“Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi”: A TED series for the endlessly curious

Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi is a TED series and podcast made for endlessly curious people who question why things are the way they are. Join data journalist Mona Chalabi as she investigates the research behind tricky questions about life, society and ourselves — with the help of creative data visualizations.

Over eight episodes, Mona explores how to have lasting friendships, taboos that have changed throughout history, the societal pressures of fertility, the relationship between language and identity – and even if you should trust your local weather forecast.

How long does it take for the heart to mend itself after a breakup?

How can we make our friendships last without feeling overwhelmed?

How can we tell the difference between a marketing ploy and an actual statistic?

Here’s why it doesn’t always pay off to focus on the average.

Why are the pressures of fertility so one-sided?

Language matters when it comes to collecting data — here’s why.

Should you trust the weather forecast?

What does history have to say about some of today’s taboos?

Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, a new podcast from the TED Audio Collective, premieres October 18

Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, the newest podcast from the TED Audio Collective, launches on October 18. 

We all want to know if we’re normal: Do I have enough friends? Should it take me this long to get over my ex? Should I move or stay where I am? Endlessly curious data journalist Mona Chalabi needs to know, and she’s ready to dive into the numbers to get some answers. But studies and spreadsheets don’t tell the whole story, so she’s consulting experts, strangers and even her mum to fill in the gaps. The answers might surprise you, and make you ask: Does normal even exist? 

Mona is a data journalist who uses illustrations to make huge sets of statistics understandable. She’s written for The New Yorker, the New York Times, The Guardian and many more. “If you hate math because you think it’s way too abstract, I get it,” she says. “My job is to convince you that data is deeply personal and that it’s not so hard to understand once you’re given the right tools. I think TED does a similar thing: they make research accessible to everyone, and really value the power of following your curiosity. So partnering together seemed like a really good fit. And it was a good fit!” 

Season one will consist of eight episodes, each accompanied by a short video released on TED.com, YouTube and TED’s social channels. The videos will feature Mona’s own hand-drawn illustrations, as seen on her popular Instagram account, as well as other methods of data visualization, including props, animation and puppetry. These playful yet insightful videos get us one step closer to answering Mona’s questions in a fun and accessible way.

Produced by TED and Transmitter Media, Am I Normal? is part of the TED Audio Collective. TED’s collection of podcasts includes shows co-developed by TED and its speakers as well as shows developed and produced independently by inspiring thinkers and creators. The growing list of podcasts ranges from TED originals like TED Talks Daily and Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala to independent series like Design Matters with Debbie Millman and ZigZag with Manoush Zomorodi. 

The TED Audio Collective and Am I Normal? are supported by TED’s global partners. Learn more about TED Partnerships here.

Listen to Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.