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How Dolly Parton led me to an epiphany | Jad Abumrad

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. How do you end a story? Host of “Radiolab” Jad Abumrad tells how his search for an answer led him home to the mountains of Tennessee, where he met an unexpected teacher: Dolly Parton. The TED Talks channel features…

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Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

How do you end a story? Host of “Radiolab” Jad Abumrad tells how his search for an answer led him home to the mountains of Tennessee, where he met an unexpected teacher: Dolly Parton.

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56 Comments

  1. Fam Fam

    July 16, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    Wasted 13 minutes 2 seconds,,, on nothing.

    • мой

      July 16, 2020 at 10:48 pm

      same

  2. jabygo

    July 16, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Check out his podcast series Dolly Parton’s America !

  3. Thịnh Nguyễn

    July 16, 2020 at 4:10 pm

    Could you translate into Vietnamese?

  4. been ks

    July 16, 2020 at 4:13 pm

    eng sub is not in sync ;( editing is cool tho

  5. injoi being

    July 16, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    I live there..its called Joyce Kilmer Memorial forest

  6. Carson Fenne

    July 16, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    This is the most underrated Ted talk ever.

  7. Ashton Zee

    July 16, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    … how did i know this was Jad from radio lab. He LOVES DOLLY PARTON

  8. Sahil Chib

    July 16, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    I love to listen to stories that are fictional

  9. بنت الحشد

    July 16, 2020 at 4:48 pm

    🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  10. The Health Care Blog's Channel

    July 16, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Friends i also make very similar health related video please support! #Thehealthcareblog

  11. silentdreamer821

    July 16, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    In Tennessee we have the east,middle, and west regions each with different cultures. I love you and would like to welcome you to East Tennessee.

  12. uber301

    July 16, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    That very podcast episode about the Hmong absolutely soured my joy of listening. I never listened to another episode.

  13. Convolver

    July 16, 2020 at 5:32 pm

    Must have some good drugs in Thailand

  14. Rick Harold

    July 16, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    Nice!

  15. Stalwartheart14

    July 16, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    Its weird that I have not seen his face until now, but heard his voice for at least 5 years.

  16. lizardissimo

    July 16, 2020 at 8:38 pm

    More of this, please! Definitely what we need is the 3rd…especially but not just in the USA…..

  17. 0 0

    July 16, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    Ted talk worthy? Hmm

  18. Jon Sweemer

    July 16, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    Storytelling is a lost art and thank the Good Lord there are still some like Jad Abumrad (and Dolly Parton!).

  19. Bride Preparation

    July 16, 2020 at 10:12 pm

    Awesome..thanks for this video..

  20. Bryan Atneosen

    July 16, 2020 at 10:32 pm

    Wrapping up an otherwise interesting story with pseudo “3rd” mystique was a disappointment.
    Dolly gently connects people through common human emotions/needs. Kindness is her secret superpower.

  21. мой

    July 16, 2020 at 10:43 pm

    This vid was pretty interesting till 5:37. Then it just got too american. I don’t know who “Dolly” is, I’m not interested in her and I don’t think she’s the solution to anything.

    • momocapicino

      July 17, 2020 at 4:13 am

      Then you missed the most important part of the video, keep watching and you’ll understand why Jad did an entire series on her

    • Maria Lelekis

      July 19, 2020 at 8:53 pm

      Wondering why you felt to make the remark “JUST GOT TOO AMERICAN.” So I guess if it were about Mexico, France or New Zeland that would be different and better for you.
      And regarding your comment about not knowing who Dolly is Well She’s done much for her community and she has the imagination library where she provides free books for Any child Anywhere in the world. She has a ton of charities. She had a big heart and doesnt spend her time bashing others and trying to divide us as a country like so many in Hollywood and Music Industry. She doesn’t spend her time on spreading hate and being angry but instead she has a message of love. She’s done a lot for others and her music weaves a beautiful tapestry of life in the country which is part of our heritage in this country. It helps to see beyond the stereotypes that have been developed over time about country people in the south. She’s a wonderful story teller. Theres more but I’m sure you’re not interested. Not ashamed of my country. Both parents were immigrants and have done well as well as my relatives. Proud to be an American. Sorry you felt the need to be offened by it “being too American. Smh childish.

  22. None of your Business

    July 16, 2020 at 11:08 pm

    As a journalist, your job is not to be a “storyteller”. Your job is to _report_ as objectively as possible; you know, like in “reporter”. Please leave the storytelling to the makers of *_fiction,_* because that’s what “stories” are. As a journalist, please stick to the objective *truth.* I know people have lost focus of _facts_ at the moment, but it is _your_ duty as a journalist to bring it *back.*

    • momocapicino

      July 17, 2020 at 4:09 am

      You clearly haven’t listened to his multitude of radio shows, because he reports on the facts in a story tellers way

    • Maria Lelekis

      July 19, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      @momocapicino yeah well that person- commenter is part of the problem we are seeing in this country. They no longer can think abstractly… Only black and white terms. Hope I dont get flagged for saying “black and white.”

