business owners can have a big impact.
In a series of stunning aerial photographs, Jamey Stillings presents his work documenting how renewable energy projects have shaped (and reshaped) the landscape -- from a solar plant in California to mining projects in the Atacama Desert of Chile.
We all want to know if we're normal -- do I have enough friends? Should it take me this long to get over my ex? Should I move or stay where I am? Endlessly curious data journalist Mona Chalabi needs to know, and she's ready to dive into the numbers to get some answers. But studies and spreadsheets don't tell the whole story, so she's consulting experts, strangers and even her mum to fill in the gaps. The answers might surprise you, and make you ask: Does normal even exist? Follow Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi wherever you get your podcasts.
How will the rise of artificial intelligence change our world? Former head of Google China Kai-Fu Lee and science-fiction writer Chen Qiufan (aka Stanley Chan) set out to answer this question in their new book "AI 2041: Ten Visions for the Future." In this wide-ranging discussion, they imagine different possibilities -- both from the imaginative lens of science fiction and with a perspective on what is actually plausible. (This conversation, hosted by TED technology curator Simone Ross, was part of a TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member.)
What does it take to persevere and succeed, not just in our careers but in all aspects of our lives? For psychologist Angela Duckworth, the answer can be summed up in one concept: grit. She explains the ingredients in grit and the experiences that make one person persist where another gives up -- and offers concrete steps to instill grit early in life and sustain it. Listen and subscribe to The TED Interview and more podcasts from the TED Audio Collective at audiocollective.ted.com.
Do you think Hollywood needs to change? How about your own industry? It's difficult to get decision makers to step outside of the tried-and-true and attempt something new. In this episode, host Chris Duffy sits down with Franklin Leonard -- founder and CEO of the Black List, a company that elevates great screenplays and the writers who create them -- to discuss how he shifted the way Hollywood works, and how anyone can catalyze change by questioning whether the conventional wisdom is all convention and no wisdom. Listen and subscribe to How to Be a Better Human and more podcasts from the TED Audio Collective at audiocollective.ted.com.
Capitalism urgently needs an upgrade, says PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, and it starts with paying people enough to actually invest in their futures. He explains the epiphany that led PayPal to create a whole new metric for adequate pay, Net Disposable Income, and why investing in employees' financial health is just good business. After the talk, host Modupe Akinola makes the case for going one step further and considering how fair pay might actually mean something pretty different for every employee. Listen and subscribe to "TED Business" and more podcasts from the TED Audio Collective at audiocollective.ted.com.
"Bask in the majesty of the kinks on the crown of my head," begins poet and activist Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey. Rich with lyricism, rhythm and strength, she delivers a powerful hymn to self, womanhood and fearlessness. Accompanied on guitar by Emmanuel Nii Quaye Aryee.
Traveling is tricky right now and, for most, the boundaries of our worlds have shrunk dramatically. So a lot of people are spending a lot more time in virtual places, like Sea of Thieves, Fortnite, Ultima Online and more. Explore how these online worlds help us push past real-world boundaries and have vastly new experiences, even become new versions of ourselves—all without leaving the comfort of home. (Audio only)
What challenges arise for women climbing the ranks in leadership, and what can they do to overcome them? TED's current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers sits down with Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne S. Bass, the first woman in history to serve as the highest-ranking non-commissioned member of a US military service, for a look inside the Air Force and how she got to where she is today.
In this rousing call to action, three participants of the Race To Zero -- a global campaign for cities, businesses, investors and individuals to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 -- discuss how we can move forward with speed and urgency to create a more fair, healthy and sustainable world. Watch as Miao Wang, United Nations Young Champion of the Earth; Alok Sharma, president of COP26; and Nigel Topping, UK High Level Climate Action Champion, COP26, show how people across the world are stepping up their climate ambition. Can we count you in? (With introductions from Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Chris Hemsworth)
The climate crisis demands leadership at every level. Governments, cities and businesses are three key players in designing and implementing the necessary transition -- and putting climate back on the political and social agenda. Session 2 of the Countdown Global Launch, hosted by Al Gore and Jaden Smith, features Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Ursula von der Leyen, Olafur Eliasson, Rebecca Henderson, Elif Shafak, Jesper Brodin, Pia Heidenmark Cook, Dave Clark, Kara Hurst, Aparna Nancherla, Carlos Moreno, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and Yemi Alade.
