Viewpoints

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.

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Episodes

• Viewpoints Explained: The Quiet Shift Happening Before Weddings This Summer

  Wednesday, June 11, 2025

  3 minutes

  Weddings come with a long checklist—venue, catering, flowers, music and so on. But an increasing number of couples are adding something unexpected to this list. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-the-quiet-shift-happening-before-weddings-this-summer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Culture Crash: Death Rides Again In “Final Destination: Bloodlines”

  Wednesday, June 11, 2025

  3 minutes

  It’s not your typical horror franchise—and that’s exactly the point. Final Destination is back yet again, and this time has more elaborate deaths, unexpected nostalgia and a familiar question: can anyone really cheat death? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-death-rides-again-in-final-destination-bloodlines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Erased: The Untold Story Of Native Children In U.S. Boarding Schools

  Sunday, June 8, 2025

  9 minutes

  For several decades, Native families passed down quiet, painful stories about children taken, languages lost and lives upended. Journalist and citizen of the Red Cliff Ojibwe Tribe Mary Annette Pember heard them too, but it wasn’t until she went digging through church archives that these and countless other stories were brought to the surface. This week, we trace the dark hidden history of Native American boarding schools in a post-Civil War America. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/erased-the-untold-story-of-native-children-in-u-s-boarding-schools Learn more about your ad choices....

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• The Surprising Science Of What We Regret Most

  Sunday, June 8, 2025

  11 minutes

  Ever wish that you could turn back time and choose differently? Everyone’s been there at one point or another. Regret is an all-too-common feeling that’s part of life| but it’s what we learn from our mistakes that matters. Writer Daniel Pink joins us this week to break down the intricacies of this emotion and what so many people get wrong about regret. https://viewpointsradio.org/the-surprising-science-of-what-we-regret-most Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Culture Crash: Bon Iver Breaks The Pattern In His Newest Album

  Wednesday, June 4, 2025

  4 minutes

  Bon Iver has made heartbreak an art form — but his latest album flips the script in a way that listeners aren’t expecting. We cover how we feel about this newest drop titled, “Sable, Fable”. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-bon-iver-breaks-the-pattern-in-his-newest-album Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Viewpoints Explained: The Secret Timing Of Cicadas

  Wednesday, June 4, 2025

  3 minutes

  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? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-the-secret-timing-of-cicadas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• When Therapy Isn’t Enough: How Life Coaches Help You Rewrite The Playbook

  Sunday, June 1, 2025

  10 minutes

  Burnout, anxiety, and identity crises—sometimes therapy alone isn’t enough. This episode explores the transformative role of life coaching through the lens of Mason Farmani, a high-powered executive who realized success wasn’t the same as fulfillment. We break down makes life coaching different, what to look for in a credible coach, and why self-awareness—not job titles—is the real foundation of a meaningful life. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/when-therapy-isnt-enough-how-life-coaches-help-you-rewrite-the-playbook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• When The Sentence Ends, The Struggle Begins

  Sunday, June 1, 2025

  10 minutes

  For tens of millions of former prisoners, freedom comes with a steep price — social stigma, debt, and systemic barriers to employment. We dive into the challenges this population faces when reentering society, and how a new wave of “second chance” hiring is creating meaningful change in the workforce. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/when-the-sentence-ends-the-struggle-begins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• One on One: Author Hayley Campbell delves into all things death.

  Friday, May 30, 2025

  22 minutes

  In this podcast-exclusive episode, you'll hear the original interview audio between Viewpoints Radio producer Polly Hansen and BBC correspondent and author of "All the Living and the Dead" Hayley Campbell. The two have a conversation about the nuances of working within the death industry and all of the invisible roles within this field that people aren't as familiar with. They also talk about how death is viewed in the U.S. and why - unlike other cultures - people tend to distance themselves from the post-mortem body. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Viewpoints Explained: Alcatraz: Prison, Museum… Or Political Symbol?

