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Elise Hu

Journalist, podcaster, and media maker renowned for her work with TED, NPR, VICE News, and more

Who is Elise Hu?

Elise Hu is an American broadcast journalist who hosts the TED Talks Daily podcast and serves as host-at-large for NPR. Some key facts about her:

  • She spent nearly a decade at NPR, appearing regularly on All Things Considered and Morning Edition. She filed stories from more than a dozen countries as an international correspondent and opened NPR's first-ever Seoul bureau.3
  • She created the Gracie-award winning video series Elise Tries and helped found The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit digital startup.3
  • In 2020, she became the inaugural host of TED Talks Daily, TED's most-downloaded podcast which is downloaded one million times per day.12
  • She has won the national Edward R. Murrow and duPont Columbia awards for her journalism work.34
  • Her book "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital" was published in May 2023, exploring South Korea's global influence in beauty.35
  • She is a University of Missouri-Columbia alum, a Council on Foreign Relations member, and on the board of Grist.34

As host of TED Talks Daily, Elise brings an inquiring mind and journalistic background to guide audiences and lay the foundation for each thought-provoking talk on every subject imaginable.12 She is known for her smart, joyful and deeply curious approach to the world.2

Highlights

Jun 20 · linkedin

It is no exaggeration that I have watched THOUSANDS of TED Talks as the host of TED Talks Daily. But I've yet to actually GIVE one. That changes in October. Join us for the reimagined TEDWomen, which is now TED Next and open to all applicants. Hope to see you!!!

Jan 31 · linkedin

Since 2015, I have quietly written a newsletter for my friends, where I share some reads I found interesting, what I'm watching and listening to, and any work updates. Now that Twitter is over and I'm not sure where to hang out online anymore, I've been trying to update my newsletter more regularly. If you want to follow along, find it (for free) on Substack at this here link...

Related Questions

What inspired Elise Hu to transition from NPR to TED Talks Daily?
How has Elise Hu's background influenced her approach to hosting TED Talks Daily?
What are some of the most memorable talks Elise Hu has hosted on TED Talks Daily?
How did Elise Hu's experience in Seoul shape her journalism career?
What are the key themes Elise Hu explores in her podcast episodes?
Elise Hu
Elise Hu, photo 1
Elise Hu, photo 2
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Experience

Podcast Host at TED Conferences
Host at WorkLab Podcast and Events for Microsoft, Correspondent for VICE News, Co-Founder of REASONABLE VOLUME, LLC

Education

Bachelor of Journalism (B.J.) in Broadcast News from University of Missouri-Columbia (2000 - 2003)

Location

Los Angeles, California, United States