Perspective Podcast - October 12, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

The VP Debate
On Thursday night, Vice President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Paul Ryan, went head-to-head for the first and only time in this campaign.  The stakes were unusually high for a V-P debate, as polls showed a spike in support for Republican nominee Mitt Romney following President Obama's struggles in the first debate.  ABC's Terry Moran tells us how the night played out.

Analyzing the Debate
For analysis of the debate, we now turn to ABC's George Stephanopoulos along with political contributors Donna Brazile and Nicolle Wallace.

Mormon Missionaries
You might find them going door to door in a neighborhood near you ... young men in shirts and ties hoping to convert people to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It's part of a two year right of passage and a journey once taken by Governor Mitt Romney.  ABC's Bob Woodruff brings us inside the world of Mormon missionaries.

The First Lady
We now turn to the president's wife.  In the middle of a tough re-election campaign a compassionate partner can be appreciated more than ever, and ABC's Cynthia McFadden sat down with the first lady, Michelle Obama, to discuss life in politics, her marriage and family.

Flying High
Flying at massive speeds while conquering hairpin curves is all in a day's work for Air Force fighter pilots, and for one woman, it is her life's passion.  She's not only the first female fighter pilot in Air Force history, but also the first woman to lead a five thousand strong fighter wing.  ABC's Martha Raddatz went along with her for a ride.

Rainmakers
This year marks the worst drought America has seen in decades, and it's showing no signs of letting up.  Over half the country has been affected, with the brunt of it bearing down on the midwest.  In one hard-hit area of Texas some people have grown tired of waiting for mother nature to bring relief.  They've decided to take matters into their own hands.  Here's ABC's Juju Chang.

The Big Bucks Burger
From expensive truffles to flecks of actual gold, high brow cuisine has found an unlikely target: the hamburger.  ABC's TJ Winnick tells us what you get when you drop a couple hundred dollars on a sandwich.

Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck has built a family life and developed a passion to help people around the world.  He has also earned a spot as a respected hollywood director, and his latest film may be his best.  ABC's Bill Weir met up with Affleck to discuss his new movie: Argo.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - October 5, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

The Presidential Debate
Wednesday night, President Obama and Governor Romney took the stage in Denver, going head-to-head for the first time.  More than 67-million Americans tuned in for the critical moment in a contentious campaign.  ABC's Terry Moran has the details.

Analyzing the Debate
Both Republicans and Democrats said Mitt Romney delivered a win during the first presidential debate.  But did Romney deliver a knockout or did President Obama fail to bring his A-game?  For more analysis of the debate, we turn to ABC's Dan Kloeffler (klef-ler) and ABC Senior Washington Editor Rick Klein.

Percentage Politics
Many expected president Obama to mention Mitt Romney's 47-percent comments that surfaced in recent weeks, but they didn't come up in Wednesday's debate.  However, that doesn't mean percentages didn't get their fare share of face time.  Many numbers were tossed around throughout night and ABC's David Wright adds it all up for us.

The Big Fat Experiment
For those who can't get enough fast food, this might sound like a dream job -- getting paid thousands of dollars to eat fast food once a day, every day for three months.  It's a real experiment ... a junk food binge in the name of science ... all part of an effort to figure out why some people get diabetes or hypertension when they gain weight, and others do not.  Here's ABC's John Donvan.

Naming Names
The story of a 17-year-old girl in the middle of a controversy that's played out online and in court.  After two teenage boys who abused her at a party were given a plea deal she viewed as too lenient, she took justice into her own hands and landed herself in legal trouble.  ABC's Juju Chang with the story.

Stalker Found Guilty
Now to a murder trial in Georgia, where the defendant, a convicted stalker, has been found guilty.  He chose to defend himself in court, questioning the woman he stalked and the man he stabbed 17 years ago, when the victim was only five years old.  After their court room ordeal was over, ABC's Chris Cuomo spoke to the victims.

Sell That Car
That old clunker could be worth thousands of dollars more than you think.  Some quick, easy, do-it-yourself tips could dramatically increase its price.  ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi brings us the best strategy for selling your used car.

Taylor Swift in Glamour
She was just 16-years old when she took the country music world by storm and now, just six years later, Taylor Swift is a crossover superstar with a growing collection of hits and millions of loyal fans.  Now she's appearing on her third cover of Glamour magazine, and ABC's Cynthia McFadden was invited behind the scenes for an exclusive interview.

Host:  Aaron Katersky
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - September 28, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Theft Inside the TSA
If you've ever lost an item at the airport, you might wonder where it ended up.  Well, in some cases your high-priced electronics could land in the hands of the TSA officers that screen your luggage.  Thanks to the help of simple tracking technology and some tempting bait, ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross brings us the details.

JFK Tapes
And now a trip back to the 1960s and the presidency of John F. Kennedy.  ABC News has learned President Kennedy had secretly installed microphones in the oval office.  They're responsible for over 200 hours of recordings -- from national crisis to tender family moments, including time with his daughter Caroline Kennedy, who spoke with ABC's Diane Sawyer about her father.

JK Rowling
She's arguably the most popular writer on the planet -- the woman who brought the world Harry Potter has now written her first novel for adults, and it sold more than one million copies before it even hit the shelves.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden traveled to Scotland to talk to JK Rowling about her latest work.

Plate Debate
A food fight is breaking out in school cafeterias across the nation.  It's been a month since new federal guidelines mandating healthy school lunches went into effect, but many students are already finding them hard to swallow.  Calorie restrictions have some claiming their lunches don't fill them up, and they are turning to YouTube to make their voices heard.  Here's ABC's Jim Avila.

Food Fix
Many doctors have argued that sugary, processed foods can be addictive, affecting your brain the same way as drugs.  Others says addiction does not apply, but ABC's Juju Chang spoke to one woman who embraced the addiction theory and lost more than one hundred pounds.

Sell That House
There is more optimism for the housing market this week, as new data shows home prices have risen from last year.  While it could mean good news for the roughly two million Americans with homes on the market, there are also cheap and easy ways you can raise your home's value ... sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars.  ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi has the story of one homes 48 hour makeover.

Mormon Bachelor
It's a new twist in the looking for love reality TV genre, taking a page from the Bachelor playbook but adding a religious spin.  It brings together singles in search of life-long love, and ABC's David Wright tells us about the contestants and the mastermind behind the show.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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