TED Radio Hour
Amateur Hour
What does it take to survive, even thrive, when you're a complete amateur? Stories of plunging — or being plunged — into new situations and emerging as experts.
By Guy Raz • • 1 min readAuthor and journalist A.J. Jacobs talks about the year he spent living biblically — following the rules in the Bible as literally as possible. A self-taught nuclear physicist, Taylor Wilson describes how — at age 14 — he built a working nuclear fusion reactor in his garage. Actor and writer Julia Sweeney says parenting has always made her feel like an amateur — but especially when her 8-year-old started asking some smart questions about animal reproduction. But entrepreneur Derek Sivers advises you're better off keeping personal goals to yourself. And the 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was one of the fastest fundraising efforts in history. Nancy Frates recounts how her love for her son Pete plunged her into leading a worldwide awareness campaign.
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