Fresh Air

Neuroscientist Dean Burnett explores the strange behaviors of the mind in his book 'Idiot Brain: What Your Head Is Really Up To.' He says the human brain is like a computer that files information in a way that defies logic and that brains can alter memory, cause motion sickness, and affect intelligence. Also, producer Ann Marie Baldonado talks to comic Ali Wong about her Netflix special 'Baby Cobra,' which she performed while 7.5 months pregnant.

McInerney discusses being fired from The New Yorker, Raymond Carver's writing advice, and his "second life" after his bestselling novel, 'Bright Lights, Big City.' His new novel is 'Bright, Precious Days.' Music historian Ed Ward shares the story of German New Wave in Düsseldorf.

Over the course of his career, actor Michael K. Williams says he's learned to separate himself from his characters (like Omar on 'The Wire'). He also co-starred in 'Boardwalk Empire,' and is now in HBO's 'The Night Of.' Critic at-large John Powers reviews a new dystopian novel. Also we hear from soul singer Sharon Jones. In 2013, she was forced to take a hiatus from her band The Dap-Kings, after she was diagnosed with cancer. The documentary 'Miss Sharon Jones!' follows her musical comeback.

British columnist Caitlin Moran talks about her book 'How to Be a Woman,' which is part memoir, part comic manifesto. Moran discusses her early understanding of feminism, and also abortion, waxing, and marriage. We also listen back to interviews with two people who died this week: Tim LaHaye, co-author of the apocalyptic 'Left Behind' novels, and Marni Nixon, who dubbed singing for actresses in the films 'The King and I,' 'West Side Story, and 'My Fair Lady.' Film critic David Edelstein reviews 'Jason Bourne.'

In 2013, the energetic lead singer for The Dap-Kings was forced to take a hiatus from the band after she was diagnosed with cancer. The documentary 'Miss Sharon Jones!' follows her musical comeback. Linguist Geoff Nunberg discusses Donald Trump's pledge to be the "law-and-order candidate."

As a reporter for The New York Times, Amy Chozick's beat is Hillary Clinton. But, Chozick says, it's hard to get to know a candidate who "has been so scarred" by her decades in the public eye.