Viewpoints Radio

Segment 1: Lonelier By Design: The Quiet Decline Of Community Spaces Are you familiar with the term, ‘third place’? These are the local cafes, diners, public parks, park district centers and other places that foster connection and feel accessible and welcoming. Many of us take these areas, and the benefit they bring, for granted. Yet, for many, especially senior citizens and low-income individuals, these spots are a lifeline. Sadly, these places are disappearing across the country as prices rise and people shift their habits. We cover the importance of these hubs and the broad-ranging health impacts and consequences without them. Segment 2: The Foolproof Way To Find Joy In Cooking Again Most people would agree that eating out and staying in are two very different experiences. Chef and cookbook author Alison Roman explains that being able to have people over and cooking for people you love provides a different way to spend your time and money. We speak with Roman this week about how to simplify this process, choose recipes that lead you to success and don’t leave you confused and overwhelmed. Viewpoints Explained: The Lifesaving Tip That Could Save You In This Emergency We cover this invisible danger in the water – and what you should (and shouldn’t) do if you find yourself quickly getting pulled into this situation. Culture Crash: Paramore’s Hayley Williams Is Back With New Music We review the newest album by Paramore’s frontwoman Hayley Williams. Paramore may be an early 2000’s millennial throwback, but Williams keeps it fresh and unexpected with this latest drop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you familiar with the term, ‘third place’? These are the local cafes, diners, public parks, park district centers and other places that foster connection and feel accessible and welcoming. Many of us take these areas, and the benefit they bring, for granted. Yet, for many, especially senior citizens and low-income individuals, these spots are a lifeline. Sadly, these places are disappearing across the country as prices rise and people shift their habits. We cover the importance of these hubs and the broad-ranging health impacts and consequences without them. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/lonelier-by-design-the-quiet-decline-of-community-space Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people would agree that eating out and staying in are two very different experiences. Chef and cookbook author Alison Roman explains that being able to have people over and cooking for people you love provides a different way to spend your time and money. We speak with Roman about how to simplify this process, choose recipes that lead you to success and don’t leave you confused and overwhelmed. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/the-foolproof-way-to-find-joy-in-cooking-again Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Third spaces like libraries and parks are disappearing, and with them, the everyday connections that reduce social isolation. It’s a quiet shift with wide-reaching effects on health, equity, and daily life in the U.S. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-why-its-getting-harder-to-just-hang-out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fall 2025 is shaping up to be a goldmine for film lovers, with new releases from top directors like Spike Lee, Kathryn Bigelow, Paul Thomas Anderson, and the Safdie brothers. We preview the most anticipated movies of 2025 still to come. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-from-kurosawa-remakes-to-stephen-king-revivals-the-fall-film-lineup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month’s catastrophic flood in Texas killed over 130 people - a tragedy that experts say could have been prevented with improved physical warning systems and regulated land use. We break down the underestimated danger of flash flooding and what you need to know to survive if you're ever caught in rising water. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/flash-floods-how-to-recognize-react-and-survive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than 60 years of global humanitarian work, the U.S. Agency for International Development has been quietly dismantled, leaving a massive void in aid efforts around the world. This week, we explore what led to the closure, the political forces behind it and why experts warn the ripple effects both at home and abroad could be devastating. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/from-soft-power-to-silence-the-collapse-of-usaid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists are bringing extinct species back to life using cutting-edge genetic engineering, but is resurrecting ancient animals a fascinating innovation or a dangerous human disruption of nature? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-ancient-genes-modern-labs-the-quest-to-revive-these-species Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We review the hit HBO show, “Succession” and why this dramatic masterpiece spanning four seasons is worth watching more than once. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-why-succession-will-always-be-a-great-rewatch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite big efforts in recent years to boost diversity in classical music, the genre is still exceedingly difficult to break into. According to an industry wide study conducted last year by the League of American Orchestras, African Americans made up just 2 percent of professional orchestras nationwide. Violinist and educator Brendan Slocumb and activist Afa Dworkin discuss what's holding the industry back and how improved early access music programs in public schools are vital to creating opportunity for historically excluded populations. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/strings-attached-the-inequities-still-shaping-classical-music-today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While towns and cities sleep, a bustling animal world emerges. This week – we explore the hidden nighttime lives of urban wildlife - from foxes in Berlin to possums in American backyards – and cover why it's essential to appreciate and protect these often-unseen creatures that we share our world with. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/the-living-night-uncovering-natures-hidden-third-shift Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Around the world, birth rates are plunging as young adults prioritize careers, grapple with rising living costs, and confront an uncertain future. As populations shrink, economies face tough questions about how to adapt to these changing trends. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-is-society-ready-for-fewer-babies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a decade of misfires, DC’s latest Superman reboot, directed by James Gunn, delivers a hopeful, heroic take on Clark Kent. We review the latest Superman film now in theatres. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-finally-a-superman-worth-believing-in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private equity sounds like distant Wall Street jargon, but it’s reshaping the very fabric of daily American life from hospitals and pharmacies to brands that play a vital role in communities. This week - We cover how exactly a private equity firm works and the hidden drivers behind these corporate takeovers. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/private-equity-101-how-takeovers-are-reshaping-america Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wellness industry is booming, but how much is genuine, and how much is simply clever marketing? Journalist Hayley Krischer joins us to unpack the murky world of viral wellness trends and how millions have gotten sucked into this cycle of continuous buying. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/the-wellness-boom-hope-hype-and-hard-truths Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across America, millions of students in lower-income areas lack daily access to the internet and other software, leaving them behind in a digital-first world. We highlight Ed Farm - an innovative nonprofit that’s working to boost these communities. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-closing-the-digital-divide-one-classroom-at-a-time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We review the recent horror film, “28 Years Later”. For the past year, it’s been a highly anticipated release, but is the new movie overhyped or well deserving of the attention? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-enjoy-a-good-scare-our-take-on-28-years-later Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diners are an American staple. It’s where you stop for a piece of pie and a cup of coffee from coast to coast. But small, mom and pop diners are slowly disappearing to larger chains. We uncover how old-school waitresses at these are key to communities and what it’s like being in this industry for 40, 50 or 60+ years. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/from-sunrise-to-last-call-the-women-behind-the-counter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1970s and 80s, the serene beauty of the Pacific Northwest became the unlikely backdrop for some of America’s most notorious serial killers. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Caroline Fraser, who grew up near Ted Bundy’s hunting grounds, revisits this dark chapter to dig deeper into why this region became a hotspot for violent crime. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/where-killers-lurked-the-pacific-northwests-deadly-history Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bear’s fourth season dials down the frenzy and leans into reflection, giving its characters—and viewers—more room to breathe. We offer our review of the latest season of the hit show. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-yes-the-bear-is-still-that-good Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices