Viewpoints

When The Signal Goes Silent: Why Backup Communication MattersSynopsis: As extreme weather becomes more unpredictable, one of the first systems to fail is often the one we rely on most: communication. This story looks at what happens when cell towers go dark, why waiting to figure things out in the moment can be dangerous and how simple backup plans can make a critical difference.Guests: Joe Bassett, survival expert, co-author, Emergency Communication 101Polly Hansen, producer, Viewpoints Radio, Asheville resident.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri Inside The Two-Trillion-Dollar Business Of Feeling BetterWhen life feels overwhelming, wellness offers answers, or at least something to buy. We look at how self-care turned into a multi-trillion-dollar industry, and why the promise of feeling better so often comes wrapped in marketing.Guests: Rina Raphael, journalist, author, The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-CareAmy Larocca, journalist, author, How to Be Well: Navigating

Viewpoints Explained: From Streaming To Steering Wheels: The Subscription CreepSubscriptions were supposed to make life easier. Instead, they’ve become a quiet drain on our wallets. This segment explores how recurring fees slipped into everything from entertainment to cars.Host: Ebony McMorrisProducer: Amirah Zaveri Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Culture Crash: The 2025 Oscar Best Picture FieldFrom blockbuster spectacles to intimate global stories, this year’s Oscar nominees reflect a wide-ranging year at the movies. We take a closer look at some of the films up for the biggest award in Hollywood that will take place this year on Sunday, March 15.  Host:  Evan Rook. Producer: Evan Rook    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When The Signal Goes Silent: Why Backup Communication MattersAs extreme weather becomes more unpredictable, one of the first systems to fail is often the one we rely on most: communication. This story looks at what happens when cell towers go dark, why waiting to figure things out in the moment can be dangerous and how simple backup plans can make a critical difference.Guests:Joe Bassett, survival expert, co-author, Emergency Communication 101Polly Hansen, producer, Viewpoints Radio, Asheville resident.  Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside The Two-Trillion-Dollar Business Of Feeling BetterWhen life feels overwhelming, wellness offers answers, or at least something to buy. We look at how self-care turned into a multi-trillion-dollar industry, and why the promise of feeling better so often comes wrapped in marketing.Guests: Rina Raphael, journalist, author, The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-CareAmy Larocca, journalist, author, How to Be Well: Navigating Our Self-Care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure at a TimeHost: Marty PetersonProducer: Grace Galante.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One Case, Fifty States: When Marriage Was An Exception To The LawFor much of U.S. history, marriage quietly overruled consent, shielding a crime the law refused to name. We revisit the 1978 case that cracked that silence and follow the slow, uneven fight to recognize spousal rape as a crime nationwide. Even now, it raises an uncomfortable question: when the law changes, how long does it take for beliefs to follow?Guest: Sarah Weinman, journalist, author, Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Polly Hansen Why So Many Workers Quit Their Boss, Not Their JobMany people don’t leave jobs they love but leave managers they can’t work for anymore. We examine how toxic leadership styles quietly drive burnout, erode confidence and push workers toward the exit even when they may love everything else about their position.Guests:Sheila Nielsen, career consultant, owner, Nielsen Career ConsultingLaura Hambley Lovett, workplace psychologist, aut

Culture Crash: Why “The Pitt” Stands Out From So Many Other Medical ShowsWe review what makes the medical show “The Pitt” a must watch. Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max with weekly episodes dropping every Thursday evening.  Host:  Evan Rook.  Producer: Evan Rook  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Viewpoints Explained: When Romance Meets Inflated PricingValentine’s Day may feel romantic, but the price tag is anything but. We breakdown why flowers, dinners, and last-minute plans seem to cost more each year and how timing quietly drives the holiday economy.Host: Ebony McMorrisProducer: Amirah Zaveri  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why So Many Workers Quit Their Boss, Not Their JobMany people don’t leave jobs they love but leave managers they can’t work for anymore. We examine how toxic leadership styles quietly drive burnout, erode confidence and push workers toward the exit even when they may love everything else about their position.Guests: Sheila Nielsen, career consultant, owner, Nielsen Career ConsultingLaura Hambley Lovett, workplace psychologist, author, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss. Host: Marty PetersonProducer: Amirah Zaveri Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One Case, Fifty States: When Marriage Was An Exception To The LawFor much of U.S. history, marriage quietly overruled consent, shielding a crime the law refused to name. We revisit the 1978 case that cracked that silence and follow the slow, uneven fight to recognize spousal rape as a crime nationwide. Even now, it raises an uncomfortable question: when the law changes, how long does it take for beliefs to follow?Guest: Sarah Weinman, journalist, author, Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Polly Hansen   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Culture Crash: Why Afrobeats Is Everywhere Right NowYou’ve heard the sound everywhere, but Afrobeats’ rise is a bigger story than you think. We cover what we love about this fast-growing genre of music.Host & Producer:  Evan Rook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Viewpoints Explained: Why Prison Meals Fall ShortRehabilitation is often a stated goal of incarceration, yet meals in many U.S. prisons remain low in quality and nutrition. We take a closer look at what incarcerated people are fed and why systems that receive billions in public funding continue to fall short.Host: Ebony McMorrisProducer: Amirah Zaveri  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Divorce Gets Real: What Most People Never ExpectFor many divorce attorneys, the beginning of the year is typically peak season for obtaining new clients. After the holiday season is over, struggling couples reassess their marriage in the new year and then, if they choose to move forward, start the process of divorce in February. We speak with prominent New York City divorce attorney Jacqueline Newman about the biggest misconceptions people have when it comes to divorce and why everyone – single or married – should keep these tips in mind.Guest: Jacqueline Newman, divorce attorney, managing partner, Berkman, Bottger, Newman & Schein.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri The Environmental Cost Of Saying GoodbyeAs more people rethink their environmental footprint, new end-of-life options like green burials are gaining attention. We look at how these alternatives work and why more families are choosing them over traditional burial or cremation.Guests: Hayley Campbell, journalist, author, All the Living

The Environmental Cost Of Saying GoodbyeAs more people rethink their environmental footprint, new end-of-life options like green burials are gaining attention. We look at how these alternatives work and why more families are choosing them over traditional burial or cremation.Guests: Hayley Campbell, journalist, author, All the Living and the Dead; Cassie Barrett, Director, Cemetery Operations, Carolina Memorial SanctuaryHost: Marty PetersonProducer: Polly Hansen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Divorce Gets Real: What Most People Never ExpectFor many divorce attorneys, the beginning of the year is typically peak season for obtaining new clients. After the holiday season is over, struggling couples reassess their marriage in the new year and then, if they choose to move forward, start the process of divorce in February. We speak with prominent New York City divorce attorney Jacqueline Newman about the biggest misconceptions people have when it comes to divorce and why everyone – single or married – should keep these tips in mind.Guest: Jacqueline Newman, divorce attorney, managing partner, Berkman, Bottger, Newman & Schein.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A new movie year is taking shape and expectations are already high. We cover some of what we’re most looking forward to this year.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Viewpoints Explained: Why Nuclear Power Is Making A ComebackOnce seen as too risky and politically fraught, nuclear power is being reexamined as energy demand rises and supply chains grow less reliable. We explain why more countries, including the U.S., are warming back up to an option they once tried to leave behind.  Host: Ebony McMorrisProducer: Amirah Zaveri    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Part 1: Venezuela’s Oil: How It Powered The World & What Went WrongOnce one of the world’s richest oil producers, Venezuela’s rise seemed unstoppable. We look at how politics, power struggles and global pressure led to the complete breakdown of this South American country. As the consequences still unfold, will Venezuela and its oil industry make a comeback in this globally unstable environment?Guest: Skip York, nonresident fellow for global oil, The Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri What Children Already Know - And How Parents Can RespondKids today are absorbing far more than many adults realize - often before anyone has explained what it all means. We look at how parents can meet these moments with clarity, honesty, and care, even when the right words don’t come easily.Guest: Dr. Elena Lister, child, adolescent & adult psychiatrist, faculty, Columbia University and Cornell University, author of Giving Hope.Host: Marty PetersonProducer: Amirah

What Children Already Know - And How Parents Can RespondKids today are absorbing far more than many adults realize - often before anyone has explained what it all means. We look at how parents can meet these moments with clarity, honesty, and care, even when the right words don’t come easily.Guest: Dr. Elena Lister, child, adolescent & adult psychiatrist, faculty, Columbia University and Cornell University, author of Giving Hope.Host: Marty PetersonProducer: Amirah Zaveri Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Part 1: Venezuela’s Oil: How It Powered The World & What Went WrongOnce one of the world’s richest oil producers, Venezuela’s rise seemed unstoppable. We look at how politics, power struggles and global pressure led to the complete breakdown of this South American country. As the consequences still unfold, will Venezuela and its oil industry make a comeback in this globally unstable environment?Guest: Skip York, nonresident fellow for global oil, The Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.