Perspective Podcast - March 21, 2014

In this edition of Perspective...

Winter's Finally Over
Winter is finally over.  The first day of Spring was this Thursday and it couldn't come soon enough for those in parts of the country that survived one of the more brutal winters in recent memory.  ABC's Scott Goldberg has more from New York.

Breaking Faith
Now to the story of one woman's very difficult choice.  The Church of Scientology has always denied that it forces members to cut ties with those who leave the faith, but yet another ex-scientologist is disputing that claim, saying the church forced her to choose between her son and her daughter.  ABC's Dan Harris has the story.

The Rise of Audiobooks
Do you listen to audio books?  Millions do ... on their smartphones, in their cars or even at home.  The audio book industry has quietly grown into a major source of sales for publishers and authors.  ABC's Richard Davies explains its success.

The Next Harry Potter?
A new book is garnering a lot of buzz, with some saying it could be the next Harry Potter or Hunger Games.  It's called "Half Bad," written by first-time author Sally Green.  The story, set in modern-day England, centers around a 16-year-old who finds himself in the middle of a conflict between two factions of witches.  Green sits down with ABC's Lama Hasan to tell us more.

The ABC News Fixer
We all know oil and water don't mix, and one Michigan resident learned that lesson the hard way.  ABC's Cheri Preston has the details.

Veronica Mars the Movie
The T-V show Veronica Mars was a cult classic for the three seasons it was on the air and left fans wanting more.  But what would it take to bring back the actors and make Veronica Mars into a movie?  How about 91-thousand fans and five million dollars.  Here's ABC's Chris Connelly.

Muppets Most Wanted
Muppets Most Wanted is out this weekend.  The follow up to the 20-11 Muppets movie has been described as a comedy caper set in Europe.  Aside from Kermit, Miss Piggy and the rest of the gang, actors Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey have joined the cast.  ABC's Nick Watt caught up with them all to find out more about the movie.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - March 14, 2014

In this edition of Perspective...

Oscar Pistorius Trial
For the last decade, he's been a source of national pride.  But now, South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend.  Law enforcement re-enacting what they think happened on that fateful night... and the man they call 'Blade Runner' becoming literally sick to his stomach.  ABC's Matt Gutman is in Pretoria, South Africa with the details.

Pistorius Legal Analysis
Of course there are the legal questions surrounding this case.  In a  country where judges assign verdicts rather than juries, does Pistorius plan to take the stand?  What about the police, accused of mishandling evidence?  ABC's Dan Kloeffler sorts it out with ABC News Legal Affairs Anchor Dan Abrams.

Deadly SXSW Accident
Every year, Austin, Texas plays host to one of the hippest parties in the country -- South by Southwest, a two-week festival of music, movies, and interactive exhibits.  But that party was crashed by an out-of-control car Wednesday night, causing at least two deaths, and leaving more than a dozen hurt.  ABC's John Muller has the story.

SXSW Wrap-Up
The accident took place just 24 hours after the conclusion of South by Southwest's technology showcase, which exhibits the latest trends in games, gadgets and geekery.  Dana Wollman is the Managing Editor for Engadget, and she sent her team to Austin to get the scoop.  

Banning Bossy
Facebook executive Sheryl Sandburg changed the conversation about women in the workplace with her book, "Lean In."  A year later, she's launching a new campaign to ban the word "bossy."  She says it's a big reason women aren't pursuing more leadership positions.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden has more from Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

The Real-Life Olivia Pope
Before she teamed up with Shonda Rimes to create the hit ABC TV show "Scandal," Judy Smith kept a low profile -- so low that she didn't have business cards, or a website for her crisis management consulting firm.  Today, however, Smith is in the limelight: she's the inspiration for the show's main character, played by Kerry Washington.  She sat down with ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl to talk about how realistic the show actually is.

Let It Go
It's the song being sung by kids around the world -- "Let It Go," from the movie Frozen.  It won the Oscar this year for Best Original Song, and boasts over a hundred million views on YouTube.  After hearing the song dozens of times from his three little girls, ABC's David Wright caught up with the couple responsible for this inescapable viral phenomenon.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Brad Mielke

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Perspective Podcast - March 7, 2014

In this edition of Perspective...

Pistorius Murder Trial
The trial of olympian Oscar Pistorius began this week. He stands accused of killing his then-girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day of last year. The man known as Blade Runner claims it was just an accident, and as the first week of testimony in a South African courtroom comes to an end, we bring in ABC's Hamish MacDonald to get the details.

Sulaiman Abu Ghaith on Trial
Now a story in courtroom much closer to home. The trial of Osama bin Laden's son-in-law started this week, and for more on that we bring in ABC's Aaron Katersky.  

Gift of Hearing
You're about to meet a toddler who was born into a world of silence, unable to hear the voices of his parents, but they refused to let it stay that way. Instead they turned to an experimental surgery, and we followed their journey for over half a year as they took a gamble on a radical procedure.  ABC's John Donvan has the story.

Real Housewife Guilty Plea
Teresa Giudice is best known for flipping tables on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," but now she and her husband Joe are facing possible jail time after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges. The couple is accused of taking criminal shortcuts towards the lavish lifestyle they portray on cable T-V.  ABC's Amy Robach has the details.

Moment of Crisis
This week in Florida, a pregnant woman with three children in her minivan drove directly into the ocean on Daytona Beach. Thankfully, as waves engulfed the car, bystanders in the area jumped into action.  ABC's Steve Osunsami has more.

Betting the Bachelor
Some might say it's the natural next step when it comes to reality T-V -- placing bets on contestants. That's the idea one New York couple had when they created TheBachelorBracket.com.  It started with five users and grew to 13-hundred during last season's show.  Now, it's up to 18-thousand and counting.  Here's ABC's Linzie Janis.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producers:  Colin Tipton