Viewpoints

Canada’s new prime minister Mark Carney has relatively little experience in politics but has already made quite a splash, vowing to stand up for Canada against threats from the U.S. to its sovereignty and economy. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-canadas-new-leader-mark-carney-vows-to-not-back-down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Musician, producer, actress. Lady Gaga is a woman of many talents, but is her latest musical album an extension of this success or is it yet another pop album? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-lady-gaga-is-back-a-review-of-her-new-album-mayhem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel icon Rick Steves takes us back to 1978 when he ditched the guidebooks and set out on the legendary Hippie Trail from Istanbul to Kathmandu. With tales of adventure—like sleeping in a stationary abandoned train car only to find it rolling at dawn—Steves reflects on how these unexpected moments shaped his life perspective. While many travelers today often stick to Instagram-worthy hotspots, he urges more Americans – young and old – to step out of your comfort zone and travel somewhere off the beaten path. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/looking-back-with-rick-steves-the-importance-of-traveling-the-lesser-known-path Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tens of millions of Americans rely on mass transit each day to get to where they need to be. While mass transit took a big blow in ridership during the COVID pandemic and for several years after, there will always be a need for this vital public resource. We speak with mass transit expert Steven Beaucher about the first subway system built in Boston and the state of mass transportation agencies today amid budget cuts. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/buses-trains-and-trams-the-birthplace-of-public-transportation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As therapy becomes less taboo, more couples are signing up for couples counseling in the lead-up to their wedding date. We talk about this growing trend and what partners dig into during these pre-wedding sessions. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-would-you-try-couples-therapy-talking-it-out-before-saying-i-do Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Indie film, “Anora” won big at this year’s Academy Awards earning five Oscar wins. We cover the steady rise of director Sean Baker and highlight some of his previous works that we love. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-the-brilliant-director-behind-best-picture-winner-anora Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed therapist and social worker Nedra Glover Tawaab joins us this week to talk about boundaries. Many people don’t have a clear distinction when it comes to their boundaries in various relationships – whether it be with friends, colleagues, family, or romantic relationships. Tawaab breaks down why this inner reflection is so important and how to go about establishing and enforcing these set boundaries. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/why-real-self-care-is-the-ability-to-set-boundaries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Valentine’s Day, Eric Anderson showed up for work at Indiana Dunes National Park. Hours later, he learned by email (from someone he didn’t know) that he had been fired. Anderson is one of the many thousands of federal employees blindsided by mass layoffs orchestrated by the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Officials claim the cuts are saving taxpayers millions, but critics warn they’re gutting essential services and putting public safety at risk. As legal battles unfold and DOGE continues these reductions, the question remains: Is this about efficiency, or is something bigger at play? Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/inside-the-mass-firings-of-federal-workers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We cover another genre where female artists are breaking through, leading to great music and many thousands of loyal fans. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-if-youre-loving-the-pop-girl-renaissance-take-a-listen-to-these-alt-artists Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring and summer are just around the corner, marking the busiest months for U.S. national parks. But with recent layoffs by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, many are worried about the gaps in staffing this year. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-an-uncertain-season-for-national-parks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The January wildfires that swept through Los Angeles left many thousands displaced, with Altadena among the hardest-hit areas. Longtime resident Carole Wilson Roberts and her daughter Rhea share their experience of losing their home and all of memories it held, while architect Joanna Grant discusses how rebuilding efforts are incorporating fire-resistant designs. Despite the many challenges and anxieties ahead, many Californians are remaining optimistic and plan to rebuild what once was. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/60-days-out-reminiscing-rebuilding-after-the-l-a-fires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The field of private investigation is rapidly changing. And not entirely for the good. We speak with Tyler Maroney – a journalist turned private eye about the evolution of the trade and the role tech-savvy investigators play in influencing and providing transparency to governments, corporate entities and other sectors. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/unusual-jobs-journalist-turned-private-eye Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We cover why we love the animated film, Flow. The movie came out last year and was recently nominated for an Academy Award in the category, “Best Animated Feature Film”. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-flow-a-film-experience-unlike-any-other Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump made many promises on the campaign trail last year that he would bring prices down for basics like groceries and gas. However, food prices have only continued to increase due to inflation and other causes. We cover why prices remain stubbornly high and if there’s any relief headed our way. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-will-food-prices-ever-go-down Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s safe to say that many first-time parents can admit that there’s a big gap between the perception of parenting versus what it’s like to become a parent yourself. While this time is filled with many high highs and low lows, it’s filled with confusion, uncertainty and isolation. After all, for much of the first year, your baby can’t speak to you and your reliant on their unique cues. We speak with parenting expert Vered Benhorin about how to form a deeper, more present relationship with your child and enjoy the mundane activities and play you do as a parent. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/why-is-being-a-new-parent-so-hard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chinese company, DeepSeek made quite a splash back in late January of this year with the release of its artificial intelligence model, R-1. We cover why DeepSeek is different from the numerous models out there, what Americans should keep in mind if they choose to use it, and why its introduction is causing other companies in the AI race to potentially reshape their strategy. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/a-deep-dive-into-deepseek-why-is-this-platform-different Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was recently confirmed as the U.S. health secretary under President Trump’s new administration. Late last year, he publicly announced a push to remove fluoride from the public water. Now that he’s in office, we cover both sides of the debate surrounding this possible new initiative. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/viewpoints-explained-an-early-initiative-from-health-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-jr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We highlight some of our favorite, lesser-known films within the horror/thriller/sci-fi genre. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/culture-crash-our-favorite-mind-bending-movies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scarlett Cochran became pregnant at 19. As a single mom, she had to quickly find work but soon found herself in a dead-end job that paid about $25,000 a year. She knew she needed to make a change, so started with small steps in the right direction. Growing up, Cochran came from a family where finances were always a tension point. It drove a wedge between her parents, so learning about money or having open conversations as a family never happened. She joins us today to share her journey and how she was able to reinvent herself by going back to school and sticking to a strict budget. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/why-2025-is-your-money-management-year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many Americans, the assumption is that female genital mutilation – the process of partially or fully cutting female external genitalia – is an outdated, old-world tradition that is no longer practiced. Sadly, this isn’t the case, and more than 200 million girls and women today have undergone the traumatic and life-altering practice. The U.S. isn’t immune either to this practice, with surgeries usually occurring under the radar in smaller, private practices. We speak with Jaha Dukureh, a victim of FGM and global advocate, to get a better understanding on why FGM persists and what’s being done to curb these numbers. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/between-2016-and-2024-30-million-women-were-subjected-to-female-genital-mutilation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices