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TED Business

TED Business

TED 317 Episodes Sep 7, 2026

TED Business is a weekly podcast that applies TED Talks to business challenges, from career advancement to innovation. Host Modupe Akinola of Columbia Business School introduces a talk and then offers a mini-lesson on how to apply its ideas in your own professional life. The show aims to provide actionable insights for navigating the evolving business world.

Episodes

Can AI make you a better manager? with Hilary Gridley | from WorkLife with Molly Graham
Can AI make you a better manager? with Hilary Gridley | from WorkLife with Molly Graham Sep 7, 2026 46:32 Managing people is a deeply human line of work—it requires relational skills, judgement, and deep knowledge of the people you work with. But Hilary Gridley believes that when used properly, AI can not only help you become a better manager, but can help your team make more meaningful use of their human skills. Hilary has spent years leading teams at companies like Whoop, and she’s known for her wor
The fleeting euphoria of success | Debbie Millman
The fleeting euphoria of success | Debbie Millman Aug 31, 2026 11:37 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 aft
Finding Purpose: How to find your purpose (w/ Master Fixer Molly Graham) | from Fixable
Finding Purpose: How to find your purpose (w/ Master Fixer Molly Graham) | from Fixable Aug 27, 2026 38:24 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
Finding Purpose: How to give your work meaning (w/ the New York Times Jodi Kantor) | from Fixable
Finding Purpose: How to give your work meaning (w/ the New York Times Jodi Kantor) | from Fixable Aug 27, 2026 44:13 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
Finding Purpose: How to defend your values (w/ Yara Shahidi & Keri Salter) | from Fixable
Finding Purpose: How to defend your values (w/ Yara Shahidi & Keri Salter) | from Fixable Aug 27, 2026 36:04 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 pur
Finding Purpose: Why purpose is the answer to uncertainty and anxiety (w/ Arun Gupta) | from Fixable
Finding Purpose: Why purpose is the answer to uncertainty and anxiety (w/ Arun Gupta) | from Fixable Aug 27, 2026 51:51 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
A plan to stop AI from automating our decline | Gina Raimondo
A plan to stop AI from automating our decline | Gina Raimondo Aug 24, 2026 19:34 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," s
My $60 million science experiment | Mark Rober
My $60 million science experiment | Mark Rober Aug 17, 2026 17:25 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 would
How to build a career you actually love | Bill Gurley
How to build a career you actually love | Bill Gurley Aug 10, 2026 17:09 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.
What sitting all day does to your brain and body | Keith Diaz | Your Body on Tech
What sitting all day does to your brain and body | Keith Diaz | Your Body on Tech Aug 3, 2026 46:44 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 gue
Modupe's Top 5 (#1): Why you should talk about your anxiety at work | Adam Whybrew
Modupe's Top 5 (#1): Why you should talk about your anxiety at work | Adam Whybrew Jul 30, 2026 17:35 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 institutio
Modupe's Top 5 (#2): How to break through fear and become a leader | Valerie Montgomery Rice
Modupe's Top 5 (#2): How to break through fear and become a leader | Valerie Montgomery Rice Jul 30, 2026 18:14 Vigilance. Grit. Resilience. Valerie Montgomery Rice, the president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, shares where she learned these key qualities of successful leadership, offering three lessons for anyone who wants to overcome their fears, stand up for what’s right and build opportunity for all. After the talk, Modupe urges us all to tell our own stories.(This episode originally aired in

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