  Wednesday, May 28, 2025

  3 minutes

  Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump called for the reopening of Alcatraz as a federal prison. But what would that take? We explore the history, cost, legal hurdles, and political undertones behind the proposal—and why the idea may not be as straightforward as it sounds. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-alcatraz-prison-museum-or-political-symbo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Culture Crash: Ryan Coogler’s “SINNERS” & The Rise Of The Original Blockbuster

  Wednesday, May 28, 2025

  4 minutes

  With Sinners, Ryan Coogler moves beyond franchises to deliver a bold, original film that’s part musical, part horror, and entirely unforgettable. We look at how this ambitious story set in 1930s Mississippi is winning over critics and audiences alike. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-ryan-cooglers-sinners-the-rise-of-the-original-blockbuster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Headline Stress Disorder Is Real – Are You Stuck In The Doom Loop?

  Sunday, May 25, 2025

  11 minutes

  We’re more connected to the news than ever—but at what cost? We explore how the modern media environment is reshaping our mental space, and what happens when it becomes harder to look away than to stay informed. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/headline-stress-disorder-is-real-are-you-stuck-in-the-doom-loop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Seventeen Years, One Dream: Turning Passion Into Action – At Any Age

  Sunday, May 25, 2025

  9 minutes

  After decades in broadcasting, Gerald McBride wasn’t looking for a new career, but he was interested in following a new passion. We explore his journey as a first-time filmmaker and what his path says about creative evolution at any age. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/seventeen-years-one-dream-turning-passion-into-action-at-any-age Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Viewpoints Explained: What Tariffs Are Quietly Triggering Across America

  Wednesday, May 21, 2025

  3 minutes

  As steep tariffs on imports take effect, people are responding with full carts and growing concern. But this act isn’t a luxury everyone can afford. We cover the ripple effects of incoming tariffs. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-what-tariffs-are-quietly-triggering-across-america Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Culture Crash: Why It’s Time To Rethink How You Read

  Wednesday, May 21, 2025

  4 minutes

  Audiobooks aren’t new—but they’re more accessible than ever before. Many selections are also free through certain platforms. We cover the world of audiobooks on this week’s Culture Crash. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-why-its-time-to-rethink-how-you-read Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Outsmarting The System: Standing Out In Today’s Tough Job Market

  Sunday, May 18, 2025

  9 minutes

  If landing a job today feels harder than it should, you’re not imagining it. In this segment, we speak with longtime career consultant Sheila Nielsen to explore the invisible barriers in today’s hiring landscape and the strategy that can get you in the door and at the interview table. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/outsmarting-the-system-standing-out-in-todays-tough-job-market Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Misinformation Nation: Conspiracy Theories In The Digital Age

  Sunday, May 18, 2025

  10 minutes

  Conspiracy theories have been around for hundreds of years. From secret projects to secret government societies, these theories are prevalent across society. We speak with two conspiracy experts about how these stories arise, why they’re so pervasive online and how artificial intelligence can make these narratives more difficult to detect. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/misinformation-nation-conspiracy-theories-in-the-digital-age Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Viewpoints Explained: Inside The Struggles Of Walgreens, Cvs, And The Modern Drugstore

  Wednesday, May 14, 2025

  3 minutes

  Major pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS are closing stores and slashing costs—but it’s more than a financial story. As competition rises and consumer habits shift, what’s at stake for patients who rely on these physical locations? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-inside-the-struggles-of-walgreens-cvs-and-the-modern-drugstore Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Culture Crash: Why Everyone Should Watch “CONCLAVE”

  Wednesday, May 14, 2025

  3 minutes

  With the passing of Pope Francis last month, viewership of the recent film, “Conclave” has spiked. We offer our review of the blockbuster movie and its depiction of the real-life conclave held in Vatican City. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-why-everyone-should-watch-conclave Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Separating Fact From Fiction: The Truth About Autism

  Sunday, May 11, 2025

  12 minutes

  Misinformation about autism isn’t new—but it’s gaining traction in dangerous ways. This week, we confront the myths head-on, exploring what autism really is (and what it isn’t) and why political language and policy matter. Experts Kristyn Roth and Dr. Emily Hotez share what the latest science tells us. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/separating-fact-from-fiction-the-truth-about-autism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• A Life In Chess: Susan Polgar’s Groundbreaking Journey

