Best Deb Houston Podcasts (2025)

1
How AI models steal creative work — and what to do about it | Ed Newton-Rex 20:05

5d ago20:05

20:05

Generative AI is built on three key resources: people, compute and data. While companies invest heavily in the first two, they often use unlicensed creative work as training data without permission or payment — a practice that pits AI against the very creators it relies on. AI expert Ed Newton-Rex has a solution: licensing. He unpacks the dark side…

1
How Substack is breaking down traditional media gatekeepers | Hamish McKenzie 22:36

12d ago22:36

22:36

“The whole Substack ecosystem is about more power because it’s based on those relationships between the publisher and their subscribers, or the video maker and their viewers,” says journalist and Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie. Following his talk at TED2025, McKenzie is in conversation with Sherrell Dorsey to discuss how the media landscape ha…

1
Whitney Houston Hologram: The Zombification of an Icon | There Are No Girls on the Internet 39:36

19d ago39:36

39:36

This episode is part of a feed swap with our friend podcast There Are No Girls On The Internet, hosted by Bridget Todd. She is an expert on tech culture, and on her show she has fun, thought provoking conversations about the ways technology shapes our lives. If you enjoy this episode, you can listen to There Are No Girls On The Internet wherever yo…

1
The food that fertilizes itself | Giles E.D. Oldroyd 13:32

26d ago13:32

13:32

Could the key to a sustainable food system already be growing in the world’s farms? Plant scientist Giles E.D. Oldroyd explores how a special quirk of soybean plants allows them to naturally partner with networks of fungi and bacteria to access essential nutrients in the air and soil — eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers. He shows how ha…

1
Love, trust and marketing in the age of AI | Amaryllis Liampoti 11:03

1M ago11:03

11:03

As AI chatbots become more personal and proactive, the line between tool and companion is beginning to blur, with some users even professing love for their digital aides, says business consultant Amaryllis Liampoti. She presents three foundational principles for how brands can harness AI to build deeper emotional connections with consumers while pr…

1
Will AI make us the last generation to read and write? | Victor Riparbelli 17:58

1M ago17:58

17:58

Technology is changing our world — and how we communicate — at an astonishing rate. So much so that entrepreneur Victor Riparbelli predicts that artificial intelligence will drive audio and video to replace text as our primary form of communication by the end of this decade. He imagines a world where anyone can create a Hollywood film, receive pers…

1
AI, “normies,” and ethical consumption algorithms with Julia Longoria | Good Robot 20:33

2M ago20:33

20:33

“The AI revolution is here. Can we build a Good Robot?” asks Vox’s newest miniseries, Good Robot. Join host Julia Longoria in conversation with Sherrell to discuss the ideological divide within the AI community. Sherrell and Julia talk about how Julia leverages her background as a Supreme Court reporter to condense complex topics into accessible an…

1
The magic intelligence in the sky | Good Robot 46:00

2M ago46:00

46:00

This episode is part of a feed swap from our friend at Vox’s Unexplainable podcast. Good Robot is a miniseries hosted by Julia Longoria. Today’s episode, “The magic intelligence in the sky” examines how before AI became a mainstream obsession, one thinker sounded the alarm about its catastrophic potential. So why are so many billionaires and tech l…

1
Have we reached the limit of computer power? | Sajan Saini and George Zaidan 9:45

2M ago9:45

9:45

Moore’s Law states that every 1 to 2 years the number of transistors that can fit on a given size computer chip will double. Thanks to this law, chips have gotten smaller, faster, more efficient, and cheaper. But today, there are four key problems that trip up this trend, potentially ending Moore’s Law and fundamentally changing how computing progr…

1
How AI can bridge the Deaf and hearing worlds | Adam Munder 6:44

2M ago6:44

6:44

Software engineer Adam Munder is on a mission to break down communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In a live demo, he introduces OmniBridge — an AI platform that translates American Sign Language into English text in real time — and demonstrates how this tech could ensure every conversation can be fully understood, regardless o…

