Many Americans place a heavy emphasis on finding and arranging care for their loved ones. This can mean shifting to a nursing home, hiring in-home professional care or even becoming the caretakers themselves. And if people take on this role of caregiver, it can be easy to quickly lose sight of one's own personal health, wellness and relationships. We discuss the ups and downs of caregiving in a world that’s not always so straightforward and forgiving.
19-43 Segment 2: A Shift in Sweden: Similarities and Differences to the U.S.
International influence is pervasive in today’s interconnected, social media-driven world. Swedish author Elisabeth Åsbrink joins Viewpoints to discuss how her home country of Sweden has changed in recent years, and the perception of the country versus the reality of what’s happening within its borders.
Culture Crash 19-43: A Review of “Gemini Man”
Directed by Ang Lee and starring Will Smith, "Gemini Man" employs new filming technology aimed at immersing audiences deeper into a film. We discuss if the new release lived up to all the hype.
19-42 Segment 1: The Plight of the Strawberries
Strawberries are ubiquitous across the U.S. Supermarkets in every town stock cartons of fresh strawberries year round at a reasonable price. But this widespread availability may come to a halt in the near future as the industry faces several big challenges: labor shortages, climate change, sustainable farming legislation, etc. We discuss the history of the fickle fruit and how its evolved over time.
19-42 Segment 2: Disease Detecting Dogs
Did you know that dogs can smell up to 100,000 times better than the average person? Most of us are familiar with service or police dogs using their nose to sniff out a particular scent, but researchers have been recently harnessing the power of a dogs nose to find malaria, diabetes and even some of the hardest-to-detect cancers.
Culture Crash 19-42: Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker”
Directed by Todd Phillips, the newest installment in the “Joker” franchise was released earlier this month to mixed reviews. We cover the evolution of the classic villain and how this movie portrays a different side of the character and society itself.
19-41 Segment 1: Discovering Death: A Mortician’s Guide To Life
What happens if you pass away on an airplane or in outer space? Why do bugs only eat certain parts of your body? These are some of the questions Caitlin Doughty answers everyday and in her new book "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?" Viewpoints spoke with Doughty about why discussing death is still such a taboo topic in the U.S. and how our burial and funeral practices vary widely from other cultures.
19-41 Segment 2: Disposable Fashion No More: Is The Industry Really Changing?
The retail giant, Forever 21 was once a prominent leader in the trendy style category for teens and young adults, boasting the latest fashions at bare bone prices. But earlier this month, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy citing decreased sales and increased online competition. For many industry analysts and experts, the recent news has also signaled a shift in consumer shopping habits and the potential decline of fast fashion. We speak with journalist and author Dana Thomas about the fast fashion industry, its negative effects and if consumers are really starting to change the way they shop.
Culture Crash 19-41: Taking A Look At The Flurry Of Oscar Contenders
Awards season is quickly approaching as we countdown the last few months of 2019. We discuss this year’s biggest blockbusters, new releases and what movies have high hopes for an Oscar win.
19-40 Segment 1: The Summer of Spiked Seltzer
If you were at a beach or barbecue this summer, there was probably a box of White Claw, Truly or Bon & Viv spiked seltzers somewhere in the vicinity. These canned, around 100-calorie alcoholic beverages have been the hottest drink craze of 2019 and beverage industry experts predict that the hype isn’t going to end anytime soon. Viewpoints spoke with Jim Koch, the founder of Samuel Adams and Boston Beer Company (which produces Truly Spiked Seltzer), along with two other industry experts to get the inside scoop on why hard seltzers are just so popular among all types of consumers.
19-40 Segment 2: Raising A Reader: The Importance of Books in Today’s Digital Age
These days physical books have a lot of competition. From TV to smartphone use, it can be hard to switch it all off and dive into a new book. That’s why it’s so important to start a routine of reading and storytime from the get-go with your child. We discuss how children’s books have changed over the years and how to go about finding the best books for each age and interest.
Culture Crash 19-40: The New Space Drama “Ad Astra”
We discuss the new movie “Ad Astra” starring Brad Pitt as an interstellar astronaut, and why it’s more than your typical ‘on a mission to save the world’ space drama
Inside Look: The Summer of Spiked Seltzer
Viewpoints producer Annie Krall interviewed the founder of Samuel Adams, Jim Koch to learn about his Boston Beer Company’s mindset for the spiked seltzer TRULY. She also spoke with Anheuser Busch’s Vice President of their Beyond Beer portfolio to understand the marketing that goes into a spiked seltzer like Bon Viv. Natasha Swords, Editor in Chief of DrinkMe Magazine and Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Journal also weighed in on why the spiked seltzer craze is here to stay.