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TED Business

TED Business

TED 317 Episodes Aug 17, 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

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
Modupe's Top 5 (#3): How to get people to do what you want | Barry Sonnenfeld
Modupe's Top 5 (#3): How to get people to do what you want | Barry Sonnenfeld Jul 30, 2026 18:24 As a film and television director, Barry Sonnenfeld had millions of dollars riding on his ability to get his cast and crew to play along — and much of what he learned along the way applies to everyday life. Here, he shares nine bits of wisdom and whimsy gleaned from 40 years in entertainment. So the next time you encounter a screaming bully, you too will know what to do. After the talk, Modupe sha
Modupe's Top 5 (#4): The value of kindness at work | James Rhee
Modupe's Top 5 (#4): The value of kindness at work | James Rhee Jul 30, 2026 21:23 Kindness can go a long way when it comes to reshaping a business. Having saved a fashion company from the brink of bankruptcy, entrepreneur James Rhee shares the value of investing in a culture of compassion at work -- and shows why we should all lead with our hearts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Modupe's Top 5 (#5): What does "wealth" mean to you? | Aisha Nyandoro
Modupe's Top 5 (#5): What does "wealth" mean to you? | Aisha Nyandoro Jul 30, 2026 18:10 For people living in poverty, a guaranteed income can mean finally having the space to dream of a comfortable life. Sharing the stories of single moms who participated in a first-of-its-kind program that offered them $1,000 per month with no strings attached, poverty disrupter Aisha Nyandoro calls for us to redefine what it means to be wealthy — putting aside lavish vacations and fancy cars in fav
Why overtourism could ruin your next vacation | Suresh Subudhi
Why overtourism could ruin your next vacation | Suresh Subudhi Jul 27, 2026 15:37 When was your last unforgettable trip? Travel industry expert Suresh Subudhi believes joyful moments of connection are the reason we explore the world — but with vacation hotspots overrun and locals pushed to the brink, tourists have become unwelcome guests. Proposing a new way to use technology to stop loving our favorite destinations to death, he shows what travel could look like if we got it ri
A simple solution to fix workplace miscommunication | Melissa M. Mikus
A simple solution to fix workplace miscommunication | Melissa M. Mikus Jul 20, 2026 13:11 Leadership expert Melissa M. Mikus breaks down why most workplace friction isn't about personality clashes or bad intentions — it's about not knowing how to effectively communicate. Her solution? A small, visible and easy tweak that anyone can implement right away. Then after the talk, Modupe shares some questions to get you started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The counterintuitive secret of leadership | Jessica Kriegel
The counterintuitive secret of leadership | Jessica Kriegel Jul 13, 2026 15:47 Control is an illusion — and the leaders who chase it are holding their teams back. Workplace culture expert Jessica Kriegel explores the tactic that leaders who want to achieve extraordinary results should try instead. After, Modupe challenges listeners to reflect on what's something they can surrender in their lives? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to give feedback that lands | Renee St Jacques
How to give feedback that lands | Renee St Jacques Jul 6, 2026 16:04 Most managers give feedback. Few give feedback that actually works. Drawing on her background in psychology and executive coaching, Renee St Jacques breaks down what so many well-intentioned leaders get wrong — and introduces a three-part framework to help teams rebuild trust and perform at their best. After the talk, Modupe shares her best practices for giving feedback. Hosted on Acast. See acast

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