La crisis climática global requerirá que transformemos la forma en que actuamos, dice Su Santidad el Papa Francisco. En su visionaria charla TED desde la Ciudad del Vaticano, el líder espiritual propone tres cursos de acción para abordar los crecientes problemas ambientales y las desigualdades económicas en el mundo, ilustrando cómo todos podemos trabajar juntos, entre todas las religiones y sociedades, para proteger la Tierra y promover la dignidad de todos. "El futuro se construye hoy", dice, "y no se construye de forma aislada, sino en comunidad y en armonía". (Doblaje en español por Román Frontini. Para ver esta charla en inglés visite go.ted.com/popefrancis20 y en italiano visite go.ted.com/papafrancesco)
On this episode of ZigZag, host Manoush Zomorodi is joined by Eric Ries, who went from writing Silicon Valley's bible to building a stock market for social justice. Together, they examine why quarterly earnings reports cause anti-social behavior and how a new stock exchange in the US might present a systemic solution. As Eric says, this "will serve as inspiration to a new generation of civic entrepreneurs who will say: We don't have to take the institutions of our society as a given. We could try to build new and better ones." ZigZag, the business show about being human, is now a member of the TED family of podcasts. Listen or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
With grace and energy, musicians (and siblings) Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Isata Kanneh-Mason perform a dazzling arrangement of "The Muse" by Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov for cello and piano, followed by "Spring Song" by British composer Frank Bridge.
As the surreal reality of COVID-19 unfolded around the world, musician Damian Kulash and OK Go started working on a song, looking to art as a way to access something past the immediate anxiety of the moment while sheltering in place. Inspired by the ritual of raising a cheer for frontline workers every evening and some incongruous bouts of hope, the result is "All Together Now": a song and video that the band wrote and recorded together, separately from each of their homes.
Twenty years after the death of her father, famed Brazilian architect Roger Zmekhol, filmmaker Denise Zmekhol returned to her home country to learn more about how he brought mid-century modern design to Brazil and to see his celebrated "Pele de Vidro" (Skin of Glass) building. She tells the story of the building's complicated history and its fate.
Comedian Gina Brillon commands the stage with an uproarious stand-up performance, poking fun at everyday interactions and annoyances. "Have you ever had somebody say something wrong with such confidence that it made you question how you've been saying it your whole life?" she jokes.
When you think of telecommuting, you might think of a remote colleague's face in a tiny square on a screen. But with Jinha Lee's augmented reality platform, Spatial, distant coworkers can now teleport as digital avatars into a shared virtual space. Check out the incredible potential and possibilities for colleagues on different continents or in different time zones to collaborate as if they were physically together in a virtually enhanced workroom.
Wendy Troxel looks at the cultural expectations that pressure couples into sharing a bed and why some relationships would benefit from sleeping separately. This talk was filmed at TEDxManhattanBeach. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreading. To learn more about TEDxSHORTS, the TEDx program, or give feedback on this episode, please visit go.ted.com/tedxshorts.
At 26, Michael Tubbs ran for Mayor of Stockton, California, hoping to transform a city in crisis into a community of opportunity. He won. Mayor Tubbs breaks down how initiatives like universal basic income can free people from poverty, what being a good neighbor means in a democratic society, and why eradicating cycles of crime requires helping victims AND perpetrators. (Audio only)
Physician and 2017 TED Prize recipient Raj Panjabi shares an update on Last Mile Health and the mission to build and scale a network of community health workers who provide essential medical services to their neighbors. Learn how the movement is creating fair, meaningful jobs -- and an equitable health care system that reaches everyone.
