Kevin Townley is a meditation teacher. But he?s also a comedian who leads museum tours and an actor whose career spans Men in Black 3 and Law & Order. In today?s episode, Kevin talks about how to practice the art of looking and the deep Buddhist wisdom that can be found in every museum. Inspired by his book Look, Look, Look, Look, Look Again: Buddhist Wisdom Reflected in 26 Artists, Kevin shows Chris how letting go of judgment?and engaging Buddhist principles?can change the way we view the world and find belonging.

Host & Guest

Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | https://chrisduffycomedy.com/)

Kevin Townley (Instagram: @kevintownleyjr | Website: https://www.kevintownley.nyc/home) 

Links

Humor Me by Chris Duffy: https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL

Look, Look, Look, Look, Look Again by Kevin Townley (https://www.amazon.com/Look-Again-Buddhist-Reflected-Artists/dp/1736943901)

Follow TED! 

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Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Can our dogs feel guilt? Or have they successfully trained us with their puppy eyes to win a treat and extra kibble? Alexandra Horowitz is a researcher and head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College; she joins Chris to chat about how dogs make us laugh and ways to be more present in life.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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For the past five seasons, host Chris Duffy has been interviewing guests from psychotherapist Dr. Orna Guralnik to poet Sarah Kay to author Andrew Leland and more on how they work to become better humans. In this special episode kicking off season 6, Chris is now in the hot seat. Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR?s TED Radio Hour, joins as guest host to interview Chris on finding joy and how a 5th grader taught Chris humor. They also discuss Chris? debut book Humor Me and the lessons he learned from hosting the podcast throughout the years.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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After a mysterious wave of tics and twitches swept through a small-town high school in New York, documentary podcaster Dan Taberski set out to investigate what was really happening. Drawing on extensive research and intimate interviews with the people involved, he explores the roots of mass hysteria ? and what it reveals about the line between illness and belonging. What happens when the very thing that makes us sick ... is also what connects us?

After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dan on how his research into the mysterious Havana Syndrome leads to his unearthing of a similar mass hysteria in Le Roy, New York. They also discuss how storytelling can reshape discourse surrounding medicine and what happens when the person experiencing an illness feels unheard and unsupported by the very medical professionals supposed to care for them?

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Relationships of any kind can be tricky?but therapists are here to help. In this special episode, Anne and Frances talk to clinical psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik, star of the hit show Couples Therapy, to translate her advice for romantic relationships to the professional world. Together, they discuss the art of deep listening, underline the importance of patience and working through differences, and reframe relationships as a constant cycle of rupture and repair. Dr. Guralnik also reflects on the making of Couples Therapy and gives Anne and Frances advice as a couple who work together.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Many of us are entering the new year with a similar goal ? to build community and connect more with others. To kick off season five, Priya Parker shares ideas on how to be the host with the most. An expert on building connection, Priya is the author of ?The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters.? Whether it's a book club, wedding, birthday or niche-and-obscurely themed party, Priya and Chris talk about how to create meaningful and fun experiences for all of your guests ? including yourself.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Remember those fun high school superlatives like the ?Class Clown? or the ?Biggest Flirt?? In this special How to Be a Better Human season finale, you will be hearing from our previous guest Dallas Youth Poet Laureate Naisha Randhar and our team of editors, marketers, producers, fact-checkers and more on their favorite episodes this year. 

How to Be a Better Human 2025 Superlatives

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Money can buy you happiness ? but not in the way we think. Giving money away ? especially to help others ? has been shown make us happier than spending on ourselves.

Social psychologist Lara Aknin explains the best ways to spend on loved ones, friends and even total strangers to get the biggest happiness bang for your buck.

And Harvard?s Josh Greene reveals how much money Happiness Lab listeners gave to charity via Giving Multiplier last year ? and how many lives you saved.

Pods Fight Poverty: https://GiveDirectly.org/betterhuman

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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What makes a hometown home, and how do you find community? Sarah Kay is a spoken word poet and author of the latest poetry collection, A Little Daylight Left. Sarah and Chris grew up in New York City where the energetic and diverse community shaped their lives. They discuss how to find belonging in new neighborhoods, how to focus on creating art and being empathetic when it feels like the world is chaotic, and how to take note of the small things in life that bring them joy.

