Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
Extreme forest fires in California; increased flooding throughout the Midwest; rising sea levels threatening much of the coastal United States. Viewpoints speaks with author Avanti Centrae and ecologist Alejandro Frid about some of these extreme weather patterns and how people across the world are changing the way they live in order to adapt to this new …
We delve into two great true crime miniseries, “When They See Us” and “Unbelievable” that are now streaming on Netflix. The two shows take a deeper look into past crimes to uncover how the justice system failed the people behind these stories.
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.
What would it be like to photograph a sitting president? Viewpoints Radio speaks with Lawrence Jackson who was an official White House photographer during the eight-year Obama administration. Through his unique position, he intimately witnessed every angle of the presidency from the historic to the chaotic.
Have you ever wondered how to create the color purple using only natural pigments? Or why, amongst completely different languages, the third color term that’s identified after black and white is always red? Viewpoints’ speaks with two color experts about the theorized meanings behind certain hues and their natural origins.
It’s almost 2020. While many more Americans have grown to be increasingly eco-conscious, some things still remain the same. It seems like almost everyday a smoker can be seen stomping on a cigarette on the pavement or chucking a lighted butt out their car window. Did you know that more than one-third of all collected litter is cigarette butts? We speak with …
It’s been almost 75 years since the end of World War II. With Veterans Day around the corner on Monday, November 11, we uncover some of the photographs taken from 1945, the final year of the conflict. These images show the sheer destruction caused by a war that lasted six years and cost millions and millions of lives. What was it like to be a U.S. Army …
International influence is pervasive in today’s interconnected, social media-driven world. Swedish author Elisabeth Åsbrink joins Viewpoints to discuss how her home country of Sweden has changed in recent years, and the perception of the country versus the reality of what’s happening within its borders.
Many Americans place a heavy emphasis on finding and arranging care for their loved ones. This can mean shifting to a nursing home, hiring in-home professional care or even becoming the caretakers themselves. And if people take on this role of caregiver, it can be easy to quickly lose sight of one's own personal health, wellness and relationships. We discuss …
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 …
In the U.S., most women are always hoping to achieve a healthy glow or bronzed tan. But in much of the world and in many ethnic cultures, having lighter skin is widely preferred and is viewed as a status symbol of beauty and wealth. To achieve this look, millions of women use black-market whitening creams, pills and even IV drips filled with a myriad of …
The Netflix original Mindhunter is finally back for season two, and to celebrate its return we talk about what sets this true crime and thriller series apart from all of the others.
Diversity in reporting is vital to news that showcases differing perspectives. We speak with Zahra Hankir, journalist and author of the new book, Our Women on the Ground, to learn more about some of the courageous female journalists who’ve risked their lives to report from within the Middle East during tumultuous periods. These women defy terrorists, the …
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 …
What exactly is implicit bias and how does it form? We breakdown this complicated issue and discuss why it’s so important for parents to address implicit bias with kids early on through candid conversations and exposure to diverse environments.
In an ideal situation, a taser – an electrical weapon – allow law enforcement to subdue a subject without having to pull out their gun. But why do tasers sometimes fail? We discuss possible factors at play when a taser is deployed and new technology in development at Axon Enterprise, the main supplier of tasers and body cameras to law enforcement.
Cookie cutter houses, large backyards and shopping centers took hold during the rapid rise of suburbia during the second half of the 20th century. Now, towns across the U.S. are facing a new set of challenges from climate change to shifting demographics that require a different landscape than what was first constructed. We speak with two experts about the …
Viewpoints Radio intern Annie Krall speaks to Jared Yates Sexton about toxic Masculinity.
Viewpoints producer, Annie Krall, speaks with student Mev Becoja, who's aid was cut during for her junior and senior years of college.
Student loan debt is set to skyrocket to two trillion dollars by 2022. We talk to students about their differing perspectives on financial aid and debt. We also speak with Mike Bartini, the director of student aid at Bowdoin College, about how important it is that students and families take time to focus on the financials of higher education before …
Author Jared Yates Sexton shares memories from his own turbulent childhood and accounts as a journalist and connects it to the larger discussion around the phenomenon of toxic masculinity in the U.S. What exactly is toxic masculinity and how is it affecting men and youth?
The rise and fall of the now defunct blood-testing company Theranos has captivated the attention of millions and exposed the dark side of the startup culture in Silicon Valley. Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos, is awaiting trial next summer, facing 11 felony charges for allegedly defrauding the public. We speak with Stanford professor Dr. …
Canada’s Oak Island has mystified explorers for hundred of years, drawing many to its shores with the hope of finding buried pirate’s treasure under its oak trees. We speak with Randall Sullivan, the author of The Curse of Oak Island: The Story of the World’s Longest Treasure Hunt to learn more the area’s historical significance and this never-ending quest.
Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11 written by Mitchell Zuckoff shares numerous accounts from September 11, 2001. We highlight a few of the stories from the book and talk about modern implications today, including the political upheaval over medical and victim compensation funding for those affected.
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