TED Circles is an open community of small groups that discuss big ideas.
Hosted by volunteers, Circles discuss a TED Talk about the monthly theme. By considering each other’s perspectives, they create a global conversation. That conversation needs everyone so we hope you join as a host or as a guest.
Circles help communities stay connected, especially now. The video illustrates how you can host your own!
Host a TED Circle
Anyone can host a TED Circle! Hosts invite guests, select a talk about the monthly theme, and facilitate a productive conversation...it's that simple! Our host resources are available if you want to learn more.
Hosting is an important role and TED wants to help you be a great host! After you register as a host, you receive a welcome email confirming your hostname, granting access to our Circles registration and invitation generator, and inviting you to join our host community group (a special online space for hosts from around the world to connect).
Want to host a TED Circle?
Register hereThis Month
May | Risk-takingJoin an online Circle hosted by TEDWant to change climate change? Host TED Circles about Countdown
Kashfia RahmanHow risk taking changes teenager's brain
Conversation starters
- Has Rahman’s talk changed how you view teens today or the decisions you made in your own adolescence? Why or why not? Additional resource: Gever Tulley’s Talk
- Despite being about teens, how could you adopt some of Rahman’s learnings into your own life and understanding of yourself? Or if you know a teen, how could this talk influence how you connect with them?
- We were all teens once. Do you have an outrageous or reckless story that you’d like to share with the group?
- How do you think the risks you made as a teen changed you, if at all?
Tim FerrissWhy you should define your fears instead of your goals
Conversation starters
- Will you adopt Ferriss’s fear-setting practice? Why or why not?
- Do you have a method for making hard choices or taking risks? If so, consider sharing with the group. If not, has Ferriss convinced you to develop one?
- What is one fear that stops you from pursuing something you want to do? How do you bypass it? Or, conversely, as a group, brainstorm ways to figure out how.
- Share a time you conquered a fear, took a risk or made a hard choice that paid off well. Additional resource: Tina Seelig's Talk
Sviatlana TsikhanouskayaHow to be fearless in the face of authoritarianism
Conversation starters
- When was the last time you felt fearless? What was it about that context or circumstances that made it so? Additional resource: Yvonne Aki Sawyerr's Talk
- If you've never felt fearless, or if it's a rare occurrence, why might that be? What might it take for that to happen (again)? How might your life be different if you and those in your community were more fearless more often?
- Tsikhanouskaya says, “Our courage is born from unity.” How much unity do you feel in your community? If you need more unity to be courageous, how might you foster that unity?
- What do you think it takes to sustain such fearlessness and courage in the face of opposition month after month, and even year after year?
Shekinah ElmoreThe courage to live with radical uncertainty
Conversation starters
- Elmore revisits the idea of ‘the worst thing that could happen’. Think of a pressing or worrisome situation in your life. When you imagine the worst case, how likely is it to actually occur? If it did transpire, how could you cope with it?
- What might you say to your younger self to convince them that a particular risk was worth taking? Communicate how you overcame your reluctance and the good (or the lesson) that came out of it.
- What were some of the ways that Elmore propelled herself through tough situations? How can her tenacity be replicated in your own life?
- How might you approach doctors appointments differently as a result of this talk?
Upcoming months
June | Our bodiesJoin an online Circle hosted by TEDWant to change climate change? Host TED Circles about Countdown
Talithia WilliamsOwn your body's data
Conversation starters
- What's one biological thing in your life that you would be curious to track? What are some ways you could measure it?
- Williams urged her audience to not be afraid to ask doctors to show them the data. Where else might this mantra be useful? Additional resource: Abraham Verghese's Talk
- Williams’ talk demonstrates how tracking your own data helps you advocate for your medical health. Are there times when you've used your own expertise in a topic to negotiate with an authority figure?
- Many apps enable this kind of data collection, from counting steps, to measuring heart rate, to tracking ovulation. Have you used one? If so, how was your experience with it? Do you know if the company has access to your data? If it does, how does it make you feel?
Aimee MullinsMy 12 pairs of legs
Conversation starters
- How do you think the conversation around bodies has changed in the last 20 years?
- How might society better support and normalize differently abled bodies?
- What kind of prosthetics or modifications would you like to see as technology progresses? Get futuristic with it. Additional resource: Olivia Arthur's Talk
- Which pair of legs Mullins showed were your favorite? Can you offer a new material or design that she could add to her collection? Be imaginative!
D-L StewartScenes from a Black trans life
Conversation starters
- How much trans and Black history were you aware of before this talk? Additional resource: Karissa Sanbonmatsu's Talk
- Did Stewart’s journey bring any realizations or new understandings about Black and/or trans lives today? Why or why not? Additional resource: Lee Mokobe's Talk
- Which scene or piece of information from Stewart’s talk stands out to you the most? Why?
- Who would you share Stewart’s talk with and why?
Paul KnoepflerThe ethical dilemma of designer babies
Conversation starters
- Is there anything about genetic modified humans that worries you? What might that be? If not, why not?
- Would you support allowing genetically modified 'designer' babies in your country? Are there any medical exceptions that you would allow? Why or why not?
- Since Knoepfler’s talk, the first genetically edited babies (twins) were born with genes the doctor hoped would make them immune to HIV. Investigations found that the doctor did it in secret, broke laws, misled the parents, and failed safety protocols. Whatsmore, the children’s genes might fail to provide HIV immunity and their altered genes can be passed on. Does this real-life example make you support Knoepfler’s suggestion to halt “designer” babies or give you reason to legalize the practice so it happens under careful scrutiny?
- Do you trust humans to make good choices with this technology? Why or why not?
Previous months
April | Appreciating EarthJoin an online Circle hosted by TEDWant to change climate change? Host TED Circles about Countdown
Emma MarrisNature is everywhere — we just need to learn to see it
Conversation starters
- How do you define your locale’s nature? Is nature everywhere, nowhere, or somewhere in between? Describe in detail or share images to illustrate what you mean.
- Has this talk challenged you to see your surroundings differently? If so, how? If not, why not?
- Where do kids in your area interact with nature? Brainstorm ways to engage children more with their surroundings. Additional resource: Nirupa Rao's Talk
- What is your favorite piece of nature on Earth? What untended patch of nature can you embrace in order to better nurture nature?
Menno SchilthuizenHow animals and plants are evolving in cities
Conversation starters
- Schilthuizen shares some unexpected ways that creatures have adapted to the urban jungle. Which evolutionary adaptation impressed you the most?
- How has your region changed in your lifetime? What animal-friendly environments have come and gone? Additional resource: Prosanta Chakrabarty's Talk
- Picture a plant or animal you’ve seen in your region. What adaptations might it have undergone to survive in your changing landscape? Or, what sorts of environmental changes will it need to evolve to adapt to in the near future?
- As Schilthuizen mentions, many species go extinct because of the change to their environment. How might we make our urban spaces more habitable so that the species that do evolve and those that otherwise can’t are both able to survive?
Enrico Ramirez-RuizYour body was forged in the spectacular death of stars
Conversation starters
- What came to mind during this talk? Did your mind stay in the present, travel light years away, or reconsider what you see when you look up at the night sky?
- What did this astrophysics history lesson teach you about cosmic life and Earth life? Additional resource: Dave Brain's Talk
- Which historical figure’s atoms are you the most excited to know created the oxygen atoms you breathe and the very atoms that make you?
- How does the metaphor between our atoms and the Chichimecan myth resonate with you? What would it look like to 'treasure and share every single one of our pieces'? How might that make us 'become more complete'?
Marah J. HardtAre we interrupting the kinky sex lives of fish?
Conversation starters
- How has Hardt’s talk helped you see sea life differently? Additional resource: Heidi Sosik's Talk
- In what ways are your habits connected with the ocean? Consider your diet, travel, and consumer goods.
- What adjustments are you willing to make to ensure that sea life can continue?
- The sex lives of fish can be truly fascinating. What bit of trivia do you think you’re most likely to remember from this talk?
March | Consumption, what's your function?Join an online Circle hosted by TEDWant to change climate change? Host TED Circles about Countdown
Aparna MehtaWhere do your online returns go
Conversation starters
- Does this talk make you reconsider your online shopping habits? Why or why not? Additional resource: Andrew Dent's Talk
- Were you aware of this practice before the talk? If not, how does it make you feel? If so, share how you learned about it.
- What do you think needs to be done to stop this destructive habit? Consider options starting from the everyday shopper all the way to your favorite retailers.
- Instead of returning an item, what are other ways to part with it more responsibly and sustainably? Brainstorm alternatives like repurposing, regifting, reselling — or something beyond. Think big (and small)!
Graham HillWhy I'm a weekday vegetarian
Conversation starters
- Did Hill convince you to adopt his weekday vegetarian plan? Why or why not?
- Meat is a big part of many cultures around the world. Brainstorm ways to adopt more vegetarian meals without sacrificing important parts of a culture overall.
- Have you naturally been moving in this direction without realizing it? If so, what caused the change? If not, what would make you reconsider? Additional resource: Birke Baehr’s Talk
- Swap some of your favorite vegan or vegetarian recipes — and/or discuss how you could make meat-based meals more plant-based.
Kathryn BouskillThe unforeseen consequences of a fast-paced world
Conversation starters
- In her research, Bouskill met people who said they would “rather burn out than rust out.” Before you watched this talk, to which category did you belong, if either? Why? Has your view changed as a result of this talk? If so, how?
- As noted in the talk’s reading list, Bouskill wrote a piece asking, “What could the world look like in 25 years if the pace of social, environmental, technological, and biological change keeps accelerating?” What’s your answer? Is your vision of the future something you’re excited for? Why or why not?
- Bouskill mentions side effects of the perpetual time crunch we so often seem to find ourselves in, including whiplash and hurry sickness. What are some of the consequences of our speedy society that you’ve encountered?
- What are the occasions in your life or in your community when you wish things would happen faster? What are the times you wished happened more slowly? Are there commonalities within each category?
TED-EdHow to choose your news
Conversation starters
- How do you personally decide that a news outlet is trustworthy? After everyone shares, consider if there are any other methods from the TED-ED lesson you could use.
- What are the benefits of relying on the same outlets for your news? What are the dangers and/or limitations?
- As a group, decide on one recent news item. Compare/contrast how this same event is covered across three different outlets and three different journalists. Are there differences or similarities in coverage that surprise you?
- What has social media’s impact been on news dissemination and awareness?
February | Our memoriesJoin an online Circle hosted by TEDWant to change climate change? Host TED Circles about Countdown
TED-EdHow memories form and how we lose them
Conversation starters
- What surprised you most about the process of making memories?
- Which memory-affecting factors (e.g. age, mental/physical health, stress, depression, isolation) are you most susceptible to? What would help you combat these factors?
- How do you currently exercise your brain? What “brain workouts'' might you be willing to try in order to help preserve your memories?
- Erin Sullivan encourages us to “Be intentional - don't lose a beautiful, irreplaceable memory because you were too focused on getting the [photograph].” This video says “memories are encoded most strongly when we’re paying attention”. When does photography help/hinder your attention and thus memory making?
Anne BastingHow to meaningfully reconnect with those who have dementia
Conversation starters
- Basting explains that family members most commonly “evoke a shared past” to connect with each other. When do you rely on memories for connection? What could happen if you invited more shared discovery into your conversations?
- How can “beautiful questions” -- questions that don’t have a right or wrong answer -- invite a partner with dementia to engage their imagination instead of their memory? What shared paths might this open for human connection?
- Before this talk, how did you feel about reconnecting with those who have dementia? How do you feel after watching this talk?
- What memory do you hope outlasts any dementia you or a loved one might experience?
Farish Ahmad-NoorWhy is colonialism (still) romanticized?
Conversation starters
- Are there memories that you remember more positively than they really were? Why do you think that is the case?
- How can bringing diverse perspectives to our history (e.g. psychology, anthropology, arts, media) provide a better representation of what happened during that time?
- Do you feel your current identity is shaped by someone else’s history?
- Ahmad-Noor explains “we carry the history in us, and history carries us along”. If we all take part in writing history, how can we ensure that we better define it to be true to collective experiences?
Aparna PallaviWhat foods did your ancestors love
Conversation starters
- Was it surprising to find out that many foods are disappearing from our plates? Do you see this happening in your own home, city, or country?
- Can you recall any local foods or dishes that you previously ate as a child which are no longer eaten? Why was it that people stopped eating this food/dish? And why do you think cultivated food (e.g. wheat, corn, etc.) is consumed more often than foraged foods (e.g. mushrooms, wild vegetables, etc.)?
- Pallavi explores “shame” as a crucial point for the disappearance of traditional foods. Have you experienced this “shame” around eating a specific food? How have those experiences affected what you eat today?
- Pallavi describes several ways in which we can better connect with our food. What is one way you can start today to better connect with your food?
Suggest other themes and talks here
Find a TED Circle
The Circles listed below are registered by hosts who invite their own guests. If you want to attend a Circle, join one hosted by our team! Also find out what Circles are discussing by visiting our community takeaways.
