On the NPR TED Radio Hour, Sunday 1st February, Newstalk FM:

'Misconceptions': 

There are some truths that we believe in wholeheartedly, but what if we’re completely wrong? Once we separate fact from fiction, how do our perceptions change?  This week TED speakers move beyond conventional wisdom to reveal complex realities about what we think we know to be true. 

The story of David and Goliath has transcended its biblical origins to become a common shorthand for unlikely victory. But, author Malcolm Gladwell asks, is that really what the David and Goliath story is about? 

Reporter Jennifer 8. Lee talks about her hunt for the origins of familiar Chinese-American dishes, exploring the hidden spots where these two cultures have combined to form a new cuisine.

About two-thirds of the world's grasslands have turned into desert. Allan Savory has devoted his life to stopping it. He now believes that a surprising factor can protect grasslands and even reclaim degraded land that was once desert.

Behind all our material goods, from iPhones to sneakers, is a narrative of exploited Chinese workers with bleak lives.  Reporter Leslie T. Chang reveals that's a disrespectful narrative. She sought out workers in Chinese mega-cities to hear their stories.

Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. In Schwartz's estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.

The NPR TED Radio Hour on Newstalk 106-108 FM, this Sunday at 6pm.

Listen back to TED Radio Hour 'Misconceptions' here.