It all starts with an idea — a seed that spawns astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think, to create.

Journey through the world of extraordinary ideas with TED Radio Hour, a new program from NPR and TED that inspires imagination about modern life and places bets on tomorrow, with today’s most compelling minds. The show’s first season will air on NPR Member stations across the country beginning April 27 (check local stations). Each program and additional in-depth content will be available at NPR.org, and on NPR’s mobile apps.

“With TED and NPR, there’s this collective curiosity about the world — a belief that civil discourse and shared ideas leads to a better understanding of the issues and opportunities we face,” says Eric Nuzum, vice president for programming at NPR. “TED Radio Hour brims with the possibility of these ideas, engaging us to think hard, and differently. It’s captivating.”

Each radio show is based on talks given by riveting speakers on the renowned TED stage, and centered on a common theme, such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, power shifts or inexplicable connections. Host Alison Stewart injects soundscapes and conversations that bring ideas to life, probing how concepts make waves, gain traction and, ultimately, are realized.

“At TED, we’re always looking for new ways to spread ideas,” says June Cohen, executive producer at TED. “It’s exciting to bring TED to radio — one of the world’s most powerful mediums — with a partner that has perfected the art of storytelling. TED Radio Hour is the first collaboration of its kind at TED; given NPR’s wide scope of listeners and journalistic integrity, we’re confident it will inspire curiosity among an entirely new audience.”