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TED Radio Hour

NPR
Mental Health
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change
Artificial Intimacy
Social Media
Empathy
Relationships
Education
Healthcare
Loneliness
Chronic Pain
Pain Management
Blue Zones
Psychology
Chatbots
Longevity
Uncertainty
Equestrian Sports
Parenting
Slavery

Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers. Host Manoush Zomorodi inspires us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for TED Radio Hour.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes393Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for TED Radio Hour

Latest Episodes

How do we inspire people to care about wild animals without disrupting their lives? This hour, two surprising approaches to getting to know wildlife — and rethinking what it means to protect it.

Guests include conservationist Maya Higa and computati... more

Play is how we evolved to learn, solve problems, and navigate the world. So why do we treat it as optional? This hour, the science of play — and what happens when we don’t get enough of it.

Guests include psychology researcher Peter Gray, sailor and... more

Women have been writing music for centuries. Why do we know so few of them today? This hour, TED speakers explore the role of women in music history and how we can remember their contributions. Guests include opera singer and activist Gabriella Di La... more

Our senses help us navigate everyday life. But can they also reveal what lies beyond our perception? This hour, TED speakers explore the hidden world through the senses. Guests include astronomer Mark Whittle, chemosensory researcher Paule Joseph and... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Peter Gray
Evolutionary biologist and researcher of child psychology and neuroscience at Boston College
Boston College
Episode: Have we forgotten how to play?
Tracy Edwards
Around-the-world sailor and social activist who led a record-breaking all-female sailing crew
The Maiden Factor
Episode: Have we forgotten how to play?
Stefen Chow
Photographer who created an aerial photo project about playgrounds in Singapore
Episode: Have we forgotten how to play?
Gabriella DiLacio
Singer and founder of the Donne Foundation
Donne Foundation
Episode: The women missing from music
Nadia Tolokonniknikova
Member of Pussy Riot, activist and artist
Pussy Riot / activist
Episode: The women missing from music
Mark Whittle
Cosmologist
University of Virginia
Episode: Big mysteries explained through your senses
Polly Joseph
Chemo-sensory researcher
National Institute of Health
Episode: Big mysteries explained through your senses
Yi-Yoon Kang
Multimedia artist
Based in Seoul
Episode: Big mysteries explained through your senses
Elizabeth Dunn
Social psychologist and co-author of Leave the Lights On
University of British Columbia
Episode: Less guilt, more joy: A new chapter for climate action

Host

Manoush Zomorodi
Host of TED Radio Hour

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 29.1k ratings
  • No more AI

    This is the podcast I have been listening to for the longest time, I would guess around 12 years? Ever since every episode has been about how great AI is, with no valid criticism, it frankly feels like a waste of time.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Geooooooo6
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • Great story, thanks!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    John Newbould
    a month ago
  • Great, thoughtful show

    Mannish Zomorodi is a great interviewer and i love the topics and perspectives! I have to say though, there’s one thing that bugs me about the show and I’m sure I’m not the only one - in the opening credits, you have someone that says “you have to ax yourself” instead of ‘ask your self’. This takes me back to grammar school where we were taught “it’s not ek-cetera, it’s et-cetera, it’s not ax me, it’s ask me, and es-presso, not ek-spresso, …”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DJ Dave Dolphin
    United Statesa month ago
  • Never miss an episode

    So many scholars and experts sharing their knowledge.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Medium12girl
    United Statesa month ago
  • 2 reasons this show is great

    This show is worthwhile because it covers an eclectic range of topics and the host is an excellent interviewer. She pushes back on her guests and often asks a question I was wondering as I was listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jmpoodle
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show consistently delivers thoughtful, well-researched episodes with human-centered storytelling.
Some episodes have sparked debate on AI and policy, highlighting the host's balanced, thoughtful moderation.
Listeners appreciate the mix of expert insight and personal narratives around complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Have we forgotten how to play?
Q: What does a more playful type of school look like? What would you like to see?
Gray supports more recess and less early academic training, which he says can harm both long-term mental health and academic performance. He favors giving children more freedom to play, explore, and follow their interests.
Have we forgotten how to play?
Q: Are you saying that the decrease in children's freedom to play and the increase in anxiety, depression and suicide are directly correlated?
Gray says he believes they are connected: children develop a sense of agency by practicing control, and restricting independent play and exploration deprives them of that practice, which can contribute to anxiety and depression.
The women missing from music
Q: Why don't we know about all of these female composers, and what changed to bring them back into public view?
Education access was unequal, publishing was biased, and much work was never archived or properly published; the Donne Foundation and Gabriella DiLacio are actively correcting this by cataloging, publishing, and promoting these composers so they can be studied and performed today.
Big mysteries explained through your senses
Q: So just lay some groundwork for the Big Bang and how sound relates to it.
Mark explains that the Big Bang wasn't a traditional explosion but the expansion of space itself, with early universe gas carrying density waves that could be translated into audible sound, creating a bridge between abstract cosmology and human perception.
Less guilt, more joy: A new chapter for climate action
Q: How does the book address the idea that individual action is meaningless?
The hosts emphasize that individual actions accumulate and influence others, and governance and business actions are important, but individuals still have a critical, real role in shaping collective outcomes through visible, joyful changes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About TED Radio Hour

What is TED Radio Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful exploration of big questions at the intersection of science, technology, and human experience. Episodes frequently pair expert insight (from immunology and aging to AI ethics and wearables) with intimate, personal narratives that illuminate how innovations affect health, learning, and everyday life. The show stands out for its human-centered approach, blending rigorous analysis with stories that emphasize empathy, resilience, and the social implications of tech and medicine. Listeners likely include curious professionals and lifelong learners who want approachable explanations of complex topics, practical takeaways, and perspectives from leading researchers, physicians, and thinkers.

Where can I find podcast stats for TED Radio Hour?

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How many listeners does TED Radio Hour get?

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What are the audience demographics for TED Radio Hour?

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How many subscribers and views does TED Radio Hour have?

To see how many followers or subscribers TED Radio Hour has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to TED Radio Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with TED Radio Hour:

1. Hidden Brain
2. Radiolab
3. This American Life
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. The Moth

How many episodes of TED Radio Hour are there?

TED Radio Hour launched 15 years ago and published 393 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact TED Radio Hour?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for TED Radio Hour?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for TED Radio Hour from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for TED Radio Hour?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of TED Radio Hour. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on TED Radio Hour?

Recent guests on TED Radio Hour include:

1. Peter Gray
2. Tracy Edwards
3. Stefen Chow
4. Gabriella DiLacio
5. Nadia Tolokonniknikova
6. Mark Whittle
7. Polly Joseph
8. Yi-Yoon Kang

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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