TED Circles is an open platform of small groups that meet for conversations about ideas.
Hosted by volunteers, these weekly or monthly gatherings empower us to dream and debate. Each TED Circle is unique and all are virtually connected through the TED Circles platform - making it possible for local conversations to reach a global scale. The video illustrates how Circles work and why TED believes in them.
Host a TED Circle
Anyone can host a TED Circle! Volunteers are required to register as a host and list each gathering. Once registered, you receive host resources, gain the ability to list the date and location of your Circles, and join a growing global community of TED Circle hosts.
You are responsible for finding a location, inviting people to participate, selecting a Talk related to the monthly theme, and facilitating a productive conversation. Hosting is an important role and TED wants to help you be a great host!
Want to host a TED Circle?
Register hereThis Month
January | The future
Bina VenkataramanThe power to think ahead in a reckless age
Conversation starters
- What are we failing to imagine (e.g. risks, natural disasters, etc…) that consequently jeopardizes our future?
- Venkataraman calls for tools to help us think ahead. What tools do you think are helpful in fostering foresight?
- Which of Jain's imagined futures motivate you to act now to create a better future?
- In what instances have you thought of yourself as a descendant? An ancestor? Both? How does that affect the way you think of leaving behind resources that can adapted over time? (Additional resource: Ideas blog post)
Anthony GoldbloomThe jobs we’ll lose to machines and those we won’t
Conversation starters
- How much of your work is “frequent, high-volume tasks” that a machine could perform versus “novel situations” that machines cannot do? How does that make you feel? What does that make you want to do?
- How can we make the economy more equitable for the people who will lose their jobs to machines?
- Do you see machines as a support or as an enemy?
- How would your life be different if a machine did some of your responsibilities? Would you be happier? Would you make less income? Would you have more time?
Henrietta ForeHow we can help young people build a better future
Conversation starters
- What skills do you think young people need most to be prepared for the future?
- How should education evolve in order to train them for the future?
- To inform the solutions you propose for the future, what questions would you want to ask young people? (Additional resource: Mara Mintzer’s Talk)
- Fore shares programs initiated by Argentina, South Africa, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Lebanon. What does your country need to do to help young people feel safe enough to focus on their future?
Herman NarulaThe transformative power of video games
Conversation starters
- Has this Talk changed your perspective on video games? If yes, how so? If not, why not?
- Narula predicts video games will significantly impact society in the next five years. What are some seemingly ‘ignorable ideas’ that have gone on to change society? What is similar/dissimilar between those ideas and video games?
- Real world experiences have consequences while video game experiences are simulated interactions. What are the benefits and risks of billions more people engaging in simulated interactions? (Additional resource: Jan McGonigal’s Talk)
- If games can help us connect, collaborate, empathize, and earn income, does it matter that they are not real?
Upcoming months
February | How we love
Helen FisherTechnology hasn’t changed love. Here’s why
Conversation starters
- Have you observed attractions that confirm or counter Fisher's study (e.g. curious attracts curious, traditional attracts traditional, and analytical attracts nurturing)? Which type most resonates with you? Why?
- How are choice and love connected in your culture? Do you think the paradox of choice stunts or stimulates love? Why?
- What did/would you want to know about a partner before committing to a relationship and/or getting married?
- How do you think technology has or has not changed our “drive to love”? To Perel’s question, what does the shift in priority from economic support to “respect, trust, humor, quality time, and attraction” mean for the nature of love?
Andrew SolomonLove no matter what
Conversation starters
- What identities do you have in common with your parents and/or children? Which identities are uniquely yours? How does that overlap make it easier or more challenging to love your parents and/or children?
- What do you think is/would be challenging about loving children with their differences? How can you prepare yourself to love unconditionally?
- How should education evolve in order to help families “love no matter what”?
- Solomon says, “diversity of affection and family strengthens the atmosphere of kindness.” How can we foster a society that accepts “additive models of love”?
Shasta NelsonFrientimacy, the 3 requirements of all healthy friendships
Conversation starters
- How loved and supported do you feel by your friends? How do you cultivate friendships where both of you feel seen?
- Nelson’s formula includes positivity, consistency, and vulnerability. Which one(s) could help your friendships the most? How can you create space for more of that in your friendships in the near future?
