People & Blogs

What the Past can Teach Us (w/ Nate DiMeo) | How to Be a Better Human, a TED Podcast

Published

1 year ago

June 4, 2025

How do you make sense of the present? Nate DiMeo might suggest you look at the past. Nate is the host of the podcast and book, The Memory Palace. Nate joins How to Be a Better Human host Chris Duffy to discuss how the past can teach us to live life in a new, rich, and complex way. Nate shares how to exercise the muscle of curiosity, how to tap into your sense of wonder to escape algorithmic filters, and urges you to seek moments of meaning in between life’s biggest plot points.

This is an episode of TED’s How to Be a Better Human podcast. Listen on your favorite podcast app:

For the full text transcript, visit

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

TED’s 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 our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

#TED #TEDTalks #TEDPodcasts #HowToBeABetterHuman

Related Topics:featured How to be a better human Podcast TED TED podcast TED Talk TED Talks TEDTalk TEDTalks

Up Next

Ukraine’s surprise drone strike on Russia marks a major milestone in the conflict. #TEDExplains

Don't Miss

Why Ukraine’s Drone Attack on Russia Changes War Forever | TED Explains the World with Ian Bremmer

9 Comments

@29011970

June 4, 2025 at 11:17 am

The past teaches us today that the human being is the stupidest species that inhabits this planet, other than improving, he gets worse and worse, no mouse would build a lethal trap for himself but man has thousands of atomic bombs to destroy the planet hundreds and hundreds of times because one time is not enough for him … A species in which less than one percent play with the life of the remaining 99 percent because more than 90 percent let them do it… This is what history teaches us, most likely it was not the dinosaurs that deserved extinction…

Reply
@havo5684

June 4, 2025 at 11:23 am

*Anyone in 2346?* 💖

Reply
@sooma-ai

June 4, 2025 at 11:24 am

Nate DiMeo discusses how engaging with history can enrich our present lives, cultivate wonder and empathy, and provide perspective. He explores finding meaning in historical stories, exercising curiosity, and escaping algorithmic thinking to appreciate life’s nuances.

Reply
@ben_hell4437

June 4, 2025 at 11:30 am

Are you kidding me? There needs to be a video on why the past matters? That’s why we teach history class.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
– George Santayana

Reply
- @BonnieShadow33
  
  June 5, 2025 at 7:59 pm
  
  Well, if you actually watched the video, you’d know there’s more to it than just that, as important as it is.
  
  Reply
@dlanska

June 4, 2025 at 1:40 pm

Excellent and insightful interview. Well done.

Reply
@FeliciaMedina-j2p

June 4, 2025 at 7:46 pm

These are the types of projects you want to be in before the headlines start.

Reply
@MichaelAnderegg-b7o

June 4, 2025 at 7:46 pm

These are the types of projects you want to be in before the headlines start.

Reply
@NightmaresStorm

June 5, 2025 at 7:53 am

I like to think this way too. I would like to add that history likes to repeat every 100 years.

Reply

People & Blogs

A special message for TED fans from Sal Khan #TEDTalks

Published

15 hours ago

July 2, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

People & Blogs

Why a Social Media Ban Won’t Save Teens | Candice Odgers | TED

For years, the warning has been: smartphones are destroying a generation. But developmental psychologist Candice Odgers says that decades of data on teens tells a different story — violence, alcohol use and pregnancy are at historic lows, and research shows social media may not actually be the culprit for mental health problems. Hear her analysis…

Published

21 hours ago

July 2, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

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 #SocialMedia

People & Blogs

“Would I do it all again? Of course, I would.” #TEDTalks

After leading a well-established life as a pastor, father and husband, Paula Stone Williams could no longer deny her truth and transitioned. In this conversational and at times humorous reflection, Williams offers her perspective on the everyday experiences lost, gained and once taken for granted in her journey of trans womanhood.

Published

3 days ago

June 30, 2026

CYBER TECH TV