Sunday afternoons at 4 beginning March 3, WFIU is adding the TED Radio Hour, a co-production of NPR and TED that tackles astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems and new ways to think and create.
Each radio show is based on talks given by riveting speakers on the renowned TED stage, bound together by a common theme such as the thrill of space exploration, going to extremes, the source of happiness or “when rights goes wrong” in our justice system.
The first episode we’ll bring you, The Unquiet Mind, explores the line between madness and sanity. Noted neurologist and bestselling author Oliver Sacks explains a peculiar condition that causes people of sound mind to experience lucid hallucinations. Also, law professor Elyn Saks will share her incredible story of not just surviving schizophrenia, but having an immensely full and successful life.
We’ll take a look at our place in the universe and what lies beyond our skies in the second episode, airing March 10. We’ll ask Phil Plait to break down how we can defend Earth from asteroids. And astronomer Jill Tarter explains why it’s crucial for humans to continue searching for intelligent life in the cosmos.
The program is hosted by Guy Raz, who served for much of the 2000s as a correspondent covering eastern Europe and the Middle East, and who most recently was weekend host of NPR News’ afternoon newsmagazine All Things Considered. During his tenure, Raz transformed the sound and format of the program, introducing the now-signature “cover story” and creating the popular “Three-Minute Fiction” writing contest.