Neutrality can get you through a tough conversation, but it rarely gets you anywhere. Joshua Johnson, actor/anchor for “The Onion” and former NPR host, makes the case instead for objectivity — parking your own opinions for a moment so you can focus on someone else’s story. He shares three quick ways to turn your most frustrating conversations into real understanding. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.
Watch more:
TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at
#TED #TEDTalks #Communication
@BrutusMaximusAurelius
August 10, 2026 at 11:19 am
So that cop who wanted police reform due to his trauma was an idiot. Got it.
@RebeccaMorris-v6m
August 10, 2026 at 11:44 am
When did he say anything like that?
@BrutusMaximusAurelius
August 10, 2026 at 11:50 am
@RebeccaMorris-v6m his whole talk is about how to talk to idiots and he used the cop as an example. His whole talk implies that people who act like the cop and the other man with the statues are automatically idiots.
@kimberly_erin
August 10, 2026 at 1:05 pm
@BrutusMaximusAurelius you are the idiot he’s talking about and that make this thread hilarious. Thnx for that.
@BrutusMaximusAurelius
August 10, 2026 at 1:09 pm
@kimberly_erin sure hun, keep telling yourself that, I love that for you.
@TT-nq5np
August 10, 2026 at 2:21 pm
@BrutusMaximusAurelius I mean I think you are misunderstanding. Anyone can be the “idiot.” The “idiot” is whoever’s view you see as so absurd or incorrect that you cannot understand their perspective or how they came to that conclusion. For example, my stepdad is incredibly conservative and frequently calls people he disagrees with “idiots.” He would view the cop as the logical one and the man telling the story as the “idiot.” My stepdad can still apply this talk and choose to approach with curiosity.
This is about how you communicate with people you view as the “idiot” and seeing them as human beings who have something valuable to offer instead of seeing them as an “idiot.” Sure he never said that directly, but the shorter TedTalks usually have strict time restraints, which results in things being cut down and potentially becoming less clear. You took the wrong lesson from the talk.
@jarrettbobbett5230
August 10, 2026 at 11:27 am
I found the speaker to be racist.
I have an opinion about race.
It’s called the human race.
If you’re not an educator, a scientist or at very least, maybe an officer in a very time-sensitive situation, explain to me how involving someone’s skin pigmentation or ethnic background in your decision making is not a form of racism?
@RebeccaMorris-v6m
August 10, 2026 at 11:43 am
He literally said nothing like that. You’re reading into something that didn’t happen. Instead of listening to what he was saying you were ignoring his point and judging him the whole time.
@misslusixseven67
August 10, 2026 at 2:06 pm
@jarrettbobbett5230 Different people with different backgrounds experience the world differently. Race plays a role in this. As such I think it is fair to bring race into it.
@originalposer
August 10, 2026 at 3:07 pm
Racism does not mean making a decision to mitigate racism based on recognizing racial distinctions. Racism means making a decision not to mitigate racism, but to prejudge someone as lesser based on that same distinction.
You imply such a reductive understanding of racism and its effects that disregarding measures that recognize racism as an existing problem and provide avenues for resolving it seems to come naturally to you.
@andyb8015
August 10, 2026 at 11:28 am
Is this the guy from the Onion?
@chuck.reichert83
August 10, 2026 at 11:45 am
My mother taught me early that “No person is completely worthless; they can always serve as a bad example.”
@jf-jx4ym
August 10, 2026 at 12:17 pm
In the lense of any strong law…bad advice as it is malicious and harmful.. not borne of understanding and problem solving.
@mkhud50n
August 10, 2026 at 11:45 am
I say “huh…” like they just said the deepest thing ever and I need time to think about it because it’s so profound. Then I walk away and hope I never see them again.
@janrowe327
August 10, 2026 at 11:48 am
Earlier comment to other message – Yours made a English actually agree and chuckle chuckle
@andrewkaylor
August 10, 2026 at 12:10 pm
Great talk, and there’s some idiiots in the comments section.
@fashiongik
August 10, 2026 at 12:15 pm
what an idiot
@nikkanikka1999
August 10, 2026 at 12:36 pm
Why ted videos become shorter and shorter 😂
@ISHTIAQ-KHAN
August 10, 2026 at 2:27 pm
@nikkanikka1999 no one is interested in watching long length videos (coz of scrolling shorts ) anymore so that maybe the reason
@KitaIsHer
August 10, 2026 at 12:41 pm
coming at people with curiosity & compassion will always yield better results than hostility or defensiveness. fantastic talk!
@Avarice7D
August 10, 2026 at 12:47 pm
This was a great ted talk. Smart guy, well spoken. I didn’t agree with everything he said but he made a good point and he has a solid dissenting opinion about a topic that has polarized a not small amount of people. Concerning Statues; I would like to submit that if they are somehow removed then they would fail at reminding people of the truth, hard though it may be for not a small amount of people to swallow. I would submit that we need to get closer and learn more. Which is the best performing tactic I have ever seen in use but isn’t for the faint of heart. Getting closer takes courage, patience, humility, empathy and listening skills. This really is an awesome talk. To the idiots here, this is not about shoving racism in your face. This is about understanding complicated systems within oneself/others and how we can learn more about them safely. Excellent talk, well done.
@robinnewhouse1563
August 10, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Joshua Johnson the goat ❤😂 really insightful talk
@AlanDias17
August 10, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Best way to handle idiots = Don’t engage.
@MrMeheheh
August 10, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Hoped to learn more about how to deal with idiots and less about interviewing them 😀
@tylerharry6319
August 10, 2026 at 3:40 pm
I saw Joshua Johnson giving a Ted talk and my brain was like, the comedian Josh Johnson’s gave a Ted talk?? Nope, different black guy, but still funny. Good Ted talk.
@jwestney2859
August 10, 2026 at 3:42 pm
Great hearing this black man delivering sage advice, showing agency, sharing his wisdom. We need more like this. Rather than bickering with each other.
@alienautopsy9326
August 10, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Starting a speech with ‘idiots. … ‘
You have our undivided attention
@Thomas-qc2dc
August 10, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Finally, an actual TED talk and not TEDx
@sosukodo5037
August 10, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I LOVED this video! And that mowhawk is BADASS 🙂
@jocelyndominguez1
August 10, 2026 at 5:07 pm
Johnson’s approach has a strong anthropological quality to it by encouraging people to move BEYOND what someone believes and investigate *how* and *why* they came to believe it. I really appreciate this TED Talk for so many reasons. Thank you for this one!
@chrisg4036
August 10, 2026 at 6:06 pm
I can’t get past the ring!
@Nana1D65
August 10, 2026 at 8:34 pm
Me too. Distracting. Maybe he should have rethought that decision to wear it during this TED talk ?
@francesbernard2445
August 10, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Really good advice unless you are trying to communicate with someone who was told that you are the self-centered from time to time crazy idiot when at the time you need to ask them short questions about what all that you too need to be aware of so that whatever could go wrong will not go wrong during preventative measures which need to be in place soon enough. Like for example on that American sitcom serieis called “Young Sheldon” when the youngest lad wants his MeeMaw back in his parent’s house on his preferred schedule at the time when MeeMaw lives right across the street from them.
@ricofivekay6562
August 10, 2026 at 9:00 pm
A guy with that hanging out of his nose is referring to others as idiots?