Host & Guest

Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | https://chrisduffycomedy.com/)

Sarah Kay (Instagram: @kaysarahsera | https://kaysarahsera.com/)

Links

Humor Me by Chris Duffy: https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL

Follow TED! 

X: https://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TED

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks 

Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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If you remove ingredients like dairy, wheat, flour, cane sugar, beef, pork, and chicken from your diet?then what do you eat? For Sioux chef Sean Sherman, excluding colonial ingredients from his cuisines gives him the opportunity to spotlight indigenous produce and uplift local communities. Sean is the owner of the James Beard Award-winning restaurant Owamni in Minneapolis. Sean joins Chris to discuss the philosophy behind his indigenous restaurant, where he thinks the American education system falls short, and how he is using food to reclaim indigenous history.

This episode is part of a series of bonus videos from "How to Be a Better Human." You can watch the extended video companion on the TED YouTube Channel and the extended interview on the TED Audio Collective YouTube Channel.

Watch

Sean cooking Indigenous foods: https://youtu.be/p0IpMqUZKbs

Chris extended interview: TBA

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | https://chrisduffycomedy.com/)

Guests:

Sean Sherman (Instagram: @the_sioux_chef and @siouxchef | https://seansherman.com/)  

Linda Black Elk (Instagram: @linda.black.elk

Links

Humor Me by Chris Duffy (https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL)

Instagram: @owamni | Facebook: @Owamni - By The Sioux Chef | https://owamni.com/

Instagram: @natifs_org | Facebook: @NATIFSorg | https://natifs.org/

Follow TED! 

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks 

Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Where do you belong and what does community mean to you? These are the central questions Chris asks poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib while visiting Hanif?s hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Hanif is a poet and essayist of many notable works such as They Can?t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, A Fortune for Your Disaster, and A Little Devil in America, among others. Hanif joins Chris to share his love for the city Columbus, what it means to be cared for by community members, and how spending time with others can show you how to love them better. 

This episode is part of a series of bonus videos from "How to Be a Better Human." You can watch the extended video companion on the TED YouTube Channel and the extended interview on the TED Audio Collective YouTube Channel.

?Watch

Hanif shows Chris and Sarah his hometown: https://youtu.be/xGJe_eRw2Ao

Extended interview with Chris: https://youtu.be/hl-5PGuwEBg

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | https://chrisduffycomedy.com/)

Guest: 

Hanif Abdurraqib (Instagram: @nifmuhammad | https://www.abdurraqib.com/)

Sarah Kay (Instagram: @kaysarahsera | https://kaysarahsera.com/)

Links

Humor Me by Chris Duffy (https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL)

Follow TED! 

X: https://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TED

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks 

Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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?All couples fight. In fact, how they fight in the first three minutes predicts with 96% accuracy not only how the rest of the conversation will go, but how the rest of the relationship will go six years down the road,? says relationship expert Dr. Julie Gottman. Dr. Julie and John Gottman are founders of the Gottman Institute and the Love Lab where they study how to sustain love and health in relationships. They join Chris to discuss why more people now than ever are deciding to go solo, what a healthy end to a conflict looks like, and the 52 questions you should ask your partner before getting married.

This episode is part of a series of bonus videos from "How to Be a Better Human." You can watch the extended video companion on the TED YouTube Channel and the extended interview on the TED Audio Collective YouTube Channel.

Watch

Julie and John answer listeners' questions: https://youtu.be/nJ4RtT0T_BA

Extended interview with Chris: https://youtu.be/CxW0JRAw8bk

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | https://chrisduffycomedy.com/)

Guest: Dr. Julie and John Gottman

Links

Humor Me by Chris Duffy (https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL)

https://www.gottman.com/

Instagram: @thegottmaninstitute

YouTube: @TheGottmanInstitute

Linkedin: @the-gottman-institute

TikTok: @thegottmaninstitute

Follow TED! 

