TED Radio Hour

What can you control in this chaotic world?

42 snips
Jan 23, 2026
This episode features Matt Pitcher, a financial advisor known for helping lottery winners navigate sudden wealth; Anindya Kundu, a sociologist studying the balance between personal agency and structural factors in student success; Jennifer Wallace, a journalist exploring how feeling valued impacts mental health; and Bill Burnett, a Stanford professor teaching life design. They discuss the complexities of control in life, the societal effects of wealth, the importance of support systems, and practical steps to create meaningful life plans.
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ANECDOTE

When Winning Breaks A Happy Life

  • A lottery winner felt miserable after neighbors and family demanded shares, forcing him to move away from his beloved community.
  • Matt Pitcher observed the win destabilized a life that had been financially ready and broke valued relationships.
ANECDOTE

Money Bought Time With A Child

  • A young couple spent their winnings to adapt their home and have 18 months of full-time care with their severely disabled son.
  • Matt Pitcher called that the best investment he'd seen because it bought invaluable time together.
ADVICE

Prioritize Time Over Money Goals

  • Assume you won't win the lottery and plan intentionally with the time you have, not just money goals.
  • Matt Pitcher advises first set time goals, then layer financial goals on top to make life meaningful.
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