How reading can transform your life (w/ Reginald Dwayne Betts)

More from How to Be a Better Human

1. 

   5 Oct 2026 · 53 min

   How to reclaim your narrative (w/ Monica Lewinsky)

   Monica Lewinsky is an anti-bullying activist and host of Reclaiming with Monica, a podcast that shines her guests’ unguarded conversations about how they make sense of the world. In this episode filmed in front of a live audience at TED 2026, Chris interviews Monica on how she finds healing throughout the years. They discuss the role of public shaming in an online world, the differences between cancel culture and accountability culture, and how to have more empathy after surviving trauma. Featured guest Follow Monica Lewinsky on Instagram and X Subscribe to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on…

2. 

   21 Sep 2026 · 42 min

   How to live longer (w/ Keith Diaz)

   Keith Diaz is an exercise scientist who studies the importance of movement to combat a sedentary lifestyle. He joins Chris to talk about how you can build better habits, and why simple alarm alerts might be more effective in motivating people to move than savvier tech like smart watches. Keith also shares why you need to activate your muscles to help you fight diseases and stay healthy. Featured guest Follow Keith Diaz on LinkedIn Watch Ketih's TED Talk Connect with the team Follow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.com Buy Chris’ book, Humor Me Watch How to Be a Better Human videos…

3. 

   14 Sep 2026 · 48 min

   How to navigate complicated family dynamics (w/ Emerson Whitney)

   How do you bring up difficult topics—especially when it involves a loved one? In this episode, Emerson Whitney, author of the book O Mother, talks about the grief of losing his mom to suicide. Emerson shares delicate topics such as growing up neurodivergent with ADHD and autism and how he continues to show up as his authentic self. Then Emerson and Chris discuss finding community and how to cultivate more joyful friendships. Featured guest Follow Emerson Whitney on Instagram and at https://emersonwhitney.com/ Buy O Mother Connect with the team Follow Chris on Instagram and at…

4. 

   7 Sep 2026 · 44 min

   Does it Take a Twisted Mind to Write Twisted Stories? | from Better In Person

   Harlan Coben doesn’t think so. The mega-best-selling author talks suburbia, impostor syndrome, and what he learned from his college friend David Foster Wallace. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you can watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. Vote for our show in the Signal Awards for Best Advice & How To podcast! For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts Fill out our survey at bit.ly/BHSurvey6 Hosted on…

5. 

   4 Sep 2026 · 34 min

   Summer Fridays: How zombies, dragons, and superheroes could make you a better person (w/ Christopher Robichaud)

   Roleplaying games and the Marvel universe may be fictional, but they can also teach us a lot about morality in the real world. Christopher Robichaud is a Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In this episode, he shares ways we can explore important, everyday issues in fun, safe, and unexpected ways. Christopher has made a career out of teaching ethics and philosophy using pop culture, dissecting moral questions using anything from zombie apocalypse simulations to superhero narratives. He received his doctorate in philosophy from MIT. In 2015 he won…

6. 

   31 Aug 2026 · 43 min

   How to be creatively inspired (w/ Hrishikesh Hirway)

   Hrishikesh Hirway is a musician and producer, but you probably know him best as the host of the podcast Song Exploder. Hrishikesh has a new album out, “In the Last Hour of Light,” and he shares with Chris his creative process. Hrishikesh also talks about his definition of success and why he values the act of creating over the insecurity of whether his work is “good enough.” Finally, Hrishikesh shares his advice for how people can become more attuned to their creative side. Featured guest Follow Hrishikesh Hirway on Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube , and at https://hrishikesh.co/ Subscribe to…

7. 

   28 Aug 2026 · 37 min

   Summer Fridays: The art of paying attention (w/ Wendy MacNaughton and Laurel Braitman)

   If you found yourself doodling or writing a lot as a child but then lost the hobby as you grew up, Wendy MacNaughton and Laurel Braitman want to help you recapture your spark. Wendy MacNaughton is an illustrator, the author of “How to Say Goodbye”, and the creator of Draw Together, an art and learning community. Laurel Braitman is a TED Fellow, the author of the memoir “What Looks Like Bravery”, and the founder of Writing Medicine, a community of writing healthcare professionals. Together, Wendy and Laurel created Attention Club, a group of people pursuing creativity by practicing focus with…

8. 

   24 Aug 2026 · 43 min

   The last places without human sounds (w/ Matt Mikkelsen)

   What is natural sound in an increasingly noisy world? asks sound recordist and audio engineer Matt Mikkelsen. Matt travels the world recording natural sounds in places where you can’t hear anything made by humans: no planes, no cars, no ringing phones. In this episode, Matt joins Chris to talk about the difference between quiet and silence. Matt shares his adventures and work with Quiet Parks International and even shares a story about the time he was struck by lightning. They also talk about the importance of choosing our acoustic environment and why it’s important to unplug and sit still…

9. 

   21 Aug 2026 · 34 min

   Summer Fridays: Why you should try birding (w/ Christian Cooper)

   If you ask Christian Cooper, a science writer, editor, and the host of the show “Extraordinary Birder With Christian Cooper”, birding can teach us all kinds of lessons about life, self-acceptance, and joy. In this episode, Christian shares what he deems as the seven pleasures of birding, why inclusion is especially important in life-affirming pursuits, and how anyone (city-dwellers and countryside-residents alike) can commune with nature to unlock the awe and wonder of the world around us. Vote for our show in the Signal Awards for Best Advice & How To podcast! For the full text transcript,…

10. 

    17 Aug 2026 · 41 min

    How increasing your happiness can help solve climate change (w/ Jiaying Zhao and Elizabeth Dunn)

    The conversation around climate change is often bleak and terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be that way, says climate behavior scientist Jiaying Zhao, or JZ. In this episode, JZ and happiness researcher Elizabeth Dunn join Chris to discuss why we need to account for happiness in climate solutions. JZ and Elizabeth argue since happiness is contagious, making happiness-driven decisions go further in influencing behavioral change than fear-based tactics. They also talk about an anesthetic gas that releases more carbon than CO2 and why you should google if your bank is investing money in fossil…

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