We like to believe that intelligence protects us from bad decisions.
But what if it actually blinds us to them?
In this episode of Smidgen of Proof, Christopher Donaleski explores how smart, capable people can still make costly choices—not because they lack information, but because their reasoning outpaces reality.
From the Challenger disaster to the Titan sub implosion, we examine two high-profile decisions where confidence crowded out caution, and why the real danger isn’t ignorance, but unchecked logic.
Here’s what we cover:
Why intelligence doesn’t prevent bad decisions—it can mask them
How logical thinking can still lead you in the wrong direction
The hidden cost of systems with no friction or feedback
How to slow down decisions that feel automatic and bring context back into focus
This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered how a smart choice still went sideways, and what you can do to prevent it from happening again.
