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
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?
Upcoming 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?
Previous months
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?
January | Intergenerational learningJoin an online Circle hosted by TEDWant to change climate change? Host TED Circles about Countdown
Hajer ShariefHow to use family dinner to teach politics?
Conversation starters
- Sharief shares the story of her family’s weekly meetings as an example of commonplace politics. Where in your life do everyday instances of politics — negotiation, compromise, alliance building and decision making — appear?
- Can you think of a time when you felt unfairly excluded from decision-making? What was that instance? How did it make you feel? Brainstorm how you could improve the situation if this occurs in the future.
- Has this talk altered the way you see politics, or your place in it? Why or why not?
- Did your childhood include anything like the Family Democracy Meeting? What do you think it would have been like if it had been in place? Would you adopt it with your own family? Why or why not?
Leah GeorgesHow generational stereotypes hold us back at work
Conversation starters
- How have stereotypes about your own generation affected the way you see yourself and others?
- How do you navigate the multigenerational divide — in and outside of work?
- What is one of the most valuable lessons (advice, practical knowledge, etc.) that you have learned from a generation outside your own?
- What is one of your favorite things from another generation (music, fashion, philosophy, etc.)?
Hindou Oumarou IbrahimIndigenous knowledge meets science to solve climate change
Conversation starters
- Do you have any knowledge passed down from previous generations? Share an example. (Examples can be as serious or silly as you like — for example, knowing when it’s about to rain or your grandmother’s cure for hiccups.)
- How have your communities, households or otherwise married old and new knowledge to solve a problem?
- When have you been corrected or shown a better way by old-school knowledge? If comfortable, share your story.
- What knowledge would you like humanity to pass down to future generations?
Roman KrznaricHow to be a good ancestor
Conversation starters
- Krznaric’s talk includes several examples of people planning well into the future. Can you think of other examples that fit this theme? (Some may be in your community.)
- Is there a destructive legacy from the past that impacts you today that you wish had been prevented? Share it with the group. If there are actions being taken to right those wrongs, share those as well.
- What’s one small habit you could change or practice you could adopt that could have a ripple effect for future generations?
- Do you have what it takes to be a time rebel? In what ways can you take bigger steps to decolonize the future? (For more ideas, see Krznaric’s essay for six ways to think long-term).
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.
- TEDxBarlettaOnline16 Apr 2021
- Rosalyn KomolOnline16 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline16 Apr 2021
- Preeti ChaudharyOnline16 Apr 2021
- Tracy CurrieOnline16 Apr 2021
- Zachary SolieNew Berlin16 Apr 2021
- Wiputra CendanaOnline16 Apr 2021
- COEPOnline17 Apr 2021
- Bill WongOnline17 Apr 2021
- Shagufta Moghal, Lahore College for Women University, TEDxLCWUOnline17 Apr 2021
- Priy DwivediOnline17 Apr 2021
- Anmol Agnihotri and Kanak AgnihotriOnline18 Apr 2021
- Anushka GoelOnline18 Apr 2021
- Indspark!Online18 Apr 2021
- Kavein ThranOnline18 Apr 2021
- TEDxAnjoOnline18 Apr 2021
- Francesca EntrocassiOnline19 Apr 2021
- Dr Jawahar SurisettiOnline19 Apr 2021