  23. Thelma Lee

    July 17, 2020 at 12:15 am

    Wow. I like to think of the “third thing,” and have for years. I use it in reference to romantic relationships mostly. You can actually see it in good relationships. It is nearly palpable. It is not exactly the sum of the two. It feels energetic mostly. I love the idea of extending this to all meaningful relationships.

  24. Startup Funding Event Global

    July 17, 2020 at 12:31 am

    Great talk on searching for your purpose!

  25. Sunny McNair

    July 17, 2020 at 12:40 am

    Beautifully done, as always. Love Jad!

  26. Xuan Huynh

    July 17, 2020 at 4:00 am

    Beautiful talk about

    • Xuan Huynh

      July 17, 2020 at 4:03 am

      Beautiful talk about immigrants, healing division and Dolly Parton kindness.

  27. Breanna Gregory

    July 17, 2020 at 4:51 am

    she gives free books to kids anywhere. my daughter just signed up. I’M SO GRATEFUL!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
    Dolly

    • Carrie Knox

      July 19, 2020 at 11:43 pm

      I

    • Breanna Gregory

      July 20, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      @Carrie Knox ? ☺️

  28. sunil singha

    July 17, 2020 at 5:20 am

    LEGEND SWAMI VIVEKANANDA original voice don,t miss

  29. Mark Reese

    July 17, 2020 at 5:26 am

    “…interrogate those differences…” – It’s amazing what can be revealed when we start asking the right questions 👌 #GoFindTheThird

  30. Linus Gaffney

    July 17, 2020 at 9:31 am

    Great 13.06 now try 3.41

  31. Loan Kim

    July 17, 2020 at 10:54 am

    Tôi hiểu gì chết liền á

  32. The Internaut

    July 17, 2020 at 11:48 am

    This *is* the _best_ video.

  33. Dam Trang

    July 17, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    when I was 18 I wanted to be a storyteller. I wanted to travel the world, listen to people’s stories, listen to people from this part of the world, and re-tell it to people from another part. because I had always seen the cultural, societal, economic, and class differences I just knew that bridging those differences would be more beneficial to us all. a few years went by, I got into college and got some wrong ideas about the way society works (power and stuff) and could not manage to connect to what I do at all because of that. I had to retreat and reflect everything until now. I strongly resonate with this talk. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

  34. J LA

    July 17, 2020 at 1:48 pm

    I’ve always thought Dolly was an uniquely amazing human-being. We really need to stop seeing each other as so different. We are not. She lives that truth.

    • Maria Lelekis

      July 19, 2020 at 8:41 pm

      Thank you

  35. Vijit Daroch

    July 17, 2020 at 8:08 pm

    all the best man

  36. D5quared91

    July 17, 2020 at 10:22 pm

    Creepy Stranger Things light flicker noise

  37. Lieve Leysen

    July 18, 2020 at 10:01 am

    Beautiful 😊💖🙏🏻

    #discoverenjoyfeelgood2

  38. Alan

    July 18, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    If you try to bring people together in your journalism, you will be rare. Today’s mainstream media is focused on the horse race and “gotcha” stories that showcases our differences.

    • Maria Lelekis

      July 19, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      Wow my thoughts exactly

  39. Sue Sanborn

    July 18, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    I think your third space might be found in Tao. From T. Freke: our opinions obscure our natural intuitive knowing. only when we fully acknowledge that we really do not know anything, are we empty enough to be filled with Tao. Only when we understand that we cannot possibly understand will we finally understand.

  40. SoSiki

    July 18, 2020 at 9:18 pm

    Great!

  41. Erik Burstiner

    July 19, 2020 at 3:57 am

    Jad, I didn’t know you were from Tennessee. I’ve listened to you for quite some time. Blah blah blah. Thanks for the video.

  42. George Donaldson Jr

    July 19, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    An example on mental illness or just another one out to take your money, you choose.

  43. Invox

    July 19, 2020 at 8:33 pm

    I believe that is THE biggest problem with the Media/Social Networks today: they all focus on the “sides” and not on what we have in the “middle”. That thing that ultimatelly connects us to the issue and what we can build beyond it.
    That’s why I hate debates, opinion speakers, commentators, etc… No one talks about how to resolve anything WITH the other. Its all about: “This is the way I WOULD do it. The ONLY way it must be done. And the other side is always WRONG… I hate it. I avoid it. I am one of those kind of people the internet just HATES: a Moderate. I try (enphases on TRY) to see both sides and find ways to connect with both, reaching a result. And reaching a result in the ENTIRE POINT OF EVEN HAVING A DISCUTION.
    Too bad nowadays no one wants a result, people wanna be right. And they want a WIN… Not a solution.

    • Maria Lelekis

      July 19, 2020 at 8:49 pm

      Beautiful thank you

  44. Nick Sims

    July 19, 2020 at 10:00 pm

    Not only is the talk great, and Dolly amazing, but the video editing is SHARP! Jad always makes stuff sound great, but didn’t know he could do video like this too

  45. Ann Hutcheson

    July 20, 2020 at 6:52 pm

    Let the biases fall. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
    The difference is love. #BlessedAreThePeacemakers

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