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Why You Fear the Unknown — and What It Can Teach You | Maya Shankar and Simone Stolzoff | TED

Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar and author Simone Stolzoff have each spent years studying how people navigate uncertainty (and why it often feels so difficult). In this conversation, they discuss why your discomfort with not having the answers might be holding you back — and how leaning into life’s unpredictable moments can unlock resilience, growth and…

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Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar and author Simone Stolzoff have each spent years studying how people navigate uncertainty (and why it often feels so difficult). In this conversation, they discuss why your discomfort with not having the answers might be holding you back — and how leaning into life’s unpredictable moments can unlock resilience, growth and new possibilities. (This conversation was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.) (Recorded at TED Membership on May 21, 2026)

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6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. @TardigradeTough

    September 20, 2026 at 11:09 am

    Don’t tar everybody with the same brush, some of us welcome the unknown, theres that much unknown you’d be a nervous wreck if you was scared of it all

  2. @mdfeardaus143

    September 20, 2026 at 1:41 pm

    😢I sent Anwen Reid’s anxiety quiz to two friends immediately after finishing it. Not because I’m already completely convinced by the result, but because now I need to know whether we all get totally different descriptions or whether there’s some overlap.

  3. @Jasonxbr

    September 20, 2026 at 2:18 pm

    There is nothing to fear but 😨 itself- 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 in this case uncertainty- but once the subconscious goes offline- then all bets are off. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

  4. @frequentuser360

    September 21, 2026 at 11:27 am

    68,000 views and 5 comments?

  5. @TheGoodEnoughJob

    September 21, 2026 at 11:44 am

    Thanks so much for having Maya and me on the show :). Check out How to Not Know and The Other Side of Change if you’re interested!

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People & Blogs

Here’s your reminder that you are enough — and you always will be #WorldMentalHealthDay

On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that…

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On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that keeps people suffering in silence — and shares his new mission to spread the simple yet powerful message that each of us is inherently enough. (Note: This talk includes discussion of suicide and depression.) (Recorded at TED2026 on April 17, 2026)

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The Three Words That Saved My Life | Blake Mycoskie | TED

On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that…

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On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, he explores the all-too-common shame that keeps people suffering in silence — and shares his new mission to spread the simple yet powerful message that each of us is inherently enough. (Note: This talk includes discussion of suicide and depression.) (Recorded at TED2026 on April 17, 2026)

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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 #MentalHealth

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These are the inherent human skills that machines can’t replace #TEDTalks

As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can’t a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED’s vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to “emotional capitalism” and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty,…

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As AI reshapes work, school and love, what part of being human can’t a machine take over? In a wide-ranging conversation, psychotherapist Esther Perel and TED’s vision steward Sal Khan provide their unique takes on the answer. From personalized learning and AI companions to “emotional capitalism” and the rituals we create to live with uncertainty, the two explore if we’re getting better at living or just getting better at optimizing. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)

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