TED Business

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339

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Whatever your business conundrum, there’s a TED Talk for that — whether you want to learn how to land that promotion, set smart goals, undo injustice at work, or unlock the next big innovation. Every Monday, host Modupe Akinola of Columbia Business School presents the most powerful and surprising ideas that illuminate the business world. After the talk, you'll get a mini-lesson from Modupe on how to apply the ideas in your own life — because business evolves every day, and our ideas about it should, too. Follow Modupe on Instagram at @mnakinola and on LinkedIn at @mnakinola Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

August 31, 202611 min

The fleeting euphoria of success | Debbie Millman

Over two decades of interviewing countless creative people, Debbie Millman (host of the iconic "Design Matters" podcast) had a realization: the pride and joy of accomplishing something often evaporates almost instantly. She explains how to stop chasing external validation for your achievements and instead live for the act of creation itself. After, Modupe shares how she finds time to celebrate after the end of every project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 27, 202638 min

Finding Purpose: How to find your purpose (w/ Master Fixer Molly Graham) | from Fixable

What is your true purpose—and how do you find it? This month, Anne and Frances are tackling one of life’s biggest questions in search of answers for Fixers of all ages, from fresh graduates charting their first career moves to seasoned executives craving something more. In this episode, Anne sits down with Molly Graham, a former executive at Facebook and the new host of TED’s WorkLife podcast, to explore what it means to pursue meaningful work and stay open to opportunities you never saw coming. They also answer a question from a new graduate about finding your purpose somewhere between work and life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 27, 202644 min

Finding Purpose: How to give your work meaning (w/ the New York Times Jodi Kantor) | from Fixable

In uncertain times, purposeful work can feel impractical and out of reach. But award-winning investigative reporter Jodi Kantor argues that meaning is both essential and available to all of us. Anne and Frances dive into the lessons from Jodi’s latest book, “How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work,” and explore practical strategies for anyone looking to chart a more purposeful career. The three also discuss two key principles for finding work that matters and challenge the idea that economic stability and purpose are mutually exclusive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 27, 202636 min

Finding Purpose: How to defend your values (w/ Yara Shahidi & Keri Salter) | from Fixable

In a world that won’t stop changing, knowing what matters most can make all the difference. Yara Shahidi and Keri Salter are a mother-daughter duo building a more inclusive and imaginative Hollywood through their production company, 7th Sun Productions. In this episode, Anne sits down with Yara and Keri at the TED Conference in Vancouver to dig into their “highest order” framework for aligning purpose with priorities. They also reflect on how purpose evolves over a lifetime and explore what today’s changemakers can learn from previous generations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 27, 202651 min

Finding Purpose: Why purpose is the answer to uncertainty and anxiety (w/ Arun Gupta) | from Fixable

Work today is a lot less stable than it used to be. Career paths that once seemed predictable are constantly being disrupted and reshaped, leaving many of us feeling unsteady. In this final episode of the Finding Purpose series, Anne and Frances are joined by Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, who has spent his career helping people find ways to serve causes bigger than themselves. Arun makes the case for why following your purpose can be a powerful antidote to instability and anxiety, and shares practical ways to discover your own purpose. Anne and Frances also reflect on what they’ve learned from guests throughout the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 24, 202619 min

A plan to stop AI from automating our decline | Gina Raimondo

The United States is on track to win the AI race — and hollow itself out in the process, says Gina Raimondo, former Governor of Rhode Island and US Secretary of Commerce. In this unflinching look at the threat of AI-induced economic disruption and social unrest, she offers a concrete blueprint to prepare workers for what’s coming next. "AI is a 100-year technology and needs a 100-year response," she says. Is America up to the challenge? After, Modupe talks about why people shouldn't be punished for taking time to find new ways to work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 17, 202617 min

My $60 million science experiment | Mark Rober

Mark Rober spent years trying to land a rover on Mars. Now, the former NASA engineer turned science YouTuber with millions of subscribers is launching a new mission: to teach the next generation of big problem solvers. That's why he's spending 60 million dollars to build a STEM curriculum kids actually want. With squirrel obstacle courses, giant lasers and elephant toothpaste explosions, who wouldn't want to learn from YouTube's top engineer? After, Modupe urges you to imagine your favorite teacher—what qualities of theirs made class engaging and made you feel heard? And how can you bring those qualities and characteristics into your work life? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 10, 202617 min

How to build a career you actually love | Bill Gurley

Passion doesn't drive work — fascination does, says venture capitalist and author Bill Gurley. Drawing on years of research into the lives of high achievers, he shows why obsessive, lifelong learning is the real engine of career excellence. After, Modupe urges you to try something new with a friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 3, 202646 min

What sitting all day does to your brain and body | Keith Diaz | Your Body on Tech

Can a five-minute walk change how you feel all day? Exercise scientist Keith Diaz shows how your body is built for the kind of movement that modern life has quietly erased — and suggests something refreshingly doable: making time for small doses of movement sprinkled throughout the day, as a way to boost your brain and body. And stick around after his talk for a deep dive conversation with our guest host for the week, author and podcaster Manoush Zomorodi, into the ideas he shared on stage and beyond. This is episode one of a seven-part series airing this week on TED Talks Daily , where Manoush — and the seven speakers she curated for TED2026 — explore how you can live a healthier life in our high-tech era. To hear more from Manoush, listen to TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts. Check out her new book, Body Electric , to learn more about the hidden health costs of the digital age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 30, 202617 min

Modupe's Top 5 (#1): Why you should talk about your anxiety at work | Adam Whybrew

We can't get rid of anxiety and depression, so we might as well talk about it, says depression truth-teller Adam Whybrew. Sharing his own experience with mental illness, he reveals the surprising benefits of opening up about stress at work — and why being vulnerable creates a safe space for everyone. After the talk, Modupe discusses why we all need to advocate for important causes on an institutional level — and how to start. (This episode originally aired in 2024.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.