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
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?
Upcoming months
July | Agree to disagreeJoin an online Circle hosted by TEDWant to change climate change? Host TED Circles about Countdown
Betty HartHow compassion could save your strained relationships
Conversation starters
- What are the pros and cons of Hart’s perspective?
- If comfortable sharing, who in your life would you use Hart’s advice with and why?
- How has using compassion in your relationships improved them? When in your life do you think people extended compassion to you and how did it feel?
- Has Hart’s talk convinced you to reach out to loved ones and friends? Who would you share this talk with?
Julia DharHow to disagree productively and find common ground
Conversation starters
- Dhar cites research that suggests listening to someone's voice during an argument helps to humanize them. The TED Audio Collective podcast Conversations with People Who Hate Me is in part based around this premise. Why do you think stepping away from the keyboard and literally hearing someone speak can be so impactful?
- Dhar notes that in order to reach people, you have to find common ground. Think about a topic that you feel strongly about. Perhaps something in Technology, Entertainment or Design. Can you think of at least one thing that you and someone with the opposite view might agree on?
- What's something you've changed your mind about, and why? Additional resource: Julia Dhar's 2021 Talk
- Thinking back to the topic you chose for the common ground question. What would it take to change your mind on that subject?
Jonas Gahr StøreIn defense of dialogue
Conversation starters
- Why, in your opinion, is dialogue so important?
- What is it that makes people trust each other?
- Gahr Støre notes the importance of inviting NGOs and everyday people to join discussions because they represent a point of view not already at the table. With that in mind, who's missing from your decision making tables at work, in your school, at your home, or in your community?
- Gahr Støre mentions developing a dialogue at a time when there is only low-key tension in order to establish a bond to deal with issues when tensions increase. Is there someone or some group with whom you could forge a dialogue right now, in spite of any tensions in the past that might be beneficial in the future?
Isabel Behncke IzquierdoEvolution's gift of play from bonobo apes to humans
Conversation starters
- How do you think play affects relationships between people, or even just yourself?
- What are ways we could incorporate play into our day-to-day lives, from small-scale interactions to larger-scale society?
- What are your go-to ways to play with others (eg. sports, board games, word games, video games, etc.)? What makes them so appealing?
- Imagine you’ve just finished doing one of your favorite play activities. How do you feel? Describe those emotions and sensations to the group.
August | Irrational?
Coming Jul 1Previous months
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?
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?
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.
- Anushka GoelOnline13 Jun 2021
- Swareena AggarwalOnline13 Jun 2021
- Pushti VoraOnline13 Jun 2021
- TEDxTangamangaSan Luis Potosi13 Jun 2021
- Analise TaylorOnline13 Jun 2021
- Prabodh Sharma and Bharat Garva and Jaydeep PatilOnline13 Jun 2021
- Anu ToorOnline13 Jun 2021
- Siddhi DeshmukhOnline13 Jun 2021