In an enchanting lyrical rendition of William Blake's poem "Sleep Sleep Beauty Bright," singer Martha Redbone blends rhythm, blues and soul with traditional Native American music.
In a striking spoken-word performance, poet and thinker Maria Popova reads an excerpt from her book "Figuring," accompanied by cellist Dave Eggar and guitarist Chris Bruce. This stunning meditation on the interconnectivity of lives shatters "the illusion of separateness, of otherness."
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon joined TEDSummit in Edinburgh to deliver a visionary talk about making collective well-being the main aim of public policy and the economy. Watch the full talk at go.ted.com/nicolasturgeon. It was a charged week in UK politics; that same morning, Boris Johnson assumed office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. After the talk, Head of TED Chris Anderson joined First Minister Sturgeon to ask a few questions about the political situation in the UK.
How can parents ensure their children have a healthy relationship with technology? Social psychologist Sonia Livingstone suggests that the key lies in embracing technology alongside children -- and lays out a practical roadmap for how to get there.
For some communities, the technology, globalization and centralized government that was meant to bring us together has resulted in local disempowerment, leading to high rates of unemployment and crime. Economist Raghuram Rajan emphasizes the importance of decentralization and offers five key elements needed to restore and revive an ailing community.
We need to feel better about aging in order to age better, says writer and activist Carl Honoré. How? In this spirited talk, Honoré offers a set of simple solutions to combat ageism -- as well as a host of trailblazers and changemakers who came into their own later in life, from artists and musicians to physicists and business leaders.
Pianist ELEW and saxophonist Marcus Miller perform an ensnaring three-part set informed by their love of science, masterfully blending rock and jazz improv techniques. (Listen closely and you may also hear a take on Roger and Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things.")
Findlay Napier, Gillian Frame and Ali Hutton keep the Scottish folk tradition alive, performing "Jamie Raeburn," "Baloo Baleerie" and "Twa recruitin Sergeants" -- selections from "The Ledger", a series of songs collected by Napier's grandfather.
Scottish raconteur Mackenzie Dalrymple tells three spellbinding stories -- leading off with the origin of the flag of Scotland, the oldest flag in Europe.
Backed by his band the Mighty Embassy Ensemble, hip-hop artist, filmmaker and TED Fellow Samuel "Blitz" Bazawule delivers an electrifying, polyphonic performance of three songs: "Wahala," "Make You No Forget" and "Best I Can."
Visual artist, cellist and TED Fellow Paul Rucker performs a disarming rendition of "Criminalization of Survival," a piece he created to explore the fragile journey of life in light of the brutality of the immigration crisis.
"We are intricately connected by the most glorious of energies," says singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. Accompanied by Ray Angry on piano, Sandé sings three soaring ballads: "You Are Not Alone," "Extraordinary Being" and "Shine."
What would it take to live on Mars? In an imaginative talk, architect Bjarke Ingels shares his prototype Martian "city" in Dubai, where they're building technologies that humanity would need to thrive on the Red Planet.
Recent scientific developments have made possible things once attributed only to gods and mythologies. Artist and TED Fellow Hiromi Ozaki shows how she worked with scientists in biotechnology and genetic engineering to turn one myth -- the Red String of Fate -- into a reality.
TED Resident Keith Kirkland and his team at WearWorks use haptic technology to develop products and experiences that communicate information through touch. In 2017, they were faced with a seemingly impossible challenge: quickly develop a device for a blind ultra-marathon runner to compete -- unaided and unassisted -- in the New York City Marathon. Jennifer Brook, a design researcher at Dropbox, explains how the team at WearWorks navigated the challenges and tensions of designing this groundbreaking new technology.
Do schools kill creativity? Back in 2006, Sir Ken Robinson posed this question to the TED audience -- and boy, did it touch a nerve. More than fifty million views and a decade later, head of TED Chris Anderson sits down with Sir Ken to dig into the changes and progress that have been made, and to see if the answer now is any different. How are educators thinking about creativity these days? And why should creativity be a focus at all? With his characteristic verve, wit and sparkle, Sir Ken explains all. (Audio only)
Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective of more than 60 women, fill the TED World Theater with a rhapsodic performance of "The Rich Man's House" and "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed on Freedom)." They show us how joy can be an act of resistance.
