Perspective Podcast - January 13, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

Casey Anthony's Untold Story
Since her acquittal on murder charges in the death of her daughter Caylee, Casey Anthony has mostly avoided the spotlight.  But this week, new information has emerged in the form of a report by the psychiatrists who evaluated Anthony before her trial began.  ABC's Matt Gutman has the details.

Brave Buddies
Shyness is hardly uncommon.  Just about every kid experiences a paralyzing moment during show and tell or when meeting someone new.  But imagine a child so stricken with fear, she goes without speaking for an entire school year.  We met two such children … their parents, desperate for help … and one man who says he can cure them with a simple technique.  ABC's Juju Chang has more.

Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is one of the most famous people on the planet, but her privacy, her power, her fears, have been carefully guarded.  Now, there's a new book about her challenges in the White House and one moment that may have changed everything for her.  ABC's Cecilia Vega reports from Washington.

Presidential Wives
Nobody runs for president alone.  The men and women who run need their life partners to lean on, stand by them, and vouch for them with voters.  But how does a candidates' wife affect the campaign?  Here's ABC's Terry Moran.

Battle of the Ballads
Voter excitement is important for any presidential candidate, and some try to create it using music and campaign theme songs.  But as ABC's John Berman explains, there are mixed results when injecting rock and roll into a campaign.

Okay to Shoot?
It's a case of one mother's protective instincts ... 18-year-old Sarah McKinley was home alone on New Year's Eve with her baby.  Her husband had passed away from cancer just the week before.  That night two men tried to break into her home.  It was then that she made two quick decisions.  She picked up a shotgun, called 9-1-1, and asked for permission to fire.  ABC's Ryan Owens has the details.

Celebrity Scents
We build powerful associations with scents ... everything from a mother's perfume to the mountain air.  And now, some celebrities are betting that you might want to smell like them ... and pay handsomely for that pleasure.  ABC's Andrea Canning explains.

Angelina Jolie
She has the Hollywood lineage, the handsome husband, and the kind of kids that magazines pay eight figures just to photograph.  But Angelina Jolie is also an unflinching humanitarian and a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.  ABC's Christiane Amanpour spoke to Jolie about her most recent project.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - January 6, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Who Is Rick Santorum?
This week we saw an historically close photo finish at the Republican Iowa caucuses.  Former Governor Mitt Romney finished at the top ... winning by only 8 votes even though he spent 50 times more money than second place finisher Rick Santorum.  Meanwhile a poor showing from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann caused her to drop out of the race.  Many Americans still have questions about the candidates, and want to know more about the surging Rick Santorum.  Can he go the distance?  ABC Chief White House Correspondent Jack Tapper has the details.

A New Challenger for Mitt Romney
So how is the Mitt Romney campaign responding to Rick Santorum's success in Iowa?  Most recently, he's turned to a one-time political foe-turned-friend ... John McCain.  Here's ABC's David Muir.

The Rest of the Field
Although they led in Iowa, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are only part of the field.  This Tuesday in New Hampshire, all the GOP contenders will be vying for votes.  To find out more about the rest of the field, ABC's Steven Portnoy speaks to ABC Senior Political Editor Rick Klein.

Christina Tailer Green
Nearly one year ago in Tucson, Arizona a 22-year-old man shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others ... killing 6.  The youngest victim was 9-year-old  Christina Tailor Green.  Her life was strangely bookended by American tragedy.  She had been born on 9-11.  Her parents spoke to ABC's Cynthia McFadden about their inspiring daughter.11.

Salt Danger?
As the only rock we eat, salt has been a treasured commodity going back to the earliest civilizations.  While we don't trade it anymore, most of us enjoy it enough that it could be dangerous to our health.  And now the FDA is looking for new ways to lessen our salt consumption.  As ABC's Linsey Davis reports, it's a move that could change eating as we know it.

Meth Lab Investigation
In the heartland of America, cops are working around the clock to keep an every day cold medicine out of the hands of drug dealers.  The key ingredient to making meth can be found in any drugstore, and dealers are paying big bucks to get their hands on a closely regulated supply of it.  ABC's Chris Bury traveled with one Kentucky police unit trying to catch those dealers.

Death Off the Shelf
For American troops serving in Afghanistan, one killer has surpassed all others … the improvised explosive device, or IED.  They have killed or injured more than 8-thousand U-S service members in that country, and they are so prevalent in part because they are incredibly easy to make.  ABC's Nick Schifrin has the details about a few deadly ingredients that are disturbingly easy to buy.

Being Elmo
He has helped millions of toddlers learn the alphabet, make friends, and sing.  But no toddler and few parents could likely tell you his name.  That's because his talents find expression through an alter ego called Elmo.  Here's ABC's Juju Chang.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - December 30, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

Turmoil in Iraq
Many military families across the country received a special holiday gift this year ... their loved ones finally home from the war in Iraq.  But Iraq is still facing widespread violence, threatening to tear the country apart.  Just this week ... a suicide bombing in Baghdad ... while the Iraqi government is being viewed as increasingly fragile.  ABC Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz was there when the last troops left Iraq.

2012 Doomsday Prophecy
We now turn to a story reminiscent of disaster films ... the end of the world as we know it.  While there have been plenty of wild predictions throughout the years, some still say that doomsday will come in 20-12.  ABC's David Wright has the details.

Unclaimed Baggage for Sale
If you were among the millions of Americans flying this holiday season, you likely encountered numerous airline fees.  However, that thirty dollar checked bag fee is only *one* way airlines are making money on your luggage.  ABC's Ryan Owens explains.

2011: A Global Perspective
It was a turbulent and tumultuous year throughout the world.  From the instability of the European financial markets to the worldwide protests in the Middle East, Wall Street, and Moscow, much of the tension from 20-11 will reverberate in the New Year.  ABC's Christiane Amanpour takes a look back at the stories that defined 20-11.

Google Search Trends of 2011
Google's not the only one compiling a list of the year's hottest topics.  Over 90-billion messages were sent on Twitter this year, and the company has put together a list of some of the years most *extraordinary tweets.*  ABC's Cecilia Vega has the details.

The Real Erin Brockovich
Eleven years ago, Hollywood brought us the extraordinary story of one exceptional woman ... Erin Brockovich, who stood up for a community she claimed was being poisoned.  Now she's at it again ... and the community she's trying to protect might even be yours.  Here's ABC's Cynthia McFadden.

Fad Diet Danger
There are 60-billion reasons to get into the weight loss business.  That's how many dollars we spend each year in an attempt to shed pounds.  But many so-called *fad* diets have a staggering number of Americans getting ripped off, sick, or both.  And recently, the FDA pulled one wildly popular diet product from the shelves.  To find out more about some popular diets and how well they work, here's ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi.

Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson is the most famous member of a wildly successful show business family.  Now 45, Miss Jackson opens up about her life-long struggle with body image.  It began with childhood stardom ... and now that Jackson's famously-sheltered 13-year-old niece Paris is joining the family business, she shares her advice for Paris with us.  Here's ABC's Juju Chang.

Host:  Alex Stone
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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