X: https://www.twitter.com/TEDTalks

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks 

Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Edith Zimmerman is a sketchbook cartoonist and writer of the Substack newsletter, Drawing Links. In this episode, she joins Chris to talk about honesty and self-discovery. From sharing her artwork to discussing her sobriety journey to falling in love with running, Edith and Chris explore how creativity and pursuing new activities can help you overcome personal challenges.

This episode is part of the How to Be a Better Human Bonus Videos series. You can find the extended video companion on the TED YouTube Channel.

Watch

Edith draw and go running with Chris: https://youtu.be/1jWA3mE5o9Y

Edith and Chris' interview: https://youtu.be/U_tOmuja0w8

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Edith Zimmerman (Instagram: @edithzimmermans | Website: https://www.edithzimmerman.com/) 

Links

https://drawinglinks.substack.com/

Stop Drinking Now by Allen Carr

Subscribe to TED 

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Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

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Did you know that you start losing bone AND muscle mass as soon as the age of thirty? Or that your fingers and toes don?t have muscles? Or how women in Scotland are starting to compete in the lighting of Dinnie Stones ? which weighs 733 pounds?! These are topics that Chris discussed with Bonnie Tsui, author of the book On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters. They also discuss what strength and weightlifting means in today?s society ? especially as more women enter the sport. Bonnie and Chris also discuss studying martial arts, playing on sports teams, and the benefits of functional mobility as you age.

Watch

Bonnie teaches Chris to surf: https://youtu.be/YOryOy1qL00

Bonnie and Chris' interview: https://youtu.be/Z3WnwLtVUes

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | https://chrisduffycomedy.com/)

Guest: Bonnie Tsui (Instagram: @bonnietsui8 | Website: https://www.bonnietsui.com/)

Links

Humor Me by Chris Duffy (https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL)

Buy Bonnie's book On Muscle: https://tinyurl.com/onmuscle

Newsletter: https://www.bonnietsui.com/events

Other handles:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnietsui

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-tsui-71a57775

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@bonnietsui8

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bonnietsui

Follow TED! 

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Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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How do you quit people-pleasing? Internet filmmaker Baron Ryan and family therapist Stephanie R. Yates-Anyabwile unpack the all-too-common fear of rejection and explore the practices necessary to reclaim your ability to finally say ?no? and stop caring about what other people think. (This conversation is part of ?TED Intersections,? a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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This is the surprising story of how Texas ? rich in oil and gas ? became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush?s right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innovative approach that turned Texas into a renewable energy powerhouse. It?s a story about what could get done before partisan politics got in the way of good climate policy, and it shows that economic incentives for consumers, government, and companies can play a huge role in supercharging clean energy.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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The real lever of a meaningful life isn?t intelligence or hustle ? it?s personal agency, says Cate Hall, former Supreme Court attorney and once the world?s top-ranked female poker player. Sharing her journey from the throes of addiction to leading a multibillion-dollar foundation, Hall shares tactical wisdom for increasing your ability to see and act on life's hidden degrees of freedom, showing how even the most trapped among us can discover a path to fulfillment.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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How often do you connect with different people each week? How many many close relationships do you aim to cultivate during those connections? And how long do these interactions last? Kasley Killam has the perfect guide to help you build better social connections ? the 5-3-1 Rule. Kasley is a social scientist and the author of The Art of Science and Connection. Kasley joins Chris to discuss the future of social connection ? why do we invest in physical health but not social health? And what happens when you substitute companionship for AI chatbots? Kasley shares tips on how to connect with your community and rethink social norms on technology.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Kasley Killam (Instagram: @kasleykillam | LinkedIn: @kasleykillam | Website: https://www.kasleykillam.com/) 

