How to Be a Better Human

Comedian Chris Duffy hosts this TED Audio Collective show, and the comedic background matters. How to Be a Better Human approaches self-improvement from unexpected angles — cognitive science, workplace dynamics, meditation research, the mechanics of love — with a lightness that keeps it from becoming preachy. Each weekly episode runs 37 to 47 minutes and features conversations with TED speakers and other experts who bring sharp, specific insights rather than broad motivational platitudes. The show has produced 354 episodes across six seasons and carries a 4.1-star rating from about 1,300 reviews. Duffy is good at finding the practical takeaway in academic research. Guests do not just talk about their work — they explain what listeners can do differently starting today. The format works because Duffy is genuinely funny without undermining the substance, and he asks the kind of follow-up questions that turn a good interview into a useful one. Some listeners note the ads can be heavy in the free version, which is worth knowing. But the actual content consistently delivers concrete ideas for personal growth grounded in evidence rather than wishful thinking. It sits in a sweet spot between pure entertainment and pure education that not many podcasts manage to occupy.