logo
episode-header-image
May 2021
33m 32s

How zombies, dragons, and superheroes co...

TED
About this episode

Roleplaying games and the Marvel universe may be fictional, but they can also teach us a lot about morality in the real world. Christopher Robichaud is a Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In this episode, he shares ways we can explore important, everyday issues in fun, safe, and unexpected ways. Christopher has made a career out of teaching ethics and philosophy using pop culture, dissecting moral questions using anything from zombie apocalypse simulations to superhero narratives. He received his doctorate in philosophy from MIT. In 2015 he won the Innovation in Teaching Award at the Harvard Kennedy School for creating a day-long simulation--using design elements from old school tabletop roleplaying games like D&D--where policy students wielded their leadership skills and confronted ethical dilemmas to deal with a zombie pandemic. To learn more about "How to Be a Better Human," host Chris Duffy, or find footnotes and additional resources, please visit: go.ted.com/betterhuman

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Oct 26
How to connect with literally anyone (w/ Chris Gethard)
Chris Gethard is a comedian and the host of the podcast Beautiful Anonymous, an unscripted, unpredictable show where one anonymous person calls in and shares their family woes, secret confessions, or anything at all they want to talk about for 60 minutes. The only rule is that Ch ... Show More
44m 49s
Oct 19
Why do we like scary stories? (w/ Glynn Washington)
How does someone who claims having zero tolerance on watching scary movies come to host a podcast on supernatural stories? That’s the question Chris asked Glynn Washington, host of the podcast Snap Judgment and his new show, Spooked. Glynn shares how he grew up in a cult and late ... Show More
43m 3s
Oct 15
Do all my friends secretly hate me? | from Corner Piece
Why does making friends as an adult feel like mission impossible?Today, we’re sharing a special episode of a new TED podcast, Corner Piece. Friendship is hard, especially in adulthood, and this episode explores just that with personal stories from host Melissa Fernandes of her ex ... Show More
40m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
How to Know What's Real: How to Win at Real Life
Games can serve as an escape from reality—but they can also shape our understanding of trust, collaboration, and what might be possible IRL. Megan Garber talks with C. Thi Nguyen, an associate philosophy professor at the University of Utah, to better understand how games can help ... Show More
32m 18s
Apr 2024
2191: Soul-Share with Innovator, Jeff Karp
<p>Jeff is a Professor at Harvard Medical School and MIT and author of the new book LIT. In this episode, he discusses how we can spark ideas, ignite action, and learn from nature.</p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">Care to play a game with the youniverse? Ask the universe the episode you ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 2025
How ethics can help you make better decisions | Michael Schur (re-release)
What would Immanuel Kant say about a fender bender? In a surprisingly funny trip through the teachings of some of history's great philosophers, TV writer and producer Michael Schur (from hit shows like "The Office" and "The Good Place") talks through how to confront life's moral ... Show More
12m 55s
Sep 2025
Episode 245: Gamification in SPED
Toni Rose is joined by Dykeisha Hill to talk about using games of all types to bring joy into the classroom and connect with students Show Notes ArtyNerdShop - Dykeisha's Etsy City Year Freedom Riders Some of the games Dykeisha mentions: God of War Kingdom Hearts The Legend of Ze ... Show More
58m 48s
Sep 2023
How Therapists Can Move from Allies to Accomplices with ChrisTiana ObeySumner
<p>Pull up a chair for this conversation! We are going to talk about how intersectionality is like Rubik’s cube, what Plato’s Allegory of the Cave has to do with our therapy work, the Barbie movie, and so much more. This podcast episode was gentle, profound, and transformative. O ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 2025
How ethics can help you make better decisions | Michael Schur (re-release)
What would Immanuel Kant say about a fender bender? In a surprisingly funny trip through the teachings of some of history's great philosophers, TV writer and producer Michael Schur (from hit shows like "The Office" and "The Good Place") talks through how to confront life's moral ... Show More
12m 55s
Jul 2018
How Can We Apply Ethics To Everyday Life? with Ryan Huber
Ryan Huber is an ethicists, PhD, and theologian who joins Jonathan to talk ethics, the life and death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism in post-WWI Germany, and what we can learn from the past. Find Ryan Huber on Twitter @ryanmhuber or visit his site ht ... Show More
37m 22s