Links

TED Talk: Why social health is key to happiness and longevity

Substack: Social Health with Kasley Killam

Book: https://www.kasleykillam.com/social-health-book

Newsletter: https://www.kasleykillam.com/newsletter

Subscribe to TED 

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Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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How do you raise confident and capable children in a seemingly scary and unsafe world? According to Lenore Skenazy, the solution is simple yet controversial ? you leave the kids alone. Lenore is the president of Let Grow and the founder of the Free Range Kids Movement where she argues that parents don?t need to hover over their kids as much because they?ll be more than okay ? they?ll thrive. Chris and Lenore discuss why overprotecting kids can backfire, how parents might be unintentionally stifling children?s innate curiosity, and why one of the best tools to teach kids is to step away and let them learn and problem-solve themselves.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Lenore Skenazy (Instagram: @lenoreskenazy_freerange | LinkedIn: @lenoreskenazy | Website: https://www.freerangekids.com/) 

Links

Instagram: @letgroworg

LinkedIn: @letgrow

Join Let Grow (free!): https://letgrow.org/join

Facebook Group: Raising Independent Kids Facebook Group

Book: Free Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow

Lenore's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whaesnYloMQ

Subscribe to TED 

Instagram: @ted

YouTube: @TED

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LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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What?s more important in communication? the content or the delivery? Julian Treasure is a five-time TED speaker and the author of Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet, and he argues conscious listening is an invaluable tool for elevating conversations. Julian joins Chris to give advice on how to speak better, the listening method that could save your marriage, and how to be comfortable in silence.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Julian Treasure (Instagram: @juliantreasure | LinkedIn: @juliantreasure | Website: https://www.juliantreasure.com/) 

Links

Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet 

How to Be Heard

Subscribe to TED 

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YouTube: @TED

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LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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What makes some people supercommunicators? How can you become one too? This is the central lesson in Charles Duhigg?s bestseller Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret of Communication. Charles and Chris dissect what makes messy conversations so great, how to ask deep questions, and whether women and men communicate differently. They also discuss the different rules for different technologies ? from telephones to Facebook to Signal ? and how cautious politeness may be the best method to communicate effectively online.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Charles Duhigg (Instagram: @charlesduhigg | LinkedIn: @charlesduhigg | Website: https://charlesduhigg.com/) 

Links

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Subscribe to TED 

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YouTube: @TED

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Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Is it effective to engage with politics on social media ? and what does it take to make actual change? Katherine Cross is a researcher on online harassment and the author of Log Off: Why Posting and Politics (Almost) Never Mix. She shares why she believes social media is ?anti-political? and how virtual engagement will not achieve the necessary political work for us. Katherine and Chris also discuss the limitations of short-form content in conveying decades of geopolitical strife, why our lives would be better off without social media, and the guardrails platforms could utilize to help users engage with posts critically and to slow down viral misinformation. 

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Katherine Cross (Website: ischool.uw.edu/people/phd/profile/kcross1) 

Links

Log Off Why Posting and Politics (Almost) Never Mix

Subscribe to TED 

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YouTube: @TED

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LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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What will dating look like in the age of AI? Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder and CEO of Bumble, the popular dating app that has helped millions of people meet their match. In this episode, Whitney chats with Adam about her vision for the future of dating online and offline, her decision to take a break from leading Bumble, and the importance of platonic love. They also debate whether or not you have to learn to love yourself before loving someone else, and imagine a world in which AI agents vet potential partners before a first date.

Follow

Host: Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: adamgrant.net/)

Guest: Whitney Wolfe Herd (Instagram: @whitney) 

Links

bumble.com

Subscribe to TED 

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Website: ted.com

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For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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When someone you love is going through a difficult time, what do you say? Despite your best intentions, author Katherine May argues offering help or shying away from tough conversations isn?t as effective as you think. Katherine is the author of the memoir, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, and its latest companion piece, Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age. Chris and Katherine share how humor may sometimes be a good medicine and how to live alongside life?s difficulties.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Katherine May (Instagram: @katherinemay_ | Website: katherine-may.co.uk/) 

Links

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times (UK Bookshop / US & CAN Bookshop)

Enchantment: Reawakening Wonder in an Exhausted Age (UK Bookshop / US & CAN Bookshop)

