Some days, it's hard to be optimistic. But cynicism -- the idea that people are inherently selfish, greedy and dishonest -- is making humanity lonelier and more divided, says psychologist Jamil Zaki. In this episode of TED Business, we are revisiting fascinating research on cooperation, empathy and trust, as Zaki makes the scientific case for optimism and shows us how to break out of the cynicism trap. Stay tuned after the talk to hear Jamil Zaki and our host Modupe Akinola delve into the high cost of cynicism.

We hardly ever talk openly about our money. Wendy De La Rosa thinks that’s a costly mistake. She is a behavioral scientist who helps people understand and rewire their relationship with money. A former researcher at The Wharton School and a private equity investor at Goldman Sachs, Wendy is now the co-founder of Common Cents Lab, which works to improve financial well-being for low- to moderate-income people. In this episode, Wendy shares actionable insights on how to prepare and invest in your financial future, explains why the emotional aspect of decision-making impacts how we spend or save, and breaks down why financial insecurity should not be a source of shame—and why the issue of wealth inequality cannot be solved merely by budgeting. This is an episode of How to Be a Better Human, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective. For more episodes on how to be a little less terrible, follow the podcast wherever you're listening to this.

"When teachers and families work together, everyone wins," says education technology entrepreneur and TED Fellow Heejae Lim. She shines a light on an underutilized resource in US public education -- a family's love for their children -- and shows that, with the right tools and tech, schools can remove language barriers, foster meaningful connections and help every student thrive. After the talk, educational tech entrepreneur Shani Dowell joins our host Modupe to share insights on tools that schools and families can use to work together.

This week on TED Business we are revisiting an infectiously joyous talk. Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi shares the sugary jolt of her first food memory and behind-the-scenes stories of her bakery's famously inventive cakes, cookies and treats. This talk may make you hungry -- but it'll also leave you a resonant message about how breaking the rules and challenging your assumptions can make for a sweet life. Stay tuned to hear from our host Modupe Akinola on how we can all be inspired to make our workplaces a bit more magical.

The housing market can be vexing: while some neighborhoods get ridiculously expensive and price out longtime residents, others have historic homes sitting vacant without demand. Equitable housing developer and TED Fellow Bree Jones shares how she found a way to revitalize neighborhoods experiencing hyper-vacancy while preventing gentrification -- supporting home buyers and transforming communities along the way. After the talk, Modupe shares some more organizations uplifting communities.

Is capitalism a good thing? Journalist Katherine Mangu-Ward makes the case that "weirdos" left alone to innovate and explore far-out ideas in a free market system are our best hope for the future. She asks us to reconsider our qualms about capitalism, failure and corporate death, analyzing the recent history of General Motors and Facebook to illustrate why we're better off with a lot less government intervention. After the talk, our host Modupe Akinola introduces an organization that encourages 'weird' ideas -- and shares insights on their unique process.

A 2016 survey of freelancers in six countries found that those who freelance by choice– 70% of respondents– were happier than people in traditional jobs, specifically when it came to things like independence and flexibility in terms of where and when they work. So what does it take to be a successful freelancer? Explore the benefits and drawbacks of the gig economy. This was originally an animated TED-Ed lesson. It was directed by Christoph Sarow, AIM Creative Studios, narrated by George Zaidan and the music is by André Aires. After the lesson, our host Modupe shares more things to consider before plunging into freelance work.

What does it mean to lead in this new age of employee activism? Megan Reitz offers a four-point crash course on what employees want from their organizations and how leaders can rise to the challenge of building proactive and productive workplaces where every voice and perspective has the chance to make a difference. After the talk, Modupe shares lessons for leaders -- from activists.

Only four percent of construction workers are female -- that's totally unacceptable, but it's also a huge opportunity both for women and for the trades, says youth educator and builder Emily Pilloton-Lam. She makes the case for putting power (and power tools) into the hands of young women and gender-expansive youth, dreaming of inclusive construction sites and daring to ask: What if women built the world they want to see? (The power tool sounds you are hearing are Pilloton-Lam sharing live demo of her own woodworking skills ... while giving the talk.) Stay tuned after and hear from our host Modupe on some other programs that are creating opportunities for career-readiness.

Legendary hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz is on a mission to revolutionize the way artists do business. In this glorious talk, he shares some of the ways he's helping fellow creatives thrive, including a roving art fair that gives artists 100 percent of their sales, a new commission system for galleries to fund living visual artists and Verzuz, online musical celebrations that bring joy to fans -- and sales to musicians. "If we're not protecting the arts, we're not protecting our future," he says. After the talk, join our host Modupe in conversation with art world expert Alexandra Giniger as they discuss the importance of supporting living artists.