- TEDxBanburyOnline18 May 2021
- Scott RozicOnline18 May 2021
- Kyoto University of the ArtsKyoto18 May 2021
- TEDxChicago - JessicaOnline18 May 2021
- TEDxTangamangaSan Luis Potosi18 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline18 May 2021
- Marcel MarcelOnline18 May 2021
- TEDxISMAC, Instituto Universitario ISMACOnline18 May 2021
- Francisco Valle, Ph.D.Online18 May 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline18 May 2021
- Nkamwa MarcelOnline18 May 2021
- TEDxAnjoOnline19 May 2021
- Kanha KarismaOnline19 May 2021
- Township Library of Lower SouthamptonFeasterville19 May 2021
- TEDxFrankfurtOnline19 May 2021
- TEDxMoseleyOnline19 May 2021
- Yu Jie HuangTaoyuan19 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline19 May 2021
- Rashmi WatelOnline19 May 2021
- Richard Lucas and Mel RosenbergOnline19 May 2021
- TEDxYouth@FerhadijaSarajevo19 May 2021
- Stephan van de VenOnline20 May 2021
- TEDxNewcastleUniversityOnline20 May 2021
- TEDxSchioOnline20 May 2021
- TEDxBaiaMareOnline20 May 2021
- Anand Upender20 May 2021
- Johan StuveOnline20 May 2021
- Eboni HendersonOnline20 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline20 May 2021
- MerrativeOnline20 May 2021
- Cinthia LambaOnline20 May 2021
- Doria Esther BenaimOnline20 May 2021
- Thony Da SilvaOnline21 May 2021
- Ashish KumarOnline21 May 2021
- Wiputra CendanaOnline21 May 2021
- Ellie NikOnline21 May 2021
- Rk Gautham and Kanwal SujitOnline21 May 2021
- Preeti ChaudharyOnline21 May 2021
- TEDxEdisonHighSchoolOnline21 May 2021
- Amanda Kelly EspirituOnline22 May 2021
- Begüm KütüklüOnline22 May 2021
- TEDxKCMTOnline22 May 2021
- TEDxKCMTOnline22 May 2021
- Jenny HuangQuanzhou22 May 2021
- Jameson Ho and Miguel DomingoOnline22 May 2021
- Talent ReunionOnline22 May 2021
- Naveen SamalaOnline22 May 2021
- Mariam Saeed KhanOnline22 May 2021
- Vasishta CharyOnline22 May 2021
- TEDxQDUOnline22 May 2021
- TEDxSantaTeclaOnline22 May 2021
- Shanghai Envision EducationOnline22 May 2021
- Bill WongOnline22 May 2021
- Rasha TiozonOnline23 May 2021
- Renata MoerbeckOnline23 May 2021
- Akash Tripathi and Sarah Handu, TEDxKIETOnline23 May 2021
- Sara Vancil and Brian VancilOnline23 May 2021
- Alan RaginsOnline23 May 2021
- UAA AlumniOnline23 May 2021
- The Visionific OrganisationOnline23 May 2021
- TEDxHamamatsuHamamatsu23 May 2021
- Anandaday MisshraOnline23 May 2021
- Renata MoerbeckOnline23 May 2021
- Renata MoerbeckOnline24 May 2021
- Paco BriseñoOnline24 May 2021
- TEDxTangamangaOnline24 May 2021
- Jovana DejanovOnline25 May 2021
- TEDxLancasterOnline25 May 2021
- TEDxDrexelUOnline25 May 2021
- South Shore Literacy Council TED CircleOnline25 May 2021
- Ganesamoorthy SubramaniamOnline25 May 2021
- TEDxCrannTreesforIrelandOnline25 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline25 May 2021
- Miro LeiteOnline25 May 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline25 May 2021
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library - The New York Public LibraryOnline25 May 2021
- Alessandra FilippiniOnline25 May 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline25 May 2021
- Uri NgozichukwukaLagos25 May 2021
- Lauretta Chikondi Chithope-MwaleOnline26 May 2021
- Yi Chun LiuChiayi26 May 2021
- TEDxFirenzeOnline26 May 2021
- Professor Fabiano GomesOnline26 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline26 May 2021
- TEDxSavassiOnline26 May 2021
- SkydeaOnline27 May 2021
- Qiuhua ChenOnline27 May 2021
- Laura Kline-Taylor and Carla Rey VazquezOnline27 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline27 May 2021
- Dan HibberdOnline27 May 2021
- Karen McDermottOnline27 May 2021
- Johan StuveOnline27 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline27 May 2021
- Sylvia HendersonOnline27 May 2021
- Kitti BorisszaOnline27 May 2021
- Antoinette SarpongOnline27 May 2021
- Nathalie CarrascoOnline27 May 2021
- Collaborate: ideas and imagesOnline28 May 2021
- Tracy CurrieOnline28 May 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline28 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline28 May 2021
- Yuliana GaytanOnline29 May 2021
- Bill WongOnline29 May 2021