1
The high-wire act of unlocking clean energy | Jason Huang 16:43

2M ago16:43

16:43

Why are we using tech from 100 years ago to deliver the world's electricity? Materials scientist Jason Huang shows how we could massively upgrade the global power grid by replacing the wires in existing transmission lines with new, advanced conductors, helping us affordably meet rising energy demands while unlocking a cleaner, more climate-resilien…

1
Can Europe win the age of AI? | Thomas Dohmke 21:39

3M ago21:39

21:39

GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke discusses Europe's readiness to lead the next era of AI innovation, examining how the continent's tech ecosystems stack up against those in the US. In conversation with TEDAI Vienna co-curator Vlad Gozman, Dohmke explains the three key shifts that will help Europe thrive in the age of AI — and shows how GitHub's initiatives…

1
How AI is saving billions of years of human research time | Max Jaderberg 19:15

3M ago19:15

19:15

Can AI compress the years long research time of a PhD into seconds? Research scientist Max Jaderberg explores how “AI analogs” simulate real-world lab work with staggering speed and scale, unlocking new insights on protein folding and drug discovery. Drawing on his experience working on Isomorphic Labs' and Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 3 — an AI mod…

1
Is AI progress stuck? | Jennifer Golbeck 14:57

3M ago14:57

14:57

Will progress in artificial intelligence continue to accelerate, or have we already hit a plateau? Computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck interrogates some of the most high-profile claims about the promises and pitfalls of AI, cutting through the hype to clarify what's worth getting excited about — and what isn't. After the talk, Modupe reminds us tha…

1
How to embrace – and challenge – the idea of “beauty” in the technological age (w / Elise Hu) | How to Be a Better Human 34:01

3M ago34:01

34:01

Humans have always been captivated by beauty, and for almost as long, we’ve been marketed products and new technologies to help us achieve certain beauty standards. Elise Hu is a journalist and the author of “Flawless: Lessons in looks and culture from the K-beauty industry.” In this episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast from the TED…

1
Can AI master the art of humor? | Bob Mankoff 13:40

4M ago13:40

13:40

Can artificial intelligence be funny, or is comedy a uniquely human trait? In this witty and insightful talk, cartoonist Bob Mankoff explores the art of humor, the evolution of AI and what happens when the two collide. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
How AI could hack democracy | Lawrence Lessig 22:21

4M ago22:21

22:21

Does AI pose a threat to democracy? Law professor Lawrence Lessig dissects how this emerging technology could influence democratic institutions, warning that we’ve already passed a point (before superintelligence or AGI) that deserves a lot more attention. After the talk, Sherrell reflects on the importance of media literacy and the need to remain …

1
ReThinking with Adam Grant: Sam Altman on the future of AI and humanity 40:15

4M ago40:15

40:15

Sam Altman is the CEO and cofounder of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. He and Adam discuss AI's advances in creativity and empathy, its ethical challenges, and the role of human oversight. Sam and Adam also discuss strategies for adapting to a changing world and their hopes for technology that enhances human progress while maintaining human val…

1
How a worm could save humanity from bad AI | Ramin Hasani 6:21

4M ago6:21

6:21

What if AI could think and adapt like a real brain? TED Fellow and AI scientist Ramin Hasani shares how liquid neural networks — a new, more flexible AI technology inspired by physics and living brains — could transform how we solve complex problems. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

1
A sonic journey through the universe | Felipe Sánchez Luna 12:08

5M ago12:08

12:08

In an astounding sonic experience, creative director Felipe Sánchez Luna takes you on a journey through the universe as told in sound. Take a deep breath, listen closely and discover the power of sound to provide you with a new emotional understanding of the world. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. …

1
The probe on a mission to touch the Sun | Nour E. Rawafi 14:51

5M ago14:51

14:51

From its life-sustaining energy to its explosive geomagnetic storms, the Sun has many mysteries, says astrophysicist Nour E. Rawafi. He sheds light on NASA's latest endeavor to better understand our fiery neighbor and its impact on the future of society: sending the cutting-edge Parker Solar Probe deep into the Sun's atmosphere in humanity's closes…