- North Idaho CollegeOnline19 Apr 2021
- TEDxFrankfurtOnline19 Apr 2021
- University of the Third AgeOnline19 Apr 2021
- Gopi Krishan BaliNew Delhi20 Apr 2021
- TEDxChicagoOnline20 Apr 2021
- LeaderlixOnline20 Apr 2021
- TEDxChicagoOnline20 Apr 2021
- Pooja MauryaOnline20 Apr 2021
- Miro LeiteOnline20 Apr 2021
- TEDxWalthamOnline20 Apr 2021
- Muhammad FarooquiOnline20 Apr 2021
- TEDxJohannesburgOnline20 Apr 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline20 Apr 2021
- Rashmi WatelOnline21 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline21 Apr 2021
- TEDxYouth@CapeTownOnline21 Apr 2021
- Vicky Perez ValiñoOnline21 Apr 2021
- Social Profit CorrectionsOnline21 Apr 2021
- Oksana Rovna and Chrissi FlorkeOnline21 Apr 2021
- Jacqui ChewOnline21 Apr 2021
- Silvia Solana and Fabiola GarciaOnline22 Apr 2021
- TEDxAscoliPicenoOnline22 Apr 2021
- TEDxTheBundShanghai22 Apr 2021
- TEDxUdineUdine22 Apr 2021
- TED SinglesOnline22 Apr 2021
- Stephan van de VenOnline22 Apr 2021
- TEDxFirenzeOnline22 Apr 2021
- TEDxTheBundOnline22 Apr 2021
- Prerna FoundationOnline22 Apr 2021
- TEDxWolverhamptonOnline22 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline22 Apr 2021
- Johan StuveOnline22 Apr 2021
- TEDxBaiaMareOnline22 Apr 2021
- Down to Earth FiresideOnline22 Apr 2021
- TEDxWinchesterOnline23 Apr 2021
- TEDxUDLAPOnline23 Apr 2021
- SISTEMOnline23 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline23 Apr 2021
- Rk Gautham and Kanwal SujitOnline23 Apr 2021
- Wiputra CendanaOnline23 Apr 2021
- TEDxHamamatsuHamamatsu23 Apr 2021
- TEDxBaiaMareOnline23 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline23 Apr 2021
- Roselin CabralesOnline23 Apr 2021
- TEDxJianyeOnline23 Apr 2021
- Alessandra Will and Carla Dalzochio, Done English for Business PeopleOnline24 Apr 2021
- The New York Public LibraryOnline24 Apr 2021
- TEDxMuensterOnline24 Apr 2021
- TEDxMünsterOnline24 Apr 2021
- Jameson Ho and Miguel DomingoOnline24 Apr 2021
- Yoel Ben-AvrahamOnline24 Apr 2021
- Shanghai Envision EducationOnline24 Apr 2021
- Aina Aquino and Matthew SyOnline24 Apr 2021
- TEDxSantaTeclaOnline24 Apr 2021
- Gunjan SyalOnline24 Apr 2021
- 珍珍 李Online24 Apr 2021
- Naveen SamalaOnline24 Apr 2021
- Sandra SilvaOnline24 Apr 2021
- Yuliana GaytanOnline24 Apr 2021
- Shandra Carlson, TEDxYYCOnline24 Apr 2021
- YOUNG CEOOnline24 Apr 2021
- Bill WongOnline24 Apr 2021
- RADIANTISMOnline24 Apr 2021
- Renata MoerbeckOnline25 Apr 2021
- Kavein ThranOnline25 Apr 2021
- Sara Vancil and Brian VancilOnline25 Apr 2021
- UAA AlumniOnline25 Apr 2021
- IgnitedNeuronsOnline25 Apr 2021
- Leah StewartOnline25 Apr 2021
- TEDxShuguangLuOnline25 Apr 2021
- Hasan AtasoyOnline25 Apr 2021
- Alan RaginsOnline25 Apr 2021
- Renata MoerbeckOnline26 Apr 2021
- TEDxBonnSquareOnline26 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline26 Apr 2021
- Nathalie CarrascoOnline26 Apr 2021
- Lead from InsightsOnline26 Apr 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline27 Apr 2021
- TEDxTangamangaSan Luis Potosi27 Apr 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline27 Apr 2021
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library - The New York Public LibraryOnline27 Apr 2021
- Spike HumerLas Vegas27 Apr 2021
- South Shore Literacy CouncilOnline27 Apr 2021
- John BennettOnline28 Apr 2021
- Báltico IdeasOnline28 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline28 Apr 2021
- Virtasant Inc.Online28 Apr 2021
- TEDxFirenzeOnline28 Apr 2021
- Kushal KhemaniOnline28 Apr 2021
- Professor Fabiano GomesOnline28 Apr 2021
- ATD Golden Gate Chapter - North Bay GIGOnline28 Apr 2021
- Cinthia LambaOnline29 Apr 2021
- Joshua Nuttall & CNandCOOnline29 Apr 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline29 Apr 2021
