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TED Business

TED Business

Every Monday, host Modupe Akinola of Columbia Business School presents the most powerful and surprising ideas that illuminate the business world.

TED

317 episodesEN

Show overview

TED Business has been publishing since 2020, and across the 6 years since has built a catalogue of 317 episodes. That works out to roughly 100 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.

Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 14 min and 22 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.

The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 6 days ago, with 22 episodes already out so far this year. Published by TED.

Episodes
317
Running
2020–2026 · 6y
Median length
17 min
Cadence
Weekly

From the publisher

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.

Latest Episodes

View all 317 episodes

The surprising origins of Southwest Airlines with Jacob Goldstein

Jun 1, 202625 min

The secret to making the right career decisions with Patty Stonesifer | from WorkLife with Molly Graham

May 25, 202639 min

3 things I wish I knew when I was broke | Vivian Tu

May 18, 202627 min

How displaced people are driving local economies | Julienne Oyler

May 11, 202612 min

4 relationship traps that lead to burnout | Eric Quintane

May 4, 202620 min

What successful negotiators do differently | Kathryn Valentine

Apr 27, 202611 min

Toolkit: Give Better Feedback | from Fixable

Apr 20, 202635 min

How to be a great listener | Maegan Stephens, Nicole Lowenbraun

Apr 13, 202615 min

How to introduce yourself — and get hired | Rebecca Okamoto

Apr 6, 202612 min

How to understand money stuff (w/ Matt Levine) | from How to Be a Better Human

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.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 30, 202639 min

AI is coming for your job. Now what? | Vlad Tenev

As anxiety grows around what AI means for the future of work, technologist Vlad Tenev delivers a clear-eyed look at what happens when the majority of today's jobs disappear — and why it's not what you think. After Modupe shares how to balance healthy trepidation with our capacity for creativity.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 23, 202618 min

The trap of win-lose thinking (and how to escape it) | John Mackey

What do you get when you combine a major flood and near-bankruptcy? For Whole Foods cofounder John Mackey, the answer reshaped his business into a household name. He takes us back to the night his first store was destroyed, showing how shifting from a win-lose mindset to a "win-win-win" worldview helped him achieve success — and why it can work for you, too. After, Modupe teases what she would add to improve John's "win-win-win" perspective.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 16, 202613 min

Why are we demolishing homes during a housing crisis? | Olaf Grawert

Every minute somewhere in Europe, a house is demolished — along with the memories and sense of community it holds, says architect Olaf Grawert. Exposing the human and environmental cost of demolition for profit, he highlights a bold alternative that could address the growing housing crisis. Learn how rethinking the value of the buildings we already have could create sustainable, affordable homes for millions and reshape the future of cities. After Modupe reflects on why value and profit are not the same and why housing is a necessity.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 9, 202616 min

4 hard truths about capitalism and climate | Steve Howard

For decades, investor and business leader Steve Howard watched companies pour money and effort into sustainability initiatives ... and still fall short. The problem isn’t a lack of will, he says; it’s that capitalism and climate have been wired to work against each other. He shares four realities that explain why even well-intentioned businesses fail at climate action — as well as a plan to flip the system, making green innovation so powerful the market can’t resist it. After, Modupe talks about why ignoring climate change isn't an option.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 2, 202618 min

The question that saved my company from bankruptcy | Sharon Price John

Everything successful starts with heart — even the most pragmatic business plan, says Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear. She shares how she led a purpose-centered approach to save the beloved teddy bear company from bankruptcy and get it back to global profitability, all by asking one powerful question. Then Modupe reflects on why focusing only on data and numbers aren't enough and how to reintroduce emotion and storytelling to help define change.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 23, 202615 min

Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success | From Think Fast Talk Smart

What if kindness isn’t a soft skill — but a strategic one?In this special episode from Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams talks with management professor Bonnie Hayden Cheng about the business case for kindness. Her research on the “return on kindness” suggests that organizations grounded in compassion, candor, and trust often see stronger performance, deeper engagement, and healthier workplace cultures. Together, they explore how thoughtful communication shapes both relationships and results, and how small shifts can make a meaningful impact at work.Think Fast, Talk Smart focuses on one of the most essential professional skills: communication. The podcast features conversations with leading researchers, authors, and practitioners who share practical, research-backed strategies you can use right away. Tune in twice a week for clear, actionable communication advice for virtually any professional situation.Or follow this link to listen more: https://link.podtrac.com/TEDLearn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 16, 202622 min

The surprisingly simple reason teams fail | Tessa West

In 1999, a NASA mission to Mars failed ... not from a technical glitch, but because people weren't talking to each other. Psychology professor Tessa West explores how assumptions, overlooked details and "hidden languages" can quietly sabotage even the smartest teams — and explores the small shifts in communication that can make a big difference in how information lands. After the talk, Modupe urges you to be brave and ask for clarification and how it can help you feel more empowered in the workplace.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 9, 202618 min

How to empower the next generation of pilots | Refilwe Ledwaba

What does it take to fly a plane? For TED Fellow Refilwe Ledwaba, it took perseverance and drive — and an instructor who took the time to teach to her learning style. Today, as founder of Girls Fly Africa, Ledwaba is empowering the next generation of pilots, particularly young women, with the engineering skills, professional networks and hands-on experience they need to take flight into a sky-high career.After the talk, Modupe shares tips on how you can go the extra step as a mentor.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 2, 202610 min

The flourishing future of women's sports | Kate Johnson

Women's sports are surging in popularity around the world, with record-breaking viewership, attendance and revenue growth. And yet, social media algorithms still skew towards covering men's sports. Olympic rower Kate Johnson, who now leads global marketing strategy for sports and entertainment at Google, unpacks why this is still happening — and what it will take to level the playing field for women’s sports. Later, Modupe makes the case for why you should watch more women sports.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 26, 202616 min

Interview: 4 ways to design a disability-friendly future with BJ Miller

Dr. BJ Miller was a college sophomore when a sudden electrical accident nearly took his life. After months in a hospital burn unit and multiple amputations, he emerged into a world that saw him — and treated him — differently. But that experience became the foundation for everything that followed.Now a palliative care physician and one of the most compassionate voices in medicine, BJ is redefining what it means to live fully after loss and change. He challenges the very idea of “normal,” reminding us that disability isn’t a flaw to fix, but part of the human spectrum. His work invites us to expand our imagination of what it means to be alive, to belong, and to be whole.Join us on Instagram  for more stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on living and dying.After the interview, Shoshana features a TED talk from Meghan Hussey on 4 Ways To Design a Disability-Friendly Future.Join @beforewegopodcast on Instagram for more stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on living and dying.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 19, 202648 min
TED