NPR/TED Staff

Carol Dweck finds that the words adults use to describe kids' progress affects the children's belief in their own potential.

South African writer and conservationist Boyd Varty has spent his entire life among wild animals. He describes how he discovers "new old ways" by observing the natural world.

Advocate Tony Porter's wisdom focuses on masculinity and ending violence against women. He explains how he draws on his own upbringing to help the next generation of men redefine manhood.

Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger is the director of a 75-year-old study on happiness and satisfaction. He shares what he has learned, as well as his wisdom on how to find fulfillment.

We all stumble across similar ideas as we age, and some of these revelations have passed into the books we love. Journalist Joshua Prager explores the stages of life through quotes from great writers.

When Adora Svitak was 12, she gave a TED Talk on what grownups can learn from children. Now at age 18, and a sophomore at UC Berkeley, Svitak reflects on the message she shared.

Design critic Alice Rawsthorn explains why some of the greatest designers tend to be outsiders. She celebrates the innovations of unwitting designers like Florence Nightingale — and Blackbeard.

Science writer Janine Benyus believes innovators should look to nature when solving a design problem. She says the natural world is full of ideas for making things waterproof, solar-powered and more.

Architect Marc Kushner explains why architecture tends to swing drastically between traditional and experimental styles — and why the future of building design is going to be different.

The designer behind the iPod and the Nest thermostat explains why design is in the details, and why designers often get those details wrong.

When a stranger shows up at an AirBnB rental, what ensures that all goes well? Careful design of the website that brought them together, says Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb.

In describing her experiences of immigration, poverty and homelessness, psychologist Tania Luna explains that gratitude for the small things creates a rich and hopeful life.

Vice President Al Gore explains how human ingenuity can solve our climate crisis.

Activist Mia Birdsong says the stories we tell about poverty don't reflect reality. She describes people in her community who are optimistic about their futures — even if the larger society is not.

Cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot makes the case for why humans are wired to have what she calls an "optimism bias."

Educator John Hunter describes how he finds hope and inspiration in his fourth grade students — and their ability to solve big problems.

Vice President Al Gore says that — despite the dismal news on climate change — he's optimistic.

Social scientist Arthur Brooks explains how conservatives and liberals can cooperate to overcome gridlock and build a better economy.

Social entrepreneur and educator Aziz Abu Sarah describes how he came to lead tours in which Jews, Muslims and Christians cross contested borders to spend time in each others cultures.

The strong emotions sparked by abortion leave little room for thoughtful debate. To cut through the tension, Aspen Baker says we should calmly tell and listen to stories about women who had abortions.