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.
PodSkip has analyzed 1 episode of How to Be a Better Human, averaging 9.0 ads per episode (8% of runtime).
How to give up control - advice from neuroscientist Heather Berlin
Jun 21, 2026
Heather Berlin is a a neuroscientist, clinical psychologist, and professor of psychiatry and neuroscience who studies the science of giving up control. She joins Chris to talk about finding the…
Why you should try improv comedy (w/ Rick Andrews)
Jun 14, 2026
What do radio personality Ira Glass, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, and your host Chris Duffy have in common? They all have practiced an unexpected skill that makes them more human—improv…
Why you need to get up and move—right now! (w/ Manoush Zomorodi)
Jun 07, 2026
How long have you been sitting today? If you’re still on the couch or the office chair, then this is your PSA to get up and move! In this episode, Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR's TED Radio Hour…
Stressed, stuck, and overthinking? The science of moving forward w/ Ranjay Gulati | 10% Happier
May 31, 2026
In today’s special featured episode of 10% Happier with Dan Harris, hear from Ranjay Gulati, a Harvard professor and author whose pioneering work focuses on unlocking organizational and individual…
Why you should take a risk every day with Julie Zhuo | from WorkLife with Molly Graham
May 24, 2026
When you think about risk, you probably think about big, dramatic moves: quitting your job, moving across the country, saying something controversial. But the people who are actually good at taking…
How algorithms changed the way we communicate (w/ Adam Aleksic
May 17, 2026
A-1. Killer-diller. Outta sight. All that and a bag of chips. This slaps! From the 1940s to the early 2020s, these words and phrases are all generational slang that means the same thing—“excellent.”…
How to handle uncertainty (w/ Simone Stolzoff)
May 10, 2026
I was looking for certainty when there was no certainty to be found. If Simone’s words resonate with you, then this episode is for YOU. Simone Stolzoff is a journalist who writes about the…
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How to mentally reset when you’re stressed out (w/ Dr Jenny Taitz)
May 03, 2026
It’s hard to not feel stress at the state of the world today, so how can you cope with stressors without letting them completely overwhelm you? Clinical psychologist Jenny Taitz spends most of her…
Are you feeling emotionally stuck? Here’s how to get past it (w/ Yowei Shaw)
Apr 26, 2026
What if your hardest emotional challenges could be solved by talking to a stranger? A person who has gone through the exact same situation or something very similar. That’s the premise of Proxy, a…
The right risks to take for a great career (w/ Molly Graham)
Apr 19, 2026
Molly Graham has had a high-powered career at a ton of extremely successful companies—and now she’s joining TED as the new host of the podcast WorkLife with Molly Graham. So what does it take to have…
The right risks to take for a great career (w/ Molly Graham) (video)
Apr 19, 2026
Molly Graham has had a high-powered career at a ton of extremely successful companies—and now she’s joining TED as the new host of the podcast WorkLife with Molly Graham. So what does it take to have…
How to have great sex (w/ Siphumeze Khundayi and Tiffany Mugo) (re-release)
Apr 12, 2026
Sex is a normal part of human life, but it can also get complicated–whether you’re having it or not! The way we approach, think, and engage with our sexuality varies widely our culture, community…
Want to change your life? Start small! (w/ Eric Zimmer)
Apr 05, 2026
Eric Zimmer has learned the hard way that the path to big life changes starts with small everyday behaviors. Whether it’s kicking an addiction, building a business, or writing a book, Eric starts…
Chris Duffy | from Design Matters
Apr 01, 2026
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…
How to add more exploration in your life (w/ Alex Hutchinson)
Mar 29, 2026
“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 to understand your own consciousness (w/ Michael Pollan)
Mar 22, 2026
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…
How to find your purpose (w/ Yara Shahidi)
Mar 15, 2026
“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…
How to find your purpose (w/ Yara Shahidi) (video)
Mar 15, 2026
“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…
How to understand money stuff (w/ Matt Levine)
Mar 08, 2026
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…
Your job or your sanity? How to not lose both (w/ Guy Winch)
Mar 01, 2026
If we accept that work-life balance is a necessity, then why are stress and burnout still increasing? Guy Winch is a psychologist and was the first guest ever on the How to Be a Better Human podcast…
How to be a caregiver (w/ Courtney Martin)
Feb 22, 2026
If you could switch places with someone and peek into their mind, who would you pick? For journalist Courtney Martin, she chose her aging dad with advanced dementia. Courtney joins Chris to talk…
How to make (and keep) friends | from A Slight Change of Plans
Feb 15, 2026
Many of us tend to prioritize our romantic and familial relationships over friendships — and that could be harming our wellbeing and health. In this special episode from our friends at A Slight…
How to find true love (w/ Francesca Hogi)
Feb 08, 2026
Love coach Francesca Hogi is dedicated to helping daters find “lasting love in the midst of a broken dating culture.” In this episode, Francesca shares her approach to analyzing romantic patterns and…
How to confront your inner critic (w/ Anu Gupta)
Feb 01, 2026
How do you quieten the judgmental voice in your head? Educator and entrepreneur Anu Gupta suggests you actually listen to it.Anu joins Chris to discuss the effects of human biases on our psyche and…
How to make social risks pay off (w/ Ben Swire)
Jan 25, 2026
Many company cultures can feel stagnant and uninspiring, says designer Ben Swire, whose job is to help people take creative risks. Ben shares why icebreakers, compliments, and competitive bonding…
What it means to truly pay attention (w/ Kevin Townley)
Jan 18, 2026
Kevin Townley is a meditation teacher. But he’s also a comedian who leads museum tours and an actor whose career spans Men in Black 3 and Law & Order. In today’s episode, Kevin talks about how to…
How to experience the world like a good dog (w/ Alexandra Horowitz)
Jan 11, 2026
Can our dogs feel guilt? Or have they successfully trained us with their puppy eyes to win a treat and extra kibble? Alexandra Horowitz is a researcher and head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard…
How to make 2026 a year full of laughs (w/ Chris Duffy and Manoush Zomorodi)
Jan 04, 2026
For the past five seasons, host Chris Duffy has been interviewing guests from psychotherapist Dr. Orna Guralnik to poet Sarah Kay to author Andrew Leland and more on how they work to become better…
Interview: The razor-thin line between contagion and connection w/ Dan Taberski | from TED Health
Dec 28, 2025
After a mysterious wave of tics and twitches swept through a small-town high school in New York, documentary podcaster Dan Taberski set out to investigate what was really happening. Drawing on…
Work advice from the world’s favorite couples therapist w/ Master Fixer Dr. Orna Guralnik | from Fixable
Dec 21, 2025
Relationships of any kind can be tricky—but therapists are here to help. In this special episode, Anne and Frances talk to clinical psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik, star of the hit show Couples…
