Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
Today, there are close to 11 million vacant jobs in the U.S. – a record-breaking number. Why are more Americans not filling these positions? How is this affecting businesses? What will eventually happen if these jobs go unfilled? We explore these questions and more this week as we’re joined by hospitality entrepreneur, Ravindra Jayara, and senior labor …
Imagine working for hours on end outside in temperatures exceeding 90 or 100 degrees. On top of this, there’s little shade, minimal breaks and often not enough water. This is the reality for millions of laborers who work in agriculture, construction and other industries. Why aren’t there more legal guidelines protecting these essential workers?
Unions, which are organized labor groups, are prevalent across the U.S. You’ve probably heard of the term in the media or may know someone who’s part of a union. But, have you ever heard of a worker center? It operates in similar functions as unions; however, this resource is much more community-based and is more of a guiding advocate in responsive …
The 50 richest families in the world have a combined net worth of $1.2 trillion dollars. The Koch family, the second richest name on the list, is worth a staggering $100 billion dollars. For many families, it isn’t just about success and business growth, but the business of building wealth through loopholes like philanthropy and loose taxation laws.
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 …
Many women today still have little knowledge on financial planning and how to make their income work for them rather than the other way around. Executive and financial expert Jennifer Barrett joins us this week to shed some light on the importance of becoming financially autonomous and advocating for yourself in your career, relationships and beyond.
Each day, 10,000 Americans will hit retirement age. With millions of people growing older every day, the need for home health aides is set to expand by 47 percent between 2016 and 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So - what are the best senior care options out there? How much does it cost per year? What's it like working in home health aide …
The Panama Canal was one of the most treacherous builds in modern history. In the late 1800's, the French took on the project and failed. Then, the U.S. took over its construction with a new plan in 1904. The man-made waterway spanning 51 miles took more than a decade to complete and resulted in the deaths of thousands of workers. Why did so many thousands …
Why do Americans tend to sway away from foreign language films? We discuss some of the best of this genre in recent years and what’s on our radar right now.
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 …
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 …
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 …
Around 10 percent of nurses today are men. As aging Americans place a greater strain on the healthcare system, the nursing industry faces a growing shortage and is responding by finding new ways to recruit nurses early on. We dispel some of the myths around the profession and some of the new medical technology in the works aimed at improving efficiency and …
It’s estimated that worldwide there are currently between 20 and 40 million people who are exploited through forced labor, marriage and prostitution, according to the International Labor Organization. We take a look at the South Asian country of Nepal where as many as 20,000 girls each year fall victim to human trafficking. We discuss solutions and what more …
You want to eat healthily, but sometimes that’s not always possible. There’s nothing around that’s quick, affordable and above all, hits the spot. We cover how new models are creating a greater number of nutritious options and the challenges that comes with sustaining the profitability of these new systems.
Sarah Smarsh is a journalist and author who grew up poor on a farm in Kansas. She discusses life in rural America, how our culture treats people living in poverty, and the causes she attributes to America’s wage gap.
Corban Addison a law-trained author who uses his books to shine a light on human rights violations talks about the what he found around the world including here in America
Many people remain in bad situations because they are afraid to quit their job, but careful planning can ease the anxiety that often follows.
We’re joined by two experts who agree that closing the wage gap should be a priority, but who have very different takes on how that can be achieved
Often it’s young people and immigrants who are forced to work in the sex industry or in sweatshops, restaurants and hotels with little pay, horrible hours and horrible living conditions.
It’s campaign season, and we’re hearing from politicians about the wage gap between the top 1% of earners in this country and the rest of us. What is the gap? When did it begin to develop and why? And what can we do to narrow it? Our guests offer their opinions on the subject and some solutions.
Although unemployment is down across the nation, there are still pockets of workers who have been unemployed for years, with no hope of ever finding a good job. Our guest researched the sociological effects of long-term unemployment on out-of-work autoworkers in Michigan, and found out that the hurt, humiliation and family problems that unemployment brings …
Many people remain in bad situations because they are afraid to quit, but they shouldn’t. Our guest says that if you take the time to carefully plan just how and when you’ll walk out the door, it’s easier to deal with the anxiety, fear and depression that can follow such a big decision. We’ll hear about steps anyone can take – and those they shouldn’t – when …
