Working In Childcare: The Heavy Cost of Raising Someone Else’s Kids
We speak with two experts about the growing early childcare gap in the U.S. and why bettering the sector starts with valuing these workers more.
Barely Surviving: Making a Living as a Garment Worker
Longtime fashion writer and industry expert Dana Thomas joins us to help us understand the labor and environmental crisis plaguing the fashion industry.
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.
The Post-Pandemic Push to Unionize
Across the board, in various sectors, there seems to be a continuous stream of personnel calling a strike or moving to unionize. What’s behind this big labor movement? What defines a union? We answer these questions and more this week on Viewpoints.
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.
Get Your $$$ In Order
If an unexpected $400 charge came up, it’s estimated that 40% of Americans would struggle to pay this amount, according to data published in 2019 by the Federal Reserve. Life happens. Circumstances change. And that’s why it is so important to be financially secure with savings, an emergency fund, investments and more. We speak with financial expert, Emily …
Our Resilient Food System & Supply Chain
20 million people work within the food production industry in the U.S. The pandemic has altered this sector and resulted in many pressures placed on this population. This week – we highlight the people behind these various roles and the changing landscape of this 24/7 food supply chain.
Finding Employment After Incarceration
In the U.S., there are roughly 19 million people with felony convictions. For this population, finding stable work can be a tumultuous and draining process. Without a job, it can be all too easy to slide back into a past life and end up behind bars once again.
‘The Great Resignation’ as Labor Shortages Continue
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 …
Working in Intensifying Heat
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?
Fair Labor: The Importance of Worker Centers
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 Top One Percent & The Accrual of Billions in Wealth
The 50 richest families in the world have a combined net worth of $1.2 trillion. The Koch family, the second richest name on the list, is worth a staggering $100 billion. 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 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 …
Why Aren’t More Women Financially Independent?
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.
The Modern Diamond Business
The northwestern coast of South Africa & Namibia has been a mining hub for diamonds since the 1900’s. Local workers labor through long shifts and hazardous working conditions in order to feed their families. The pay? Roughly five cents per carat of rough diamonds found. While some may argue that the industry stimulates the local economy, once a company …
Aging In America: The Senior Care Industry
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 …
Panama Canal: An Engineering Mammoth & Its Implications On Workers
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 die? What challenges did engineers and laborers face? We answer these questions and more.
Culture Crash: The World of Foreign Language Films
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.
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 …
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 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 …
One Scrub Does Not Fit All: Male Nurses & The Future of the Profession
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 …
The Role of Non-Profits in Ending Human Trafficking
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 …
