How to use your muscles — or risk losing them (w/ Bonnie Tsui)

How to use your muscles — or risk losing them (w/ Bonnie Tsui)

Author: TED October 27, 2025 Duration: 44:34

Did you know that you start losing bone AND muscle mass as soon as the age of thirty? Or that your fingers and toes don’t have muscles? Or how women in Scotland are starting to compete in the lighting of Dinnie Stones – which weighs 733 pounds?! These are topics that Chris discussed with Bonnie Tsui, author of the book On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters. They also discuss what strength and weightlifting means in today’s society – especially as more women enter the sport. Bonnie and Chris also discuss studying martial arts, playing on sports teams, and the benefits of functional mobility as you age.


Watch

Bonnie teaches Chris to surf: https://youtu.be/YOryOy1qL00

Bonnie and Chris' interview: https://youtu.be/Z3WnwLtVUes


Follow

Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | https://chrisduffycomedy.com/)

Guest: Bonnie Tsui (Instagram: @bonnietsui8 | Website: https://www.bonnietsui.com/)


Links

Humor Me by Chris Duffy (https://t.ted.com/ZGuYfcL)

Buy Bonnie's book On Muscle: https://tinyurl.com/onmuscle

Newsletter: https://www.bonnietsui.com/events


Other handles:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnietsui

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-tsui-71a57775

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@bonnietsui8

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bonnietsui


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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks 

Podcasts: https://www.ted.com/podcasts

For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts


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You might find yourself wondering how small shifts in thinking or action could ripple out into your daily life, and that's precisely the space this How to Be a Better Human podcast occupies. Hosted by Chris Duffy, each episode is built from conversations with a range of insightful guests, including past speakers, who share practical wisdom that goes beyond typical advice. The discussions are grounded in real-world application, focusing on how we can all improve in tangible ways-not through grand gestures, but in the nuances of our interactions at work, within our families, and in our own internal dialogues. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about hearing specific stories and strategies that offer clear takeaways you can actually use. The How to Be a Better Human podcast, from TED, digs into those unexpected corners of life where genuine growth happens, exploring how we show up for others and ourselves with more intention. Listeners will find a thoughtful mix of humor, vulnerability, and sharp insights that challenge conventional self-improvement tropes, making the journey toward being better feel accessible and deeply human.
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