In 1944, an Italian scientist discovered a drug that he later named for his wife. His wife’s name was Marguerite, but she went by Rita — which is why this now familiar drug is known as Ritalin. Plus, a poem about churning butter shows how a writer can draw astonishing beauty out of the most everyday of tasks. And the exclamation holy Toledo! probably refers ... Show More
May 19
Bean Counting - 19 May 2025
In the 1920’s, Americans were warned of a new danger sweeping across the country. This menace that harmed people’s health, ruined minds, and threatened marriages. The culprit? The national obsession with a new form of entertainment: crossword puzzles. Plus: why are accountants re ... Show More
53m 45s
Nov 2023
Épisode 147 - Uele Lamore
Compositrice, arrangeuse musicale et cheffe d’orchestre, Uèle Lamore n’aime pas les fioritures et se définit surtout comme une musicienne (7:20).Au micro de Lauren Bastide, Uèle Lamore retrace son parcours marqué par l’ambivalence : née d’un père américain et d’une mère française ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2024
Elizabeth Salgado
In 2015, 26-year-old Elizabeth Salgado moved from Mexico to one of the safest cities in the United States, Provo, Utah, to further her education. Just three weeks later, on April 16, 2015, she went missing. Her remains were later recovered, and her death is believed to be a homic ... Show More
42m 56s
Jun 2024
EP20 - Star and Star Lover | Sidney, Astrophil and Stella
Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophil and Stella. Over the course of the sixteenth century English poets experimented with the sonnet form invented by their Italian neighbours, and the Petrarchan conventions that came with it. The goal was a long sequence of many short poems which chronic ... Show More
1h 21m
Apr 2025
The power and the pitfalls of narrative | Matthew Beaumont, Ruth Padel, and Theodore Dalrymple
Lost in storiesIs life a story or a sequence of events?Our narratives enable us to make sense of the complex, often confusing, world that we live in. And yet there is a risk that rather than helping us to truly understand this world, narratives can hide reality from us, providing ... Show More
42m 34s
Jul 9
"Marigolds," a poem about wonder | Safiya Sinclair
Poet Safiya Sinclair performs "Marigolds: A Letter to Wonder," an original poem she created for TED that explores memory, beauty and the fragility of life. After the poem, she talks with TED's Helen Walters about her writing process — and what it feels like when the creative muse ... Show More
9m 2s