Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
Marty became co-host of Viewpoints in 2008 and brings a unique background to the program. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA…
Co-Host
For generations, the starter home was the first real step into the American dream. Now, with prices climbing, inventory shrinking and builders incentivized to go bigger, we look at how that first rung of homeownership has moved out of reach for many first-time buyers.
The world of youth sports can be incredibly taxing. Strenuous practices, hefty investments and increasingly selective teams can add up to parents pushing their kids to the brink. We speak with Rich Cohen, a longtime hockey dad, about the modern pressures of competitive sports and why some parents seem to end up caring more about winning than their child does.
Driverless cars are no longer a futuristic experiment but are already picking up passengers in cities across the country. We look at how the fast expanding rideshare company Waymo works| why some people trust it more than human drivers and the questions that remain as autonomous vehicles become part of everyday life.
Political comedy used to feel like a shared national pressure valve, but it feels far more fractured now. This story looks at how satire is changing in Trump’s second term and why the freedom to mock people in power still matters beyond the punchline.
Words like “rizz” and “unalive” may sound like internet throwaways, but they demonstrate how quickly social media is reshaping language. We’re joined by linguist Adam Aleksic who breaks down how slang spreads online, why emojis still matter and how algorithms are changing the way we communicate.
As extreme heat intensifies, outdoor and factory workers are facing risks their jobs were never built to handle. With protections still varying by state, advocates are pushing for updated national standards on shade, water, rest and retaliation-free reporting.
Concert tickets have skyrocketed in recent years, with Live Nation and Ticketmaster facing growing scrutiny over their control of the live music business. We look at the recent antitrust verdict against the companies and what it could mean for artists, independent venues and millions of fans across the U.S.
Protein has become the dominant signal of “healthy” today with everyone seemingly focused on how to increase their daily protein intake. However, experts say most Americans are already getting enough through a balanced and diverse diet. We delve into the massive shift towards protein-everything and how marketing is reshaping what we think we need.
We look at the debate over whether the Moon or Mars is the more practical place for a first settlement, and the tradeoffs each present. In part two of this story, we focus turns to what long-term living would realistically entail and how humans would need to adapt.
In part 1 of this two-part story - we look at what daily life off Earth would require, from managing waste and hygiene to coping with confinement and constant exposure to risk. The science makes clear that reaching space is one hurdle while staying there safely is another entirely.
We speak with Dorothy Roberts, an acclaimed law & sociology professor, about uncovering her father’s research on interracial marriage and the journey of realizing her own family and upbringing were part of this larger project. What starts as a personal discovery opens into a deeper look at race, identity and why relationships alone can’t undo deep-rooted discrimination.
Cancer is starting to show up in ways doctors didn’t expect - earlier, and often without clear warning signs. Through seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller’s experience, this story underscores how rising cancer rates are forcing tighter guidelines on screening and the importance of not delaying routine checkups and yearly scans.
We follow pilot and author Caroline Paul into an open cockpit aircraft where there’s little barrier between you and the sky, and where flight turns away from routine and headaches and more into adventure.
Some of the most clinical terms in mental health are now part of everyday speech used in texts, arguments and self-diagnosis. We look at how this cultural shift is changing the way people interpret behavior, label others and understand themselves - and why these medical terms may lead to more confusion and conflict.
We look at why thousands of dams are coming down across the U.S. and what changes happen once a river is no longer held back. In places like the Klamath River, the shift is already visible, offering a clearer picture of what restoration can look like and lead to.
For decades, the plan was simple: work nonstop until your mid-60’s and then finally retire. But a growing number of younger workers are pressing pause much earlier, taking intentional breaks from their careers to travel, learn or reset.
From coyotes trotting through Chicago neighborhoods to bats pouring out from under Austin bridges, wildlife is showing up in places many Americans never expected. We explore why animals are thriving in urban environments and how cities are slowly turning back into ecosystems where humans are just one of many residents.
Raising kids in two homes isn’t just about splitting weekends. It’s about keeping communication steady and conflict low. We look at how separated parents can create real stability for their children, even when there’s a lot of uncertainty and the family dynamic have permanently shifted.
We cover why the classic after-school job is steadily disappearing, as automation, economic pressure and increased competition edge teens out of the workforce. Experts explain what’s driving the shift and why it matters beyond just a summer paycheck.
Helping an adult child can feel like love in action until it quietly turns into dependence. We speak with financial psychologist Blad Klontz to understand how financial support - even when rooted in good intentions - can blur boundaries, strain relationships and create a long-term cycle that’s harder to break than most parents expect.
When life feels overwhelming, wellness offers answers, or at least something to buy. We look at how self-care turned into a multi-trillion-dollar industry, and why the promise of feeling better so often comes wrapped in marketing.
Many people don’t leave jobs they love but leave managers they can’t work for anymore. We examine how toxic leadership styles quietly drive burnout, erode confidence and push workers toward the exit even when they may love everything else about their position.
As more people rethink their environmental footprint, new end-of-life options like green burials are gaining attention. We look at how these alternatives work and why more families are choosing them over traditional burial or cremation.
Kids today are absorbing far more than many adults realize - often before anyone has explained what it all means. We look at how parents can meet these moments with clarity, honesty, and care, even when the right words don’t come easily.
Subscribe to get the latest from Viewpoints Radio directly in your inbox.
