Perspective Podcast - June 29, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

The Supreme Court Ruling on Healthcare
This week the Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate requiring Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty, a key part of President Obama's signature health care law.  For more on the decision, ABC's Aaron Katersky speaks to ABC News Legal Analyst Royal Oakes.

Political Reaction to the Decision
The landmark ruling by the Supreme Court also has wide-ranging political implications.  For more on President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney's reactions to the decision, ABC's Ann Compton reports from the White House.

What the Ruling Means for Americans
So what does this decision on healthcare mean for the average American?  ABC's David Muir has the details.

Adderall Addiction
In the '60s there was Valium , Prozac in the '90s, and now the growing drug of choice for some moms is Adderall.  It's normally used to help kids with Attention Deficit Disorder gain energy and focus, but some moms are now popping the pills prescribed to their children.  ABC's Dan Harris has more.

A Cure for Pain
Kobe Bryant did it.  So did A-Rod.  Even Pope John Paul the second did it.  It's a controversial new therapy to end pain using patient's own blood to cure everything from bad knees to tennis elbow, but the treatment is still untested in the United States.  As ABC's Ron Claiborne reports, some of the world's top athletes are using it to stay in the game.

A Father's Loss
Now a horrific event that changed one father's life forever, surviving a terrible crime that took the lives of his wife and two sons.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden reports on the painful tale of forgiveness and betrayal.
Marilu Henner's Memories
Marilu Henner is one of a dozen known people in the world with a memory that produces 30 year old details as easily and vividly as though they happened just moments ago.  She says the gift is not due to genetics and she shares a few of her memory tips with ABC's David Wright.

Trophy Dads
Just weeks after Father's Day we bring you a story about the cooking and cleaning stay-at-home dads.  They pack lunch for their wives, schedule play dates for their kids, and as ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi reports, the number of these so-called "trophy husbands" has more than doubled in the past decade.

Harry Belafonte
In the words of Robert Redford, he's "a man whose story should be told for generations to come."  At age 85, Harry Belafonte has an indomitable sense of optimism and continues to ask "what do we do now?"  ABC News Entertainment Correspondent Bill Diehl had a chat with the legendary singer and actor.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

Download or stream this edition of Perspective

Perspective Podcast - June 22, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio is Florida's junior republican senator, and a fast-rising latino political star.  Some republicans hope that Mitt Romney will choose him as his runningmate, but earlier this week ABC News reported Rubio was *not* being vetted as a V-P candidate by the Romney campaign.  No documents had been turned over and no questionnaires had been filled out, however Romney later dismissed the report.  To find out more about the junior senator, ABC's David Muir spoke with Marco Rubio in Miami.

Newt's Advise for Romney
Newt Gingrich says he believes the super rich have an unfair advantage in American politics, but he also is urging his wealthiest supporter to give millions to Mitt Romney's campaign.  ABC Senior Political Correspondent Jonathan Karl caught up with the former Speaker of the House at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., where he weighed in on presumptive nominee Mitt Romney's strengths and weaknesses.

President Obama Drone Program
One of President Obama's lasting legacies will likely be the use of drone aircrafts for targeted killings.  A new book from Newsweek and Daily Beast reporter Dan Klaidman delves into the successes and failures of the president's drone program.  ABC Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper spoke with Klaidman in Washington to find out more.

Two Fathers Helping in Haiti
On the heels of Father's Day last weekend, we bring you the story of two men who are honoring their children by giving back to those who need it most.  ABC's Matt Gutman traveled with them to Haiti and reports on the journey that transformed their lives.

Gastric Bypass and Alcoholism
Each year more than 200-thousand Americans undergo weight loss surgery.  For most, the procedure is life-saving.  It causes dramatic changes to the body and sometimes unexpected effects.  Now a new study suggests a link between gastric bypass surgery and increased odds of alcohol addiction.  ABC's Deborah Roberts has the details.

Serving Life in Luxury?
Next a story started with a taunting letter from death row.  In the note, a North Carolina inmate convicted of killing a 17-year-old girl boasts about his alleged life of leisure behind bars.  It has started a heated debate about prison conditions, focusing on convict activities from softball teams to TV time and whether that *hard time* is really hard enough.  Here's ABC Chief Law and Justice Correspondent Chris Cuomo.

Airline Fees
Flying these days can be a not-so-elegant experience that includes a variety of extra charges.  Those additional fees include everything from meals to blankets and overhead bin space ... all new ways for the airlines to make more money.  So why have carriers taken such extreme measures and what can you do to avoid them?  Here's ABC's John Donvan.

Mark Cuban
Until Dirk Nowitzski takes a turn on "Dancing with the Stars," the Dallas Mavericks may be the only professional sports franchise with an owner more famous that its players.  Mark Cuban started out as a beer-guzzling, ref-heckling fan, then made millions and bought his favorite basketball team.  Last year they won the NBA Championship, but this year that honor belongs LeBron James and the Miami Heat.  But what's Mark Cuban really like?  ABC's Bill Wier went to Dallas to find out.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

Download or stream this edition of Perspective

Perspective Podcast - June 15, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

The Jerry Sandusky Trial
Jurors in central Pennsylvania heard dramatic and at times painful testimony this week in the child sex abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.  Next week Sandusky will offer his version of events.  His lawyer has already compared defending Sandusky to "climbing Mt. Everest."  That may be because the prosecution's case was powerful.  ABC's Aaron Katersky covered the trial in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

Allegations Against Armstrong
Lance Armstrong is one of the most famous and accomplished athletes in the world ... a cycling champion and cancer survivor who has raised millions of dollars to fight the disease.  And after battling a federal doping investigation that was dropped just months ago, he's now facing new charges.  He strongly denies the allegations, but as ABC's Neal Karlinsky reports, they could cost him dearly.

The Big Bank Debate
Risky trading at America's biggest bank was the subject of a hearing this week by a Senate Committee.   For some, a sudden and recent loss on derivatives trades brought back memories of 2008 - when banks were bailed out by taxpayers.   Here's Richard Davies.

Yoga Retreat Tragedy
We now turn to a strange story out of Arizona, involving a retreat run by a wealthy buddhist monk who claims to use the principles of yoga and meditation in the quest for enlightenment.  But as ABC's Dan Harris reports, one couple's spiritual journey on that retreat ended with a tragic death.

Toxic Spray Tans?
For several years it's been thought that spray tans were the safe alternative to tanning beds, but there could be a hidden danger.  ABC's Mark Greenblatt has the details.

Murder for Hire
And now a murder-for-hire plot wrapped inside another murder-for-hire scheme.  A woman who went to prison for hiring a hitman to take out her boyfriend's wife is now being accused of ordering yet another hit ... this time on her former boyfriend.  ABC's Chris Cuomo explains.

Daniel Clowes
Newsweek calls him the country's premier underground cartoonist, but he says he's embarrassed to tell other adults he draws comic books.  Here's a discussion with Daniel Clowes.

Snooki
We told you earlier in the program about the possible dangers of spray tans.  Some clearly haven't been worried about that, including the cast of the "Jersey Shore."  But that could be changing.  "Jersey Shore" reality star Snooki is usually more punch line than headline, but now claims she is cleaning up for her new baby.  Here's ABC's Juju Chang.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

Download or stream this edition of Perspective