NPR Host Guy Raz says "there's no real rhyme or reason" for how every TED Radio Hour is produced. He says sometimes he'll hear a TED Talk that he loves and he'll look for others that might make a full show. Raz says other times he and the show's producers will develop a theme and look for TED Talks that fit.
Raz says there are some very good TED Talks that they haven't been able to work into a program so far. He says there are also some shows that are "in progress." Raz says one is the "road less traveled." He says there are two very good TED Talks and he's looking for two more. Raz says he's also trying to build a show on wisdom. He says there are lot of TED Talks that deal with wisdom, but they have been used in shows on other topics.
TED Talks often involve a visual element that may not work on radio. Raz says he and the producers work to find moments that work without any visual illustration. But he says the advantage of the radio program is that the interview segments with the speakers build upon their TED Talks. Raz says it works well with the "narrative" format of radio.
"That was an opportunity that I don't think any of us would have passed up."
The TED Radio Hour debuted in 2013, Raz helped launch the program and has served as host and editorial director ever since. He had been host of Weekend All Things Considered, and says that was job he loved. But Raz says TED Radio Hour was the chance to "take over a blank room" and build the show from scratch. "That was an opportunity that I don't think any of us would have passed up."