Subscribe to TED 

Instagram: @ted

YouTube: @TED

TikTok: @tedtoks

LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What parts of yourself did you lose as you grew up? This is one of the central questions asked in Ashley C. Ford?s memoir, Somebody?s Daughter. Ashley joins Chris to talk about growing up with an incarcerated father, grappling with a complicated relationship with her mother, and how writing can be a way of processing and understanding your life. They also discussed why adults become less kind to kids, how libraries can become safezones, and how to confront the messy parts of childhood.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Ashley C. Ford (Instagram: @smashfizzle | Website: ashleycford.net/) 

Links

Somebody?s Daughter

Subscribe to TED 

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Website: ted.com

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For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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What makes kids so joyful? Why do polka-dots and bright colors invoke feelings of joy? How do our senses shape our experience of joy? These are questions designer Ingrid Fetell Lee studies. Ingrid is the author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness and the blog, The Aesthetics of Joy. Chris and Ingrid ruminate on how joy differs from happiness and how infectious joy can be ? so much so that the simple act of sharing your joy with others can even spark second-hand joy!

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Ingrid Fetell Lee (Instagram: @ingridfetell | @aestheticsofjoy) 

Links

Book: Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness

aestheticsofjoy.com/

Subscribe to TED 

Instagram: @ted

YouTube: @TED

TikTok: @tedtoks

LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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?People are expected to have good friendships, but nobody talks about how they happen,? says journalist Aminatou Sow. Aminatou is also the host of the podcast Call Your Girlfriend and the author of the book Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close. She joins Chris to discuss the communication efforts necessary to maintain meaningful friendships, why she rejects Western society?s obsession with self-improvement, the insights she gained from reading obituaries and the act of grace in sharing bits of yourself with others.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Aminatou Sow (Instagram: @aminatou) 

Links

Crème de la Crème Substack

Book: bigfriendship.com/

Podcast: callyourgirlfriend.com/

Subscribe to TED 

Instagram: @ted

YouTube: @TED

TikTok: @tedtoks

LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Humor is all around us? you only need to be intentional about seeking moments of laughter and joy in your life. In this special compilation episode on humor, Chris shares six short snippets from his conversation with thoughtful guests such as TikTok forager Alexis Nikole Nelson, meditation and happiness journalist Dan Harris, peace activist Aziz Abu-Sarah and more on how they flex their laughing muscles. From foraging mugwort to drawing a stranger for 60-seconds, Chris and his guests encourage you to practice mindfulness and embrace the spectacle of life.

Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guests:

Alexis Nikole Nelson (Instagram: @blackforager | TikTok: @alexisnikole | YouTube: @blackforager)

Dan Harris (Instagram: @danharris | Website: danharris.com)

Wendy MacNaughton (Instagram: @wendymac)

Laurel Braitman (Instagram: @laurel_braitman | Website: laurelbraitman.com/)

Lear deBessonet (Website: lct.org/shows/people/lear-debessonet/)

Dave Nadelberg (Instagram: @davenadelberg | Website: getmortified.com/)

Neil Katcher (Instagram: @neilkatcher | LinkedIn: @neilkatcher | Website: getmortified.com/) 

Aziz Abu-Sarah (Instagram: @azizabusarah | Website: azizabusarah.com/)

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We often think donating clothes is a sustainable act, but when tons of garments are shipped to places like West Africa, it creates environmental waste and disrupts local artisans? livelihoods. Diarra Bousso, a mathematician and sustainable fashion designer, joins Chris to unpack the hidden cost of global textiles waste and how she founded her lifestyle brand Diarrablu. She shares how she designs with emotional sustainability in mind ? creating clothes that adjust to our changing body while showcasing Sengalese?s bold colors and prints. They also discuss how mathematical concepts influence her work, how technology and AI might help designers reduce waste, and why it?s important to make clothes that make you feel good.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Diarra Bousso (Instagram: @thediarrablu | LinkedIn: @diarrabousso | Website: diarrabousso.com/) 

