Baratunde Thurston

Writer, activist, comedian
Baratunde Thurston tells stories of interdependence through our relationship with nature, each other and technology.

Why you should listen

Baratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated host, producer, writer and public speaker. He is the host and executive producer of the PBS television series America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston, creator and host of How To Citizen with Baratunde which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts, and a founding partner and writer at Puck. His comedic memoir, How To Be Black, is a New York Times best-seller. In 2019, he delivered what MSNBC’s Brian Williams called "one of the greatest TED talks of all time.” Thurston is unique in his ability to integrate and synthesize different and difficult topics in a style that’s intelligent, compassionate and humorous. Thurston serves on the boards of Civics Unplugged and the Brooklyn Public Library and lives in Southern California.

Baratunde Thurston’s TED talks

More news and ideas from Baratunde Thurston

Live from TED2019

Truth: Notes from Session 1 of TED2019

April 16, 2019

The world feels fragile these days, a bit wobbly. How do we figure out a way forward? At TED2019, we’re taking a painfully honest look at what’s going on, laying out shared values, exploring a common purpose — and seeing how we can build something meaningful together: an idea, vision, ambition that’s bigger than us. […]

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