  Sunday, May 11, 2025

  8 minutes

  She was told girls couldn’t compete. Then she changed the game. From backroom chess clubs in Budapest to the world’s biggest stages, Grandmaster Susan Polgar’s rose through ridicule to become the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title on equal terms. Now, she’s passing the torch to a new wave of champions. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/a-life-in-chess-susan-polgars-groundbreaking-journey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Culture Crash: Why “Black Mirror” Is Unlike Anything Else On TV

  Wednesday, May 7, 2025

  3 minutes

  With the newest season of “Black Mirror” now out on Netflix, we look back on some of our favorite episodes from past seasons and why the show is a modern masterpiece, exposing the often-unsettling relationship between humanity and technology. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-why-black-mirror-is-unlike-anything-else-on-tv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Viewpoints Explained: Inside The Conclave: The Hidden Rules Of Electing A Pope

  Wednesday, May 7, 2025

  4 minutes

  As the world waits for the election of a new pope, few understand the ancient, secretive ritual behind it. From handwritten ballots to color-coded smoke, the conclave operates under centuries of storied tradition. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-inside-the-conclave-the-hidden-rules-of-electing-a-pope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Polyester Trap: How Fashion Became Disposable

  Sunday, May 4, 2025

  8 minutes

  Our closets are overflowing, but real clothing—the kind built to last—has almost disappeared. Author and fashion expert Sofi Thanhauser unravels how the industry traded craftsmanship and quality for maximum profits. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/the-polyester-trap-how-fashion-became-disposable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• What Happened To Marriage?

  Sunday, May 4, 2025

  12 minutes

  Today, almost 40 percent of American adults aged 25 to 54 are unpartnered—a major shift from just a generation ago, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. As marriage rates fall, researchers are exploring how economic independence, shifting cultural values and a rethinking of adulthood itself are reshaping what commitment looks like. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/what-happened-to-marriage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Podcast Exclusive: A Conversation with Death Penalty Expert Gianna Toboni

  Friday, May 2, 2025

  24 minutes

  Viewpoints producer Polly Hansen speaks with Gianna Toboni -- an expert on the U.S. prison system and its death penalty policies. Toboni is a journalist, filmmaker and author of the new book, The Volunteer: The Failure of the Death Penalty in America and One Inmate's Quest to Die with Dignity. This is a behind-the-scenes, extended listen of the full interview that was originally recorded for the Viewpoints segment, "Execution by Firing Squad: A New Option Within a Broken Prison System". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Culture Crash: 30 Years. 7 Movies. One Tom Cruise. Is “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” The Last Chapter?

  Wednesday, April 30, 2025

  3 minutes

  The eighth movie in the “Mission: Impossible” series is set to hit theaters on May 23. We cover the evolution of this blockbuster action franchise spanning almost three decades. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-30-years-7-movies-one-tom-cruise-is-mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning-the-last-chapter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Viewpoints Explained: Can We Revive Extinct Species? Scientists Say Maybe

  Wednesday, April 30, 2025

  3 minutes

  Scientists have brought three unusual wolf pups into the world using DNA that hasn’t walked the Earth in tens of thousands of years. Could this be the beginning of a new era in conservation, or is it a step too far? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-can-we-revive-extinct-species-scientists-say-maybe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Execution By Firing Squad: A New Option Within A Broken Prison System

  Sunday, April 27, 2025

  10 minutes

  As states like South Carolina bring back the firing squad, a once-archaic method of execution is making a quiet return. We explore what’s driving this shift, and why some inmates, like Scott Dozier, saw it as a more humane option than lethal injection. This segment explores the ethical and logistical cracks in America’s capital punishment system — and what the rise of the firing squad says about where we’re headed. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/execution-by-firing-squad-a-new-option-within-a-broken-prison-system Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• An Architectural Rebirth: A City Rising From The Ashes

  Sunday, April 27, 2025

  10 minutes

  More than 150 years later, the Great Chicago Fire still shapes the bustling Midwestern city we know today. Historian Julius L. Jones walks us through how a combination of dry weather, wooden construction, and miscommunication led to one of the most destructive urban fires in U.S. history. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/an-architectural-rebirth-a-city-rising-from-the-ashes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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