- Why do you think connectedness is correlated with the significant health issues Nelson cites? How does that make you feel?
- Is there anyone in whom you want to invest more “P, C, or V” so they “move up the friendtimacy triangle”? If yes, what makes you want to invest in this friendship? What action will you take to invest in this friendship?
Katie HoodThe difference between healthy and unhealthy love
Conversation starters
- What is your response to the spectrums of healthy-to-unhealthy behaviors that Hood describes? (e.g. exhilarating-to-intense, independent-to-isolating, flirtatious-to-jealous, encouraging-to-belittling, steady-to-volatile)
- In what instances have you experienced the early warning signs of unhealthy love? Did you realize it at the time? If so, how? If not, what helped you realize it?
- What aspects of your life have/could improve because of experiencing healthy love?
- How do you think young people should be taught the difference between healthy and unhealthy love?
Previous months
September | World of wonder
Greta ThunbergThe disarming case to act right now on climate change
Conversation starters
- Why do you think we "carry on like before" when it comes to climate change?
- How persuasive do you find Greta's argument?
- What do you think about students striking on behalf of the climate?
- What are some ways to change the rules and save the world? (Think local, then global)
Jennifer KahnGene editing can now change an entire species — forever
Conversation starters
- Are you encouraged or concerned about the impact of gene drive technology editing human nature?
- What are the benefits and risks of using the technology and of not using the technology?
- What decisions about this technology can be made at a local level versus those that require regional or global governance?
- Is there a species on which you would feel comfortable experimenting with this technology?
Barbara J. KingGrief and love in the animal kingdom
Conversation starters
- Are we anthropomorphizing animals by assigning them human-defined emotions?
- Do you believe that animals grieve? Why?
- Is it necessary/helpful to empathize with another species?
- Has this talk changed your mind about eating meat?
Stephen WebbWhere are all the aliens?
Conversation starters
- How does the idea of intelligent life beyond humans — or the idea of humans being alone in the universe — make you feel?
- What's the value of looking for alien civilizations if we're actually alone?
- If it turns out there is intelligent life on other planets, what's the first thing we should ask them?
- Do you agree with Stephen's conclusion that we're all alone? Why (not)?
October | How to be a better human
Margaret HeffernanThe human skills we need in an unpredictable world
Conversation starters
- What is your view on the priority governments, companies, organizations and people place on technology-driven efficiency?
- In what areas could the world stand become more efficient?
- How has technology affected human skills such as preparedness, coalition-building, humility, imagination, and bravery? How could technology empower human skills?
- Having considered this idea, which skills will you intentionally engage?
Maja JovanovicHow apologies kill our confidence
Conversation starters
- How often do you find yourself making unnecessary apologies? What leads you to apologize in these moments?
- If a colleague is 20 minutes late, would you rather them say, "I'm sorry for being late" or "Thank you for waiting for me?"
- Do you find this phenomenon of saying "sorry" is related to gender? In your experience, do women tend to apologize more than men?
- Additional resource: Ideas blog post
Matt WalkerSleep is your superpower
Conversation starters
- Would you be willing to have brain surgery to get the implant that amplifies deep sleep? Why or why not?
- How often do you get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep a night?
- What keeps you from sleeping more?
- What social/technological/lifestyle changes might result if people got enough sleep?
Christer MjåsetWhy your doctor needs your help to battle over-treatment
Conversation starters
- Have you asked your doctor these questions? If not, why not? If so, what was their response?
- Do you have a relationship with your doctor that supports these conversations?
- Having considered this idea, how much more inclined are you to ask your doctor these questions?
- Additional resource: Ideas blog post
November | Justice and society
Carole CadwalladrFacebook's role in Brexit - and the threat to democracy
Conversation starters
- Is there a way to harness social media for democratic good? (Additional resource: Pia Mancini's Talk)
- How do you think social media has generally changed the global political climate?
- What is your stance on Facebook given the meddling supported by the platform's technology?
- Do you think your elected officials are capable of addressing these issues to re-establish democracy?
Bryan StevensonWe need to talk about an injustice
Conversation starters
- If justice is the opposite of poverty, what are you doing/think needs to be done to fight the injustice of poverty?
