Americans may not be convinced, but the U.S. economy is healthier than it has been for a long time.

Job growth in the past two years was the best since 1999. The economy added a robust 292,000 jobs in December. Average hourly wages were flat in December but were up 2.5% from the end of 2014. The Federal Reserve finally thinks the economy is strong enough to increase interest rates.

So what does all this mean for the Central Pennsylvania region's economy?

We'll find out from PNC Financial Services Economist Kurt Rankin on Thursday's Smart Talk.

In the summer of 2012, the Curiosityrover landed on Mars - 140 million miles from Earth. It doesn't get the kind of attention that the Apollo moon landings did, but it is not an exaggeration to say it was one of this nation's greatest scientific achievements.

At the helm of putting a vehicle on Mars was Adam Steltzner, who has written a new book The Right Kind of Crazy: A True Story of Teamwork, Leadership, and High Stakes Innovation.

Steltzner, who has a colorful background, appears on Thursday's Smart Talk.