Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
School cellphone bans are spreading fast in recent years, but is this new initiative actually working? We look at what changes when phones leave from classrooms and why this policy may be here to stay.
As heat rises across Europe, many older buildings aren’t designed to stay cool. Here’s why the risk is growing and why AC alone isn’t the answer.
What if the best building practices go against the urban norm? This week, we look at how architects and developers are rethinking modern construction through natural materials, healthier spaces and designs that account for their long-term impact on both people and the environment.
We look at how the familiar formula of lawn, mulch, and seasonal color is being reconsidered by both home gardeners and growers. What’s replacing it is a more site-driven approach that prioritizes what can actually thrive in a space and what that land can give back to the surrounding ecosystem.
Microplastics are nearly impossible to avoid, but small shifts like skipping heated plastics and ultra-processed foods can help limit how much enters our bodies.
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.
experts Tom Parsons and Pietro Teatini break down what’s causing the ground to drop, why it’s happening faster in some places than others, and what can be done to slow or manage the damage before it’s too late.
Last summer, the ground erupted in sound. What caused this rare, deafening phenomenon — and how do cicadas know when it’s time to emerge after several years underground?
We discuss the growing issue of human-created space debris and what more needs to be done to curb this problem before it reaches catastrophic levels.
We talk about the plastic crisis and why it’s important to cut down on the plastic you use in your daily life.
Meredith May discusses the threat to bees with commercialized beekeeping and what we can do to protect these insects that are vital to our ecosystem.
The Amazon rainforest is in peril. After several decades of deforestation, the massive forest - home to millions of animal and insect species, trees and people - is now facing another critical challenge.
We speak with two experts to get the truth behind these traditionally scary creatures and hear why neither of them are nearly as scary as we think.
We talk about the plastic crisis and why it’s important to cut down on the plastic you use in your daily life.
We cover the ongoing food waste crisis in America and hear from one tech platform that’s helping to connect hungry people to food that would otherwise be tossed into a trash bin.
Experts discuss the shift towards recycling solar panels and what more needs to be done to make this energy source truly sustainable.
As people move past the pandemic, demographers wonder if certain migration trends will change. We discuss population trends and how they impact cities.
We talk about the importance of being involved in the death process of loved ones and learning about what burial options are available when that time comes.
While electric is seen as the future, for many Americans these newer cars are often out of reach because of the hefty price tag. We speak with two experts about this current market and what progress is being made to make EV’s more available to all.
Around the world, countries are seeing weather extremes from excess flooding to severe drought and higher than average heat. We speak with two climate experts about the correlation between climate change and these extreme weather events.
Public transportation took a big hit in ridership and profits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as more people are back and relying on these community systems once again, the future is unclear as many municipalities face record challenges.
Longtime fashion writer and industry expert Dana Thomas joins us to help us understand the labor and environmental crisis plaguing the fashion industry.
Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine life – approximately 800,000 species. But these vibrant, colorful landscapes are more than just a home for life; coral reefs are animals themselves.
Look a little closer and you’ll find many hidden gems throughout New York City. Tour guide and author Laurie Lewis joins Viewpoints to shed some light on the stories behind some of the city’s most famous buildings and parks.
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