Best Design Duet Podcasts (2025)

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From Generic to Joyful — Designing a Home That Reflects You 21:33

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1d ago21:33

21:33

In the whirlwind of daily life, our homes can easily become just a pit stop—a place to sleep, eat, and repeat. But what if your home could be more than just a backdrop? What if it became a sanctuary that tells your story? In this episode, we explore how to move beyond cookie-cutter interiors and embrace design choices that feel personal, joyful, an…

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How to find humor in life's absurdity | Maira Kalman (re-release) 13:45

4h ago13:45

13:45

With levity and profound insight, artist Maira Kalman reflects on life, death, dinner parties, not knowing the right answers, the joys of eating a hot dog from a street vendor and more. This talk, interwoven with her delightful paintings, is itself an artwork that seems to hold the entirety of life in all its absurd glory. This episode originally a…

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The most powerful predictor of team success | Rafael Chiuzi 16:42

19h ago16:42

16:42

Remember that gut-clenching fear of speaking up in class? Organizational psychologist Rafael Chiuzi reveals how that same feeling shows up in the workplace, limiting productivity and the free exchange of ideas. Backed by decades of research and hands-on consulting, he unpacks the science of psychological safety — and shares three actionable steps t…

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A story of moral imagination and bold entrepreneurship | Sitoyo Lopokoiyit and Jacqueline Novogratz 19:36

2d ago19:36

19:36

In a conversation about visionary leadership, M-PESA CEO Sitoyo Lopokoiyit speaks with impact investor and Acumen CEO Jacqueline Novogratz about how he grew a nascent mobile payment service into Africa’s largest fintech platform — which now handles nearly 60 percent of Kenya's GDP and more than a billion dollars in daily transactions. They draw on …

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"Marigolds," a poem about wonder | Safiya Sinclair 9:02

3d ago9:02

9:02

Poet Safiya Sinclair performs "Marigolds: A Letter to Wonder," an original poem she created for TED that explores memory, beauty and the fragility of life. After the poem, she talks with TED's Helen Walters about her writing process — and what it feels like when the creative muse strikes. Want to help shape TED's shows going forward? Fill out our s…

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The miraculous device that saved my farm — and changed my life | Josephine Waweru 10:18

4d ago10:18

10:18

Exhausted from carrying water up a hill to keep her small farm in Kenya thriving, Josephine Waweru received an unexpected call that offered a nearly unbelievable solution. She shares how one simple device allowed her crops (and her dreams) to flourish — and offers a glimmer of hope in the face of growing climate uncertainty. Want to help shape TED'…

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The inside story of Notre-Dame’s incredible reconstruction | Philippe Villeneuve 13:38

5d ago13:38

13:38

In a moment that stunned the world in 2019, the famed Notre-Dame in Paris went up in flames, threatening the future of the centuries-old Gothic treasure. Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the cathedral’s restoration, recounts the collective effort to bring the building back to life while honoring its history. Listen for a story of craftsm…

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Sunday Pick: The Science of Recharging on Weekends and Vacations | ReThinking with Adam Grant 29:45

6d ago29:45

29:45

Many people don’t use all their paid time off from work—and struggle to relax and recover on nights and weekends too. What does it take to make our breaks more restorative? Adam examines the evidence on recovery and burnout, explores how workplaces can reimagine vacation policies, and highlights what kinds of hobbies are best suited to different ti…

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The habit that could improve your career (and your life) | Paul Catchlove (re-release) 12:29

7d ago12:29

12:29

Paul Catchlove believes strongly in the power of reflection. Through every career he's held -- from priest to opera singer to senior management consultant -- he's benefitted from a habit of considering and analyzing his goals, needs and performance. Learn more about how a regular practice of reflection can improve your decision-making, career and r…

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A firework ladder to the sky — and the magic of explosive art | Cai Guo-Qiang (re-release) 14:33

8d ago14:33

14:33

From a boy setting off small explosions in his living room to the creator of world-famous pyrotechnic events, multidisciplinary artist Cai Guo-Qiang has always been drawn to gunpowder. He gives a stunning tour of his work — including his fireworks spectacle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, his "sky ladder" of fire reaching to the clouds and new work c…

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Mid-Century Magic in the Desert – Palm Springs & Modernism Week 29:10

9d ago29:10

29:10

Palm Springs isn’t just a destination — it’s a design pilgrimage. In this sun-drenched surprise episode of The Design Duet, we take you along on Caroline’s unforgettable trip to the modernist mecca during Modernism Week — the annual celebration of mid-century architecture, design, and culture in February this year. Surrounded by desert landscapes a…

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What happens when your dog uses the internet | Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas 15:50

9d ago15:50

15:50

Imagine this: you walk into a room, and your dog is on a video call with their fellow canine friends. Computer scientist Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas thinks the notion of a social internet for animals is not far off. She explores what happens when animals control their own technology — from parrots making friends online to monkeys choosing their favorite…

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Beyond the Talk: Hany Farid in conversation with TED Talks Daily 21:12

10d ago21:12

21:12

“ How do you trust anything anymore? Who do you trust? Where do you trust?” asks technologist and digital forensic expert Hany Farid. Following his talk at TED2025, Farid sat down for a special conversation with Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, to discuss the erosion of trust in American society. From TikTok algorithms to AI deepfakes, Farid argu…

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How to spot fake AI photos | Hany Farid 12:57

10d ago12:57

12:57

How do you know if that shocking photo in your feed is real, or just another AI fake? Digital forensics expert Hany Farid explains how he helps journalists, courts and governments find structural errors in AI-generated images, offering four practical tips everyday individuals can use when facing the internet’s war on reality. Want to help shape TED…

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The fire-breathing dragon-horse sparking wonder in a city near you | Frédette Lampre 11:02

11d ago11:02

11:02

How does a city change when its art doesn’t hang on museum walls but instead roams the streets? Artist Frédette Lampre of the production company La Machine shares how their towering, handcrafted mechanical creations transform urban spaces into living theaters, creating unforgettable experiences that reconnect people with their cities and each other…

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Why climate action is unstoppable — and "climate realism" is a myth | Al Gore 24:29

12d ago24:29

24:29

In this urgent and hard-hitting talk, Nobel Laureate Al Gore thoroughly dismantles the fossil fuel industry’s narrative of "climate realism," contrasting their misleading claims with the remarkable advancements in renewable energy. Drawing on data showing clear signs of progress across the world, Gore makes a powerful case that we already have ever…

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TED Talks Daily Book Club: A Little Daylight Left | Sarah Kay 47:20

14d ago47:20

47:20

Sarah Kay is a spoken word poet and the author of the new poetry collection "A Little Daylight Left." In this TED Talks Daily Book Club interview with host Elise Hu, Kay reflects on her relationship with poetry — from reading the poems her parents left in her lunchbox to frequenting the local dive bar’s weekly poetry slam to becoming an “accidental…

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Let curiosity lead | Yara Shahidi (re-release) 12:55

14d ago12:55

12:55

Don't second-guess what "distracts" you, says actor-producer Yara Shahidi; that's your curiosity coming through. The star of hit shows like "black-ish" and "grown-ish" tells how she learned to spot clues to her own future — and how you can, too. This episode originally aired January 16, 2024. Want to help shape TED's shows going forward? Fill out o…