Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
Scientology – is it a religion, spiritual group, business organization? The group was created in the 1950’s and is headquartered in Los Angeles. There’s been much mixed media coverage about Scientology, but, still, most people know little about the claimed religion. We speak with a former member about her involvement and the people who commit their faith, …
When you think of a cult, what image pops into your head? Is it one of violence or extremism? Is it people in all white praying and worshipping a guru? We answer these questions and more this week on Viewpoints.
It’s a game of strategy, psychology and quick decision-making. Writer and now professional poker player Maria Konnikova joins Viewpoints’ to share how she was able to master the game and amass more than $300,000 in winnings in just three years.
We speak with a family trauma expert, Dr. Abigail Gewirtz, about dealing with these anxieties as an adult and how to have important conversations with your child or teen if you’re sensing that they’re more irritable, worried or anxious lately.
How can a simple police call lead to the killing of an unarmed and unresisting man? For weeks, protests and outrage have spread across the U.S. and internationally as the killing of Floyd brings racial inequality and police brutality into focus once again. Even in the midst of a pandemic, people are showing up to say they’re fed up with the lack of equal …
Reading the works of black authors is an important part to better understanding why racial inequities still plague our country. We offer up some recommendations to add to your reading list.
With the proposal of a new national security law in late May further tightening China's grip on the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong, the region is at a crucial tipping point.
Throughout history marijuana wasn’t just used in medicinal or recreational settings, but also part of religious ceremonies or used by warriors before wartime battle. We speak with pharmacology expert Dr. Richard Miller about the drugs global history and its prohibition in the U.S. over the last 70 years.
What exactly classifies a person as a genius? Are there biological differences between male and female geniuses? Viewpoints’ explores these questions and highlights a few overlooked female scientists throughout history.
Today, body-worn cameras are a mainstay in many police departments across the country. While the new technology increases transparency, is it leading to better relationships between the public and police? How are innovations in the field - including the incorporation of artificial intelligence - changing officers’ day-to-day duties?
Imagine being born into slavery in the South. You don’t have a dime to your name, received no education and all you know are the surrounding fields of the plantation you worked on. What would you do after the abolishment of slavery? How would you start over? Viewpoints speaks with historian and photographer, Richard Cahan, co-author of the new book River of …
It seems like lately political news has hit an all-time high with all of the continuous impeachment coverage and campaign trail updates, including the start of the Iowa caucuses this week. While it’s important to be an informed citizen, are you putting all of this knowledge to use? Is it leading to change? Could you do something better with your time? We …
More than 75 years ago, a diverse set of men and women making up the Office of Strategic Services were united together in their determination to win World War II. Some served as government spies or propagandists and others gathered terrain intelligence for army invasions. Whatever role they played, the OSS staff worked tirelessly for years and rose to the …
Humans have always practiced various forms of self-expression, whether it's through written word, music, art or some other outlet. The art of tattooing is one such form that dates back thousands of years. We speak with a history expert, author and professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Craig Koslofsky about some of the earliest tattoo …
The Harry Potter series is one of the most beloved stories of all time, unlocking a world of wizarding magic, adventure and intrigue to millions of young readers. We discuss how its unconventional storyline and character development can shift thinking and teach real life lessons to young and old readers alike.
While many schools have put in place comprehensive anti-bullying campaigns, we still seldom focus on ensuring that the child bullies get the help they need. We routinely punish troubled kids with harsh detentions, suspensions and from there it escalates onward. Because of this, many bullies seem to never get the proper support and get stuck in a perpetual …
Everyone needs some kind of creative outlet. For two practicing doctors, they’ve turned their respective interests into separate and successful side careers. Viewpoints’ speaks with each about the stressors of working in the medical field and how they de-compress and give back through their musical talents.
Being a teenager is tough these days – but being a parent to a teenager can be even be tougher sometimes. Over the last five years, two researchers, who are parents themselves, traveled across the world to observe several different animal species and their socialization out in the wild. The focus? To possibly better understand our own adolescence and …
It used to be that you’d tune into a basketball game or tennis match with whoever was in the room. Now, social media and the internet allow us to watch, analyze data and connect in real-time commentary with people from around the world.
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 …
Directed by Todd Phillips, the newest installment in the “Joker” franchise was released earlier this month to mixed reviews. We cover the evolution of the classic villain and how this movie portrays a different side of the character and society itself.
Viewpoints producer Annie Krall interviewed the founder of Samuel Adams, Jim Koch to learn about his Boston Beer Company’s mindset for the spiked seltzer TRULY. She also spoke with Anheuser Busch’s Vice President of their Beyond Beer portfolio to understand the marketing that goes into a spiked seltzer like Bon Viv. Natasha Swords, Editor in Chief of DrinkMe …
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 …
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