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diarrablu.com

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Sarah Jaffe is the author of Work Won?t Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keep Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone. She and Chris discuss the emotional toll of modern work culture and the importance of community. They also dive into Sarah?s newest book, From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire, and explore the idea that between pandemics, climate change, and economic inequality, many of us are feeling a huge (and often unacknowledged sense of grief. Sarah explains the concept of ?disenfranchised grief? and how collective mourning can invite meaningful social connections.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Sarah Jaffe (Instagram: @sarahljaffe | Website: sarahljaffe.com/) 

Links

From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire

Work Won?t Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keep Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone

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Widely recognized as a musical genius and once-in-a-generation talent, Jon Batiste is one of history?s most brilliant, prolific, and accomplished musicians. The Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar-winning star joins to discuss his legendary career, connecting people through a shared love of music. This episode originally aired on Design Matters March 31, 2025.

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What is the aspect of being you that you cling to most tightly? Why are you you and not somebody else? How do you understand and make sense of your experiences? These are questions studied by Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience and the University of Sussex. Anil and Chris reflect on the limitations in describing the brain as a ?supercomputer,? the ethical and morally grey areas of technological advancements and brain computer interfaces, and how hallucinogenic drugs affect consciousness.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Anil Seth (Instagram: @profanilseth | LinkedIn: @anilseth | Website: https://www.anilseth.com/) 

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Being You: A New Science of Consciousness

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Austin Kleon thinks stealing inspiration is a good thing ? because it requires you to pay attention to the world. Austin is a self-proclaimed ?creative kleptomaniac? and the author of five books, including Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative. In his conversation with Chris, they discuss ?scenius,? or the creative genius of a group, how children are invaluable creative teachers, and why he thrives in the tension between discipline and spontaneity.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Austin Kleon (Instagram: @austinkleon | Website: https://austinkleon.com/) 

Links

Austin Kleon?s Substack

Steal Like an Artist (Book)

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?If you?re a good designer in five or ten years, you?re gonna want to look back on your portfolio with horror and nostalgia and somewhat amusement? because you want to be growing,? says illustrator Debbie Millman. Debbie is the host of the longest running podcast, Design Matters, and the author of the book, Love Letter to a Garden. In this episode, authenticity and growth are at the forefront. Debbie talks about the loss of humanity with the rise of personal branding, how her fascination with origin stories and the universe led her to gardening, and her advocacy with the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization working to help sexual assault victims heal and reclaim their lives.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Debbie Millman (Instagram: @debbiemillman | LinkedIn: @deborahmillman | Website: debbiemillman.com/) 

Links

Love Letter to a Garden (Bookshop.org)

joyfulheartfoundation.org/

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Ethan Lindenberger never got vaccinated as a kid. So one day, he went on Reddit and asked a simple question: "Where do I go to get vaccinated?" The post went viral, landing Lindenberger in the middle of a heated debate about vaccination and, ultimately, in front of a US Senate committee. Less than a year later, the high school senior reports back on his unexpected time in the spotlight and a new movement he's leading to fight misinformation and advocate for scientific truth.

After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dr. Jennifer Reich, a sociologist, and asks the question, ?Where has vaccine mistrust come from?? -- and how transparency in clinical trials and federal advisory boards are key in gaining community trust.

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Heather Havrilesky is the author of the book Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage. She?s also the writer behind the advice columns ?Ask Polly,? and ?Ask Molly,? which is written by Polly?s mischievous alterego. In this episode, Heather and Chris navigate how to showcase your whole self ? even if it means embracing the messy parts ? and how leaning into contradictions can make you happier and healthier. They also discuss how most people?s twenties are a disaster, how to write in a way that feels true, and why it?s necessary to laugh at your own ridiculousness.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Heather Havrilesky (Instagram: @heatherhav) 

Links

ask-polly.com

Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage

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Dawn Burrell is a celebrated long jumper, an Olympic athlete, and a chef?s whose cooking made her a semifinalist for a James Beard Award ? and these are just a sampling of her many accolades. In this episode, Dawn talks about how she navigated the career shift from athlete to chef, redefining success for herself, and finding joy and fulfillment in the kitchen cooking for others. She and Chris also discuss ways to grow from failure, build confidence, and the creative process of starting something new ? whether it?s a career or a recipe.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Dawn Burrell (Instagram: @chefdawnburrell | Facebook: @chefdawnburrell | LinkedIn: @dawnburrell) 