How can we make space for marginalized communities to tell their stories? Raised by migrant farm workers, attorney Mónica Ramírez points out the injustices this often unseen and isolated group faces -- from wage theft and sexual harassment to dangerous working conditions -- and advocates for the solutions they need.
Every Google search or YouTube upload costs the global network both energy and resources. As Google's head of sustainability, it's Kate E. Brandt's job to strategize solutions that cut the cost on our environment and our economy. In an innovative talk, she dives into her plan to green up Google by creating a circular economy which reuses, recycles and eliminates waste altogether.
Multi-instrumentalist Ane Brun joins the Lyris Quartet to perform two haunting, mesmerizing songs: the cabaret-inspired "It All Starts With One" and folk-infused "You Light My Fire," with backing vocals from Rebecca Lichtenfeld.
Percussionist Simona Abdallah takes the stage with a rapturous bang of the darbuka, a drum of Middle Eastern origins traditionally played by men. With a striking sound and crisp beats, she plays two songs and invites everyone to join the rhythm.
Poverty, ecological devastation and oppressive systems are among some of the biggest issues facing America today. Reverend William Barber and Reverend Liz Theoharis believe that it's time to address these issues with a uniting approach. They've traveled the country, following and guiding the Poor People's Campaign: a wave of nonviolent civil disobedience first started by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their aim? To shift the narrative around poverty and empower all.
High school newspaper editors Neha Madhira and Haley Stack share how they fought back when their critical journalism faced the threat of censorship. Learn more about how their efforts expanded to lobbying for New Voices, a law which would extend First Amendment protections to student journalism, and which has now passed in multiple states.
Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman of Climbing PoeTree combine impactful poetry and sharp beatboxing in a spoken word performance of "Being Human." They're joined by the captivating vocals and instrumental melodies of Claudia Cuentas and Tonya Abernathy for "Awakening."
The algorithms we've created to make our lives more organized and less chaotic are also learning from our behavior -- and our biases. Roboticist Ayanna Howard explores ways we can train our tech to be fairer than us, asking: How can we be more accountable in our relationships with robots?
Imagine an extra brain that knows us better than we know ourselves, that exists "with us, beside us, experiencing our world with us ... always connected, always processing, always watching." Nivruti Rai believes that AI systems could become these kinds of guardian angels, if given the chance. In this future-forward talk, Rai explains how machine-learning could flourish once it's able to analyze complex traffic patterns.
Composer and pianist Renzo Vitale performs his piece "Drottning Kristina," bringing the audience along on a warm, meditative yet energetic instrumental journey that closely reflects the tempos of life.
What if words did more than just sit on a page or a screen? Graphic designer Stephen Doyle creates art that expands on the literal meanings of words. This playful talk could shift your perspective on how you see language.
"Be authentic" — that's what organizations, brands and people keep being told. But too often, following that advice can limit us, especially at work, says Herminia Ibarra, professor of organizational behavior. She proposes an expansive way to think about authenticity, one that will ensure we keep growing.
Estamos pescando más rápido que la capacidad de los peces de repoblar los mares, convirtiendo a nuestros océanos en zonas muertas. Pero el ecologista marino Enric Sala tiene un plan radical para salvar a los océanos y al mismo tiempo potenciar la industria pesquera. Él propone crear una reserva marina gigante que cubriría dos tercios de la superficie de los océanos y restauraría los beneficios ecológicos, económicos y sociales del mar.
Rebeca Hwang nació en Corea, se crió en Argentina y fue educada en los Estados Unidos. Como alguien que ha vivido identidades cambiantes, Hwang afirma que, aunque a veces sea desafiante, tener una identidad diversa en realidad es una ventaja. En su charla comparte cómo la diversidad interna de sus identidades le permite establecer conexiones con gente de todo tipo y cómo estas diversidades se puedan utilizar para unir a las personas, no para dividirlas.
