How to Be a Better Human
Your guide to becoming a little less terrible.
TED
Show overview
How to Be a Better Human has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 260 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 150 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 32 min and 38 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language Education show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 29 episodes already out so far this year. Published by TED.
From the publisher
How To Be A Better Human isn’t your average self improvement podcast. Each week join 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 and TikTok at @chrisiduffy. Buy his book Humor Me at https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest Episodes
View all 260 episodesHow play is the secret to success at work (w/ Maxwell Pearce)
How to give up control - advice from neuroscientist Heather Berlin
Why you should try improv comedy (w/ Rick Andrews)
Why you need to get up and move—right now! (w/ Manoush Zomorodi)
Stressed, stuck, and overthinking? The science of moving forward w/ Ranjay Gulati | 10% Happier
Why you should take a risk every day with Julie Zhuo | from WorkLife with Molly Graham
How algorithms changed the way we communicate (w/ Adam Aleksic
How to handle uncertainty (w/ Simone Stolzoff)
How to mentally reset when you’re stressed out (w/ Dr Jenny Taitz)
Are you feeling emotionally stuck? Here’s how to get past it (w/ Yowei Shaw)
The right risks to take for a great career (w/ Molly Graham)
The right risks to take for a great career (w/ Molly Graham) (video)
How to have great sex (w/ Siphumeze Khundayi and Tiffany Mugo) (re-release)
Want to change your life? Start small! (w/ Eric Zimmer)
Chris Duffy | from Design Matters
Chris Duffy—comedian, writer, and host of the TED podcast How to Be a Better Human—joins to discuss how humor shaped his path from teaching and improv to podcasting and television. Together, they explore why laughing more isn’t about being funny, but about attention, vulnerability, and connection, and how humor helps us stay human.For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscriptsLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to add more exploration in your life (w/ Alex Hutchinson)
“When was the last time you did something you didn’t do yesterday?” asks journalist and explorer Alex Hutchinson. Alex joins Chris to examine whether the desire to explore is baked into our genes, how he intentionally tries to get lost in his neighborhood, and what he learns from following his curiosity.Featured guestFollow Alex Hutchinson on Instagram and at alexhutchinson.net/Buy The Explorer’s Gene by Alex HutchinsonConnect with the teamFollow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.comBuy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokFor the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscriptsLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to understand your own consciousness (w/ Michael Pollan)
What is consciousness? Humans and animals have it, but do plants have sentience? These are the questions journalist Michael Pollan studies. Michael is the author of ten books on the relationship between food, consciousness, and psychedelics. Michael joins Chris to discuss why humans ruminate, how people should get comfortable with boredom, and whether we can really trust our own memories?Featured guestFollow Michael Pollan on Instagram and at michaelpollan.com/Connect with the teamFollow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.comBuy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokFor the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscriptsLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to find your purpose (w/ Yara Shahidi) (video)
“Optimism is not what exists in a vacuum on your best day, but how you're pulling through for yourself on your worst days,” says actress Yara Shahidi. Yara is known for her sitcoms Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish. She shares what she learned from creating a “Hard Yes” list, why she chose to attend Harvard after acting, and why she thinks anyone can find their highest order if they pay attention. Featured guestFollow Yara Shahidi on Instagram and at yarashahidi.com/Listen to The Optimist Project podcastConnect with the teamFollow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.comBuy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokFor the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscriptsLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to find your purpose (w/ Yara Shahidi)
“Optimism is not what exists in a vacuum on your best day, but how you're pulling through for yourself on your worst days,” says actress Yara Shahidi. Yara is known for her sitcoms Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish. She shares what she learned from creating a “Hard Yes” list, why she chose to attend Harvard after acting, and why she thinks anyone can find their highest order if they pay attention.Featured guestFollow Yara Shahidi on Instagram and at yarashahidi.com/Listen to The Optimist Project podcastConnect with the teamFollow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.comBuy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokFor the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscriptsLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to understand money stuff (w/ Matt Levine)
Matt Levine is the author of Bloomberg’s “Money Stuff” newsletter where he writes about Wall Street and finances. Matt joins Chris to break down common money questions such as what exactly is commodity trading? How do AI companies make money? How do companies balance ethics and virtues with increasing profits for shareholders? They also discuss how Matt uses comedy and humor to make complicated money topics accessible.Featured guestFollow Matt Levine at mattlevine.co/workSubscribe to Bloomberg's Money Stuff newsletterConnect with the teamFollow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.comBuy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokFor the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscriptsLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.