- TEDxShuguangLuOnline29 May 2021
- Diana C. Guzmán-CaroOnline29 May 2021
- IgnitedNeuronsOnline29 May 2021
- Yoel Ben-AvrahamShilo29 May 2021
- TEDxUdineUdine29 May 2021
- YOUNG CEOOnline29 May 2021
- 上海星黎文化发展有限公司Online29 May 2021
- Amanda Kelly EspirituOnline29 May 2021
- RADIANTISMOnline29 May 2021
- GreenfestPorto29 May 2021
- Tanaaz JiwaniOnline30 May 2021
- Janet Hei and Wenyang CuiQingdao30 May 2021
- Leah StewartOnline30 May 2021
- Hasan AtasoyOnline30 May 2021
- Farah SheikhLahore30 May 2021
- George Panicker & International STEAM Research (ISR)Online31 May 2021
- TEDxMelbourneMelbourne31 May 2021
- René MunkOnline31 May 2021
- UAA AlumniOnline31 May 2021
- TEDxSavassiOnline01 Jun 2021
- Nina ZupancicOnline01 Jun 2021
- Subhash KvOnline01 Jun 2021
- Brandy DavisOnline01 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline01 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline02 Jun 2021
- Syed Ahmad RafeyOnline02 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline03 Jun 2021
- Anand Upender05 Jun 2021
- Bill WongOnline05 Jun 2021
- Prabodh Sharma and Bharat Garva and Jaydeep PatilOnline06 Jun 2021
- Positive Impact EventsOnline07 Jun 2021
- Women in Telecoms & TechnologyOnline07 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline07 Jun 2021
- University of the Third AgeOnline07 Jun 2021
- LeaderlixOnline08 Jun 2021
- TEDxFrankfurtOnline08 Jun 2021
- Salvatore MauroRome08 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline08 Jun 2021
- XR BanburyOnline09 Jun 2021
- PUC MinasOnline09 Jun 2021
- Renata KuhnsOnline10 Jun 2021
- Filippo LombardiOnline10 Jun 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York10 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline10 Jun 2021
- Mariana Burghiu and Edel ConnorOnline10 Jun 2021
- Preeti ChaudharyOnline11 Jun 2021
- Nancy JohnsonOnline11 Jun 2021
- TOP BonaireOnline11 Jun 2021
- Hannah BialicOnline11 Jun 2021
- Activate Mental HealthPerth12 Jun 2021
- Bill WongOnline12 Jun 2021
- Lorna Prescott, CoLab DudleyOnline14 Jun 2021
- Edna RodriguezOnline14 Jun 2021
- Kim MundyOnline14 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline14 Jun 2021
- Lili AbdiArdebil15 Jun 2021
- TEDxFrankfurtOnline16 Jun 2021
- Township Library of Lower SouthamptonFeasterville16 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline16 Jun 2021
- Nupur KohliOnline18 Jun 2021
- Raghunath SosaleOnline18 Jun 2021
- Qianyi YingOnline19 Jun 2021
- Bill WongOnline19 Jun 2021
- Romanian Academy of Medical ScienceOnline20 Jun 2021
- Fred KagameKigali20 Jun 2021
- TEDxFrankfurtOnline21 Jun 2021
- Katy O'LearyOnline21 Jun 2021
- Syeda Saamara MortadaOnline22 Jun 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline22 Jun 2021
- The New York Public LibraryOnline22 Jun 2021
- Rashmi WatelOnline23 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline23 Jun 2021
- Teachers Who WriteOnline23 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline24 Jun 2021
- Nathalie CarrascoOnline24 Jun 2021
- TEDxHamamatsuHamamatsu25 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline25 Jun 2021
- Washington County Library System of Utah - New Harmony BranchOnline25 Jun 2021
- Rob AuerMelbourne25 Jun 2021
- Yuliana GaytanOnline26 Jun 2021
- Bill WongOnline26 Jun 2021
- TEDxUdineUdine26 Jun 2021
- Ceren SamikiranOnline30 Jun 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline30 Jun 2021
- Elaine Lim - TESTOnline01 Jul 2021
- Praise EmmanuelPort Harcourt04 Jul 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York08 Jul 2021
- PUC MinasOnline14 Jul 2021
- Getachew GebeyehuOnline24 Jul 2021
- Uri NgozichukwukaLagos26 Jul 2021
- Chris Hardy and Aleaka InceOnline29 Jul 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline30 Jul 2021
- PUC MinasOnline11 Aug 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York12 Aug 2021
- Politeknik Negeri Tanah LautOnline16 Aug 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline27 Aug 2021
- PUC MinasOnline08 Sep 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York10 Sep 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline10 Sep 2021