1
ReThinking with Adam Grant: The art of invention with Nathan Myhrvold 27:30

5M ago27:30

27:30

This is an episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. Nathan Myhrvold may be the closest thing we have to a modern-day Renaissance man. A co-founder, inventor, chef, photographer, dinosaur hunter, author, and former Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft, Nathan infuses creativity and innovation in everythi…

1
The growing megafire crisis — and how to contain it | George T. Whitesides 14:17

5M ago14:17

14:17

Megafires, or fires that burn more than 100,000 acres, are becoming more frequent worldwide, wreaking havoc on landscapes and communities — and fire experts say the problem is only going to get worse. George T. Whitesides is focused on fighting these devastating natural disasters through innovative technologies and intentional changes to how we bui…

1
Fixable: Why is Amazon dragging its employees back into the office? 21:58

6M ago21:58

21:58

This is an episode of Fixable, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. The evidence is clear that hybrid work is good for both people and organizations. So why are companies as big as Amazon now asking employees to come into the office all five days of the work week? Could “magical hallway conversations” actually make teams better — or is th…

1
The TED AI Show: How AI digital doppelgängers could change the way we communicate w/ Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli 50:17

6M ago50:17

50:17

As AI technology advances, it’s becoming harder and harder to distinguish between work done by humans and work done by computers. But is AI becoming more human, or are we becoming more digital? Synthesia is a video platform that uses AI to generate lifelike video avatars, further blurring the lines between humans and their digitized lookalikes. In …

1
Could we replace data centers with … plant DNA? | Cliff Kapono and Keolu Fox 13:35

6M ago13:35

13:35

Is it possible to meet the world's seemingly infinite demand for data storage while also caring for the natural environment? Biomedical researcher Keolu Fox and professional surfer and scientist Cliff Kapono believe that Indigenous knowledge combined with the science of genetics may offer such a solution: using the DNA of plant cells (like those fo…

1
The TED AI Show: Could AI really achieve consciousness? w/ neuroscientist Anil Seth 56:51

6M ago56:51

56:51

Human brains are often described as computers — machines that are “wired” to make decisions and respond to external stimuli in a way that’s not so different from the artificial intelligence that we increasingly use each day. But the difference between our brains and the computers that drive AI is consciousness – our inner world, defined by experien…

1
5 ethical principles for digitizing humanitarian aid | Aarathi Krishnan 17:53

6M ago17:53

17:53

Over the last decade, humanitarian organizations have digitized many of their systems, from registering refugees with biometric IDs to transporting cargo via drones. This has helped deliver aid around the world, but it's also brought new risks to the people it's meant to protect. This week we're revisiting a talk by tech and human rights ethicist A…

1
The TED AI Show: How AI robots learn just like babies — but a million times faster w/ NVIDIA’s Rev Lebaredian 53:27

6M ago53:27

53:27

Computers have been outperforming humans for years on tasks like solving complex equations or analyzing data, but when it comes to the physical world, robots struggle to keep up. It can take years to train robots to function in the messy chaos of the “real world” — but thanks to some unlikely help from the film and video gaming industry, robots tod…

1
Who owns the internet of the future? | Ordinary Things 19:55

6M ago19:55

19:55

The emergence of data-driven mass surveillance "is threatening to turn privacy into a relic of the 20th century," says the anonymous YouTube creator known as Ordinary Things. Meanwhile, state-funded troll farms are spreading disinformation and curating chaos on platforms meant to connect us and revolutionize the way we live. This week, we're revisi…

1
How to stop doom scrolling – and have a better experience online with Jay Van Bavel (from ReThinking) 34:48

6M ago34:48

34:48

It’s impossible to separate the way people engage with AI with the way they engage with the internet as a whole. This is an episode of ReThinking, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, featuring a compelling discussion of why the internet can feel so unfriendly–and where we can go from there. You’ll hear from Jay Van Bavel, an award-winnin…

