Manoush Zomorodi is the host and managing editor of the podcast Note to Self from WNYC Studios.
Every week on her podcast, Manoush searches for answers to life’s digital quandaries, through experiments and conversations with listeners and experts. Topics include information overload, digital clutter, sexting “scandals," and the eavesdropping capabilities of our gadgets.
Her book, Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self, is based on an experiment she did with tens of thousands of her listeners in 2015.
Prior to New York Public Radio, Manoush reported and produced around the world for BBC News and Thomson Reuters. Manoush grew up in Princeton, New Jersey and went to Georgetown University. She lives with her family in Brooklyn.
Shows:
Manoush Zomorodi appears in the following:
Matthew Mazzotta: How Can We Redesign Overlooked Spaces To Better Serve The Public?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Artist Matthew Mazzotta says every community needs public spaces to gather, discuss, and address issues. He works with towns to reimagine overlooked buildings and give them a new public purpose.
Eli Pariser: How Can We Reshape Our Digital Platforms To Be More Welcoming Spaces?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Eli Pariser has an optimistic vision for our digital public spaces. He says that by structuring them like real-life parks, libraries, and town halls, we can create more welcoming, safe places online.
Shari Davis: What If You Could Decide How The Government Spends Public Funds?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Public places don't always fully meet the needs of a community. Shari Davis explains how participatory budgeting can give us all a voice in creating safer and more equitable public spaces.
Jimmy Wales: How Can Wikipedia Ensure A Safe And Shared Online Space?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Wikipedian Jake Orlowitz describes how volunteers update the world's largest encyclopedia. And co-founder Jimmy Wales says the site must not only be a neutral space, but one that encourages diversity.
Sylvia Earle: My Wish? To Protect Our Oceans
Friday, June 25, 2021
Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle has been exploring and working to protect our oceans for more than half a century. Her message has stayed the same: we're taking our oceans for granted.
Alasdair Harris: How Can Coastal Conservation Save Marine Life And Fishing Practices?
Friday, June 25, 2021
In 1998, Alasdair Harris went to Madagascar to research coral reefs. He's worked there ever since. He explains the true meaning of conservation he learned from the island's Indigenous communities.
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: What Should You Look For When Shopping For Seafood?
Friday, June 25, 2021
For marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, not knowing where our seafood comes from isn't just a mystery—it's a problem. She says we should reconsider what we eat and how we take it from the sea.
Asha de Vos: Why Are Whales Essential To The Health Of Our Oceans?
Friday, June 25, 2021
Whales are more than just beautiful creatures—they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Marine biologist Asha de Vos explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire sea.
Mandë Holford: Could Snail Venom Someday Save Your Life?
Friday, June 11, 2021
Cone snails are deadly sea predators; their venom can kill fish and even humans. But chemical biologist Mandë Holford says that powerful venom can actually be used for good — to treat human diseases.
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: Why The Strange and Wonderful Parrot Fish Is In Trouble
Friday, June 11, 2021
Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is obsessed with one research subject — the parrot fish. She says there is urgent work to be done to save them and their home, the coral reefs.
Marah Hardt: What Can We Learn From The Sex Lives Of Fish?
Friday, June 11, 2021
Marine biologist Marah Hardt is fascinated with the mating habits of marine life. If we want to save the oceans, she says we have to understand the weird and whimsical sex that helps populate it.
Catherine Mohr: A Love Story... That Begins With A Sea Urchin
Friday, June 11, 2021
Catherine Mohr shares the story of a scuba diving trip gone wrong, where getting stabbed by a sea urchin transformed her relationship with the ocean... and ultimately led her to the love of her life.
Jen Gunter: The Truth About Our Bodies
Friday, May 28, 2021
What does it mean to be healthy and to care for our bodies? This hour, physician and writer Jen Gunter empowers us to cut through false medical claims and make informed decisions about our health.
Lee Mokobe: How Can We Make Sense Of Ourselves Through Poetry?
Friday, May 14, 2021
How can art be a tool to better understand ourselves and the world around us? Poet Lee Mokobe shares what it was like to grow up trans in South Africa, and how language can be a tool for change.
Amanda Gorman: Using Your Voice Is A Political Choice
Friday, May 14, 2021
Poet Amanda Gorman has often been asked to write poems that aren't "political." In her 2018 TED Talk, she explains why her writing inherently carries messages greater than her words.
Jon M. Chu: Why Does Representation On Screen Matter?
Friday, May 14, 2021
With his film Crazy Rich Asians, director Jon M. Chu made his mark on Hollywood — opening doors for Asian American representation on screen. He reflects on how his heritage informs his cinematic work.
Camille A. Brown: How Can We Tap Into Our Creative Expression Through Dance?
Friday, May 14, 2021
For Camille A. Brown, choreography unlocked a new way to understand her power as a dancer. She explains how social dance — and its origins — have allowed her to celebrate her creative identity.
What It's Like To Be A Radio Host With Hearing Loss
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Manoush Zomorodi of the TED Radio Hour podcast talks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about her hearing loss and strategies she's developed to cope.
TED Radio Hour Offers A Show About Loneliness During The Pandemic
Friday, May 01, 2020
The pandemic has left people to deal with various complicated emotions. TED Radio Hour has put together a show about one of them, loneliness.
A Good Time for Boredom
Monday, March 30, 2020
Manoush Zomorodi, host of TED Radio Hour, discusses her book, Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self.
