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Sunday Pick: How to have curious conversations in dangerously divided times (w/ Mónica Guzmán) | How to Be a Better Human
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When was the last time you really connected with someone who disagrees with you? Or saw a post on social media that challenged your views? Or listened to a newscast from across the political aisle? Modern life places us in all kinds of echo chambers – so what happens when these divides stop us from actually seeing and understanding one another? Today's Sunday Pick is from How to be a Better Human, another podcast from TED. Host Chris Duffy speaks with journalist Mónica Guzmán, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted –twice– for Donald Trump. Now the chief storyteller for “Braver Angels”, an organization dedicated to political depolarization, Monica shares the tools she uses to find common ground with her loved ones. She talks about why interacting with (and listening to) different points of view is critical work – and how through curiosity we can achieve the seemingly impossible task of understanding those we tend to think of as our enemy. Her book, “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times” is out now. Check out more How to Be a Better Human wherever you get your podcasts.
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Sunday Pick: The science on improving your brain health with Dr. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai
34:12|When does normal aging end and something more concerning begins? In this episode Shoshana invites neurologist Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai to discuss their studies on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. They debunk myths around Alzheimer, discuss what a brain-healthy way of eating looks like, and share why good sleep hygiene is more crucial for brain health than you thinkLearn more about TED Health at https://link.mgln.ai/kqazoj
How to build the next wave of clean energy | Jennifer Granholm, Ryan Panchadsaram
19:12|Jennifer Granholm steered Michigan through the auto industry's near-collapse and later ran the US Department of Energy during the largest clean energy investment in the country's history. In conversation with climate investor Ryan Panchadsaram, she explains why the next chapter of clean energy is all about construction — and why local communities have more power than they may think.The surprising beauty of mosquitos | Felix Hol
31:48|Most people hate mosquitoes, but biotechnologist and TED Fellow Felix Hol thinks they're beautiful. He takes us inside his lab, where his team developed some unusual ways to study how these blood-sucking insects find us and feed so fast. He also explains why insecticides may send certain mosquitoes into overdrive — and how we can find smarter ways to curb the diseases they spread.(Following his story, pulled from a short film he made for TED, Hol speaks with Lily James Olds, director of the TED Fellows program, on why he’s relying on open source to share data and how he’s excited to learn more about mosquitoes navigating different temperature landscapes.)Why great art requires risk | Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Robert Vargas
17:12|Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth — two of the rock stars behind the legendary band Van Halen — sit down with visual artist Robert Vargas to reveal the two-step recipe for great art: do your homework, then break every rule. Along the way, they swap stories about heartbreak, good luck charms and why you should rehearse for what goes wrong.5 ideas for better government in the US | Jeff Maurer
16:14|Should the US Constitution protect your DNA? Your voice? Your data? Entrepreneur Jeff Maurer spent his youth fighting fires alongside World War II veterans, and he thinks the spirit that united them can power America's next 250 years. He proposes five new amendments to the US Constitution — from protecting privacy to holding politicians accountable — and shares what it would take to get them passed.What kids wish their parents knew about fun | Mila Rojas
08:34|When was the last time you played, just for fun? Eleven-year-old Mila Rojas has noticed that adults — buried under schedules, expectations and the pressure to be serious — often see play as unproductive. In this delightful talk, she shows why having fun is key for families to connect and shares some simple ways to bring more joy into everyday life.The couples therapists who nearly got divorced | Harville Hendrix
17:02|Couples therapists Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt spent decades teaching the world how to love well … even as their own marriage was falling apart. In this candid, funny talk, Hendrix recounts the yearlong experiment in listening that saved their relationship — and shows how any couple can break the cycle of criticism to rediscover joy.
Sunday Pick: Do all my friends secretly hate me? | from Corner Piece
41:18|Why does making friends as an adult feel like mission impossible?In today’s Sunday Pick, Corner Piece, host Melissa Fernandes explores what it means to be a friend while grappling with a friendship break up. Along the way, she interviews Anna Goldfarb, journalist and author of “Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valuable Connections,” and Dr. Marisa G. Franco, professor and author of “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—And Keep—Friends”. They explain why friendship can get so complicated as you get older and how to build closer bonds. Melissa also explores with her co-hosts Taha Khan and Sabrina Cruz what their different types of friendships mean to them.Find more episodes of Corner Piece on your favorite podcast app or here: https://link.mgln.ai/9hQ2JB
The haunting truth of ghost stories | Coya Paz Brownrigg (re-release)
14:15|Ghost stories reveal much more than the ghouls and spirits that haunt them. Settle in for a spooky delight as theater educator Coya Paz Brownrigg lays out three types of bone-chilling tales and exhumes the grave truths they hold about longing, meaning and the cultural value of eerie encounters.