- How can you begin to solve poverty and incarceration given their disproportionate effects on marginalized communities?
- Where does courage come into play with tackling injustice?
- How can our visions of technology, entertainment, and design connect with our visions of humanity, compassion, and justice?
Benedetta BertiDid the global response to 9/11 make us safer?
Conversation starters
- Are human rights core to the political discourse in your country?
- Do you feel more or less secure than you did before 9/11, 10 years ago, last year?
- What changed for you after 9/11? Share your thoughts, experiences, perspectives, and/or patterns you’ve noticed in the wider world.
- How achievable are the suggested solutions? Do you have suggestions of what could be implemented in your own communities now?
Melanie NezerThe fundamental right to seek asylum
Conversation starters
- What parallels are there between the refugee crisis in Europe and the Mediterranean?
- What responsibility do countries have for stabilizing these regions beyond accepting asylum seekers?
- How does storytelling factor into shaping the refugee conversation?
- What do you hope is the future of the refugee crisis - politically and generally?
December | Money matters
David BurkusWhy you should know how much your coworkers get paid
Conversation starters
- Do you know how your pay compares with your peers? How, if at all, is compensation discussed at your workplace? Do you think salaries should be shared? Why or why not?
- Is there anyone with whom you have shared/are comfortable sharing your salary? If yes, what makes that relationship different from others?
- If you could see your colleagues’ salary so long as you shared yours, would you do it? Why or why not?
- David reveals that pay transparency can increase fairness and collaboration in the workplace and decrease the gender wage gap. Do you think there are other workplace challenges that pay transparency could address?
Tammy LallyLet's get honest about our money problems
Conversation starters
- Tammy and her brother grew up with the idea that “more money [would] make [them] happy.” What ideas about money have you inherited from your upbringing? Do you still follow them?
- Why do you think we hide our problems around money? (sit silent in money shame)
- Do you or people you know equate financial-worth with self-worth?
- What are the explicit and implicit messages about money that can be used so money is openly discussed in a helpful way?
Nick HanauerThe dirty secret of capitalism - and a new way forward
Conversation starters
- What’s your view on neoliberal economic assumptions (e.g. raising wages kills jobs, people are paid what they are worth, humans are rational and selfish)? Is that different after you watched the Talk?
- To whom do you think corporations should be accountable (e.g. shareholders, customers, workers, community)?
- Nick is using his wealth to drive legislative changes that require the rich to pay more taxes and increase the minimum wage. What choices and actions can we make to create a more equitable, prosperous, and more sustainable society? What successful examples come to mind? (e.g. cooperative businesses, B-corps, The anti-CEO playbook)
- What keeps neoliberal countries from building a more cooperative society? How do socialist and communist countries promote cooperation? What can socialism, communism, and neoliberalism learn from each other?
TED-Ed lessonWould winning the lottery make you happier?
Conversation starters
- What surprised you most about the connection between happiness and wealth?
- What positive or negative things have you become used to (your hedonic treadmill)?
- How would you spend 1 million USD (4m Brazilian Real/7m Chinese Yuan/71m Indian Rupee)?
- If money can’t buy happiness, what are some of the ways that you’ve found to increase your happiness?
Suggest other themes and Talks here
Find a TED Circle
Here are the upcoming Circles and the monthly themes they will discuss. View previous Circles.