- ECHOOnline14 Jun 2021
- Lorna Prescott, CoLab DudleyOnline14 Jun 2021
- Edna RodriguezOnline14 Jun 2021
- Kim MundyOnline14 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline14 Jun 2021
- Paola GómezOnline14 Jun 2021
- Analise TaylorOnline14 Jun 2021
- Geevarathna GeevarathnaOnline15 Jun 2021
- José Adolfo CastañedaOnline15 Jun 2021
- TEDxTangamangaSan Luis Potosi15 Jun 2021
- Chinmayi VaghasiyaOnline15 Jun 2021
- Mariana Burghiu and Edel ConnorOnline15 Jun 2021
- Lili AbdiArdebil15 Jun 2021
- TEDxChicagoOnline15 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline16 Jun 2021
- Andras DavidBudapest16 Jun 2021
- Paramita High School's TED-Ed ClubOnline16 Jun 2021
- Andras DavidBudapest16 Jun 2021
- Community Development Empowerment Initiatives Program (CDEIP)Juba16 Jun 2021
- TEDxFrankfurtOnline16 Jun 2021
- Township Library of Lower SouthamptonFeasterville16 Jun 2021
- TEDxMoseleyOnline16 Jun 2021
- Tyler HsuOnline16 Jun 2021
- Pooja MauryaOnline17 Jun 2021
- TEDxHendersonOnline17 Jun 2021
- BAU AlumniOnline17 Jun 2021
- Johan StuveOnline17 Jun 2021
- Luciana Garcia - Hårsea ConteúdoOnline17 Jun 2021
- Vinay GhuleOnline18 Jun 2021
- Wiputra CendanaOnline18 Jun 2021
- Wiputra CendanaOnline18 Jun 2021
- TEDxCITBengaluruOnline18 Jun 2021
- Tracy CurrieOnline18 Jun 2021
- Shanghai Envision EducationOnline18 Jun 2021
- Mariyam KhanOnline18 Jun 2021
- Rodrigo RomanoOnline18 Jun 2021
- Luis Vicente GarciaOnline18 Jun 2021
- Rosalyn KomolOnline18 Jun 2021
- Nupur KohliOnline18 Jun 2021
- Raghunath SosaleOnline18 Jun 2021
- Bill WongOnline19 Jun 2021
- Ranjith Varakantam and Mallika RaoOnline19 Jun 2021
- Alan RaginsOnline19 Jun 2021
- Emerald Technology Group Inc,Online19 Jun 2021
- Prabodh Sharma and Bharat Garva and Jaydeep PatilOnline19 Jun 2021
- Maria Hori Bordes and Susana OlguinOnline19 Jun 2021
- Lucila CaceresOnline19 Jun 2021
- TEDxAnjoOnline19 Jun 2021
- Kritika RavichandranOnline19 Jun 2021
- Aryan BajpaiOnline19 Jun 2021
- Qianyi YingOnline19 Jun 2021
- Sandip UniversityOnline19 Jun 2021
- Chakilam Vasavi SandhyaOnline20 Jun 2021
- Prerna FoundationOnline20 Jun 2021
- Talent ReunionOnline20 Jun 2021
- TEDxKankeOnline20 Jun 2021
- Uwaye SoetanOnline20 Jun 2021
- Fred KagameKigali20 Jun 2021
- Romanian Academy of Medical ScienceOnline20 Jun 2021
- UAA AlumniOnline21 Jun 2021
- Manoj MehtaOnline21 Jun 2021
- TEDxTangamangaOnline21 Jun 2021
- TEDxFrankfurtOnline21 Jun 2021
- Katy O'LearyOnline21 Jun 2021
- TEDxChicagoOnline22 Jun 2021
- Luis Vicente GarciaOnline22 Jun 2021
- Miro LeiteOnline22 Jun 2021
- TEDxWalthamOnline22 Jun 2021
- Renata KuhnsOnline22 Jun 2021
- Syeda Saamara MortadaOnline22 Jun 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline22 Jun 2021
- TEDxLancasterOnline22 Jun 2021
- TEDxLondonOnline23 Jun 2021
- Teachers Who WriteOnline23 Jun 2021
- Alessandra FilippiniOnline23 Jun 2021
- High Performance SchoolOnline23 Jun 2021
- TEDxMidAtlanticOnline23 Jun 2021
- Silvia Solana and Fabiola GarciaOnline23 Jun 2021
- Antoinette SarpongOnline23 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline23 Jun 2021
- Rashmi WatelOnline23 Jun 2021
- Juan Carlos Quispe HidalgoOnline23 Jun 2021
- Kgomotso SekhuteOnline24 Jun 2021
- Samrah Azam ChaudhriOnline24 Jun 2021
- TEDxWoodbridgeOnline24 Jun 2021
- Sylvia HendersonOnline24 Jun 2021
- Johan StuveOnline24 Jun 2021
- TEDxUniversitateaPolitehnicaBucurestiBucharest24 Jun 2021
- Bill WongOnline24 Jun 2021
- TEDxBaiaMareBaia Mare24 Jun 2021
