Perspective Podcast - September 13, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

Smashburger
We begin with an American classic, the hamburger.  It's the favorite at fast food chains across the country, and now a culinary scientist, a man who literally has a Ph.D. in flavor, claims he's invented the burger of the future.  Here's ABC's Linsey Davis.

Noodles & Company
From an American classic to an Asian favorite: ramen noodles.  They're cheap, convenient, and popular with college students, but most wouldn't associate them with gourmet cuisine ... until now.  ABC's Juju Chang has the details.

Taco Bell
For decades, fast food was the hamburger's domain, until one man brought a tex-mex concept to the drive thru lane.  Now, there are just under six-thousand Taco Bells in the U-S, serving more than two-billion customers every year.  ABC's John Schriffen sits down with the man behind the taco chain.

Hospital Fast-Food
Fast food is definitely not synonymous with a healthy lifestyle and you might think it's the last thing you'd find in a hospital.  But these chains are popping up in facilities all around the country.  Here's ABC's Linsey Davis.

The Food Truck Business
Food trucks are popping up in cities all across the country, providing hungry lunch-breakers and late night bar-crawlers with a quick bite.  And more of today's young entrepreneurs are adding to the growing ranks of food truck offerings.  Here's ABC's Reena Ninan.

The Parisian Diet
The French are known for their decadent cuisine, but they're also far thinner than Americans.  They're not doing it by cutting out wine and cheese, so what is it about the French diet that makes them slimmer?  ABC's Juju Chang has the details.

The Fast Diet
Our ancient ancestors ate as *much* as they could, *whenever* they could and then *starved* until the next feast.  Now that same pattern has become the basis for a new diet combining fasting and feasting.  It's proponents say it not only slims the waistline, but also results in a longer life.  Once again, here's ABC's Juju Chang.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - September 6, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

St. Jude's
Cancer has affected the lives of countless Americans and for one young man, his situation is as bleak as it gets.  12-year-old Daniel Biljanoski (bill - an - ah - ski) was diagnosed with a case of aggressive brain cancer that's untreatable at most hospitals.  He was told he had just a year to live.  In the weeks and months that followed, he underwent a rigorous, groundbreaking treatment at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and ABC's Cynthia McFadden was there for his journey.

The Amish Mafia
"The Amish Mafia" is a show on Discovery Channel that's changing the way a lot people view the Amish.  The program focuses on a subculture designed to keep the community in line.  The credibility of events depicted in the show has been widely questioned, with some Amish scholars calling the program far-fetched and fraudulent.  Some also say an opening on-screen credit warning of "select re-enactments" blurs the line between what's staged and what's real.  ABC's Linsey Davis went inside the Amish community to find out more.

Under Fire
This Wednesday will mark one year since the attack on the U-S consolate in Libya that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.  Fred Burton and Sam Katz are two counterterrorism experts who have written a new book called "Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi."  ABC's Aaron Katersky sat down with the authors to find out more.

Groupon Getaway
When it comes to travel deals, it can be tempting to jump on a beachfront, bargain vacation, but do you really get what you pay for?  To answer that question, we enlisted the assistance of a Groupon getaway.  Once again, here's ABC's Linsey Davis.

ABC News Fixer
There are billions of dollars worth of unclaimed funds in states across the country.  The State of New York alone holds more than 12-billion dollars in unclaimed funds from more than 30-million accounts.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - August 30, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

March on Washington
This Wednesday marked 50 years since the March on Washington and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech.  Tens of thousands gathered in the nation's capital to hear speakers such as Al Sharpton, Oprah Winfrey, President Obama, and Former Presidents Clinton and Carter pay tribute to Dr. King.  ABC News chief national correspondent Byron Pitts was there.

Flood of Lies
Eight years ago, 35 residents of St. Rita's Nursing Home in St. Bernard Parrish, Louisiana, died in the rising waters of Hurricane Katrina.  After the story rose to prominence in the national media, Louisiana's attorney general targeted the owners of St. Rita's for prosecution.  James Cobb was the lawyer who defended Sal and Mabel Mangano.  He has written a new book detailing what happened at their nursing home and joins us now.

NFL Settlement
The N-F-L has agreed to pay more than three-quarters of a billion dollars to brain damaged players.  But is that enough?  And is the full extent of those injuries hidden by the deal?  Here's ABC's Dan Harris.

One Direction
One Direction is the latest success story in a long line of boy bands.  The British pop group signed with Simon Cowell's record label in 20-10 after finishing third in the U-K singing competition "The X Factor."  Since then they've enjoyed international success, selling tens of millions of albums and breaking numerous records.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden went behind the scenes with One Direction to tell us more about the band.

Seamless
Ordering food delivery online is nothing new, but Seamless is looking to transform the way we order meals.  The website currently delivers food from more than 12-thousand restaurants to over two-million users in 40 different cities, and its reach is growing.  ABC's Linsey Davis has more.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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