- Kitti BorisszaMedellin20 Jan 2020
- Arunraj SubbarajMuscat20 Jan 2020
- McPherson Public LibraryMcPherson, KS20 Jan 2020
- Ozay OzaydinIstanbul, Turkey20 Jan 2020
- Sep PashangToronto20 Jan 2020
- Travis BairdSan Antonio21 Jan 2020
- Cristina JuesasBilbao21 Jan 2020
- Antonia FluturicaBucharest21 Jan 2020
- University of Denver NortheastNew York, NY21 Jan 2020
- EJ BaeSeoul21 Jan 2020
- Joost de Bruin & Fleur TielbekeUtrecht21 Jan 2020
- Ellen MaloneyEdinburgh, Scotland22 Jan 2020
- Hasan Abo-ShallyHaifa22 Jan 2020
- Paul LuceroBloomington22 Jan 2020
- Yahya AlmarhabiJeddah22 Jan 2020
- TEDxWUSTLSt. Louis, MO23 Jan 2020
- TEDxCesenaCesena, Italy23 Jan 2020
- Celine ThirietLa Baule23 Jan 2020
- TEDxPiticHermosillo, Mexico23 Jan 2020
- TEDxUdineUdine25 Jan 2020
- Kebakaone MarumoGaborone25 Jan 2020
- Bryant A. GonzalesCebu City, Philippines25 Jan 2020
- Love Learning ConferenceLahore25 Jan 2020
- TEDxFerraraFerrara25 Jan 2020
- TEDxAnjoAnjo25 Jan 2020
- Elisa Santos & Sonja NeefOnline26 Jan 2020
- Jeri HammondChicago26 Jan 2020
- Kitti BorisszaMedellin27 Jan 2020
- TEDxLondonLondon27 Jan 2020
- Beth SocoskiTampa, FL27 Jan 2020
- TEDxLancasterLancaster, PA28 Jan 2020
- Wageningen UniversityWageningen, Netherlands29 Jan 2020
- Caroline McCarthyBrooklyn, NY29 Jan 2020
- Ibrahim IqbalSingapore29 Jan 2020
- Kelvin Hadinata WibowoKyoto29 Jan 2020
- Faber FuturesLondon29 Jan 2020
- Sally Coffman and Lindy BoeckChandler, AZ30 Jan 2020
- Safia Kerr & Ritta Yee FagainPhoenix, AZ30 Jan 2020
- Mona ReynosaHouston30 Jan 2020
- On The Road BCCenterCuritiba30 Jan 2020
- Think&TalkBogotá31 Jan 2020
- Jade Zhao & Lourdes M. TurrechaSan Francisco31 Jan 2020
- Monika BalazsBudapest31 Jan 2020
- TEDxHoustonHouston31 Jan 2020
- Jody ThoneStillwater, MN02 Feb 2020
- Kat HaberVail02 Feb 2020
- Kitti BorisszaMedellin03 Feb 2020
- TEDxBustoArsizioBusto Arsizio03 Feb 2020
- Morgane QuilfenAntwerp, Belgium04 Feb 2020
- Richard LucasKrakow05 Feb 2020
- Jo Dee DavisColumbus, OH05 Feb 2020
- Mel RosenbergRamat Gan05 Feb 2020
- Pamela Raitt & Russ StarkePhiladelphia06 Feb 2020
- Brantlee UnderhillNewtown Square, PA06 Feb 2020
- Kebakaone MarumoGaborone07 Feb 2020
- Conversations New YorkGreat Neck, NY07 Feb 2020
- TEDxNapierBridgeChennai08 Feb 2020
- Kitti BorisszaMedellin10 Feb 2020
- Antonia FluturicaBucharest11 Feb 2020
- TEDxPUCMinasBelo Horizonte12 Feb 2020
- Life Roots ConsultingCranbrook, BC12 Feb 2020
- Luis ViramontesZacatecas13 Feb 2020
- Julie Wilson & Alyssa HamptonNY, NY13 Feb 2020
- TEDxLancasterLancaster, PA13 Feb 2020
- TEDxCesenaCesena, Italy14 Feb 2020
- Morena PintoTrieste14 Feb 2020
- Lynn TabbaraLondon15 Feb 2020
- Bryant A. GonzalesCebu City, Philippines15 Feb 2020
- TEDxChanganDistrictXi'an, China15 Feb 2020
- Chris BaldwinBurton On Trent16 Feb 2020
- TEDxHangzhouHangzhou16 Feb 2020
- McPherson Public LibraryMcPherson, KS17 Feb 2020
- University of Denver NortheastNew York, NY18 Feb 2020
- Joost de Bruin & Fleur TielbekeUtrecht18 Feb 2020
- TEDxSeoulSeoul19 Feb 2020
- TEDxOshkoshOshkosh, WI19 Feb 2020
- TEDxLancasterULancaster, UK19 Feb 2020
- Jennifer Ganske & Dana RonanBallarat20 Feb 2020
- Ozay OzaydinIstanbul, Turkey20 Feb 2020
- Arunraj SubbarajMuscat20 Feb 2020
- TEDxLondonLondon20 Feb 2020
- Andrea OlsonDavenport, IA20 Feb 2020
- Brantlee UnderhillNewtown Square, PA20 Feb 2020
- Morena PintoTrieste21 Feb 2020
- Think&TalkBogotá21 Feb 2020
- Yahya AlmarhabiJeddah22 Feb 2020
