To the Point
Are "Smart Drugs" the Magic Pill to Getting a Workplace Edge?
College students, programmers, musicians, all sorts of people looking for an edge are finding it in a flood of new over and under the counter drugs that promise to make them faster, sharper, and more alert. We look at the rise of Modafinil and other "smart drugs."
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenCollege students, programmers, musicians, all sorts of people looking for an edge are finding it in a flood of new over and under the counter drugs that promise to make them faster, sharper, and more alert. Guest host Barbara Bogaev looks at the rise of Modafinil and other "smart drugs."
Also, the strained US-Saudi relationship is highlighted in King Salman's visit. On today's Talking Point, the new documentary Meru captures the story of three champion climbers who just couldn't give up a dream to scale one of the most treacherous peaks in the world. We talk with the climber who carried the cameras.
Photo: Geoff Greer
In this episode
3 storiesStrained US-Saudi Relationship Highlighted in King's Visit
Saudi Arabia's King Salman is in Washington today to finalize a $1 billion arms deal with the US and lobby for more support to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East.
Read the story7 minSmart Drugs: The Quest for Getting an Edge
Let's face it, who doesn't want to be sharper, more alert, and able to ace anything you want to do without having to get much sleep? Now, in addition to Ritalin and Adderall, there's a new crop of over-the-counter drugs aimed at enhancing brain function, including Provigil and Modafinil.
Read the story32 minClimbing, Filming and Fear in 'Meru'
If at once you don't succeed summiting a mountain and it nearly kills you, should you try, try, try again? In 2008, three mountain climbers set out to be the first team to scale Meru, a 21,000 foot mountain in the Himalayas. Along with 200 pounds of gear, Conrad Anker, Renan Ozturk and Jimmy Chin brought cameras to document the climb.
Read the story11 min
