Private Equity 101: How Takeovers Are Reshaping America

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. Guest Information: Megan Greenwell, author, Bad Company, Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream Richard Coffin, certified financial analyst, certified financial planner, YouTube creator, The Plain Bagel. […]

July 27, 2025

Viewpoints

The Wellness Boom: Hope, Hype And Hard Truths

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. Guest Information: Hayley Krischer, journalist, author, You Belong to Me. Links for more info: The Atlantic: How Did Healing Ourselves Get So Exhausting? Instagram: @hayleykrischer Penguin Random House: You Belong to Me. NIH: The dark side of […]

July 27, 2025

Viewpoints

Viewpoints Explained: Closing The Digital Divide One Classroom At A Time

This is Viewpoints Explained… I recently traveled to Birmingham, Alabama to attend the future of learning summit, which was held by ed farm – a Birmingham-based nonprofit that’s helping students build their digital skills. This covers a wide net of activities, from learning the basics of coding or 3-d printing to how to edit a podcast or short video. Across many parts of the U.S., Especially in low-income areas with high poverty rates, entire communities don’t have access to reliable […]

July 23, 2025 3

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Culture Crash: Enjoy A Good Scare? Our Take On “28 Years Later”

Welcome to Culture Crash, where we examine American culture – what’s new and old in entertainment… In 2002, writer Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle teamed up to make 28 Days Later, which has become one of the most famous and beloved zombie movies of all time. This year, Garland and Boyle have themselves returned to the universe with the film 28 Years Later, which serves as something of a sequel to 28 Days Later but also works as a […]

July 23, 2025 1

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Where Killers Lurked: The Pacific Northwest’s Deadly History

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. Guest Information: Caroline Fraser, author, Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers. Links for more info: Amazon: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the […]

July 20, 2025

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From Sunrise To Last Call: The Women Behind The Counter

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. Guest Information: Candacy Taylor, author, Counter Culture: The American Coffee Shop Waitress. Links for more info: Amazon: Counter Culture: The […]

July 20, 2025