Most popular TED conversations of 2025

2025 ushers in one of the most dangerous periods in world history — on par with the 1930s and early Cold War, says Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media. Highlighting the top geopolitical risks for the year ahead, Bremmer explores the impact of Donald Trump’s return to power in the US, the breakdown of the US-China relationship, the consequences of a rogue Russia, the future of unchecked AI development and more, plus some bright spots amid these unprecedented challenges. (This interview, hosted by TED’s Helen Walters, was recorded on January 6, 2025.)

Food is culture, food is life — it’s part of who we are and the magic that binds us together. But here’s the twist: the way we eat is pushing the climate to the brink, with a third of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from the way we grow, process and waste food. Through TED Talks and conversations with chefs, scientists, activists and more, this film explores a recipe for change — and how shifting to plant-rich diets, embracing innovations like lab-grown meat and reimagining farming's regenerative future can help us feed the world without frying the planet. (Hosted by Manoush Zomorodi and featuring Jonathan Foley, Sam Kass, Pinky Cole, Jasmine Crowe-Houston, Dana Gunders, Uma Valeti, Hiroki Koga, Helianti Hilman, Peter Dawe, June Jo Lee, Gonzalo Muñoz, Agnes Kalibata, Marcelo Mena, Andy Jarvis and Anthony Myint)

"If you can't respect the basic fundamental underlying principles with which we order society — which is 'Do not steal' — then what are you left with?" asks investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr. Following her TED2025 talk, Cadwalladr is in conversation with Chris Anderson, head of TED, to warn about surveillance fascism. What happens when big Silicon Valley companies take over communication platforms and weaponize intellectual property against you? She suggests that when you feel powerless, it's often actually because you are powerful — and explores why it's so important to fight information chaos by supporting independent media and journalists.

How do you quit people-pleasing? Internet filmmaker Baron Ryan and family therapist Stephanie R. Yates-Anyabwile unpack the all-too-common fear of rejection and explore the practices necessary to reclaim your ability to finally say “no” and stop caring about what other people think. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)

How do you hold on to hope while still being realistic about the work that needs to be done? Immunology researcher David Fajgenbaum and public health expert Celina de Sola discuss how they scaled personal missions into organizations making long-term impact on communities near and far. They explore how to stay motivated, discover your leadership style and uncover overlooked solutions hiding in plain sight. (This conversation is part of "TED Intersections," a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)

The secret to reducing childhood anxiety is actually quite simple: just let kids do more stuff on their own, says Lenore Skenazy, cofounder and president of Let Grow, an organization dedicated to normalizing childhood independence. In conversation with TED’s Whitney Pennington Rodgers, Skenazy discusses why parenting has become more demanding in our safety-obsessed world — and offers a more joyful, trusting alternative to helicopter parenting, with tangible steps for how to start safely (and sanely) letting your kids grow. (This conversation was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.)

The rapidly evolving field of protein design is revealing solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems, whether it's blocking a virus, breaking down a pollutant or creating brand-new materials. In conversation with TED’s Whitney Pennington Rodgers, biochemist David Baker explores his team’s Nobel Prize-winning work using AI to design new proteins with functions never before seen in nature — achieving breakthroughs that have fundamentally changed the future of science. (This conversation was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.)

"Teen girls have solutions to save us from some of our biggest problems," says digital strategist Deja Foxx. Following her talk at TED2025, she joins Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, to discuss the power, innovation and intelligence of teen girls — especially amid a rise in online platforms censoring women's health and creativity. Foxx reflects on how she went viral for speaking up at a town hall meeting, talks about the importance of carving out space for a different kind of internet and shares some of the women-led platforms uplifting female creatives. She also explores her journey into politics and shows how anyone can practice civic engagement, both online and offline.