logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2025
16m 47s

My journey to thank all the people respo...

TED
About this episode

Author A.J. Jacobs embarked on a quest with a deceptively simple idea at its heart: to personally thank every person who helped make his morning cup of coffee. More than one thousand "thank yous" later, Jacobs reflects on the globe-trotting journey that ensued -- and shares the life-altering wisdom he picked up along the way. "I discovered that my coffee would not be possible without hundreds of people I take for granted," Jacobs says.



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

Up next
Today
Two wars, no clear exit plan. Now what? | Ian Bremmer
Six months into a catastrophic war in Iran — and with no end in sight for the war in Ukraine — the world is embroiled in conflicts with no apparent exit plan. In this interview, political scientist and Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer breaks down what these wars are costing peop ... Show More
40m 1s
Yesterday
Why economic inequality is the biggest threat to democracy | Sally Kohn
Is authoritarianism winning, or is democracy just failing to deliver? Communications strategist Sally Kohn lays out how democracy has evolved before and why it must evolve again, into what she calls "Democracy 3.0" — a version that finally shares power and opportunity equally. "W ... Show More
20m 18s
Jul 30
How doodling unlocks your imagination | Joe Whale
Artist Joe Whale used to get in trouble for doodling in class, until a local restaurant let him cover an entire wall with his artwork … and the internet took notice. He traces his unlikely beginning to a bigger story: your imagination is a muscle, and it weakens when you hand it ... Show More
8m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2025
My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee | A.J. Jacobs (re-release)
Author A.J. Jacobs embarked on a quest with a deceptively simple idea at its heart: to personally thank every person who helped make his morning cup of coffee. More than one thousand "thank yous" later, Jacobs reflects on the globe-trotting journey that ensued -- and shares the l ... Show More
16m 47s
Sep 2021
Listen Again: The Gratitude Chain: A.J. Jacobs
Original broadcast date: February 19, 2021. When A.J. Jacobs set out to thank everyone who made his morning cup of coffee, he realized the chain of thank-yous was endless. This hour, Jacobs shares ideas on gratitude—and how to make it count.See pcm.adswizz.com for information abo ... Show More
50m 32s
Dec 2022
The Gratitude Chain (2021)
Original broadcast date: February 19, 2021. When A.J. Jacobs set out to thank everyone who made his morning cup of coffee, he realized the chain of thank-you's was endless. This hour, Jacobs shares ideas on gratitude—and how to make it count.See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab ... Show More
50m 21s
Jan 2021
Introducing Adventures In Coffee
Adventures in Coffee is a narrative podcast that dives deep into your morning brew. We ask a question about your morning coffee and then journey around the world to pour lovingly blended episodes into your ears. Adventures in Coffee is a collaboration between Scott Bentley, found ... Show More
2m 52s
Sep 2023
A Cup of Knowledge: With Guests A.J. Jacobs & Steven Sloman
Why do ocean waves move the way they do? How does a toaster work? How might ink flow through a ballpoint pen without the help of gravity? You may know the answer to these questions, but explaining them in detail could reveal an unexpected truth.In this episode of Choiceology with ... Show More
30m 23s
Sep 2020
More Than A Buzz
In our day-to-day lives, it's a drink. But for some people, it is not as simple as that. It's a Sufi's spiritual companion, an Emirati's keeper of tradition, and a Yemeni's connection to his homeland. Today, we dive into three stories about coffee, exploring the tradition, cultur ... Show More
41m 28s
Mar 2017
Serious Jolt
One man's mission to revive Yemeni coffee for global markets. Kerning Cultures is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Support this podcast on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
27m 11s
Jun 2021
International Coffee (remix)
Now that international travel is becoming more and more a realistic possibility, I find myself dreaming and scheming about new journeys for the podcast. This episode is an audio travelogue of the last journey I was able to do before Covid: A trip through Paris, Copenhagen and Ken ... Show More
33m 56s
Feb 2022
Fresh Grounds: The Search for the World's Rarest Coffee
Dan Saladino meets the plant hunters searching for the world's lost and forgotten coffee varieties and Michael Pollan, author of This is Your Mind on Plants, explains how caffeine helped usher in the modern world.Produced and presented by Dan Saladino. 
28m 10s