Perspective Podcast - September 21, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

The Secret Tape
A secretly recorded tape of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney surfaced this week.  In it, he makes some controversial remarks while speaking privately to supporters.  So who in that room pushed the record button?  Here's ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross.

The President Responds
After the tape surfaced, President Obama appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, where he addressed Governor Romney's remarks.  ABC's Ann Compton has the details.

Stalker in Court
Now to a murder mystery with several twists.  When one woman took the stand to testify in court, she found herself being questioned by her own stalker.  He is the same man on trial for killing her roommate and attacking her roommate's five-year-old son.  It's a tale that has unfolded over 17 years and came to a dramatic head in court this week.  ABC's Steve Osunsami explains.

Iyanla Vanzant
Oprah Winfrey may have abdicated her throne as the queen of daytime T-V, but now she's using her star power to turn an old friend into a new star.  Winfrey and life coach Iyanla Vanzant once had a famous feud, and now ABC's Juju Chang speaks to them about the bumpy road to their new, big project.

Secret Princes
Now a story about four bachelors from royal families across the world.  They're going under cover here in the U-S, posing as average joes in the pursuit of love.  You could call it a real-life version of Eddie Murphy's 1988 movie "Coming to America."  Here's ABC's Linsey Davis.

The Testosterone Trend
Some baby boomers are taking new measures to hold onto their youth.  Prescriptions for testosterone have doubled since 2006 and are expected to triple in the next five years.  More from ABC's Neal Karlinsky.

Hospital Mistakes
Now to a different kind of health issue.  Dr. Marty Makary is a surgeon who has written a book called "Unaccountable: What Hospitals Won't Tell You and How Transparency Can Revolutionize Health Care."  ABC News National Correspondent Jim Hickey speaks with Makary about the mistakes being made in hospitals across the country.

Kids Who Preach
In an age when most kids are more interested in video games than spiritual guidance, one 11-year-old has already become an ordained minister with a faithful crowd of followers.  He's part of a controversial world of preaching children, and ABC's Dan Harris takes us inside his unusual life.

Patti Smith
Patti Smith is the singer/songwriter who just last year added national book award-winner to her list of accomplishments.  Her voice has inspired generations of rock musicians and now she tells us about the songs that influenced her career.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - September 14, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Attack in Libya
This week heavily armed militants stormed the U-S Consulate in Libya, leaving American Ambassador Chris Stevens dead in the town of Benghazi.  Air Force veteran and information specialist Sean Smith and former Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were also killed.  President Obama condemned the attack, meanwhile anti-American protests have sprung up across the Middle East in response to an anti-Muslim film backed by an infamous Koran-burning preacher.  ABC's Terry Moran explains.

Inside the 2011 Debt Ceiling Crisis
And now a glimpse behind the scenes in Washington, into the sometimes dysfunctional relationships that can make or break this country.  Bob Woodward is best known for uncovering the Watergate scandal, but now his new book takes us inside the White House where last year's clash with Republican leadership brought America to the brink of financial armageddon.  Now we hear directly from Woodward, along with audio tapes of President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner, about the behind-the-scene confrontations concerning debt ceiling negotiations.  Here's ABC's Diane Sawyer.

Bye-Bye Buckyballs?
You may have seen them on your co-worker's desk or maybe you have a set of your own.  They're called Buckyballs -- a magnetic toy designed for stress relief at the office.  It has inspired numerous copy cats, but now there's a possibility they could be banned.  As ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi reports, those tiny magnets can be a serious danger to children.

The Blind Chef

For most people cooking a gourmet meal is no easy task, but imagine navigating a world of sharp knives, hot surfaces, and sizzling oils without being able to see.  That was the challenge for a young, blind chef that wowed the judges to win the reality TV competition Master Chef.  She sat down with ABC's Ryan Owens to explain how she did it.

Five Hour Billionaire
From grocery store checkouts to convenience store shelves, we've all seen those shot glass-sized bottles labeled "5 Hour Energy."  The tiny package promises a huge punch of pep, and while a bottle will only run you about three dollars they made one man so much money he's cracked the Forbes billionaire list.  ABC's John Donvan has the story.

Carjacked
And now onto the kind of story that fills any parent with dread and a bit of gratitude for the glories of technology.  Here's ABC's Juju Chang.

Surrogate Grandmother
When a 61-year-old woman's daughter needed a surrogate, she stepped up, giving birth and becoming a grandmother at the same time -- and she's not alone.  An Illinois woman gave birth to her granddaughter just weeks ago, causing some to ask the question "just because a woman can do this, does it mean she should?"  ABC's Amy Robach has the story.

Ricky Gervais
He's hilarious and offensive.  Ricky Gervais is the man behind the successful sitcom The Office, and is one of the few people who seems to get away with saying incredibly outrageous things.  ABC's Nick Watt sat down with the comedian to talk about his latest project.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - September 7, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Four More Years?
Both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions are now in the books.  President Obama delivering the main event at the DNC - a stirring speech and vigorous defense of his record.  He launched several attacks against Mitt Romney and he offered the delegates a little bit of that old time Obama religion of hope.  The people who were in attendance to hear the speech seemed electrified by it.  The real question though, is how do the President's words play outside the convention hall, in the rest of the country, with *you.*  Because as ABC's Terry Moran Reports, the President has some significant challenges ahead of him.

Report Card
So how did he do?  ABC News Political Analyst Matthew Dowd has advised both Republicans and Democrats, including the successful re-election campaign of George W. Bush.  He sat down for some analysis with ABC's Chief Political Correspondent George Stephanopoulos.

Wife of the Party
On the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama stole the show.  Many delegates held signs in the convention hall that read "We Love Michelle," and there were cheers and emotion as the First Lady told the crowd, and the nation, why she believes her husband deserves another four years in the White House.  She spoke of *his* personal values, their young love, and the dreams they have for America.  As ABC's Terry Moran tells us, Michelle Obama is President Obama's most popular advocate.

One on One: Michelle Obama
On Thursday Michelle Obama had her 2nd big moment up on the DNC stage as she introduced her husband for his big convention speech.  How does she think she did under the spotlight?  She says the stamp of approval that meant the most to her is what their two daughters thought of her speech, as she told ABC's Diane Sawyer.

The Bill Factor
Wednesday was a historic night at the Democratic National Convention, as Bill Clinton became the first former president to nominate the current one.  And as he concluded his speech, he was joined on stage by President Obama - the man, Clinton told the crowd, they must re-elect.  Again, ABC's Terry Moran.

New Kid On The Block
Just days ago most people had never heard of Julian Castro.  But the 37 year-old mayor of San Antonio is beginning to become a household name after he had the crowd roaring as he delivered the Democratic convention's keynote address.  ABC's John Quinones spent the day behind the scenes with Castro as he prepared for his big moment.

Big Spenders
One of the major themes of the DNC this week was "corporate CEO's and lobbyists and rigging the game."  While there was a lot of that "one percent" bashing on the convention floor, but outside the convention walls - and at the Republican Convention as well - there's a swanky party circuit that caters only to the very wealthiest political donors.  ABC's Chief Investigative correspondent Brian Ross takes us inside.   

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Ryan Kessler

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