- Joanne LawNarre Warren22 Feb 2020
- TEDxNingboNingbo22 Feb 2020
- Beth SocoskiTampa, FL24 Feb 2020
- TEDxLancasterLancaster, PA25 Feb 2020
- Millicent TraceyPark City, UT25 Feb 2020
- Yahya AlmarhabiJeddah26 Feb 2020
- Gerardo BetancourtMexico City27 Feb 2020
- John Cabot UniversityRome28 Feb 2020
- TEDxHoustonHouston28 Feb 2020
- TEDxVareseGallarate01 Mar 2020
- Jo Dee DavisColumbus, OH04 Mar 2020
- TEDxPUCMinasBelo Horizonte11 Mar 2020
- Mel RosenbergRamat Gan11 Mar 2020
- Jennifer Ganske & Dana RonanBallarat12 Mar 2020
- Morena PintoTrieste13 Mar 2020
- TEDxCoventGardenWomenLondon14 Mar 2020
- Luis ViramontesZacatecas19 Mar 2020
- Think&TalkBogotá20 Mar 2020
- Ozay OzaydinIstanbul, Turkey20 Mar 2020
- Brantlee UnderhillNewtown Square, PA20 Mar 2020
- McPherson Public LibraryMcPherson, KS23 Mar 2020
- TEDxLondonLondon23 Mar 2020
- Millicent TraceyPark City, UT25 Mar 2020
- Gerardo BetancourtCancún26 Mar 2020
- Joanne LawNarre Warren28 Mar 2020
- Antonia FluturicaBucharest31 Mar 2020
- Jo Dee DavisColumbus, OH01 Apr 2020
- Jody ThoneStillwater, MN04 Apr 2020
- TEDxPUCMinasBelo Horizonte08 Apr 2020
- TEDxCoventGardenWomenLondon11 Apr 2020
- Mel RosenbergRamat Gan12 Apr 2020
- McPherson Public LibraryMcPherson, KS20 Apr 2020
- Brantlee UnderhillNewtown Square, PA20 Apr 2020
- Ozay OzaydinIstanbul, Turkey20 Apr 2020
- Andrea OlsonDavenport, IA23 Apr 2020
- Luis ViramontesZacatecas23 Apr 2020
- Antonia FluturicaBucharest28 Apr 2020
- Gerardo BetancourtCancún30 Apr 2020
- TEDxCoventGardenWomenLondon09 May 2020
- Luis ViramontesZacatecas28 May 2020
About TED Circles
We believe that meaningful conversations create interpersonal connections that collectively strengthen communities. Through TED Circles, a host can invite their friends, neighbors, strangers, or a mix - many who have not attended TED or TEDx events - into their home, school, office, and more 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 constructive conversations. Here’s a summary of what TED Circles are and are not:
- They are volunteer-hosted, small, face-to-face (in-person, online) gatherings where topics are safely discussed.
- They are not a TED event, they are not a club or a one-off gathering, and they do not sell things or raise money.
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 a TED Circle.
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?
Locations for TED Circles include yet are not limited to: homes, parks, cafes, schools, workplaces, libraries, etc... and extend to online spaces through video calls!
When do TED Circles take place?
Scheduling can be set by the host or collaboratively agreed with the guests. TED Circles are intended to last between 1-2 hours and occur at least monthly.
If you have additional questions, please email tedcircles@ted.com
Rules of engagement
TED Circles is an open platform 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 Circle Host is required to annually register their Circle on TED.com and list each gathering. 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 Circle Host must ensure the safety and comfort of their Circle.
Do it for public good
TED Circles are a volunteer endeavor and free to attend. Hosts may ask for in-kind contributions (such as food and meeting space). Hosts and participants 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, open-mindedness, debate, inclusion, and generosity. Agendas and self-promotion have no place in these conversations.