← TED Talks Daily
Is luck random — or can you cultivate it? | Christian Busch artwork

Is luck random — or can you cultivate it? | Christian Busch

TED Talks Daily
15:03
Play episode

Show notes

When the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires destroyed his home and neighborhood, scientist Christian Busch encountered the opposite of serendipity: "zemblanity," or bad luck by design. Drawing on more than a decade of scientific research, he explores how people can navigate unpredictability by adopting a serendipity mindset that transforms setbacks into unexpected new beginnings. He asks: What if good luck isn't random but can actually be cultivated? Vote for our show in the Signal Awards for Most Inspirational podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from this show

More
  1. Why it's so hard to listen when you disagree | Emily Kasriel

    Do you avoid talking to people you disagree with? Author and mediator Emily Kasriel thinks you should try it out. She explains why engaging with ideas that bother you is one of the…

    13:32
  2. How to make parenting less lonely | Stacey McLachlan

    When parents first have kids, some risk entering “the loneliest decade,” where they fall out of touch with friends. Writer Stacey McLachlan decided to do something different when s…

    20:26
  3. Sunday Pick: Can AI really teach your kids? with Leah Belsky | from WorkLife with Molly Graham

    Technology has been promising to revolutionize education for a long time. Online learning, smartphones, and even asynchronous classes during COVID seemed for a while like they migh…

    51:09
  4. Why the future is human ... plus AI | Sal Khan and Esther Perel

    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…

    23:39
  5. The three words that saved my life | Blake Mycoskie

    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. Ye…

    18:48
  6. How imaginary worlds help kids learn | Anna Rainio

    All children develop at different paces — so why do schools expect every student to learn the same way? Early education researcher Anna Rainio introduces "playworlds," a learning a…

    17:42
Now Playing
Is luck random — or can you cultivate it? | Christian Busch — TED Talks Daily | Podcast | Josplay Music