- Charles Shasky and Jessica KehererOnline23 Sep 2021
- Environment and Sustainable Development OfficeJeddah07 Oct 2021
- PUC MinasOnline13 Oct 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York14 Oct 2021
- PUC MinasOnline10 Nov 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York11 Nov 2021
- PUC MinasOnline08 Dec 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York09 Dec 2021
- Gaurav GhewadeKolhapur11 Dec 2021
- PUC MinasOnline12 Jan 2022
About TED Circles
TED Circles is a global community of small groups who discuss big ideas together. We believe in the power of ideas and conversations to positively impact ourselves, our communities, and our world. Through TED Circles, a host can invite their friends, neighbors, strangers, or a mix to an in-person or online location to discuss a variety of interesting topics. TED provides monthly themes, recommended talks, and specific conversation starters so the host can focus on engaging everyone in the discussion.
The video illustrates how Circles work and why TED believes in them.
FAQs
TED Circles are purposefully easy to adopt so they occur regularly plus they are easy to adapt so they reflect hosts’ and guests' style. With many possibilities come many questions:
Who can host a TED Circle?
Anyone! Register to host TED Circles.
Who can participate in a TED Circle?
Hosts invite guests to participate in their Circle.
What is discussed during a TED Circle?
TED provides monthly themes with aligned talks and questions to support, not limit hosts. Hosts are welcome to select any content that relates to the monthly theme. Further, hosts may suggest guests watch the content independently beforehand or together at the beginning of the TED Circle.
Where do TED Circles take place?
Taking place in-person and online, locations for TED Circles include yet are not limited to: homes, parks, cafes, schools, workplaces, libraries, and video calls.
When do TED Circles take place?
Scheduling can be set by the host or collaboratively agreed with guests. TED Circles are intended to occur monthly and last 1-2 hours.
If you have additional questions, please email tedcircles@ted.com
Rules of engagement
TED Circles is an open community which welcomes everyone who believes in TED's values and wishes to engage in constructive conversations about ideas. A volunteer-powered platform calls for some ground rules.
Each Circle is independent but all TED Circles are connected virtually and through a shared brand. Hosts and Circles that do not adhere to the spirit and rules of the program or harm the community in any way will be removed from the program and must discontinue the use of the TED Circles brand. If you notice non-compliance, please email tedcircles@ted.com.
Tell the world about your Circle
Every TED Circles host is required to annually register as a host and register each TED Circles event they host. This does not mean that the Circle is open to the public - hosts decide if the Circle is closed (by invitation only) or open (accepting new participants) - but it provides official designation as a TED Circle.
Show off your TED Circles affiliation
When a TED Circle is registered and active, the host may present themselves as a TED Circles host and use TED-provided TED Circles logo and designs. Always be clear that TED Circles are volunteer-hosted gatherings, not TED events produced by TED staff, and accordingly use the TED Circles logo, not the TED logo.
Be cool
Hosting is a big opportunity and responsibility. Each TED Circles host must ensure the safety and comfort of their guests.
Do it for public good
TED Circles is a volunteer endeavor and free to attend. Hosts may ask for in-kind contributions (such as food and meeting space). Hosts and guests may not use TED Circles to gain revenue sponsorship, make money, raise funds, or organize crowdfunding.
Focus on ideas
TED Circles uphold the spirit of TED, focusing on the power of ideas. Welcoming a wide range of perspectives, TED Circles encourage equal participation within a safe environment that promotes curiosity, inclusion, debate, and impact. Agendas and self-promotion have no place in these conversations.