Viewpoints Radio
Sit down with Viewpoints each week as we report on social issues, the environment, history, food – you name it. What’s it like to give birth in prison? Could the plague resurface with climate change? How has politics been permanently reshaped by the Trump era? Candid stories on topics you should know, plus Culture Crash – a three-minute recap on a timely topic in media to keep you up-to-date on all things music, TV and film. Hosted by Marty Peterson, Gary Price, Ebony McMorris, Evan Rook and produced by Amirah Zaveri. New shows posted each Sunday by 5 a.m. EST. Subscribe and listen, and find out more info at viewpointsradio.org. Also, follow us on X & Instagram @ViewpointsRadio.
1326
How One Couple Confronted a Mental Health Crisis
One morning without warning, Giulia Lukach experienced a psychotic break. We talk to her husband Mark about Gulia’s journey, his own experience as a caregiver, and how they overcame three stints in a psych ward.
12 min
1327
The Use of Polygraph Machines
We have all heard of polygraph machines or ‘lie detectors.’ But are they truly reliable? Their results are inadmissible in court and yet some investigation agencies still use them. We talk to historian and author John Philipp Baesler about the...
10 min
1328
Culture Crash: The Joys of 'Junk Food TV' (2018)
While we often celebrate the prestigious TV shows that win awards, we rarely reflect on our appreciation for ‘junk food TV,’ the purely entertaining shows that can help get us through our weeks.
2 min
1329
Racial Segregation in ‘Sundown Towns’
James W. Loewen explains ‘sundown towns,’ towns where minorities were not welcomed after sun down, and he says some of them are still unofficially ‘sundown’ due to their lasting reputations.
9 min
1330
Orbiting the Moon: The Mission of Apollo 8
Though Apollo 11 gets all the fame and Apollo 13 was made into a thrilling Ron Howard movie, author and historian Jeffrey Kluger says the Apollo 8 mission was a foundational trip for American space exploration. He takes us through the mission and...
14 min
1331
Culture Crash: The Academy’s ‘Best Popular Film...
In a wild moment, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced its intention to honor popular films at the Oscars. We explore why that’s a really bad idea.
2 min
1332
Seeking the Origins of Creativity
We grow up with visions of creative genius: the divine power to create stories from whole cloth and write symphonic masterpieces. But is that how it really works? We look at the creative process, and why it may not be as romantic as some of us imagine.
9 min
1333
Modern American Immigration
When people discuss “the immigrant narrative,” you may picture Ellis Island. But what is that process like today? We talk to two writers about the more modern immigrant journey.
9 min
1334
Culture Crash: Blindspotting
One of this year’s gems at the cinema is in theaters now. It’s called Blindspotting, and it explores racial dynamics and gentrification in American cities.
2 min
1335
Overcoming The Fear of Speaking in Public
We’ve all been in the position at some time in another where we have to give a presentation at school or at work, and often times, it can make us incredibly nervous. We discuss this fear and tips for overcoming it and delivering the best speech...
9 min
1336
Maximizing Your Charity Donation’s Impact
Everyone has different causes that are close to their hearts. We talk to a philanthropy specialist about how we can donate to those causes and ensure that our contribution makes the biggest impact possible.
9 min
1337
Culture Crash: TV Episode Bloat
Streaming networks have opened up the length an episode of television can run. Gone are the days when writers needed to accommodate advertisements. But episodes that run long often present a new slate of problems – namely, staying interesting.
3 min
1338
Racial Diversity in Opera
Opera is a beloved art form, but its racial history is as flawed as the rest of our culture. We talk to Naomi Andre, a professor at the University of Michigan, about the history of race in opera and how this traditional art form is hopefully getting...
10 min
1339
The Shocking Truth Of Who We Really Are
Have you ever lied on a survey or a social media post? Stephens-Davidowitz says that almost all of us do. He researched the data of big websites like Google and Facebook to discover that what people say or post about themselves often seems...
7 min
1340
Culture Crash: The Life of Funnyman Robin Williams
A new documentary from HBO, Come Inside My Mind, explores the life of actor Robin Williams as told by his friends and family. The documentary is cleverly narrated by the actor himself using audio from earlier interviews.
1 min
1341
The Power of Picture Books
Picture books can teach children valuable lessons that will stick with them for life. Our guests discuss the importance of producing books about social issues like race, gender, and disability. And how as a combination of text and images picture books...
13 min
1342
Serious Play: Using tactical performance as pro...
We all love a good theater performance. But are theater and performance good strategies to affect social change? Our guest thinks so. He’s a performer, writer and educator who uses serious play and theater to help change people’s minds and change...
10 min
1343
Culture Crash: Bo Burnham’s Brilliant New Film,...
Bo Burnham has followed in the footsteps of Jordan Peele and Greta Gerwig, transforming from a performer to the director of a terrific debut film. His movie, Eighth Grade is out now.
2 min
1344
Learning How To Identify and De-bunk Actual Fak...
Fake news’ has remained a headline mainstay for years now…but politicians seem to be skewing its meaning. We talk to two teachers about what is and isn’t fake news, and how they’re teaching students (and their parents!) how to see through the...
9 min
1345
The Italian Mothers Who Stood Up To The Mafia
Most of us have heard of the Cosa Nostra, but there’s another powerful mafia in Italy: the ‘Ndrangheta. We talk to an expert about this lesser-known mafia and the brave mothers who stood up to the crime organization.
9 min
1346
Culture Crash: The Dark Knight 10 Years Later
Christopher Nolan’s landmark superhero epic, The Dark Knight was released a decade ago this week, but its effects on our culture are still being felt.
4 min
1347
Breaking Down the Pesky English Language
We all know the rule: “I before E, except after C,” but it’s not applicable in “weird” or “science” or many other words. The English language has many exceptions to its rules, and these irregularities make it a difficult language to...
8 min
1348
Appreciating the Introvert
When you’re at a party, you may notice how people are always drawn to the extroverts. But what about the introverts? We talk to experts about the qualities that make more introverted people great, too.
8 min
1349
Culture Crash: What to do when you don’t really...
It’s a dilemma many of us face from time to time: Should you keep reading a book even if you don’t like it very much, or should you set it down?
2 min
1350
Catholicism and the LGBT Community: One Priest’...
The LGBT community has often felt ostracized by various religious groups, specifically the Catholic Church. In 2013, Pope Francis made headlines by saying he wouldn’t judge homosexuals, which started a new process of reconciling the Catholic Church...
9 min