- Podcasts
- How to Be a Better Human
174 episodes
How to Be a Better Human, page 2
by TED · English
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ask in Claude
Ask in ChatGPTAll episodes, page 2
How to find your purpose (w/ Yara Shahidi)
Finding purpose by clarifying what matters, practicing optimism, and choosing “hard yes” priorities amid uncertainty and setbacks at personal and societal levels.
16 Mar 2026 · 41m · 13 chaptersHow to understand money stuff (w/ Matt Levine)
How money and finance work at a “big picture” level—especially where financial abstractions (stocks, commodities, money as claims) match or break from real-world activity.
9 Mar 2026 · 39m · 15 chaptersYour job or your sanity? How to not lose both (w/ Guy Winch)
How work hijacks life through rumination, burnout, and “24/7” mental activation—and how to reclaim mental space without needing to change the workplace.
2 Mar 2026 · 43m · 14 chaptersHow to be a caregiver (w/ Courtney Martin)
Caregiving as an existential “portal,” covering family caregiving (kids, parents, partners), dementia and disability justice, accepting help, and practical ways to sustain care.
23 Feb 2026 · 38m · 13 chapters
How to make (and keep) friends | from A Slight Change of Plans
This podcast, hosted by comedian Chris Duffy, explores self-improvement through conversations with various guests.
16 Feb 2026 · 37m · 16 chaptersHow to find true love (w/ Francesca Hogi)
How to find “true love” by treating love as an inside job—shifting beliefs, self-worth, and relationship values away from external “fairy tale” marketing and toward aligned, skill-based dating.
9 Feb 2026 · 38m · 13 chaptersHow to confront your inner critic (w/ Anu Gupta)
The episode explores how to confront and “break” your inner critic by understanding bias as a learned habit, then using mindfulness and somatic tools to regulate the nervous system and build…
2 Feb 2026 · 39m · 11 chaptersHow to make social risks pay off (w/ Ben Swire)
How to make creative and social risks “pay off” by creating “safe danger”—an emotional sweet spot where people feel secure enough to take risks, be vulnerable, and connect, leading to deeper trust,…
26 Jan 2026 · 44m · 15 chaptersWhat it means to truly pay attention (w/ Kevin Townley)
The episode argues that “true paying attention” to art and everyday experience dissolves snap judgments and self-centered narratives, opening space for spiritual insight, humor, and awareness.
19 Jan 2026 · 47m · 11 chaptersHow to experience the world like a good dog (w/ Alexandra Horowitz)
How to experience the world like a dog—especially through attention, noticing, and scent-based perception—using insights from canine cognition research.
12 Jan 2026 · 42m · 17 chaptersHow to make 2026 a year full of laughs (w/ Chris Duffy and Manoush Zomorodi)
How to make 2026 full of laughs using Chris Duffy’s book Humor Me, built around “three pillars of good humor”: be present and notice absurdity, laugh at yourself without bullying, and take social…
5 Jan 2026 · 38m · 12 chaptersInterview: The razor-thin line between contagion and connection w/ Dan Taberski | from TED Health
Dan Taberski discusses mass psychogenic illness (“mass hysteria”)—how real physical symptoms can spread rapidly through social groups when no organic cause is found—highlighting the thin line between…
29 Dec 2025 · 30m · 16 chaptersWork advice from the world’s favorite couples therapist w/ Master Fixer Dr. Orna Guralnik | from Fixable
Applying couples-therapy principles to workplace relationships—especially handling difference with curiosity, creating “the field” between people, deep listening, rebuilding trust through…
22 Dec 2025 · 41m · 25 chaptersRe-release: Throwing good parties and building community (w/ Priya Parker)
How to “gather well” to build community—using hosting as a learnable skill.
15 Dec 2025 · 38m · 13 chapters2025 Staff Picks - Best of How to Be a Better Human
In the season finale of *How to Be a Better Human*, host Chris Duffy leads a discussion that features highlights from past episodes, presented through the lens of fun superlatives akin to high school…
8 Dec 2025 · 28mPods Fight Poverty: Why Giving Money to Others Makes us Happier | from The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
This podcast explores self-improvement through conversations with guests, providing listeners with actionable insights to enhance their humanity across various aspects of life.
5 Dec 2025 · 49mHow to find small delights in an uncontrollable world (w/ Sarah Kay)
Sarah Kay, spoken word poet and author
1 Dec 2025 · 40mHow to Eat with Awareness and Purpose (w/ Sean Sherman)
In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, host Chris Duffy engages with Sioux chef Sean Sherman, discussing the transformative power of food.
24 Nov 2025 · 33mHow to find belonging (w/ Hanif Abdurraqib)
Hanif Abdurraqib, poet and cultural critic
17 Nov 2025 · 33mWhy you need to learn how to fight in a relationship (w/ Dr. Julie and John Gottman)
In this episode of *How to Be a Better Human*, host Chris Duffy interviews relationship experts Dr. Julie and John Gottman, founders of the Gottman Institute.
10 Nov 2025 · 36mHow to break bad habits (w/ Edith Zimmerman)
This episode delves into themes of honesty, self-discovery, creativity, and overcoming personal challenges, particularly in relation to sobriety and running.
3 Nov 2025 · 40mHow to use your muscles — or risk losing them (w/ Bonnie Tsui)
In this episode, comedian Chris Duffy hosts Bonnie Tsui, author of *On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters*.
27 Oct 2025 · 45mHow do you stop caring what others think? A filmmaker and a therapist answer | TED Talks Daily
A unique self-improvement podcast hosted by comedian Chris Duffy, featuring conversations with guests about insights and clear takeaways for personal growth and improving how we relate to others.
20 Oct 2025 · 29mHow Texas became America’s biggest producer of wind energy (from Speed & Scale)
How Texas became America’s biggest producer of wind energy (from Speed & Scale)
16 Oct 2025 · 27m