Perspective Podcast - January 30, 2015

In this edition of Perspective...

Vanderbilt Rape Trial Verdict
A verdict this week in the rape trial of two former Vanderbilt University football players. It's just the latest case in a string of sexual assaults on college campuses across the country. ABC's Ryan Smith has more:

Sen. Hatch: GOP Will Take Back The White House
Will the GOP take back the White House in 2016? Senator Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, certainly thinks so, and he says President Obama will be the reason why. He talked to ABC News Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny:

Hidden America: Sex Trafficking
We have a new report that may change the way you think about prostitution. Sex trafficking takes place every day right here at home, and one New York Times reporter argues in a new documentary these young women are not criminals, but hostages. ABC's Diane Sawyer has more:

ABC News Fixer: Water-In-Gas
It's a serious car problem that you can't really see until it's too late - but the ABC News Fixer says there are ways to make sure you aren't shelling out cash after filling up with bad gasoline. Here's ABC's Stephanie Zimmerman:

Protecting Against Carjackers
One college student was called a hero after dying trying to protect his loved ones from carjackers. It's a scary situation to be in, but there are steps you can take to protect your car and your life. ABC's Juju Chang has more:

Scientology Shocker
The Church of Scientology doesn't lack starpower or controversy. Now, former insiders are making some serious allegations against  the religion about its practices in a new documentary. But the church is saying those claims are off base. ABC's Dan Harris explains:

Host: Cheri Preston
Producer: David Rind

Download or stream this edition of the Perspective podcast

Perspective Podcast - January 23, 2015

In this edition of Perspective....

State Of The Union
This past Tuesday, President Obama delivered his sixth State of the Union address to a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives. With more on what the president said, here's ABC's Steven Portnoy who was there:

Designated Survivor
While the State Of The Union is one of the hottest tickets in Washington, there's at least one high-level official missing from the crowd each year. We learn more about the "designated survivor:"

Ebola Orphans
In Liberia, an area of the world ravaged by the Ebola virus, you'd think those who survive would feel lucky. That's not the case with many Liberian children, who end up orphaned and neglected after their family members pass away. ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor Doctor Richard Besser traveled to Liberia to see for himself:

Fake Doctors
When you head to the doctor's office, the last thing you want to hear is that it's the doc's first day on the job. Recently, one Florida teenager took that a little bit further...impersonating a member of the staff without actually having any medical training at all. ABC's Matt Gutman has the story:

Gun Control Debate In Colorado
This past week, jury selection began in a trial that's reigniting the gun control debate in Colorado. ABC's Alex Stone explains:

Concept Cafes
Ever heard of cat cafes? Places where you can sip your coffee while petting cats. Yeah, they're not the only concept cafés out there. ABC's Cecilia Vega went to Tokyo to see how the trend got started:

Home Restaurants
How would you invite a bunch of strangers over to your house to try your food? How about if they pay you? That's the premise behind a new kind of restaurant-quality dining experience taking place at dinner tables across the country. ABC's Juju Chang explains:

Host: Cheri Preston
Producer: David Rind

Download or stream this edition of the Perspective podcast

Perspective Podcast - January 16, 2015

In this edition of Perspective...

The Story of #GamerGate
Many video games are filled with violent depictions of women - some being beaten, sexually assaulted, run over by cars. It's become the norm in this multi-billion dollar industry - and some women are getting louder in their calls for change. However, the backlash they've faced online is very real - and very frightening. ABC's Juju Chang has more:

Congressman Turns To Satire
In the wake of the terror attacks on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, there's been some discussion about how far is too far when it comes to satire. Turns out there's one New York Congressman who isn't afraid to push the envelope - Steve Israel skewers Washington in his new book "The Global War on Morris" and he talked about it with ABC News Political Director Rick Klein and Yahoo News' Olivier Knox:

Man Overboard
Earlier this month, a 22-year-old man was traveling on a Royal Carribean cruise ship when he fell overboard. Luckily, he was soon spotted by another ship and was rescued. While accidents like these may never truly be avoided, groups are investing in technology they hope will provide safe rescues every time. ABC's Cecilia Vega explains:

From Model To Mugshot
From the runway to a cell block. It happened to one model, who once had a promising career in the reality T.V. spotlight. She saw it all disappear though when she turned to drugs. She told ABC's Linzie Janis how it all happened:

YouTube Relationships
Most of us don't feel comfortable sharing the most intimate details of our relationships with others, but some couples do. In fact, some couples are live-streaming their relationship to millions of followers on YouTube. They're a new breed of self-made reality stars turning love into profit - ABC's David Wright tells us what it's all about:

Help Yourself With Meditation
Are you stressed out? One of my colleagues here at ABC says he has a solution to relieve that stress - a method that's helped him sort out personal demons of his own . Here's ABC's Dan Harris:

Host: Cheri Preston
Producer: David Rind

Download or stream this edition of the Perspective podcast