How to Reclaim Your Life From Work—with Simone Stolzoff
February 10, 2025
Where do you draw the line between work and life? Writer Simone Stolzoff explores the problem with defining yourself by your job — and shows what it takes to reclaim your time and sense of meaning beyond the office. After the talk, Modupe shares how practicing meditation nourishes her identity outside of work.
Why You Should Talk About your Anxiety at Work—with Adam Whybrew
July 29, 2024
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 institutional level — and how to start.
How to Make Stress Your Friend—from "A Slight Change of Plans"
June 9, 2024
This is an episode of A Slight Change of Plans, a podcast we think you'll enjoy hosted by former TED speaker Maya Shankar. Modupe shares why a simple change in our mindset can turn short-term stress into a helpful resource — and offers strategies to better understand, and cope with, stress.
How to Live with Economic Doomsaying—with Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak
May 13, 2024
Economic crises can and do happen. But for every true crisis, there are many false alarms, says economist Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak. He explains how to live with the media's pervasive economic doomsaying, why we should stop treating financial forecasts like a precise science — and what we should embrace instead. After the talk, Modupe shares why she's a "rational optimist" about economic narratives — and what "rational optimism" means to her.
The Link Between Stress and Creativity—with Radio Headspace
July 26, 2023
How can stress enhance creativity? Are there practical ways to use stress for innovation? Modupe guest hosts the podcast Radio Headspace all week. Every weekday morning, Radio Headspace aims to take a few moments to step out of the internal chatter and external noise. It's a podcast that makes space to pause, reflect, and consider how we can live a life that best reflects our limitless potential. Listen to Radio Headspace wherever you are listening to this.
The Benefits of Not Being a Jerk to Yourself—with Dan Harris
May 15, 2023
After more than two decades as an anchor for ABC News, Dan Harris had a panic attack on-air . After that, he devoted himself to a life of meditation and mindfulness. But then an anonymous survey of his family, friends and colleagues turned up some brutal feedback -- he was still kind of a jerk. In a wise, funny talk, he shares his years-long quest to improve his relationships with everyone (starting with himself) and explains the science behind loving-kindness meditation, and how it can boost your resiliency, quiet your inner critic and simply make you more pleasant to be around. After the talk, Dan joins Modupe with some updates and tips on self-transformation.
How to Escape the Cynicism Trap—with Jamil Zaki
June 13, 2022
Some days, it's hard to be optimistic. But cynicism -- the idea that people are inherently selfish, greedy and dishonest -- is making humanity lonelier and more divided, says psychologist Jamil Zaki. Presenting fascinating research on cooperation, empathy and trust, Zaki makes the scientific case for optimism and shows us how to break out of the cynicism trap. Stay tuned after the talk to hear Jamil Zaki and our host Modupe Akinola delve into the high cost of cynicism. A quick favor! We love making TED Business, and we want to make it better. So if you have a few minutes, share your thoughts at surveynerds.com/ted.
The Emotions Behind Your Money Habits—with Robert A. Belle
May 31, 2022
Your money habits reveal a lot about you: your hopes, fears, dreams and other deep personal truths you may not even be aware of, says accountant Robert A. Belle. He shares how taking stock of your transaction history can unlock surprisingly valuable insights about what drives you to spend (and save) -- and provides practical tips on how to perform an "emotional audit" of your expenses. Join our host Modupe Akinola after the talk to learn about another kind of audit that may help you take stock of your work time. A quick favor! We love making TED Business, and we want to make it better. So if you have a few minutes, share your thoughts at surveynerds.com/ted.
How to Tame Your Wandering Mind—with Amishi Jha
March 7, 2022
Amishi Jha studies how we pay attention: the process by which our brain decides what's important out of the constant stream of information it receives. Both external distractions (like stress) and internal ones (like mind-wandering) diminish our attention's power, Jha says -- but some simple techniques can boost it. "Pay attention to your attention," Jha says.
How Gratitude Rewires Your Brain—with Christina Costa
February 22, 2022
When a psychologist who studies well-being ends up with a brain tumor, what happens when she puts her own research into practice? Christina Costa goes beyond the "fight" narrative of cancer -- or any formidable personal journey -- to highlight the brain benefits of an empowering alternative to fostering resilience in the face of unexpected challenges: gratitude. After the talk, Modupe shares a few tips for making gratitude a daily practice.
How Boredom Can Lead to Your Most Brilliant Ideas—with Manoush Zamorodi
November 8, 2021
Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It's because when your body goes on autopilot, your brain gets busy forming new neural connections that connect ideas and solve problems. Learn to love being bored as Manoush Zomorodi explains the connection between spacing out and creativity. Manoush is the host of NPR's TED Radio Hour and ZigZag, a podcast from the TED Audio Collective. After the talk, Modupe gives suggestions for inspiring more boredom in your daily life.
How Craving Attention Makes You Less Creative—with Joseph Gordon-Levitt
November 1, 2021
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has gotten more than his fair share of attention from his acting career. But as social media exploded over the past decade, he got addicted like the rest of us -- trying to gain followers and likes only to be left feeling inadequate and less creative. In a refreshingly honest talk, he explores how the attention-driven model of big tech companies impacts our creativity -- and shares a more powerful feeling than getting attention: paying attention. After the talk, Modupe talks about how to find flow when you're surrounded by distractions.
The Cure for Burnout (Hint: It Isn't Self Care)—with Emily & Amelia Nagosaki
October 25, 2021
You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski. In an introspective and deeply relatable conversation, they detail three telltale signs that stress is getting the best of you -- and share actionable ways to feel safe in your own body when you're burning out.
Modupe speaks about burnout with Chris Duffy, the host of How to Be a Better Human, a podcast from the TED Audio Collective.
The Brain Boosting Benefits of Exercise—with Wendy Suzuki
August 16, 2021
What's the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise! says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your focus, memory, and mood—which can make you better at your job. After the talk, Modupe explains a clever way to trick yourself into getting more exercise.
The Unexpected Habits of Original Thinkers—with Adam Grant
March 1, 2021
Last week, you heard the latest thinking from Adam Grant, organizational psychologist extraordinaire, about his newest book. This week, we dive into the archives for a classic. We have a lot of ideas about what leads to our most creative thoughts. Today, Adam and Modupe tell us why we're wrong. You might want to bring a pen.
Train Yourself to Shine Under Stress—with Russell Wilson
December 14, 2020
Athletes train their bodies to run faster, jump higher, throw farther. So why don't they train their minds, too? Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, the highest paid player in the NFL, shares how "neutral thinking" helps him handle high pressure situations, on and off the field. After the talk, host Modupe Akinola examines how we can use stress to our advantage.