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Join How to Be a Better Human as we take a look within and beyond ourselves.

How to Be a Better Human isn’t your average self improvement podcast. Each week join comedian Chris Duffy in conversation with guests and past speakers as they uncover sharp insights and give clear takeaways on how YOU can be a better human.

From your work to your home and your head to your heart, How to Be a Better Human looks in unexpected places for new ways to improve and show up for one another. Inspired by the popular series of the same name on TED’s Ideas blog, How to Be a Better Human will help you become a better person from the comfort of your own headphones.

Follow Chris on Instagram at @chrisiduffy

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

How to Be a Better Human

No matter how religious you may or may not be, or how much you do or do not know about the Sikh religion, there’s something we can all learn from their major philosophies. Simran Jeet Singh is the author of the book The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life. He joins Chris this week to talk about how to approach life with more optimism and shares how he’s navigated prejudice with humor and compassion. Hear about why he believes we all win when we show more curiosity and understanding for one another, even if we don’t subscribe to any particular set of beliefs.

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

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How Sikh wisdom can transform your life (w/ Simran Jeet Singh)

Why is having the sex talk, admitting you passed gas, or being open about your body hair so seemingly uncomfortable for all of us? Journalist and host of the podcast, Embodied, Anita Rao, joins Chris this week to discuss why having open conversations about taboo topics like sex, relationships, and our bodies can help us understand ourselves better and feel less shame.

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How to talk about your body without shame (w/ Anita Rao)

Life can throw curveballs that you feel wholly unprepared for-- just ask Dr. Lucy Hone, a resilience researcher, who tragically lost her 12-year-old daughter in a road accident. While all of us may experience tragedy in our lives, not everyone knows how to manage it. In this episode, Dr. Hone shares the strategies that got her through unimaginable adversity and—in doing so—helped her find meaning through loss. Co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience, Hone's research is published internationally and her PhD was acknowledged for its outstanding contribution to wellbeing science at the World Congress of Positive Psychology in 2019. Her grief work now encompasses the best-selling book, Resilient Grieving, alongside other engaging online content.

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How to cultivate resilience and get through tough times (with Lucy Hone) (re-release)

Telling other people what you want – or need – can be a really difficult thing to do! Nedra Glover Tawwab is a therapist and New York Times bestselling author who helps people create healthy boundaries with themselves and others, both at work and in personal relationships. In this episode, she talks about why identifying your needs is so important, clarifies what healthy boundaries can look like and shares empowering tools so you can advocate for yourself – and get the treatment you deserve. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How to set boundaries and find peace (w/ Nedra Glover Tawwab) (re-release)

Lori Gottlieb believes we all have an inner narrator. In this episode, she explains why the story you tell yourself is key to your happiness (or lack thereof). She also discusses the stages of change, why relationships are a dance, and the steps to finding a good therapist that can help you edit the story of your life. Lori is a therapist, the bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, and a co-host on the Dear Therapists podcast. She was once also an executive at NBC, overseeing shows like the hit medical drama ER. It’s through these varied experiences that she’s realized the power of being aware of your personal narrative and being willing to edit your story.

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

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How changing your story can change your life (w/ Lori Gottlieb) (re-release)

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. 

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

Throwing good parties and building community (w/ Priya Parker)

Amidst the multiple devastating fires in Los Angeles, where Chris lives, extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns are occurring across the globe, making our everyday lives all the more unpredictable. Today we are re-airing this episode from the very first season of How to Be a Better Human. It's a conversation with Luisa Neubauer, a climate activist, author, and leader of the "Fridays For Future" school strike movement. She draws on her experience at the front lines of activism to strategically reframe the climate crisis and identify the unique ways we can make systemic change.

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

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How to turn climate anxiety into action (w/ Luisa Neubauer) (re-release)

Nadia Bolz-Weber believes the good and bad in all of us is what makes us human. Nadia has built a career talking about personal failings, recovery, grace, faith, and really whatever the hell else she wants to. She’s a bestselling author, a former stand-up comic, and now an ordained Lutheran Pastor. Nadia joins Chris to discuss her journey with religion, leadership, and community. They explore questions around the definition of faith, whether spirituality is innate to us, and the beauty of low expectations.

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

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How to believe in God even when the world sucks (w/ Nadia Bolz-Weber)

There’s only so much you can do in a week – or, according to Oliver Burkeman, in the roughly 4,000 weeks the average human lives. Oliver is a journalist and author of the books Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Meditations for Mortals, and the newsletter “The Imperfectionist.” Chris and Oliver discuss the paradox of why change can only occur once we accept that we might not be able to change. Oliver also shares how life’s mishaps can become our most treasured memories and why sharing your imperfections is an act of generosity.

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

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How to make the most of a finite life (w/ Oliver Burkeman)

Talking about money can feel confusing and awkward, but it doesn’t have to be. Paco de Leon is a financial planner and author of the book Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances. Paco joins Chris to discuss ways everyone – but particularly freelancers and artists – can reframe their conversations and shift their mindset from “money corrupts” to “money gives you the power and freedom to create more art”. Whether it’s advising parents how to talk about money to their children or learning how to set a premium price for your skill, Paco shares tips to help you increase your profits – and transform your confidence around money.

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

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

How to stop being weird about money (w/ Paco de Leon)

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

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey here!

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

Re-release: How to enrich your everyday life with poetry (w/ Sarah Kay)

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