Links

chefdawnburrell.com/

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It?s extremely difficult to move past anger and hurt driving you towards revenge. War, violence, and suffering are driven by that cycle of emotions. Palestinian author, peacemaker, and entrepreneur Aziz Abu Sarah knows the feelings well, but from his own life experiences, he shares his belief that peace is achievable and another way forward is possible. In this episode, Aziz tells his story and explains his work to bring even the most seemingly intractable conflicts to a resolution that allows for justice, reconciliation, and safety for all.

This episode originally aired September 9, 2024.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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What would it look like if we took friendship as seriously as we take romance? Rhaina Cohen, author of the book The Other Significant Others: Reimagine Life with Friendship at the Center, talks to Chris about the value of platonic relationships. They get into everything from offloading expectations from a romantic partner onto a friend can help improve relationships to how to cope with the loss of a friend to what to do when politics divide friendships. If you want to develop your friendships, Rhaina has tons of practical tips and advice.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Rhaina Cohen (Instagram: @rhainacohen | LinkedIn: @rhainacohen | Website: rhainacohen.com/) 

Links

Bookshop.org: The Other Significant Others

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Why is American culture so fascinated with psychopathic people and true crime stories? Why don?t billionaires give more? What makes some people so generous that they?d undergo surgery to donate an organ to a complete stranger? These are the kinds of questions that Abigail Marsh, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University, studies. Chris and Abigail discuss the brain differences between extreme altruists and psychopathic individuals, why psychopathic traits do not necessarily correlate with aggression, how parents can support children with behavioral issues, and what we can all do to train ourselves to be more altruistic.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Abigail Marsh PhD (LinkedIn: @abigail-marsh) 

Links

abigailmarsh.com/

disordersofaggression.org

Bookshop.org: The Fear Factor

TED Talk: Why some people are more altruistic than others

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What is a romantic relationship ?supposed? to look like? How do you feel when your relationship doesn?t check all the boxes? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile talks about everything from how to get into couples counseling to navigating hard conversations to understanding the difference between relationship dynamics in reality and on reality TV (which she actually loves and thinks there?s a lot to learn from watching).

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Host: Chris Duffy (@chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Stephanie Yates-Anyabwile (Instagram: @_steph.anya | Youtube: @stephanya) 

Links

whatsanyamind.com/

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What do we gain from a long walk? Craig Mod is a photographer and writer who has done treks and pilgrimages around the world. From the Camino de Santiago to the Old T?kaid? Road, Craig Mod transforms the simple act of walking into a meditative journey and creative practice. In his new book, Things Become Other Things, Craig chronicles a long distance journey on foot in Japan where he lives. In this conversation, Craig talks about the presence, mindset, and meditation of walking. He talks about the role that boredom plays in sparking creativity and the social conditions that allow for people to have the time, space, and flexibility to pursue their best selves.

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Host: Chris Duffy (@chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Craig Mod (Instagram: @craigmod | LinkedIn: @craigmod | Website: craigmod.com) 

Links

Books by Craig Mod (craigmod.com/books)

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The future could be amazing, if we get it right. That?s so rarely how we think about it though. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist and author of the anthology What If We Get it Right?, is constantly collecting visions of the future and of climate solutions that are worth working towards together. Chris and Ayana talk about how to find your unique role in climate activism, the media?s responsibility in reporting climate-solution-focused news, and how to emphasize climate solutions rather than only catastrophizing the crisis. This is an episode all about what needs to be done, what you can do, and the world we could build together.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (Instagram: @ayanaeliza | LinkedIn: @ayanaelizabeth | ayanaelizabeth.com) 

Links

ayanaelizabeth.substack.com

Getitright.earth

Bookshop.org What If We Get It Right? 

urbanoceanlab.org

Listen to Ayana's podcast, What If We Get it Right?, on Apple or Spotify!