- Kitti BorisszaOnline29 Apr 2021
- Johan StuveOnline29 Apr 2021
- Halil Emre KocalarOnline30 Apr 2021
- Collaborate: ideas and imagesOnline30 Apr 2021
- Dr. Shoshannah Bryn Jones Square and Ana Benham and Genna Trindad and Kennedy Holick and Michelle Mendoza and Naaz Sidhu and Jasmeen Deol and Ravneet Sahota and Jasleen Johal and Emmanuel Juma and William Westerberg and Aaron Moy and Manveer Singh and Kristyn Ing and Alisha Chauhan and Calvin TiuOnline30 Apr 2021
- Centene I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Tampa ChapterOnline30 Apr 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline30 Apr 2021
- Peggy LuBrooklyn01 May 2021
- Bill WongOnline01 May 2021
- Xiehaoxi XieOnline02 May 2021
- 杨光雨露 杨Online03 May 2021
- University of the Third AgeOnline03 May 2021
- Alessandra FilippiniOnline04 May 2021
- Syed Ahmad RafeyOnline04 May 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline04 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline04 May 2021
- Simone Venancio e Francine PóvoaOnline05 May 2021
- Yi Chun LiuChiayi06 May 2021
- Yi Chun LiuChiayi06 May 2021
- Kevin FornierCanggu07 May 2021
- Bill WongOnline08 May 2021
- Rachid Amokrane and Madi Boukhalfa and Feyrouz Chebbi and Ourdia HammadoucheOnline09 May 2021
- Ebin Ephrem ElavatihingalCoimbatore09 May 2021
- CenteneOnline11 May 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline11 May 2021
- TED Circles teamNew York12 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline13 May 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York13 May 2021
- Zheng QinBeijing14 May 2021
- Cora LonningOnline15 May 2021
- Bill WongOnline15 May 2021
- Career College BhopalOnline15 May 2021
- RADIANTISMOnline15 May 2021
- NITIE MumbaiOnline16 May 2021
- University of the Third AgeOnline17 May 2021
- Michele Duffy and Katherine van Es and Sheila DwyerOnline17 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline17 May 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline18 May 2021
- Rashmi WatelOnline19 May 2021
- Kanha KarismaOnline19 May 2021
- Stephan van de VenOnline20 May 2021
- TEDxEdisonHighSchoolOnline21 May 2021
- Shanghai Envision EducationOnline22 May 2021
- Bill WongOnline22 May 2021
- TEDxSunnyvaleOnline25 May 2021
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library - The New York Public LibraryOnline25 May 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline25 May 2021
- Uri NgozichukwukaLagos25 May 2021
- Professor Fabiano GomesOnline26 May 2021
- TED Circles teamOnline26 May 2021
- Nathalie CarrascoOnline27 May 2021
- Sneha SharmaOnline28 May 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline28 May 2021
- Bill WongOnline29 May 2021
- Yuliana GaytanOnline29 May 2021
- GreenfestPorto29 May 2021
- RADIANTISMOnline29 May 2021
- Farah SheikhLahore30 May 2021
- Leah StewartOnline30 May 2021
- Nina ZupancicOnline01 Jun 2021
- University of the Third AgeOnline07 Jun 2021
- Salvatore MauroRome08 Jun 2021
- PUC MinasOnline09 Jun 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York10 Jun 2021
- Lili AbdiArdebil15 Jun 2021
- Qianyi YingOnline19 Jun 2021
- Fred KagameKigali20 Jun 2021
- Romanian Academy of Medical ScienceOnline20 Jun 2021
- Suzanne PiotrowskiOnline22 Jun 2021
- The New York Public LibraryOnline22 Jun 2021
- Rashmi WatelOnline23 Jun 2021
- Teachers Who WriteOnline23 Jun 2021
- Nathalie CarrascoOnline24 Jun 2021
- Rob AuerMelbourne25 Jun 2021
- Lucas TibiriçáOnline30 Jun 2021
- Praise EmmanuelPort Harcourt04 Jul 2021
- Julie Wilson and Alyssa HamptonNew York08 Jul 2021
- PUC MinasOnline14 Jul 2021
- Uri NgozichukwukaLagos26 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
- 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
- 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.