- Nathalie CarrascoOnline24 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline24 Jun 2021
- Lead from InsightsOnline24 Jun 2021
- WorkHere: Community WorkspaceHereford24 Jun 2021
- Winston LiewOnline25 Jun 2021
- Collaborate: ideas and imagesOnline25 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
- ThinkandTalkOnline25 Jun 2021
- Yuliana GaytanOnline26 Jun 2021
- TEDxChangningOnline26 Jun 2021
- IgnitedNeuronsOnline26 Jun 2021
- Chintan OzaOnline26 Jun 2021
- Cora LonningOnline26 Jun 2021
- TEDxLasVegas & Las Vegas Global ShapersOnline26 Jun 2021
- YOUNG CEOOnline26 Jun 2021
- RADIANTISMOnline26 Jun 2021
- Ireremena Felix-OtuorimuoOnline26 Jun 2021
- Bill WongOnline26 Jun 2021
- TEDxUdineUdine26 Jun 2021
- Naveen Samala (TGV Host)Online26 Jun 2021
- Lakshmi Selvakumaran and Neha Satheesan, IndiahikesOnline26 Jun 2021
- TEDxBalneárioBarraDoSulOnline27 Jun 2021
- Rasha TiozonOnline27 Jun 2021
- Leah StewartOnline27 Jun 2021
- Samrah Azam ChaudhriOnline27 Jun 2021
- Nicole LeeOnline28 Jun 2021
- Luis Vicente GarciaOnline28 Jun 2021
- Sedigheh ShakibOnline29 Jun 2021
- TEDxEixampleOnline29 Jun 2021
- TEDxNúñezOnline29 Jun 2021
- Vicky Perez ValiñoOnline29 Jun 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline29 Jun 2021
- Ceren SamikiranOnline30 Jun 2021
- Celia ChenOnline30 Jun 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline30 Jun 2021
- Shikha GuptaOnline01 Jul 2021
- Anand UpenderBrooklyn01 Jul 2021
- Elaine Lim - TESTOnline01 Jul 2021
- Anand UpenderBrooklyn02 Jul 2021
- Woman with WingsOnline03 Jul 2021
- Woman with WingsOnline03 Jul 2021
- Bill WongOnline03 Jul 2021
- Praise EmmanuelPort Harcourt04 Jul 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York08 Jul 2021
- Preeti ChaudharyOnline09 Jul 2021
- Bill WongOnline10 Jul 2021
- Sandip UniversityOnline10 Jul 2021
- Paola GómezOnline12 Jul 2021
- Bill WongOnline14 Jul 2021
- PUC MinasOnline14 Jul 2021
- Eboni HendersonOnline15 Jul 2021
- Ajani CharlesOnline15 Jul 2021
- Bill WongOnline17 Jul 2021
- Veidehi PatelOnline17 Jul 2021
- TEDxKankeOnline18 Jul 2021
- TEDxEixampleOnline20 Jul 2021
- LEVELOnline21 Jul 2021
- TEDxSanIsidroOnline24 Jul 2021
- Bill WongOnline24 Jul 2021
- RADIANTISMOnline24 Jul 2021
- Getachew GebeyehuOnline24 Jul 2021
- Leah StewartOnline25 Jul 2021
- Uri NgozichukwukaLagos26 Jul 2021
- TEDxLondonOnline27 Jul 2021
- Tracy Currie and BoomerangOnline28 Jul 2021
- WorkHere: Community WorkspaceHereford29 Jul 2021
- Chris Hardy and Aleaka InceOnline29 Jul 2021
- Fola AlabiOnline30 Jul 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline30 Jul 2021
- Bill WongOnline31 Jul 2021
- CC WangBeijing31 Jul 2021
- PUC MinasOnline11 Aug 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York12 Aug 2021
- Preeti ChaudharyOnline13 Aug 2021
- Politeknik Negeri Tanah LautOnline16 Aug 2021
- TEDxKankeOnline22 Aug 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline27 Aug 2021
- Leah StewartOnline29 Aug 2021
- Fotis GeorgatosOnline01 Sep 2021
- Anand UpenderBrooklyn02 Sep 2021
- PUC MinasOnline08 Sep 2021
- Preeti ChaudharyOnline10 Sep 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline10 Sep 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York10 Sep 2021
- GreenfestPorto11 Sep 2021
- The New York Public LibraryOnline21 Sep 2021
- TEDxUNYPOnline22 Sep 2021
- Charles Shasky and Jessica KehererOnline23 Sep 2021
- Stacie SimsOnline23 Sep 2021
- Leah StewartOnline26 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
- Preeti KhiridOnline11 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.