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Roses are red, violets are blue, has poetry ever been intimidating for you? For many people, this art form can feel unapproachable, but poet and educator Sarah Kay, suggests that people who don?t like poetry just maybe haven?t found a poem that really speaks to them. Sarah proposes a fresh approach to this ancient art, talks about why playing with language can help you get in touch with yourself, and discusses the ways that writing and art help us form deeper, meaningful connections with others.

This episode was originally recorded on November 29, 2021.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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How do you grapple with national history, legacy, and the stories you tell yourself? Clint Smith is the author of the narrative nonfiction, How the Word is Passed, and the poetry collection, Above Ground. Clint joins Chris to talk about the cognitive dissonances that shaped American history. From understanding the complexities of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote ?all men are created equal? while enslaving over 600 people ? to reflecting on growing up in New Orleans ? a major site for domestic slave trades, Clint urges you to examine historical contradictions. He also discusses his love for poetry and why it?s crucial to teach joyous moments in Black history too. So students won?t see slavery and Jim Crow as the totality of the black historical experience but can envision themselves of possibilities beyond subjugation.

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Host: Chris Duffy (@chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Clint Smith (Instagram: @clintsmithiii | clintsmithiii.com) 

Links

Above Ground

How the Word Is Passed

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What makes a story so good you HAVE to tell everyone you know? How do you hook listeners with juicy details and tantalizing conundrums? In this special live episode, recorded at On Air Fest in Brooklyn, Chris is joined by Rachelle Hampton, the new host of Normal Gossip. Chris and Rachelle talk about what she?s learned touring the country and hearing strangers share their secrets, the art of keeping (or not keeping) secrets, and how to listen closely to hear the story behind the story. Plus, audience members share wild stories of their own, including gossip about a Maine snowplow coup and a wedding throuple.

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Host: Chris Duffy (@chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Rachelle Hampton (Instagram: @heyydnae | LinkedIn: rachelle-hampton-95355899) 

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Normal Gossip (@normalgossip | defector.com/normal-gossip-podcast) NEW SEASON premieres Wednesday, April 9th

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Happiness, high achievement, or kindness ? which is most important to you in your kids? Which do you think your kids think you care about the most? Richard Weissbourd is a psychologist, the senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the director of the Making Caring Common Project. Richard joins Chris to discuss the challenges facing American parents which he raised in his book, The Parents We Mean to Be. Rick also explains how parents can overcome their own shame, the importance of teaching kids to recognize others' emotions, and how acts of service can strengthen relationships.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram | Website)

Guest: Richard Weissbourd (Harvard Website) 

Links

Making Caring Common

The Parents We Mean to Be by Richard Weissbourd

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In honor of National Poetry Month, Chris is speaking with Naisha Randhar. Naisha is the Youth Poet Laureate of Dallas, the author of Roses of Arma, and the youngest guest Chris has ever interviewed ? she?s a high school sophomore. Chris and Naisha talk about the inspiring work of teaching teenagers poetry and how to balance self-awareness with self-confidence. Naisha also encourages listeners to be witnesses more than interpreters and how it?s equally important to witness yourself and your presence in the world.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram | Website)

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Youth Poet Laureate of Dallas

Roses of Arma by Naisha Randhar

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Tenelle Porter?s job is to study humility. Specifically, intellectual humility, the idea that we might be wrong or mistaken about some of our beliefs. Tenelle talks with Chris about why she thinks intellectual humility is so important, how to cultivate it, and why it?s the missing piece in so many conversations these days. Whether it?s in politics, academia or social media, Tenelle argues discovering you are wrong doesn?t have to be a painful realization, rather it can lead to positive discovery.

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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Rachel Botsman studies trust. She?s a professor at Oxford University and the author of the books What's Mine is Yours, Who Can You Trust? and the new audiobook, How to Trust and Be Trusted. From asking AI medical questions, to understanding what?s real and what?s a lie online, Chris and Rachel discuss trust in many forms. What happens when trust is shifted away from human interactions and given to machines or companies to be monetized?

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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