Why do Smart People Make Dumb Decisions? Guest: David Robson, science journalist and author of “The Intelligence Trap” The great escape artist Houdini once said, “As a rule, I have found that the greater brain a man has, and the better he is educated, the easier it has been to mystify him.” Does this hold true today? Why are smarter people at risk for making poor decisions? How to Wipe a Disease Off the Earth Guest: Walter Orenstein, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine and Director, Emory-UGA Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) Thanks to modern medicine and vaccines, there’s a very good chance that you’ve never met anyone who has suffered from polio or the black plague, but that doesn’t mean the disease is truly gone. Actually eradicating a disease is incredible difficult, and we talk to Dr. Walter Orenstein to find out why. Zebrafish: the New Lab Rats? Guest: Randall Peterson, Dean, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah Some researchers consider zebrafish to be superior to mice and rats for laboratory study. What’s a zebrafish, and how in the world is its body like mine?  The Boston Typewriter Orchestra  Guest: Chris Keene, Musician, The Boston Typewriter Orchestra Now, of course, typewriters have become museum pieces, collectors items. They’re kind of retro-hipster now. Tom Hanks collects them. He narrated an award-winning documentary on typewriters. And in the hands of some very creative people with possibly too much time on their hands, typewriters have been turned into musical instruments. How We Look at the World Changes Everything  Guest: Emily Balcetis, Associate Professor of Psychology, New York University Ever notice how much of a difference a good strong dose of motivation can make? It may be all in your head but it’s a real phenomenon that can literally change the way you perceive reality.