The Rise of YouTube
YouTube was created by three friends in 2005 and, shortly after, was sold to Google in 2006 for 1.65 billion dollars. Since then, it’s become the largest video-sharing platform in the world.
The Styles That Persist Time & Fast-Fashion Trends
Fashion writer and author of The Ten, Lauren Cochrane joins us this week to highlight some of the most iconic clothes in fashion history and how these pieced shaped American style culture.
The Gift Economy
There’s more spots to find secondhand items apart from Goodwill or a local antique store. Next time you’re in the market for something specific, go online and search if your area has a Buy Nothing group.
Jumping Jobs in 2022
In 2021, more than 40 million Americans left their jobs. We analyze how the pandemic changed mindsets on work and discuss some strategies that people who are looking to switch jobs can use.
America’s Cultural Ties With Fast Food
We speak with Adam Chandler, journalist and author of Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom about the events that fed into the rapid rise of the fast-food industry and how different chains are fighting to stay present and on-trend in today’s competitive restaurant landscape.
A History of Fabric
When did quality-made clothes disappear, and the rise of new, cheaper fabrics take hold in the U.S.? Author Sofi Thanhauser joins us this week to shed some light on how the garment industry got to where it is today.
The Economic Squeeze of Inflation
Between January 2021 and January 2022, prices across the board went up by 7.5%. What’s next? Economics professor Dr. Christian Vom Lehn joins us to breakdown what’s fueling these continued price hikes and how the invasion of Ukraine by Russia may make certain goods and services pricier.
Spin, Sweat, Repeat: The Ever-Evolving Fitness Industry
It feels like the fitness market has more options than ever before. Between the rise of at-home fitness, traditional gyms and focused classes, consumers can pick and choose to workout whichever way they like. This week – we speak with two fitness experts about evolving trends in exercise and what’s next.
Culture Crash: Pivoting Back to Theatre Movie Releases
Many film lovers have gotten accustomed to watching new movies at home during the pandemic, but is it for the better? Film creators are pushing for a return back to theaters, but only time will tell what’s next.
Forever Fashion: The History of Timeless Trends
There are some items of clothing that truly never go out of style. Whether it’s a pair of jeans or a classic black dress, these pieces transform with the vibe and trends of each decade. Fashion writer and author of The Ten Lauren Cochrane joins us this week to highlight some of the most iconic clothes in fashion history.
A Better Way To Get Away
It seems like lately almost everyone is heading to the airport. Whether you’re flying, driving or taking a train, vacations are a highly anticipated time to get away from everyday life. Everyone deserves relaxation, but is there a way to make sure that you’re traveling more consciously? Are you booking excursions with local, independent companies? Supporting …
The Toll of Excess Clothes Production
The average clothing item today is worn anywhere from seven to ten times before it’s discarded on donated. Why is this number so low, and what happens once the garment leaves a person’s closet? Maxine Bedat, a prominent voice in sustainable fashion, joins us this week to shed some light on the clothing crisis and how its impacting workers and the …
The Environmental Effects of Staggering Palm Oil Production
In the U.S., most Americans commonly use vegetable or olive oil when cooking. While we don’t often here about palm oil, it’s in many of the products that we buy at the grocery store, including everything from food to personal care products. And abroad, palm oil is widely used in cooking and frying. Last year, global consumption reached 72 million tons. …
The Rise of Cryptocurrency
The cryptocurrency that started it all, Bitcoin, is now valued at around 1.6 trillion dollars. And in just the last month, another, newer form of crypto, Dogecoin has skyrocketed in popularity across the Internet, sharply driving up the price per token. We explore the fascinating and fast-evolving world of cryptocurrency and the future of traditional …
The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Conundrum
How often do you buy an item from the store that’s packaged in a plastic container or wrapped in plastic? Daily decisions like these add up and are feeding into the global plastic crisis. Scientists estimate that there’s anywhere between nine to 16 million tons of plastic on the sea floor, polluting the environment, harming species and releasing harmful …
A Newsfeed Overload
How often do you skim a headline and feel like that’s all you need to know? Or gather your daily news from a Twitter or Facebook feed? Economist & journalist Tim Harford joins Viewpoints this week to share the impacts of sensationalized or one-sided information and how we can all become more inquisitive consumers of content.
The Pandemic’s Push On E-Commerce
While many small, neighborhood stores are fighting to keep their doors open, e-commerce giants like Amazon are seeing staggering growth. In fact, 2020 was the most successful year-to-date for the company. The pandemic has forced millions to buy more items online or through curbside pick-up. So, how has this shift in shopping habits changed the retail game …
Holiday Shopping 2020: Do You Need To Buy It?
Compulsive buying disorder affects around five percent of Americans. With prime shopping season fully underway, the number of ads and limited-time deals can lead to several unneeded purchases. We speak with psychologist, Dr. Michael Vilensky about how retailers get you to keep buying and what to do if you feel like you’re shopping is getting to be a problem.
Dot Con: Pranking the Authors of Spam Emails
Author and comedian, James Veitch has made a name for himself by replying to these scams and continuing the conversation, effectively wasting the scammers time as much as they waste ours. We speak with him about his trade and the major telltale signs to look out for in a scam.
From Glossier To Warby Parker: Startups That Are Redefining the Retail Game (2020)
If you take a look at some of the newer brands that are shaking up retail – from Dollar Shave Club to Casper – all of these ideas are based off traditional products rather than new inventions. How are some of these innovative startups outperforming the big-name, traditional brands that have ruled the consumer market for decades?
The Annual Holiday Shopping Frenzy
Christmas is just a few days away. By now, most people have bought all of their presents and have tucked their worn-in credit cards away until the new year. Viewpoints’ speaks with Colin Morris, director of product management at Adobe Analytics, about some of the hottest items and shopping trends this year, as well as the estimated 143 billion dollars that …
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 …
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 …
The Boom of Fast-Food & It’s Deep-Rooted Ties to American Culture
Most of us point to McDonald’s as the founding of fast food as we know it. But the American staple actually began nearly a hundred years ago with two chains, White Castle and A&W. We speak with Adam Chandler, journalist and author of Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom about the events that fed into the rapid …