As light passes through defective glass, beams split into color spectra, causing "diffraction grating." For the first time ever in film, we get up close and personal with this visual phenomenon in a series of beautiful chromatic abstractions. (Credits: Music: Gavin Little; Special thanks to: Ed Bruce at Screenscene, Los York; Executive Producer, TED2018 Film Program: Sinéad McDevitt; Director of Production and Video Operations, TED: Mina Sabet)
After 100 years of progress, AI bots have finally become too human for their own good. (Credits: Directors: Emerald Fennell & Chris Vernon; Director of Photography: Ben Kracun; Production Design: Jessica Sutton; VFX: Coffee & TV; Executive Producer, TED2018 Film Program: Sinéad McDevitt; Director of Production and Video Operations, TED: Mina Sabet)
We are what we spend. Social entrepreneur Andrew Youn sees this as an opportunity. His nonprofit, One Acre Fund, helps small farmers lift themselves out of poverty, with incredible results -- and it's grown three-fold in size since receiving investment from The Audacious Project. With cool candor, he imagines what could happen if we put just one percent more of our income toward social change.
Sarah Parcak hoped the power of the crowd could help accelerate archaeological discovery. See how 90-year-old Doris Mae Jones heard her call -- and jumped in to search more than 50,000 tiles in Expedition Peru. With cat assistants.
Jamie Oliver crystallized his vision for a food revolution in his TED Talk. At the Charlton Manor Primary School in London, head teacher Timothy Baker is putting his idea into action by offering not just food education but education centered on food.
Tyler Gilmore is a veteran of the Marines who vocally expressed his support for the trans ban. In this episode Dylan connects him to Maddie Makara, a veteran who served for 16 years and recently came out as a trans woman (Audio Only).
Group brainstorming is usually where creativity goes to die. But at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, they have it down to a science. Adam grant takes us behind the scenes in the writers' room to show how creative collaboration really works, and reveals what inspires people to share their best -- and worst -- ideas. This episode is brought to you by Warby Parker, Accenture, Bonobos and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Audio only)
"Being a psychologist studying empathy today is a little bit like being a climatologist studying the polar ice caps," says psychology professor Jamil Zaki. That's because according to research, our collective empathy is eroding. But there is good news: Empathy is a skill, it can be built, and he explains how he — and others — are doing just that.
Host Debbie Millman talks to author and researcher Brené Brown about belonging, courage, and vulnerability. Design Matters with Debbie Millman, the show about how incredibly creative people design the arc of their lives, is now a member of the TED family of podcasts through the TED Audio Collective. Listen or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Audio only).
Designers spend their days dreaming up better products and better worlds, and you can use their thinking to re-envision your own life, says design professor Bill Burnett. He shares five tips to try, whether you're at the start of your career or contemplating your next act.
Why do we dance? African-American social dances started as a way for enslaved Africans to keep cultural traditions alive and retain a sense of inner freedom. They remain an affirmation of identity and independence. In this electric demonstration, packed with live performances, choreographer, educator and TED Fellow Camille A. Brown explores what happens when communities let loose and express themselves by dancing together.
As actress Nicole Maines points out, we all unwittingly play supporting roles in each others' life stories -- for better or worse. With charm and aplomb, she shares her experience growing up as a trans youth, emphasizing the big and small ways community acceptance can affect the course of a deeply personal journey.
Singer Amanda Palmer pays tribute to the inimitable David Bowie with a cover of "Space Oddity." She's joined onstage by Jherek Bischoff, TED Fellow Usman Riaz and, no, your eyes are not deceiving you, none other than former Vice President Al Gore.
What color is a mirror? How much does a video weigh? Michael Stevens, creator of the popular educational YouTube channel Vsauce, spends his day asking quirky questions like these. In this talk he shows how asking the right -- seemingly silly -- questions can make incredibly effective lessons.
Exploring family history reveals deep connections between generations, uncovering how personal stories intertwine with broader environmental and cultural narratives of survival and transformation.