Maeve Higgins, an Irish immigrant comedian and writer, uses humor to tackle tough topics like immigration and borders. She discusses how personal stories can reshape comedic narratives and critiques societal views on immigration classifications. Higgins emphasizes comedy's role in fostering community and the importance of diverse voices in a male-dominated industry. With a mix of laughter and poignant anecdotes, she advocates for empathy and understanding in exploring the complexities of immigration in our world.

Al Gore, Andrew Revkin, and Maeve Higgins discuss climate change, clean energy, measuring carbon dioxide levels, transitioning to clean energy, study on buildings in NYC, limitless energy, renewable sources, and the intersection of sustainability and genetic modification.

Original broadcast date: April 30, 2021. Migration is a part of everyone's history. This hour, TED speakers explore ideas about places we call home — and how these experiences continue to reshape our culture, countries and species. Guests include bioarchaeologist Carolyn Freiwald, journalist Isabel Wilkerson, comedian Maeve Higgins and ecologist Sonia Altizer. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at: plus.npr.org/ted Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Maeve Higgins, a comedian and writer who tackles immigration issues with humor, shares her unique perspective as an Irish immigrant in the U.S. She discusses how laughter can shed light on serious topics like the global refugee crisis and border disputes. Through personal anecdotes, Maeve illustrates the power of comedy to reshape perceptions and convey the complexities of identity and migration. The conversation highlights the importance of community support and encourages finding joy amidst societal challenges.

Comedian Maeve Higgins and Emma build the world's largest puzzle.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy