Perspective Podcast - December 27, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

A New Pope
We begin our look back at 20-13 at the Vatican, where on February 11th, Pope Benedict announced he would step down ... the first time a Pope did so in nearly 600 years.  Just one month later, more than a billion Catholics around the world celebrated the election of the 266th Pope.  ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Terry Moran was there when the announcement was made.

Boston Bombing
One month later, on April 15th, two bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.  ABC's Aaron Katersky was there in the hours following the attack and covering the ensuing manhunt and investigation.

Cleveland Girls Rescued
For a decade, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight lived in captivity.  They were set free on May 6th, when Berry escaped her captor and made a call for help.  ABC News Chief National Correspondent Byron Pitts has the story.

Jodi Arias Found Guilty
Just two days after those young women escaped captivity, an Arizona jury handed down a verdict in the murder trial of Jodi Arias, who was charged with killing her boyfriend Travis Alexander.  ABC's Ryan Owens covered the trial since the beginning.

Tornado Strikes Oklahoma
On Monday, May 20th an E-F5 tornado touched down in Moore, Oklahoma, destroying two elementary schools and killing 23 people, including seven students.  ABC's David Muir was there in the aftermath of the storm.

George Zimmerman Acquitted
The murder trial of George Zimmerman played out very publicly throughout the year.  The case garnered racial overtones back in 20-12 when Sanford, Florida police initially declined to arrest Zimmerman after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin.  Zimmerman is a white Hispanic.  Martin was black.  ABC's Matt Gutman has followed the story from the beginning.

Navy Yard Shooting
On a Monday morning, September 16th, gunfire erupted in the nation's capital.  The city was in lockdown after Aaron Alexis entered the Washington Navy Yard and opened fire, killing 12 people and injuring three more.  He was eventually shot and killed by police.  ABC News Senior National Correspondent Jim Avila reports from Washington.

Politics: 2013 and Beyond
ABC News Political Director Rick Klein joins us now to discuss politics this year and look ahead to 20-14.

In Memoriam
Now, as the year nears its end, we remember those we lost.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - December 20, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

Thank Your For Your Service
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Finkel's new book, "Thank You for Your Service," chronicles the lives of soldiers returning to America after months and years serving abroad. Finkel spent eight months in Iraq during one of the war's most turbulent periods in 2007 and 2008 and says the mental wounds of war can be just as haunting and debilitating as wounds from a bullet or bomb.  He sits down with ABC's Bob Woodruff.

American Valor
Now for a story about fear, forgiveness and two war heroes.  For ten years, ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz has been following the story of their long road to finding peace.

Home For The Holidays
This holiday season, ABC is honoring our military veterans with its annual "Home for the Holidays" campaign, featuring five short films written, directed and produced by U-S veterans with aspirations to work in the entertainment industry.

Counterfeit Goods
The L-A Police Department has ramped up it's fight against fakes ... knock-off designer handbags and other pricey items that have turned into a multi-million dollar business.  And for those who says this black market boom isn't hurting anybody, authorities say ... think again.  Here's ABC's David Wright.

Dyson
Dyson was founded in 1993, when James Dyson decided there was a more elegant way for the world to clean its floors.  He famously created over five-thousand prototypes of his first vacuum cleaner before developing the one he considered perfect ... and became a billionaire in the years that followed.  Here's ABC News Chief Business and Economics Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis.

Anchorman
When Will Ferrell first shopped around his idea for the movie "Anchorman," several studios turned it down. Now, nearly a decade later, Ron Burgundy is a cult icon, and Paramount is serving up a sequel.  ABC's Nick Watt had a chance to sit down with Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner (ketch - ner) and Will Ferrell to discuss the movie.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - December 13, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

Unbreakable Bond
For many, this time of year is about giving thanks and spending time with loved ones.  It's also a time for gift-giving, but some gifts are bigger than others.  In the case of the story you're about to hear, a gift given in grief ended up saving the life of a young woman fighting to survive.  Here's ABC's Cynthia McFadden.

Kidney Exchange
According to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney disease kills more Americans every year than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.  One in nine adult Americans already have kidney disease and may not even know it, since it often has no symptoms and can go undetected for years.  Here's ABC's Deirdre Bryant.

Story of Survival
Storms swept the country this week, bringing record low temperatures to several areas, including the mountains of Nevada where temperatures dipped to 20 below zero.  Last Sunday, one family decided to make the best of the inclement weather and headed out to play in the snow, but ended up stranded and fighting for their lives.  ABC's David Wright has the details.

Breaking Faith
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the largest polygamist group in the country, led by its jailed leader Warren Jeffs, who many believe is still calling the shots from prison.  Now, after leaving the FLDS, two of his nephews are working to help others flee the church.  ABC's Cecilia Vega has the story.

Saving Mr. Banks
Mary Poppins is one of the most popular Disney movies of all time.  It may be easy to watch, but it was very hard to make, and now the back story behind this classic is being told in a new movie from our parent company, Disney.  ABC's Nick Watt sits down with the stars of the film, Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, along with the *original* beloved nanny, Julie Andrews.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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