1
How quadratic funding could finance your dreams | Kevin Owocki 14:29

6M ago14:29

14:29

What if your $1 donation could result in a $100 contribution to a cause you believe in? That’s the promise of quadratic funding: a new kind of crowdfunding model that uses math to distribute funds based on the number of contributors, rather than the amount given. Gitcoin founder Kevin Owocki dives into the principles and pitfalls of this approach t…

1
The TED AI Show: Building an AI creator community w/ Civitai founders Justin Meyer and Maxfield Hulker 49:45

7M ago49:45

49:45

Ever since generative AI tools like Midjourney became available to the public in 2022, curious users and AI fanatics alike have been experimenting with the technology. But for tech aficionados and AI enthusiasts like Justin Meyer and Maxfield Hulker, Midjourney’s closed-source model wasn’t enough — they wanted to go deeper. That’s why Justin and Ma…

1
What’s next for immersive storytelling? | Mark Grimmer 14:33

7M ago14:33

14:33

"New possibilities for storytelling are emerging faster than at any other time in history," says film producer Mark Grimmer. With an immersive approach to art exhibitions, he shares several multidisciplinary projects — including a kaleidoscopic exhibit of David Bowie's world-changing career and a luminous, interactive show that brings visitors insi…

1
The TED AI Show: An AI chatbot that talks back w/ ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode 30:38

7M ago30:38

30:38

When it comes to preparing for an interview or making an important life decision, more and more people are turning to AI for advice. ChatGPT’s new voice interface, Advanced Voice Mode, allows users to speak out loud and converse with a chatbot as they would with another human — but is it really as seamless as a chat with a friend? Bilawal runs a se…

1
The sweet future of vertical farming | Hiroki Koga 13:14

7M ago13:14

13:14

Can strawberries grown inside a building taste sweeter than those grown in a field? Farming entrepreneur Hiroki Koga explores how his team is combining solar-powered vertical farms with AI, robotics and indoor bee colonies to grow delicious strawberries year-round — and how this practice, if widely adopted, could deliver a harvest of benefits for t…

1
The TED AI Show: How AI is changing national security w/ Kathleen Fisher 55:01

7M ago55:01

55:01

We’ve had conversations about AI’s online influence on politics, from deepfakes to misinformation. But AI can also have profound effects on hardware – especially when it comes to national security and military capabilities like weapons and stealth technologies. Kathleen Fisher is an office director at DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects A…

1
Could we build a miniature sun on Earth? | George Zaidan 6:46

7M ago6:46

6:46

Stars have cores hot and dense enough to force atomic nuclei together, forming larger, heavier nuclei in a process known as fusion. In this process, the mass of the end products is slightly less than the mass of the initial atoms. But that “lost” mass doesn’t disappear — it’s converted to energy ... a lot of energy. So, can we harness this energy t…

1
The TED AI Show: How open-source AI will reshape power dynamics in tech w/ Hugging Face CSO Thomas Wolf 40:11

7M ago40:11

40:11

Many people associate innovation with secrecy—privately toiling away on a project until you're ready to share it with the world. While that may work for some, there's a benefit to putting all your cards on the table. Bilawal sits down for a conversation with Thomas Wolf, whose company Hugging Face pivoted from privately building an AI chatbot to sh…

1
Can AI preserve your most precious memories? | Pau Aleikum Garcia 13:06

7M ago13:06

13:06

“Memories are the architects of our identity,” says technologist Pau Aleikum Garcia, but they’re not permanent. Photos can be lost amid political unrest or natural disaster, while illnesses like Alzhemier’s can rob people of their past. He puts forward a novel solution — “synthetic memories,” or dreamlike visualizations of long-gone moments created…

1
The TED AI Show: How AI is changing who gets hired – and who doesn’t w/ Hilke Schellmann 39:06

7M ago39:06

39:06

From vetting resumes to screening candidates, many employers are using AI tools to identify top talent. But what happens when companies start relying on AI to help them decide who to hire or promote…and who to fire? Bilawal speaks with journalist Hilke Schellmann, whose research on the rapidly growing use of AI in the workplace highlights where alg…

1
Time traveling with AI to connect with lost loved ones | Amy Kurzweil 10:43

8M ago10:43

10:43

What if AI could bring the past to life? Cartoonist Amy Kurzweil shares how she helped train an AI chatbot on her late grandfather’s archives, allowing her to connect with a family member she never met — and discover family history she never knew. Backed by her own original drawings, she reveals the profound impact art and AI can have in keeping me…

1
The TED AI Show: How Meta wants to shape our digital future with open source AI w/ Ragavan Srinivasan 50:14

8M ago50:14

50:14

Llama is Meta’s Large Language Model trained on over 15 trillion tokens of publicly available information. It’s available to anyone – from people making custom fan-made entertainment on a smartphone… to, potentially, complex projects that may not have the public’s well-being in mind. So if Llama is such a widely available and powerful product, why …

1
The invisible networks shaping your everyday life | Deb Chachra 17:11

8M ago17:11

17:11

The basic infrastructure that controls plumbing, electricity and more is vital to your individual agency, says engineering professor Deb Chachra. She offers a crash course on how these systems connect to shape our lives — and suggests some key improvements for providing long-term, sustainable energy to everyone. After the talk, Sherrell reflects on…

1
The TED AI Show: Is Google’s reign over? The future of AI search w/ Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas 35:51

8M ago35:51

35:51

Whether finding a restaurant or fact-checking a new claim, search engines are one of the main avenues we use to navigate the world. So why are modern engines so clunky and frustrating – and how is AI already changing the infrastructure we use to access information on the internet? Bilawal sits down with CEO of Perplexity AI Aravind Srinivas to disc…

1
The innovators building Africa's thriving tech scene | Peace Itimi 9:20

8M ago9:20

9:20

“A new reality has emerged, one where ambitious Africans are writing their own stories as builders and as innovators,” says business storyteller Peace Itimi. Taking us inside Africa’s booming tech scene, she highlights the trailblazing entrepreneurs and startups reshaping Africa's economy through innovation and ambition. Want to help shape TED’s sh…

1
The TED AI Show: How AI will transform dubbing in Hollywood w/ Scott Mann 40:44

8M ago40:44

40:44

If you've ever cringed at a poorly-dubbed film, you are not alone. That's why Scott Mann founded Flawless, a company that’s transforming the world of dubbing using AI. He talks with Bilawal about why good dubbing is essential for movie making and shares the mind-blowing technology that not only lets Robert DeNiro speak perfect Spanish, but radicall…

1
The missing piece of the clean energy transition | Sheila Ngozi Oparaocha 12:36

8M ago12:36

12:36

The clean energy transition has a major blind spot, says energy equity expert Sheila Ngozi Oparaocha: it ignores millions of people without access to energy. Highlighting grassroots women's organizations leading the charge towards universal access, she makes a powerful call to prioritize gender equality in energy policies — and to create a sustaina…

1
The TED AI Show: The UN is speaking up about AI — here’s what they’re saying 53:56

8M ago53:56

53:56

AI is shaping every aspect of our lives — but only a handful of tech giants are having a say in what this technology can do. So what’s going on with world governments? Bilawal sits down with geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer to unpack the UN’s just-released plan for “Governing AI for Humanity,” a report that focuses on the urgent need to guide AI tow…

1
The secret force for limitless energy? Lasers | Tammy Ma 15:15

9M ago15:15

15:15

In 2022, physicist Tammy Ma and the team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved a scientific breakthrough decades in the making: fusion ignition, or the combining of two atoms to generate more energy out of a reaction than was put in — recreating on Earth the same process that powers the Sun. She explains how they used a giant laser (wa…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Deb Houston Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen